
Gakuryu Ishii
Directing
Biography
Gakuryu Ishii (石井 岳龍 Ishii Gakuryū, born January 15, 1957), formerly known as Sogo Ishii (石井 聰互 Ishii Sōgo), is a Japanese filmmaker known for his stylistic punk films, which helped spark the cyberpunk movement in Japan. A number of contemporary filmmakers, including Quentin Tarantino, have cited Ishii's films as an influence.
Known For

Mike Hama, Private Detective, is a chain-smoking, wisecracking tough guy with a weakness for the ladies and a soft spot in his heart, especially for his kid sister Akane. Mike's so down on his luck he'll take any case, from finding a lost pet to spying on cheating spouses. But every now and then, along comes a client with dubious and dangerous case… and that's when Mike shows his stuff.
The Private Detective Mike

Ultra Q has returned, and continues investigations of monstrous appearances and strange ecological phenomenons.
Neo Ultra Q

Set in a barren, futuristic Tokyo of highways and wastelands, a rowdy group of punk bands and their fans gather to protest slow, boring, Japanese living.
Burst City

A teenage girl gains supernatural power after an accident and comes to understand her place in the universe.
August in the Water

A “Cinéma, de notre temps” series episode directed by french filmmaker Philippe-Emmanuel Sorlin, originally aired 16 June 2015.
Japanscope, panorama de la nouvelle Nouvelle Vague

Akako, a shape-shifting goldfish in the form of a coquettish nymphet clad in diaphanous red dresses, naively plays the role of erotic muse and adoring pet for an aging writer seeking greatness. Things quickly get complicated for the odd couple, however, when the writer's deceased former student/lover enters the picture as a ghost and helps Akako realize her own desires, activating her agency and frustrating the one-sided male fantasy the writer is so keen to continue.
Bitter Honey

Benkei, a master fighter and killer, vows never to take another life after his conversion to Buddhism. His faith in pacifism, however, is shaken and ultimately broken by the attacks from a trio of fighters known only as the demons. Taking up his sword once more, he sets out to end their murderous terror.
Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle

An anthology of one-minute films created by 51 international filmmakers on the theme of the death of cinema. Intended as an ode to 35mm, the film was screened one time only on a purpose-built 20x12 meter public cinema screen in the Port of Tallinn, Estonia, on 22 December 2011. A special projector was constructed for the event which allowed the actual filmstrip to be burnt at the same time as the film was shown.
60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero

A photographer becomes intrigued by a mysterious man who has chosen to filter his experience of the world through a cardboard box placed over his head.
The Box Man

A high school student rallies his classmates into rebelling violently when the administration refuses to take responsibility for the suicide of one of the students.
Panic in High School

Junoshin Kake is a ronin. To get hired by the Kurokaze Han, he lies and tells them that a religious group is trying to destroy them. He gets hired by the Kurokaze Han, but they learn that Junoshin Kake lied. Junoshin Kake is given the death sentence and he must think of an escape plan.
Punk Samurai Slash Down

Future Imaginations is a special animated PV released to celebrate the launch of the "Reiwa Novel Award" held by LINE Novel in collaboration with Nippon Television and Aniplex
Future Imaginations

Three digital short films: 'Influenza' by Bong Joon-ho, 'Kyo-shin' by Sogo Ishii, 'Dance Me to the End of Love' by Yu Lik-wai
Jeonju Digital Project 2004

Shortly after moving to the suburbs, the Kobayashis start to come undone. Convinced a family curse is at the root of their erratic behavior, the man of the house takes it upon himself to course-correct before it takes the last of their sanity.
The Crazy Family

A woman finds out her father is not her real one after her mother falls into a coma while searching for a mythical creature. She decides to meet her real father who happens to be an off-beat antique shopkeeper.
Instant Swamp

Tomiko falls in love with Niitaka, even though she also suspects him of being the Tokyo bus driver serial killer, who killed his female conductors after tiring of them.
Labyrinth of Dreams

Every Monday, a young woman is murdered in the subway, leading psychiatrist Setsuko Suma to investigate Dr. Rei Aku's deprogramming of former sect members.
Angel Dust

Set in Tokyo, Ice brings her amnesiac older brother Haruo home from the hospital to care for him. He is reluctant to go, until Ice tells him that she is his lover. Since he has no memory of his sister Ice, he obliges her. How long until his memory returns?
March Comes In Like a Lion

Samao Daikoku seeks a way out of the underground life that he has led. He is tortured by a gang boss after stealing a hard disk containing personal information on runaways, homeless people and prostitutes, and the mystery behind his past is revealed.
That's It

A strange phenomenon takes place. A beautiful flower blooms on a selected woman's body and that flower is called the "Shanidar". When the Shanidar is in full bloom, the flower produces a substance which is then sold at a high cost to develop new drugs. Kenji Otaki works as a researcher at the facility where the Shanidar is grown.