The Bad Sleep Well (悪い奴ほどよく眠る/Warui Yatsu Hodo Yoku Nemuru) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (Director and co-writer), Ryuzo Kikushima (菊島隆三) (Co-writer), Hideo Oguni (小國英雄) (Co-writer), Eijiro Hisaita (久板栄二郎) (Co-writer), and Shinobu Hashimoto (橋本忍) (Co-writer)

"It's not easy hating evil. You have to stoke your own fury until you become evil yourself." - Koichi Nishi As many people know, Akira Kurosawa is a massive fan of the playwright William Shakespeare. And movies like Throne of Blood — inspired by Macbeth — are his way of honouring that revolutionary English playwright, …

Stray Dog (Nora inu/野良犬) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (Director and co-writer) and Ryuzo Kikushima (菊島隆三) (Co-writer)

"They say there's no such thing as a bad man. Only bad situations..." - Detective Murakami Before his international success with Rashomon, Akira Kurosawa did a motion picture called Stray Dog. An excellent 1949 production starring the director’s two most iconic actors: Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura. A detective thriller set amidst the post-war climate. …

I Live in Fear (生きものの記録/Ikimono no Kiroku) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (Director and co-writer), Hideo Oguni (小國英雄) (Co-writer), and Shinobu Hashimoto (橋本忍) (Co-writer)

"Even worry has to be done in moderation." - Mr. Kuribayashi Amidst Akira Kurosawa's movies, I Live in Fear is one of his most socially-conscious productions. One of his most disturbing, frightening, and realistic. With an atmosphere and storyline that remain important; set in actuality. The culture of fear and its impact on our society. …

Ikiru (生きる/To Live) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (Director and co-writer), Shinobu Hashimoto (橋本忍) (Co-writer), Hideo Oguni (小國英雄) (Co-writer), and Leon Tolstoy (original novella)

"I don't know what I've been doing with my life all these years." - Kanji Watanabe Among Akira Kurosawa's filmography, his motion picture Ikiru is considered one of his masterpieces. It stars Takashi Shimura, one of his frequent cast participants, performing the role of a business man who lives his last months the best way …

Seven Samurai (七人の侍) – Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) (director and co-writer), Shinobu Hashimoto (橋本忍) (co-writer), and Hideo Oguni (小国英雄) (co-writer)

"Danger always strikes when everything seems fine." - Kambei Shimada Anybody who claims to be a fan of Akira Kurosawa and his incredible movies needs to see Seven Samurai. Lasting over 3 hours, this movie remains a pinacle not only of his filmography, but also a masterpiece of Japanese Cinema. One of the best productions …