The best Koji Tsuruta’s drama movies

Koji Tsuruta

Koji Tsuruta

06/12/1924- 16/06/1987
Today we present the best Koji Tsuruta’s movies. If you are a great movie fan, you will surely know most of them, but we hope to discover a movie that you have not yet seen … and that you love! Let’s go there with the best Koji Tsuruta’s movies.
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Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island

Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island
7.5/10
A humble and simple Takezo abandons his life as a knight errant. He's sought as a teacher and vassal by Shogun, Japan's most powerful clan leader. He's also challenged to fight by the supremely confident and skillful Sasaki Kojiro. Takezo agrees to fight Kojiro in a year's time but rejects Shogun's patronage, choosing instead to live on the edge of a village, raising vegetables. He's followed there by Otsu and later by Akemi, both in love with him. The year ends as Takezo assists the villagers against a band of brigands. He seeks Otsu's forgiveness and accepts her love, then sets off across the water to Ganryu Island for his final contest.

The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice

The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice
7.7/10
  • Genre: Drama
  • Release: 01/10/1952
  • Character: Noboru Okada
A childless middle-aged couple faces a marital crisis of sorts.

Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple

Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple
7.3/10
After years on the road establishing his reputation as Japan's greatest fencer, Takezo returns to Kyoto. Otsu waits for him, yet he has come not for her but to challenge the leader of the region's finest school of fencing. To prove his valor and skill, he walks deliberately into ambushes set up by the school's followers. While Otsu waits, Akemi also seeks him, expressing her desires directly. Meanwhile, Takezo is observed by Sasaki Kojiro, a brilliant young fighter, confident he can dethrone Takezo. After leaving Kyoto in triumph, Takezo declares his love for Otsu, but in a way that dishonors her and shames him. Once again, he leaves alone.

The Loyal 47 Ronin

The Loyal 47 Ronin
7.4/10
  • Genre: DramaHistory
  • Release: 01/04/1958
  • Character: Kin'emon Okano
Japan, 1701. A group of samurai become rônin after their lord is forced to commit seppuku for assaulting a court official, who will become the target of a merciless revenge.

Japan Organised Crime Boss

Japan Organised Crime Boss
7/10
  • Genre: CrimeDrama
  • Release: 17/04/1969
  • Character: Tsukamoto
Coming out of jail and hoping for a quiet life, Yokohama yakuza has to take the lead of his gang after the death of his boss. His small group is is taken in a crossfire between a big yakuza group from Osaka at war with the Tokyo alliance for the control of the city. He tries to keep to the old yakuza code but he is no match for the new thugs who live and fight without honor.

Sympathy for the Underdog

Sympathy for the Underdog
7.3/10
A yakuza gang gets driven out of Yokohama by a big gang from Tokyo. They relocate to Okinawa to violently start over.

Proof of the Man

Proof of the Man
6.6/10
When an American is murdered in a Japanese inn, Tokyo police detective Munesue follows the trail of the killer to New York. There he is joined by a New York City detective named Shuftan and together they sort out the crime.

The Imperial Navy

The Imperial Navy
6.9/10
A lavish retelling of the true story of the final voyage and ultimate destruction and sinking of the battleship Yamato, Japan's greatest flagship during the Second World War.

Storm Over the Pacific

Storm Over the Pacific
6.3/10
  • Genre: DramaWar
  • Release: 26/04/1960
  • Character: Lt. Tomonari
Lt. Koji Kitami is a navigator-bombardier in Japan's Naval Air Force. He participates in the Japanese raid on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in 1941 and is welcomed with pride in his hometown on his return. As Japan racks up victory after victory in the Pacific War, Kitami is caught up in the emotion of the time and fights courageously for the standard of Japanese honor. But his assuredness of his government's righteousness is shaken after the Japanese navy is defeated in the debacle of Midway.

The Biggest Gamble

The Biggest Gamble
6.1/10
When Honjo is selected as Kansai district's chairman, Iwasa of the rival gang asks Itsuki to do everything possible to have Honjo step down, which puts Itsuki between a rock and a hard place.

Red Peony Gambler: Gambler's Obligation

Red Peony Gambler: Gambler's Obligation
6.7/10
  • Genre: Drama
  • Release: 22/11/1968
  • Character: Shûtaro Kazama
A local yakuza boss of a silk farming town shows kindness to the wandering gambler Oryu by letting her stay at his residence. When a rival yakuza gang, who wants to take over the town's businesses, murders him, Oryu is obliged to protect his children and business.

The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze

The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
6.7/10
The film is dedicated to the souls of flight school graduates killed in World War II. Young boys dream about becoming pilots and apply to flight schools. However, the flight schools have extremely demanding, harsh training, and once they finally become pilots, they must become suicide bombers and give their lives for their homeland.

Memoir of Japanese Assassinations

Memoir of Japanese Assassinations
7.5/10
  • Genre: Drama
  • Release: 16/10/1969
  • Character: Asaichi Isobe
This anthology film consists of nine incidents in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when assassins changed the course of Japanese history.

Code Between Brothers 6

Code Between Brothers 6
  • Genre: Drama
  • Release: 23/12/1967
Sixth part of the series.

The Lonely Swordsman (Part 1)

The Lonely Swordsman (Part 1)
  • Genre: Drama
  • Release: 26/12/1956
  • Character: Kyoshiro Nemuri
Historical drama about a sleepy-eyed ronin.

Gate of Youth

Gate of Youth
6.7/10
  • Genre: Drama
  • Release: 15/01/1981
  • Character: Yabetora
The story of Shinsuke, a young man who lives through a stormy life as a poverty-stricken coal miner. Ranging from Shinsuke's infanthood to his mid-teens. Coal workers and the mines dominate nearly every aspect of his life. Shinsuke's father a group leader at the mine, dies while bravely using dynamite to rescue a group of trapped Korean miners. Several older men attempt to help he and his mother cope, including a friendly Harley-riding yakuza boss. This movie has it all, drama, romance, sex, yakuza and violence! It is based on a story by Hiroyuki Itsuki that was originally serialized in the magazine Shukan Gendai in 1969-70.

The Domain: The Naniwa Story

The Domain: The Naniwa Story
6.2/10
Second film of Makino's Nihon Kyokakuden series set in Osaka's harbor. The series also known as "The Domain" Each a stand alone film in it's own, none are connected other than starring the famous Ken Takakura as the main Character. This story begins with Ken Takakura's character coming to Osaka after his brother's death. Another exciting yakuza story with superb yakuza action!!

The Last Kamikaze

The Last Kamikaze
7.5/10
With World War II is coming to its end and Japan nearing defeat, Japanese military leaders step up suicide attacks on Allied ships. Toei legend Koji Tsuruta stars as a Kamikaze squad leader who has second thoughts about suicide runs. He becomes torn between his own morality and his duty to his country when he must deal with a pilot under his command who refuses to complete his mission.

Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room

Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room
7.1/10
Junko Fuji returns as Oryu the Red Peony, a wandering female yakuza on a soul-searching journey after the death of her father. After collecting her sickly follower from jail, she is taken in by a fishing village. Feeling indebed to their generosity, she stays to work for the village and promises to leave her yakuza ways behind. When a dispute breaks out for the gambling rights to a local festival, the villagers are harrassed by a gang of thugs. When the harrassment turns violent, Oryu must decide wither to keep her promise or protect the villagers.

Gambler's Farewell

Gambler's Farewell
6.4/10
The story of men devoted to the yakuza lifestyle and their struggles during a time of fading yakuza power.

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