Sasaki Kojiro

Director Hiroshi Inagaki's early version of the life and death of famed swordsman Sasaki Kojiro. Otani Tomoemon gives a brilliant performance as Sasaki Kojiro, who rises from humble beginnings to national fame, and a young Toshiro Mifune appears as the legendary master swordsman Miyamoto Musashi for the first time and essentially sets the standard for future portrayals.This masterpiece is based on the original story as written by noted author Murakami Genzo and is far superior to any other versions. Following Kojiro from his earliest days th...

Japan Samurai: Niiro Tsuruchiyo

An adaptation of the famous novel by Jiromasa Gunji about the difficult story of Niiro Tsuruchiyo, the illegitimate son of the great elder of the Bakumatsu era, Ii Naosuke. This masterpiece depicts the suffering and love of Tsuruchiyo, who never knew his father until the end of his life. Niiro Tsuruchiyo, the illegitimate son of Elder Ii Naosuke, grew up with his mother, a former geisha. However, he was refused an engagement to Yae, the daughter of Samanosuke Yoshimura from the Maeda domain of Kaga Province, to whom she tied her future. Afte...