10 Excellent Samurai TV Shows
A list of 10 modern Japanese (subtitled) TV series that are well worth a watch
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- StarsIssei TakahashiSeiyô UchinoFusako Urabe2007's Japanese NHK Taiga drama Furin Kazan (meaning 'Wind, Forest, Fire & Mountain' NOT The Trusted Confidant as stated above) contains everything you could want in this type of series- characters, action, intrigue, philosophy etc delivered by a superb cast. This is the story of a one-eyed limping ronin called Yamamoto Kansuke whose expertise in military tactics & strategy brings about the rise of the Takeda Clan. While most films made on the subject focus on the warlord Takeda Shingen, Kansuke is very much the focus here. The series is set during the turbulent Warring States Period in the mid-16th century when provincial warlords were constantly attacking each other. The benefits of sound strategy were immense & Kansuke's shrewd manipulation of the enemy reaps dividends for Takeda Shingen. It would be pointless to try to explain any more of the plot - the series spans 50 episodes of 45mins each! Everything from the storyline to the direction to the acting recommends this as one of the finest of the annual NHK dramas. Uchino Masaaki is superb as the wily Kansuke while Gackt turns in a spellbinding performance as the mystical Lord of Echigo. After each episode is a short documentary describing the modern-day sites of the battles/castles/shrines portrayed in the series but be warned! These often give away information not yet shown in the series & can act as a spoiler. Apart from that, Excellent Stuff.One of the best ever Samurai TV series, this is properly titled FUURIN KAZAN. Strategist Yamamoto Kansuke brings about the rise of the Takeda clan during the Warring States Period. Utterly brilliant series.
- StarsKinnosuke NakamuraKazutaka NishikawaTakumi SatôThe adventures of a samurai and his young son.TV version of the amazing Lone Wolf & Cub saga starring Yorotsuya Kinnosuke as Lone Wolf Ogami Itto fighting to survive against his pursuers from the Yagyu clan. An absolute masterpiece.
- StarsYûki KudôTetsurô TanbaKeiko TsushimaBased on Shôtarô Ikenami's novel by the same title. The drama focuses on the history of the Sanada clan during the late Sengoku period."Saga of the Sanada Clan". Another TV series that has absolutely everything that you could look for in a Japanese period drama. Tells the story of the Sanada clan (and their ninja) during the Warring States Period.
- StarsTomisaburô WakayamaShintarô KatsuJudy OnggA master swordsman, Kiichi Hogan, wanders Japan in search of the Spanish swordsman who murdered his parents and slashed his throat 18 years before. Renouncing any normal life the samurai has become the feared bounty hunter, "Devil" Hogan, the Mute Samurai.The Mute Samurai stars Tomisaburo Wakayama as bounty hunter Kiichi Hogan who travels Japan in search of his parents' murderer, a Spanish master swordsman called Gonzales. Features some truly staggering fight scenes and a huge body count. Great soundtrack.
- StarsToshirô YanagibaMotoya IzumiAtsuro WatabeSet during the Kamakura Shogunate in late-13th century Japan, this 49-episode series details the rise to power firstly of Hojo Tokiyori and then the succession of his young son Hojo Tokimune. As the son of the lord's consort, Tokimune was selected as his father's successor despite the fact that he has an older brother Tokisuke (son of the lord's concubine). This situation is manipulated by those samurai & noble families who stand to gain by the installation of either as Regent. This has disastrous consequences for the brothers whose fraternal bond is torn apart by the political machinations of others. The focus of the series is the transition of Hojo Tokimune from unsteady beginnings into a ruler capable of repulsing the Mongol assault on Japan instigated by Kublai Khan. 49 episodes means that plenty of themes and sub-plots are explored here, from the spread of the Lotus Sect by Nichiren to the expansion of the Mongol Empire, from intrigues between the Emperor's Nobles and the Regent's Samurai to the relationships between families, friends and nations. The most poignant storyline deals with the relationship between the two brothers.The story of the fortunes of the Hojo clan in the 13th century focussing on the relationship between two brothers disputing the clan heirship after the death of Hojo Tokiyori. Features an amazing historical backdrop with the rise of the Mongol empire under Kublai Khan in the 13th century.
- StarsKôshirô MatsumotoTokuma NishiokaShin'ichi TsutsumiYagyu Sekishusai is a consumate swordsman teaching the Yagyu Shinkage style of fencing from his family dojo. His ambition has always been to achieve fame for the Yagyu clan. His son Munenori hangs around with the local ninja children and frequently avoids practice to do so. As a result, the father considers the son to be weak and is harsh and disparaging both in training and personal life. After Munenori's older brother is injured during the Battle of Sekigahara, Sekishusai decides to name his grandson Hyogonosuke as his successor as head of the Yagyu Shinkage school, considering Munenori to be unworthy of the position. Munenori witnesses his 'mutodori' technique of unarmed combat against a weapon-bearing opponent & then sets out to develop his own style based not on the desire to kill but to defend one's self. He becomes a master in his own right while forming a strong alliance with the Tokugawa who ascend to take power in the land. Munenori becomes a highly-placed key vassal for the Tokugawa, initially as sword instructor & then as Minister of Justice. He also helps to institute the draconian policies of suppression designed to quell any opposition to Tokugawa rule thereby bringing peace to the nation. This viewpoint is not appreciated by his son Yagyu Jubei Mitsuyoshi who is opposed to what he sees as underhanded tactics, regardless of their eventual results 'for the greater good'. Father and son must put aside their differences in order to confront a plot that could de-stabilise the country.Series called "Three Generations of the Yagyu Sword" telling the story of Yagyu sword masters Sekishusai, Munenori & Jubei and their differing approaches to life and the military arts. Excellent Stuff.
- StarsSatoshi TsumabukiNobuko MiyamotoKazuki KitamuraThe story centers on Naoe Kanetsugu, a loyal and devoted samurai in Echigo Province in the 16th century. Kanetsugu was trained in his early childhood by Uesugi Kenshin and after his death, served Kenshin's adopted son Kagekatsu and is known for his extreme loyalty to the Uesugi family. He also made every effort to protect the people of Echigo with a strong sense of justice and genuine sympathy toward commoners."Tenchijin". The story of the Uesugi clan during and after the Warring States Period. Brilliant historical backdrop.
- StarsJun'ichi OkadaGaku HamadaMiki NakataniGunshi Kanbei (Strategist Kanbei) is a-year long taiga drama by NHK in 2014. This fictional series consists of 50 episodes and follows the journey of Kuroda Kanbei, a historical figure who lived during Japan's Warring States period as he navigated the murky water of political intrigues and military conquests of Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu - the three unificators of feudal Japan. A brilliant tactician, Kanbei was one of Hideyoshi's trusted strategists who was known for his bravery and handicap.Strategist Kanbee tells the story of Kuroda Kanbee and the many battles in which he was involved. Another modern classic.
- StarsShin'ichi ChibaEtsuko ShihomiYumi TakigawaOne of the all-time great Japanese samurai series. "The Yagyu Conspiracy" features Sonny Chiba as master swordsman Yagyu Jubei taking on all sorts of weapons specialists during the struggles of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Classic.
- StarsNoriko AoyamaDai WatanabeRantaro MineLike a female Lone Wolf, The Fugitive Orin battles across the Japanese landscape pursued by various ninja groups and weapons specialists...but she has a few tricks of her own. Something a bit different but good viewing.