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Teruo Ishii
Teruo Ishii
	Film director Teruo Ishii
Born	January 1, 1924; Tokyo, Japan
Died	August 12, 2005 (aged 81); Tokyo, Japan
Occupation	Film director
Years active	1957–2001

Teruo Ishii (石井輝男, Ishii Teruo, January 1, 1924 – August 12, 2005) was a Japanese film director best known in the West for his early films in the Super Giant series, and for his films in the ero guro ("erotic-grotesque") subgenre of sexploitation such as Shogun's Joy of Torture (1968). He also directed the 1965 film Abashiri Prison, which helped to make Ken Takakura a major star in Japan.^[1] Referred to in Japan as "The King of Cult", Ishii had a much more prolific and eclectic career than was generally known in the West during his lifetime.^[2]

Early life

Born in Tokyo's Asakusa neighborhood in 1924, Ishii developed a love of cinema early. His parents would often take him to see foreign films, particularly French movies.^[3] Ishii worked at Toho Studios as an assistant director beginning in 1942. His film career was interrupted when he was sent to Manchuria during World War II to take aerial photographs for bombing runs.^[4]

Shintoho

In March, 1947 Ishii joined the newly founded Shintoho studios.^[4] Ishii would later recall his time with Shintoho as, "without doubt the most joyful period of my professional life."^[3] While at Shintoho he worked as assistant director to Mikio Naruse, whom he considered his mentor for the rest of his career.^[1] He also worked for director Hiroshi Shimizu and studied script writing with Shinichi Sekizawa, best known in the West for his entries in the Godzilla series. Ishii's directorial debut was in 1957 with the boxing film King of the Ring: The World of Glory (Ring no Oja: Eiko no Sekai).^[4]

He was next assigned to direct six installments in the children's science-fiction series, Super Giant.^[4] This nine-episode series was later re-packaged into four films for U.S. syndicated television as Starman. From 1958 to 1961 Ishii directed four films in the film-noir Line (Chitai) series. For the last of these films, Sexy Line (Sexy Chitai) (1961), Ishii took his cameras to the streets of Asakusa and Ginza, in order to film real life on location. The film has been called "sharp, witty and contagious" and "a lively portrait of the Tokyo underworld, populated by hookers, johns, crooks and cops and shot in cinéma-verité style."^[2]

Toei

Shintoho declared bankruptcy in 1961, forcing Ishii to seek employment at another studio. He moved to Toei Company where he directed Flower and Storm and Gang (Hana to Arashi to Gang) (1961), starring Ken Takakura.^[4] His 1965 Abashiri Bangaichi with Takakura would solidify that actor's stardom and give Ishii his biggest success of the 1960s. Ishii would go on to direct 10 of the 18 films in this series.^[5]

In 1968, Ishii initiated two popular, long-running series for Toei. In the first entry in the Hot Springs Geisha series (1968–1972), Ishii successfully replaced his usual "darkly sardonic cinematic style in favor of this light and frivolous 'mainstream' comedy about geisha masseuses operating inside a hotsprings resort."^[6] Ishii left this series to other directors. The Joys of Torture series (1968–1973), however, suited Ishii's taste. Beginning with Shogun's Joy of Torture (1968), Ishii directed all eight entries in the series, which examined the history of torture in Japan.^[7] A fan of the work of horror and suspense author Edogawa Rampo since childhood, Ishii adapted many of his horror stories into his films of this period, including Horrors of Malformed Men.^[3] The term ero-guro ("erotic-grotesque"), used to describe Rampo's writings, was also applied to Ishii's style in these films, and the term is still used to describe the most extreme of the S&M films in Japan. Of these, the Weissers comment, "The Ishii Torture movies are still the best-made, rivaled only by certain Kōji Wakamatsu productions (especially Torture Chronicles: 100 Years (1975)), a few from Masaru Konuma (i.e., Wife to be Sacrificed and Flower and Snake (both 1974)) and Go Ijuin's Captured For Sex 2 (1986)."^[8]

Ishii worked in several of Toei's popular genres during the 1970s, including a Pinky violent film with Reiko Ike, Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture (1973),^[9] and one of Sonny Chiba's films in the mid-1970s, The Executioner (Chokugeki! Jigoku-ken).^[10] Ishii made two contributions to the biker genre with Detonation! Violent Riders (1975) and Detonation! Violent Games (1976).^[11] After 1979 Ishii stopped making theatrical films and worked mainly for television during the 1980s.

Later career

Ishii returned to Toei in 1991 with the V-cinema film The Hit Man: Blood Smells Like Roses. In 1993 he made a film of Yoshiharu Tsuge's manga, Master of the Gensenkan Inn (Gensenkan Shujin), and in 1998 he filmed Tsuge's avant-garde manga, Wind-Up Type (Nejishiki).^[2] In 1999 he made Jigoku: Japanese Hell, using the trial of Aum sect leader Shoko Asahara as the main inspiration for the plot.^[1] Ishii's last film, The Blind Beast Vs The Dwarf (2001) was another based on the work of Edogawa Rampo.^[1]

Largely unknown outside Japan during much of his career, late in life, Ishii's work was discovered and gained admirers in the West. Ishii attended festivals devoted to his films given at the Far East Film Festival in Udine and at the Étrange Festival in France.^[3] In his later years, Ishii often spoke of a dream project, a gangster epic with Ken Takakura to be called Once Upon a Time in Japan.^[3] Ishii died August 12, 2005, before that project ever became a reality. Directing in a wide range of genres throughout his career, including martial arts, science fiction, horror, erotica, and film noir, Ishii's 83 films are a microcosm of popular cinematic trends in Japan during the second half of the twentieth century.

Filmography

Film title^[12]	Company	Release date
リングの王者栄光の世界 Ring no Oja: Eiko no Sekai	Shintoho	1957-04-10
The Steelman from Outer Space, Super Giant 1 鋼鉄の巨人	Shintoho	1957-07-30
Super Giant 2 続鋼鉄の巨人	Shintoho	1957-08-13
Invaders From the Planets, Super Giant 3 鋼鉄の巨人怪星人の魔城 Super Giants Kaiseijin no Majo	Shintoho	1957-10-01
The Earth in Danger, Super Giant 4 鋼鉄の巨人地球滅亡寸前 Super Giants Chikyu Metsubo Sunzen	Shintoho	1957-10-08
Nude Actress Murder Case: Five Criminals 肉体女優殺し五人の犯罪者 Nikutai joyū koroshi: Go-nin no hanzaisha	Shintoho	1957-11-10
Spaceship of Human Destruction, Super Giant 5 スーパー・ジャイアンツ人工衛星と人類の破滅 Super Giants Jinko Eisen to Jinrui no Hametsu	Shintoho	1957-12-28
Destruction of the Space Fleet, Super Giants 6 スーパー・ジャイアンツ宇宙艇と人工衛星の激突 Super Giants Uchutei to Jinko Eisen no Kekitotsu	Shintoho	1958-01-03
天城心中天国に結ぶ恋 Amagi Shinju Tengoku ni Musubu Koi	Shintoho	1958-01-26
Fresh Pier 女体棧橋 Jotai Senbashi	Shintoho	1958-04-12
White Line 白線秘密地帯 Shirosen Himitsu Chitai	Shintoho	1958-09-21
Return of the Queen Bee 女王蜂の怒り Jobachi no Ikari	Shintoho	1958-12-28
Broken Blossoms 戦場のなでしこ Senjo no Nadeshiko	Shintoho	1959-02-25
猛吹雪の死闘 Mofubuki no Shito	Shintoho	1959-04-29
日本ロマンス旅行 Nippon Romance Ryoko: Sapporo Han	Shintoho	1959-04-29
Black Line 黒線地帯 Kurosen Chitai	Shintoho	1960-01-13
Girls without Return Tickets 女体渦巻島 Nyotai Uzumaki Shima	Shintoho	1960-02-27
Yellow Line 黄線地帯イエローライン Osen Chitai	Shintoho	1960-04-29
Queen Bee and the Dragons 女王蜂と大学の龍 Jobachi to Daigaku no Ryū	Shintoho	1960-09-01
Sexy Line セクシー地帯 Sexy Chitai	Shintoho	1961-01-09
恋愛ズバリ講座第三話 Ren'ai Zubari Koza	Shintoho	1961-01-21
Flower and Storm and Gang, Gang 1 花と嵐とギャング Hana to Arashi to Gang	Toei	1961-06-23
霧と影 Kiri to Kage	Toei	1961-08-26
黄色い風土 Kiiroi Fudo	Toei	1961-09-23
Gang 2 恋と太陽とギャング Koi to Taiyo to Gang	Toei	1962-03-21
The G-men of the Pacific 太平洋のGメン Taiheiyo no G-men	Toei	1962-04-22
Boss of the Underworld: Gang of 11, Gang 5 暗黒街の顔役十一人のギャング Ankokugai no Kaoyaku: Juichinin no Gang	Toei	1963-01-15
Gang 6 ギャング対Gメン集団金庫破り Gang tai G-men: Shudan Kinko Yaburi	Toei	1963-02-23
Kill the Boss 親分を倒せ Oyabun wo Taose	Toei	1963-06-22
昭和侠客伝 Showa Kyokakuden	Toei	1963-10-05
Gang 9, Tokyo Gang versus Hong Kong Gang 東京ギャング対香港ギャング Tokyo Gang tai Hong Kong Gang	Toei	1964-01-01
ならず者 Narazu-mono	Toei	1964-04-05
御金蔵破り Gokinzo yaburi	Toei	1964-08-13
いれずみ突撃隊 Irezumi Totsugekitai	Toei	1964-10-21
顔役 Kaoyaku	Toei	1965-01-03
Abashiri Prison 網走番外地 Abashiri Bangaichi	Toei	1965-04-18
続網走番外地 Zoku Abashiri Bangaichi	Toei	1965-07-10
網走番外地望郷篇 Abashiri Bangaichi: Bokyohen	Toei	1965-10-31
網走番外地北海篇 Abashiri Bangaichi: Hokkai-hen	Toei	1965-12-31
日本ゼロ地帯夜を狙え Nippon Zero Chitai: Yoru wo Nerae	Shochiku	1966-03-05
Abashiri Prison: Duel in the Wind 網走番外地荒野の対決 Abashiri Bangaichi: Koya no Taiketsu	Toei	1966-04-23
Big Villain Plan 大悪党作戦 Daiakuto Sakusen	Shochiku	1966-07-09
網走番外地南国の対決 Abashiri Bangaichi: Nangoku no Taiketsu	Toei	1966-08-13
神火101 殺しの用心棒 Shinka 101: Koroshi no Yojimbo	Shochiku	1966-12-23
網走番外地大雪原の対決 Abashiri Bangaichi: Dai-setsugen no Taiketsu	Toei	1966-12-30
網走番外地決斗零下30度 Abashiri Bangaichi: Ketto Reika 30-do	Toei	1967-04-20
決着 Otoshimae	Toei	1967-05-20
Abashiri Prison: Challenge for Glory 網走番外地悪への挑戦 Abashiri Bangaichi: Aku Eno Chosen	Toei	1967-08-12
Abashiri Prison: Duel in the Snow Storm 網走番外地吹雪の斗争 Abashiri Bangaichi: Fubuki no Toso	Toei	1967-12-23
続決着 Zoku Otoshimae	Toei	1968-03-30
徳川女系図 Tokugawa Onna Keizu	Toei	1968-05-01
温泉あんま芸者 Onsen Anma Geisha	Toei	1968-06-28
Shogun's Joy of Torture 徳川女刑罰史 Tokugawa Onna Keibatsushi	Toei	1968-09-28
Orgies of Edo 残酷異常虐待物語元禄女系図 Zankoku Ijo Gyakutai Monogatari Genroku Jokeizu	Toei	1969-01-09
Shameless: Abnormal and Abusive Love 異常性愛記録ハレンチ Ijo Seai Kiroku Harenchi	Toei	1969-02-21
The Friendly Killer 昇り竜鉄火肌 Noboriryu Tekkahada	Nikkatsu	1969-03-29
Inferno of Torture / Hell's Tattooers 徳川いれずみ師責め地獄 Tokugawa　Irezumishi Seme Jigoku	Toei	1969-05-02
Yakuza's Law: Yakuza Keibatsushi: Rinchi やくざ刑罰史私刑 Yakuza Keibatsushi: Lynch!	Toei	1969-06-27
Love and Crime 明治大正昭和猟奇女犯罪史 Meiji Taisho Showa Ryoki Onna Hanzaishi	Toei	1969-08-27
Horrors of Malformed Men 江戸川乱歩全集恐怖奇形人間 Edogawa Rampo Zenshu Kyofu Kikei Ningen	Toei	1969-10-31
殺し屋人別帳 Koroshiya ninbetsucho	Toei	1970-01-31
監獄人別帳 Kangoku ninbetsucho	Toei	1970-04-10
Blind Woman's Curse 怪談昇り竜 Kaidan Nobori Ryū	Nikkatsu	1970-06-20
緋ぢりめん博徒 Hijirimen Bakuto	Toei	1972-11-21
ポルノ時代劇忘八武士道 Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight	Toei	1973-02-03
Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture やさぐれ姐御伝　総括リンチ Yasagure Anago Den: Sokatsu Lynch	Toei	1973-06-07
現代任侠史 Gendai Ninkyo-shi	Toei	1973-10-27
Direct Hit! Hell Fist, Executioner 直撃! 地獄拳 Chokugeki! Jigokuhen	Toei	1974-08-10
The Karate Inferno 直撃地獄拳大逆転 Chokugeki Jigokuhen: Dai Gyakuten	Toei	1974-12-28
大脱獄 Daidatsugoku	Toei	1975-04-05
爆発! 暴走族 Bakuhatsu! Bosozoku	Toei	1975-09-20
実録三億円事件時効成立 Jitsuroku 3 Okuen Jiken: Jiko Seiritsu	Toei	1975-11-22
爆発! 暴走遊戯 Bakuhatsu! Boso Yugi	Toei	1976-01-15
キンキンのルンペン大将 Kinkin no Lumpen Taisho	Toei	1976-04-24
暴走の季節 Boso no Kisetsu	Toei	1976-07-01
惑星ロボダンガードA対昆虫ロボット軍団 Wakusei Robot Dangard A tai Konchu Robot Gundan	Toei	1977-07-17
暴力戦士 Boryoku Senshi	Toei	1979-10-06
The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses ザ・ヒットマン血はバラの匂い The Hitman: Chi wa Bara no Nioi	Toei Video	1991-06-14
ゲンセンカン主人 Tsuge Yoshiharu World: Gensenkan Shujin	Kinoshita Eiga	1993-07-24
Vagabond Plain 無頼平野 Burai Heiya	Wides Publishing M.M.I.	1995-05-29
Screwed / Wind-Up Type ねじ式 Nejishiki	Teruo Ishii Productions	1998-07-18
Japanese Hell / Hell 地獄 Jigoku	Teruo Ishii Productions	1999-11-20
Blind Beast vs. Dwarf / Blind Beast versus Issue Boshi 盲獣vs一寸法師 Môjû tai Issunbôshi	Teruo Ishii Productions	2001-06-24

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Tavantzis, Nicolas (September 8, 2004). "Nicolas Tavantzis interviews Ishii". Sevin Michel (trans.). www.hkmania.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-03.
^ ^a ^b ^c Curti, Roberto (May 31, 2003). "Roman Porno Revisited: Teruo Ishii, the Outcast". Retrieved 2007-03-03.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Mes, Tom (January 28, 2005). "Tom Mes interviews Ishii at Midnight Eye". www.midnighteye.com. Retrieved 2007-03-03.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Schilling, Mark (2003). The Yakuza Movie Book: A Guide to Japanese Gangster Films. Berkeley, California: Stone Bridge Press. pp. 56. ISBN 1-880656-76-0.
^ Schilling, p.68.
^ Weisser, Thomas; Yuko Mihara Weisser (1998). Japanese Cinema Encyclopedia: The Sex Films. Miami: Vital Books : Asian Cult Cinema Publications. pp. 198–199. ISBN 1-889288-52-7.
^ Weisser, p.198.
^ Weisser, p.215.
^ Weisser, p.152.
^ Schilling, p.69.
^ Weisser, p.377.
^ Filmography from Schilling, Mark (2003). The Yakuza Movie Book: A Guide to Japanese Gangster Films. Berkeley, California: Stone Bridge Press. pp. 55–70. ISBN 1-880656-76-0.; Teruo Ishii at IMDb and "石井輝男 (Ishii Teruo)" (in Japanese). Japanese Movie Database. Retrieved 2007-10-17.

Sources

Curti, Roberto (May 31, 2003). "Roman Porno Revisited: Teruo Ishii, the Outcast". Retrieved 2007-03-03.
D., Chris. "Ishii, Teruo, Biography". www.pinky-violence.com. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
"石井輝男 (Ishii Teruo)" (in Japanese). [Japanese Movie Database]. Retrieved 2007-02-26.
Mes, Tom (January 28, 2005). "Tom Mes interviews Ishii at Midnight Eye". www.midnighteye.com. Retrieved 2007-03-03.
Schilling, Mark (2003). The Yakuza Movie Book: A Guide to Japanese Gangster Films. Berkeley, California: Stone Bridge Press. pp. 55–70. ISBN 1-880656-76-0.
Stern, Michaël (July 2007). "Teruo Ishii : les années noires" (in French). EigaGoGo!. Retrieved 2010-06-06.
Tavantzis, Nicolas (September 8, 2004). "Nicolas Tavantzis interviews Ishii". Sevin Michel (trans.). HK Mania. Retrieved 2007-02-18.
"TERUO ISHII". Complete Index to World Film. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
Teruo Ishii at IMDb
Tominaga, Shinichi. (2000). "Geishas, Motorcycle Gangs and Supergiants: The World of Teruo Ishii—A spirited discussion between Teruo Ishii and cult director Takao Nakano." (Interview conducted in Tokyo, February 2000) in Asian Cult Cinema, #28, July 2000, p. 48–62.
Weisser, Thomas; Yuko Mihara Weisser (1998). Japanese Cinema Encyclopedia: The Sex Films. Miami: Vital Books : Asian Cult Cinema Publications. pp. 198–199. ISBN 1-889288-52-7.