Million Film
| Company type | Independent film studio |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film production and distribution |
| Predecessor | Keitsū Productions (branch) |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Defunct | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Tokyo , Japan |
Area served | Japan |
| Products | Pink films (Japanese erotic cinema) |
| Parent | Keitsū Productions |
was one of the pioneering independent studios producing pink films. Alongside studios such as OP Eiga, Shintōhō Eiga, Kantō, and the company led by Kōji Wakamatsu, Million played a significant role in shaping the pink film genre during its initial decade. Numerous notable directors and actors in the pink film industry collaborated with Million.
Million's origin
As a branch of Keitsū Productions, which managed cinemas in the postwar period—including the revival of the Shinjuku Moulin Rouge theater in 1947—Million Film began its operations. Toward the end of 1968, Million started distributing movies produced by other companies, launching this effort with pink film pioneer Kan Mukai's work in September.
During its inaugural year, Million handled distribution for films starring key figures in pink cinema. For instance, , produced by Unimonde and distributed by Million in October 1968, featured future Nikkatsu Roman Porno actress Kazuko Shirakawa alongside Masayoshi Nogami. The following month, Million released Jirō Matsubara's , which was distinguished by performances from popular actresses Naomi Tani and Mari Iwai.
In 1969, the year it formally became a production company, Million commenced creating films tailored for Keitsū's theater network. While numerous small studios surfaced amid the pink film surge of the 1960s, by the early 1970s dominant players like Toei and particularly Nikkatsu had taken control of much of the sexploitation market. Despite this industry concentration, Million persisted as one of the few independent studios alongside Shintōhō Eiga and OP Eiga.
1970s
Renowned pink film director Kin'ya Ogawa briefly joined Million after moving from Ōkura Eiga in 1970 before transitioning to Shintōhō Eiga.Sachi Hamano made her debut at Million with 17-Year-Old Free Love Tribe (1972). Operating under the alias , Sōjirō Motoki directed Sex No. 1 (1971), featuring future Nikkatsu Roman Porno star Junko Miyashita. Motoki, who had produced major Toho titles such as Kurosawa's Ikiru and Seven Samurai, continued directing for Million until 1977.
Science fiction writer Izumi Suzuki briefly ventured into pink film at Million using the pseudonym Naomi Asaka, appearing in several productions during 1970.
Although many early independent pink films have been lost over time, Ace Deuce Entertainment has preserved important Million titles like Yokohama Cheyenne: Woman Swamp Zone and New Bride: Mixed Up Figure (both released in 1974). These all-color productions, created by Akitaka Kimata's Pro Taka studio and directed by his son Akiyoshi Kimata (under ), display a lighter tone compared to Million’s later, more somber works. Unlike the politically charged pink films of the 1960s made by directors such as Kōji Wakamatsu, these movies adopted a more playful approach. Another example is Woman Crime Demon (1977) by Genji Nakamura, distributed by Million; it maintained a relaxed style while incorporating political references like those related to the Anpo treaty.
Starting in 1976, Million broadened its scope to include distributing "Western pink" sexploitation films directed by figures such as Russ Meyer and Jesús Franco through its subsidiary Joypack Film—a practice that continued into the mid-1980s. The parent company Keitsū also developed the Shinjuku Joypack Building Annex in 1976 and founded Joypack Amusement (1978) and Joypack Leisure (1979), diversifying into various entertainment fields beyond cinema.
1980s
In the early 1980s, Million Film played a pivotal role by collaborating with prominent pink film directors and distributing numerous influential independent pink films. However, the company halted its production activities in 1986 and fully withdrew from pink film distribution by 1988. Regarded as one of the "Three Pillars of Pink," Million was responsible for releasing several key works by Genji Nakamura during this era. Nakamura's breakthrough came with his film in April 1980, which also earned him his first award after more than fifty projects. Another significant title was Scarlet Prostitute: Stabbing (1981), notable for its powerful ending.
Female filmmaker Rumi Tama made her directorial debut through Million Film’s November 1981 release, . Prior to directing, many of Tama’s acting performances—often credited under her husband Akitaka Kimata or his son Seiji Izumi—were also distributed by Million.
Among the "Three Pillars," Banmei Takahashi released a celebrated film through Million in November 1981, , which garnered multiple accolades and was recognized by Kinema Jumpo as one of the top films of that year. Although this work is widely regarded as Takahashi’s finest pink film, it was considered lost by Million for years until a brief fragment resurfaced in the late 1980s. The complete film eventually became available on DVD in 2002. Takahashi also introduced horror director Kiyoshi Kurosawa to Million Film; Kurosawa’s debut, released in August 1983, combined academic film theory with the low-budget pink film style. Despite being offered a second project, it was canceled due to insufficient erotic content. Kurosawa later reworked the footage for mainstream cinema before departing from the pink film industry.
In 1983, Million’s parent company Keitsū separated its distribution division into a new entity called Joypack Cinema. The enforcement of Japan’s Moral Sensibility law tightened in 1984, targeting pink film studios and theaters alike. This led to industry-wide agreements prohibiting explicit language in titles and nudity on promotional posters, which resulted in a sharp 36% decline in box-office attendance during the initial month.
Actress Kiyomi Itō made her debut at Million in April 1984 with director Ryūji Akitsu's , becoming a frequent collaborator with controversial filmmaker Hisayasu Satō. She starred in Satō’s debut and several notable films thereafter, including Lolita: Vibrator Torture (1987) and Widow's Perverted Hell (1991).
Million produced the January 1984 release , which was connected to Shintōhō Eiga’s popular series. The pseudonym Gō Ijūin was commonly adopted by filmmakers working at Genji Nakamura’s studio; director Ryūichi Hiroki’s first film under this name, The SM (1984), was distributed by Million before Hiroki transitioned into mainstream filmmaking.
The company also helped launch directors such as Tsutomu Watanabe with his September 1985 pink sci-fi fantasy and Hidekazu Takahara with his November 1985 work.
Production activities ceased in 1986, which postponed the debut of "Four Heavenly Kings of Pink" director Toshiki Satō, who eventually debuted in 1988 through Nikkatsu Video. In 1987, Keitsū’s Joypack Cinema was rebranded as Humax. By 1988, Million had completely withdrawn from pink film distribution. The following year saw the formation of the Humax Group, incorporating Joypack Cinema as a producer and distributor of non-pink films while operating theaters throughout Tokyo.
Directors
Prominent filmmakers linked to Million Film are:
|
|
|
Actors and Actresses
Leading cast members featured by Million Film include:
|
Noteworthy Films
Among the important titles produced or distributed by Million Film are:
- (directed by Akiyoshi Kimata under the name Seiji Izumi, 1974)
- (Akiyoshi Kimata credited as Seiji Izumi, 1974)
- (helmed by Genji Nakamura, 1980)
- (directed by Banmei Takahashi, 1981)
- Scarlet Prostitute: Stabbing (Genji Nakamura, 1981)
- Kandagawa Pervert Wars (Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 1983)
- The SM (Ryūichi Hiroki credited as Gō Ijūin, 1984)
English
- Peter Cowie, editor, World Filmography 1968 (Tantivy Press, 1977)
- Jasper Sharp, Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema (FAB Press, 2008)
- Thomas Weisser and Yuko Mihara Weisser, Japanese Cinema Encyclopedia: The Sex Films (Vital Books, 1998)
Japanese
- Japanese Cinema Database, Agency for Cultural Affairs
- Japanese Movie Database
Notes
- Japanese pornographic film studios
- Defunct mass media companies of Japan
- Film production companies of Japan
- Mass media companies based in Tokyo
- Entertainment companies established in 1969
- Mass media companies disestablished in 1988
- Japanese companies established in 1969
- Japanese companies disestablished in 1988