Banned Book: Flesh Futon

1975 1h 12m JA

🤯

9.0

MASTERPIECE

★9.0TMDB · 1

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The film is based on 17th century Chinese erotic novel by Li Yu best known as The Carnal Prayer Mat. Mio is a struggling writer who writes a pornographic book entitled Flesh Futon which becomes a surprise best seller. With his newfound wealth, Mio begins indulging in the nightlife, excusing his activities to his wife by saying it is for research. Mio's reputation comes crashing down when a prostitute reports that his penis is like a "guppy". More bad luck follows. His book is banned, and his wife puts him on a short leash. At the height of his misfortune, his house is robbed. Mio meets the robber who turns out to be the Japanese folk-hero Nezumi Kozō. The two become friends, and Kozō introduces Mio to a doctor who can perform penis-enlargement surgery. With his new equipment, Kozō and Mio become frequenters of the red-light district, until the real Nezumi Kozō appears, and evil luck returns to Mio.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Terumi Azuma
Nui
Hajime Tanimoto
Mio Kingyotei
Nobutaka Masutomi
Jirokichi Nezumi Kozō
Rei Okamoto
O-ine
Tamaki Katsura
Kō Iwanabe
Hiromi Igarashi
Bikuni
Akemi Nijo
Tama Kishibe
Meika Seri

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Nobuaki Shirai
Writers: Atsushi Yamatoya
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 72-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

51 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Nobuaki Shirai, shot by Toshiro Yamazaki. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Hajime Kaburagi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Jun Nabeshima shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Terumi Azuma and Hajime Tanimoto and Nobutaka Masutomi carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0285170 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Nobuaki Shirai directs. Toshiro Yamazaki behind the camera. Hajime Kaburagi scores. Jun Nabeshima cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 72-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
251 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Nobuaki Shirai, shot by Toshiro Yamazaki. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Hajime Kaburagi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Jun Nabeshima shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Terumi Azuma and Hajime Tanimoto and Nobutaka Masutomi carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0285170 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.