Masanori Tominaga

Directing

Masanori Tominaga

Born October 31, 1975 · Uchiko, Ehime Prefecture, Japan (age 50)

Masanori Tominaga (冨永 昌敬, Tominaga Masanori, born October 31, 1975) is a Japanese film director. His 1999 short film, Dolmen, received the Honorary Mention of the International Jury at the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen in 2000. Tominaga directed the first feature film, The Pavillion Salamandre, starring Joe Odagiri. He directed Pandora's Box, starring Shota Sometani and Riisa Naka,…

Known For

Bungo: Stories of DesireBungo: Stories of Desire · 2012
Bungo: Stories of Desire
6.52012
MovieDrama
Omnibus film "Bungo Sasayakana Yokubo" features 6 different short stories set under 2 different themes ("Mitsumerareru Shukujotachi" & "Kokuhaku Suru Shinshitachi").
Dynamite GraffitiDynamite Graffiti · 2018
Dynamite Graffiti
6.22018
MovieDrama
When Suei was little, his mother had an affair with a young man who lived next door. Suei's mother and the young man killed themselves by using dynamite. After Suei graduated from high school, he worked at a factory before quitting his job. He then went to Tokyo and began working in the erotic magazine industry. Suei eventually became the chief editor of a famous erotic magazine in the 1980's.
Pumpkin and MayonnaisePumpkin and Mayonnaise · 2017
Pumpkin and Mayonnaise
6.52017
MovieDrama
A struggling, unemployed musician living with his girlfriend looks to improve his life after he discovers how she's been paying the rent.
Vengeance Can WaitVengeance Can Wait · 2010
Vengeance Can Wait
5.82010
MovieRomanceComedy
Hidenori and Nanase have lived together for ten years in a tense, platonic relationship. The wheels of change are set in motion when married couple Takao and Azusa move in next door. After Hidenori catches Nanase and Takao having an affair, he becomes obsessed with watching Nanase through a peephole, and planning his cruel revenge.
Pandora's BoxPandora's Box · 2009
Pandora's Box
7.52009
MovieDrama
After Japan's defeat in WWII, "Pandora no hako" follows a young man named Risuke who has contracted tuberculosis. He travels to the countryside to a unique nursing facility to receive treatment for his disease. At the sanatorium all the patients and nurses go by nicknames and Risuke decides to reinvent himself as Hibari. During his stay, Hibari develops realationships with other patients and nurses. After Hibari's friend Tsuikushi gets discharged from the nursing facility, Hibari writes to him about his relationships with Dakesang the chief nurse and Mabo another nurse that is bright and seems to like him.
Between the White Key and the Black KeyBetween the White Key and the Black Key · 2023
Between the White Key and the Black Key
7.82023
MovieMusicDrama
In an audacious reworking of the biopic, this ensemble drama sees jazz pianist Minami Hiroshi’s memoir cleverly reinterpreted into a surreal and playful story about chasing dreams, disillusionment and the inner lives of professional artists. Closer to playing two sides of the same coin than tackling a dual role, Ikematsu Sosuke embodies two versions of Minami – the naïve upstart and the jaded pro – who magically cross paths as they become entangled with a cast of colourful characters in the seedy alleyways and jazz clubs of Ginza over a single night.
In Those DaysIn Those Days · 2021
In Those Days
5.32021
MovieDrama
Having failed to get into graduate school, with no girlfriend, no money, and no prospects of success with his band, Tsurugi's life has reached rock bottom. One day, after watching the video of Aya Matsuura's song “Momoiro Kataomoi”, he becomes obsessed with the idol singers of “Hello! Project”, and plunges into the idol geek lifestyle. However, as time passes, he and his buddies all find other things just as important as the idols and begin to move on.
The Pavillion SalamandreThe Pavillion Salamandre · 2006
The Pavillion Salamandre
4.02006
Movie
Four beautiful sisters are entrusted with taking care of Kinjiro, a giant salamander and national treasure. Rumors spread that Kinjiro is an impostor, so a genius x-ray technician is sent to run some tests.

Filmography

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目を閉じてギラギラ目を閉じてギラギラ · 2011
目を閉じてギラギラ
2011
MovieComedy
Nozomu Kizaki, a man who hates violence and has survived in the underworld by using “sermons” as a weapon. He is also known as “Gandhi Kizaki” (Sho Aikawa). He has given up on the yakuza business, and in order to support those who are struggling to repay their debts, he teaches baseball to children while running the Hope Shokai, a money-lending business. One day, while on a collection mission, Kizaki discovers that one of the debtors is Gota Yagisawa (Takeshi Ayano), a prodigy pitcher who once made his name at the Koshien National Championships. Gota, who had never held a regular job and was mired in debt, is moved by Kizaki's “sermon” and decides to rebuild his life under his guidance. However, the shadow of the Kuroda clan, a yakuza organization, looms behind the pair...

Director

COCKROACH MANCOCKROACH MAN · 1996
COCKROACH MAN
1996
Movie
There's something that's been bothering Sato lately. His cigarettes are dwindling strangely fast. He wonders if he's smoking enough for two people. Or is there someone else smoking? Then he thinks. Is there really no one in the room when I'm not there? Then one day, a man in a pair of briefs appears from the wardrobe. The man, who sometimes tries to fly on the balcony, begins to ask practical questions and give his opinion to Sato, who spends her days in a state of apathy. What is his true identity...? The world stretches out beyond his sight. When he thinks about the overwhelming size of the world, he realises how small he is. Cutting off all contact with the outside world, Sato tries to hide his fear. By using subtitles for his conversations with the man, the film succeeds in expressing his closed world. The humorous touch of the film, depicting a small rebirth that took place over a few days, was made even more striking by the ending theme music.
Kanojo no Ura SekaiKanojo no Ura Sekai · 2021
Kanojo no Ura Sekai
6.02021
SeriesDramaMystery
Nishimura Toshiro works at a production company as a drama director. He has been having a hectic time, discussing the script for an ongoing drama with the female producer who is not satisfied with it. The proud and elitist Toshiro intends to make interesting works. But he does not realise that his mindset is elitist and old-fashioned, and that he tends to be chauvinistic. His life has gone smoothly so far and he believes he has everything. Toshiro proposes to his 29-year-old girlfriend, Kondo Akiko, whom he has been dating for three years. Well, from his perspective, he proposed because he feels responsible for her. Akiko is a modest-looking woman who has been supporting the busy Toshiro, doing the housework and cooking perfectly. But the day after his proposal, Akiko leaves the engagement ring behind and vanishes all of a sudden.

Director