Found at the superb photo-blog DRILLPOP. Great VHS clamshell art from the 1963 flick Yagyu Bugeicho: Kengo Midare Gumo (aka Yagyu Chronicles 7: The Cloud of Disorder). This prolific B&W ninja series starring Jushiro Konoe is just great, track these down… My … Continued
Go-Go Yubari aside, who can resist Japan’s sexiest schnoz and such great costuming (from Azumi 2.) It’s the bangs that really make the whole package work, IMO. Found at the photo-intensive Chiyaki shrine.
…but a Hong Kong cheapie for sure, and you know this painting made a VHS clamshell back in the day. Aahhh, the pistol crossbow. Sooo 80’s. Seen even as late as The Last Samurai… Found at Undead Film Critic
The Shinobi no Mono films not only revolutionized the way ninjutsu was portrayed in film, they changed the very notion of ninja characters. Raizo Ichikawa was the perfect victim protagonist – the lone man struggling to survive in a world that … Continued
These sepia-toned (and aging poorly) 8×10’s are from either a theatrical lobby promo kit or a studio press kit contemporary to the 1963 theatrical release of ninja blockbuster Zoku Shinobi no Mono (Return of the Band of Assassins, ). Raizo … Continued
Samurai Champloo is now available as a lower-priced box set, so I’ll re-purpose an old Ninja80 post here. I was a huge mark for Cowboy BeBop, but the creative team’s follow-up series failed to make the same impact with me… until … Continued
Once upon a time, there was a ground-breaking Japanese TV series called Onmitsu Kenshin (or Onmitsu kenshi), starring Koichi Ose as Shintaro, wandering samurai detective protecting his half-brother the Shogun from various conspiracies and assassins. It was popular in Japan, but when … Continued
This really is the best time ever to be a ninja fan in the U.S. – Animeigo’s releases going strong! We have a permanent BUY link at the left for these titles.
Sepia-tone 2-sided flyer for the Ryutaro Otomo ninja vehicle Maboroshi Kurozukin Yamine Toku-Kage (can’t confirm that title or translate, although the words for black hood, phantom, and shadow are in there…) from Singapore – possibly late 60’s? Enjoy some whacked-out … Continued
Okamoto Kihachi‘s (Sword of Doom, Kiru!) 1963 ninja classic Sengoku Yaro is a real blast – a superb mix of comedy and combat, peppered with some rather outré fight scenes, a jazzy score by Masaru Sato that keeps you on your toes, and a super … Continued