Toei's YAKUZA WIVES Blu-ray From 88 Films in April

Hideo Gosha's YAKUZA WIVES gets a limited edition Blu-ray release in April. Photo courtesy of Japan Society. ©Toei

Source: MVD Entertainment
Special Thanks to Derek Stubinski

88 Films will release Toei's YAKUZA WIVES (極道の妻（おんな）たち, Gokudō no Tsuma (Onna)-tachi, 1986) on Blu-ray in April. Director Hideo Gosha (SAMURAI WOLF 1&2, VIOLENT STREETS) breathes new life into the yakuza genre with an epic tale of mob rivalry based on a serialized account of the lives of real-life wives of Japanese gangsters. Shima Iwashita puts in a commanding performance as Tamaki, who takes over the reins of the Domoto clan while her husband is doing time in jail. Following reportage by journalist Shoko Ieda, who spent a year living among 28 wives of gangsters, YAKUZA WIVES became a huge hit and the first movie of a long-running classic series exposing the women who live in the shadows in a harsh, bright, crimson light. The film was nominated for three Acting Awards of the Japanese Academy.

What if the hardest man in town was a woman? While her husband is in prison doing time, Tamaki (Shima Iwashita), the wife of a yakuza capo, is not wasting her time— she runs her spouse`s gang like Margaret Thatcher ruled the U.K.: with an iron fist. Meanwhile, Makoto (Rina Katase), her voluptuous younger sister, marries a member of a rival band after being raped by him. The two women decide the mortality of the men in their lives is about to go north.

Released on home video for the very first time outside of Japan, YAKUZA WIVES is a limited edition of 4000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with a removable OBI strip, leaving the packaging free of certificates and markings.

Photo courtesy of 88 Films and MVD Entertainment. ©Toei

Running Time: 120 Minutes
Number of Discs: 1
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Region Code: 0
SKU: US88FB049
UPC: 760137169246
Sreet Date: 04/22/25
List Price: $39.95

Region Code: AB
UK Rating: 18
Street Date: 04/21/25
RRP: £17.99

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Limited Edition Individually Numbered Obi Strip

• High Definition Blu-ray presentation in 1.85:1 aspect ratio

• Original Stereo audio with new English subtitles

• exclusive Interview with Toei tattoo artist Seiji Mouri

• Brand new filmed introduction by Mark Schilling

• Stills Gallery

• Original and newly commissioned artwork by Sean Longmore

• PLUS: Limited edition collector’s booklet with essay by Nathan Stuart

About 88 Films

88 Films is an all rights multi-platform distributor of feature films. We specialise in releasing some of the best content from around the world to UK customers. We are the market leader in releasing forgotten cult horror films from around the world and we produce bonus features and special packaging to enhance the experience of our products.

About MVD Entertainment Group

MVD Entertainment Group is a full service music and movie distribution firm, exclusively representing thousands of audio and visual products for DVD, Bluray, CD, vinyl, and digital rights, worldwide. MVD also exclusively distributes a growing line of merchandise including limited edition collectibles, tee shirts, and more. "Serving Artists and Audiences" is MVD's purpose statement; it represents a commitment to the interests of the musicians, filmmakers, record labels, producers, managers, and every link in the supply chain. The customers are the Audience, from wholesalers, sub-distributors, major retail chains, online retailers, specialists, and independent mom and pop stores, all the way to the consumer. MVD Entertainment Group was founded in 1986 by Tom Seaman, an industry veteran with prior experience with The Record Hunter, Sam Goody, CBS Retail, and JEM Distribution. Tom, along with his family Elinor, Eve and Ed, initially focused on music videotapes. At the turn of the century, with the advent of DVD, MVD built a large catalog of exclusively distributed audiovisual content on DVDs, with special strength in music concert films, horror movies, documentaries, comedy, cult classics, and much more.