The 47 Ronin (V.O. Genroku Chûshingura) Japan, 1941 Director: Kenji Mizoguchi Screenplay: Kenichiro Hara, Seika Mayama, Yoshikata Yoda Cast: Chôjûrô Kawarasaki, (Kuranosuke Ooishi), Kan’emon Nakamura (Sukeimon Tomimori), Kunitarô Kawarazaki (Jurôzaemon Isogai), Yoshizaburo Arashi (Takuminokami Asano), Chôemon Bandô (Sôemon Hara) Plot Japan, Tokugawa era, early 18th century. In the corridors of …
Kozure Ōkami: Sanzu no kawa no ubaguruma / “Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx” Japan, 1972 Director: Kenji Misumi Script: Kazuo Koike, Goseki Kojima Starring: Tomisaburo Wakayama (Itto Ogami), Akihiro Tomikawa (Daigoro), Kayo Matsuo (Sayaka Yagyu), Akiji Kobayashi (Ozuno) Story In the scene that serves as …
The Tale of Zatoichi continues (Zoku Zatôichi monogatari) Japan, 1962 Director: Kazuo Mori Scriptwriter: Minoru Inuzuka (based on Kan Shimozawa’s story) Main actors: Shintaro Katsu (Zatoichi), Yaeko Mizutani (Setsu), Masayo Banri (Tane), Tomisaburo Wakayama (Yoshiro) Soundtrack: Ichiro Saito Story Zatoichi (Shintaro Katsu), the famous and prodigious masseur and blind swordsman, …
Kozure Ōkami: Kowokashi udekashi tsukamatsuru / “Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance” Japan, 1972 Director: Kenji Misumi Main actors Story The Tokugawa Shogunate controls Japan tightly, but the intrigues between the various clans that share the power shake stability from time to time. To keep the situation under control, …
The tale of Zatoichi (Zatôichi monogatari) Japan, 1962 Director: Kenji Misumi Scriptwriter: Minoru Inuzuka (based on Kan Shimozawa’s story) Main actors: Shintaro Katsu (Zatoichi), Masayo Banri (Tane), Ryuzo Shimada (Shigezo) Soundtrack: Akira Ifukube Story The blind masseur Ichi, who travels the roads of nineteenth-century Japan towards the end of the …
