Books About Japanese Culture/Perversions?

Corpsey

bandz ahoy
Watched a film called ''Tokyo Gore Police'' last night. Completely batshit mental, and heavily inspired by American gore-fests like ''Robocop'' and presumably the body horror of yer Cronenbergs et al. But there was something particularly Japanese about its craziness - reminding me of the weirdness of Japanese porn (Octopuses, weird tongue-mad kissing etc.). The OTT nature of it.

Anyway, I'm wondering if there are any interesting articles or books (or documentaries) explaining the origin of some of these weirder Japanese cultural elements? In fact, it wouldn't even have to be Japanese strictly, I suppose I'm interested in cultural expressions of perversity and violence generally. I'm presuming the Japanese thing comes from living in a very socially ordered and strict society with a history of extreme violence? I wondered, too, if some of the more extreme fleshy mutations on show in TGPolice could be - perhaps tenuously - linked to the melted mutated victims of Hiroshima/Nagasaki for example.
 

yyaldrin

in je ogen waait de wind
I don't really know the answer to your question, there are some books on Japanese cinema in general I believe. The link you provided seems to be an interesting thesis altough I've always found it a bit obvious. A quick search to books on Japanese cinema in general resulted in the following list:

Tom Mes & Jasper Sharp • The Midnight Eye Guide to New Japanese Film • Uitgever: Stone Bridge Press • 376 bladzijden • prijs: $22.95 (paperback) • ISBN: 1880656892

Mark Schilling • The Yakuza Movie Book: A Guide to Japanese Gangster Films • Uitgever: Stone Bridge Press • 335 bladzijden • Prijs: $19.95 (paperback) • ISBN 1-880656-76-0

Patrick Galloway • Stray Dogs& Lone Wolves: The Samurai Film Handbook • Uitgever: Stone Bridge Press • 2405 bladzijden • Prijs: $19.95 (paperback) • ISBN 1-880656-93-0

Isolde Standish • A New History of Japanese Cinema. A Century of Narrative Film • Uitgever: Continuum Books • 452 bladzijden • Prijs: £25.00 (gebonden) • ISBN: 0826417094

Don't know if it covers your specific question. Could we maybe turn this topic into suggestions or recommendations for more "extreme" movies. If so I'd like to point towards this gem:


It's insane, the entire length of the movie is action, explosion after explosion.
 

yyaldrin

in je ogen waait de wind
It's called Dead Leaves, directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi. The Youtube link is English dubbed, I always prefer the original with English subtitles. There's a pretty obvious but funny reference to Tetsuo, the Iron Man in it as well. In fact, it might be a great idea to watch these two films subsequently.
 

mistersloane

heavy heavy monster sound
Anyway, I'm wondering if there are any interesting articles or books (or documentaries) explaining the origin of some of these weirder Japanese cultural elements? In fact, it wouldn't even have to be Japanese strictly, I suppose I'm interested in cultural expressions of perversity and violence generally.

You probably wanna have a look at the Creation Books Cinema series, especially Eros In Hell


and maybe Deathtripping too. They're quite useful introductions, tho as socio-political texts I don't think you'll get quite as deep as one might like to know from them. Good starting point though maybe.
 

mistersloane

heavy heavy monster sound
on the 'Eros' amazon page there are a few mentions of books in the review section as well which might give you what you're looking for.
 

william_kent

Well-known member
ahem..

I picked up this paperback a while ago, based on a list of "favourite books" by John Waters

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Tokyo After Dark - William Fitzpatrick ( McFadden-Bartell 1965 )

from the back cover:

A CITY WHERE ANYTHING GOES
THAT'S TOKYO AFTER DARK

YOU CAN SEE sex shows that specialise in audience participation
YOU CAN GET drugs to add exotic side effects to the sex act
YOU CAN VISIT bathhouses with mirrored ceilings and attendants to show what they're there for
YOU CAN ATTEND homosexual orgies where handsome "sister boys" entertain
YOU CAN ENJOY a nightclub hostess who will provide the best old-fashioned home entertainment you've ever had
And lot's more. The Japanese believe sex is fun and anything goes - with anyone - any time!


and the frontispiece:

ECSTASY FOR SALE!

AFTER DARK IN TOKYO ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CHOOSE...

THE NIGHTCLUB HOSTESS who makes sure the customer has a good time at the club, and afterward, in her room
THE SISTER BOYS, the elite of homosexual society, who are handsome, willing and very able
THE ACTRESS who performs in sex shows before an audience and will repeat her act with a customer in private
THE GUIDE GIRL who works as a secretary in the daytime and "guides" tourists through hotel bedrooms at night
THE SHIMBASHI GIRL, most beautiful of Japanese prostitutes, who offers something different in bed - for the shimbashi girl is a boy

They're all part of TOKYO AFTER DARK.
Just take your pick.

-----

needless to say, there is so much wrong with this book

and it's actually quite a boring read as well
 
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