Corruption Cuts Deeper Than Any Blade

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MOVIE REVIEW
Shogun’s Samurai (Yagyû ichizoku no inbô)
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Genre: Action, Martial Arts, Historical Drama
Year Released: 1978, 2025 Eureka Entertainment Blu-ray
Runtime: 2h 10m
Director(s): Kinji Fukasaku
Writer(s): Kinji Fukasaku, Hirô Matsuda, Tatsuo Nogami
Cast: Kinnosuke Yorozuya, Shinichi “Sonny” Chiba, Hiroki Matsukata, Teruhiko Saigo, Reiko Ohara, Yoshio Harada, Etsuko Shihomi, Kentaro Kudo, Hiroyuki Sanada
Where to Watch: available now, order your copy here: https://eurekavideo.co.uk/movie/shoguns-samurai/

RAVING REVIEW: SHOGUN’S SAMURAI is a film built on tension that never truly lets go. Even in its quieter moments, there’s a constant sense that every character is two moves ahead or one mistake away from being erased. Kinji Fukasaku directs this with the same seriousness he brought to his yakuza sagas. That approach lends the film a weight that sets it apart from more romanticized takes on samurai cinema. There’s no sense of noble warriors guided by strict virtues. Instead, this is a story about men loyal to power, survival, and legacy, fighting in a world where betrayal is not only expected but nearly required.

The film opens with the poisoning of Shogun Hidetada Tokugawa, and everything immediately spirals into a war of succession. Two sons, factions scrambling for an advantage, and retainers willing to throw away every shred of honor for their chosen side — it’s a perfect setup for the kind of intricate conflict Fukasaku excels at. What elevates it is how he uses the Yagyu clan at the center, particularly Munenori Yagyu and his sons, to show how ambitions corrode everything around them. Munenori’s devotion to Iemitsu is absolute, yet the more fervently he serves, the more destruction he enables. The film never tries to excuse this; it simply follows the consequences.

Kinnosuke Yorozuya gives Munenori a chilling sense of purpose. Even in scenes where he barely speaks, you feel the calculation happening beneath the surface. He isn’t a typical samurai hero — he’s a strategist who sees people as pieces, and the film never pulls away from the implications of that worldview. Sonny Chiba, playing Jubei Yagyu, brings the physical edge the film needs. His presence sharpens the story, especially as Jubei navigates the moral fallout of his father’s decisions. Chiba plays him not as a stoic warrior but as a man caught between loyalty, survival, and a growing disgust for the direction his clan is heading.

Hiroki Matsukata and Teruhiko Saigo, playing the rival heirs Iemitsu and Tadanaga, add further depth. Their feud isn’t depicted as a simple clash of styles or ideals — both characters reveal darker sides as the film moves forward, making the struggle feel genuinely unpredictable. Whether they’re manipulating allies or eliminating obstacles, each brother understands that the path to power is paved with bodies, and the film is never shy about showing those bodies fall.

Where SHOGUN’S SAMURAI becomes more challenging — though never in a way that undercuts its impact — is in its density. The number of characters, shifting allegiances, and political maneuvering can feel overwhelming early on. This isn’t a flaw in the storytelling so much as a reflection of Fukasaku’s refusal to simplify a brutal period in history. Still, for viewers expecting a streamlined narrative, the opening act demands attention. Once the factions are in place, the story becomes easier to follow, and the emotional core strengthens.

The film’s action sequences show Fukasaku pushing beyond standard samurai choreography. He leans into chaotic, immersive movement rather than perfectly framed duels. This approach lends the fighting an urgency, emphasizing danger over aesthetic beauty. The camerawork can feel chaotic in moments, but the intention is clear — violence isn’t meant to be admired; it’s meant to unsettle. When the camera steadies, and the film showcases its sweeping landscapes and wide compositions, the contrast hits even harder.

The performances are consistent across the board, especially from the ensemble cast of fighters, nobles, and schemers. Even brief appearances from major actors land because the film frames them as part of a shifting political organism rather than isolated characters. The world feels interconnected, and the consequences of every decision ripple outward. Fukasaku’s commitment to showing how power operates beneath the surface gives the film a structural strength that sets it apart from many chanbara entries of its era.

If the film has one limitation, it’s that some characters are introduced with drama only to serve primarily as pieces in the larger conflict. This is a byproduct of the sprawling nature of the story, but certain figures are underutilized. The political landscape is dominated by men who act decisively and violently, but the few women present offer perspectives that the film never fully explores. Adding even a small amount of nuance to these characters could have broadened the emotional impact without altering the tone.

SHOGUN’S SAMURAI earns its reputation not because it’s flashy or romantic but because it’s uncompromising. It respects the viewer's intelligence, leans into the complexity of its political setting, and anchors its chaos in strong performances. It’s bleak, brutal, and unflinching — exactly the kind of historical samurai drama that sticks with you long after the final scene.

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[photo courtesy of EUREKA ENTERTAINMENT]

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