Black Rose Mansion (Kurobara no yakata)

1969, 91 min., color, 35mm.

Written by Hiroo Matsuda and Kinji Fukasaku. With Akihiro Maruyama, Masakazu Tamura, Yusuke Kawazu, Kikko Matsuoka, Ko Nishimura.

After the success of Black Lizard, director Kinji Fukasaku and transvestite actor Akihiro Maruyama team up again to tell the story of a mysterious beauty living in the Black Rose Mansion where mesmerized lovers flock to smoke, gamble, hear her sing and indulge themselves in all sorts of erotic pleasures.

A message from the director’s son:

Kinji Fukasaku, my father, died on January 12 this year. Among the many joys in his career were screenings of the Fukasaku Retrospective, which toured in North America, including a stop at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2001.

The Brooklyn screenings were special to him and he was particularly pleased with the warm response his work received there.

Like my father, I admire Japan Society for consistently introducing so much Japanese culture in a city that itself is rich in many cultures. I appreciate the honor you have bestowed upon him by showing two of his films.

I am sorry I cannot be with you as I am busy with post-production for Battle Royale II, which opens in Japan on July 5.

We miss him terribly.

Kenta Fukasaku