In my ongoing research into the cultural life of Japan in the late 1960s (which, I hope, will lead to 2 books!) I have been trawling through books, plays, music, history, and - most excitingly - film. And the most fascinating recent treasure to be unearthed must surely be 'The Black Lizard' (黒蜥蝪) by Kinji Fukasaku, made in 1968.
The story is adapted from a piece written by Edogawa Rampo, a crime novelist who flourished before the Second World War. His name is actually a play on words based on the Japanese pronunciation of Edgar Allan Poe (Edogaru Aran Pou). The film is concocted from a stage version by Yukio Mishima, who is himself featured in it as a life-size human doll. The star of the show, however, is Akihiro Miwa, Japan's most famous female impersonator, who plays the eponymous heroine, jewel thief and criminal mastermind 'The Black Lizard'.
The film is wildly over the top, a high-camp celebration of crazy that is silly, hilarious, affected and extremely entertaining. Get your hands on it!!
