Love this piece, Paul. I'd like to nominate the NYC night club in the early bit of Out of the Past. Perhaps it is in the film all too briefly, but the importance thematically and plot wise of the space can't be understated. It left quite an impression on me.

Kovaak absolutely transcendent during this run

Foster’s introductions are such a treat

Meiko Kaji is transcendent in what I think was her third collaboration with Fukasaku.

Unbelievable swag

Goro Fujita, a novelist and former yakuza himself, is responsible for the availability of yakuza stories to be adapted by Fukasaku and Miike. David E. Kaplan demystifies Fujita in his 2012 yakuza tome: content.ucpress.edu/chapters/827...

Hope to see people in that Discord voice chat tonight.