Three yakuza legends walk into a bar and burn the whole system down.
The three henchmen join forces to challenge the brutal gang that is trying to control the city of Izu in Shizuoka during the early Showa period. Representatives of three different yakuza gangs - Tatsuo Umemiya, Tomisaburo Wakayama and Koji Tsuruta celebrate male friendship and male chivalry in action.
Acting
Three titans of Japanese cinema sizing each other up.
Direction
Saeki lets silences land like gunshots.
Director
Kiyoshi Saeki
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This same trio appeared in multiple films together throughout the 60s, becoming the definitive yakuza dream team for Toei Studios.
The 'ninkyo' chivalry code depicted here was already nostalgic fantasy in 1968 — the real yakuza had moved on to corporate crime.
JP
