NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Film Movement Classics Blu-ray (February 2026): Film Movement Classics have transferred two Hideo Gosha films to Blu-ray; 1982's Onimasa and from 1987, Tokyo Bordello - entitled Courtesans & Criminals: The Underworld of Hideo Gosha. These are new 4K restorations scanned from their original 35mm elements, delivered in 1080P high-definition at the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio on separate Blu-ray discs. Visually, Fujio Morita's (Yakuza Wives, Rashomon, Zatoichi and the One-Armed Swordsman, Rikyu) cinematography in both lends classical richness, contrasting opulent aesthetics with gritty realism, while narratives explore love-hate dynamics (aizo) and self-destructive egos in transitional Japan, from Taisho modernization to Meiji-era decline. The transfers exhibit pleasing detail, with visible textures in costumes, sets, and facial expressions that bring the period settings to life - Onimasa's gritty Shikoku yakuza world shines through earthy tones and dynamic contrasts, while Tokyo Bordello's opulent Yoshiwara district dazzles with vibrant reds, purples, and golds. Grain structure is natural and film-like, preserving the cinematic essence of Gosha's bold visuals, making this the definitive home video presentation for these long-underseen gems, far surpassing previous DVD editions in clarity and color fidelity.

NOTE: We have added 134 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

On their Blu-ray, Film Movement Classics use linear PCM dual-mono tracks (24-bit) in the original Japanese language. The mono mix for Onimasa delivers clear dialogue and Mitsuaki Kanno's eclectic score - blending operatic swells and harmonica motifs - with robust presence, free of hiss or distortion, while ambient effects like crowd noises and clashes add immersion to the yakuza saga. Tokyo Bordello's stereo track expands the soundstage effectively, highlighting Masaru Satō's (The Yellow Handkerchief, The Sword of Doom, Ebirah, Horror of the Deep, Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster, Throne of Blood, The Lower Depths, Hidden Fortress, I Live in Fear) poignant orchestral and traditional shamisen elements, along with textured environmental sounds such as rustling kimonos and brothel clamor, creating a layered auditory experience that complements the film's atmospheric realism. Film Movement Classics offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-rays.

The Film Movement Classics Blu-ray extras package offers audio commentaries by Japanese cinema scholar Jasper Sharp ("Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema," and "The Midnight Eye Guide to New Japanese Film") for both films, where he provides deep context on Gosha's career shift to female-centric stories, historical accuracies, and thematic critiques of patriarchal systems, enriched with production anecdotes and cultural insights. Complementing these are two dozen-minute video essays by TokyoScope author Patrick Macias - one for Onimasa exploring its yakuza epic roots and Tatsuya Nakadai's volcanic performance, and another for Tokyo Bordello delving into the Yoshiwara district's depiction and the film's feminist undertones; a 16-page booklet with an essay by film writer Hayley Scanlon rounds out the supplements, offering scholarly analysis without overwhelming the viewer.

Onimasa stands as a pivotal work in the director's late-period oeuvre, blending the conventions of yakuza eiga with a profound social drama and character study that echoes the epic scope of Western gangster films like The Godfather, yet diverges by emphasizing the inexorable decline of a patriarchal figure rather than generational succession. Tokyo Bordello, Hideo Gosha's 20th film, shifts from yakuza machismo to a female-centric exploration of Tokyo's infamous Yoshiwara red-light district at the turn of the 20th century, culminating in the devastating 1913 fire that symbolized the era's end. Onimasa and Tokyo Bordello share profound thematic and stylistic affinities, often paired in restorations and this edition by Film Movement, reflecting their complementary portraits of Japan's early 20th-century underworlds. Both films are epic historical dramas spanning decades, critiquing patriarchal and exploitative societal structures through resilient female perspectives: Matsue's narration in Onimasa mirrors Hisano's journey in Tokyo Bordello, emphasizing women's endurance in male-dominated realms - yakuza clans versus pleasure quarters - where they are commodified yet forge subtle agency amid tragedy. Gosha's signature focus on "tenacious women" unites them, portraying protagonists trapped in systems of deception and violence (outdated honor codes in Onimasa, illusory glamour in Tokyo Bordello), with operatic melodrama, Greek-tragic dimensions, and a blend of raucous cruelty and elegiac nostalgia. Thematically, they dissect power, corruption, and feminine solidarity in underworlds, with Onimasa's gangster epic paralleling Tokyo Bordello's brothel chronicle, both ending in symbolic destruction (personal downfall versus literal fire), underscoring Gosha's evolution toward female-oriented stories while retaining his "manly way" roots. Overall, Film Movement Classics' "Courtesans & Criminals: The Underworld of Hideo Gosha" Blu-ray set is a must-own for fans of Japanese cinema, delivering pristine 4K-restored transfers that honor the visual and auditory artistry of these late-period Gosha masterworks, paired with extras that enhance appreciation. While the films themselves -Onimasa's tragic gangster saga and Tokyo Bordello's empathetic courtesan chronicle - stand as compelling portraits of resilience amid exploitation, the package's Region 'A' Blu-ray encoding and thoughtful bonuses make it a benchmark release, highly recommended for collectors seeking high-quality presentations of underappreciated Japanese classics.  

Gary Tooze