Genre fave Yoshihiro Nishimura’s resumé is something that will forever be burned into my memory. His work on films like Tokyo Gore Police, Mutant Girls Squad and Hell Driver came at a tipping point in my life where Asia Extreme set in stone a subculture of film fandom that ardently drew my attention as someone mostly fond of Asian films and martial arts, thereby shaping my taste in film as someone who wasn’t really into horror despite falling in line with the rest of the crowd buying Noboru Iguchi’s The Machine Girl on DVD. Crazy.
His work became more prevalent over the years for me with films like The Ninja War Of Torakage, Meatball Machine Kodoku, and coverage spots like Welcome To Japan, Samurai Ninja Onimanji, and Yuki Kobayashi’s Rise Of The Machine Girls. Much of Nishimura’s resumé remains unseen to me due to availability and time and always, I hope to catch up like the rest. His last film, Geisha War, wrapped last year with PR currently underway ahead of its planned releases and festival razzmatazz; I kind of expect this year will have some last minute planned tributes for Nishimura at the usual festive spots, including Fantasia Festival where Tokyo Gore Police won Best Asian Film in 2008.
My only interaction with Nishimura was a big thumbs-up in my DMs in response to my post on Welcome To Japan. I smile on this little memory I share which otherwise pales in comparison to the greater presence shared with Nishimura by so many of his fans the world over. I see the photos, and they all bring a smile to my face – a reminder of the impact Nishimura has had on the world of film spanning decades climbing the ladder into the director’s chair, and becoming the cult favorite he is now. Looking back, it really makes you sit, and slow down for a minute to take in the little, meaningful things this life offers in our short time here.
In my view, if you decided to shut the world out for a day and just put on Nishimura’s movies at some point – be it by yourself, with a friend, or a group – I don’t know if anyone would hold it against you. I wouldn’t.
Rest, Yoshihiro-san.
Thanks again, Josh (@hatefuljosh.bsky.social)
Lead image: Screenshot via YouTube/crunchyrollstoreaus