
THE ABANDONED SWORDS (Onmitsu Shichishoki)
Dramatized from a novel by the famous author
Yoshikawa Eiji (Musashi,
Taiko etc.) Best friends Gentaro and Sanpei become fateful enemies
when Sanpei steals a secret document revealing the identity of the chosen successor to the Tokugawa Shogun. Gentaro of
the Owari clan sets out to retrive the invaluable document. This is an very entertainimg story,
with superb action that only Azuma Chiyonosuke and Nakamura Kinnosuke can deliver, and a stunning performance by
Misora Hibari and the rest of the all-star cast. A must have for all
true Jidaigeki fans!
Directed by: MATSUDA Sadatsugu
Starring: KINNOSUKE Nakamura, AZUMA Chiyonosuke, MISORA Hibari, SATOMI Kotaro, HASEGAWA Yumiko, SAKURAMACHI Hiroko, OKOCHI Denjiro, TSUKIGATA Ryunosuke, YAMAGATA Isao, SAKAI Shunji
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LOVE OF ECHO (Koi Yamabiko)
The story begins in the year 1696,
about 160 miles northeast of Edo at Ina Village in the Province of
Iida. A man is brutally murdered and his famed 'Shamisen' called the
"YAMABIKO" stolen. During the reign of 5th Shogun, Tokugawa
Tsunayoshi (who was, in fact, quite young) and leadership of the
nation was really in the hands of Yanagisawa Mino-no-kami Yoshiyasu.
Samurai were forced to give up archery, and the merchants gave up
the abacus. In addition, the cruel and powerful Lord Yanagisawa had
long coveted the 'YAMABIKO' Shamisen and hatched a plot to take it.
Upon getting married to the daughter of the murdered man, Prince
Kogenta swears to avenge his father-in-law's death and retrieve the
family heirloom. This is an action-packed, exciting motion picture
from the golden age of Toei Films.
Starring: OKAWA Hashizo OKAWA Keiko, OKA Satomi
Directed by: MAKINO Masahiro
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THE PAPER CRANE (Hana no Orizurugasa)
A wandering vagrant, Hantaro, risks
his life to save a beautiful blind girl and her father from con
artists. Japan's most popular actor of that era (and still revered
to this very day) Okawa Hashizo, paints a wonderful portrait
of the courageous wanderer who puts his life on the line to help
others. This film ranks among the best movies from the vast library
of Toei Studios.
Cast: OKAWA Hashizo, HASHI Yukio, SAKURAMACHI Hiroko
Directed by: KONO Toshikazu
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ACTRESS VS. GREEDY SHARKS (Kobanzame Oyakusha Jingi)
Framed by his enemies, Manbe finds himself imprisoned for a murder
he didn't commit. His only hope lies with his daughter Yuki who
takes it upon herself to clear his name.
Cast: MISORA Hibari, HAYASHI Yoichi, SHINDO Eitaro, NOGAWA Yumiko, NAGATO Hiroyuki
Directed by: SAWASHIMA Tadashi
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MUSIC BOX (Orgel)
Yuji, a retured yakuza, is forced
back into the gang-ster life when the safety of his beloved son Ren
is threatened by an old enemy.
Starring: NAGABUCHI Tsuyoshi, SENDO Nobuko, AIKAWA Sho, NAGASHIMA Eiko, NAKAMURA Katsuo
Directed by: KUROTSUCHI Mitsuo
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REBELLION (Hayato-zoku no Hanran)
In the mist of the warring age
(Sengoku Era), the Kyushu based Hayato Clan is faced with a
monumental battle to determine their survival. This is one of the
greatest stories to come out of Japanese history with such great
action as can only be performed by legendary screen star Ichikawa
Utaemon. His heartfelt and powerful portrayal is one of the best
in his long and storied career. Don't miss out!
Cast: ICHIKAWA Utaemon, NAKAMURA
Kinnosuke, TSUKIGATA Ryunosuke, HASEGAWA Yumiko, KAGA Kunio
Directed by: MATSUDA Sadatsugu
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DRENCHED SWALLOW GONPACHI (Nuretsubame Kurenai Gonpachi)
This exciting film is the story of
Gonpachi, a ronin who falls in love with the daughter of a man he
had killed many years before. There is plenty of action and
excitement, together with the bittersweet romance of two people who
cannot be together under any circumstances. Okawa Hashizo was
not only one of Japan’s foremost stars in the 1950’s and 60’s. He is
still considered the most popular Japanese film star of all time, to
this very day. Don’t miss this rare look at a true icon of the
silver screen!
Directed by: UCHIDE Kokichi
Starring: OKAWA Hashizo HASEGAWA Yumiko, OKAWA Keiko, ICHIKAWA Utaemon
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THE THIRD CONTEST (Mondonosuke Sanban Shobu)
When Mondonosuke, a young sword
student has a bad dream about his sensei being killed in a duel, he
takes it upon himself to return to Edo and see if his teacher needs
help. In the three years since he left Edo, he has mastered the
secret sword style "Sadanami-giri", that was originated by Sir
Ikkaku, who had taken Mondonosuke under his wing after the young man
had been expelled from Master Katakura Ikkansai's "Tenchi Jinen
Dojo". This is perhaps the finest film performance by noted samurai
actor Okawa Hashizo, the most popular of all Toei film stars.
Expertly staged swordfights and an intelligent story make this an
exciting motion picture that you cannot miss!
Cast: OKAWA Hashizo, SATOMI
Kotaro, AMACHI Shigeru, KONOE Jushiro, ASHIYA Kogan, ARASHI Kanjuro
Directed by: YAMAUCHI Tetsuya
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ROAD OF CHIVALRY (Ninkyo Nakasendo)
This is the big one. An all-star
extravaganza beyond any that's come before. Featuring virtually all
the greatest actors from Toei Studios, comes a tale of violence and
intrigue among the traveling gamblers in old Japan. While on the
road, famed Yakuza Boss Jirocho is falsely accused of starting a
peasant's uprising and chased by the law. Mean-while, one of his
henchmen in an attempt to raise money for the Boss gambles away not
only all their funds, but their clothing as well. Jirocho, famed for
his honesty and integrity must take on the challenge of rival gangs
while trying to elude the government's officials at the same time.
Things really heat up when the most famous of all Yakuza Bosses,
Chuji of Kunisada gets involved. Will he team up with his old friend
or is gang warfare about to erupt?
Starring: KATAOKA Cheizo, ICHIKAWA Utaemon, NAKAMURA Kinnosuke,
AZUMA Chiyonosuke, OKAWA Hashizo, SATOMI Kotaro, WAKAYAMA Tomisaburo,
NAKAMURA Katsuo, TSUKIGATA Ryunosuke, OTOMO Ryutaro, OKOCHI Denjiro,
SUSUKIDA Kenji, YAMAGATA Isao, CHIHARA Shinobu, OKA Satomi
Directed by: MATSUDA Sadatsugu
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THE SWORD KNOWS (Ken Wa Shitte Ita: Kogan Muso Ryu)
In 1590, Toyotomi Hideyoshi concerted
with Tokugawa Ieyasu and attacked the army of the Hojo Clan.
Confronted as such, the Hojo army focused their clan at Odawara
Castle, and posted an attacking force along the mountains of Hakone.
Against this backdrop is one of the best movies to come out of Toei
Studios during the Golden Age. A lone swordsman named Mayadono
Kyonosuke sets out to right an injustice from 5 years before.
Powerful swordplay highlights this action-packed thriller!
Directed by:
UCHIDE Kokichi
Starring: NAKAMURA Kinnosuke, OKAWA Keiko, TSUKIGATA Ryunosuke,
SHIMURA Takashi, HANAZONO Hiromi
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NINJA'S WEAPONS (Yoja no Maden)
During a time of war, Lord Ogata is
betrayed by two of his closest vassals and killed by his enemy,
Sarashina Danjo. Ten years later, Lord Ogata's only living heir, now a
skilled ninja, sets out to avenge his parents' deaths with sorcery. The
magical ninja tactics are only a small part of this superb, action
packed film. Great swordplay and real ninja techniques are highlighted
throughout as some of the Toei all-stars fight their way for justice!
This is a powerful and moving story with great action, like no other!
Directed by: MATSUDA Sadatsugu
Cast: KATAOKA Chiezo, HASEGAWA Yumiko, TSUKIGATA Ryunosuke
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SASAKI KOJIRO-Part 1
(Sasaki Kojiro)
Historical facts: Sasaki Kojiro (1585
- April 14, 1612) also known as Ganryu Kojiro) was a prominent
Japanese swordsman, born in the Fukui Prefecture. Kojiro's favored
weapon during combat was a
straight-edged nodachi with a blade-length of over 90 cm (3 feet)
long. As a comparison, the average blade-length of the regular
katana seldom surpasses 70 cm. It was called the "Monohoshi Zao"
(Clothes-Drying Pole, often translated into English as "The Drying
Pole"). Despite the sword's length and weight, Kojiro's strokes with
the weapon were unnaturally quick and precise.
Movie Synopsis: Ronin Sasaki Kojiro longs to find a loving companion
to fill the void in his heart as he pursues his ultimate goal of
becoming a master swordsman. Along the way, he encounters another
great swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi! The two swordsmen are destined to
clash in an epic duel to the death. This movie is considered by many
as the ultimate portrayal of Sasaki Kojiro’s life.
Cast: AZUMA Chiyonosuke, KATAOKA Chiezo, CHIHARA Shinobu, OKAWA
Keiko
Director: SAEKI Kiyoshi
SASAKI KOJIRO-Part 2
(Sasaki Kojiro Kohen)
Part 2 brings the exciting story of Master Swordsman Sasaki Kojiro
to a violent end as he must face his nemesis, Miyamoto Musashi in a
duel to the death to determine who is the greatest swordsman in the
land.
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