Black Rain

Black Rain is a 1989 gangster thriller, starring Michael Douglas and Andy Garcia as American cops who must pursue a Yakuza gangster in Japan. Helmed by famed director Ridley Scott, the filming was not only grueling, but difficult as there were many clashes in the ways that American film productions and Japanese film productions operated. Apparently the 'rules & regulations' oriented Japanese system aggravated Cinematographer Howard Atherton so much that he left and the remaining camera work was completed by Jan DeBont, who would later direct his own action films. It is noteworthy that lead actor Yusaku Matsuda who played the main villain Sato, was dying of cancer, but refused to reveal the advanced stage of his disease to director Ridley Scott for fear that he would be replaced. He finished the movie, telling others that 'living a few more months' was a worthy trade off for the chance to 'live forever' in a motion picture. He passed away seven months after the movie's American premiere.

The following weapons are seen in Black Rain:

Black Rain 1989

Handguns

Colt Python snub nose

NYPD Detective Sergeant Nick Conklin (Michael Douglas) uses a blued Colt Python snub nose version as his main service weapon. However, once Conklin and Charlie arrive in Japan, the Osaka Police Chief stressed that they hand in their guns since they are "civilians" here, so grudgingly turns his Python in and is never seen again throughout the remainder of the movie.

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Conklin fires his Python at the fleeing Yakuza.

Conklin aims his Python outside the airliner after discovering that he'd been duped into releasing Sato.

Colt Detective Special

NYPD Detective Sergeant Nick Conklin (Michael Douglas) uses a Colt Detective Special as his backup handgun. Shortly after they arrive in Tokyo there is a scene where Conklin and his partner Charlie Vincent are in the Japanese police headquarters. Both the Colt Python snub and the Colt Detective Special are visible on Conklin's belt. Conklin carries the two revolvers next to each other in what is known as a "New York reload". This scene takes place before the two NYPD detectives are forced to turn over their handguns to the Tokyo police.

Conklin searches for Sato with his backup Colt in a meat packing plant.

Smith & Wesson Model 66 Snub Nose

NYPD Detective Charlie Vincent (Andy Garcia) uses a Smith & Wesson Model 66 Snub Nose Revolver (with a square butt) during the first half of the movie. Nick Conklin (Michael Douglas) is then given Charlie's Model 66, from Osaka Police Assistant Inspector Masahiro Matsumoto (Ken Takakura), after Charlie's death and uses it in the steel factory shootout.

Smith & Wesson Model 66 Snub with 2" barrel and round butt - .357 Magnum

Charlie Vincent (Andy Garcia) draws his S&W at the Italian restaurant.

Charlie Vincent (Andy Garcia) gives up his S&W after being told by the Osaka police that they cannot carry their weapons while in Osaka.

Nick Conklin (Michael Douglas) with the S&W model 66 in the steel foundry as he's being taunted by Sato.

Heckler & Koch P9S

One of Sato's men carries a Heckler & Koch P9S during the foundry gunfight. Also seen on the table in Sato's hideout when the Osaka police raid it.

Sato's man armed with the H&K looks for Conklin in the foundry.

H&K P7

Used by Osaka Police Assistant Inspector Masahiro Matsumoto (Ken Takakura) during the steel factory shootout.

Desert Eagle Mark I

Sugai's driver (Professor Toru Tanaka) is seen firing the Desert Eagle Mark I in the teahouse shootout.

Magnum Research Desert Eagle MK I - .357 Magnum. First model of Desert Eagle put into production.

Sugai's driver fires the Desert Eagle during the final gunfight at the "oyabun" council meeting.

Submachine Guns

Heckler & Koch HK94

Numerous gangsters of both Sato and Sugai use the Heckler & Koch HK94 in the final shootout. Assistant Inspector Matsumoto (Ken Takakura) takes one from one of Sato's men as he joins up with Conklin.

The "Fake MP5", the Heckler & Koch HK94A3 Converted to full auto fire, shortened barrel and added third firing position on trigger pack - 9x19mm. This version was used in many films during the 1980s and 1990s.

Matsumoto (Ken Takakura) carries the H&K HK94 in a publicity photo. His HK 94 has a slender foregrip.

Matsumoto holds the HK94 as he discovers Sato's trap. Note the lack of barrel lugs.

Matsumoto fires the HK, killing many of Sato's and Sugai's men.

Micro-Uzi

Sato's men carry the Micro Uzi as they enter the Italian Gangster's restaurant where Nick and Charlie are also dining. Sato's men disguised as farmers draw their hidden Micro-Uzi's in the ambush at the teahouse.

Micro Uzi with folding stock - 9x19mm

Sato (Yusaku Matsuda) is guarded by his Micro-Uzi wielding Yakuza as he enters the restaurant.

Disguised as farmers, Sato's men open fire on the Yakuza bosses with their Micro-Uzi's.

Uzi

A full-size Uzi is used by one of the Yakuza during the teahouse shootout at the end of the film.

IMI Uzi 9x19mm

One of Sugai's guards is holding an Uzi as Sato's men ambush them.

Sugai's guard on the right holds an UZI as the car explodes behind him

MAC 10

Used by Sato's men in the teahouse shootout and also seen with a silencer.

Ingram MAC 10 open bolt submachine gun - .45 ACP

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One of Sato's disguised assassins (Al Leong) is holding a suppressed MAC-10 as he's taken out by Matsumoto.

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Sugai's guard on the left holds a MAC-10 as the car explodes behind him.

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Shotguns

Stevens model 67

In order to take out Sato, Conklin (Michael Douglas) is given a Stevens model 67 cutdown shotgun. He uses it to kill two gangs in the house. After expending the third shot, it jams on him and he discards it.

Sugai's men toss the shotgun at the feet of Conklin.

Conklin inspects his shotgun before he leaves to take out Sato.

Conklin aims his shotgun at a fleeing Sato.

Remington 870 Folding Stock

In a continuity error, Conklin's shotgun mysteriously transforms into a Remington 870.

Remington 870 Police Magnum with folding stock - 12 gauge

A publicity photo shows Conklin (Michael Douglas) with a Remington 870.

Conklin (Michael Douglas) with the Remington 870 as he approaches the teahouse.

Rifles

Steyr SSG 69

Members of the Osaka SWAT Team carry Steyr SSG 69 bolt-action sniper rifles when they raid Sato's suspected hideout.

Steyr SSG 69, 7.62x51mm NATO

Osaka police with the sniper rifle.

Norinco Type 56-1

A Yakuza fires the Norinco Type 56-1 in the teahouse shootout.

Norinco Type 56-1 7.62x39mm

A Yakusa on the right fires the Norinco.

Miscellaneous

Trivia

Though the majority of the scenes taking place in Japan were actually filmed in Japan, the final shootout at the winery took places in Napa, California for two reasons. (a) The production's work Visa had run out but more importantly (b) Japan's strict gun control forces many filmmakers to use 'flash paper' style non guns. Since Ridley Scott wanted real automatic weapons firing blanks, they had to film the gun battle in the U.S. What also tips off the viewer that this shootout was filmed in the states was the presence of so many well known Chinese American Stuntmen, like Al Leong of Die Hard and Big Trouble in Little China fame, who would not be in Japan (since there are many Japanese Stuntmen who would be available).