Tattooed Life (1965)
"Irezumi ichidai" (original title)

Director:

Seijun Suzuki

Writers:

Kei Hattori, Ai Kennedy (translation),

Stars:

Hideki Takahashi, Akira Yamauchi, Hiroko Itô

Cast

Credited cast:
Hideki Takahashi	...	Murakami Tetsutaro
Akira Yamauchi	...	Kinoshita Yuzo
Hiroko Itô	...	Kinoshita Masayo
Masako Izumi	...	Kinoshita Midori
Kayo Matsuo	...	Oyuki
Hôsei Komatsu	...	Yamano Senkichi
Yuji Odaka	...	Ezaki Osamu
Michio Hino	...	Tokuhira
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hiroshi Chiyoda	...	Zensuke
Hiroshi Chô	...	Masayoshi
Kotobuki Hananomoto	...	Murakami Kenji
Akira Hisamatsu	...	Patrolman Oikawa (as Kosuke Hisamatsu)
Masaaki Honme	...	Tsurumatsu
Take Ikezawa	...	Head Longshoreman
Seizaburô Kawazu	...	Akamatsu Jugoro

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

ninkyo | gangster

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

7 October 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

White Tiger Tattoo

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nikkatsu

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in 100 Years of Japanese Cinema (1995)

User Reviews

Slowly builds up to an amazing finale

As a fan of Suzuki's films I find this lesser known one to be his best. The story is told very traditionally and has some interesting facets. There is the unexpected love story and an uncommon setting. The love story in particular and the way it evolves is handled with the greatest of care and without any of the madness that trademarks some of the author's films. So Suzuki slowly builds an intrigue which although quite original is perfectly understandable. And then he boils down all of what he is notorious for, expressive colors, exquisite angles,... in the final act which you will want to watch over and over again. If you are scared away by the slow pacing of some Japanese film this one will reward you with this final act which I found to be one of the most memorable ever.