Introduction Chanbara (チャンバラ), also commonly spelled “chambara”, meaning “sword fighting” movies, denotes the Japanese film genre called samurai cinema in English and is roughly equivalent to Western western (genre) and swashbuckler films. Chanbara is a sub-category of jidaigeki, which equates to period drama. Jidaigeki may refer to a story set in a historical period, though… Read More
Introduction Kill! (斬る, Kiru) is a 1968 Japanese comedy-chambara film directed by Kihachi Okamoto. Two ronin – an ex-samurai and an ex-farmer – get caught up in a local official’s complex game of murder and betrayal. The film had a screenplay written by Akira Murao and Okamoto, and is based on the story Torideyama no… Read More
Introduction The kingdoms of feudal Japan are at war when several powerful warlords fight to become absolute ruler. Outline Tokugawa Ieyasu seizes power from Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s infant heir, Hideyori, splitting the country in two; once again, Japan has been plunged into a bitter civil war. Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan Series You can find… Read More
Introduction The kingdoms of feudal Japan are at war when several powerful warlords fight to become absolute ruler. Outline Toyotomi Hideyoshi controls all of Japan, but this new peace is problematic; for the samurai – a race bred for combat and military prowess – war must be waged to rise in status and to accrue… Read More
Introduction The kingdoms of feudal Japan are at war when several powerful warlords fight to become absolute ruler. Outline Following the death of Oda Nobunaga, his most trusted general Toyotomi Hideyoshi has seized power; after years of waiting in the shadows, another of Nobunaga’s former generals, master strategist Tokugawa Ieyasu makes a bold move. Age… Read More
Introduction The kingdoms of feudal Japan are at war when several powerful warlords fight to become absolute ruler. Outline Nobunaga’s banner flies over Japan, including the capital Kyoto. Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan Series You can find a full index and overview of Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan here. Production & Filming Details… Read More
Introduction The kingdoms of feudal Japan are at war when several powerful warlords fight to become absolute ruler. Outline The first stage of Nobunaga’s ambition to reunite Japan under his iron fist has become a reality. He has seized the capital city of Kyoto and installed a puppet Shogun. However, many powerful and dangerous opponents… Read More
Introduction The kingdoms of feudal Japan are at war when several powerful warlords fight to become absolute ruler. Outline Feudal Japan was in turmoil in 1551. A succession dispute inside the Shogunate has seen central government collapse, kick-starting a period of bloody civil war known as the Sengoku Jidai – ‘the Age of the Warring… Read More
Introduction The kingdoms of feudal Japan are at war when several powerful warlords fight to become absolute ruler. Outline Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan, is a docu-drama about the warring kingdoms of feudal Japan that is described as a real-life Game of Thrones. The series is a co-production with Blue Ant Media-run Smithsonian Canada.… Read More
Introduction The Fall of Ako Castle (赤穂城断絶, Akō-jō danzetsu) is a 1978 Japanese historical martial arts period film directed by Kinji Fukasaku. It depicts the story of the forty-seven Ronin (Chūshingura). The film is one of a series of period films by Fukasaku starring Yorozuya Kinnosuke, including Shogun’s Samurai. Also known as Swords of Vengeance… Read More
