Japan’s cinematic history is long and storied, with a variety of genres being highly influential, including the sprawling genre of yakuza movies. Not only did some of the best Japanese directors of all time make yakuza films, but some of the best Japanese actors were also featured in a number of them, showing just how prevalent the genre is in Japan. At face value, yakuza movies deal with the lives of yakuza members and how they approach the world, but the rather broad definition allows for a varied approach to making films in the genre.
Truly emerging in the 1950s, with some coming before, the yakuza genre largely based itself around post-war Japan, interested in showing how the changing political landscape could also affect organized crime in the country. With the yakuza having a strict code of honor, exploring how tradition can change rather quickly and testing what was previously thought of before, the genre was a no-brainer to explore in depth, leading to some of the best Japanese films of all time.
15
Ichi The Killer (2001)
Directed by Takashi Miike
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Ichi the Killer
CrimeActionDrama
Directed by Takashi Miike, Ichi the Killer follows sadomasochistic yakuza enforcer Kakihara, who searches for his missing boss and encounters Ichi, a repressed and psychotic killer. As tensions rise, Kakihara becomes fascinated with Ichi’s potential to deliver unprecedented levels of pain and violence.
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Release Date
December 22, 2001
Runtime
129 Minutes
Main Genre
Crime
Cast
Tadanobu Asano
, Nao Omori
, Shin’ya Tsukamoto
, Paulyn Sun
, Susumu Terajima
, Shun Sugata
, Tôru Tezuka
, Yoshiki Arizono
Director
Takashi Miike
Writers
Sakichi Sato
, Hideo Yamamoto
Expand
Takashi Miike is one of the most polarizing directors in Japanese cinema, creating a plethora of disturbing films that revel in their gratuitous violence, with a significant amount of his early filmography revolving around the yakuza to some degree. One of his most enduring films is the horror-tinged, yakuza-focused Ichi the Killer, which has received its fair share of controversy both in Japan and abroad. Despite that, it helped catapult Miike into the spotlight following his earlier horror film, Audition.
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What makes Ichi the Killer so great is how it embraces the ultra-violent world of the yakuza, depicting the toxic world of the Japanese criminal underworld, which leaves a bloody wake wherever it goes. Tadanobu Asano (Shōgun) is admirable in Ichi the Killer as Kakihara, a yakuza enforcer, alongside Nao Omori as the titular character, who is delightfully sadistic and chilling throughout the entire film.
14
Under The Open Sky (2020)
Directed by Miwa Nishikawa
Under the Open Sky is a very different film from the typical yakuza fare that has been popular in Japan for decades, and for two major reasons. First, the movie revolves around a lifelong yakuza member who was released from prison after serving 13 years for murder, and struggles to adapt to life outside that system. Second, few yakuza movies have a female director at the helm, but Miwa Nishikawa embraces the job with her incredible talent.
He takes an already well-written character and creates magic, infusing Mikami with so much depth and nuance.
Koji Yakusho as Masao Mikami is the obvious standout in Under the Open Sky, as the entire story revolves around him. He takes an already well-written character and creates magic, infusing Mikami with so much depth and nuance, as a yakuza member trying to come to terms with the life he led and where he can go next with his newfound freedom. It’s a remarkable, tender film that doesn’t feel the need to adhere to the typical trappings of the yakuza genre.
13
Youth Of The Beast (1963)
Directed by Seijun Suzuki
Seijun Suzuki has a long history of working within the yakuza genre, and Youth of the Beast is one of the best films in his filmography. Released in 1963, Youth of the Beast features Joe Shishido, a tough guy with a secret agenda who gets caught up with the yakuza after being recruited by one of the bosses. It’s a classic story within the genre and Seijun Suzuki executes it to perfection, making it an enduring entry into one of Japan’s most enduring genres.
Upon its release, Youth of the Beast wasn’t actually that well received, barely making a splash among some of the biggest films of the decade. Still, the movie gained a following over the years and remains a staple of the yakuza genre as well as Seijun Suzuki’s films. Not only is there a lot to chew on narratively with Youth of the Beast, but it’s an incredibly stylish movie as well.
12
Sonatine (1993)
Directed by Takeshi Kitano
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Sonatine
R
CrimeActionThriller
Sonatine, directed by Takeshi Kitano, follows Murakawa, an aging Tokyo yakuza sent to Okinawa to mediate a gang war. Discovering the conflict’s insignificance, he and his men are ambushed. The survivors retreat to a beach hideout, awaiting further instructions amidst growing uncertainty.
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Release Date
April 10, 1993
Runtime
94 Minutes
Main Genre
Crime
Cast
Takeshi Kitano
, Aya Kokumai
, Tetsu Watanabe
, Masanobu Katsumura
, Susumu Terajima
, Ren Osugi
, Tonbo Zushi
, Kenichi Yajima
, Eiji Minakata
, Houka Kinoshita
, Rome Kanda
, Kota Mizumori
, Yuuki Natsusaka
, Kanji Tsuda
, Kanta Yamazaki
, Yoshiyuki Morishita
, Hiroshi Ando
, Takeshi Fukazawa
, Kôichi Kitamura
, Koji Koike
Character(s)
Aniki Murakawa
, Miyuki
, Uechi
, Ryoji
, Ken
, Katagiri
, Kitajima
, Takahashi
, The Hit Man
, Kitajima Gang Member
, Rapist
, Kanamoto
, Murakawa Gang Member
, Tsuda
, Waiter
, Maeda
, Ito
, Sakai
, Hirose
, Okinawa Boss
Director
Takeshi Kitano
Writers
Takeshi Kitano
Expand
Several yakuza from Tokyo are sent to Osaka to help end a gang war in Sonatine, including the aging Aniki Murakwa played by the always amazing Takeshi Kitano. He pulls double duties in the film as well, as Kitano is also one of the best “modern” directors in the Japanese film industry, directing a number of films over the years, including Sonatine. The deadpan humor and moments of incredible violence are present in Sonatine, which is a staple of Takeshi Kitano’s films.
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What helps set apart Sonatine with the majority of yakuza fare is how low-key the film actually is, as Kitano is willing to let the narrative hang back to explore the various members of the gang as they retreat to a beach house once the violence from the gang war begins to escalate. In doing this, characters are allowed a chance to shine, each revealing a hidden depth that was not previously known.
11
The Wolves (1971)
Directed by Hideo Gosha
Released in 1971, The Wolves is directed by Hideo Gosha and set in the immediate aftermath of World War II, exploring that transitionary period and how it affected the yakuza at the time. The story revolves around a yakuza member named Seiji, who learns that his gang disbanded while he was locked up in prison. Not only must he come to terms with that, but he also attempts to confront the shaky morality prevalent in the yakuza world.
What makes The Wolves such an impactful film is the way Hideo Gosha explores the post-war setting, as characters must come to terms with the changing times and the decaying traditions that they have partaken in for years. A lot of films set in post-war Japan explore similar concepts, but The Wolves does it on an incredibly impressive level.
10
Sympathy For The Underdog (1971)
Directed by Kinji Fukasaku
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Sympathy for the Underdog
CrimeActionDrama
Sympathy for the Underdog, directed by Kinji Fukasaku, follows a yakuza gang led by a resilient leader, forced out of Yokohama by a larger Tokyo syndicate. They retreat to Okinawa, where they plan to reestablish their criminal enterprise amidst violent challenges.
Release Date
January 12, 1971
Runtime
93 Minutes
Cast
Koji Tsuruta
, Tomisaburō Wakayama
, Noboru Ando
, Tsunehiko Watase
, Asao Koike
, Hideo Murota
, Akiko Kudō
, Kenji Imai
, Keijirō Morozumi
, Rinichi Yamamoto
, Asao Uchida
, Harumi Sone
, Tadao Nakamaru
, Osman Yusuf
, Keiichi Kitagawa
, Hiroshi Hasegawa
, Akikane Sawa
Director
Kinji Fukasaku
Writers
Kinji Fukasaku
, Fumio Kônami
, Hirô Matsuda
Main Genre
Crime
Character(s)
Masuo Gunji
, Yonabaru
, Noburo Kudo
, Susumu Seki
, Ozaki
, Shark
, Terumi
, Mad Dog Jiro
, Gushiken
, Haderuma
, Eisaku Oba
, Gunshot
, Shigeru Kaizu
, Carter
Expand
Sympathy for the Underdog is simply remarkable and a testament to how good of a director Kinji Fukasaku is, especially when it comes to the yakuza genre. This 1971 Japanese classic explores an older yakuza boss who attempts to rebuild his organization after serving 10 years in prison. The loyalty on display from the members of the gang is one of the trademarks that make yakuza films so appealing to watch, emphasizing the honor these characters feel despite being criminals.
It’s a remarkable film that moves at a rapid pace, showing how much command Kinji Fukasaku has over his craft.
Like a lot of the best yakuza movies, Sympathy for the Underdog is concerned with the inevitability of change and what that means for those gangs that have operated under a certain code for most of their existence. It’s a remarkable film that moves at a rapid pace, showing how much command Kinji Fukasaku has over his craft, as the narrative at the center never gets lost in the action around it.
9
Graveyard of Honor (2002)
Directed by Takashi Miike
Takashi Miike is such an important Japanese director, and films like Ichi the Killer and Graveyard of Honor highlight why he has a place in yakuza film history. His gleeful disposition to violence in his films is actually beneficial to his approach to the yakuza genre, and it is what helps Graveyard of Honor, which is a remake of Kinji Fukasaku’s film of the same name, distinguish itself from the original movie. Miike expands upon the original in interesting ways, keeping it feeling fresh despite treading familiar ground.
Takashi Miike is one of Japan’s most prolific filmmakers, having over 100 credits to his name since his debut in 1991.
With this Graveyard of Honor essentially 40 minutes longer than the original, there is a lot of room for Miike to tell an even more complex story, diving into who Rikuo Ishimatsu is even more than what the original was able to do with its protagonist. Despite working heavily in the horror genre, Graveyard of Honor could be considered one of the best Takashi Miike films ever.
8
Violent Cop (1989)
Directed by Takeshi Kitano
Violent Cop is another incredible entry in Takeshi Kitano’s impressive filmography, and a staple of the yakuza genre in Japan. In fact, the film served as the directorial debut for Kitano after Kinji Fukasaku had to step down due to scheduling conflicts. What was going to be just an acting part in a legendary director’s new movie, became the start of a storied career of his own behind the camera, with Kitano eventually being recognized as one of the best directors in Japanese history.
The 1991 film, A Scene at the Sea, is a must-watch in Kitano’s filmography, with a much different narrative than what he is typically associated with.
Not only is Violent Cop an important moment in the Japanese film industry, but it is also very good, with Takeshi Kitano delivering another knockout performance as a police detective who is not afraid to get his hands dirty in the fight against the yakuza. In just one film, Kitano proved that not only was he a great actor, but he was a great director too.
7
Tokyo Drifter (1966)
Directed by Seijun Suzuki
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Tokyo Drifter
ActionCrimeThriller
Tokyo Drifter is a 1966 film directed by Seijun Suzuki. It follows Tetsuya “Phoenix Tetsu” Hondo, a loyal yakuza operative, pursued by a deadly assassin named Tatsuzo “Viper” after refusing a rival’s offer. As he evades this relentless threat, Tetsu navigates concerns about betrayal from within his former gang.
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Release Date
April 10, 1966
Runtime
83 minutes
Cast
Ryuji Kita
, Tetsuya Watari
, Eimei Esumi
, Chieko Matsubara
, Tamio Kawachi
, Hideaki Nitani
, Eiji Gō
, Tochiko Hamakawa
, Takeshi Yoshida
, Isao Tamagawa
, Michio Hino
, Shuntaro Tamamura
, Hiroshi Midorigawa
, Hiroshi Chō
, Shinzō Shibata
, Yuzo Kiura
, Yû Izumi
, Ikuo Nikaido
, Masaaki Honme
, Shiro Tonami
, Wataru Kobayashi
, Mitsuru Sawa
, Iwae Arai
, Yōko Yokota
, Hiroshi Takao
Character(s)
Kurata
, Tetsuya “Phoenix Tetsu” Hondo
, Otsuka
, Chiharu
, Tatsuzo the Viper
, Kenji Aizawa
, Tanaka
, Mutsuko
, Keiichi
, Umetani
, Yoshii
, Koyanagi
, Uncredited
, Kumamoto
, Fujimura
, Detective Sakai
Director
Seijun Suzuki
Writers
Kōhan Kawauchi
YouTube Trailer
Expand
Tokyo Drifter is another yakuza film directed by Seijun Suzuki and is arguably the best film of his career, as Suzuki effortlessly blends surrealism and violence to make a truly unique movie experience. The movie is visually striking, as it is one of the most beautiful looking yakuza films ever made, as Seijun Suzuki really embraces the pop art aesthetic that is present throughout. Alongside the visual language of the film, the soundtrack to Tokyo Drifter is to die for.
Tokyo Drifter tells the story of a yakuza enforcer who is looking forward to a life outside of organized crime following his gang disbanding. When his old rivals attempt to assassinate him, Tetsuya Hondo is forced into becoming a drifter. It’s a fairly normal narrative for a yakuza film, but it is told with such visual flair that it becomes one of the best in the genre.
6
Drunken Angel (1948)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa
Arguably the greatest Japanese director of all time, as well as one of the greatest directors in the world, Akira Kurosawa is largely known for his highly influential work in the samurai genre. Still, Kurosawa didn’t just work within one genre, as he made a number of incredible films over his career, including one of the greatest yakuza movies of all time, Drunken Angel, which came out in 1948.
Akira Kurosawa and Toshirō Mifune made 16 films together.
What makes Drunken Angel stand out is it is one of the earliest crime movies that could be considered a yakuza film, once again exploring the yakuza in post-war Japan. Like most amazing Akira Kurosawa films, Drunken Angel stars longtime collaborator, Toshirō Mifune, the greatest Japanese actor of all time. His performance in the film is nothing short of incredible, showing just how great the duo was throughout their careers.
5
Graveyard of Honor (1975)
Directed by Kinji Fukasaku
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Graveyard of Honor
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Release Date
February 15, 1975
Runtime
94 minutes
Cast
Tetsuya Watari
, Tatsuo Umemiya
, Yumi Takigawa
, Eiji Gô
, Noboru Ando
, Hajime Hana
Director
Kinji Fukasaku
Writers
Tatsuhiko Kamoi
, Hirô Matsuda
, Fumio Kônami
, Goro Fujita
The 1975 film, Graveyard of Honor, is one of the best yakuza movies ever made, chronicling the rise and fall of a yakuza member who finds himself in trouble due to the violent impulses he possesses. Directed by the legendary Kinji Fukasaku, Graveyard of Honor is a particular standout in his long-running career, showing just how well he understood how to make yakuza films, and why they are so appealing to so many people.
What sets apart Graveyard of Honor from most other yakuza movies, is that it is based on the true story of Rikio Ishikawa and his life as a yakuza member in post-war Japan. The fallout of World War II is a particularly powerful and important theme in yakuza films, and Graveyard of Honor uses its true story to explore that setting while showing the inherent destruction one can cause to oneself when living a life of self-destruction.
4
Pale Flower (1964)
Directed by Masahiro Shinoda
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Pale Flower
CrimeRomanceDrama
Pale Flower, directed by Masahiro Shinoda, follows a gangster released from prison who navigates power shifts among rival gangs. He becomes entangled with a thrill-seeking young woman drawn to the world of gambling, creating a tense narrative set against the backdrop of Tokyo’s criminal underworld.
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Release Date
March 1, 1964
Runtime
96 Minutes
Main Genre
Crime
Cast
Ryō Ikebe
, Mariko Kaga
, Takashi Fujiki
, Naoki Sugiura
, Shinichirō Mikami
Character(s)
Saeko
, Muraki
, Yo
, Aikawa
, Reiji
, Jiro
, Tamaki
, Shinko Furuta
, Funada
, Yasuoka
, Mizoguchi
, Imai
, Hayakawa
, Sabu
, Singer
, Police Officer
, Geisha
, Waitress
, Stout Customer
, Uncredited
Director
Masahiro Shinoda
Writers
Masahiro Shinoda
, Shintarō Ishihara
, Masaru Baba
YouTube Trailer
Expand
Pale Flower is a 1964 film that tells the story of a yakuza member released from prison, who must learn to come to terms with the ever-shifting power dynamics among rival gangs. What helps Pale Flower stand out alongside the greatest yakuza movies is its willingness to adhere to both noir tropes and yakuza tropes, creating a powerful film that continues to increase the stakes throughout its entire runtime.
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Pale Flower was directed by Masahiro Shinoda, who worked within a variety of genres over his illustrious career. Still, Shinoda is particularly known as a significant director of Japanese New Wave cinema throughout the ’60s and ’70s, a movement of Japanese filmmakers following post-war Japan. It featured some of the best up-and-coming filmmakers alongside Masahiro Shinoda, with Pale Flower being an important entry into the genre.
3
Battles Without Honor And Humanity (1973)
Directed by Kinji Fukasaku
Often referred to as the “Japanese Godfather”, the seminal 1973 film, Battle Without Honor and Humanity, is one of the most influential yakuza movies of all time. It is also the beginning of the storied film franchise of the same name that ran throughout the entirety of the 1970s, focusing on the rise of yakuza gangs in post-war Japan, a common theme for the genre. The movie follows a former soldier who finds solace within the Japanese underworld.
The popular novel adaptation, Battle Royale, was the final film that Fukasaku directed, though he did return to direct one scene in the sequel.
Once again, Kinji Fukasaku shines as the director, just two years after making Sympathy for the Underdog, showing how prolific and talented he is behind the camera. Battle Without Honor and Humanity is honestly one of the best entries in Fukasaku’s impressive and extensive filmography capturing the raw intensity that makes yakuza pictures so enjoyable to watch.
2
Pigs And Battleships (1961)
Directed by Shōhei Imamura
Released in 1961, Pigs and Battleships is a daring look at the American occupation of Japan following World War II, with a young yakuza member named Kinta, trying to find his place in a country that doesn’t really know how to move on from the horrors of the past. Legendary director, Shōhei Imamura navigates this dark satire admirably, creating an incredible, culturally relevant film along the way, with weighty ideas on its mind.
The beating heart of Pigs and Battleships is the relationship between Kinta and his girlfriend Haruko, two poor characters who are in the midst of trading between the yakuza and the American armed forces, having to live within the system that is set in front of them. Their relationship is beautiful and harrowing, really hammering home just how important Pigs and Battleships is within the Japanese New Wave genre at the time.
1
Fireworks (1997)
Directed by Takeshi Kitano
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Fireworks
R
CrimeDrama
Fireworks is a Japanese crime drama directed by Takeshi Kitano. The film stars Kitano as Nishi, a former police officer whose life spirals into violence and despair following personal losses. Balancing themes of guilt, catharsis, and redemption, Fireworks combines artful cinematography with a minimalist narrative style.
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Release Date
March 20, 1998
Runtime
103 Minutes
Main Genre
Crime
Cast
Takeshi Kitano
, Kayoko Kishimoto
, Ren Ôsugi
, Susumu Terajima
, Tetsu Watanabe
, Hakuryu
, Yasuei Yakushiji
, Tarô Itsumi
, Kenichi Yajima
, Makoto Ashikawa
, Yûko Daike
, Tsumami Edamame
, Yûrei Yanagi
, Sujitarô Tamabukuro
, Tokio Seki
, Motoharu Tamura
, Hitoshi Nishizawa
, Hiromi Kikai
, Shoko Kitano
, Yoshiyuki Morishita
, Junichiro Asano
, Kazuhiro Osada
, Manzō Shinra
, Tetsu Sakuma
, Riba Matsumi
, Miki Fujitani
, Keiko Yamamoto
, Kiyoko Kitazawa
, Ai Kishina
, Banri Nakamura
, Masahiro Naya
, Takayuki Konishi
, Yûzô Yada
, Kanji Tsuda
, Yôichi Nagai
, Kôsuke Ôta
, Muhômatsu
, Omiya no Matsu
Character(s)
Yoshitaka Nishi
, Nishi’s Wife
, Horibe
, Nakamura
, Junkyard Owner
, Yakuza Hitman
, Criminal
, Kudo
, Doctor
, Tanaka
, Tanaka’s Widow
, Businessman Throwing Rocks
, Chef #1
, Chef #2
, Old Hick
, Chief Detective
, Yakuza Head
, Yakuza Henchman #1
, Young Girl Flying a Kite
, Yakuza Henchman #2
, Yakuza Henchman #3
, Yakuza Henchman #4
, Man Shot in the Face
, Yakuza Henchman #5
, Maid at the Inn
, Florist Clerk
, Nurse A
, Nurse B
, Girl in the Junkyard
, Kiosk Salesclerk
, Detective at Stakeout #1
, Detective at Stakeout #2
, Temple Priest
, Man under Interrogation
, Cop Driving an Unmarked Car
, Bartender
, Construction Worker
, Restaurant Client
Director
Takeshi Kitano
Writers
Takeshi Kitano
Expand
Not only is Fireworks (Hana-bi) the best Takeshi Kitano-directed movie, but it is also the best yakuza film of all time, encapsulating everything that makes the genre so enduring within the Japanese film industry as well as its global appeal. Released in 1997, Fireworks tells the story of a man leaving the police force after facing personal and professional difficulties, spiraling into depression, and then starting to make questionable decisions, pushing him further into dealings with the yakuza.
Alongside directing, Takeshi Kitano is superb throughout the runtime of Fireworks, which could very well be considered among his best performances of his entire career. He is a monumental figure in Japanese film history, and works like Fireworks show how impactful of a legacy he has created over each and every film he stars and directs in. It’s an incredible film from an incredible director and actor, and defines the yakuza movie ever made.