inagawa yoshitaka

A Case For Better Action Movies: Shimomura Yuji’s RE:BORN (2018)

It’s been nearly sixteen years actor Sakaguchi Tak appeared before me in a lovely action horror indie called Versus. Having fondly grown favorable toward Sakaguchi’s work over the years, I can certainly attest now along with others who have been fortunate to spot his latest and long-awaited return to film and reunion with Death Trance director, longtime friend and film cohort, stunt professional and filmmaker Shimomura Yuji for the new CQC action thriller, Re:Born, in which Sakaguchi (billed in the film as TAK∴) plays Toshiro, a reclusive store clerk whose past life as a clandestined killer soldier comes back to haunt him and the young girl in his care. I won’t go too into detail for this post, but I will assert, at the forefront of it all, that Re:Born services its target fanbase with some of the best, fleshed out action sequencing ever put together by a stunt team […]

The First Official Trailer For RE:BORN Heralds The Triple Crown Of Japanese Action

Lee B. Golden III

Three years since his appearance in Sono Sion’s spectacular romp, Why Don’t You Play In Hell?, much has been ado over questions pertaining to cult action star Sakaguchi Tak’s stay or leave from the film industry altogether. Personally, I’d say it’s worth hoping he’ll stay while all his efforts in the last sixteen years have not been for naught, as young as his career still feels and the potential that still lies there. Thus, his most recent foray into action brings us his latest film, Re:Born, and along with it, a trio of talent to spearhead the vision of action that’s been the major highlight of the film since its development last year through the inner workings of Japanese stunt and film companies, Worsal and U’den Flame Works. And to accomodate, a script by Benio Sakei that now sees our lead actor, otherwise rebranding himself as TAK∴, in the role […]

Sakaguchi Tak Is Faster Than A Speeding Bullet In The First Teaser For RE:BORN

Lee B. Golden III

It’s been a glorious era for fans of Japanese action star and actor Sakaguchi Tak who has all but earned his cult-acclaim in a variety of independent, low budget jidaigeki and action horror features, several of them award-winning in the process. The most noted of them all is director Kitamura Ryuhei’s hit film, Versus, which drew its high profile standing with Sakaguchi and the stylings of action director and stuntman Shimomura Yuji who also has a few directorial credits of his own, including Sakaguchi’s 2005 hit, Death Trance. Alas, things now come full-circle in lieu of Sakaguchi’s retirement with the latest teaser for Re:Born, biproduct of stunt and film production companies Worsal and U’den Flame Works. There’s no plot or story yet available except for what’s being hinted within various images on the official Facebook page for the film itself. Nevertheless, Sakaguchi makes his final bow in what looks to […]

Sakaguchi Tak's Last Action Film, RE:BORN Wraps Principal Photography!

Lee B. Golden III

Well, as far as memories go, one certainly hopes that cult action star Sakaguchi Tak has made his time on the set of his final movie, Re:Born, worthwhile. Production kicked off for the film roughly two-and-a-half weeks ago with longtime friend and cohort, Shimomura Yuji directing and close-quarters combat expert Inagawa Yoshitaka coordinating, and thankfully, we’ve been graced with a fair bit of imagery via the film’s official website and Facebook page. It was sad as much as it was expected with Sakaguchi‘s own proclaimations of retirement from the industry in the last few years long after staking his claim in the throes of cult film fandom and the film festival circuit at large. Alas, fifteen years after making his feature debut in Kitamura Ryuhei’s cult chambara action horror, Versus, sixteen months after announcing Re:Born and two-and-a-half weeks after rolling cameras, Sakaguchi‘s final theatrical bow has wrapped production with a new […]

Sakaguchi's Final Film, RE:BORN, Starts Filming Tomorrow!

Lee B. Golden III

Well, all of the past eleven months or so have been building up to this point. Cult action star and actor Sakaguchi Tak is well on the way to returning to what he’s heavily stated would be the last film of his career now in the form of Re:Born, which has led the way with a slow and steady stream of but just a few video updates so far. For this, we also get to see his last outing in film with longtime cohort and friend, action veteran and director Shimomura Yuji in his continuing career in stunts and Japanese action cinema which also includes having directed Sakaguchi‘s 2005 action blast, Death Trance. Japanese stunt company, Worsal is pairing with U’den Flame Works in an effort to make certain that Re:Born marks the accomplishment Sakaguchi is striving for amid his exit from the field, as well as assure a memorable […]

Sakaguchi Tak Goes Commando In A New RE:BORN Featurette!

Lee B. Golden III

With all the talk of Japanese action star Sakaguchi Tak‘s abrupt retirement announcement last Spring, the possibilities for any more long-awaited films like a sequels to Kitamura Ryuhei’s Versus and longtime friend, stuntman/action coordinator Shimomura Yuji‘s 2005 directorial debut, Death Trance, appear nothing short of grim. Of course, this ultimately led to an outcry of fans within the niche who otherwise love the actor for all his contributions to the art of film and action design within the last fifteen years. And thankfully, voices were heard enough to convince Sakaguchi for one last on-screen hoorah with the upcoming action thriller, Re:Born. Soon enough, promo videos began making their way online as of this past May showcasing the actor in training for his upcoming role in the film, which to date, still doesn’t have much to go on in terms of plot. However, the production just unveiled another new training featurette […]