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Japanese Contributions


daTOAD

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Ive always read the Shaws would import Directors and Cinematographers from Japan ,but never seen any Japanese names on the films. Anyone have any info on these Japanese Shaw contributers, thanks?

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Tadashi Nishimoto aka Ho Lan Shan.

Ive always read the Shaws would import Directors and Cinematographers from Japan ,but never seen any Japanese names on the films. Anyone have any info on these Japanese Shaw contributers, thanks?
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While Nishimoto was probably the best known for patenting the process we all love; "Shawscope"

(along with Japanese cinematographer Kakita Isakuwe).... here's some others:

Inoue Umetsugu aka Cheng Seung.

It was Nishimoto who introduced Inoue to the Shaws in 1965.

Previously, Inoue had directed over 70 Japanese films.

japa1.jpg

Another was... Mitsuo Murayama aka Mu Shijie.

Another... Mitsuo Wakasugi aka Wa Hak Ngai.

The FIRST Japanese director to work at SB.

japa2.jpg

Another... Yukio Miyaki aka Muduo Gong.

Yukio was a cinematographer who worked almost exclusively with Chang Cheh shooting over 30 of his films --

from the Return of the One-Armed Swordsman to the Five Venoms.

On a side note, many of the Shaw's pre-65 films had post-production work done ... not in Hong Kong - but in Japan!

The Japanese were technically 10 years ahead of HK filmmakers and it was Raymond Chow (of all people) to seek out foreign talent. He was responsible for signing up 6 directors from Japan during the mid 60s.

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Akinori Matsuo directed ASIA-POL (1967), starring Jimmy Wang Yu, and THE LADY PROFESSIONAL (1971), starring Lily Ho, for Shaw.

Ko Nakahira directed INTERPOL (1967), starring Tang Ching and Margaret Tu Chuan, for Shaw. He later directed the Japanese cult film, RICA (1972).

Inoue Umetsugu directed over a dozen musicals, comedies, and romances at Shaw from 1967-1971, including HONG KONG NOCTURNE, HONG KONG RHAPSODY, THE MILLIONAIRE CHASE, THE SINGING ESCORT, THE VENUS TEAR DIAMOND, and SUNSET.

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It seems to me the Japanese influence was most prevalent in the 60's and early 70's. After that, Shaw Brothers was able to rely more on their own talent.

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Its an interesting post that daTOAD has created. We see a lot of anti-Japanese sentiment in Chinese/ HK films (and its quite understandable considering the various conflicts/ history between the two) but not many know of the Japanese influence in the SB.

It's commendable to see people from these two great cultures coming together and creating many wonderful works of art.

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Guest Markgway

Yeah, mostly the Japanese took on Chinese names, as did any Koreans.

Umetsugu was one of the few whose original Japanese name I've seen on the actual print.

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