Tomorrow is "Showa Day." Why not look back on the Showa era through famous films? "Showa Kinema Yokocho" TSUTAYA rental ranking

2014.04.28 Press Releases
Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd. TSUTAYA Company

In honor of tomorrow's Showa Day, we will be announcing the top 10 rental titles from "Showa Kinema Yokocho," a corner available at all TSUTAYA stores that stocks a variety of Showa era masterpieces.

"Showa Kinema Yokocho" is a reprint of 150 classic films, including 65 masterpieces that contributed to Japan's post-war recovery but have never been available for rental before, brought together by five companies - KADOKAWA Shoten, Shochiku, Toei, Toho, and Nikkatsu - and has been available for rental since January of this year at approximately 1,400 TSUTAYA stores nationwide.

In the Japanese movie DVD rental rankings for people aged 60 and over (excluding new releases within the past year), nine of the series are ranked in the top 10, demonstrating their popularity among post-baby boomer generations. The series is also attracting younger generations with no knowledge of the Showa era to pick up the series as a "new work."Starting this month, "Bakumatsu Taiyoden Digitally Restored Edition" has been added to the lineup, and TSUTAYA is also offering titles other than the 151 titles.

The rankings are being released on a day when "we look back on the Showa era, which saw a recovery after turbulent times, and think about the country's future" (Source: National Holidays Act), in the hope that films will serve as a catalyst for this.

"Showa Kinema Yokocho" TSUTAYA rental ranking

(Collection period: January 20th to April 19th, 2014)

□ Japanese code of honor
Year of Production: 1977, Color, 106 minutes
Directed by Sadao Nakajima. Starring Bunta Sugawara, Koji Tsuruta, Shinichi Chiba, Mariko Okada.
A lineage of a huge group of men who fight under a "Don" who is like a dark sun. Amidst this fierce whirlwind, Toei has pooled all its resources to create this entertainment blockbuster, depicting a drama of friendship between men and love and hate between men and women on a grand scale with a stellar cast.
Publisher: Toei Video / Distributor: Toei (C) Toei

□ Gambling Gaiden
Year of Production: 1972, Color, 103 minutes
Directed by Yamashita Kosaku. Starring Tsuruta Koji, Takakura Ken, Sugawara Bunta, Wakayama Tomisaburo
A gangster drama featuring all the Toei gangster all-stars, including Tsuruta Koji, Takakura Ken, Sugawara Bunta, Wakayama Tomisaburo, and Matsukata Hiroki. Wakamatsu, Kitakyushu in the mid-Meiji period. When Urata, the head of the Mutsumi-kai family, which claims this area as its territory, retires, a fierce battle over the succession breaks out.
Publisher: Toei Video / Distributor: Toei (C) Toei

□ Great Escape
Year of Production: 1975, Color, 91 minutes
Directed by: Ishii Teruo Starring: Takakura Ken, Sugawara Bunta, Kinomi Nana, Go Eiji
An action drama directed by Ishii Teruo and starring Takakura Ken and Sugawara Bunta. Kozue Ichiro was falsely accused and sentenced to death, while Kuniiwa Kunizo served time in prison after euthanizing his mother who was suffering from cancer. The two escape from the freezing cold Abashiri Prison and take revenge on their former yakuza comrades who framed Kozue.
Publisher: Toei Video / Distributor: Toei (C) Toei

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Tomorrow is "Showa Day." Why not look back on the Showa era through famous films? "Showa Kinema Yokocho" TSUTAYA rental ranking

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Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd. TSUTAYA Company
Public Relations Officer: Yuta Takahashi TEL: 03-6800-4764