Proof of the Man Blu-ray presents a landmark Japanese crime drama that helped redefine blockbuster filmmaking in Japan during the 1970s. Produced by Haruki Kadokawa and adapted from Seiichi Morimura’s bestselling novel, the film blends procedural suspense with a powerful examination of racial identity, political influence, and postwar trauma across Japan and the United States.
 
When mixed-race musician Johnny Hayward is brutally attacked in a Tokyo hotel elevator, the crime initially appears isolated. That same night, however, the son of a powerful politician becomes involved in a fatal hit-and-run and vanishes abroad. As suspicions of a deeper connection grow, Japanese detective Munesue travels to New York to investigate Johnny’s past, partnering with American detective Ken Shuftan. Their inquiry uncovers buried histories tied to occupation-era Japan, exposing how personal trauma and institutional power intersect across borders.
 
Directed by Junya Sato and shot on location in both Japan and New York, Proof of the Man stands out for its international scope and emotional complexity. Yusaku Matsuda delivers a restrained, deeply affecting performance as a detective haunted by childhood memories, while George Kennedy brings gravity and empathy to his role as a New York cop carrying scars of his own. Supported by an exceptional ensemble cast and evocative cinematography, the film transforms a whodunnit into a meditation on memory, displacement, and justice.
 
This limited edition Blu-ray from Arrow Video marks the film’s first-ever home video release outside Japan, presented from a new 4K restoration by Kadokawa and accompanied by newly produced extras.
 
directed by: Junya Sato
starring: Yusaku Matsuda, George Kennedy, Mariko Okada, Toshiro Mifune, Broderick Crawford
1977 / 132 min