Gakuryu Ishii (石井 岳龍 Ishii Gakuryū, born January 15, 1957), formerly known as Sogo Ishii (石井 聰互 Ishii Sōgo), is a Japanese filmmaker known for his stylistic punk films, which helped spark the cyberpunk movement in Japan. A number of contemporary filmmakers, including Quentin Tarantino, have cited Ishii's films as an influence.
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Biography from TMDB.
- January 15, 1957 (69)
- Hakata, Fukuoka, Japan
- Director, writer, editor and composer
- 8 on MovieCove · 51 credits in all
What are Gakuryū Ishii's films like?
Across their 8 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Society.
Genres
Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 1 · Wry 0 · Earnest 6
A split, not a type: Light 2 · Serious 2 · Dark 3
Grounded 1 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 5
Gentle 0 · Charged 2 · Intense 5
A split, not a type: Steady 3 · Shifting 0 · Whiplash 4
Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 2
A split, not a type: Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 2
Casual 2 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 1
A split, not a type: Easy watch 3 · Affecting 0 · Heavy 4
Resolved 1 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 3
Moods and endings
- Tragic1
- Ambiguous6
- Cyclical1
AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.
Where can I watch Gakuryū Ishii's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 4 of their 8 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.
Subscription and free streaming for Gakuryū Ishii's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.
Filmography
51 credits, 8 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.
The Box Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)
Almost People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)
Self-Revolutionary Cinematic Struggle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)
The Punk Spirit of '82: Sogo Ishii on Burst City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)
Future Imaginations (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)
Punk Samurai Slash Down (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)
Bitter Honey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
Japanscope, panorama de la nouvelle Nouvelle Vague (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)
That's It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)
Flower of Shanidar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)
Neo Ultra Q(2013)
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
Isn't Anyone Alive? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)
Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
Instant Swamp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)
Your Order! The History of the Stalin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)
Humoresque (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)
What's a Director? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)
Mirrored Mind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)
A Day of the GOD Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)
Jeonju Digital Project 2004 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)
Dead End Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
The Private Detective Mike (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)
Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
Electric Dragon 80,000V(2001)
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
Labyrinth of Dreams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
Lonely Planet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
August in the Water (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Angel Dust(1994)
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
Kitakoto no aru hajimete no michi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)
Korosiya Ami (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)
Tokyo Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)
Wild Side (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)
March Comes In Like a Lion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)
Private 8mm Film Live Diary 81-86 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
The Master of Shiatsu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
1/2 Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
The Crazy Family(1984)
Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films
Asia Strikes Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)
Burst City(1982)
Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all filmsNorikoto-Toriaezu no Taiwa No. 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)
Shuffle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)
MOMENT (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)
Crazy Thunder Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)
Tokyo Cabbageman K (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)
Kami no ochite kita hi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
Rusty Empty Can (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
Panic in High School(1978)
Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films
Charge! Hooligans of Hakata (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)
Solitude of One Divided by 880,000 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)
Panic High School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)
Career shape
A full career of 51 titles from 1976 to 2024.
By role
Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.
How do Gakuryū Ishii's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 73rd percentile, the median of all 7; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 73rd percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up3
- 50th to 74th4
- Below 25th1
Shape of the crowd
5 of their 8 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Divisive1
- Crowd Pleaser5
- Mixed2
Reviewers score the atmosphere 79/100 and the pacing 49/100 in their films, across 5 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.
Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.
Who does Gakuryū Ishii work with?
People who share at least 2 of Gakuryū Ishii's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Norimichi Kasamatsu shares the most, 3.
Actors
- Masakatsu FunakiShared titles: Electric Dragon 80,000V (2001), Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle (2000)See all 2 shared titles with Masakatsu Funaki
- Masatoshi NagaseShared titles: Electric Dragon 80,000V (2001), Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle (2000)See all 2 shared titles with Masatoshi Nagase
- Tadanobu AsanoShared titles: Electric Dragon 80,000V (2001), Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle (2000)See all 2 shared titles with Tadanobu Asano
- Yoshiki ArizonoShared titles: Electric Dragon 80,000V (2001), The Crazy Family (1984)See all 2 shared titles with Yoshiki Arizono
Composers, cinematographers and editors
- Norimichi KasamatsuShared titles: Electric Dragon 80,000V (2001), Angel Dust (1994), Burst City (1982)See all 3 shared titles with Norimichi Kasamatsu
- Hiroyuki OnogawaShared titles: Electric Dragon 80,000V (2001), Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle (2000)See all 2 shared titles with Hiroyuki Onogawa
- Shūichi KakesuShared titles: Electric Dragon 80,000V (2001), Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle (2000)See all 2 shared titles with Shūichi Kakesu
Producers
- Takenori SentōShared titles: Electric Dragon 80,000V (2001), Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle (2000)See all 2 shared titles with Takenori Sentō