Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis

Tokyo The Last Megalopolis , Teito monogatari? is a tokusatsu historical dark fantasyscience fiction epic film directed by Akio Jissoji, produced by Exe studios and distributed by Toho Studios. It is the first cinematic adaptation of the award winning historical fantasy novel Teito Monogatari by Hiroshi Aramata. It stars Kyusaku Shimada, Shintaro Katsu, Koji Takahashi, Jo Shishido, Junichi Ishida, Mieko Harada, Ko Nishimura, and Shiro Sano among others. With a budget of aroundbillion yen roughlymillion, the movie was one of the most expensive live action Japanese special effects films to have ever been produced during that decade by contrast, the internationally released 1984 film The Return of Godzilla was only budgeted at 6.25 million. The movie received a great deal of publicity with the media highlighting the grand recreation of circa 1927 Ginza district being made just for use in the film. The open set, which cost around 300 million yen by itself, was an 150 meter long life sized facsimile of the early Showa era district featuring several electric cable cars and 3000 fully costumed extras.

The liveaction film is an adaptation of the first 13rd of the original novel or the first four volumes out of a total of 12.The movie begins in 1912 with Yasumasa Hirai explaining to Baron Eiichi Shibusawa Tokyos long history as one of the most haunted cities in all of Japan. He specifically warns Shibusawa that the onryo Taira no Masakado must not be disturbed, as its spirit is powerful enough to destroy the city. In response to this heeding, Shibusawa allows the Tsuchimikado Family to advise him on how to make a Tokyo a blessed city. However, both Hirais and Shibusawas efforts are opposed by the oni Yasunori Kato, a former lieutenant in the Imperial Army, who wants to destroy Tokyo by awakening Masakados spirit. To do this, he attempts to kidnap Yukari Tatsumiya, the descendant of Masakado, to use as a medium to communicate with the spirit. However, his plans are brought to attention to the Tsuchimikado Family by Koda Rohan. Hirai and his followers lock Yukari inside the Tsuchimikado temple and perform the monoimi ceremony to defend her. Kato and his followers launch a frontal assault against the temple with shikigami. Kato escapes with Yukari and uses her as a medium, but Masakado rejects his offer. Ogai Mori diagnoses Yukari as pregnant with Katos child. Emperor Meiji passes away, marking the end of the Meiji Era. In a dramatic display of devotion to the Meiji Emperor, Hirai commits seppuku. However his act divines the year of Tokyos destruction 1923, the Year of the Pig. ........

Source: Wikipedia