Japanese Horror reading suggestions please

[Shoka]

I'm looking on doing some reading on Japanese horror films particularly from the 70's does anyone have any recommendations for some good books?

[Todd Tomorrow]

Try these:

Japanese Horror Cinema Traditions in World Cinema: Amazon.co.uk: Jay McRoy: Books

Flowers From Hell: The Modern Japanese Horror Film: Amazon.co.uk: Jim Harper: Books

Nightmare Japan: Contemporary Japanese Horror Cinema Contemporary Cinema: Amazon.co.uk: Jay McRoy: Books

The Ring Companion: Amazon.co.uk: Denis Meikle: Books

[Shoka]

Thanks.

Flowers from hell, is already sitting finished on the bookshelf.

Have you read any of these apart from that? do any of them specifically focus on the 70's?

[Todd Tomorrow]

I've read Flowers From Hell and The Ring Companion. Flowers from Hell covers a lot of ground and was pretty good and The Ring Companion was ok. Despite the title it isn't just about the Ringu films, but it also covers a history of Japanese horror cinema.

[Shoka]

Flowers from hell was good but also very general.

I've ordered: Japanese Horror Cinema (Traditions in World Cinema) and Nightmare Japan: Contemporary Japanese Horror Cinema Contemporary Cinema

Can anyone recommend any more?

[PoochJD]

Hi Shoka,

The following should help you too. Apologies if some of these have already been mentioned:

Behind The Pink Curtain: The Complete History Of Japanese Sex Cinema
- Jasper Sharp

Japanese Cinema: Texts and Contexts
- Alastair Phillips and Julian Stringer

A Hundred Years of Japanese Films: A Concise History, With A Selective Guide To DVDs And Videos
- Donald Richie and Paul Schrader

Japanese Cinema Encyclopedia Of Horror, Fantasy, And Sci-Fi Films
- Yuko Mihara Weisser

Nightmare Japan: Contemporary Japanese Horror Cinema
- Jay McRoy

Introduction To Japanese Horror Film
- Colette Balmain

The Midnight Eye Guide To New Japanese Film
- Jasper Sharp and Tom Mes

Outlaw Masters Of Japanese Film
- Chris D.

Japanese Horror Cinema: Traditions In World Cinema
- Jay McRoy

Japanese Cinema: The Essential Handbook
- Yuko Mihara Weisser and Thomas Weisser

Eros In Hell: Sex, Blood And Madness In Japanese Cinema
- Jack Hunter


Pooch

[Shoka]

Thanks Pooch, I have a limited budget of £50 - the 2 I ordered earlier today totaled just under £20, which of these would you receomend? Have you read them all? I really need to focus on 70's horror so that should be a key factor in my choices, but the 70's directors infuences on odern Japanese horror is also semi-important.

[PoochJD]

Hi Shoka,

Originally Posted by Shoka

Thanks Pooch, I have a limited budget of £50 - the 2 I ordered earlier today totaled just under £20, which of these would you receomend? Have you read them all? I really need to focus on 70's horror so that should be a key factor in my choices, but the 70's directors infuences on odern Japanese horror is also semi-important.

Glad to be of help!

I haven't read, nor do I own all of these, but I own many of them. If you need to focus on Japanese horror of the 1970's - which is pretty limited, in terms of the best book(s) to choose then I'd probably go for any of the following:

A Hundred Years of Japanese Films: A Concise History, With A Selective Guide To DVDs And Videos
- Donald Richie and Paul Schrader

Japanese Cinema Encyclopedia Of Horror, Fantasy, And Sci-Fi Films
- Yuko Mihara Weisser

Japanese Horror Cinema: Traditions In World Cinema
- Jay McRoy

Eros In Hell: Sex, Blood And Madness In Japanese Cinema
- Jack Hunter

However, in all honesty, none of them are going to be exclusively useful, as they cover the entire gamut of Japanese sex/horror cinema, from the 1950's to today. If you purely need facts and info, then the first two from above will probably be the best. For actual history, information on who did what and why, then the latter two will be best, but be warned the Jack Hunter title has been deleted now for quite a while, so you may have to do an Inter-Library Loan for your college, uni or local library, as secondhand copies go for a fairly high whack of cash!

Other than that, how about doing research on the Internet, or even seeing if contacting a Japanese consulate in London, can offer any help? I know that seems like an odd thing to say, but consulates can sometimes be the best places for really difficult topics relating to their countries culture.

Best of luck!


Pooch

[Shoka]

Brill, thanks!

I have been in touch with a few production companies from Japan who have been a huge help Toho and Matsumoto have been a huge help.

I'm trying to write an essay on Japanese horror and Pinku from 1970-1990 for submission to get onto a film course which I am highly under qualified to take but need some clarification and some more inspiration, so I'm digesting as much as I can, there's only so much Pinku one man can watch they have given me the opportunity to write my way onto it. I'm not looking to plagiarize, just get some more evidence and to reference films I may not have seen.