Street Mobster

Street Mobster

Year: 1972

Runtime: 92 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Kinji Fukasaku

CrimeActionThriller

After serving time, a defiant street thug is incensed to find his town overrun by two yakuza factions. He gathers his crew and takes them on.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Street Mobster (1972)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Street Mobster (1972). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Postwar Japan

The story is rooted in the years following Japan's surrender in 1945, with the protagonist born in 1945. It depicts the rough, evolving underworld of a rapidly changing urban Japan, where survival hinges on strength and ruthless pragmatism. The period is marked by social upheaval that shapes Okita’s rise and the ensuing yakuza wars.

Location

Kawasaki, Japan

The action unfolds on the mean streets of Kawasaki, an industrial city in Kanagawa Prefecture. Its factories, bar rooms, and alleyways provide a gritty setting where underworld figures operate. The city serves as a backdrop that highlights postwar urban decay and the vulnerability of its residents to gang violence.

🗺️ Industrial city 🏙️ Urban crime backdrop

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:29

Main Characters – Street Mobster (1972)

Meet the key characters of Street Mobster (1972), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Isamu Okita (Bunta Sugawara)

A fiercely ambitious street kid who climbs from poverty to become a powerful yakuza figure. He forms and leads a gang, then joins the Yato family, gaining wealth through illegal ventures while wrestling with personal loyalties. His arc is defined by a rapid rise, ruthless tactics, and a descent into a brutal war against rival forces.

🗡️ Ambitious 🧭 Charismatic 💥 Violent

Taniguchi (Takeo Chii)

A quiet, reserved man serving time for domestic violence who, after release, declines Okita’s offer to join him. His restraint and moral ambiguity stand in contrast to Okita’s extremity, hinting at a different path that could have been taken.

🧊 Quiet 🧭 Reserved 🩸 Troubled past

Boss Yato (Noboru Andō)

A formidable rival who orchestrates power plays and warfare against Takigawa’s faction. He exacts obedience, demands apologies, and uses strategic violence to maintain control, ultimately shaping the trajectory of Okita’s fate.

🗡️ Powerful 🧭 Cunning ⚔️ Ruthless

Kizaki (Asao Koike)

A yakuza expelled from his family who proposes building a new gang by recruiting local street punks. He proves to be opportunistic and ultimately betrays Okita, highlighting the fragility of loyalties in the criminal underworld.

🗡️ Opportunistic 🧭 Ruthless 🧯 Exiled

Kimiyo (Mayumi Nagisa)

A young woman who has a traumatic past with Okita, later sharing complicated feelings and a tentative forgiveness. Her arc culminates in tragedy as she becomes a casualty in the power struggle, underscoring the personal costs of the cycle of violence.

💔 Survivor 🕊️ Forgiving 💃 Complex

Takigawa (Keijirō Morozumi)

Head of the Takigawa yakuza family, a major figure in the ongoing war with the Saiei Group. His leadership and rival alliances drive the broader conflicts and shape the territory Okita fights over.

⚔️ Powerful ♟️ Strategic 🧭 Territorial

Eisaku Owada (Asao Uchida)

Chairman of the Saiei Group, a Osaka syndicate seeking to form an alliance with Takigawa. He represents the broader corporate-criminal power structure against which Okita and his allies contend, and he plays a pivotal role in demanding loyalty and enforcing consequences.

🏛️ Chairman 🗺️ Manipulative 🐍 Calculating

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:29

Major Themes – Street Mobster (1972)

Explore the central themes of Street Mobster (1972), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗡️ Loyalty & Betrayal

Loyalty is fluid and often bought with power, while betrayals are common in the scramble for control. Okita, Kizaki, and Yato navigate shifting alliances as strength and fear dictate who stays or goes. The tension between allegiance and self-preservation drives much of the conflict and character choices.

💥 Violence & Power

Power is forged through force, scare tactics, and calculated violence. The yakuza war unfolds with raids, killings, and strategic strikes, showing how control over territory and resources is paramount. Ritual acts of intimidation, like yubitsume, underscore the brutal code governing their world.

🔥 Fate & Rage

Okita’s hunger for ascent becomes a self-destructive force, fueling rage and reckless decisions. His stubborn pride leads to extreme acts, including self-mutilation, and blinds him to looming consequences. The cycle of revenge ultimately consumes him and those around him.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:29

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Unlock the Full Story of Street Mobster

Don't stop at just watching — explore Street Mobster in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Street Mobster is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Street Mobster Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Street Mobster, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Street Mobster Summary

Street Mobster Timeline

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Street Mobster Timeline

More About Street Mobster

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