Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on June 2013

The undead invasion of cinema continues as Human Trust Cinema Shibuya (Cocoti Bldg.7,8F 1-23-16, Shibuya-ku) unleashes the latest installment of the Zombie Film Olympics starting June 8. A Little Bit Zombie [pictured] represents Canada and other walking dead flicks carrying the flags of the UK, Holland and Japan feature in this round.

Late actor Shintaro Katsu is today best remembered for the Zatoichi jidaigeki series in which he starred as a blind, but highly-skilled, swordsman. But he also appeared in a variety of contemporary dramas and detective TV series, which feature in a retrospective at Cinema Vera (1-5 Maruyamacho, Shibuya-ku), June 8-28.

The great stars of early Showa-era cinema are feted in a program running June 8-July 5 at Jimbocho Theater (1-23 Kanda, Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku). Shin Saburi, Ken Uehara and Shuji Sano all got their start in the 1930s and their popularity allowed them to continue their careers will into the ’50s.