Movies by Tai Katō

Eight Views of Samurai

Eight Views of Samurai

Bright samurai movie innovatively adapted from a classic story. A traveling masterless samurai is asked by a daughter of an established samurai family to pretend they are a married couple, and gets involved in the troubles of the samurai clan.

The Scarlet Cherry Lord

The Scarlet Cherry Lord

Light-hearted samurai comedy. The second son of a feudal lord runs away from an arranged marriage. He saves the life of a princess whom he gets to fall in love with. It turns out that she is just his prospective bride.

I, the Executioner

I, the Executioner

Police investigators investigate the link between a serial killer's machinations and a teenage boy who committed suicide.

Red Peony Gambler: Flower Cards Game

Red Peony Gambler: Flower Cards Game

The third chapter of the ‘Red Peony Gambler’ saga depicts the happiness and sadness of Red Peony Oryu’s life as she seals her femininity with a red peony tattoo and lives in world of chivalry and honor of the yakuza. This story takes place in the middle of the Meiji era in Nagoya. Oryu is wandering the country, training herself to reinstate her family name. With a written recommendation from Kumatora, she appears at the door of the Nishinomaru family. At the same time, the family is preparing for the gambling competition at the Netsuda Shrin...

Blood of Revenge

Blood of Revenge

Osaka, 1907: Asajiro lives between a rock and a hard place: he has to keep his business clean and running, tame his late oyabun’s hot-blooded son and suffer the throes of his impossible love for beautiful geisha Hatsue.

The Ondekoza

The Ondekoza

A documentary profiling a Japanese taiko drumming group based in the remote Sado Island, Japan. The film blurs the line between real-life documentary footage of the troupe's training and practice regimes, and staged performances of their varied musical acts, with sets designed by artist Tadanori Yokoo and an additional experimental electronic music score by Toshi Ichiyanagi.

Mission to Hell

Mission to Hell

A samurai warrior attempts to stop Kublai Khan's Mongol hordes from overrunning Japan in the 13th century.

Trouble Over Swords and Women: Sword Light and Shooting Star

Trouble Over Swords and Women: Sword Light and Shooting Star

film directed by Tai Katô

Trouble Over Swords and Women:  A Woman's Mind

Trouble Over Swords and Women: A Woman's Mind

Eighteen Years in Prison

Eighteen Years in Prison

A former soldier is caught working the black market and sent to prison while his partner escapes and goes on to become a gangster, but their paths cross again as they both fall in love with the same woman.

Cruel Story of the Shogunate's Downfall

Cruel Story of the Shogunate's Downfall

A headstrong young man seeks to join the Shinsengumi, but while his determination impresses his superiors, questions begin to arise as to his true identity and intentions.

Miyamoto Musashi

Miyamoto Musashi

In Part I we see the young would-be swordsman setting out to achieve greatness in war, achieving nothing because fighting on the losing side, & then beginning his long period of wandering & training, with the goal always in mind of his duel with Kojiro. Part II builds toward that great duel on Ganryu Island, with considerable focus on Musashi's planning & forethought as to how to gain an advantage.

Tokijiro: Lone Yakuza

Tokijiro: Lone Yakuza

Tokijiro has the unfortunate duty according to the code of the gamblers to join in the fighting when afforded a night’s stay and meals at the home of a town boss. Though he dislikes killing, the strength of his swordsmanship will be tested time and time again in the bloody tale.