Private Project

Yakuza Ondo

Shig, a Yakuza stuck in his ways, becomes haunted by one of his victims. Ken, the ghost, only asks for a single act of kindness. Since he can't kill someone twice, Shig finally has to face the music.

  • Ethan Okamoto
    Director
  • Ethan Okamoto
    Writer
  • Jackson Gravagno
    Producer
  • Ethan Chargin
    Producer
  • DJ Chan
    Producer
  • Josh Han
    Key Cast
    "Shigeru (Shig)"
  • Hunter Komuro
    Key Cast
    "Ken"
  • Calvin Karunaratne
    Key Cast
    "Clerk"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama, Comedy
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 40 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 1, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    7,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - San Francisco State University
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon
    Eugene
    United States
    Oregon
Director Biography - Ethan Okamoto

Growing up attending Asian American community events like Tuesday Night Cafe, Ethan Okamoto is inspired by community-engaged storytelling. With Yakuza Ondo being his directorial debut, Ethan works to amplify often unseen aspects of Japanese American experiences into fun and heartfelt stories.

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Director Statement

My goal was to combine aspects of mainland Japanese cinema with Japanese American culture, creating this pulp that unites the two. Inspired by Yakuza films like Sonatine (1993) and Hanabi (1997), I infused Japanese American dance, music, historic location, and spiritualism into the genre. A genre typically depicting a stoic and masculine lead fighting and shooting his problems away, is subverted by a surreal, yet spiritual encounter.

The visual style is faithful to 90s Japanese gangster movies, as well as incorporating a Ukiyo-e woodblock style to showcase the spiritual presence in the film. Utilizing deeper stops, high angles, and a slow and static approach to cinematic storytelling. A visual synthesis of the Japanese culture handed down over generations and what it has blossomed into abroad for a Japanese American community that is often at odds with mainland culture.

Engaging the community was an essential part of this film and my larger filmmaking practice. We partnered with Takahashi Market, a 100+ year old Japanese American market and institution within the Bay. Not only did they provide their store for filming, they also fed our cast and crew. Curious patrons and neighbors even joined the filming and production, which became their introduction to filmmaking. San Jose Chidori Band, PJ Hirabayashi, and Shin Kawasaki contributed to the score -- all three groups reflect Japanese and Japanese American community. My film and artistic lineage is owed to the wisdom and artistry of Japanese American artists before me, which I could not have done without.

Yakuza Ondo is a film that I hope will entertain as well as bring a little joy and whimsy to audiences near and far.