Skip to content
MovieCove
Kōji Wakamatsu

Kōji Wakamatsu

Director and producer, also writer and editor · Died October 17, 2012, aged 76 · Wakuya, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan

Kōji Wakamatsu (若松孝二 , 1 April 1936 – 17 October 2012) was a Japanese film director who directed such pinku eiga ('pink films') as Ecstasy of the Angels (1972) and Go, Go, Second Time Virgin (1969). He also produced Nagisa Ōshima's controversial film In the Realm of the Senses (1976). He has been called "the most important director to emerge in the pink film genre," and one of "Japan's leading directors of the 1960s." His 2010 film, Caterpillar, was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival. Description above from the Wikipedia article Kōji Wakamatsu, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.​

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 1, 1936
Died
October 17, 2012 (aged 76)
From
Wakuya, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
Works as
Director and producer, also writer and editor
Titles
9 on MovieCove · 129 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 65% in 30 days

What are Kōji Wakamatsu's films like?

Across their 9 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

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.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
33%
Survival
25%
Power
19%
Self
15%
Society
7%
Obsession3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma3 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 0 · Serious 1 · Dark 8

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 6 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 0

Intense: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their intense movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 0 · Charged 3 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 3 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 1

Heavy: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their heavy movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 1 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 6

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 4 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Dread
6
Cold
5
Melancholic
3
Elegiac
1

How their films linger

Unsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Bittersweet2
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous4

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 Kōji Wakamatsu's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 1 of their 9 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, on The Criterion Channel (1).

Subscription and free streaming for Kōji Wakamatsu'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

129 credits, 9 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • シネマスコーレを解剖する。　コロナなんかぶっ飛ばせ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • The Millennial Rapture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · Producer

  • 11.25 The Day He Chose His Own Fate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • Petrel Hotel Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · Writer

  • Pure Asia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Actor

  • Keitai Deka Zenigata Yui (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 10 episodes · Director

  • Embryo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Thanks

  • Caterpillar(2010)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Keitai Deka Zenigata Mei (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 13 episodes · Director

  • Shinjuku Legend: Nagisa Yoko Shinjuku Koma Gewa-gewa Recital (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • United Red Army(2007)

    Director · Editor · Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Prisoner/Terrorist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • What's a Director? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Green Mind, Metal Bats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Oji-san

  • Cycling Chronicles: Landscapes the Boy Saw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director · Producer · Story

  • Perfect Education 6: Red Murder(2004)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Incessant Hell: The Vile Road of Finance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • Prime Minister's Office Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director

  • Heaven and Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director

  • Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Wind spirit

  • End of Our Own Real (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director

  • Target (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director

  • Endless Waltz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director

  • The Mystery of Rampo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Cameo

  • Singapore Sling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Erotic Liaisons(1992)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Sosuke Loses His Lover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director

  • New Sex Life-Style Bible 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director

  • Ready to Shoot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • Eternal Savannah: Roses' Tails (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • Hole in the Pants 4: Strawberries That Aren't Mushy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • It's Easier Than Kissing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director

  • Impactual Performance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director · Producer

  • Moero Seishun no Ichinen – “Burn, One Year of Youth” (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Producer

  • Scrap: A Love Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director

  • The Key (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Producer

  • The Woman with the Red Hat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Producer

  • A Pool Without Water(1982)

    Director · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Serial Rape in a Secret Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Director

  • Seishojo gomon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • The Night of Martial Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Producer

  • Gendai sei hanzai: Zenin satsugai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Director

  • Prey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Director

  • Gendai sei hanzai: Boko kankin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Director

  • Zannin renzoku gokanma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Director

  • Women Prison: Vigilante Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Producer

  • Japanese Torture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Producer

  • Serial Rapist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Director

  • Oppressive Torture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • Delinquent Sukeban Gang Rape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Director

  • Kill the Flower Bud! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Producer

  • Torture Chronicles Continues: 100 Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Director

  • Prohibition In Japan: Female Trafficking (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Director

  • Eros Eterna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Director · Producer

  • Zannin onna ankokushi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Director

  • In the Realm of the Senses(1976)

    Production Manager · Writer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Documentary: High School Girls' Prostitution Ring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director

  • 100 Years of Torture: The History (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director

  • Shinjuku Maria (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director · Writer · as Cameo

  • Law of the Delta Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director

  • A.K.A. Serial Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Producer

  • Egg Delivery Man : Attack on Keishicho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Actor

  • Porn jikenbo: sei no ankoku (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director

  • Beast of Lust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Director

  • Wet Dice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Director · Executive Producer · as Customer

  • Off-Season Flowering (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Producer

  • Secret High School Girl: After School Activity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • Backside of 17 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director

  • Sex Variation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director

  • Ecstasy of the Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director · Producer

  • Contemporary History of Rape in Japan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director

  • Sex Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director

  • Red Army/PFLP: Declaration of World War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director

  • The Woman Who Wanted to Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director · Producer

  • Love Technique 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director

  • Secret Flower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director · Producer

  • The Hateful Beast(1970)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Sex Jack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • High Noon Rape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • Love Technique: Kamasutra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • Shinjuku Mad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director · Producer

  • Season of Terror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • Violence Without a Cause (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director · Producer

  • Naked Bullet(1969)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Female Student Guerrilla (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Executive Producer

  • Running in Madness, Dying in Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director · Producer · as Sleigh driver

  • Dark Story of a Sex Crime: Phantom Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • New Jack & Betty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Producer

  • Violent Virgin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director · Producer

  • Sexual Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Producer

  • New Underground History of Japanese Violence: Vengeance Demon(1969)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Go, Go Second Time Virgin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • The Notorious Concubines (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Director

  • Sex Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Producer

  • The Pistol That Sprouted Hair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Producer

  • Desire of the Flesh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • A Womb to Let (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Director · Producer

  • Sex Crimes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Director · Producer

  • Dark Story of a Japanese Rapist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director · Producer

  • Vagabond of Sex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • Abnormal Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director

  • Violence in the Net (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • Violated Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

  • Birth Control Revolution (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Executive Producer · as Weekly magazine photographer

  • Black Narcissus of Lust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • Sei no fukkatsu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Producer

  • The Orgy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director · Producer

  • Season of Betrayal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Producer

  • Abortion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Executive Producer

  • The Embryo Hunts in Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • The Love Robots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • Torn Love Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Director

  • Blood Is Redder Than the Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Director · Executive Producer · Screenplay

  • Perverse Relations (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director

  • Secrets Behind the Wall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director · Producer

  • Resume of Love Affairs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Blood of Lust Is Dripping (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director · Executive Producer · Screenplay · as Man wearing sunglasses

  • Taiyô no heso (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director

  • Ecstasy of Wickedness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Director

  • Naked Shadow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Director

  • Kawaita hada (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Director

  • Frenzy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Director

  • Lead Tombstone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Director

  • Red Crime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Director

  • Mesuinu no Kake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Director

  • Payment for Adultery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director

  • Oiroke sakusen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director

  • Savage Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director

  • Sweet Trap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 129 titles from 1963 to 2022.

Biggest box office

Caterpillar (2010)

$252K worldwide

Highest rated

United Red Army (2007)

Midcredits 79th

Most popular right now

In the Realm of the Senses (1976)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting15 of 129: 10 only acting, 5 with another roleDirecting99 of 129: 54 only directing, 45 with another role · typical Midcredits score59thWriting9 of 129: 0 only writing, 9 with another roleProducing59 of 129: 17 only producing, 42 with another role · typical Midcredits score64thEditing1 of 129: 0 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew2 of 129: 2 only other crew, 0 with another role

129 titles, 46 with more than one role — directing and producing overlap on 41 of them.

By decade

1960s48 · 3 acting · 48 crew1970s40 · 3 acting · 39 crew1980s10 · crew1990s13 · 2 acting · 11 crew2000s10 · 5 acting · 5 crew2010s7 · 1 acting · 6 crew2020s1 · acting

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 Kōji Wakamatsu's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 9; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 9 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up1
  • 50th to 74th5
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

5 of their 9 titles are Mixed.

  • Crowd Pleaser4
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · director, producer

A Pool Without Water (1982)

68th percentile spread · 12% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director, writer, producer, editor

United Red Army (2007)

Midcredits 79th · 67% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 78/100 and the pacing 44/100 in their films, across 4 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 Kōji Wakamatsu work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kōji Wakamatsu's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Masao Adachi shares the most, 5.

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers