Nikkatsu "Roman Porno" Films coming to Blu-ray

[McCrutchy]

Original first post:

[Show spoiler]Happinet will release the first batch of the infamous "Roman Porno" series of softcore Japanese erotic films in Japan on April 2nd, 2016.

Here is what is scheduled for the rest of 2016:

Scheduled for June 2nd, 2016:



Scheduled for August 2nd, 2016:



Scheduled for October 4th, 2016:



Scheduled for December 2nd, 2016:



According to the information linked at AV Watch, each disc will contain Japanese: Dolby TrueHD Mono audio, and Japanese SDH subtitles. You can also find the individual product listings at the Happinet web site in the Blu-ray section here.

Unfortunately, Amazon.co.jp are classifying these with their adult pornographic videos, and restricting shipping to Japan only.

[CMoney]

I'm pretty sure these are the English titles. Took a bit of research, to get the titles, & confirm them. Starting from the first cover, left to right:

The World of Geisha (Tatsumi Kumashiro 1973)
Confidential: Secret Market (Noboru Tanaka 1974)
Madam Scandal: Let Me Die For 10 Seconds (Shōgorō Nishimura 1982)
Lusty Discipline in Uniform (Mamoru Watanabe 1982)
Madam Scandal - Final Scandal: Madam Likes It Hard (Masaru Konuma 1983)
Scent of a Spell (Toshiharu Ikeda 1985)

*looks at Arrow Video*

[McCrutchy]

The films, from left to right, have gone in our database as:

The World of Geisha (1973)

Confidential: Secret Market (1974)

Madam Scandal: Let Me Die for 10 Seconds (1982)

Lusty Discipline in Uniform (1982)

Madam Scandal - Final Scandal: Madam Likes It Hard (1983)

Scent of a Spell (1985)

EDIT: I see CMoney drew the same conclusions about two minutes ago. Good job.

[CMoney]

I would of had it earlier, but I accidentally clicked, then clicked on "search with Google." Annoyed me, almost didn't want to do it again. It's because I love Japanese cinema.

I can't read Japanese, nor have I seen any of the films, but since I speak to people from Japan on social media, I'm translating their updates from Japanese to English on a daily basis. I'm used to it. Unofficially I was confident I had the right info, but I didn't want to officially state that. I'm glad I had the right info.

*insert usual post about hoping we get any of these with english subs*

*looks at Arrow Video again*

[manicsounds]

Or Synapse US.

[CMoney]

Originally Posted by manicsounds

Or Synapse US.

Yeah, that's right. They released roman porno films on DVD. They may be more likely.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by manicsounds

Or Synapse US.

Originally Posted by CMoney

Yeah, that's right. They released roman porno films on DVD. They may be more likely.

Synapse would be great, but historically, they have not released much on Blu-ray outside of horror films. Much of their Impulse Pictures imprint, for example, is DVD-only, and probably not ready for Blu-ray. To their credit, though, they did release Fairy in a Cage on BD, because if I remember correctly, Don said that was the only Roman Porno film available with an HD master at the time:



But obviously, if Japanese Blu-ray releases are occurring, then that might not be good for anyone in the US, if Nikkatsu sees US BDs as a threat to their domestic releases. After all, the US BD of Fairy in a Cage has been readily available for (unrestricted) purchase on Amazon.co.jp for some time, and searching for it by its Japanese title (檻の中の妖精) will bring it up, as well.

[CMoney]

Regardless on whether it's Synapse, Arrow, or another company, it's going to come down mainly if said company feels it's worth the investment, & if they're willing to pay for the rights. I have never heard of any Japanese film studio seeing international releases as a "threat" to their home video market. I really don't believe this to be the case.

We shall see, if/when they're ever released outside of Japan.

[logboy]

Originally Posted by CMoney

I have never heard of any Japanese film studio seeing international releases as a "threat" to their home video market. I really don't believe this to be the case.

We shall see, if/when they're ever released outside of Japan.

delays to western releases are often in place & enforced (six months?), with dates here being pushed back to allow a longer window for sales of J editions, as well as previously-announced English sub tracks frequently being removed from releases in some countries, such as Korea, reversing what once seemed typical practice once buyers realised it as a source for subbed j films.

also, I suspect limited run releases like arrows recent nikkatsu films, are a contractual obligation to limit amounts available for reverse importation back into Japan. of course, Japan's different structure for its retail market (jasrac?) is highly protective of its releases, hence minor differences in their editions to set them apart and encourage funds in that insular direction. that's also why you don't get English subs on j discs often - small runs of discs there are prevented from being drained away to foreign interested parties., and stops preempting interest in licensing the films for more concentrated efforts with appropriate marketing for other markets.

synapse have further runs of RP expected, with one interview hinting at one or more BD to come. think they're shifting away from westernised ideas of genres like nurses or teachers, looking more at known rough or controversial or classics for converted RP fans over here.

[CMoney]

I didn't know any of that, but wouldn't doubt that it's true, given what I do know. I just know things I've heard here & there, from people who have dealt with JP film studios.

In the case the Arrow LE releases, some may be due to agreements they have to agree to. In other cases, I think it's their way to better potentially recoup their cost of getting the rights, & make some money as well. People tend to wait for price drops/sales on regular releases. I'm referring to LE releases in general, not just the Asian releases. Each release is different, so it may be a combination of reasons.

What you mentioned about not seeing english subs on JP releases is very interesting. Japanese films that go around the film festival circuit, including screeners have subtitles. Yet the home video releases almost never have them, even though they exist. Although sometimes a film shown at a festival outside of Japan is handled by a 3rd party company, who may commission the creation of subtitles, depending on the market.

[logboy]

Originally Posted by CMoney

What you mentioned about not seeing english subs on JP releases is very interesting. Japanese films that go around the film festival circuit, including screeners have subtitles. Yet the home video releases almost never have them, even though they exist. Although sometimes a film shown at a festival outside of Japan is handled by a 3rd party company, who may commission the creation of subtitles, depending on the market.

festivals and screeners are not a market, they're a promotional tool.

they wouldn't be used simply because they exist, they're excluded because of the varied reasons they don't fit with how things are selectively done.

[Takuma]

And here are the rest of the titles for 2016:
- http://www.nikkatsu-romanporno.com/topics/?p=664

In English
- http://www.rockshockpop.com/forums/s...l=1#post127341

For me, Red Violation DVD and Oh Women! A Dirty Song BD are must buys! Two of my favourite Roman Porno films.

Assault! Jack the Ripper and Love Hotel BDs are also welcome!

But I must say I'm a bit puzzled about the choices... and sad that there's still no Kichitaro Negishi. I want my Rape Ceremony and Crazed Fruit dammit! And Fujita's Female Delinquent: A Docu-Drama!

But maybe we will get more next year. I mean, how is it even possible that Flower and Snake and Wife to be Sacrificed are not on the list? I hate both films, but they are some of Nikkatsu's best cash cows.

[logboy]

Originally Posted by Takuma

And here are the rest of the titles for 2016:
- http://www.nikkatsu-romanporno.com/topics/?p=664

In English
- http://www.rockshockpop.com/forums/s...l=1#post127341

For me, Red Violation DVD and Oh Women! A Dirty Song BD are must buys! Two of my favourite Roman Porno films.

Assault! Jack the Ripper and Love Hotel BDs are also welcome!

But I must say I'm a bit puzzled about the choices... and sad that there's still no Kichitaro Negishi. I want my Rape Ceremony and Crazed Fruit dammit! And Fujita's Female Delinquent: A Docu-Drama!

But maybe we will get more next year. I mean, how is it even possible that Flower and Snake and Wife to be Sacrificed are not on the list? I hate both films, but they are some of Nikkatsu's best cash cows.

you'll never keep everyone happy when you gradually release from such a large selection, i guess.

i'd be interested in seeing if these masters make their way to any territories that sub. maybe synapse are aware of this situation - i remember an interview that hinted one or two more RPs on BD at some point, but they've not yet happened.

don't know how the fansub scene is working in the west right now, because i mostly followed it when you could source them on unofficial discs; imagine some might be out there in some form.

[McCrutchy]

These are now all up in the database, in wave, and then date released order, according to the information listed at Happinet. However, there are no covers at the moment. Once they are uploaded, you will see the images below:

Scheduled for June 2nd, 2016:



Scheduled for August 2nd, 2016:



Scheduled for October 4th, 2016:



Scheduled for December 2nd, 2016:



Unfortunately, there are inconsistencies between some of the Happinet information, and what is available in English. Foe example, one of the June releases is listed by Happinet as being from 1973, but other online information suggests it is actually a movie with the same title, but apparently from 1978. So I will wait until artwork is released to add the English "titles" and any available IMDb links.

[Dr. Seymour Love]

I've got the old Kimstim dvd of World of Geisha, really enjoy that one.

[Sundance]

So the first 6 discs are out now and for some reason Secret Chronicle: She Beast Market and The World of Geisha are presented in 1080i while the other four discs are 1080p.

There's screenshots from the She Beast Market disc here (screenshots from the other discs will probably be there as well)
http://www.rockshockpop.com/forums/s...d=1#post129994

EDIT: Small cover images for the August releases.

[stobbart]

Shame these do not have English subs, saw "Lusty Desire in Uniform" today and, wow, was not expecting that.

[McCrutchy]

Four more titles will be released on April 4th, 2017:



http://www.happinet-p.com/jp3/releases/hpxn-1

http://www.happinet-p.com/jp3/releases/hpxn-4

http://www.happinet-p.com/jp3/releases/hpxn-3

http://www.happinet-p.com/jp3/releases/hpxn-2

[Takuma]

Great news, although I wish they'd be releasing something better than SM junk. Or at least better SM films, like Girl and the Wooden Horse Torture (Fumihiko Katō/Takashi Ishii, 1982).

Nikkatsu's site says there will be more coming later, but no date given yet, so there's still hope we'll get some of the truly great Roman Porno films in the future. So many of the best Roman Porno films have never been released even on dvd.

I bought only two titles from the 2016 releases: Red Violation DVD and Rolling on the Road BD. Red Violation looks quite disappointing... somehow a very unnatural and boosted. This is not at all how it looked like on 35mm (seen twice). Some of the BD releases seem to have a similar strange look based on screencaps.

Rolling on the Road BD thankfully looks a fair bit better. It's still seems a little bit boosted to my eyes, but not to a distracting extent.

I'd love to see screencaps from Love Hotel and Assault! Jack the Ripper BDs. If they look like Rolling, I might want to pick them up. If they look like Red, then I'll stick to my Geneon DVDs.

[Sundance]

From Happinet.

July 4th:

Four out of five Angel Guts films (the first one will not be released):
Angel Guts: Red Classroom
Angel Guts: Nami
Angel Guts: Red Porno
Angel Guts: Red Vertigo

And all four in a limited edition boxset.

October 3th

Twisted Path of Love
A Woman with Red Hair
Rouge
Yumeno kyūsaku no shōjo jigoku

January 6th 2018:

Female Teacher: In Front of the Students
Crazy Fruit
Slave Contract
Dark Room