 Many Japanese critics claim the "film noir"-style anti-hero in Japanese cinema—represented in films ranging from Kinji Fukasaku's "Graveyard of Honor" (1975) to the films of Takeshi Kitano—had its origins in "Retreat Through the Wet Wasteland".Director Yukihiro Sawada was known for his efforts in attempting to elevate Nikkatsu's Roman Porno films above their "pink film" origins, such as in his previous "" (1972) and later "Assault!