Love Hunter
Encyclopedia
is a 1972 Japanese film in Nikkatsu
's Roman porno series, directed by Seiichirō Yamaguchi and starring Hidemi Hara, Mari Tanaka, and Sumiko Minami. The film was banned for obscenity, and director Yamaguchi arrested. The resulting trials were the last time that a film was prosecuted for obscenity in Japan.
. Sumiko Minami was a Nikkatsu veteran from the Nikkatsu Action days. Many of the studio's staff from this pre-Roman Porno era had left rather than make films in the softcore pink style that the studio had adopted in 1971. Minami was one of the few performers who remained, and audiences were given a shock to see this actress in previously conservative roles performing perverse scenes such as sex with her father in the dream sequence.
's Black Snow
(1965), which ended up in a victory for the filmmaker. When Nikkatsu
started its Roman Porno series in November 1971, it opened to critical and box-office success with the double-release Apartment Wife: Affair In the Afternoon
and Castle Orgies
. The interest of the authorities was also aroused, and with the release of Love Hunter in January 1972, they took action.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police
arrested director Yamaguchi as well as other Nikkatsu employees. Inspectors for Eirin
, the Japanese film industry's self-monitoring organization, were also indicted for passing the film. All copies of the film, as well as the accompanying features, Katsuhiko Fujii's Office Lady Diary: Scent of a She-Cat and Kaoru Umezawa's independent pink film, Highschool Geisha were included in the raid.
Yamaguchi had been one of the Hachirō Guryū, the eight writers for Suzuki
's Branded to Kill
(1967). He took an adversarial approach to the prosecution, announcing publicly that he was being "crucified", and was "nothing but a scapegoat". His confrontational stance made him popular with the media, but Nikkatsu considered him a troublemaker. During the period leading up to the trial, Yamaguchi filmed a sequel to Love Hunter, Love Hunter: Desire (1973), a story about a stripper
who is arrested for obscenity. Mari Tanaka, who had had a supporting role in the original film, was the star of the sequel. The obvious baiting of the authorities intended by the film only added to his trouble with the government and the studio. After starting work on a second sequel, Love Hunter: Lustful Murder, Nikkatsu fired Yamaguchi and had Masaru Konuma
finish the project. Yamaguchi moved to Art Theatre Guild
where he made one more film.
Through her involvement in Love Hunter, its sequel, and Warmth of Love (1972), which the police accused of obscenity three months later, but did not prosecute, actress Mari Tanaka became a favorite of anti-establishment organizations. Leading Nikkatsu filmmaker Tatsumi Kumashiro
was inspired by the Love Hunter trial to direct several films with an anti-censorship theme. Among them were The World of Geisha
, and Woods Are Wet (both 1973). Kumashiro's Woods Are Wet: Woman Hell would also run afoul of the police, when they shut it down on May 29, 1973, insisting that Eirin review it again.
In 1978 the Tokyo District Court declared that while the film contained obscenity, it was not, as a whole, obscene. The prosecution appealed the decision, and in July 1980 all of the accused were acquitted. The group of legal suits instigated by Love Hunter were, as of 2009, the last time that a film was prosecuted for obscenity in Japan.
Nikkatsu
is a Japanese entertainment company well known for its film and television productions. It is Japan's oldest major movie studio. The name Nikkatsu is an abbreviation of Nippon Katsudō Shashin, literally "Japan Cinematograph Company".-History:...
's Roman porno series, directed by Seiichirō Yamaguchi and starring Hidemi Hara, Mari Tanaka, and Sumiko Minami. The film was banned for obscenity, and director Yamaguchi arrested. The resulting trials were the last time that a film was prosecuted for obscenity in Japan.
Synopsis
Kyōko is a woman with a promiscuous past who is sexually unsatisfied with her marriage. Her frustrations lead her to have hedonistic dreams, such as her mother and grandfather having sex together. Seeking to rejuvenate her marriage, she throws a wild party. The ploy is a success.Cast
- Hidemi Hara: Kyōko
- Mari Tanaka: Hisako
- Gen Mitamura: Hideyuki
- Uju Ranko: Keiko
- Ryūji Ōizumi: Kazuo
- Sumiko Minami: Mother
- Akira Takahashi: Chef
- Akemi Yamaguchi: Jōji
- Juju: Jun
Background
The screenwriting credit, Kiyomi Kōyama, was a stage name for director Yamaguchi and prominent Roman Porno director Tatsumi KumashiroTatsumi Kumashiro
was a Japanese film director best known for his critically acclaimed, award-winning Roman Porno films, such as Ichijo's Wet Lust and The Woman with Red Hair...
. Sumiko Minami was a Nikkatsu veteran from the Nikkatsu Action days. Many of the studio's staff from this pre-Roman Porno era had left rather than make films in the softcore pink style that the studio had adopted in 1971. Minami was one of the few performers who remained, and audiences were given a shock to see this actress in previously conservative roles performing perverse scenes such as sex with her father in the dream sequence.
Reaction
No Japanese film had been prosecuted for obscenity since Tetsuji TakechiTetsuji Takechi
was a Japanese theatrical and film director, critic and author. First coming to prominence for his theatrical criticism, in the 1940s and 1950s he produced influential and popular experimental kabuki plays. Beginning in the mid-1950s, he continued his innovative theatrical work in noh, kyōgen and...
's Black Snow
Black Snow
Black Snow can refer to:* Black Snow , a 1990 Chinese film* A name used by wrestler Booker T* A comedy by Mikhail Bulgakov...
(1965), which ended up in a victory for the filmmaker. When Nikkatsu
Nikkatsu
is a Japanese entertainment company well known for its film and television productions. It is Japan's oldest major movie studio. The name Nikkatsu is an abbreviation of Nippon Katsudō Shashin, literally "Japan Cinematograph Company".-History:...
started its Roman Porno series in November 1971, it opened to critical and box-office success with the double-release Apartment Wife: Affair In the Afternoon
Apartment Wife: Affair In the Afternoon
aka From 3 to Sex is a 1971 Japanese film in Nikkatsu's Roman porno series. The first film in this successful new direction for the studio, it was directed by Shōgorō Nishimura and starred Kazuko Shirakawa.-Synopsis:...
and Castle Orgies
Castle Orgies
aka Eros Schedule Book: Concubine Secrets and Sensual History: Shogun's Harem Secret Story is a 1971 Japanese film in Nikkatsu's Roman porno series, directed by Isao Hayashi and starring Setsuko Ogawa and Yoichi Nishikawa...
. The interest of the authorities was also aroused, and with the release of Love Hunter in January 1972, they took action.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police
Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department serves as the police force for the entire Tokyo metropolis. Founded in 1874, it is headed by a superintendent general, who is appointed by the National Public Safety Commission and approved by the prime minister.The Metropolitan Police, with a staff of more...
arrested director Yamaguchi as well as other Nikkatsu employees. Inspectors for Eirin
Eirin
is the abbreviated name for , Japan's movie regulator. Eirin was established on the model of the American Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America's Production Code Administration in June, 1949, on the instructions of the US occupation force...
, the Japanese film industry's self-monitoring organization, were also indicted for passing the film. All copies of the film, as well as the accompanying features, Katsuhiko Fujii's Office Lady Diary: Scent of a She-Cat and Kaoru Umezawa's independent pink film, Highschool Geisha were included in the raid.
Yamaguchi had been one of the Hachirō Guryū, the eight writers for Suzuki
Seijun Suzuki
, born Seitaro Suzuki on May 24, 1923, is a Japanese filmmaker, actor, and screenwriter. His films are renowned by film enthusiasts worldwide for their jarring visual style, irreverent humour, nihilistic cool and entertainment-over-logic sensibility...
's Branded to Kill
Branded to Kill
is a 1967 Japanese yakuza film directed by Seijun Suzuki and starring Joe Shishido, Koji Nanbara, Annu Mari and Mariko Ogawa. It was a low budget, production line number for the Nikkatsu Company, originally released in a double bill with Shōgorō Nishimura's Burning Nature. The story follows Goro...
(1967). He took an adversarial approach to the prosecution, announcing publicly that he was being "crucified", and was "nothing but a scapegoat". His confrontational stance made him popular with the media, but Nikkatsu considered him a troublemaker. During the period leading up to the trial, Yamaguchi filmed a sequel to Love Hunter, Love Hunter: Desire (1973), a story about a stripper
Striptease
A striptease is an erotic or exotic dance in which the performer gradually undresses, either partly or completely, in a seductive and sexually suggestive manner...
who is arrested for obscenity. Mari Tanaka, who had had a supporting role in the original film, was the star of the sequel. The obvious baiting of the authorities intended by the film only added to his trouble with the government and the studio. After starting work on a second sequel, Love Hunter: Lustful Murder, Nikkatsu fired Yamaguchi and had Masaru Konuma
Masaru Konuma
is a Japanese director most famous for his Roman Porno films for Nikkatsu during the 1970s.-Early life:Masaru Konuma was born in Otaru, Hokkaidō, on December 30, 1937. Konuma retains no memories of his father who was a teacher...
finish the project. Yamaguchi moved to Art Theatre Guild
Art Theatre Guild
Art Theatre Guild was a film production company in Japan that started in 1961 and ran through to the mid 1980s. ATG, as it is abbreviated, released mostly Japanese New Wave films. Films released by ATG include Nagisa Oshima's Diary Of A Shinjuku Thief , Toshio Matsumoto's masterpiece Funeral...
where he made one more film.
Through her involvement in Love Hunter, its sequel, and Warmth of Love (1972), which the police accused of obscenity three months later, but did not prosecute, actress Mari Tanaka became a favorite of anti-establishment organizations. Leading Nikkatsu filmmaker Tatsumi Kumashiro
Tatsumi Kumashiro
was a Japanese film director best known for his critically acclaimed, award-winning Roman Porno films, such as Ichijo's Wet Lust and The Woman with Red Hair...
was inspired by the Love Hunter trial to direct several films with an anti-censorship theme. Among them were The World of Geisha
The World of Geisha
aka A Man and a Woman Behind the Fusuma Screen is a 1973 Japanese film in Nikkatsu's Roman porno series, directed by Tatsumi Kumashiro and starring Junko Miyashita...
, and Woods Are Wet (both 1973). Kumashiro's Woods Are Wet: Woman Hell would also run afoul of the police, when they shut it down on May 29, 1973, insisting that Eirin review it again.
In 1978 the Tokyo District Court declared that while the film contained obscenity, it was not, as a whole, obscene. The prosecution appealed the decision, and in July 1980 all of the accused were acquitted. The group of legal suits instigated by Love Hunter were, as of 2009, the last time that a film was prosecuted for obscenity in Japan.