Classic Japanese Cinema Discussion Thread

The wonderfully multi talented actress  Junko Fuji  became famous starring as the female lead in numerous yakuza films and the subset of these films, the excellent Toei, Ninkyo eiga; chivalry films. In these honour bound tales Fuji was often cast alongside her male counterparts stars Ken Takakura and Kōji Tsuruta. She appeared first in the early sixties,  her career peaking later in the decade, especially when she starred in her own film series as the knife-wielding gambler Red Peony in the  Hibotan Bakuto or Red Peony Gambler series. It was a great shock to fans and Toei company executives when she announced her early retirement aged 27 in 1972, although after some years she did return to acting and is still an active today...