Masaru Konuma (小沼勝, Konuma Masaru, December 30, 1937 – January 22, 2023)[1] was a Japanese film director known for his Roman Porno films for Nikkatsu during the 1970s.
Masaru Konuma | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 30, 1937 |
| Died | January 22, 2023 (aged 85) |
| Occupation | Film director |
| Years active | 1971–2000 |
| Awards | Special Prize, Yokohama Film Festival for Nagisa (2000) Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk Grand Prix, Berlin International Film Festival for Nagisa (2000) |
Life and career
editEarly life
editMasaru Konuma was born in Otaru, Hokkaidō, on December 30, 1937. Konuma retained no memories of his father who was a teacher. Drafted into the army after the outbreak of World War II in 1941, Konuma's father became ill with tuberculosis within a year of the start of his military service, and returned home where he died.[2]
After the war, Konuma's mother remarried, and Konuma, then 15, was sent away to live in Tokyo. Konuma recalled, "In those days, there was no TV. I had no idea about Tokyo. It was as distant to me as Africa or Alaska is to kids today. I didn't want to go. I cried."[3]
As a way of dealing with his loneliness and homesickness at this time, Konuma began going to the cinema.[3] He majored in film studies in the Art Department of Nihon University.[4] Soon after graduation, in 1961, Konuma went to work at Nikkatsu Studios, about the same time as producer Yuki and directors Kōyū Ohara and Noboru Tanaka. The quartet were known by their individual characters as, "Diligent Yuki, slovenly Ohara, faithful Tanaka, reckless Konuma."[5] Konuma started as a "fifth" assistant director, which meant he was in charge of the clipboard. He endured this low position at the studio in the hope that eventually he would become a director.[6] In his early career, he was the assistant director on such films as Nikkatsu's venture into the kaiju genre, Daikyojū Gappa (1967), which was released in the U.S. as Monster from a Prehistoric Planet. Seijun Suzuki was one of the few directors who impressed Konuma during these early years at Nikkatsu.[7]
Roman Porno
editDuring the later 1960s, Nikkatsu began losing its audience to TV, and its film production dropped. At this time, assistant directors moved on to TV or non-film work. In order to find a new audience, Nikkatsu president Takashi Itamochi made the decision to put the company's high production values and professional talent entirely into the "pink-film" (softcore pornographic) industry, which had until then been made by independent and low-budget filmmakers like Kōji Wakamatsu.[8] Many of Nikkatsu's staff either did not return to the studio or left, not wanting to make sex films. Konuma had no such reservations, however, later saying, "The pleasure of becoming a director was greater than anything else at that moment... I was just happy to be making movies."[9]
Konuma's first assignment as director was Call of the Pistil in 1971. Two of his most popular films-- Flower and Snake and Wife to Be Sacrificed—were made for Nikkatsu in 1974, both with Naomi Tani. Though it was Konuma who brought Oniroku Dan's work to the mainstream through Flower and Snake, the author was reportedly never happy with Konuma's interpretation of his work or the SM genre.[10] The success of Flower and Snake inspired a Flower and Snake series which ran through the 1970s and returned in the mid-1980s.[11]
In Konuma's nunsploitation film Cloistered Nun: Runa's Confession (1976), half-Japanese pop singer Runa Takamura made her Roman Porno debut.[12] For Lady Karuizawa (1982), Konuma worked with the mainstream 1960s star, Miwa Takada in her first starring role in over a decade. The film was a variation on Lady Chatterley's Lover, with some added political intrigue.[13] Corrida of Sex and Love a.k.a. In The Realm Of Sex (1977) was Nikkatsu's attempt to capitalize on the notoriety surrounding the domestic release of Ōshima's In the Realm of the Senses (1976).[14]
Commenting on his association with the S/M subgenre of Nikkatsu's Roman Pornos, Konuma said, "In general, the roman porn audience wants to see something they can't experience in everyday life. These people get excited about seeing acts which they may - or may not want to do to their wives or mates. Things they would never be able to really do without ending up in jail or divorce. For example, I was often assigned to make movies with rape scenes. I am not a person who could possibly perform rape. I want to see a lady's happy face while having sex... Movies are fantasies. Sometimes they might be ugly, but they're still fantasies. I was the dreamweaver."[15]
In 2000, director Hideo Nakata, who had served his apprenticeship at Nikkatsu under Konuma, made a documentary on his mentor entitled Sadistic and Masochistic.[16] In 2001 Konuma was given an award at the Yokohama Film Festival for his career and his film Nagisa.
Partial filmography
edit| Title[17] | Cast | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| Call of the Pistil 花芯の誘い Kashin No Izanai |
Keiko Maki Hajime Mitamura |
1971-12-18 |
| Love Hunter: Hot Skin ラブハンター 熱い肌 Koi no karyudo: atsui hada |
Mari Tanaka Ken Yoshizawa |
1972-03-29 |
| Headlights In The Rain 雨のヘッドライト |
Mari Tanaka Shusaku Muto |
1972-05-17 |
| Secret Wife 隠し妻 Kakushizuma |
Yuko Katagiri Kiyoshi Yoshida |
1972-07-19 |
| Three Wives: Wild Nights 妻三人 狂乱の夜 Tsuma San-nin: Kyoran No Yoru |
Akemi Nijo Hidemi Hara Mari Tanaka |
1972-10-28 |
| Afternoon Affair: Kyoto Holy Tapestry 昼下りの情事 古都曼陀羅 Hirusagari no joji Koto-mandara |
Yuri Yamashina Morio Kazama |
1973-04-04 |
| Erotic Journey: Love Affair In Hong Kong 色情旅行 香港慕情 Shikijo Ryoko: Hong Kong Bojo |
Setsuko Ogawa Yuko Katagiri Junko Miyashita |
1973-08-04 |
| Female Teacher: Sweet Life 女教師 甘い生活 Onna Kyoshi: Amai Seikatsu |
Ayako Ichikawa Aoi Nakajima Nozomi Yasuda |
1973-12-05 |
| White Whore 白い娼婦 花芯のたかまり Kashin No Takamari |
Yuri Yamashina Misa Aoyama Toru Ohe |
1974-03-02 |
| Lost Love: Oil Hell ロスト・ラブ －あぶら地獄－ Lost Love: Abura Jigoku |
Akari Uchida Tetsuo Tomikawa Kazuko Tajima |
1974-05-04 |
| Flower and Snake 花と蛇 Hana to hebi |
Naomi Tani Yasuhiko Ishizu Nagatoshi Sakamoto |
1974-06-22 |
| Wife to Be Sacrificed 生贄夫人 Ikenie fujin |
Naomi Tani Nagatoshi Sakamoto Terumi Azuma |
1974-10-26 |
| Lesbian World: Ecstasy レスビアンの世界 －恍惚－ Lesbian No Sekai: Koukotsu |
Mihoko Arikawa Maki Kawamura Naomi Oka |
1975-02-19 |
| Female Teacher: Boy Hunt 女教師 少年狩り Onna Kyoshi: Shonen-gari |
Maya Hiromi Akira Takahashi Kiyoyasu Adachi |
1975-06-04 |
| Great Edo: Secret Story Of A Female Doctor In Trouble 大江戸 (秘)おんな医者あらし Oedo: Maruhi Onna Isha Arashi |
Yuko Katagiri Moeko Ezawa Junko Miyashita |
1975-10-18 |
| Cloistered Nun: Runa's Confession 修道女ルナの告白 Shudojo Runa no kokuhaku |
Luna Takamura Aoi Nakajima Kumi Taguchi |
1976-01-08 |
| Wet Vase a.k.a. Wet Tattooed Vagina 濡れた壺 Nureta tsubo |
Naomi Tani Hirokazu Inoue Hiroko Fuji |
1976-03-19 |
| Getting Raped a.k.a. Raped 犯される Okasareru |
Junko Miyashita Maki Mizuno Akira Hanagami |
1976-07-31 |
| Tattooed Flower Vase 花芯の刺青 熟れた壺 Kashin no irezumi: ureta tsubo |
Naomi Tani | 1976-09-25 |
| Erotic Diary of an Office Lady aka Office Lady Lusty Journal: "Ah, There's Something Inside Me!" ＯＬ官能日記 あァ！私の中で OL kanno nikki: Ah! Watashi no naka de |
Asami Ogawa Morihira Murakuni Katsuo Yamada |
1977-02-22 |
| In The Realm Of Sex 性と愛のコリーダ Seito ai no corrida |
Asami Ogawa Natsuko Yashiro Naomi Tani |
1977-04-23 |
| 夢野久作の少女地獄 Yumeno Kyusaku no shoujo jigoku a.k.a. Kasei no onna |
Asami Ogawa | 1977-08-20 |
| 団鬼六「黒い鬼火」より 貴婦人縛り壺 Kifujin shibari tsubo |
Naomi Tani | 1977-12-10 |
| Wandering Lovers: Dizziness さすらいの恋人 眩暈 めまい Sasurai no koibito: memai |
Toshiyuki Kitami Kei Ogawa Akira Takahashi |
1978-03-04 |
| Friday Bedroom 金曜日の寝室 Kinyo-bi no shinshitsu |
Reiko Kayama Yuki Nohira Hiroshi Unayama |
1978-04-29 |
| Sometimes... Like A Prostitute 時には娼婦のように Toki niha Shoufu no youni |
Rei Nakanishi Eri Kanuma Erina Miyai |
1978-09-23 |
| College Girls On Friday 泉大八の女子大生の金曜日 Izumi Daihachi no joshidaisei no kinyobi |
Minako Mizushima Yumi Fukazawa Megu Kawashima |
1979-03-31 |
| Mr Dilemma Man (Dilemman): Lunatic For Lust Ｍｒ．ジレンマン 色情狂い Mr- Dilemman: shikijo-garu |
Akira Emoto Yukiko Tachibana Yuka Asagiri |
1979-10-06 |
| Image Of A Bound Girl 団鬼六 少女縛り絵図 Dan Oniroku shoujo shibari ezu |
Kumiko Hayano Hide Ezumi Yuko Asuka |
1980-03-01 |
| Uptown Lady: Days Of Eros 山の手夫人 性愛の日々 Yamanote fujin: seiai no hibi |
Izumi Shima Ryuichi Nagashima Yoichiro Sanada |
1980-05-31 |
| Wife's Sexual Fantasy: Before Husband's Eyes 妻たちの性体験 夫の眼の前で、今・・・ Tsumatachi no seitaiken: otto no me no maede ima |
Yuki Kazamatsuri Hiroshi Unayama Rika Takahara |
1980-10-22 |
| Woman Who Exposes Herself 見せたがる女 Misetagaru onna |
Maiko Kazama Izumi Shima |
1981-01-09 |
| Woman Who Is Used あそばれる女 Asobareru onna |
Maiko Kazama Asami Ogawa |
1981-06-12 |
| Fallen Angel Gang 悪女群団 Akujo gundan |
Yuki Kazamatsuri Jun Izumi Eiko Yanami |
1981-10-23 |
| Slave Contract 奴隷契約書 Dorei keiyakushu |
Nami Matsukawa Asami Ogawa Jun Hongo |
1982-01-22 |
| Lady Karuizawa 軽井沢夫人 Karuizawa fujin |
Miwa Takada Takayuki Godai Yumi Yoshikawa |
1982-08-06 |
| Rope and Breasts 縄と乳房 Nawa to chibusa |
Nami Matsukawa Izumi Shima |
1983-01-07 |
| ブルーレイン大阪 | Kiriko Shimizu | 1983-01-07 |
| Female Prisoner: Cage 女囚 檻 Joshuu ori |
Mina Asami Nami Matsukawa |
1983-09-16 |
| Madam Scandal - Final Scandal: Madam Likes It Hard ファイナル・スキャンダル 奥様はお固いのがお好き Final scandal: okusama wa okatai no ga osuki |
Midori Satsuki Kaori Okamoto Takashi Shikauchi Kate Asabuki |
1983-12-23 |
| スチュワーデス・スキャンダル 獣のように抱きしめて Stewardess scandal: kemono no youni dakishimete |
Tomoko Ai | 1984-03-16 |
| 柔肌色くらべ | Mariko Nishina | 1984-12-08 |
| Woman In The Box: Virgin Sacrifice 箱の中の女 処女いけにえ Hako no naka no onna: shojo ikenie |
Reiko Aoi Saeko Kizuki Kojiro Kusanagi |
1985-09-07 |
| いんこう Inkou |
Kaori Asou | 1986-07-26 |
| Bed-In ベッド・イン |
Miki Yanagi Rie Kitahara |
1986-12-20 |
| 輪舞 ＜りんぶ＞ Rinbu |
Kaori Asou | 1988-01-09 |
| Woman In The Box 2 a.k.a. Captured For Sex 4 箱の中の女２ Hako no naka no onna II |
Ryouta Nakanishi Shihori Nagasaka Miyuki Kawamura |
1988-02-27 |
| ドラフト | 1991-04-01 | |
| 雀鬼 裏麻雀勝負！ ２０年間無敗の男 | 1992-12-01 | |
| 蕾のルチア | 1992-12-19 | |
| 雀鬼２ 白刃を背に | 1993-10-22 | |
| 雀鬼３ 治外法権麻雀 | 1994-02-25 | |
| XX: Beautiful Hunter 雀鬼３ 治外法権麻雀 XX: Utsukushiki karyuudo |
1994-08-12 | |
| 雀鬼４ 麻雀代理戦争 | 1994-10-21 | |
| 雀鬼５ 完結篇 ひとりだけの引退試合 | 1995-02-24 | |
| 快楽殺人女捜査官 囮 Kairakusatsujin: onna sousakan |
1996-06-07 | |
| 雀鬼外伝 東海道麻雀無宿 | 1996-09-06 | |
| 真・雀鬼 | 1998-11-27 | |
| 真・雀鬼２ 麻雀無法地帯 | 1999-08-27 | |
| Nagisa なぎさ |
2000-06-10 | |
| 女はバス停で服を着替えた 鹿追映画製作委員会 | 2003-03-15 |
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ 映画監督・小沼勝氏 逝去のお知らせ (in Japanese)
- ^ Masaru Konuma quoted in Hideo Nakata (2000). Sadistic and Masochistic (included with Wife to Be Sacrificed DVD) (Motion Picture/DVD). Event occurs at Chapter 1, 5:30.
- ^ a b Konuma quoted in Sadistic and Masochistic, Chapter 1, 7:20.
- ^ Masaru Konuma biography at NAGISA at berlinale.de (pdf file)
- ^ Konuma quoted in Sadistic and Masochistic, Chapter 3, 15:34.
- ^ Konuma, Masaru. (1998). Interviewed by Thomas and Yuko Mihara Weisser on November 6, 1998, in Asian Cult Cinema, #22, 1st Quarter, 1999, p.19.
- ^ Konuma Interviewed by Thomas and Yuko Mihara Weisser, p.19.
- ^ Macias, Patrick. (2001). "Nikkatsu's Roman Porno" in TokyoScope: The Japanese Cult Film Companion. Cadence Books, San Francisco. ISBN 1-56931-681-3, p.187-188
- ^ Konuma Interviewed by Thomas and Yuko Mihara Weisser, p.23.
- ^ Sharp, Jasper (2008). Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema. Guildford: FAB Press. p. 222. ISBN 978-1-903254-54-7.
- ^ Sharp, p. 127.
- ^ Sharp, p. 144.
- ^ Sharp, p. 142.
- ^ Sharp, p. 191.
- ^ Konuma Interviewed by Thomas and Yuko Mihara Weisser, p.26.
- ^ Sharp, p. 236.
- ^ Filmography from "小沼勝 (Konuma Masaru)". Japanese Movie Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 2007-03-04.
Bibliography
edit- Konuma, Masaru. (1998). Interviewed by Thomas and Yuko Mihara Weisser on November 6, 1998, in Asian Cult Cinema, #22, 1st Quarter, 1999, p. 19-28.
- "小沼勝 (Konuma Masaru)". Japanese Movie Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 2007-03-04.
- "Masaru Konuma". Allmovie. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
- "MASARU KONUMA". The Complete Index to World Film. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
- Masaru Konuma at IMDb
- Masaru Konuma at nytimes.com