New Japanese distributor Hexagon Pictures has announced a production label specialising in action, Japanese Budo Action.

'We're doing something nobody else has done before in Japan. For action, the market is the world - it works everywhere,' says president Yoichi Sakai.

The label's films will incorporate traditional Japanese martial arts like karate, judo kendo, and ninjas.

Japanese Budo Action's first production is Kuro-obi (which means 'Black Belt'), directed by Shunichi Nagasaki (Dogs, Some Kinda Love).

The film is scheduled for completion in time to screen at the Hong Kong Filmart, with hopefully a premiere at Cannes.

Hexagon is co-producing with Klockworx, which will handle local distribution.
'We're using real, strong karate players with good faces, and surrounding them with professional actors in the other parts,' says Sakai. 'Never-before-seen real action fights, with no wires or CGI.'

Former Gaga buyers Sakai (for Europe and the US) and Fuyuhiko Nishi (Asia) teamed up to start Hexagon.

'We make a good team because I have a background in arthouse and drama, and Nishi, who is knows Asia well, likes action,' says Sakai.

Most recently, Hexagon has picked up Oscar-nominated Venus from The Works at EFM and Thai action film Tabunfire from Sahamongkol last AFM.