It’s a familiar tale: A lone stranger, devoted to old-fashioned values and a peaceful way of life, takes up arms in order to defend what’s right. This well-worn premise, seen in countless movies starring Ken Takakura or Gary Cooper, gets a few fresh licks of paint and some unexpected philosophical trimmings in “Pure Japanese.”
Though it was directed by Daishi Matsunaga, this peculiar film is very much the brainchild of its producer and star, Dean Fujioka. The Fukushima-born multi-hyphenate began his career in Hong Kong, and there seems to be an element of autobiography in his portrayal of Daisuke Tateishi, a stuntman whose overseas experience has made him an outsider in his native land.
After an on-set accident put an end to his Hollywood career, Daisuke has found work at a historical theme park (the real-life Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura), where actors perform staged ninja battles for tourists.