Utaemon Ichikawa

Lord Asano resists a bribery attempt by a member of the Shogun's court. His honesty, however, is useless against the corruption of the administration... (imdb)

This is the tale of seven master swordsmen who band together to play an active role against the group planning to kill the 8th Tokugawa Shogun, Yoshimune and take over his position. Included in the group are a chivalrous robber, a highly skilled magistrate, and a masterless samurai for hire, just to name a few. (crunchyroll.com)

When roving bands of bandits attempt to overrun the new capital city of Edo, a Samurai puts his life on the line to defend the city and its people.

Kataoka Chiezo stars as Murasaki Zukin, a mysterious hero of the people who helps those in need. Now under the rule of the evil Tanuma, the people look to Murasaki Zukin more than ever, to confront and punish those who bring misfortune upon the commoners. Will he be able to bring peace to the land? (themoviedb.org)

When Katsukawa, a low ranking vassal, learns that his greedy superior, Tatewaki, has hatched a plan to expand his territory, he and his comrades decide to take matters into their own hands. Lots of action in this all-star production from Toei Films, the foremost studio during that era. As with so many of their films, this is highly entertaining, with lots of plot twists and exciting swordplay. (The Movie Database)

This 1932 adaptation is the earliest sound version of the ever-popular and much-filmed Chushingura story of the loyal 47 retainers who avenged their feudal lord after he was obliged to commit hara-kiri due to the machinations of a villainous courtier. As the first sound version of the classic narrative, the film was something of an event, and employed a stellar cast, who give a roster of memorable performances. (The Movie Database)

The story of the 47 Ronin. (The Movie Database)

Toei's 10th anniversary film, featuring an all-star cast from the golden movie era of the 1960s. A famous story of the 47 loyal samurai. When Lord Asano is unjustly executed, his loyal retainers strike back for revenge. (The Movie Database)

A cheerful period drama, sprinkled with comical scenes tells the story of a loyal and handsome Edo servant who fights to help his older brother marry the woman he loves. (imdb)

A troupe of Chinese acrobats go to Japan to help celebrate the building of a shrine. At the same time a series of mysterious assassinations take place. Master swordsman Saotome try to solve the puzzling crimes. (themoviedb)

Tetsunosuke, an eccentric doctor and an owner of a fencing school, takes aim against corrupt authorities. (themoviedb)

Film number 22 in one of the longest running feature series in Japan, has bored samurai Hatamoto embroiled in a plot against the shogun amidst intrigue regarding a prized banner. There is more to distract the master swordsman Hatamoto however. His concubine and her brother are kidnapped. (imdb)

Master swordsman and loya 'Hatamoto' (direct vassal to the Shogun), Saotome Mondonosuke, is sent to investigate an intrigue centering on the Date Clan. The 300th film in the long and illustrious career of Ichikawa Utaemon, one of the most popular Japanese film stars of the period; it brought out an all-star cast as well. (themoviedb)

The epic tales of Saotome Mondonosuke, the "Bored Hatamoto" were told in over 25 films. As a hatamoto Mondonosuke has a crescent scar on his forehead, which is a license to go above the law in order to protect the shogunate. In this exciting entry in the series, a vicious plot using ninja to curse the shogun leads to a showdown with the Owari clan, one of the 3 branch families of the Tokugawa. Will Mondonosuke be able to discover who is behind the conspiracy in time to save His... (themovied

Ryujin Misaki, located at the edge of the Genkai Sea, is known as an isolation ward for leprosy patients. When Saotome, a sword master and guard of the Shogun, hears news of a doctor gone missing, he begins to suspect that things are not what they seem at Ryujin Misaki. Intent on discovering the truth, Saotome launches a private investigation. (themoviedb)

During the reign of 5th Shogun Tokugawa Tsuneyoshi a troupe of Chinese acrobats travel to Japan to help celebrate the building of the Yushima Shrine. At the same time a series of mysterious assassinations take place with a strange and unknown weapon. Master swordsman Saotome Mondonosuke, a 'Hatamoto' (direct retainer of the Shogun) and a man who loves action takes it upon himself to get to the bottom of the mystery and and solve the puzzling crimes.

A rare film which depicts the tragic fate of a Christian lord who fought for his fate in the Edo period. Of note is Utaemon Ichikawa's extraordinary memorable final scenes in which he takes on his enemy with a gash in his forehead and a wild, unkempt mane.

He may not look it, but Utaemon Ichikawa is the fastest runner in Kyoto, and the mainstay of his private mail company. At the moment, there is a personal and business crisis at hand. There is a mysterious fleet-footed thief around, and he is the prime suspect on the run and trying to find the bad guy; a plague is killing children in town, and the local doctor needs a Dutch medicine from Nagasaki, which his firm is supposed to pick up for distribution at cost.

Gotô Matabei is the ablest and most fierce samurai of the Kuroda clan. However, he gradually dislikes the ruthless personality of Kuroda Nagamasa and leaves the clan. Seven years later, he joins Toyotomi Hideyori's army. Filmed in 1945 and released in 1952.

This is the only surviving "Mito Komon Manyu-ki" film. This release also known as Adrift Tour Memoir is an 80-minute compilation of the first and second parts (147 minutes), which were re-edited and screened at a time when presentable films were dried up immediately after the defeat of the war. (Cinema Japan Retrospective)