Domineering (1982)
A yakuza matriarch fights to preserve her family's criminal empire after her husband is shot in this classic Japanese crime drama.
Domineering - Movie Information
- Original Title: 制覇
- Release Year: 1982
- Directed by: Sadao Nakajima
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Crime, Drama
- Runtime: 2h 22m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Release Date (Theatrical): October 29, 1982 (Japan)
- Alternative Titles: Conquest (JP)
- Production Companies: Toei Company
- Production Countries: Japan
Domineering - Plot
When the patriarch of Japan's most powerful yakuza family is shot, his wife is left to pick up the pieces and carry on the legacy.
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Domineering - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Sadao Nakajima
Main Cast
- Toshirō Mifune
- Mariko Okada
- Bunta Sugawara
- Tomisaburō Wakayama
- Tatsuo Nadaka
- Akira Nishikino
- Tatsuo Umemiya
- Koji Tsuruta
Writers
- Sadao Nakajima
- Hiroko Nishizawa
Producers
- Masao Satô
- Yoshiharu Fukui
Domineering - FAQs
Who are the main actors in Domineering?
Domineering brings together a remarkable ensemble of Japanese cinema legends. You'll see Toshirō Mifune as patriarch Masao Tadokoro, Mariko Okada as his resilient wife Hiroko, alongside Bunta Sugawara, Tomisaburō Wakayama, Tatsuo Umemiya, and Koji Tsuruta rounding out this powerhouse cast.
What is Domineering about?
Domineering follows the fallout after the head of Japan's most formidable yakuza clan is gunned down. His wife, Hiroko, refuses to let the family's empire crumble and steps up to hold everything together — a gripping portrait of power, loyalty, and survival in Japan's criminal underworld.
Who directed Domineering?
Domineering was directed by Sadao Nakajima, a prolific Japanese filmmaker closely associated with Toei Company's yakuza genre output. Nakajima also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Hiroko Nishizawa, bringing both narrative and visual authority to this crime drama.
When was Domineering released in Japan?
Domineering had its theatrical release in Japan on October 29, 1982. Produced by Toei Company, the film arrived during a golden era of Japanese yakuza cinema and featured one of the most celebrated casts ever assembled for the genre.
What genre is Domineering?
Domineering sits firmly in the Crime and Drama genres. It's a yakuza film in the classic Toei tradition — tense, character-driven, and steeped in the codes of loyalty and betrayal that define Japanese organized crime stories. Think less action spectacle, more brooding human drama.
How long is Domineering?
Domineering runs for 142 minutes — just under two and a half hours. The generous runtime gives the film plenty of space to develop its complex characters and the shifting power dynamics within the yakuza family following the patriarch's sudden, violent removal from the picture.
What makes Domineering's cast so remarkable?
Rarely does a single yakuza film gather this many icons in one place. Toshirō Mifune, one of cinema's all-time greats, shares the screen with Bunta Sugawara and Tomisaburō Wakayama — both titans of the genre — plus Koji Tsuruta, making Domineering a genuine meeting of Japanese film royalty.
What are similar movies to Domineering?
If Domineering appeals to you, consider exploring Mafia Inc. (2020), Joji (2021), A Sun (2019), and The Inner Cage (2021) — all crime and drama films that share Domineering's interest in family, power, and moral complexity within criminal worlds. In His Shadow (2023) and Case 137 (2025) are also worth a look.
More About Domineering
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