This
is the epic tale of the Inada clan who were
sent from their home in Awaji by the new
Meiji government in order to settle the
newly colonized island of Hokkaido. Formerly
known as Ezo, this far northern island was
populated by only by savage wild beasts and
the aborigines known as Ainu. Led by Squire
Komatsubara Hideaki and his wife Shino, this
hardy group of pioneers who have never seen
snow must somehow find a way to survive the
brutal winters with no help from the
government that sent them there. Emotions
explode when that same government decides to
seize the island’s highly trained horses;
Hokkaido’s only natural resource, to use
against Saigo Takamori and his Satsuma
Rebellion. Beautifully filmed on location,
this heartfelt drama features a powerful
performance from Japan’s most popular
international star Watanabe Ken as Squire
Komatsubara, a man who stood face to face
with destiny!
Starring: WATANABE Ken
YOSHINAGA Sayuri
ISHIBASHI Renji
Toei Films, LTD 2005 169 minutes
Anamorphic Widescreen (16:9) with English
subtitles
SOULS IN
THE MOONLIGHT TRILOGY-BOX SET
Much like this country, Japan has
a rich history told through the use of motion
pictures. Timeless stories which have been told many
times were done as silent pictures, and then re-made
again and again in each succeeding era. One of the
most often filmed stories is that of Japan's
greatest novel "The Great Bodhi-sattva Pass", which
tells the story of Tsukue Ryunosuke, a master
swordsman with an evil style, reflecting the evil in
his heart. His ruthless ways and merciless killings
leave behind an unsettled past which eventually
catches up to him. Reprising his role as Ryunosuke
from an earlier version of the story, Kataoka Chiezo
shows why he was such a huge movie star. He expertly
portrays the slightly sad and sometimes mad
swordsman, pursued by the youthful Utsugi Hyoma
(Nakamura Kinnosuke in one of his better roles), who
is bent on revenge for the slaying of his older
brother. This is the entire trilogy told in a way
that differs from the novel bringing new insights to
the character of Ryunosuke and the turmoil of Japan
during the period near the end of the samurai era.
Starring: KATAOKA Chiezo
NAKAMURA Kinnosuke
TSUKIGATA Ryunosuke
AZUMA Chiyonosuke
Anamorphic Widescreen (16:9) with English subtitles
3 Movie Box Set
SOULS IN
THE MOONLIGHT PART 3-THE FINAL CHAPTER
Master swordsman, Tsukue Ryunosuke is confronted by
the families of his victims. Will justice be served
for the lost innocent lives? The conclusion of the
famed Jidaigeki series is an amazing film, with a
completely different perspective on the story from
the later versions. While the international audience
is more familiar with the “Sword of Doom” and
“Satan’s Sword” versions of Daibosatsu Toge (The
Great Bodhisattva Pass), the “Souls in the
Moonlight” trilogy casts an
entirely different light on Ryunosuke and his
motives. Can this brutal killer be brought to
justice, or is living his life as a blind wanderer a
more terrible fate? His sword skills have not
diminished, nor has his desire to kill!
Starring: KATAOKA Chiezo
NAKAMURA Kinnosuke
TSUKIGATA Ryunosuke
AZUMA Chiyonosuke
Anamorphic Widescreen (16:9) with English subtitles
TSUBAKI SANJURO-THE
REMAKE
Following the common tradition of Japanese
cinema, this is a re-make of one of the great
classic films in history. The first of a series
of planned remakes by noted filmmaker Kadokawa
Hiroshi, meant to open the eyes of Japanese
youth to the great stories of yesteryear. While
members of the older generation grew up with
black and white films as a staple, the young
people of today would never even consider
watching one now. For that reason this full
color version with all new young actors had been
created as a direct tribute to Kurosawa Akira,
the great director who put Japan on the world
map in the field of motion pictures.
Basically following the same story line as the
Kurosawa/Mifune classic, this is a worthy look
at how modern filming techniques and the use of
color can enhance even a story so familiar.
This special edition has easy to read English
subtitles and features exceptionally well done
swordfighting scenes. It is definitely a
worthwhile addition to the DVD library of anyone
interested in Japanese film.
Directed by: MORITA Yoshimitsu, Original Story
by: YAMAMOTO Shugoro, Starring: ODA Yuji,
TOYOKAWA Etsushi, KAZAMA Morio, FUJITA Makoto,
NAKAMURA Tamao
VENGEANCE IS SUCH A
GREAT BUSINESS (Sukedachiya Sukeroku)
This is the
final movie from Okamoto Kihachi, the filmmaker who directed
such great movies as “Sword Of Doom”, “Kill”, and “Red
Lion”. With an equal mix of violence and humor he has forged
a career that spanned over 4 decades and created some of the
most memorable films to ever come out of Japan. This is no
exception, and the hand of a master is evident in his
treatment of this highly entertaining story.
In a world where vendettas are officially sanctioned, the
people sometimes needed help in carrying out their
vengeance. Sanada Hiroyuki stars as Sukeroku the Helper, a
‘cool and rambling yakuza’ that has made a business out of
helping victims carry out their revenge. When he returns to
his hometown to pay a visit to his mother’s grave he meets a
deadly ronin who carries a secret which eventually leads him
into a vendetta of his own. With terrific performances by
Sanada and Nakadai Tatsuya as the mysterious old ronin, this
film brings back the golden era of Japanese cinema!
SANADA Hiroyuki, SUZUKI Kyoka, NAKADAI
Tatsuya Music by: YAMASHITA Yosuke Directed by: OKAMOTO
Kihachi
Episode 25: ”A Man To Man Promise” (Otoko
to Otoko no Yakusoku) Original airdate
3/24/74
Directed by: KOBAYASHI Masao
Mute Samurai Kiichi Hogan’s hope to
avenge the murders of his father and mother
appear within reach as he is able to find a
Spanish sea captain willing to smuggle him
out of Japan on the next ship to Spain for a
fee of one thousand gold coins. With time
running out, he is short by only 200 ryo but
must contend with a plot against his
benefactor Tokaiya Shinbei, the merchant who
arranged his passage on the ship. Will he be
able to make the final payment and catch the
ship before it sails, or will the forces of
fate and destiny line up against him and
deny him the one opportunity to carry out
his vendetta against the brutal slaughter
that has haunted him all these years?
Guest stars:
OKI Minoru, NARITA Mikio
Episode 26: ”Duel At Kanei-ji Temple” (Kanei-ji no Ketto) Original airdate
3/31/74
Directed by: MISUMI Kenji
He is neither alive nor dead. Cutting off
all tender human feelings, burning with his
one desire for revenge while keeping his
personal misfortune deep within his heart,
Mute Samurai Kiichi Hogan has pressed on for
the past 18 years seeking vengeance against
the Spaniard who murdered his parents and
cut his throat thus robbing him of his voice
forever. Will destiny finally reward him
with the chance to carry out his vendetta
and end this painful quest for good?
Meanwhile, his younger brother Lord Sagara,
the ‘Foreigner Magistrate’ has risen in the
government to a position of power that may
be endangered by the vendetta against
Gonzales, who is now a high ranking Spanish
official and a favorite of that nation’s
Queen. The tension mounts to a fever pitch
as the forces of destiny finally present the
‘Mute Samurai’ with a chance to meet his
mortal enemy face to face or will he cause
an international incident that could cause
war between the two nations?
THE E-ZINE
DEVOTED TO THE LATEST & BEST IN JAPANESE
CINEMA
TENCHU - HITOKIRI
One of
the most important and powerful films ever to come out
of Japan, this is the story of Okada Izo and the Tosa
Clan Loyalists who set out to restore the Emperor to
power by assassinating their political opponents during
the violent period near the end of the samurai era.
With a performance for the ages, Katsu Shintaro
shines in his greatest non-Zato Ichi role as a
down on his luck swordsman who joins the Loyalist
movement in 1862, rising to fame and fortune and then
taking the ultimate fall from grace as those in power
use and dispose of him like a rabid dog. Shouting
“Heaven’s Punishment” with each assassination the
Loyalists seek to overthrow the Shogun and turn the
world upside down. With a brand new translation
and a stunning anamorphic widescreen print, this is the
ultimate edition of one of the great masterpieces of
Japanese cinema. Startling performances from Nakadai Tatsuya,
Ishihara Yujiro, and Mishima Yukio
help bring history to life, while Katsu Shintaro shines
as “Hitokiri” (Killer), the swordsman Okada Izo!
For the first time ever, the Grand Finale of
the Zato Ichi story comes to DVD. These two episodes
were written and directed by one of Japan's most
distinguished filmmakers Teshigahara Hiroshi and
elevate the Blind Swordsman from genre hero to fine
art. After 25 feature films from 1962 through 1974, the
television series lasted 4 years and helped keep alive the
legend of the blind wandering gambler/masseur with the
lightning fast sword. There were 100 episodes over the 4
seasons and while all of them are very good to excellent,
this 2 part finale brings the series and the character to an
exciting conclusion unlike anything that ever went before or
after.
Episode 99: "The Rainbow Journey" takes Ichi to the
inner chambers of a daimyo lord's concubine. A beautiful
woman with a deadly secret holds the key to a treasure chest
containing 1,000 gold coins. Can Ichi survive against the
political activists who want to bring down the government
with their bloody blades?
Episode 100: "The Dream Journey" intersperses Ichi's
innermost fears and desires with the harsh realities of
being a blind man who dreams only of being able to see the
sun once more before he dies. With spectacular
cinematography and plenty of dynamic swordplay, can Ichi
conquer fear and defeat his most formidable adversary?
See Zato Ichi
like never before in this stunning work of art!
When a team of ninja is sent to kidnap Lady Oichi,
the sister of the late Oda Nobunaga and wife of
Shibata Katsuie without harming her, they must find
a way into the fabled Iron Castle at Kitanosho, and
a way out as well. Facing impossible odds, the team
finds their skills tested as they risk their lives
to accomplish "Mission: Iron Castle". With a
remarkable performance by the great actress Fujimura Shiho as Lady Oichi, this is the final
installment in the "Shinobi no Mono" series of films
and introduces Matsukata Hiroki in the lead
role replacing legendary star Ichikawa Raizo
as the ultimate ninja. A masterpiece of intrigue and
ninjutsu. Filmed in glorious black & white,
Daiei-Scope! Directed by: MORI Issei, Fight
Direction by: KUSUMOTO Eiichi
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TATESHI DANPEI
(The Fencing
Master)
Written by one of
cinema’s greatest directors, Kurosawa Akira, TATESHI DANPEI
is a story about the fight to keep the art of the samurai sword
fighting scene alive in a Japan that is becoming ever more modern.
The year is 1917 in the city of Osaka. The age of the samurai is a
rapidly fading memory and Japan is moving on. Ichikawa Danpei, an
aging man of traditions, is consumed by his passion for the art of
sword fighting. In these times he finds his art through working as a
“Tateshi” (swordfight choreographer) for the “Shinkokugeki” (New
National Theater Company), the most popular troupe in Japan, led by
the great actor Sawada Shojiro.
As Danpei builds up his
reputation as the greatest swordfight choreographer, he finds that
the entertainment world is also changing. For him, his art is his
life and he fights to keep the traditions alive, ignoring all else.
He may well achieve his vision, but what will be the ultimate cost?
Anamorphic Widescreen (16:9) Presentation
with English subtitles Bonus material: Subtitled trailers
and Photo Gallery
During the Sixteenth Century, ODA Nobunaga was
gaining power with his right hand man KINOSHITA Tokichiro
at his side. Recognizing that guns win wars, ODA tries to
enlist the aid of SAIKA Magoichi, a flashy samurai
with exceptional 'Yari' (Spear) skills and his troop of
gunners. Powerful performances by some of Japan's greatest
actors highlight this historical drama from brilliant
director MISUMI Kenji. KATSU Shintaro as ODA Nobunaga matches wits with NAKAMURA Kinnosuke
as Magoichi, the one man that is not afraid of him. Not
widely known outside of Japan, this is a fine film with a
rich tapestry of Japan and the people who united the
nation.
