Kan Mukai
Introduction  a.k.a. '''Hiroshi Mukai''' and  was a Japanese film director, cinematographer, producer and screenwriter, known for his pioneering work in the ''pink film'' genre. In the realm of ''pink'' cinema, Japanese critics have estimated that Mukai is "the only serious rival of Kōji Wakamatsu." As a producer, Mukai helped the early careers of many prominent directors, including Hisayasu Satō and Academy-Award winner Yōjirō Takita. In his career, he directed nearly 200 films and produced approximately 500.
Life and career ===Early career and 1960s===Kan Mukai was born in Dairen, Manchukuo (modern Dalian, China) on October 16, 1937.He studied economics at Kyushu University, but dropped out to pursue a career in film. In 1959 he began his apprenticeship, serving as assistant director to Kiyoshi Saeki, Tadashi Imai and Isao Yoshida. He also worked as a cinematographer on projects for various studios, mostly for educational, children's and industrial films. During this early period in his career he honed his craft and became known as a top cinematographer.Mukai made his debut as a director in 1962 with , an educational film. Wanting to direct, but lacking the educational requirements necessary to be hired as a director at a major studio, in 1965, Mukai moved into the lucrative new ''pink film'' genre. That year he founded Mukai Productions and, with financial backing from Nihon Cinema, directed his first ''pink'' feature, , which was distributed by Kokuei. Though the film was a plotless series of scenes in the life of a prostitute, Mukai's technical skill impressed early ''pink'' audiences and critics, and he quickly became a major name in the genre. Comparing him to the major ''pink'' director of the 1960s, a critic for ''Kinema Junpo'' wrote, "Hiroshi Mukai is the only genre director who could rival Kōji Wakamatsu." ''Flesh'' received international distribution, and was released in Germany on May 14, 1965 as ''Nacktes Fleisch''. ''The Bite'' (1966) was another early Mukai film shown overseas, playing in the U.S. soon after its Japanese release, and in Britain, under the title ''Bait'', in 1967.It was released on DVD in the U.S. in 2008.According to some sources, Mukai's ''Sexy Partners'' (1967) was the first S&M film. It was the first to use the subject as its primary theme. He worked with his wife, actress Takako Uchida, in several of his early films such as ''Nightly Pleasure'' (''Yoru No Yorokobi'', 1967), ''Stories of Adultery'' (''Aru Mittsu'', 1967), and ''Spring of Ecstasy'' (''Kokotsu No Izumi'', 1968). ''Stories of Adultery'' was a three-part omnibus film, with other two segments directed by Kōji Wakamatsu and Shin'ya Yamamoto (director). Mukai's section was titled ''Beauty and Ugliness'' (''Bi To Shu''). Takako Uchida later starred in Nikkatsu's big-budget pre-''Roman Porno'' venture into the ''pink'' arena, ''Story Of Heresy In Meiji Era'' (1968). Mukai gave future first Nikkatsu ''Roman Porno'' star, Kazuko Shirakawa, her film debut with the 1967 film ''Girls' Dormitory''. Until that studio's reorganization in 1967, Mukai's films were released principally through Kanto Films. In 1968, Mukai founded his own studio, and , was the first film released by Mukai Studios.Mukai often employed gimmick-like elements in his films or their publicity to create audiences for his films. His ''Blue Film: Estimation'' (1968) benefitted from a publicity campaign emphasizing that mainstream actress Mitsugu Fujii was starring in this ''pink film''. The whisper-campaign behind ''Flesh 2'' (1969)—sequel to Mukai's debut film—focused on a sex scene between a Korean girl and a black U.S. G.I., and ''Japan Virgin Rape'' (1970) had the first lady of Indonesia in its cast. ''Blue Film Woman'' was an early all-color ''pink film'', and Jasper Sharp writes that Mukai's use of color in this film appears to be "making up for lost time", and that the film is a "highly stylised piece." In 1969, Mukai's film  (1966) was released in Italy under the title ''Naomi''. The film was banned due to obscenity, but scored a triumph in a showing at Waseda University's Okuma Auditorium.===1970s and later===Throughout his career Mukai was known for working in both action and sex genres, and in the 1970s, Mukai made several films in both genres, and with the two genres mixed for the Toei Company. ''Deep Throat in Tokyo'', directed for Toei in 1975, is his best-known film. Comparing Mukai's film to the original ''Deep Throat'' (U.S., 1972), Jasper Sharp writes that Mukai's film, a softcore, "airbrushed fantasy" with a higher budget and, in Kumi Taguchi, a more attractive leading lady, is "a world apart from the more crude and direct approach taken by its revolutionary American model." Nevertheless, Sharp judges that Mukai's softcore film is more offensive than the hardcore original because of its more reactionary approach to sex.In 1979, after the closing of his original Mukai Productions, Mukai started . The name "Shishi", meaning "Lion", was a pun on "4x4", indicating Mukai's ambition to foster the careers of 16 young directors. As producer, Mukai had an influence on the careers of the  group of directors who came to prominence in the 1980s. Hisayasu Satō began working in the film industry through Shishi Productions in 1981, and had his directing debut there with  (1985). He continued working with Mukai throughout the decade. Takahisa Zeze also gained his first film experience at Shishi, working as a screenwriter, and assistant directing for Satō. Through Shishi Productions Mukai gave Academy-Award-winning director Yōjirō Takita his first work in the film industry.In June 1982 Mukai re-formed Mukai Productions. As a production company, Mukai's films were distributed by other studios, including Nikkatsu, which used these films to supplement their ''Roman porno'' series triple-bills. During the 1980s, when rape-themed films were popular, Mukai produced some of Nikkatsu's most extreme examples of the genre, including the ''Subway Serial Rape'' series (1985–1988). Mukai produced celebrated ''Roman porno'' director Tatsumi Kumashiro's final film,  (1995).In his later works as director Mukai moved into non-''pink'' mainstream subjects. His ''Going West'' (1997) was what the director called, "Japan's first granny road movie". He directed a sequel to ''Going West'' entitled ''Hometown'' in 1999.Other films of this final, mainstream period in Mukai's career include ''Last Dance'' (2001) and ''School Reunion'' (2004). After battling liver cancer for two years, Mukai died on June 11, 2008.
Partial filmography  Title  Release date  Starring  Studio  Notes===1960s==='''''Two Boys'''''''Futari no shōnen''1962Mukai's directorial debutNon-pink educational film'''''Flesh'''''''Niku''1965-05Kemi IchiboshiToshio TanakaNihon Cinema / Tokyo Geijutsu Productions / Kokuei81 min.B&W'''''Continuation: Chronicle of an Affair''''' ''aka'' '''''Misused'''''''Zoku: jōji no rirekisho''1966-04Tamaki KatoriAnzu KitamikaTokyo Geijutsu Productions / Kokuei73 min.B&W'''''The Bite''''' ''aka'' '''''Bait'''''''Esa''1966-08Michiko ShiroyamaMachiko MatsumotoSenjō IchirikiTokyo Geijutsu Productions63 min.B&W'''''Fancy Footwork'''''''aka'' '''''Forbidden Technique''''' ''aka'' '''''Naomi''''' (1969 re-release title)''Kinjirareta Tekunikku''1966-11Shusaku MutoKazuko KanoYuichi MinatoNihon Cinema75 min.B&W'''''Nightly Pleasure'''''''Yoru no yorokobi''1967-03-07Takako UchidaJōji OharaNihon Cinema / Kantō79 min.B&W'''''Afternoon Rendezvous'''''''Hirusagari no aibiki''1967-03-28Shusaku ButoKimiko AsukaNihon Cinema75 min.B&W'''''Some Stories of Adultery'''''''Aru mittsū''1967-04-15Mitsugu GujiiTakako UchidaNihon Cinema''Beauty and Ugliness'' segment73 min.B&W'''''Seeking for Women'''''''Onna asari''1967-04-15Nihon Cinema / Mitsukuni Eiga70 min.B&W'''''Girls' Dormitory'''''''Joshiryō''1967-05-16Kazuko ShirakawaMidori HinokiMichiko SakyōKemi IchiboshiYoko ShimuraNihon Cinema / Kantō73 min.B&W'''''Attachment of a Virgin'''''''Shojo miren''1967-05Megumi HoshikawaKumiko ArataShusaku ButoKyoji KokonoeNihon Cinema'''''Sexy Partners'''''''aka'' '''''Lustful Companions''''' ''Iro No Michizure''1967-07-02Michiko SakyōJōji OharaMidori EnokiKemi IchiboshiMutsukuni Eiga / 六邦映画70 min.B&W'''''Report on an Abnormal Situation: Female Plastic Surgery''''' ''aka'' '''''Documentary: Evils Of Plastic Surgery'''''''Ijō taiken hakusho: nyotai seikei''1967-09-04Eri NakakojiKemi IchiboshiKokuei75 min.Part color'''''Shameful Technique'''''''Hazukashii gikō''1967-09-19Rika MizukiKoji SatomiMukai Productions / Nihon Cinema / KantōFirst release from Mukai Productions67 min.B&W'''''Certificate of Virginity'''''''Shojo shōmeisho''1967-11-14Miyuki MatsushimaMayumi TakiNihon Cinema / Kantō69 min.Part color'''''Rape Me! Big Battle'''''''Okashite! Daigassen''1967Nihon Cinema'''''Technique in Private'''''''Koshitsu No Technique''1967Tsuneo KawaiHiromi AoiNihon Cinema / Tokyo Koei69 min. '''''Obscene Family Insignia'''''''Inmon: shojo-zuma kantsū''1967Takako UchidaShinji KuboKemi IchiboshiNihon Cinema73 min. '''''Blue Film: Estimation'''''''Aoi firumu shinasadame''1968-03Mitsugu FujiiNorihiro OhtaniMari NagisaRisa MinakamiMukai Productions / Wakamatsu Productions69 min.Part color'''''Torturing a Sensitive Spot'''''''Kyūsho-zeme''1968-04Mari NagisaKozue KatoriUematsu Productions70 min.Part color'''''The Lewd Ones'''''''Inran''1968-05Uematsu Productions68 min.Part color'''''Raped Virgin's Diary: Female Beast'''''''Bōkō shōjo nikki: mesu''1968-07Kemi IchiboshiNorihiro OhtaniShinji KuboMukai Productions / Nihon Cinema / Kantō81 min.Part color'''''History of Japanese Sexual Behavior: Forced Double Suicide'''''''Nihon sei fūzokushi murishinjū''1968-09Kemi IchiboshiToshio TanakaMari NagisaKiyoko TakedaAsakura Productions / Kokuei80 min.Part color'''''Cruel Story of a Sex Film Actress'''''''Sex joyū zankokushi''1968-09Saeko TsugawaYuri YamashinaMillion Film / Nihon Cinema80 min.Part color'''''Modern Female Ninja: Flesh Hell'''''''Gendai kunoichi niku jigoku''1968-10Kozue KatoriJoji OharaMari NagisaMukai Productions / Kantō68 min.Part color'''''Unfaithful Wife'''''''Futeizuma''1968-11Shintaro TakiKozue KatoriHiroshi JoKaori AiharaAkiko KozukiAsakura Productions71 min.Part color'''''Indecent Wife'''''''Midarazuma: gedō jōen''1968-12Shinji KuboMari NagisaMisa TakaraiMukai Productions76 min.Part color'''''Flesh 2'''''''Zoku niku''1968-12Yuko MayaFred SilverAsakura / Mukai Productions / Kokuei73 min.Part color'''''Blue Film Woman'''''''Burū firumu no onna''1969-01Mitsugu FujiiIchirō FuruokaMiki HashimotoAsakura Productions80 min.Color===1970s and later==='''''Sleeping Nude''''' ''aka'' '''''Flesh Futon''''' ''and'' '''''Spring, Summer, Autumn Winter: Flesh Futon'''''''Niku futon''1971-01Shinji KuboKenji MiyaseKumi SugimuraYuki TakamiHiroko FujiNashiko ShimaeKokuei71 min.Part color'''''Wet Play'''''''Nureta yūgi''1971-03Million Film70 min.B&W'''''Hymn of Roses'''''''Aru moderu no sei to shi: bara no sanka''1970-04Kokuei71 min.Part color'''''Deep Throat in Tokyo''''' ''aka'' '''''Tokyo Madame Deep Throat'''''''Tōkyō diipu surōto fujin''1975-12-06Kumi TaguchiHideo MurotaTatsuya NanjoTetsuya ChibaToei77 min.Color'''''Snake and Lady Slave'''''''Hebi to onnadorei''1976-10-16Eiko YanamiJunichirō YamashitaHideo SunazukaMukai Productions / Universe Productions65 min.Color'''''Forbidden Lady Bondage''''' ''aka'' '''''Forbidden Bound Wife'''''''Hakkin shibari fujin''1978-01Jirō KokubuMako KitanoMami SakuraShintōhō Eiga63 min.Color'''''Nun: Secret'''''''Shūdōjo: himegoto''1978-10Mayuko HinoMako KitanoMariko KitazawaUniverse Productions62 min.Color'''''Savaged and Ravaged''''' ''aka'' '''''Secret Rape''''' ''and'' '''''Rape Injustice in Japan'''''''Nippon mikkan gōmon-shi1979-02Yuriko AzumaTōru IbukiAkihiko KanbaraShintōhō Eiga61 min.Color'''''Lady on 6th Street: Taste of Honey'''''''Onna 6-chōme: Mitsu no aji''1982-10-02Junko TamuraYumika NogawaNatsuko IshidaShishi Productions94 min.ColorDrama (non-pink)'''''Wet Kimono'''''''Yojōhan iro no nureginu''1983-03-12Jun MihoOsamu MurashimaYuriko HishimiToei Central FilmsMainstream drama83 min.Color'''''Going West: To the West'''''''Going West: Nishi-e...''1997-10-18Chikage AwashimaMikio ŌzawaMiki FujitaniMukai ProductionsMainstream film99 min.Color
Bibliography ===English===* * * * * * ===Japanese===* * * *
External links *  Mukai Productions homepage
Notes