The Naked Director
Taste attributes: comedydramabiographyslowfresh & originalrealisticlinearemotive & stirringcomplex relationship
"In 1980s Japan, one determined man turned every crushing setback into opportunity. His name was Toru Muranishi, and he revolutionized his industry."
Boxlist takeGrounded and inventive: a comedy-drama series that is balanced on everything else. Best if you like real life over fantasy.
Taste details
Pace: slow · Originality: fresh · Tone: balanced · Weight: balanced · Realism: true to life · Story: balanced · Structure: linear · Look: balanced · Scale: balanced · Emotional punch: stirringHow we score
Quality rating
7.5 /10
TMDB · 60 votes
Where to watch
Streaming data: JustWatch
Seasons
Season 1
· 2019 · 8 episodesFollows the story of Toru Muranishi's unusual and dramatic life filled with big ambitions as well as spectacular setbacks in his attempt to turn Japan's porn industry on its head.
Episodes (8)
1The Hidden Side8 Aug 2019
After another month of lackluster encyclopedia sales, Muranishi's job is on the line. But just when he starts making money, his life falls apart.
2Uncensored8 Aug 2019
Muranishi and Toshi move onto selling porn magazines, starting their own bookstore chain in Hokkaido. But their success attracts unwanted attention.
3Shake Things Up8 Aug 2019
After living on the lam in Tokyo, Muranishi and Toshi are arrested in Sapporo. Once they get out, they reunite with Kawada with a new goal: video.
4The Real Thing8 Aug 2019
Furuya tells the Sapphire team that Ikezawa and Takei are working together. Muranishi recruits a Poseidon actress for their next video.
5Blossoming8 Aug 2019
Blacklisted by Ikezawa and squeezed by the regulatory commission, Sapphire nears bankruptcy. After confronting her mother, Megumi seeks out Muranishi.
6Delusions of Grandeur8 Aug 2019
Muranishi takes his crew to Hawaii for an ambitious make-or-break shoot with Allison, a famous American porn star. Toshi goes to Furuya for help.
7Don't Dream It's Over8 Aug 2019
Facing a 370-year prison term, Muranishi 100 million yen to make bail. While Toshi and Kawada struggle to raise funds, Kaoru demands to help out.
8A Sexual Revolution8 Aug 2019
Back in Japan, the Showa era is ending and Kaoru Kuroki has become a sensation. Sapphire and Poseidon are cranking out videos, but a crackdown looms.
Season 2
· 2021 · 8 episodesFlush with success, Muranishi aims for the stars, vowing to launch his own satellite TV channel. But the higher he flies, the farther he has to fall.
Episodes (8)
1Sex Will Come Raining Down24 Jun 2021
The year is 1990, and Muranishi is riding high. When his investment banker introduces him to the concept of satellite TV, he finds his next big thing.
2More, More, More24 Jun 2021
To raise money for a satellite channel, Muranishi starts cranking out videos and pushing boundaries, but he ends up neglecting Kaoru, his biggest star.
3Diamond in the Rough24 Jun 2021
Sapphire Pictures is rebranded into the more upscale Diamond Visual. A shy woman named Miyuki responds to a casting call and winds up shadowing Kaoru.
4Our Dream24 Jun 2021
Kaoru enthusiastically promotes her upcoming video. Umino finally gives his response regarding the satellite deal. Miyuki is nervous about her debut.
5The Bubble Bursts24 Jun 2021
Muranishi gives Miyuki a new name: Mariko Nogi. But Diamond is running out of money, and as the bubble economy bursts, they have to find new revenue.
6Out of Control24 Jun 2021
While the Diamond staff fumes, Muranishi desperately searches for a way to make the next satellite payment and keep the business afloat.
7The Fall24 Jun 2021
Kaoru is hospitalized. Inspired by industry changes, Wada recruits Toshi, Kawada and Mitamura to make videos for his chain. Muranishi's debt comes due.
8The Will of a Stone24 Jun 2021
Toshi takes matters with the yakuza into his own hands. The other Diamond staff members slowly move on with their lives.
StrongsampleWhy this match?ShowHide
What lines up
- Pace: Slow, just how this profile likes it
- Originality: Fresh / original, just how this profile likes it
- Linearity: Linear / logical, just how this profile likes it
What might not click
- Realism: True to life, where this profile leans balanced realism
- Weightiness: Balanced weightiness, where this profile leans weighty / heavy
This is a sample for Hard Hitter. Take the taste test to see your own match for The Naked Director.
Synopsis
Pinku (the Japanese softcore film sub-genre) has a long and historied part in Japanese cinema. The genre has existed for over forty years and seen many ebbs and flows. One of the directors during the heyday of the movement was the prolific Muranishi Toru. Adpated from a novel about the man, The Naked Director depicts the character, his art, vision and his interactions with the approving and disapproving folk around him.
Synopsis: TMDB
Taste Attributes
Characteristics
Where this title sits on each taste spectrum
Directed by
Cast
Details
- Genre
- Comedy
- Year
- 2019
- Episode length
- 50 min
- Status
- Ended
- Studio
- Image Field Inc.
- Taste scores
- How we score
Similar in feel
Matched on pace, tone, themes and style, not just genre.
