I have been interested in Japanese culture for many years. The Yakuza explores some of the differences between western and Japanese culture. Specifically it focuses on the Yakuza (Japanese mafia) and the idea of honour, obligation, and “giri” (which the Tanaka Ken character describes as “the burden hardest to bear.”)
The closing 12 minutes of the movie illustrate this in a very emphatic and graphic way.
The movie stars Robert Mitchum, who gives an excellent performance.
The lead Japanese roles were taken by Ken Takakura, Keiko Kishi and James Shigeta (although the latter was born in Hawaii).
Interestingly Ken Takakura also starred in Black Rain, another east meets west movie, this time directed by my all-time favourite director, Ridley Scott.
Although The Yakuza was made in 1974 and many of the cast and crew have passed away (Richard Jordan in 1993, Herb Edelman in 1996, and Mitchum and Brian Keith in 1997, Leonard Schrader in 2006, and Sydney Pollack in 2008) I note that the Japanese cast named above are not only still with us but still making movies.
Although the movie shows its age in some respects, I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in Japan and who is not put off by a little violence in movies.