Team Unwinnable vs. Yakuza Weapon

Olivia Noel Davis:

When a piece of nigiri pops up on screen and the delicate piece of fish on top is blown away by a gust of wind, you know you’re in for a hell of a movie. This is the opener to any film produced by Sushi Typhoon. For those who are unaware, Sushi Typhoon was founded in 2010 with Japanese directors Yoshihiro Nishimura, Noboru Iguchi and Yudai Yamaguchi (who have become international favorites). Also in the mix is actor/director/martial artist Tak Sakaguchi. Yakuza Weapon is, in part, his.

Sakaguchi brings all of his skills to the table in this film, co-directed by Yudai Yamaguchi. As the main character Shozo, son of a slain yakuza boss, Tak Sakaguchi kicks some serious ass throughout the film. He makes it seem effortless beating large groups of hooded assailants in a roughly four minute long action sequence with no cuts. If that wasn’t already astounding enough, we learned in the Q&A session after the screening that the first full rehearsal of the scene was done mere hours before it was shot.

As snarky and confident as Sakaguchi is on screen, in person he is quiet and almost withdrawn. He chooses his words carefully, keeps it simple and speaks softly. He was very polite and happy to great his fans; I watched as he agreed to sign curios and oddities from his career. Even posing for pictures in action stances seemed more than all right to him.

One of the many treats of the night was watching Sakaguchi and actor Arata Yamanaka (also in Yakuza Weapon) perform a short fight scene on stage. The roar of the audience could, I hope, be heard outside the auditorium upon its completion. I had the chance to speak with Arata Yamanaka after the film over some Sapporo and could not have been more delighted. There is a joy in his work with Sushi Typhoon. In telling tales of Iguchi and of filming scenes for different films with the same haircut, I could see a sparkle in his eye that wasn’t just from the beer. He even spoke quite highly of Sushi Typhoon films he wasn’t in. His love for these people, and this type of movie, is more than evident.

The evening came to a close much sooner than I had hoped, but I walked away elated with a mind full of nuclear explosions, transforming machine gun arms, unique individuals and what I’m sure will be fond memories for years to come. If you ever have the opportunity to attend an American premiere of a Sushi Typhoon film at NYAFF, I suggest you take it. Don’t second-guess, just go and enjoy some of the most outlandish and entertaining things happening in cinema today.