Eight small-town cops, one alien, zero chill — 1961 Japan's weirdest precinct.
A small provincial town surrounded by mountains and fields in northeastern Japan. Here a group of eight policemen solve a series of unusual cases, ranging from extortion, to drunken fathers, to corruption and even the persecution of a man who claims to be an alien. This entertaining film shows these cops with a human heart with humor.
Direction
Wakasugi balances eight personalities without losing the alien.
Writing
Cases escalate from drunk dads to extraterrestrial persecution naturally.
Acting
Ensemble chemistry makes 66 minutes feel like visiting old friends.
Director
Mitsuo Wakasugi
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Part of the 'Shochiku Ofuna' flavor films, this represents post-war Japanese cinema's pivot toward gentle humanism over nationalist epics. The alien subplot quietly mocks both Cold War paranoia and local prejudice.
Sayuri Yoshinaga was already a teen idol; this early role hinted at the dramatic depth that would make her a six-decade legend. Tadao Sawamoto's casting brought kabuki-trained physicality to the precinct's straight man.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
JP
