Yakuza Wives – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1986
Director: Hideo Gosha
Writer: Kôji Takada
Cast: Shima Iwashita, Rino Katase, Akiko Kana, Riki Takeuchi, Kôjiro Shimizu, Shôko Ieda, Yasuko Naito, Junko Enjô, Seizô Fukumoto, Mikio Narita, Kei Satô

Release Date: April 21st, 2025 (UK), April 22nd, 2025 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 119 Minutes 46 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: 18 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK), $34.95 (USA)

"Shima Iwashita puts in a commanding performance as Tamaki, who takes over the reins of the Domoto clan while her husband is spending time in jail. Family relations are strained past breaking point when her younger sister Makoto embarks on a relationship with a member of a rival gang." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Blu-ray presentation in 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio".

Yakuza Wives comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.9 GB

Feature: 32.6 GB

The source looks great; flesh tones are healthy, colors look correct, black levels are strong, image clarity and compression are solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio is in excellent shape; dialog always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, ambient sounds are well-represented, and the score sounds appropriately robust. 

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background (stills/poster), two theatrical trailers (3 minutes 45 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), an introduction by Mark Schilling (15 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Tattoo Artist Seiji Mouri (24 minutes 57 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 20-page booklet with cast & crew information, and an essay titled Rebirth of a Genre written by Nathan Stuart.

Summary:

Yakuza Wives was directed by Hideo Gosha, a filmmaker best known for directing samurai films. His notable films include Goyokin, The Wolves, Violent Streets, and Hunter in the Dark.

A power struggle ensues when those who are unhappy with the boss’ chosen successor break away and form a rival clan.

The Yakuza film often relegates women characters to roles that are unvirtuous or devious, portraying them as rarely matching the strength of their male counterparts. Even when they don’t fall into those categories, they are typically wives or girlfriends who serve as secondary characters and simply blend in. Though Japanese cinema features many examples of strong female characters who stand on equal footing with their male counterparts, a film like Yakuza Wives was among the first Yakuza films to provide women characters with traits typically reserved for their male counterparts.

Loyalty is a theme that dominates Yakuza cinema; characters are bound by a code, and breaking it never leads to anything good. Though loyalty had been predominantly viewed through the lens of male characters, Yakuza Wives offers a different view that shows the women in these men's lives have a fierce loyalty that rivals their male counterparts.

The narrative revolves around Tamaki, the wife of a yakuza who is currently serving time in prison. She is a strong-willed character who sets an example for the other women, and she commands respect from the men who serve her through strength and fear. While her husband is in jail, the boss of the Domoto clan passes away and names her husband as his successor. Unhappy with this decision, some of the men break away and form their own rival clan, which leads to a war between the two clans.

The other key female character is Makato, the younger, naive sister of Tamaki. Though she initially lives a life separate from the one her sister has immersed herself in, over time she becomes jaded and gains confidence. She becomes involved with a yakuza named Kiyoshi Sugita, who initially takes her by force. After an initial hesitancy about him, she falls madly in love with him, which causes a rift between her and her sister.

All around, the performances are outstanding, especially Shima Iwashita’s (Harakiri) portrayal of Tamaki. She delivers a commanding performance that perfectly captures her character's confidence and fearlessness. The other performance of note is Rino Katase’s portrayal of Makato. She would work with Hideo Gosha three more times: Tokyo Bordello, Carmen 1945, and Heat Wave. Notable cast members include Riki Takeuchi (Deadly Outlaw: Rekka), Masanori Sera, who portrays Kiyoshi, a man driven by his impulses, and Mikio Narita (Graveyard of Honor), who portrays Akimasa, who sees himself as the rightful heir to the Domoto clan, and he finds himself in a power struggle with Tamaki.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where Yakuza Wives does not excel. In the first hour the narrative is all about building its characters, and violence is minimal. Though violence escalates in the latter half of the narrative it is still well below what one expects from a Yakuza film. There are three striking moments: the scene where Kiyoshi rapes Makato, a scene where Makato finally stands up to Tamaki, and a jarring climax that blends eroticism and carnage. Ultimately, Yakuza Wives is another exemplary film from Hideo Gosha, making it a must-see for fans of Yakuza cinema.

Yakuza Wives gets a solid release from 88 Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer