Biography from TMDB
6 in 4K
UHD Blu-ray or 4K streaming
Leading role · Director: Kon Ichikawa
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Japan 4K Blu-ray not EN friendly
Supporting role · Director: Nagisa Ōshima
Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab) · diffchecker.com (opens in a new tab)
Criterion 4K Blu-ray (caps)
Criterion is a very nice uptick in detail and resolution. The color grade is very similar, but leans more neutral, reducing the greenish/blueish hues seen on the MoC disc.
The JP DVD track is unfiltered and sounds much more natural and detailed, but suffers from a strong CRT whine and an intermittent low-end hum. The track used on all later restorations is a bit muffled and has overemphasized bass.
Criterion applied additional EQ and roll-off to the restored track, but the audible difference is minimal.
Criterion has a different translation to MoC, but both are solid and trade blows, see comparison.
Small role · Director: Masahiro Shinoda
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Small role · Director: Kon Ichikawa
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Small role · Director: Shōhei Imamura
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Small role · Director: Akira Kurosawa
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · slow.pics (opens in a new tab)
France Carlotta > Criterion 4K Blu-ray see caps: https://slow.pics/c/s7AfL3XW
Grain is sharper/clearer on the new Carlotta/Criterion 4K; BFI's grain resolves slightly worse and more so in motion, being a standard Blu-ray; The Toho 4K's grain is softer, probably DNR'd.
BFI Player used to have the same mastering available to stream in 2019.
4 in HD
Blu-ray or HD streaming
Supporting role · Director: Kon Ichikawa
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
2010 R4 Madman DVD
Small role · Director: Masaki Kobayashi
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · DVDBeaver (opens in a new tab)
MoC slightly better than Criterion http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film5/blu-ray_reviews_69/kwaidan_blu-ray.htm
Missing a Jun Hamamura film? Suggest it