Movies by Junzaburō Ban

A Lively Geisha

A Lively Geisha

Young geisha Koshizu's wish of reuniting with the man, Yukichi, who helped her ten years ago comes true. When she learns of the trouble Yukichi's business is facing, she stands ready to come to his aid, and thus repay a debt that's long overdue.

Unique Sword Technique for Revenge

Unique Sword Technique for Revenge

Comedy directed by Torajiro Saito about swordsmen in the era of feudal Japan.

The Sun's Burial

The Sun's Burial

In Osaka's slum, youths without futures engage in pilfering, assault and robbery, prostitution, and the buying and selling of identity cards and of blood. Alliances constantly shift. Tatsu and Takeshi, friends since boyhood, reluctantly join Shin's gang. Shin's an upstart and moves his gang often to avoid the local kingpin. Hanoko is a young woman with ambitions: first she's in the blood business with her father, then she joins forces with Shin. She soon breaks off that partnership, even though she's taken the sensitive Takeshi under her win...

Nonsense - Fireball Boy Thief

Nonsense - Fireball Boy Thief

The story of a ghostly thief in Edo who calls himself the fireball guy.

A Color Print of Edo

A Color Print of Edo

The Color Print of Edo is a 1939 black and white Japanese silent film with benshi accompaniment directed by Kazuo Mori. It is a cheerful period drama, sprinkled with comical scenes and tells the story of a loyal and handsome Edo period servant who fights to help his older brother marry the woman he loves. The star of this film Utaemono Ichikawa gained enormous popularity for his portrayal of a cheerful and chivalrous man.

Jolly Barbers

Jolly Barbers

珍説忠臣蔵

珍説忠臣蔵

A comedic retelling of the legend of the loyal 47 ronin.

The Old Bear Hunter

The Old Bear Hunter

After an old man is attacked by a bear in the snowy mountains of northern Japan, he vows to hunt down the marauder.

Sabu and Ichi's Detective Stories 2

Sabu and Ichi's Detective Stories 2

Sabu, a low-ranking samurai, finds himself unable to apprehend the ruthless leader of a violent gang of thieves, which leads to a scolding from his fellow friend and leaves him feeling disheartened. Meanwhile, Ichi, a blind masseur is called upon to provide a massage while passing by the residence of Iwashiroya, a prominent tea wholesaler in Edo. To his surprise, one of Iwashiroya's mistresses, Oshin, reacts unexpectedly upon seeing Ichi's face. Later that night, while returning home drunk, Ichi faces an attack by a ronin, whom he successful...

Sabu and Ichi's Detective Stories

Sabu and Ichi's Detective Stories

In Edo, a group of masked samurai stormed a seafood wholesaler, killing the head clerk and robbing the money. They then crossed paths with Ichi, a blind masseur and master swordman. However, upon recognizing his blindness, they decided to leave without confrontation. The next day, a woman known to Ichi and her samurai customer was found murdered at a brothel, leading to the wrongful apprehension of Ichi as the culprit. However, a few days later, when another couple was found murdered in a similar manner, Ichi was released. With his friend, t...

An Urban Affair

An Urban Affair

Follow-up to "Ekimae Ryokan." Set around the Yurigaoka and Nishi-Ikuta stations on the Odakyu-Odawara line, the film takes up the problem of real estate around the expanding Yurigaoka apartments.

The Black Battlefront Kidnappers

The Black Battlefront Kidnappers

A taut, economical policier-cum-gang-hostage thriller.

Blue in Isezaki

Blue in Isezaki

Denshichi Torimonocho: Silver Snake Spell

Denshichi Torimonocho: Silver Snake Spell

The eleventh episode of the Denshichi Torimonocho series. Around the time of Shogun Ienari, a murderer known as a ghost hikyaku appeared in Edo, raping and killing young girls one after another. One night, a notice was recieved that Oichi, the daughter of Wakasa Kanayu of the small construction group, would be taken away. The mansion was surrounded by ten and twenty layers of people including Denshichi, who was asked to guard the house, and Sesshinsai Ohba, the owner of the dojo. Four seconds later, a violent explosion suddenly occurred.

Denshichi Torimonocho:  The Curse of the Silver Snake

Denshichi Torimonocho: The Curse of the Silver Snake

Kofu duty guard Yamauchi Hinata-kami cultivated illegal drugs and had them sold through Omiya, a drug wholesaler in Edo Muromachi. One day, a strange spell descends on Omiya, killing his wife Osetsu, and then his second daughter Okyo as well. After that, there was a rumor that a ghost playing a flute appeared in the town of Edo. Sanshiro Tachibana, a member of the Kitamachi Magistrate Doshin, asked Denshichi to investigate these incident.

Denshichi Torimonocho: Mad Skullwoman

Denshichi Torimonocho: Mad Skullwoman

Detective Denshichi is called to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the Kishu family's daughter Teruhime and the activities of a dangerous group dressed as skulls and their female leader.

Denshichi Torimonocho: The Case of the Golden Goddess

Denshichi Torimonocho: The Case of the Golden Goddess

A samurai detective film.