Eureka Video UK Blu-ray Synopsis: A swordsman, writer and artist who lived between 1584 and 1645, Miyamoto Musashi is a near-mythic figure in Japanese history and an icon of Japanese popular culture. The first film based on his life was produced in the silent period, followed by dozens more made over the next decades. In the early 1960s, Toei launched into an entire series focused on the legendary samurai – a five-part saga adapted from the works of Eiji Yoshikawa and completed under the direction of Tomu Uchida between 1961 and 1965. Miyamoto Musashi charts the origins of the eponymous swordsman (Kinnosuke Nakamura) following his participation in the Battle of Sekigahara and traces his path towards the way of the samurai. In Miyamoto Musashi II: Showdown at Hannyazaka Heights, Musashi emerges from a period of learning and contemplation, soon coming into conflict with a rogue group of ronin. Then, in Miyamoto Musashi III: Birth of the Two Sword Style, the samurai develops his personal style of swordsmanship and first encounters Kojiro Sasaki (Ken Takakura), who will become his arch-rival. His feud with Sasaki intensifies in Miyamoto Musashi IV: Duel at Ichijyo-ji and Miyamoto Musashi V: Duel at Ganryu Island, ultimately leading to an epic final battle. A greatly accomplished samurai saga featuring two titans of Japanese cinema in Kinnosuke Nakamura and Ken Takakura, Toei’s Miyamoto Musashi films deserve to stand with the Zatoichi series as one of the great samurai sagas of the 1960s. The Masters of Cinema Series is honoured to present all five films on Blu-ray from new 4K restorations by Toei.

 

Views: Based on the legendary swordsman and writer Miyamoto Musashi, who lived between 1584 and 1645, this highly praised series of films was made at the Toei Studios in the early 1960s under director Tomu Uchida which were adapted from the works of Eiji Yoshikawa. Recently restored in 4K by Toei, the five films have been beautifully put together in a limited edition box-set by Eureka Video as part of their Masters of Cinema series, under the collective title of Zen & Sword (the alternate title of the first film). While the story of Miyamoto Musashi has been told many times over the decades – with the first staring in the silent era – this would be my first time seeing this particular adaptation. But I was pretty excited!

 

The series begins when Musashi was known as Shinmen Takezo; a feisty swordsman who fought on the losing side of the Battle of Sekigahara. After he manages to escape, Takezo returns home where he is greeted with anger and treated as a criminal. Frustrated, the young warrior wreaks havoc on the town where he is soon chased down by a local samurai lord, but to no avail. Instead, it is monk Takuan who steps up to the challenge in putting a stop to Musashi's antics and, in turn, help him change his ways in life. Following this introduction, the four sequels tell the stories of his most famous battles. This continues with Miyamoto Musashi II: Showdown at Hannyazaka Heights; a tale of growth as Takezo, now christened as Musashi, leaves Himeji Castle after three years of learning about himself and contemplating. As he starts his journey to become a master swordsman, Musashi reconnects with those from his past, but soon finds trouble with a gang of ronin that sees his skills are put to the test. Continuing from part 2 ended, Miyamoto Musashi III: Birth of the Two Sword Style, introduces a host of new characters that become a part of Musashi's journey such as the confident young longsword master, Kojiro Sasaki. But first, he has some issues to settle with the infamous Yagyu Clan and reveals the Nito-ryo Style of which he became well known for. At the end of his journey, Miyamoto's fate brings them all back for a bloody finale as well as those from his past. In Miyamoto Musashi IV: Duel at Ichijyo-ji Temple, our hero is taunted by the boastful Kojiro Sasaki as he continues his journey in life and learning through the snowy landscape. While his true love, Otsu, grows ill, Musashi is invited to one of his biggest duels yet – one against 73 under the cover of darkness. But as he fights his way through the small army, Kojiro watches from the shadows, confident that he is the only real worthy opponent to take on Miyamoto. And finally, in Miyamoto Musashi V: Duel at Ganryu Island, the swordsman's journey comes to a fantastic conclusion as we witness the epic showdown between him and Kojiro. But during the build up, Miyamoto once again crosses paths with those from his younger days; bringing to a close many of their own journeys and misunderstandings. Starting with a lengthy recap, this entry serves as a great closure to the series bringing more beautiful scenery, humour and great drama.

 

I love Japan! But I love old Japan even more. It's history fascinates me and has always been the highlight of my many trips out there. From historic castles to old samurai trails, temples to villages and more, I just can't get enough. So watching these kind of movies today, after experiencing similar areas in person, is even more special. So when I got my hands on this gorgeous new Miyamoto Musashi collection from Eureka Video, I was very excited! Set around the early 1600s, each of the five films capture this period of Japan perfectly. Offering many moments of authentic and beautiful scenery, genuine looking costumes and weapons, original castles and temples, and some gorgeous set pieces (as well as some moments of humour), this series of films is a joy to watch and only one of countless adaptations of this legendary swordsman – immortalised in film, television, literature, theatre, manga and video games. Renowned for his battles, where it is said he stood undefeated after 62 showdowns, Musashi's style of double-bladed swordsmanship had been the inspiration for many on-screen warriors and film-makers over the years, but here, it's the prolific Tomu Uchida who writes and directs...

 

Before he created the Miyamoto Musashi series, made between 1961 and 65, Uchida had delivered a wide range of films since making his directorial debut as far back as 1922. He was soon catching the attention of film-goers and critics alike when titles like Kigeki: Ase (1929), Keisatsukan (1933), Unending Advance (1937), Bloody Spear at Mount Fuji (1955), Sword in the Moonlight (1957) and many others proved his worth as a talented film-maker. In between this series, he would also direct A Fugitive from the Past (1965) starring Tantaro Mikuni and Sachiko Hidari, which is still considered as one of his finest works today. Interestingly, Uchida's final piece would be 1971's Miyamoto Musashi VI (aka) Swords of Death, which was a retelling of sorts of the famed Japanese legend and a film missing from this particular collection due to it being a Toho production rather than Toei. Although enjoyed by fans, it is said that the film was perhaps released incomplete of his vision as Uchida had passed in August 1970 during production. Throughout the series, the fierce and famous Miyamoto is played by the great Kinnosuke Nakamura, who does a fantastic job in the role and is gripping to watch as the emotional swordsman. Acting right up to the mid 1990s, Nakamura was one of Japan's finest and previously starred in Uchida's Sword in the Moonlight (1957) before this. Throughout his busy career, he made his name in films such as Sorcerer's Orb (1954) and it's many sequels, The Swamp (1956), Ronin of Ako (1961), Bushido (1963), Revenge (1964), Incident at Blood Pass (1970), Yagyu Clan Conspiracy (1978), The Fall of Ako Castle (1978), and played the lead in the awesome Lone Wolf & Cub television series from 1973-76. From the third movie he is joined by the equally popular and fantastic Ken Takakura, who stars as his arch nemesis Kojiro Sasaki – impressing as always and proving to be the perfect antagonist; a continuing character of his story from then on in.

 

Accompanying the five newly restored films on this set is a number of bonus features, although only the first two movies have an audio commentary on offer. The first is from Jonathan Wroot and the second with Jasper Sharp. Both are informative in their narrative and worth listening to, so it is confusing as to why they didn't continue with the rest. On disc one and two we also get a few bulletins and trailers for each of the four movies contained, often coming in at around 3 minutes each, but it would be on disc three – along with the fifth title – where the other bonus features are housed. The first is a 15 minute video essay called Live By The Sword, a well written and interesting piece by Jonathan Clements that relives the films as well as talks the history of Miyamoto himself. Next is an interview with the always informative Tony Rayns, called A Legendary Swordsman, an insightful 27 minute featurette to cam that covers both the history and the Toei series which makes for a great watch. Jennifer Coates with a piece called On Otsu & Other Women, a 17 minute interview that sees her focus on the female characters of the series and Japanese cinema of that time. A bulletin and trailer are also available for the fifth movie of the series, while each film gets a lengthy stills gallery here to tie things up, while the set itself comes in a beautiful hardbound slipcase and 100 page limited edition collectors book. Gorgeously filmed, wonderfully acted and brilliantly directed, Zen & Sword: The Miyamoto Musashi Saga at Toei is a fantastic collection, and has never looked better than they do here thanks to Eureka Video!

 

Overall: A fantastic collection of a classic film series, Zen & Sword: The Miyamoto Musashi Saga at Toei is a great introduction to a legend of ancient Japan!

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Eureka Video Blu-ray Extras: 4K Restorations, Audio Commentaries by Jonathan Wroot and Jasper Sharp, Video Essay by Jonathan Clements, Tony Rayns on the Toei Saga, Jennifer Coates on Females in the Toei Saga, Trailers, Image Galleries