When his police detective best friend is killed, down-at-heel private eye and part-time blues singer BJ (Yusaku Matsuda, The Game Trilogy) gets the blame. He must start his own investigation to clear his name, but what he uncovers is a tangled web involving crooked cops, drug-dealing gangsters, the city’s underground gay and biker scenes, and even his own past. A loose remake of Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye that also draws from Visconti’s Death in Venice, this was Matsuda’s break with his action hero image. Samurai movie veteran Eiichi Kudo (The Fort of Death) relishes his chance at directing a neo-noir that captures urban Japan at the height of 1980s decadence.

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Video Quality

Yokohama BJ Blues comes to Blu-Ray courtesy of Radiance Films sourced from a pretty solid HD transfer supplied by Toei in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The cool color palette is represented faithfully in terms of the color grading, as the timing appears to be in line with the original exhibition. There is not a world of vibrancy in the clothing or environments, but this fits with the mood of the narrative. Black levels show small signs of weakness, but mostly they deliver acceptable depth to the image. This source appears to have been preserved well with no serious damage to be found in this presentation. The film provides a natural grain structure that retains the filmic look of the picture. The presentation always resolves consistently, yet background details struggle somewhat in wide and midrange compositions. Radiance Films has done a fine job with what they were given.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with an LPCM 1.0 mono track in the original Japanese (with optional English subtitles). While there is certainly a double meaning when it comes to the title of the film, it is clear that music is an important part of this narrative. The score and diegetic music comes through agreeably as it plays well with competing sounds. This track delivers everything with pleasing fidelity and only a minor amount of hiss and age observed. Dialogue comes through clearly without any competing element overshadowing important information. You also get some formidable environmental elements when the characters are out in the world. The track adds a whisper of texture to the world, but do not expect a strong showing in the low end. This release delivers what it needs to bring the film to life.

Special Features

The first pressing of the Radiance Films Blu-Ray of Yokohama BJ Blues includes a booklet featuring new writing by Dimitri Ianni on Toei Central Film, a subsidiary of Toei studios famed for releasing Pink Films and independent productions such as Yokohama BJ Blues, and an archival review of the film. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Mari Hemmi: A new 14-minute interview with star Mari Hemmi in which she discusses her experiences in the entertainment industry, how Yokohama BJ Blues made her feel like a proper actress, her first meeting with co-star Yusaku Matsuda, what she attempted to bring to her character, and more.

Shoichi Maruyama: A new 22-minute interview with screenwriter Shoichi Maruyama in which he discusses the origins of this project, his relationship with Yusaku Matsuda, the impact of Cruising on the star, his inspiration for the lead character, how the script evolved, and more.

Toru Sano: An 18-minute piece in which writer and Yokohama expert Toru Sano takes you on a tour of the locations featured in the film.

Trailer (2:09)

Final Thoughts

Yokohama BJ Blues is a dreamy mystery that is reminiscent of classic film noir with a small shift in the cultural perspective. While there are some of the overly complicated trappings of the genre at play here, the film sets itself apart by tackling some material that would typically never be found near the genre of old. The film could use a bit more urgency in the storytelling at points, but it largely keeps your attention throughout. Radiance Films has released a Blu-Ray featuring a good A/V presentation and a couple of great special features. If you are looking for a slightly different take on a film noir, check this out. Recommended

Yokohama BJ Blues is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Radiance Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.