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Samurai Reincarnation
is a 1981 Japanese fantasy film written and directed by Kinji Fukasaku and starring Sonny Chiba, Kenji Sawada, and Hiroyuki Sanada. It is based on the novel of the same name by Futaro Yamada. The film was nominated for three Awards of the Japanese Academy and won two of them. Sanada won best newcomer of the year and Tokumichi Igawa and Yoshikazu Sano took the award for best art direction. The film was nominated for best sound but did not win the award. Plot Following the massacre of many thousands of Christians by soldiers of the Tokugawa Empire after the Shimabara Rebellion, Shiro Amakusa renounces the God who he feels abandoned them, and bargains his soul to the forces of darkness for the power to take his revenge. He gains the power to resurrect the dead, and begins with Hosokawa, the wife of a samurai who mocked her for her chastity and then left her to die during the invasion. Shiro restores her beauty in exchange for her loyalty. Next, they travel to the cave of legend ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kinji Fukasaku
was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. Known for his "broad range and innovative filmmaking," Fukasaku worked in many different genres and styles, but was best known for his gritty yakuza films, typified by the ''Battles Without Honor and Humanity'' series (1973–1976). According to the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, "his turbulent energy and at times extreme violence express a cynical critique of social conditions and genuine sympathy for those left out of Japan's postwar prosperity." He used a '' cinema verite''-inspired shaky camera technique in many of his films from the early 1970s. Fukasaku wrote and directed over 60 films between 1961 and 2003. Some Western sources have associated him with the Japanese New Wave movement of the '60s and '70s, but this belies his commercial success. His works include the Japanese portion of the Hollywood war film ''Tora! Tora! Tora!'' (1970), ''jidaigeki'' such as ''Shogun's Samurai'' (1978), the space opera ''Mes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sakai Tadayo
was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the Sengoku period, and high-ranking government advisor, holding the title of ''Rōjū'', and later ''Tairō''. The son of Sakai Shigetada, Tadayo was born in Nishio, Mikawa Province; his childhood name was Manchiyo. He became a trusted elder (''rōjū'') in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's government, alongside Tokugawa Ieyasu. Under Hideyoshi, he was made lord of Kawagoe Castle (in Musashi Province, today Saitama Prefecture) and later of Nagoya Castle in Kyūshū's Hizen Province. In 1600, in the lead-up to the decisive Sekigahara campaign, he fought against the Tokugawa at Aizu, and submitted to them at the siege of Ueda. Thus, having joined the Tokugawa prior to the battle of Sekigahara itself, Sakai was made a '' fudai daimyō'', and counted among the Tokugawa's more trusted retainers. He served under Ieyasu for a time, and under the second shōgun, Tokugawa Hidetada, as a ''hatamoto''. Sakai's father died in 1617, and so he inherited his father's domain ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yagyū Munefuyu
was a ''daimyō'' and a teacher of kenjutsu and military strategy in Japan during the Edo period. His highest-ranking pupil was Tokugawa Ietsuna, fourth Tokugawa ''shōgun''. Munefuyu, who also went by the name Matajūrō, was the third son of Yagyū Munenori. One of his elder brothers was Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi. His younger brother was Retsudō Gisen, the real person who is fictionalized as Yagyū Retsudō, leader of the ''Ura-Yagyū'' (Shadow Yagyū), in ''Lone Wolf and Cub''. In 1650, Munefuyu became the head of the Yagyū clan. In 1657 he received the title '' Hida no kami''. In 1668 he rose to the rank of daimyo of the Yagyū Domain when he received an additional grant of land, bringing his holdings above the 10,000 '' koku'' minimum. Initially weaker than his brothers and father, a kōan tells how he managed to become an expert after training his ''zanshin'' (vigilance) for several years in a temple. Despite his success and fame, he was defeated in a single stroke by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Matsudaira Nobutsuna
was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the early Edo period, who ruled the Kawagoe Domain. First serving Tokugawa Iemitsu as a page, Nobutsuna was renowned for his sagacity. He was named a rōjū in 1633. Nobutsuna led the shogunal forces to their final victory over the rebellion at Shimabara. His court title was '' Izu no Kami'', which was the origin of his nickname, . Biography Nobutsuna was born in 1596, the son of Ōkōchi Hisatsuna, a senior retainer of Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was adopted as the heir of his uncle, Matsudaira Masatsuna, in 1601. After being introduced to Hidetada and Ieyasu, he was appointed as page to Ieyasu's grandson Iemitsu. He was greatly admired by Iemitsu, and renowned within the Tokugawa administration for his sagacity. In the early years of his service, he was a hatamoto; he later became a daimyo. In 1623, he received the court title of '' Izu no Kami''. He became daimyo in 1633, receiving the Oshi Domain as his fief. After the failure of Itakura Shigemasa to s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mikio Narita
was a Japanese actor. He was most famous for playing villains. He often worked with Kinji Fukasaku. Narita graduated from Haiyuza Theatre Company acting school and joined Daiei Film. His career as a screen actor started in 1963. His film debut was the 1963 film ''Kōkō Sannensei''. He gradually won fame by playing the role of the villains. In 1971, Narita left Daiei and became a freelance actor. AS a freelance actor he appeared in many yakuza films produced by Toei film company. In Japan he is best known for his role in ''Tantei Monogatari''(TV series). He is also well known for his part in '' Battles Without Honor and Humanity'' series.Nihon EigaHaiyu Zenshu vol.2 P.353 He also portrayed the evil character in '' Mito Kōmon'' (3rd season). He died of Linitis plastica on 9 April 1990. His final film role was in the 1990 film "Jipangu". Filmography Film *''Yarareru mae ni yare'' (1964) *''Zoku kôkô san'nensei'' (1964) - Tetsuo Murayama *''Yadonashi inu'' (1964) *''Kenk ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hōzōin-ryū
is a traditional school ('' koryū'') of Japanese martial arts that specializes in the art of spearmanship (''sōjutsu''). Hōzōin-ryū was founded by Hōzōin Kakuzenbō In'ei (宝蔵院 覚禅房 胤栄, 1521–1607) in c. 1560. In'ei was a Buddhist monk of Kōfuku-ji Temple in Nara, Japan. He adored martial arts and trained in the art of swordsmanship. At the same time, he was coached and mentored by , a master of the spear. Under this master's guidance, In'ei honed his spearmanship. It is said that one evening, on seeing the reflection of the crescent moon shining on Sarusawa pond in Kōfuku-ji, he was inspired to create a spear with a cross-shaped spearhead. He imagined this style of spear would be more effective in fighting. With this new type of spear (known as ), he founded the Hōzōin-ryū. Later, the teachings of the Hōzōin-ryū sōjutsu were passed down to other Buddhist monks of his order, with the next masters Hōzōin Inshun, Hōzōin Insei, Hōzōin Infū, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hideo Murota
was a Japanese actor who specialized in playing villains and tough guys. In 1957, he signed a contract with Toei Studio and appeared in over 1000 films. He won the Best Supporting Actor award at the Yokohama Film Festival for his role in ''Shinde mo ii''. Selected filmography Film *1953: ''Daibosatsu Tôge - Dai-ni-bu: Mibu to Shimabara no maki; Miwa kamisugi no maki'' - Takagawa *1960: ''Bôso omote he derô'' *1961: ''Hachi-nin me no teki'' *1961: ''Shin jinsei gekijô'' *1962: ''Ankoku-gai saigo no hi'' *1962: ''Nerai uchi no buraikan'' *1963: ''Tokubetsu kidô sôsatai'' *1963: ''Tokubetsu kidô sôsatai: Tokyo eki ni harikome'' *1963: ''Ankokugai saidai no kettô'' - Ishigami *1963: ''Asakusa no kyôkaku'' *1963: ''Showa kyokyaku den'' *1963: ''Yakuza no uta'' *1963: ''Tôkyô gyangu tai Honkon gyangu'' *1964: ''Wolves, Pigs and Men'' - Mizuhara *1964: ''Doro inu'' *1965: ''A Fugitive from the Past'' - Pressman *1965: ''Himo'' *1965: ''Kuroi neko'' - Sagawa *1965: ''Nippon ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yagyū Munenori
was a Japanese daimyo, swordsman, and martial arts writer, founder of the Edo branch of Yagyū Shinkage-ryū, which he learned from his father Yagyū "Sekishūsai" Muneyoshi. This was one of two official sword styles patronized by the Tokugawa shogunate (the other one being ''Ittō-ryū''). Munenori began his career in the Tokugawa administration as a hatamoto, a direct retainer of the Tokugawa house, and later had his income raised to 10,000 ''koku'', making him a minor ''fudai daimyō'' (vassal lord serving the Tokugawa), with landholdings around his ancestral village of Yagyū-zato. He also received the title of (). Career Munenori entered the service of Tokugawa Ieyasu at a young age, and later was an instructor of swordsmanship to Ieyasu's son Hidetada. Still later, he became one of the primary advisors of the third shōgun Iemitsu. Shortly before his death in 1606, Sekishusai passed the leadership of Yagyū Shinkage-ryū to his grandson Toshiyoshi.Wilson, William Scott ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amakusa Shirō
, also known as , was a Japanese Christian of the Edo period and leader of the Shimabara Rebellion, an uprising of Japanese Roman Catholics against the Shogunate. His Christian name was Geronimo and later Francisco. The uprising led by Shirō was defeated, and he was executed at the age of 17. His head was displayed on a pike near Nagasaki as a warning to Christians. His failures were reflected in the 1962 movie ''Amakusa Shirō Tokisada'' (shown in English-speaking countries as ''The Christian Revolt'' or ''The Revolutionary''), by the Japanese movie director Nagisa Oshima. Early life Shirō was born in 1621 as the son of Catholic parents, , a former Konishi clan retainer, and his wife. Urban legend speculates that Shirō could have been the illegitimate son of Toyotomi Hideyori, but these claims have little credibility. Portuguese Jesuit missionaries had been active in Japan since the late 16th century. By the age of 15, the charismatic youth was known to his Japanese Cat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi
was one of the most famous and romanticized of the samurai in Japan's feudal era. Life Very little is known about the actual life of Yagyū Mitsuyoshi as the official records of his life are very sparse. Yagyū Jūbē Mitsuyoshi (born "Shichirō") grew up in his family's ancestral lands, Yagyū no Sato, now in Nara. He was the son of Yagyū Tajima no Kami Munenori, master swordsman of the Tokugawa ''shōguns'', especially Ieyasu and Tokugawa Iemitsu, who prized Munenori as one of his top Counselors . Munenori fought for the first Tokugawa shōgun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, at the Battle of Sekigahara, expanding the shōgun's territory. For his efforts, Munenori was made the shōgun's sword instructor and a minor ''daimyō'' (provincial ruler), by extending his family hereditary domain up to 10,000 koku. Despite not being the heir of his father as the headmaster of the Yagyū style (and thus far from being an unrivaled swordsman under the Heaven), he received the post for its importance ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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