Tokyo Emmanuelle – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1975
Director: Akira Katô
Writer: Toshio Ashizawa
Cast: Kumi Taguchi, Fujio Murakami, Mitsuko Aoi, Naka Fuyuki

Release Date: July 7th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 70 Minutes 34 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £15.00 (UK)

"Kyoko, played by the stunning Kumi Taguchi (Wolf Guy, Deep Throat in Tokyo), heads back home from Paris to Tokyo following a spat with her French lover, Pierre, in this sensual Japanese riposte to the French erotic classic. After meeting with her old friend Eiko, she is introduced to Maki, a scholar and libertine whose philosophy in the boudoir guides the young woman on her odyssey of sexual reawakening." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "High-Definition Blu-Ray Presentation In 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio."

Tokyo Emmanuelle comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 29 GB

Feature: 20.2 GB

The source is in excellent shape; there is some very minor print debris that remains. Flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, black levels are strong, and image clarity and compression are solid.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced, and range-wise ambient sounds are well represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background (14 stills), a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 36 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), an introduction by Kei Chiba titled Lost in Translation (18 minutes 18 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an introduction by Mio Hatokai titled Emmanuelle Goes to Tokyo (7 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with David Flint and Jasper Sharp, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 28-page booklet with cast & crew information, an essay titled Exotic Flesh written by Dakota Noot, and an essay titled From Paris to Tokyo to Soho Square written by Jasper Sharp.

Summary:

Akira Katô directed Tokyo Emmanuelle. He’s known for Crazy for Love, Statue in Fire, Newlywed Hell, and Slave Wife. Tokyo Emmanuelle is not merely a film that appropriates a name; it is a Japanese reimagining of Just Jaeckin's Emmanuelle film. That said, the clearest difference between these two comes down to how the protagonist views sex. Nikkatsu would make a sequel titled Tokyo Emmanuelle: Private Instruction with Kumi Taguchi reprising the role of Kyoko.

While her husband is away, a Japanese woman who's been living in Paris for six years takes a trip to Tokyo, and once there she’s bombarded by sexual encounters.

After a stylish pre-credits opening sequence shot in black and white, the narrative quickly dives into the erotic content. Once in Tokyo, everything is in color, providing a stark contrast to the protagonist's life in Paris. There is an abundance of nudity, and Tokyo Emmanuelle never wastes an opportunity to show off its female cast. That said, exposition takes a backseat to moments of erotica, many of which are laced with innuendo.

Kumi Taguchi (Wolf Guy) is cast in the role of Kyoko; she has an exotic look that perfectly plays into the story that unfolds. She has a strong physical presence, and even when she shares moments with other women, she overshadows them and remains the focal point. That said, it is clear why she was cast in the role of Kyoko.

Although it is clear that Kyoko is very much in love with her husband and is not looking to leave him, she is still a woman with an enormous sexual appetite. Numerous people conspire to drive a wedge between Kyoko and her husband, despite her willingness to sexually explore. Tokyo Emmanuelle is a beautifully photographed film that makes use of a wide range of locations, which it effectively exploits for many memorable moments, notably a scene where Kyoko lathers up her body in soap before a bath. Ultimately, Tokyo Emmanuelle is a film that plays to its audience, and it delivers in spades.

Tokyo Emmanuelle gets an exceptional release from 88 Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a trio of insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer