13 Assassins
Director: Eiichi Kudo
Writer: Kaneo Ikegami
Staring: Chezo Kataoka, Ko Nishimura and Ryohei Uchida
Origianl Release: Dec. 7th, 1963
U. S. Re-Release Date: June 5th, 2012
U. S. Distributor: AnimEigo
Format: DVD / 126 minutes
Genre: Period Piece, Historical Drama, Samurai
Age Rating: Not Rated (suggested PG 13 due to violence)
Overall Personal Rating: B+
Similar Titles: Sword of Desperation, Revenge, The Loyal 47 Ronin
Synopsis:
Ashura
Director: Yojiro Takita / Production: Shochiku
U. S. Distributor: AnimEigo
U. S. release date: June 12, 2007
Format: DVD / 119 minutes + Extras
Genre: Fantasy, Samurai, Thriller, Action / Adventure
Age Rating: +13
Overall Personal Rating: A-
Similar Titles: Big Man Japan, Fighting Tiger Hidden Dragon, Bleach and Naruto
The time of Ashura is almost upon the world. It will be the time when the Demons will rule. For many centuries, Demons have walked among us and now a former Demon Slayer has fallen in love with a beautiful young woman, who has some very special ties to his past. But, what are they and what does this have to do with Ashura?
Demon Spies
Director: Tsuboshima Takashi
Publisher: AnimeEigo
Release date: August 9, 2005
Genre(s): Action, Drama, Ninja
Format: DVD
Age Rating: 18+
Overall Personal Rating: C+
Similar titkes: Shadow Hunters
The Edo period of Japan was rife with political intrigue and subterfuge. Since the Shogunate had essentially neutered any chance of direct rebellion through various edicts, open warfare among the daimyo was forbidden and in their place spies, assassins and bribery were the tools wielded to influence power. The oniwaban were such a “tool” used by the Shogunate to enforce its edicts on the various daimyo and make certain none grew so strong that they could threaten the Shogunate. Demon Spies is set during this period and tells one such tale.
Title: Goemon [Blu-ray]
Director: Kazuaki Kiriya
Actors: Yosuke Eguchi, Takao Osawa, Ryoko Hirosue
U. S. Distributor: FUNimation
U. S. Release Date: April 19th, 2011
Format: Blu-ray / 127 minutes
Genre: Historical Early Edo Period, Fantasy, Action/Adventure
Age Rating: TV 14
Overall Personal Rating: A
Similar Title: Kamui Gaiden, Ip Man
In a time of dreams just before the Tokugawa Shogunate came to power and united the nation, there was a famous Thief, or should I say Master Thief. He was the hope of the poor and downcast, a thing to be feared by the rich and powerful. Once aroused his might and fury would become legend.
Kamui Gaiden on Blu-ray
Director: Yoichi Sai
Writers: Kankuro Kudo (Screenplay), Shirato Sanpei (Manga)
Actors: Kenichi Matsuyama, Koyuki, Hideaki Ito, Kaoru Kobayashi
U. S. Release Date: Dec. 28th, 2010
U. S. Distributor: FUNimation
Format: Blu-ray / 120 minutes
Genre: Edo Period Historical Fiction, Ninja, Action/Adventure
Overall Personal Rating: B
Similar Titles: Ichi
Once an Shinobi always a Shinobi, or that is the saying. A young aspiring Shinobi learns that saying in person as he watches a rouge Shinobi try to escape that way of life.
47 Ronin
Director: Kon Ichikawa
Publisher: AnimeEigo
Release date: July 17, 2007
Genre(s): Historical fiction, Samurai, Politics
Age Rating: 18 +
Overall Personal Rating: A-
Similar titles: The Seven Samurai
Every country has its national legend such as Robin Hood, Beowulf and the Illiad; Japan is no exception. Kon Ichikawa’s 47 Ronin tells an historical account, greatly embellished over the course of time, about a group of ronin of the Ako clan who take revenge upon the Kira clan for forcing their master to commit seppuku.
Synopsis:
Revenge of a Kabuki Actor
Director: Kon Ichikawa / Studio: Daiei Studios / Author: Natto Wada
U.S. Distributor: AnimEigo
U. S. Release Date: Oct. 14th, 2008
Original Release date: Jan. 13th, 1963
Format: DVD / 113 minutes
Genre: Samurai, Drama
Age Rating: +13
Overall Personal Rating: A
Similar Titles: Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope, Tora-San, and The Gesha.
Director: Hiroshi Inagaki
Distributor: Criterion Collection
American release date: November 18, 1955/ Rerelease 1998
Format/ Genre/ length: DVD movie/Samurai/93 minutes
Publisher/Industry Age Rating: Not rated
Overall Personal Rating: A
Similar series or titles to check out: Seven Samurai, Yojimbo
Being a teenager in feudal Japan must not have been an easy thing – times were tough, and opportunities limited. Not to mention that Japan was a very isolated insular place which pretty well kept to itself. For Takezo, he has the added burden of being an orphan, and a very wild child, to boot. But, when war is brought close to home, in his village of Miyamoto, he sees his chance of becoming a part of things and he wants to go, to become a samurai, as we begin Hiroshi Inagaki’s Samurai I.
Samurai II: Duel at Ichijojo Temple
Director: Hiroshi Inagaki
Distributor: Criterion Collection
American release date: 1955
Format/ Genre/ length: DVD movie/Samurai/103 minutes
Publisher/Industry Age Rating: Not rated
Overall Personal Rating: A
Similar series or titles to check out:
A few years have elapsed since Takezo, now known as Musashi Miyamoto, began his journey of self-discovery on the path to becoming a great swordsman and a famous samurai, and he has been busy. The second part of Hiroshi Inagaki’s Samurai Triology begins, fittingly enough, with Miyamoto in an arranged duel with another samurai, one who uses a technique that is new to Takezo – the chain and sickle. Takezo emerges triumphant, and returns to Kyoto, and the woman he left behind.
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island
Director: Hiroshi Inagaki
Distributor: Criterion Collection
American release date: 1956
Format/ Genre/ length: DVD movie/Samurai/104 minutes
Publisher/Industry Age Rating: Not rated
Overall Personal Rating: A-
Similar series or titles to check out:
The legend of Musashi Miyamoto (Toshirô Mifune) is spreading far and wide; he has become one of the most respected swordsmen in Japan. Even the Shogun is interested in enlisting his skills for his service, as we rejoin that wandering samurai formerly known as Takezo at the beginning of the third part of the Samurai trilogy – the Duel at Ganryu Island.
Samurai Spy
Director/Studio/Author: Masahiro Shinoda/Criterion/Koji Nakada, Yoshiuka Fukuda
Distributor: AnimEigo
American release date: October 25, 2005
Format, Genre and length: DVD/Samurai/99 minutes
Publisher/Industry Age Rating: Not Rated
Overall Personal Rating: A
“Seal your lips tight.”
Fourteen years have passed since the Tokugawa clan were victorious at the Battle of Sekigahara, but that does not mean that there are still not factions which oppose the new regime. Battle lines are drawn between the supporters of Tokugawa and the supporters of Toyotomi. In broad geographical terms, the Kanto region, which contains the city of Edo, is pro Tokugawa, while those in the Kansai, where Osaka can be found are in favor of Toyotomi. Not everyone has chosen a side. One of these is Sasuke Sarutobi, who belongs to the Sanada clan. He believes that wars are good for no one.
Director/Studio/Author: Kazuro Mori/Daei Studios/Kosuke Gomi and Daisuke Ito
Distributor: AnimEigo
American release date: October 12, 2010
Format, Genre and length: DVD/Samurai/109 minutes
Overall Personal Rating: A-
Publisher/Industry Age Rating: 18+
Similar series or titles to check out: Samurai Banners, Samurai Assassin, 47 Ronin
Two’s company, three’s a crowd, even in feudal Japan. What you want isn’t necessarily what you get, especially when forces that are greater than you, conspire against you. But isn’t that always the way?
Synopsis:
Shinobi on Blu-ray
Director: Ten Shimoyama / Writers: Futaro Yamada and Kenya Hirata.
U.S. Distributor: FUNimation
U.S. Release Date: May 13, 2008
Format: Blu-ray / 102 minutes
Genre: Action Adventure, Romance
Overall Personal Rating: B+
Similar Titles: Ichi and the anime Basilisk.
Here come the age old family feud and star crossed lovers with the historical backing of the Tokugawa Period. This also gives a solid dose of the Hatfield and McCoys Japanese style.
Synopsis:
Shinsengumi Chronicles: I Want to Die a Samurai 
Director/Studio/Author: Kenji Misumi/Kadokawa Pictures/Seiji Hoshikawa
Distributor: AnimEigo
American release date: November 9, 2010
Format, Genre and length: DVD/Samurai/93 minutes
Publisher/Industry Age Rating: 18+/Violence
Overall Personal Rating: A
Similar series or titles to check out: Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor
Susumu Yamakazi (Raizo Ichikawa, Sleepy Eyes of Death) is an idealistic young man who wishes to be a samurai, and to uphold the honor inherent in following the Bushido. The time is 1863, the third year of the Bunkyu Period, and the Tokugawa Shogunate is dying. Will the samurai way of life go with it?
Shogun Assassin Blu-ray
Director: Robert Houston
Authors: David Weisman, Goseki Kojima, Kazuo Koike and Robert Houston.
Distributor: AnimEigo
Release Date: July 27th, 2010
Age Rating: R
Overall Personal Rating: B+
Similar Titles: All of the Lone Wolf & Cub movies.
During the Edo period, few stood up to the Shogun even though many hated him. The Shogun, being a paranoid man, can’t even trust his own Master Assassin. This leads to the gravest mistake he could have made, make an enemy out of the most talented killer in the nation.
Sleepy Eyes of Death, Collector’s Set Volume 1 
Directors: Tokuzo Tanaka, Kenji Misumi, Kimiyoshi Yasuda, Kazuo Ikehiro
Distributor: AnimEigo
American release date: July 14, 2009
Format, Genre and length: DVD/Samurai/338 minutes
Publisher/Industry Age Rating: 18+/Contains Violence, Nudity & Nihilism
Overall Personal Rating: A
Similar series or titles to check out: Ultimate Miyamoto Musashi
Nemuri Kyroshiro describes himself as “a rogue who slices men like they were radishes”. Does this make him the Top Chef of samurai cinema?
Synopsis:
Sleepy Eyes of Death, Collector’s Set Volume 2 
Directors: Tokuzo Tanaka, Kenji Misumi, Kimiyoshi Yasuda, Akira Inoue
Distributor: AnimEigo
American release date: Feb 1, 2011
Format, Genre and length: DVD/Samurai/321 minutes
Publisher/Industry Age Rating: 18+/Contains Violence, Nudity & Nihilism
Overall Personal Rating: A
Similar series or titles to check out: Ultimate Miyamoto Musashi
Can a man conceived from the rape of a Japanese woman by a crazed Christian missionary during a Black Mass find true happiness? Or is Nemuri Kyoshiro doomed to wander forever, with no direction of his own?
