Sogo Ishii
Encyclopedia
, formerly is a Japanese filmmaker known for his striking visuals and sometimes outlandish subject matter.
Ishii was born in Fukuoka City
, Fukuoka Prefecture
, and is a graduate of Fukuoka Prefectural Fukuoka High School
and Nihon University
College of Art.
film with the aid of friends, a short work titled Panic in High School . The film, about a student rebellion when a school's administration refuses to acknowledge complicity for a student's suicide, garnered him attention outside of school and was released theatrically.
For his graduation project, he filmed Crazy Thunder Road
(1980), again directed with friends of his who were in biker gangs. This film was a based on the Bōsōzoku
aesthetic, and enthralled film studio Toho
such that they struck 35 mm
prints of the 16 mm film
and released it theatrically. It was widely considered controversial, and the Japanese film board Eirin
condemned it for presenting violence sympathetically.
In 1982, he directed Burst City
, a stylish action film
about a wild gang of quasi-mutant
bikers
who ride into a town staging protests against the construction of a nearby nuclear reactor
plant. The film starred members of Japanese punk bands The Roosters
, The Rockers, The Stalin
and Inu, among others. He became a favorite among rebel and punk
cineastes in Japan. The film is also credited as a precursor to the underground Japanese Cyberpunk
movement that emerged later in the decade.
In 1984, Ishii directed his most widely-acclaimed movie to that point, The Crazy Family
, the title of which literally translates to The Back-Firing Family (or more crudely, "the fucked-up
family"). A savage satire
of Japanese family life, it depicted an average household (mother, father, son, daughter, and later grandfather) moving into a new Tokyo
home, only to have their perfect life collapse due to pressures from within and without. The daughter obsesses over her singing career; the nominally-demure wife does table-dances for the guests; the son stabs himself to stay awake during his exam-cram sessions; the father digs a giant hole in the living room floor, finds termites, buys ant poison and tries to kill everyone en masse. The film garnered the Grand Prix at the Saruso Film Festival.
concert film Halber Mensch
. In 1994 he returned with his first feature-length film in ten years, Angel Dust , about a female psychological profiler trying to find a serial killer
who murders a young woman every Monday at six P.M. on the Yamanote
commuter line.
In 1995 Ishii made August in the Water , which dealt with a teenage girl gaining supernatural
powers after a mishap and using same to better understand her purpose in life. In a similarly mystical vein was 1997's Labyrinth of Dreams
, wherein a bus conductor discovers that her driver may in fact be a serial murderer.
epic
that combined both his original hyperkinetic filmmaking approach (violence, wild editing and camera movements) with his newer, more stately concerns (man's place in the universe). A spectacularly-photographed, revisionist
retelling of the legends of Saito Musashibo Benkei
and Yoshitsune
, it recast the two as mortal enemies destined to clash on the bridge named Gojoe. The swordplay, choreographed by a member of the Chinese opera, brought to mind ballet fused with conventional chanbara fighting styles. Opinions over the film were divided in Japan: some lambasted it for being a trashing of conventional myth, while others praised it for being an imaginative re-envisioning and retelling of a well-worn story.
Ishii also directed Electric Dragon 80.000 V
in the same year, a low-budget, black-and-white 50 minute short about two superhero
es, "Dragon Eye Morrison" and "Electric Buddha", who clash in nighttime Tokyo. The film starred two actors who also appeared in Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle, Tadanobu Asano
and Masatoshi Nagase
.
In 2003 Ishii released Dead End Run
, a collection of three short films each revolving around the concept of reaching a "dead end." Asano and Nagase again starred.
He had decided to change it in 2001, and intended to reveal it with the announcement of his next feature-length film following Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle. Unfortunately he was subsequently unable to make another feature, and the opportunity escaped him.
Later in 2010, production was announced for a new feature entitled "Ikite iru Mono wa Inai no ka", at which time he also publicly revealed his name change.
The kanji character for "gaku" means "mountain," and the character for "ryu" means "dragon." This is the inspiration for the name of his new production company, Dragon Mountain.
Ishii was born in Fukuoka City
Fukuoka
Fukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.It can also refer to:-Locations:* Fukuoka, Gifu, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan* Fukuoka, Toyama, a town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan...
, Fukuoka Prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
, and is a graduate of Fukuoka Prefectural Fukuoka High School
Fukuoka Prefectural Fukuoka High School
is a co-educational public senior high school located in Hakata ward, Fukuoka city, Fukuoka prefecture, Japan. It is often called for short. Note, however, that there are several high schools with similar names in Saitama Prefecture in Eastern Japan and Iwate Prefecture in Northern Japan, Toyama...
and Nihon University
Nihon University
Nihon University is the largest university in Japan. Akiyoshi Yamada, the minister of justice, founded Nihon Law School in October 1889....
College of Art.
Punk era films
Soon after entering university in 1976, he made his first 8 mm8 mm film
8 mm film is a motion picture film format in which the filmstrip is eight millimeters wide. It exists in two main versions: the original standard 8mm film, also known as regular 8 mm or Double 8 mm, and Super 8...
film with the aid of friends, a short work titled Panic in High School . The film, about a student rebellion when a school's administration refuses to acknowledge complicity for a student's suicide, garnered him attention outside of school and was released theatrically.
For his graduation project, he filmed Crazy Thunder Road
Crazy Thunder Road
is a 1980 Japanese science fiction-action-biker film written and directed by Sōgo Ishii. Ishii made the film as his graduation project whilst studying at Nihon University and was subsequently distributed by Toei Studios.-Cast:*Tatsuo Yamada as Jin...
(1980), again directed with friends of his who were in biker gangs. This film was a based on the Bōsōzoku
Bosozoku
is a Japanese subculture associated with motorcycle clubs and gangs.-Traits and history:The word bōsōzoku is also applied to motorcycle gangs, who share an interest in modifications for motorcycles, such as removing the mufflers so that more noise is produced...
aesthetic, and enthralled film studio Toho
Toho
is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
such that they struck 35 mm
35 mm film
35 mm film is the film gauge most commonly used for chemical still photography and motion pictures. The name of the gauge refers to the width of the photographic film, which consists of strips 35 millimeters in width...
prints of the 16 mm film
16 mm film
16 mm film refers to a popular, economical gauge of film used for motion pictures and non-theatrical film making. 16 mm refers to the width of the film...
and released it theatrically. It was widely considered controversial, and the Japanese film board 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...
condemned it for presenting violence sympathetically.
In 1982, he directed Burst City
Burst City
is a Japanese science fiction punk rock musical / action film. Released in 1982, the film was directed by Sogo Ishii. Primarily a showcase for both various specific punk rock bands of the time, such as The Roosters, The Rockers, and The Stalin, the film is also purely demonstrative of the culture...
, a stylish action film
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
about a wild gang of quasi-mutant
Mutant
In biology and especially genetics, a mutant is an individual, organism, or new genetic character, arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, which is a base-pair sequence change within the DNA of a gene or chromosome of an organism resulting in the creation of a new character or trait not...
bikers
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
who ride into a town staging protests against the construction of a nearby nuclear reactor
Nuclear reactor
A nuclear reactor is a device to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Most commonly they are used for generating electricity and for the propulsion of ships. Usually heat from nuclear fission is passed to a working fluid , which runs through turbines that power either ship's...
plant. The film starred members of Japanese punk bands The Roosters
The Roosters
The Roosters were a Japanese rock band that mixed punk, blues-rock, ska and straightforward rock and roll.-History:They formed in 1979 in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka. Although there were four different lineups throughout the life of the band—all centered around guitarist Hiroyuki Hanada--Shinya Ohe...
, The Rockers, The Stalin
The Stalin
were an influential Japanese punk rock band formed in June 1980, by leader and vocalist Michiro Endo. After numerous member changes, he disbanded the group in February 1985. In May 1987 Michiro formed a group called Video Stalin, which mostly made videos instead of albums, they disbanded in 1988...
and Inu, among others. He became a favorite among rebel and punk
Punk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
cineastes in Japan. The film is also credited as a precursor to the underground Japanese Cyberpunk
Japanese cyberpunk
Japanese Cyberpunk is a genre of underground film produced in Japan starting in the late 1980s. The genre is not very closely related to Cyberpunk as understood in the west — the focus is industrial and incomprehensible, not high-tech and scientific...
movement that emerged later in the decade.
In 1984, Ishii directed his most widely-acclaimed movie to that point, The Crazy Family
The Crazy Family
is a 1984 Japanese film directed by Sōgo Ishii.-Awards and nominations:6th Yokohama Film Festival* Won: Best Newcomer - Youki Kudoh*8th Best Film...
, the title of which literally translates to The Back-Firing Family (or more crudely, "the fucked-up
Fuck
"Fuck" is an English word that is generally considered obscene which, in its most literal meaning, refers to the act of sexual intercourse. By extension it may be used to negatively characterize anything that can be dismissed, disdained, defiled, or destroyed."Fuck" can be used as a verb, adverb,...
family"). A savage satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
of Japanese family life, it depicted an average household (mother, father, son, daughter, and later grandfather) moving into a new Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
home, only to have their perfect life collapse due to pressures from within and without. The daughter obsesses over her singing career; the nominally-demure wife does table-dances for the guests; the son stabs himself to stay awake during his exam-cram sessions; the father digs a giant hole in the living room floor, finds termites, buys ant poison and tries to kill everyone en masse. The film garnered the Grand Prix at the Saruso Film Festival.
Second period
For the next ten years Ishii made few films, other than various shorts and the Einstürzende NeubautenEinstürzende Neubauten
Einstürzende Neubauten is a German post-industrial band, originally from West Berlin, formed in 1980. The group currently comprises Blixa Bargeld , Alexander Hacke , N.U...
concert film Halber Mensch
Halber Mensch (film)
"Halber Mensch" is a 1986 film by Japanese director Sogo Ishii with German band Einstürzende Neubauten. It was originally released on VHS, and re-released on DVD in 2005. The film's title comes from the album of the same name....
. In 1994 he returned with his first feature-length film in ten years, Angel Dust , about a female psychological profiler trying to find a serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
who murders a young woman every Monday at six P.M. on the Yamanote
Yamanote Line
The is commuter rail loop line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It is one of Tokyo's busiest and most important lines, connecting most of Tokyo's major stations and urban centres, including the Yūrakuchō/Ginza area, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro, with all but two of its...
commuter line.
In 1995 Ishii made August in the Water , which dealt with a teenage girl gaining supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
powers after a mishap and using same to better understand her purpose in life. In a similarly mystical vein was 1997's Labyrinth of Dreams
Labyrinth of Dreams
Labyrinth of Dreams, released in 1992, is the debut album by Dutch power metal band Elegy. It reached number 42 on the album charts in Japan.- Track listing :#"The Grand Change" - 4:42#"I'm No Fool" - 4:56#"Take My Love" - 4:47...
, wherein a bus conductor discovers that her driver may in fact be a serial murderer.
Recent films
In 2000 Ishii made Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle , a samuraiSamurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
epic
Epic film
An epic is a genre of film that emphasizes human drama on a grand scale. Epics are more ambitious in scope than other film genres, and their ambitious nature helps to differentiate them from similar genres such as the period piece or adventure film...
that combined both his original hyperkinetic filmmaking approach (violence, wild editing and camera movements) with his newer, more stately concerns (man's place in the universe). A spectacularly-photographed, revisionist
Historical revisionism
In historiography, historical revisionism is the reinterpretation of orthodox views on evidence, motivations, and decision-making processes surrounding a historical event...
retelling of the legends of Saito Musashibo Benkei
Saito Musashibo Benkei
, popularly called Benkei, was a Japanese warrior monk who served Minamoto no Yoshitsune. He is commonly depicted as a man of great strength and loyalty, and a popular subject of Japanese folklore.-Biography:...
and Yoshitsune
Yoshitsune
may refer to:* Minamoto no Yoshitsune * Takuya Sugi , Japanese professional wrestler better known as Yoshitsune* Yoshitsune , a 2005 Japanese television drama series* Yoshitsune, a character in manga/anime Air Gear...
, it recast the two as mortal enemies destined to clash on the bridge named Gojoe. The swordplay, choreographed by a member of the Chinese opera, brought to mind ballet fused with conventional chanbara fighting styles. Opinions over the film were divided in Japan: some lambasted it for being a trashing of conventional myth, while others praised it for being an imaginative re-envisioning and retelling of a well-worn story.
Ishii also directed Electric Dragon 80.000 V
Electric Dragon 80.000 V
Electric Dragon 80.000 V is a 2001 Japanese film written and directed by Sogo Ishii. The comic-book style story stars Tadanobu Asano and Masatoshi Nagase as electricity wielding super-heroes.-Plot:...
in the same year, a low-budget, black-and-white 50 minute short about two superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
es, "Dragon Eye Morrison" and "Electric Buddha", who clash in nighttime Tokyo. The film starred two actors who also appeared in Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle, Tadanobu Asano
Tadanobu Asano
, born is a Japanese actor. He is known for his roles as Dragon Eye Morrison in Electric Dragon 80.000 V, Kakihara in Ichi the Killer, Mamoru Arita in Bright Future, Hattori Genosuke in Zatoichi, Kenji in Last Life in the Universe, Aman in Survive Style 5+, Ayano in The Taste of Tea, and Temudjin...
and Masatoshi Nagase
Masatoshi Nagase
Masatoshi Nagase is a Japanese actor. He is best known in the West for his roles in Friðrik Þór Friðriksson's Cold Fever and Jim Jarmusch's Mystery Train, in Japan for his role as TV's Mike Hama .He has won two Japanese Academy Awards, for Best Supporting Actor and Best Newcomer in 1992...
.
In 2003 Ishii released Dead End Run
Dead End Run
Dead End Run is a 2003 film directed by Japanese cult film director Sogo Ishii, notable for Ishii's trademark flashy visual style.The film has little plot to speak of, but is instead divided into three short episodes, each of which opens with a man desperately running away before being trapped in a...
, a collection of three short films each revolving around the concept of reaching a "dead end." Asano and Nagase again starred.
Name change
In a blog entry dated January 17th 2010, Ishii announced that he had changed his pseudonym from Sōgo Ishii to Gakuryū Ishii.He had decided to change it in 2001, and intended to reveal it with the announcement of his next feature-length film following Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle. Unfortunately he was subsequently unable to make another feature, and the opportunity escaped him.
Later in 2010, production was announced for a new feature entitled "Ikite iru Mono wa Inai no ka", at which time he also publicly revealed his name change.
The kanji character for "gaku" means "mountain," and the character for "ryu" means "dragon." This is the inspiration for the name of his new production company, Dragon Mountain.
Director
- 1976 Panic in High School (高校大パニック, Kōkō Dai Panikku)
- 1977 Solitude of One Divided by 880,000 (880000/1の孤独, Hachijūhachiman-bun no Ichi no Kodoku)
- 1978 Charge! Hakata Gangsters (突撃！博多愚連隊, Totsugeki! Hakata Gurentai)
- 1978 Panic in High School (高校大パニック, Kōkō Dai Panikku), a commercial remake of Ishii's debut film for studio NikkatsuNikkatsuis 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:...
, co-directed with Yukihiro Sawada. - 1980 Crazy Thunder RoadCrazy Thunder Roadis a 1980 Japanese science fiction-action-biker film written and directed by Sōgo Ishii. Ishii made the film as his graduation project whilst studying at Nihon University and was subsequently distributed by Toei Studios.-Cast:*Tatsuo Yamada as Jin...
(狂い咲きサンダーロード, Kuruizaki Sanda Rōdo) - 1981 Shuffle (シャッフル, Shaffuru)
- 1982 Burst CityBurst Cityis a Japanese science fiction punk rock musical / action film. Released in 1982, the film was directed by Sogo Ishii. Primarily a showcase for both various specific punk rock bands of the time, such as The Roosters, The Rockers, and The Stalin, the film is also purely demonstrative of the culture...
(爆裂都市, Bakuretsu toshi) - 1983 Asia Strikes Back (アジアの逆襲, Ajia no Gyakushū)
- 1984 The Crazy FamilyThe Crazy Familyis a 1984 Japanese film directed by Sōgo Ishii.-Awards and nominations:6th Yokohama Film Festival* Won: Best Newcomer - Youki Kudoh*8th Best Film...
(逆噴射家族, Gyakufunsha Kazoku) - 1985 Halber MenschHalber Mensch (film)"Halber Mensch" is a 1986 film by Japanese director Sogo Ishii with German band Einstürzende Neubauten. It was originally released on VHS, and re-released on DVD in 2005. The film's title comes from the album of the same name....
(半分人間 アインシュテュルツェンデ・ノイバウテン, Hanbun Ningen ) - 1989 The Master of Shiatsu (THE MASTER OF SHIATSU 指圧王者, Shiatsu Ōja)
- 1989 Dumb Numb Live Friction 1989 (DUMB NUMB LIVE FRICTION 1989, Damu Namu Raibu Furikushon 1989)
- 1993 Tokyo Blood (TOKYO BLOOD, Tōkyō Buraddo)
- 1994 Angel Dust (エンジェル・ダスト, Enjeru Dasuto)
- 1995 August in the Water (水の中の八月, Mizu no Naka no Hachigatsu)
- 1997 Labyrinth of Dreams (ユメノ銀河, Yume no Ginga)
- 2000 Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle (五条霊戦記 GOJOE, Gojō Reisenki)
- 2001 Electric Dragon 80.000 VElectric Dragon 80.000 VElectric Dragon 80.000 V is a 2001 Japanese film written and directed by Sogo Ishii. The comic-book style story stars Tadanobu Asano and Masatoshi Nagase as electricity wielding super-heroes.-Plot:...
(ELECTRIC DRAGON 80000V, Erekutorikku Doragon Hachiman-Boruto) - 2002 Toki yo Tomare, Kimi wa Utsukushii (時よとまれ、君は美しい), episode 8 of the Shiritsu Tantei: Hama Maiku NTVNippon Televisionis a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
television series starring Masatoshi NagaseMasatoshi NagaseMasatoshi Nagase is a Japanese actor. He is best known in the West for his roles in Friðrik Þór Friðriksson's Cold Fever and Jim Jarmusch's Mystery Train, in Japan for his role as TV's Mike Hama .He has won two Japanese Academy Awards, for Best Supporting Actor and Best Newcomer in 1992...
, based on the trilogy of films by Kaizo HayashiKaizo Hayashiis a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He made his directorial debut with To Sleep so as to Dream . Abroad, he is best known for his neo-noir Maiku Hama trilogy, The Most Terrible Time in My Life , Stairway to the Distant Past and The Trap .-Partial filmography:* To Sleep so as to Dream *...
. - 2003 Dead End RunDead End RunDead End Run is a 2003 film directed by Japanese cult film director Sogo Ishii, notable for Ishii's trademark flashy visual style.The film has little plot to speak of, but is instead divided into three short episodes, each of which opens with a man desperately running away before being trapped in a...
(DEAD END RUN, Deddo Endo Ran) - 2004 Mirrored Mind (鏡心, Kyōshin), an entry in the Jeonju International Film FestivalJeonju International Film FestivalThe Jeonju International Film Festival has been held annually since 2000 in Jeonju, South Korea, focusing on digital, independent and art films.-2000:*April 28-May 4: 184 films from 21 countries...
's Digital Short Films by Three Filmmakers 2004 project, released in Japan as 三人三色 (Sannin Sanshoku). - 2005 Mirrored Mind (鏡心・3Dサウンド完全版, Kyōshin: 3D Saundo Kanzenban), a re-edited and extended version of Ishii's short film for Digital Short Films by Three Filmmakers 2004, designed to be screened using a unique "3D virtual sound" system.