The Great Japanese Pick-Pocket Club

1969 1h 35m JA

🙌

8.0

BANGER

★8.0TMDB · 1

CrimeComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A crime story (with strong elements of comedy) that pits a determined detective against a gang of pickpockets in Osaka. The detective (played by Keiju Kobayashi) and the leader of the gang (played by Norihei Miki) have an interesting wartime backstory together that fuels much of the story.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Keiju Kobayashi
Tomizô Funakoshi
Norihei Miki
Heppei Hiradaira
Noriko Takahashi
Kamie
Kunie Tanaka
Kanegai
Akihiko Hirata
Furansu
Wakako Sakai
Akiko
Daigo Kusano
Fukurô
Kazuko Yoshiyuki
Kyôko

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jun Fukuda
Writers: Giichi Fujimoto
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

ERA

Did you know

57 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CRAFT

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jun Fukuda, shot by Yuzuru Aizawa. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Keiju Kobayashi and Norihei Miki and Noriko Takahashi carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0301150 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jun Fukuda directs. Yuzuru Aizawa behind the camera. Masaru Satō scores. Fumiko Ohashi cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

157 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by Jun Fukuda, shot by Yuzuru Aizawa. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Masaru Satō. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Fumiko Ohashi shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Keiju Kobayashi and Norihei Miki and Noriko Takahashi carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0301150 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.