Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather (1982) on Netflix
Matsue is taken in by the Kiryuin House, a small yakuza clan on Shikoku. Its chief, Masagoro Kiryûin, called Onimasa, backs striking train workers, which angers the island's Great Godfather.
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- Netflix3.5/5
- IMDb6.9/10671 votes
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Plot summary
Masagoro Kiryûin, known as Onimasa, heads the Kiryuin House, a small yakuza clan on Shikoku. He is the last heir of a samurai family and, though strict in his dealings, the poor respect him for his fairness. Into his household comes Matsue, his adopted daughter, who grows up among gang wars and the rivalries of the chief's mistresses. Uta is his wife, and Tsuru, Emiwaka and Botan live in the house as well. Onimasa's chivalrous streak leads him to take the side of train workers on strike, which annoys Uichi Suda, the island's Great Godfather. The story opens in 1918 and runs toward the Second World War.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather (1982)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Actress Meiko Kaji wanted to play Matsue opposite Tomisaburo Wakayama as Onimasa and pitched the film to Toei. After months of silence Toei announced its own adaptation; offered any role but the lead, she refused, saying the project was "stolen" from her.
- Shinobu Otake turned down the lead role of Matsue because she refused to work at Toei's Kyoto studio. After six months of searching, the part went to young actress and former model Masako Natsume.
- Filming was halted for a month while Masako Natsume, the film's Matsue, underwent thyroid surgery for Graves' disease.
- Producer Kusakabe was told to make a film that would attract female movie-goers, but Toei president Shigeru Okada turned the novel down several times, so Kusakabe re-framed his pitch as a yakuza boss who lives with his wife and mistresses and "has sex whenever he wants".
- Gosha had to plead, and Okada pulled strings, to cast Shima Iwashita in the role of Uta because she was known for working at rival studio Shochiku.
