Kōji Seki
Encyclopedia
aka is a Japanese film director
known for his pioneering work in the pink film genre. Among the accomplishments of Seki's career: he directed the first pink films for Kokuei, the oldest pink film company, Japan's first 3-D film
, the world's first 3-D sex film, and Japan's first "invisible man" pink film.
in the Asakusa
neighborhood of Tokyo
, Japan
. His father was in the construction business. After graduating from high school in 1930, Seki attended the Tokyo School of Fine Arts (merged into Tokyo University of the Arts in 1949), dropping out after one year. In 1937 he joined his father in working in the prop department of Ōizumi Films, a studio which was purchased by Toei Company
in 1951. He eventually became Deputy Director for large props at the studio. He moved to Beijing
where he worked with the North China Electric Co. before he was drafted into the army.
Returning to Japan after the war, Seki joined ). His career as a director began here, where he filmed children's television documentaries focusing on nature and animals. Seki's films of this time bore such titles as , and .
's Flesh Market, the first film in the pink genre—and released in 1963. Through Valley of Lust, Seki was indirectly responsible for the name pinku eiga applied to Japanese theatrical softcore films. The films were called eroductions during most of the 1960s. In a review of Valley of Lust in the sports paper Naigai Times, writer Minoru Murai suggested that the genre should have a "Pink Ribbon Award" as an equivalent of the mainstream "Blue Ribbon" award given to films by the paper. The color pink was meant to suggest the blushing that the films induced in viewers. Seki filmed a sequel the year of the first film's release, (1963).
In 1964, Seki directed writer Oniroku Dan
's sister, Miyoko Kuroiwa, in the pink film . Kuroizawa was best-known as a jazz singer. Seki gave future S&M Queen Naomi Tani
her film debut with (1967). He also became associated with Noriko Tatsumi
, who is considered the first Queen of Japanese sex films. He directed Tatsumi in some of her best-known films, including Whore (1967) and Erotic Culture Shock: Swapping Partners (1969). Seki's 1967 film was Japan's first 3-D film
, and, according to Allmovie, the world's first 3-D sex film. A story of a policeman's hunt for a rapist-murderer, this predominantly black & white film emphasizes the murders with color in addition to the 3-D. Comparing it to the later U.S. 3-D sexploitation film The Stewardesses
(1969), Allmovie calls Hentaima "an altogether more gruesome affair featuring brutal rape, murder, and necrophilia." Seki remade the film as
Abnormal Sex Crimes (Ijō sei hanzai, 1969). Seki's 1968 film, was the first pink film with an "invisible man" theme. The film has a military doctor who discovers how to make himself invisible. He uses this ability to peek on bathing women, and to execute robberies. The film inspired three sequels.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
known for his pioneering work in the pink film genre. Among the accomplishments of Seki's career: he directed the first pink films for Kokuei, the oldest pink film company, Japan's first 3-D film
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
, the world's first 3-D sex film, and Japan's first "invisible man" pink film.
Early life
Kōji Seki was born on September 20, 1911 near KaminarimonKaminarimon
The is the outer of two large entrance gates that ultimately leads to the Sensō-ji in Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan. The gate, with its lantern and statues, is popular with tourists. It stands 11.7 m tall, 11.4 m wide and covers and area of 69.3 m2.- History :The Kaminarimon was first...
in the Asakusa
Asakusa
is a district in Taitō, Tokyo, Japan, most famous for the Sensō-ji, a Buddhist temple dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon. There are several other temples in Asakusa, as well as various festivals.- History :...
neighborhood of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. His father was in the construction business. After graduating from high school in 1930, Seki attended the Tokyo School of Fine Arts (merged into Tokyo University of the Arts in 1949), dropping out after one year. In 1937 he joined his father in working in the prop department of Ōizumi Films, a studio which was purchased by Toei Company
Toei Company
is a Japanese film, television production, and distribution corporation. Based in Tokyo, Toei owns and operates thirty-four movie theaters across Japan, a modest vertically-integrated studio system by the standards of the 1930s United States; operates studios at Tokyo and Kyoto; and is a...
in 1951. He eventually became Deputy Director for large props at the studio. He moved to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
where he worked with the North China Electric Co. before he was drafted into the army.
Returning to Japan after the war, Seki joined ). His career as a director began here, where he filmed children's television documentaries focusing on nature and animals. Seki's films of this time bore such titles as , and .
Pink film career
Kokuei, currently the oldest existing pink film studio, was founded in 1955 by Teruo Yamoto. The company began concentrating on sex films—imported films and filmed strip shows—in 1957. With the advent of the pink film genre in 1962, the studio decided to make a series of films which would exploit the nudity now possible in theatrical features by featuring semi-nude actresses in natural settings. With Seki's experience in nature and animal photography, he was hired as the director of these "Female Tarzan" films, the studio's first films in the pink genre. Seki's directorial debut was with filmed in 1962—the year of Satoru KobayashiSatoru Kobayashi (director)
was a Japanese film director most famous for directing the first pink film, the type of softcore pornographic films that became the most prolific film genre in Japan during the 1960s and 1970s...
's Flesh Market, the first film in the pink genre—and released in 1963. Through Valley of Lust, Seki was indirectly responsible for the name pinku eiga applied to Japanese theatrical softcore films. The films were called eroductions during most of the 1960s. In a review of Valley of Lust in the sports paper Naigai Times, writer Minoru Murai suggested that the genre should have a "Pink Ribbon Award" as an equivalent of the mainstream "Blue Ribbon" award given to films by the paper. The color pink was meant to suggest the blushing that the films induced in viewers. Seki filmed a sequel the year of the first film's release, (1963).
In 1964, Seki directed writer Oniroku Dan
Oniroku Dan
was a Japanese author who had been called, "the most celebrated writer of popular SM novels in Japan." Many of his stories have been filmed, most notably by Nikkatsu studio in their Roman Porno series. Dan had a close professional association with actress Naomi Tani throughout her career...
's sister, Miyoko Kuroiwa, in the pink film . Kuroizawa was best-known as a jazz singer. Seki gave future S&M Queen Naomi Tani
Naomi Tani
is a Japanese actress who is best known for her appearances in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno films with an S&M theme during the 1970s.-Early career:Born October 20, 1948, in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka, Naomi Tani moved to Tokyo at the age of 18. After arrival in Tokyo, she was featured in a photo layout...
her film debut with (1967). He also became associated with Noriko Tatsumi
Noriko Tatsumi
is a Japanese actress known primarily for her appearances in pink films of the 1960s. During the "First Wave" of pink film, Tatsumi became known as the first "Queen" of Japanese softcore sex movies, a title which she held from 1967 through 1970...
, who is considered the first Queen of Japanese sex films. He directed Tatsumi in some of her best-known films, including Whore (1967) and Erotic Culture Shock: Swapping Partners (1969). Seki's 1967 film was Japan's first 3-D film
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
, and, according to Allmovie, the world's first 3-D sex film. A story of a policeman's hunt for a rapist-murderer, this predominantly black & white film emphasizes the murders with color in addition to the 3-D. Comparing it to the later U.S. 3-D sexploitation film The Stewardesses
The Stewardesses
The Stewardesses is a 1969 softcore, later R-rated, theatrical 3-D film produced, directed and written by Allan Silliphant and starring Christina Hart, Monica Gayle, Paula Erickson, and Donna Stanley....
(1969), Allmovie calls Hentaima "an altogether more gruesome affair featuring brutal rape, murder, and necrophilia." Seki remade the film as
Abnormal Sex Crimes (Ijō sei hanzai, 1969). Seki's 1968 film, was the first pink film with an "invisible man" theme. The film has a military doctor who discovers how to make himself invisible. He uses this ability to peek on bathing women, and to execute robberies. The film inspired three sequels.
Partial filmography
| Title | Release date | Starring | Studio | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley of Lust Jōyoku no tanima |
1963 | Kazuko Mine | Kokuei | B/W Inspired the Pink film label later applied to the eroduction |
| Cave of Lust Jōyoku no dōkutsu |
1963-10 | Aki Ema (as Minami Numajiri) | Kokuei | B/W |
| House of Blind Lust Chijō no ie |
1964-09-01 | Miyoko Kuroiwa Keiko Tachibana |
Kokuei | B/W 79 min. |
| Special Supesharu |
1967-04 | Rika Koyanagi Naomi Tani Naomi Tani is a Japanese actress who is best known for her appearances in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno films with an S&M theme during the 1970s.-Early career:Born October 20, 1948, in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka, Naomi Tani moved to Tokyo at the age of 18. After arrival in Tokyo, she was featured in a photo layout... Noriko Tatsumi Noriko Tatsumi is a Japanese actress known primarily for her appearances in pink films of the 1960s. During the "First Wave" of pink film, Tatsumi became known as the first "Queen" of Japanese softcore sex movies, a title which she held from 1967 through 1970... Reiko Ōtsuki |
Shin Nihon Eiga | Part color |
| Perverted Criminal Perverted Criminal , or Abnormal Criminal, is a 1967 Japanese pink film directed by Kōji Seki. It was the first 3-D film produced in Japan, and, according to Allmovie, the world's first 3-D sex film.-Synopsis:... Hentaima |
1967-12-26 | Setsu Shimizu Shūhei Muto |
Nippon Cinema | Part color The first 3-D sex film & Japan's first 3-D film |
| Abnormal Sex Crimes Ijō sei hanzai |
1968 (or 1969) | Mari Nagisa Kohei Tsuzaki Nami Katsura |
Yamoto | Remake of Perverted Criminal (1967) |
| Erotic Culture Shock: Swapping Partners Erotic fudoki - kaedoko |
1968-06 | Kazuko Takatori Jun Kitamura Noriko Tatsumi Noriko Tatsumi is a Japanese actress known primarily for her appearances in pink films of the 1960s. During the "First Wave" of pink film, Tatsumi became known as the first "Queen" of Japanese softcore sex movies, a title which she held from 1967 through 1970... Reiko Akikawa |
Shin Nihon Eiga | Part color 71 min. |
| Molester Invisible Man Chikan tōmei ningen |
1977-05 | Yuzuru Ichimura Sanae Shiba Kayoko Sugi |
Shintōhō | Color 62 min. |
| Molester Invisible Man Part II: Women, Women, Women Chikan tōmei ningen part II: onna onna onna |
1977-10 | Masayoshi Nogami Etsuko Hara Yumi Okazaki |
Shintōhō | Color 60 min. |
| Molester Invisible Man Part 3: Obscene? Chikan tōmei ningen part III waisetsu? |
1979-05 | Kin'ichi Kusumi Kin'ichi Kusumi is a Japanese actor who has also used the stage name . He has appeared in tokusatsu kaiju productions and in pink films.-Life and career:... Mayumi Sanjō |
Shintōhō | Color 60 min. |