The Dirty One

Based on the manga by Satosumi Takaguchi, adapted by Midori Kogane and Hidehiro Ito, and directed by Rokuro Mochizuki, this anti-hero story follows a fallen boxer turned extortionist. Takasu Goro, once forced out of boxing by a fixed match, now runs a front as a private detective while blackmailing targets ranging from students to yakuza bosses. Feared for his ruthless methods, he’s known as “the dirty one”. His intellectually disabled sister Keiko befriends a man named Osho at her favorite riverside spot. When a yakuza executive is killed, Goro tries to extort the boss for 100 million yen—triggering Keiko’s kidnapping.

Directed by Rokurō Mochizuki, The Dirty One leans on a strong ensemble — Ryuji Harada, Tatsuo Yamada, Kyoko Muramatsu — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1995.