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. 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.
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. He cited the works of Julien Duvivier, Marcel Carné, Jacques Becker, Alfred Hitchcock, Mikio Naruse and Hiroshi Shimizu as influences. 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.
Shintoho In March, 1947 Ishii joined the newly founded Shintoho studios. Ishii would later recall his time with Shintoho as, "without doubt the most joyful period of my professional life." While at Shintoho he worked as assistant director to Mikio Naruse, whom he considered his mentor for the rest of his career. 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).
He was next assigned to direct six installments in the children's science-fiction series, Super Giant. 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."
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. 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.Schilling, p.68.
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." 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.Weisser, p.198. 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. 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)."Weisser, p.215.
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),Weisser, p.152. and one of Sonny Chiba's films in the mid-1970s, The Executioner (Chokugeki! Jigoku-ken).Schilling, p.69. Ishii made two contributions to the biker genre with Detonation! Violent Riders (1975) and Detonation! Violent Games (1976).Weisser, p.377. 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). In 1999 he made Jigoku: Japanese Hell, using the trial of Aum sect leader Shoko Asahara as the main inspiration for the plot. Ishii's last film, The Blind Beast Vs The Dwarf (2001) was another based on the work of Edogawa Rampo.
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. 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. 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 titleFilmography from ; and Company Genre 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 PublishingM.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
Sources
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.
Monell Robert (2017) Bohachi Boshido https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/cinemadrome/viewtopic.php?p=1403#p1403