Hiroshima Death Match (1973)
"Hiroshima shitô hen" (original title)

This film "Hiroshima shito hen" (1973) or "Deadly Fight in Hiroshima" is the second in the 5-part series directed by Kinji Fukasaku. The five films are (in order): Jingi Naki Tatakai (Battles without Honor and Humanity); Hiroshima Shito Hen (Deadly Fight in Hiroshima); Jingi Naki Tatakai: Dairi Senso (Proxy War); Jingi Naki Tatakai: Chojo Sakusen (Police Tactics); and Jingi Naki Tatakai: Kanketsu-Hen (Final Episode). These full titles bring up the correct movies on IMDb. They have been collected in a commercial DVD set called "The Yakuza Papers".

Subsequently, Fukasaku followed up with a 3-part series (New Battles without Honor and Humanity). It has Shin Jingi Naki Tatakai (1974); Shin Jingi Naki Tatakai Kuicho No Kubi (Boss's Head) (1975); and Shin Jingi Naki Tatakai: Kumicho Saigo No Hi (Boss's Last Days) (1976).

"Hiroshima shito hen" is like the first in the series in being a highly energetic, violent, action-packed story of yakuza gang or family conflicts and plots (mostly in 1955) in Hiroshima. The music is just outstanding in conveying moods and uses all sorts of instruments.

The main character in this one is a young man named Yamanaka (Seizo Fukumoto). He becomes a member of the Muraoka family after being sent to jail for assault in a gambling game that becomes a wild ruckus when he cheats. In prison he meets and is befriended by Shozo Hirono (played by Bunta Sugawara), who later has his own small yakuza family. Upon parole in 1952 he asks for work at an eating place from the beautiful Yasuko (Meiko Kaji), and their mutual passion is a key element in the story because she's the niece of Boss Muraoka (Hiroshi Nawa). He's a critical figure, a man of some distinction and influence with the police. His word goes in creating plots and mischief and settling conflicts. He takes in the highly-spirited Yamanaka who becomes very loyal to him and becomes known as a man who will kill under orders.

A rival smaller gang is the Otomo family. Its head is accommodating but his son, who will become the boss, is a fierce guy who never gives an inch. He's Katsutoshi Otomo (played by Shin'ichi Chiba). He favors sunglasses and a stick to beat up people with. He has tangled earlier with Yamanaka, generating great hostility. The two families tangle over a new racetrack for which Muraoka has gained entry as security guards.

The plot complications of most import occur because of family relationships and obligations involving a third family from Kure, the Yamamori family. This brings in Hirono's family, when he is asked to hide one Takimori for a few days. Yamanaka is sent to kill Takimori but his friend Horono is sheltering him.

And so it goes...leading to quite a few deaths.

This is only the second in the series that I watched, the first one being in August 2014. I could not watch this kind of stirring film one after another. They move fast. There are many characters and many names. Feeling gets dulled with too much all at once. Spaced out, however, I can handle them better and appreciate them more. This one has a number of memorable characters and plots, especially those involving human relationships of love, loyalty, antagonism and deviousness. The acting is excellent. The music is excellent. The feeling of it is excellent. The fighting is an integral part of the depiction but sometimes it's quite jumbled up. Nevertheless, the staging of them must have been very difficult.