Joe Shishido was a Japanese actor recognizable for his intense, eccentric yakuza film roles. He appeared in some 300 films but is best known in the West for his performance in the cult film Branded to Kill (1967). In Japan, he is also known by the nickname Joe the Ace for his popular role in the Western Quick Draw Joe (1961).
Joe Shishido in 1955
Yakuza film is a popular film genre in Japanese cinema which focuses on the lives and dealings of yakuza, Japanese organized crime syndicates. In the silent film era, depictions of bakuto as sympathetic Robin Hood-like characters were common.
Film poster for Battles Without Honor and Humanity (1973)
Takeshi Kitano has received international praise for directing, writing and starring in yakuza films.