Overview 1935 to 1939

(1) Three Majors: Shôchiku, Nikkatsu and Toho

In 1937, P.C.L was developed into Toho Eiga, which already had a stable distribution network. Toho grew steadily as seen from the Top_10_Movies list in this period.

In contrast, Nikkatsu struggled with financial difficulties. Nikkatsu decided to cooperate with Toho or Shôchiku. The management leaders of Nikkatsu were divided into two parties, one in favor of Toho and the other in favor of Shôchiku. Toho was once ahead of Shôchiku. However, the situation reversed after the main person of the pro-Toho party was arrested on suspicion of violating the commercial code. Finally, Shôchiku and Toho agreed to govern Nikkatsu together. Thus, Nikktasu was no longer one of the three majors.

Shôchiku was then the most powerful movie company in Japan.

In parallel with the reorganization of the major companies, many independent productions found in the Top_10_list wound up mostly in 1936 or 1937, and many of their members were absorbed into Shinkô or Nikkatsu (under the control of Shôchiku):
   Ichikawa Utaemon Production (in 1936);
   Arashi Kanjurô Production (in 1937);
   Bando Tsumasaburo Production (in 1936);
   Irie Production (in 1937); and
   Chiezo Production (in 1937).

Daiichi Eiga, which is found in the Top_10_Movies list only in 1936, was established by collecting people who had withdrawn from Nikkatsu, seeking for better work conditions. Daiichi Eiga was short-lived (approx. 2 years). Most of the members were moved to Shôchiku, as you guess. 

(2) Shadows of War

The military confrontation between Japan and China from 1931 became an all-out war in 1937. Thus, many directors, technical staffs and actors were enlisted. For example, Yasujiro Ozu had military service in China from 1937 for nearly two years; and Sadao Yamanaka was enlisted in 1937 and died from disease in a field hospitalin 1938.

Government increased its interference, which met little resistance from the Japanese film companies.Thus, freedom of production was deprived by the government (or abandoned by the movie industry), which would affect the quality of Japanese movies.

1939 Top_10_Movies

( 1) Tsuchi (Earth)
        Director: Tomu Uchida
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Incomplete (117/142 min., reconstructed longest version)

( 2) Zangiku monogatari
     (The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums)
        Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
        Production Co.: Shôchiku
        Survival Status : Survives

( 3) Tsuchi to heitai (Mud and Soldiers)
        Director: Tomotaka Tasaka
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Incomplete (119/155 min.)

( 4) Ani to sono imoto (A Brother and His Younger Sister)
        Director: Yasujirô Shimazu
        Production Co.: Shôchiku
        Survival Status : Survives

( 5) Shanhai rikusentai (Land Forces in Shanghai)
        Director: Hisatora Kumagai
        Production Co.: Toho
        Survival Status : Survives

( 6) Kodomo no shiki - in two parts (Four Seasons of Children)
        Director: Hiroshi Shimizu
        Production Co.: Shôchiku
        Survival Status : Incomplete (141/153 m, the last reel of each part lost)

( 7) Danryu (Warm Current)
        Director: Kozaburo Yoshimura
        Production Co.: Shôchiku
        Survival Status : Incomplete (reissued abridged version, 124/177 min.)

( 8) Bakuon (The Roar)
        Director: Tomotaka Tasaka
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Survives

( 9) Hana aru zassô (Flowering Weed)
        Director: Hiroshi Shimizu
        Production Co.: Shôchiku
        Survival Status : Lost

(10) Kaientai
        Director: Kichirô Tsuji
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost    

The numbers of ranked titles of each Production Co, is as follows:
Nikkatsu : 4 (1, 3, 8 and 10);
Shôchiku : 5 (2, 4, 6, 7 and 9); and
Toho : 1 (5)

"Zangiku monogatari" (2) is available on DVD (Japan_ASIN: B013OUN91E, USA_ASIN: B01H66WAUS, UK_ASIN: B006WPC29O).
"Shanhai rikusentai" (5) is available on DVD (Japan_ASIN: B00T9N5M2A).
"Kodomo no shiki" (6) is available on DVD (Japan_ASIN: B00176FARO (Box set only)).
"Danryu" (7) is available on DVD (Japan_ASIN: B006UQUSXW).
(*)Japanese DVD are not subtitled.
(*) The region code of Japanese or UK's DVD is "2".
(*) The format of UK's DVD is "PAL".　

1938 Top_10_Movies

( 1) Gonin no sekkôhei (Five Scouts)
        Director: Tomotaka Tasaka
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Survives (71/78 min.)

( 2) Robo no ishi (A Pebble by the Wayside)
        Director: Tomotaka Tasaka
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Survives (119/131 min.)

( 3) Haha to ko (Mother and Daughter)
        Director: Minoru Shibuya
        Production Co.: Shôchiku
        Survival Status : Survives

( 4) Shanghai
        Director: Fumio Kamei, Shigeru Miki
        Production Co.: Toho
        Survival Status : Survives (77/81 min.)

( 5) Tsuzurikata kyoshitsu (Lessons in Essay)
        Director: Kajirô Yamamoto
        Production Co.: Toho
        Survival Status : Survives

( 6) Uguisu (Nightingale)
        Director: Shiro Toyoda
        Production Co.: Tokyo Hassei (Toho)
        Survival Status : Survives

( 7a) Nakimushi kozo (Crybaby Apprentice)
        Director: Shiro Toyoda
        Production Co.: Tokyo Hassei (Toho)
        Survival Status : Survives

( 7b) Abe ichizoku (The Abe Clan)
        Director: Hisatora Kumagai
        Production Co.: Toho
        Survival Status : Sorvives (106/115 min.)

( 9) Aa kokyo (Ah, My Home Town)
        Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
        Production Co.: Shinko
        Survival Status : Lost

(10) Taiyo no ko (Children of the Sun)
        Director: Yutaka Abe
        Production Co.: Tokyo Hassei (Toho)
        Survival Status : Survives

The numbers of ranked titles of each Production Co, is as follows:
Nikkatsu : 2 (1 and 2);
Shôchiku : 1 (3);
Toho : 6 (4 to 7b and 10); and
Shinko : 1 (9).

"Shanghai" (4) is available on DVD (Japan_ASIN: B0054NVMDC).(*)Not subtitled.
(*) The region code of Japanese DVD is "2".

1937 Top_10_Movies

( 1) Kagirinaki zenshin (Unending Advance)
        Director: Tomu Uchida
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Incomplete
      (78/99 min., re-edited version,
      the ending has been changed to a happy ending from gloomy one)

( 2) Sôbô (The People)
        Director: Hisatora Kumagaya
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost

( 3) Aien kyo (The Straits of Love and Hate)
        Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
        Production Co.: Shinko
        Survival Status : Incomplete (90/108 min.)

( 4) Kaze no naka no kodomo (Children in the Wind)
        Director: Hiroshi Shimizu
        Production Co.: Shôchiku
        Survival Status : Survives (86/89 min.)

( 5) Hadaka no machi (The Naked Town)
        Director: Tomu Uchida
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost

( 6) Wakai hito (Young People)
        Director: Shiro Toyoda
        Production Co.: Tokyo Hassei (Toho)
        Survival Status : Survives (a few scenes lost)

( 7) Ninjô kami fûsen (Ballad of the Paper Balloons)
        Director: Sadao Yamanaka
        Production Co.: P.C.L (Toho)
        Survival Status : Survives

( 8) Shukujo wa nani o wasureta ka (What Did the Lady Forget?)
        Director: Yasujirô Ozu
        Production Co.: Shôchiku
        Survival Status : Survives (a few scenes lost)

( 9) Ôsaka natsu no jin
     (Summer Campaign of the Siege of Osaka)
        Director: Teinosuke Kinugasa
        Production Co.: Shôchiku
        Survival Status : Lost

(10) Asakusa no hi (The Lights of Asakusa)
        Director: Yasujirô Shimazu
        Production Co.: Shôchiku
        Survival Status : Incomplete (77/104 min.)

The numbers of ranked titles of each Production Co, is as follows:
Nikkatsu : 3 (1, 2 and 5);
Shôchiku : 4 (4 and 8 to 10);
Toho : 2 (6 and 7); and
Shinko : 1 (3).

"Aien kyo" (3) is available on DVD (Japan_ASIN: B0009P0GPA).
"Kaze no naka no kodomo" (4) is available on DVD (Japan_ASIN: B00BKS3SLE).
"Shukujo wa nani o wasureta ka" (8) is available on DVD
(Japan_ ASIN: B00C2DX74O, UK_ASIN: B0038409YM).
(*) None of Japanese DVD is subtitled.
(*) The region code of Japanese or UK's DVD is "2".
(*) The format of UK's or French DVD is "PAL".　

1936 Top_10_Movies

( 1) Gion no shimai (Sisters of the Gion) 
        Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
        Production Co.: Daiichi eiga
        Survival Status : Incomplete(69/95 min.)

( 2) Jinsei gekijô - seishun-hen (Theater of Life: Youth Version)
        Director: Tomu Uchida
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Incomplete
       (49/118 min., the soundtrack omitted and subtitles inserted)

( 3) Naniwa erejî (Osaka Elegy)
        Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
        Production Co.: Daiichi Eiga
        Survival Status : Incomplete (71/89 min.)

( 4) Hitori musuko (The Only Son)
        Director: Yasujirô Ozu
        Production Co.: Shôchiku
        Survival Status : Survives (82/87 min.)

( 5) Akanishi Kakita
        Director: Mansaku Itami
        Production Co.: Chiezô Production
        Survival Status : Survives (77/85 min.)

( 6) Kazoku kaigi (Family Meeting)
        Director: Yasujirô Shimazu
        Production Co.: Shôchiku
        Survival Status : Incomplete (Reissued abridged version, approx. 3/5 of the original)

( 7) Ani imôto (Older Brother, Younger Sister)
        Director: Sotoji Kimura
        Production Co.: P.C.L (Toho)
        Survival Status : Survives

( 8) Hikoroku ooi ni warau (Hikoroku Has a Good Laugh)
        Director: Sotoji Kimura
        Production Co.: P.C.L (Toho)
        Survival Status : Survives

( 9) Jônetsu no shijin, Takuboku - furusato-hen
     (Takuboku, a Poet of Passion / episode "Hometown")
        Director: Hisatora Kumagai
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Incomplete (First two reels lost)

(10) Hikyô Nekka (An Unexplored Region, Nekka)
        Director: Mitsuzô Akutagawa
        Production Co.: Mantetsu
        Survival Status : Incomplete (2 reels out of 5)

The numbers of ranked titles of each Production Co, is as follows:
Nikkatsu : 2 (2 and 9);
Shôchiku : 2 (4 and 6);
P.C.L (Toho) : 2 (7 and 8);
Daiichi eiga : 2 (1 and 3, both distributed by Shôchiku);
Chiezô Production : 1 (5, distributed by Nikkatsu); and
other : 1 (10).

From this year on, no silent movie has been found among Top_10_Movies.

"Gion no shimai" (1) is available on DVD (Japan_ASIN: B00I0JHSCG, USA_ASIN: B001CW7ZTE).
"Naniwa erejî" (3) is available on DVD (Japan_ASIN: B00I0JHR2M, USA_ASIN: B001CW7ZTE).
"Hitori musuko" (4) is available on DVD (Japan_ASIN: B00C2DX7H6, USA_ASIN: B003ICZW7S).
"Hikyô Nekka" (10) is available on DVD (Japan_ ASIN: B00YI0WGUK).
 (*) The region code of Japanese DVD is "2".

1935 Top_10_Movies

( 1) Tsuma yo bara no yô ni (Wife! Be Like a Rose!)
        Director: Mikio Naruse
        Production Co.: P.C.L(Toho)
        Survival Status : Survives

( 2) Machi no irezumi mono (A Tattooed Man in the Street)
    (note: Here, a tattooed man means an ex-convict
        Director: Sadao Yamanaka
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost

( 3) Okoto to Sasuke (Okoto and Sasuke)
        Director: Yasujirô Shimazu
        Production Co.: Shôchiku
        Survival Status : Survives (100/110 min.)

( 4) Chûji uridasu (The Rise of Chûji)
        Director: Mansaku Itami
        Production Co.: Shinko
        Survival Status : Lost

( 5) Kunisada Chûji 
        Director: Sadao Yamanaka
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost (*)

( 6) Jinsei no onimotsu (Burden of Life)
        Director: Heinosuke Gosho
        Production Co.: Shôchiku
        Survival Status : Incomplete (66min./10 reels)

( 7) Kono ko sutezareba (Unless I Abandon This Child)
        Director: Torajirô Saitô
        Production Co.: Shôchiku
        Survival Status : Lost

( 8) Uwasa no musume (The Girl in the Rumour)
        Director: Mikio Naruse
        Production Co.: P.C.L(Toho)
        Survival Status : Survives

( 9) Tôkyô no yado (An Inn in Tokyo)
        Director: Yasujirô Ozu
        Production Co.: Shôchiku
        Survival Status : Survives

(10) Yukinojô henge (An Actor's Revenge)
        Director: Teinosuke Kinugasa
        Production Co.: Shôchiku
        Survival Status : Incomplete (reissued abridged version, approx.1/3 of the original)

The numbers of ranked titles of each Production Co, is as follows:
Nikkatsu : 2 (2 and 5);
Shôchiku : 5 (3, 6, 7, 9 and 10);
P.C.L (Toho) : 2 (1 and 8); and
Shinko : 1 (4). 

"Tôkyô no yado" (9) is the only silent movie.

"Okoto to Sasuke" (3) is available on DVD (Japan_ASIN: B00CIHVOH6).
"Tôkyô no yado" (9) is available on DVD (Japan_ ASIN: B00009XLL9 * BOX set out of stock).
(*) The region code of Japanese DVD is "2".

Overview 1930 to 1934

(1) Teikoku Kinema and Shiko Kinema

In this period, the Top 10 Movies includes two Teikoku Kinema production and one Shinko Kinema production: 
Teikoku : "Nani ga kanojo o sô saseta ka" and "Senpû jidai" (both in 1930); and
Shinko : "Nani ga kanojo o korishita ka" (in 1931).

Teikoku was the predecessor of Shinko. Teikoku was reorganized to Shinko in 1931. 

Teikoku was established in 1920 in Kansai Area (Osaka), and produced movies in its studios located in Kansai. In 1923, the Great Kanto Earthquake occurred, which damaged severely the rival movies companies (Nikkatsu and Shochiku) that produced movies in Kanto Area (Tokyo). Teikoku, which was not damaged by the earthquake, developed steadily. From 1924 on, Teikoku produced more than 100 movies every year. However, competition intensified after Nikkatsu and Shochiku had recovered from the damages of the earthquake. When the business situation worsened, Teikoku decided to co-operate with Shochiku. Shochiku enhanced its influence on Teikoku. In 1931, Teikoku is reorganized to Shinko Kinema, several months after its best-equipped and largest studio had been destroyed by a suspicious fire. Teikoku could not recover  from the severe damage of the fire without the help of Shochiku. Thus, Shochiku acquired Teikoku. The fire occurred at the best timing for Shochiku. What a stroke of luck!

Shinko was substantially a subsidiary of Shochiku. 

(2) Chiezô Production and other independent productions

In this period (1930 to 1934), five independent productions were found in the Top_10_Movies list. They were all established by star actors/actress:
Chiezô Production (by Chiezô Kataoka);
Arashi Kanjurô Production (by Kanjurô Arashi);
Bandô Tsumasaburô Production (by Tsumasaburô Bandô);
Tsukigata Production (by Ryûnosuke Tsukigata); and
Irie Production (by Takako Irie).

The four actors (Kataoka, Arashi, Bandô and Tsukigata) had become a star while belonging to Makino Production. However, the movies they produced were never distributed by Makino which had a small distribution network. Thus, Makino declined. What a pity!

(3) Transition to talkie 
In this period, transition to talkie progressed. Shichiku succeeded in the transition. Most of Shochiku production in the Top_10_Movies list were talkies, except for ones of Yasujirō Ozu, who, for a certain reason, rejected the sound recording system then employed by Shochiku.

In contrast, the progress was so slow for Nikkatsu that was in severe financial difficulties then. Nikkatsu once decided to use a rental studio equipped with sound recording system, which had been built by P.C.L. (Photo Chemical Laboratory). However, Nikkatsu broke co-operation with P.C.L. after several productions had been completed. P.C.L. was at a loss, which had already begun to expand the studio, expecting that Nikkatsu would produce more and more talkie movies with P.C.L.

P.C.L. finally decided to use its studio to produce its own productions (i.e., decided to enter the movie production business). This decision appears to be reckless, because this business requires large capital. However, the founders of P.C.L. and their acquaintances/relatives  included many influential persons of Japanese business world, who supported the challenge of P.C.L.

Several years later, P.C.L. would develop into Toho Co., one of (and probably the most successful one of) the Japanese major movie companies.

1934 Top_10_Movies

( 1) Ukikusa monogatari (A Story of Floating Weeds)
        Director: Yasujirô Ozu
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Survives

( 2) Tonari no Yae-chan(My Little Neighbor, Yae)
        Director: Yasujirô Shimazu
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Survives

( 3) Ikitoshi ikerumono (All Living Things)
        Director: Heinosuke Gosho
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Lost

( 4) Budo taikan (An Encyclopedia of Martial Arts)
        Director: Mansaku Itami
        Production Co.: Chiezô Production
        Survival Status : Lost

( 5) Furyû katsujinken (The Elegant Swordsman)
        Director: Sadao Yamanaka
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost(*)

( 6) Hokushin Nihon (Japan Progresses North)
        Director: (No credit)
        Production Co.: Yokohama Cinema
        Survival Status : Incomplete (approx. 1/3 of the original)

( 7) Sono yo no onna (Woman of That Night)
        Director: Yasujirô Shimazu
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Lost

( 8) Ippon-gatana dohyo iri (A Sword and the Sumo Ring)
        Director: Teinosuke Kinugasa
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Lost

( 9) Muteki (Foghorn)
        Director: Minoru Murata
        Production Co.: Shinko
        Survival Status : Survives

(10) Gantarô kaidô (Gantaro's Travels)
        Director: Sadao Yamanaka
        Production Co.: Chiezô Production
        Survival Status : Lost

The numbers of ranked titles of each Production Co, is as follows:
Nikkatsu : 1 (5);
Shochiku : 5 (1 to 3, 7 and 8);
Shinko : 1 (9); 
Chiezô Production : 2 (4 and 10, both distributed by Nikkatsu); and
other (6). 

"Ukikusa monogatari" (1), "Budo taikan" (4), "Furyû katsujinken" (5) and "Muteki" (9)
were silent movies.

"Ukikusa monogatari" (1) is available on DVD
(Japan_ASIN: B00C2DX70I; USA_ASIN: B0001GH5RY).
"Tonari no Yae-chan" (2)  (1) is available on DVD (Japan_ASIN: B00CIHKZ1W).
(*) The region code of Japanese DVD is "2".

1933 Top_10_Movies

( 1) Dekigokoro (Passing Fancy)
        Director: Yasujirô Ozu
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Survives

( 2) Taki no shiraito (White Threads of the Waterfall)
        Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
        Production Co.: Irie Production
        Survival Status : Survives (nearly complete version)

( 3) Yogoto no yume (Every-Night Dreams)
        Director: Mikio Naruse
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Survives

( 4) Futatsu doro (Two Stone Lanterns)
        Director: Teinosuke Kinugasa
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Lost

( 5) Kimi to wakarete (Apart from You)
        Director: Mikio Naruse
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Survives

( 6) Tange Sazen
        Director: Daisuke Itô
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Incomplete (approx. a half of the original)

( 7) Bangaku no issho (The Life of Bangaku)
        Director: Sadao Yamanaka
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost

( 8) Nezumikozô Jirokichi
        Director: Sadao Yamanaka
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost(*)

( 9) Izu no odoriko (The Dancing Girl of Izu)
        Director: Heinosuke Gosho
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Survives

(10) Koina no Ginpei (Gimpei from Koina)
        Director: Teinosuke Kinugasa
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Lost    

The numbers of ranked titles of each Production Co, is as follows:
Nikkatsu : 3 (6 to 8);
Shochiku : 6 (1,3 to 5,9 and 10); and
other : 1 (2 distributed by Shinko).

"Futatsu doro" (4) and "Koina no Ginpei" (10) were talkie movies.

"Dekigokoro" (1) is available on DVD (Japan_ASIN: B00C2DX70I; USA_ASIN: B0012Z3630).
"Taki no shiraito" (2) is available on DVD (Japan_ASIN: B000VT9CPO; USA_ASIN: 4903759067).
"Yogoto no yume" (3) and "Kimi to wakarete" are included in a single DVD title (USA_ASIN: B004GFGUEK).
 (*) The region code of Japanese DVD is "2".

1932 Top_10_Movies

( 1) Umarete wa mita keredo (I Was Born, But...)
        Director: Yasujirô Ozu
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Survives (Probably a complete version)

( 2) Arashi no naka no shojo (A Virgin in a Storm)
        Director: Yasujirô Shimazu
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Lost

( 3) Chûshingura
        Director: Teinosuke Kinugasa
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Incomplete (Reissued abridged version, approx. 2/3 of the original)

( 4) Oatsurae Jirôkichi koshi  (Jirokichi the Rat)
        Director: Daisuke Itô
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Incomplete (approx. 4/5 of the original)

( 4) Yatarô gasa (Yatarô's Sedge Hat)
        Director: Hiroshi Inagaki
        Production Co.: Chiezô Production
        Survival Status : Lost(*)

( 6a) Kokushi muso (The Greatest Man in the World)
        Director: Mansaku Itami
        Production Co.: Chiezô Production
        Survival Status : Incomplete (an abridged version,approx. 1/4 of the original)

( 6b) Mushibameru haru (Moth-eaten Spring)
        Director: Mikio Naruse
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Lost

( 8a) Byakuya no Kyoen (Banquet of the White Night)
        Director: Masahiro Makino
        Production Co.: Chiezô Production
        Survival Status : Lost

( 8b) Haru to Musume (Spring and a Girl)
        Director: Tomotaka Tasaka
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost

( 8c) Dakine no nagawakizashi /Dakine no nagadosu (Sleeping with Long Sword)
        Director: Sadao Yamanaka
        Production Co.: Arashi Kanjurô Production
        Survival Status : Lost(*)

( 8d) Joriku dai-ippo (The First Step on the Land)
        Director: Yasujirô Shimazu
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Survives)

The numbers of ranked titles of each Production Co, is as follows:
Nikkatsu : 2 (4 and 8b);
Shochiku : 5 (1 to 3,  6b and 8b);
Chiezô Production : 3 (4, 6a and 8a, distributed by Nikkatsu); and
other : 1 (8c, distributed by Shinko).

The titles (2), (3), 6(b), (8b) and (8d) are/were talkie movies.

"Umarete wa mita keredo" (1) is available on DVD (Japan_ASIN: B00C2DX6VS; USA_ASIN: B0012Z3630; UK_ASIN: B004CZ6HF6, and more).
"Oatsurae Jirôkichi koshi" (4) is available on DVD (ASIN: B001E1TMLW; USA_ASIN: 4903759121).
(*) The region code of Japanese DVD is "2".

1931 Top_10_Movies

1931
( 1) Madamu to nyôbô (The Neighbor's Wife and Mine)
        Director: Heinosuke Gosho
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Survives (57/64 min.)
( 2) Kokoro no jitsugetsu: Retsujitsu hen - Gekko hen
     (The Days of Heart: Episode "Raging Sun" and Episode "Moonlight")
        Director: Tomotaka Tasaka
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost
( 3) Tôkyô no kôrasu (Tokyo Chorus)
        Director: Yasujirô Ozu
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Survives
( 4) Ippon-gatana dohyo iri (Yakuza's Sumo Wrestling Ceremony)
        Director: Hiroshi Inagaki
        Production Co.: Chiezô Productions
        Survival Status : Lost
( 5) Hakurai bunmei-gai (A Street Civiliｚed in a Foreign Style)
        Director: Taizô Fuyushima
        Production Co.: Tsukigata Productions
        Survival Status : Lost
( 6) Adauchi senshu (The Revenge Champion)
        Director: Tomu Uchida
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost (*)
( 7) Nani ga kanojo o korishita ka (What Killed Her?)
        Director: Shigeyoshi Suzuki
        Production Co.: Shinko
        Survival Status : Lost
( 8) Rôgoku no hanayome (The Bride in the Prison)
        Director: Hirofumi Oki
        Production Co.: Bandô Tsumasaburô Productions
        Survival Status : Lost
( 9) Zoku ôoka seidan mazo kaiketsu-hen 
　　(Ôoka Cases - Devil's Image - Conclusion)
        Director: Daisuke Itô
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost
(10) Seikatsu-sen ABC (ABC Lifeline)
        Director: Yasujirô Shimazu
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Lost   

The numbers of ranked titles of each Production Co, is as follows:
Nikkatsu : 3 (2, 6 and 9);
Shochiku : 3 (1, 3 and 10);
Shinko : 1 (7); and 
others : 3 (4, 5 and 8: (4) distributed by Nikkatsu, (8) by Shinko).

"Madamu to nyôbô" (1) is an all-talkie movie (the first one in Japan); and
"Hakurai bunmei-gai" (5) was a part-talkie movie.

"Madamu to nyôbô" (1) is available on DVD (japan ASIN: B00CIHVOH6).
"Tôkyô no kôrasu" (3) is available on DVD (Japan_ASIN: B00C2DX53M; USA_ASIN: B0012Z3630).
(*) The region code of Japanese DVD is "2".

1930 Top_10_Movies

In this year only, a selection process was different. The movies were divided into two genres (i.e., Contemporary Drama and Period Drama),
and Top 3 movies were selected in each genre.

(Gendaigeki/Contemporary Drama)
( 1) Nani ga kanojo o sô saseta ka (What Made Her Do It?)
        Director: Shigeyoshi Suzuki
        Production Co.: Teikoku
        Survival Status : Survives (the opening credits and the last reel lost)
( 2) Wakamono yo naze naku ka (Why Do You Cry, Youngsters?)
        Director: Kiyohiko Ushihara
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Survives
( 3) Ojôsan (Young Miss)
        Director: Yasujirô Ozu
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Lost

(Jidaigeki/Period Drama)
( 1) Zoku ôoka seidan mazo-hen daiichi (Ôoka Cases - Devil's Image - Part One)
        Director: Daisuke Itô
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost (*)
( 2) Senpû jidai (Whirlwind Era)
        Director: Seika Shiba
        Production Co.: Teikoku
        Survival Status : Lost
( 3) Suronim Chuya (Masterless Samurai, Chuya)
        Director: Daisuke Itô
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost (*)

The numbers of ranked titles of each Production Co, is as follows:
Nikkatsu : 2;
Shochiku : 2; and
Teikoku : 2.

"Nani ga kanojo o sô saseta ka" is available on Japanese DVD (ASIN: B000TC7NRW).
(*) Temporarily out of stock as of 25/11/2016.
(*) The region code of Japanese DVD is "2".

Overview 1926 to 1929

Notes on  Production Companies

As shown so far, in 1926 to 1929, most of the Top_10_Movies were produced by
Nikkatsu, Shochiku and Makino:
   Nikkatsu 19;
   Shochiku 9; and
   Makino 10.

Nikkatsu was established in 1912 as the result of the consolidation of substantially all of the then-existing movie production companies.

Shochiku was established in 1902 as a company that manages kabuki theaters, and entered into the film industry in 1920.

Nikkatsu and Shochiku have survived more than a century and still exists in 2016, and you'll frequently find "Nikkatsu" and "Shochiku" in the Top_10_Movies list from 1930 on.

Makino (Makino Production) was established by Shôzô Makino, one of (and probably the most important one) of pioneers of Japanese movie.
Shôzô started his career as a producer/director in Yokota Shokai (one of the predecessors of Nikkatsu) and worked in Nikkatsu untill 1921, when Shôzô left Nikkatsu and established his own production company.
Makino was quite successful especially in the genre of Jidaigeki (Period Drama), and turned out many talented directors, writers and star actors.
However, Makino failed to establish a stable distribution network, and most of its star actors were headhunted by other companies.
The financial situation got worse rapidly after Shôzô's death in 1929, and, in a few years, Makino wound up. The name "Makino" would never appear as Production Co. in the Top_10_Movies from 1930 on.

Masahiro Makino, who directed many Top_10_Movies in 1928 and 1929, is Shôzô's son. Masahiro revived his father's company in mid-30s as Makino Talkies, which was, however, active for only 2 years.

(*) Makino changed its name several tomes (Makino Kyoiku Eiga Seisaku-jo => Makino Eiga Seisaku-jo => Toa-Makino => Makino Production).

1929_Top_10_Movies

( 1) Kubi no za (The Executioner's Block)
        Director: Masahiro Makino
        Production Co.: Makino
        Survival Status : Lost
( 2) Kaijin (Ashes)
        Director: Minoru Murata
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost
( 3) Rônin-gai - Dai-san-wa: Tsukareta hitobito
    (Street of Masterless Samurai_the Third Episode: The Possessed People)
        Director: Masahiro Makino
        Production Co.: Makino
        Survival Status : Lost
( 4) Ikeru ningyô (The Living Marionette)
        Director: Tomu Uchida
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost
( 5) Matenrô - Sôtô hen (Skyscraper - Episode: Strife)
        Director: Minoru Murata
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost
( 6) Zanjin zanbaken (Man-Slashing Horse-Piercing Sword)
        Director: Daisuke Itô
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Incomplete print survives
       (an abridged version, approx. 1/5 of the original)
( 7) Pipe no Sankichi (Sankichi, the Pipe Smoker)
        Director: Eisuke Takizawa
        Production Co.: Makino
        Survival Status : Lost
( 8) Muriyari sanzengoku (The Goronbo's Story/Get a Fief of 3000 goku by Force)
        Director: Sadatsugu Matsuda
        Production Co.: Makino
        Survival Status : Lost
( 9) Daitokai: Rôdô-hen (The Big City - Episode: Labor)
        Director: Kiyohiko Ushihara
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Lost
(10) Tokai kokyogaku (Symphony of the Metropolis)
        Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost

The numbers of ranked titles of each Production Co, is as follows:
Nikkatsu : 4 (2, 4, 5 and 10);
Shochiku : 2 (6 and 9); and
Makino : 4 (1, 3, 7 and 8).

1928 Top_10_Movies

( 1) Rônin-gai - Dai-ichi-wa: Utsukushiki emono
    (Street of Masterless Samurai_the First Episode:
         A Beautiful Game)
        Director: Masahiro Makino
        Production Co.: Makino
        Survival status : Incomplete print survives (only one reel of the climax scene)

( 2) Riku no ôja (The Hero on the field)
        Director: Kiyohiko Ushihara
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Lost

( 3) Shinpan Ôoka seidan; Dai san pen: Kaikatsu hen
     (Ôoka's Trial_the Third Episode: Conclusion)
        Director: Daisuke Itô
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost

( 4) Sôzen-ji baba (The Sôzen-ji Riding Ground)
        Director: Masahiro Makino
        Production Co.: Makino
        Survival Status : Incomplete print survives (approx. 1/3 of the original)

( 5) Kare to Tokyo (He and Tokyo)
        Director: Kiyohiko Ushihara
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Lost (fragment of approx. 1 reel survives)

( 6) Mura no hanayome (The Village Bride)
        Director: Heinosuke Gosho
        Production Co.: Shochiku
        Survival Status : Lost

( 7) Keai-dori (Fighting Cocks)
        Director: Masahiro Makino
        Production Co.: Makino
        Survival Status : Lost

( 8) Kekkon nijûsô (The Marriage Duet)
        Directors: Minoru Murata + Tomotaka Tasaka + Abe Yutaka
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost

( 9) Hirate Miki
        Director: Seika Shiba
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Lost

(10a) Chikemuri Takadanobaba (Blood Sprayed in Takadanobaba)
        Director: Daisuke Itô
        Production Co.: Nikkatsu
        Survival Status : Incomplete (Abridged version of approx. 10 min.)

(10b) Jûjiro (Crossroads)
        Director: Teinosuke Kinugasa
        Production Co.: Kinugasa Eiga Renmei + Shochiku
        Survival Status : Survives

The numbers of ranked titles of each Production Co, is as follows:
Nikkatsu : 4 (3,8, 9 and 10a);
Shochiku : 3 (2, 5 and 6);
Makino : 3 (1, 4 and 7); and
other : 1 (10b) (* "Jûjiro" (10b) was distributed by Shochiku).

 The following titles were available on Japanese DVD:
( 1) Rônin-gai - Dai-ichi-wa: Utsukushiki emono  and ( 4) Sôzen-ji baba are included in a single DVD title (refer to "ASIN: B001N0P4PM") ; and
(10b)  Jûjiro (refer to "ASIN: B002GI514E").
(*) Sorry, both titles are probably out of stock.
(*) The region code of Japanese DVD is "2".

1927 Top_10_Movies

( 1) Chuji tabi nikki: Shinshu kessho hen
     (Chuji's Travel Diary: The Shinshu Bloody Smile Episode)
        Director:Daisuke Itô
        Production Co.:Nikkatsu
        Survival status :Incomplete print survives (approx. 1 reel)

( 2) Five Women Around Him (Kare o meguru gonin no onna)
        Director:Yutaka Abe
        Production Co.:Nikkatsu
        Survival status :Lost

( 3) Son'nô jôi (Revere the Emperor, Expel the Barbarians)
        Director:Tomiyasu Ikeda
        Production Co.:Nikkatsu
        Survival status :Incomplete print survives (approx.2/3 of the original)

( 4) Chuji tabi nikki: Goyo hen
        Director:Daisuke Itô
        Production Co.:Nikkatsu
        Survival status :Incomplete print survives (approx.2/3 of the original)

( 5) Umi no Yûsha (The Brave Men of the Sea)
        Director:Yasujirô Shimazu
        Production Co.:Shochiku
        Survival status :Lost Director:

( 6) Karakuri Musume (The Trick Girl)
        Director:Heinosuke Gosho
        Production Co.:Shochiku
        Survival status :Lost

( 7) Jihi shinchô (Bird of Mercy)
        Director:Kenji Mizoguchi
        Production Co.:Nikkatsu
        Survival status :Lost

( 8) Akumano hoshi no sita ni (Under the Star of Devil)
        Director:Buntaro Futagawa
        Production Co.:Makino
        Survival status :Lost

( 9) Gerô (The Servant)
        Director:Daisuke Itô
        Production Co.:Nikkatsu
        Survival status :Lost

(10) Dochu hiki (A Tragic Travel Tale)
        Director:Kintarô Inoue
        Production Co.:Makino
        Survival status :Lost

The numbers of ranked titles of each Production Co, is as follows:
Nikkatsu : 6 (1-4,7, and 9);
Shochiku : 2 (5 and 6); and
Makino : 2 (8 and 10).

The following title is available on DVD as of 11/23/2016:
 ( 3) Son'nô jô_Japan_ASIN: B002GI515S
(*) The region code of Japanese DVD is "2".

1926 Japanese Top 10 Movies

( 1) Ashi ni sawatta onna (The Woman Who Touched the Legs)
Director: Yutaka Abe
Production Co.: Nikkatsu
Survival status : Lost

( 2) Nichirin (The Sun)
Director: Minoru Murata
Production Co.: Nikkatsu
Survival status : Lost

( 3) Riku no ningyo (The Mermaid on the Land)
Director: Yutaka Abe
Production Co.: Nikkatsu
Survival status : Lost

( 4) Kurutta ippêji (A Page of Madness)
Director: Teinosuke Kinugasa
Production Co.: Kinugasa Productions and others
Survival status : Incomplete (approx. 3/4 of the original)

( 5) Karabotan
Director: Hôtei Nomura
Production Co.: Shochiku
Survival status : Lost

( 6) Junanbana (The Suffering Flower)
Director: Kiyohiko Ushihara
Production Co.: Shochiku
Survival status : Lost

( 7) Kaminingyo haru no sasayaki (A Paper Doll's Whisper of Spring)
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Production Co.: Nikkatsu
Survival status : Lost

( 8) Tenraku (Downfall)
Director: Kintarô Inoue
Production Co.: Makino
Survival status : Lost

( 9) Mito Kômon
Director: Tomiyasu Ikeda
Production Co.: Nikkatsu
Survival status :Lost

(10) Kumo (Spider)
Director: Reinosuke Aku
Production Co.: Bantsuma Tachibana Universal
Survival status : Lost

The numbers of ranked titles of each Production Co, is as follows:
Nikkatsu : 5 (1-3,7, and 9);
Shochiku : 2 (5 and 6);
Makino : 1 (8); and
others : 2 (4 and 10) (* "Kumo" (10) was distributed by Shochiku).

Notes on Top_10_Movies

(NOTES)

The "Top 10 Movies" discloses the following information for each movie:
(a) RANKING in the TOP_10;
(b) JAPANESE TITLE (conforming to IMDB);
(c) ENGLISH TITLE : titles displayed in red are literal translation of the Japanese title (translated by the blog manager);
(d) DIRECTOR;
(e) PRODUCTION COMPANY; and
(f) SURVIVAL STATUS : whether a negative and/or positive survives or be lost; "Survives" indicates that a complete, probably complete or nearly complete (90% or more in length) version exists; and  the mark "*" indicates that only a fragment of one minute or so exists.

About my blog

Here, starts my blog.

In this blog, I am to provide various information of Japanese movies, in particular, for the convenience of Japanese movie fans living in other countries than Japan.

I'm an old Japanese movie fan (an old Japanese, movie fan, and fan of old Japanese movies).

As the blog title indicates, my English ability is limited.
You'll find many odd English expressions in this blog.
I am afraid it is very cumbersome to apologize for each error I'll make.
Therefore, I apologize, in advance, using the blog title.

In the current schedule, in the coming months, the following items of information are provided:
(1)  Top 10 Japanese Movies from 1926;
(2)  filmography of directors ranked in Top 10 frequently; and  
(3)  filmography of directors not or rarely ranked but important (i.e. my favorite directors).

The "Top 10" presented here are the yearly top 10 movies selected in the movie magazine "KINEMA JUNPO(Semimonthly Movie Magazine)", which, as a Japanese movie magazine, has the longest history.