Part 2 of the WILDSIDE × Nikkatsu Film Series has arrived.
Following the huge success of the previous Mark of the Killer, this time we spotlight the 1957 action film I Am Waiting, starring Yujiro Ishihara.

The film is an adaptation of Yujiro Ishihara’s hit song, I Am Waiting, from the Showa era. The screenplay was written by his brother, Shintaro Ishihara, a filmmaker and former Tokyo governor.
Themes that would later become staples in Nikkatsu action films—such as the "dock," "a protagonist with a dark past," "mist," and "the person of promise"—are already scattered throughout this film. It’s not just a musical, but also a fascinating early entry in the "Nikkatsu Action Film" genre that dominated the 1960s.

One of the highlights of the film, after its release in 1960, was the collaboration between Yujiro Ishihara and Mie Kitahara, who would later become his wife.


The story begins with Jouji (Yujiro Ishihara), a former lightweight boxer who retires after accidentally killing someone. He becomes the owner of a small restaurant at the dock.
Jouji’s only hope is the promise his brother made before leaving for Brazil: “I will call you over in a year and a half.” Jouji wants to escape the guilt that haunts him by leaving Japan.
One day, as the day of the promise approaches, Jouji encounters a woman, Saeko (Mie Kitahara), standing motionless at the dock in the rain, soaking wet.


Saeko, once an opera singer, had fallen from grace and was drifting from one rundown cabaret to another, singing to make ends meet.
One day, at a particular cabaret, she was nearly attacked by the brother of the owner, Shibata (played by Hideaki Nitta). In a desperate act of self-defense, she struck him with an iron vase and managed to escape. However, Shibata's brother survived.
Shibata’s brother began stalking Saeko and threatened both her and Jouji with a gun when they went to the movies together.

It is a melodrama with elements of action and suspense.


This WILDSIDE × I’m Waiting for You collaboration lineup features three different T-shirt designs.


WILDSIDE × "I Am Waiting" SS T-Shirt (Type A)
$ 100
The first design features a full-size graphic print of the iconic scene with Jouji (Yujiro Ishihara) and Saeko (Mie Kitahara) together at the dock, capturing a symbolic moment from the film.


WILDSIDE × "I Am Waiting" SS T-Shirt (Type B)
$ 100
The second design incorporates a cut from the movie featuring Jouji (Yujiro Ishihara) and Saeko (Mie Kitahara), along with the movie’s title logo, replicating the design of the movie poster.


WILDSIDE × "I Am Waiting" SS T-Shirt (Type C)
$ 100
The final design features a subtle illustration of Jouji (Yujiro Ishihara) and Saeko (Mie Kitahara) near the chest on the front of the T-shirt. The back print captures a scene where Jouji (Yujiro Ishihara) is smoking a cigarette at the dock, with the movie’s title logo also incorporated into the design.


All three designs incorporate a graphic interpretation of the loneliness and sorrow felt in the film, as seen through WILDSIDE's unique perspective.

The Blu-ray of the film is scheduled to be released in October 2025 from Happinet Media Marketing Co., Ltd.
Additionally, a Blu-ray and DVD series titled "Curated by Takiko Mizunoe" will be released starting in April 2025. This collection will feature 29 films produced by Takiko Mizunoe, including Crazed Fruit and The Call of the Foghorn.

For more details,please visit the official Nikkatsu website.

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"I Am Waiting"
Cast：Yujiro Ishihara, Mie Kitahara, Isamu Kosugi, Kenjiro Uemura, Hideaki Nitani, Ken Hatano
Planning：Takiko Mizunoe
Director：Koreyoshi Kurahara
Screenplay：Shintaro Ishihara
Cinematography：Kurataro Takamura
Lighting：Mitsuo Onishi
Sound Recording：Fumio Hashimoto
Art Direction：Takashi Matsuyama
Editing：Akira Suzuki
Music：Masaru Sato
Assistant Director：Akitaka Matsuo
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