Tea LeavesA yakuza movie makes the case for videodiscs
How a fading medium can revitalize a message
The 1968 yakuza movie "Big Time Gambling Boss" was recently rereleased on Blu-ray Disc by U.K. company Radiance Films in a limited edition of 2,000 copies. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Radiance Films)
PETER TASKER
February 8, 2023 11:00 JST
Could videodiscs make a comeback one day, if only for a specialist audience? At first glance, it would seem an unlikely prospect. Streaming services offer a huge variety of films to watch at low prices without the inconvenience of leaving your couch. Why bother to resuscitate a dying medium from the pre-internet era?