Pagan DVD Synopsis: Zipang is a sumptuous visual feast. Set in a kind of alternative Japan, where modern technology meets ancient legend, the film tells of the quest for the mythical Zipang, land of gold. A motley band of renegades discover the keys to this magical kingdom. Unfortunately they also attract the attention of a beautiful female bounty hunter who has her sights set on their leade, the handsome Jigoku. With supernatural ninja warriors, astonishingly choreographed swordplay and wildly unpredictable plot twists, Zipang is in a class of its own. Prepare to be amazed...

​

Views: Jigoku is a smart-talking and highly-skilled samurai outlaw, constantly on the run with his motley bunch of followers. During his latest adventures, he is chased by a female bounty hunter named Yuri The Pistol – a young woman who captures his heart instantly. After escaping an almighty attack from hundreds of assassins chasing his bounty, Jigoku comes across a cave where he finds a golden sword stuck in a rock and soon breaks it free. Of course, his new found luck attracts the attention of a ninja army who also want the golden weapon, as they know it is the key to finding Zipang – a mythical city of gold, full of riches and ruled by the Golden King. It doesn't take long for them to steal it which transports their leader Hanzo and Yuri The Pistol to Zipang, much to the surprise of the hero outlaw. Unbeknownst to him, Jigoku also freed an imprisoned ancient warrior who had been locked away with the sword for many years and soon, they start working together in order to find the sword, Yuri The Pistol, and defeat the Golden King of Zipang!

​

The opening 15 minutes of Zipang is worth the ticket price alone as viewers are treated to an exciting flashback in black and white, before getting highly entertained by the antics of it's lead character taking on an army of adversaries in the shape of some angry ronin, ninjas, ninjas who think they are cowboys, and then some. Famous movie characters of that time period are even spoofed (briefly) such as Zatoichi, the One-Armed Swordsman, Cyrano De Bergerac (or a Musketeer) and even those from The Samurai Trilogy (1954), that basically tells us just how great Jigoku is as he takes each one of them down without effort. It's an opening that completely sets the tone for what's to come – spoofing the very genre it is based upon, yet packed with its own originality and innovative moments. With blends of the Sword In The Stone (1963), Ninja Wars (1982), Arthdal Chronicles (2019), Azumi (2003), Red Shadow (2001), Indiana Jones & The Temple Of Doom (1981), and even the fantasy swordplay movies of the Shaw Brothers, Zipang is a one-of-a-kind visual experience that plays like a live-action anime and never bores. Over the years, I've noticed that many reviewers have said this is Japan's answer to the Will Smith comedy, Wild Wild West (1999) yet it pre-dates the Hollywood blockbuster by almost a decade. The comparison comes with the amount of advanced toys and technology used by Hanzo the ninja and others, some of which would make Artemus Gordon a little jealous such as the digital binoculars that take photos on a mini-ninja star memory card. That card is then placed in a bigger ninja star which is then thrown for miles, and manages to land in the exact place it needs to. From there, the mini-ninja star is placed into a slide projector for all to see. It's hilarious and odd at the same time, but still very cool – and just a pinch of the bizarre and imaginative things going on here. There's also the cache of swords owned by Jigoku (each of which are called upon with numbers like a golfer would do for his clubs), stunning cinematography mixed with some interesting animated moments and matte paintings, Hanzo the ninja ripping a broken rib from his chest to reveal a hidden weapon, giant stone warriors, rocket launchers, and so much more.

​

Kyoto born director, Kaizo Hayashi, had only made two other films by the time Zipang came about with his fun debut, To Sleep So As To Dream (1986), and the well received Circus Boys (1989) a few years later. Zipang was definitely his most ambitious project at the time and it makes me want to see more of what he had to offer such as The Most Terrible Time In My Life (1994), Stairway To The Distant Past (1995), Wana (1996), and more. Interestingly enough, Hayashi also helmed a couple of episodes of Power Rangers: Time Force (2001) and had been directing right up to the Covid pandemic, with fantasy flick Bolt being his latest to date. The wonderful Masahiro Takashima stars as Jigoku, the excited and unstoppable samurai outlaw who reminded me of Hiroyuki Sanada in his younger days. Before Zipang, Takashima made a splash in the sci-fi action flick Gunhed (1989) and went on to star in titles such as Godzilla Vs Mechagodzilla 2 (1993), Yamato Takeru (1994), Godzilla Vs Destoroyah (1995), The Last Princess (2008), Kingdom (2019), and a host of television shows. He saves the day alongside popular Japanese actor and the very handsome Kenya Sawada, who stars as the warrior from the mythical golden city – pleasing viewers by running around in nothing but a loincloth with a body covered in tattoos. Born the same year as his co-star, Zipang would actually be the debut role of Kenya – a martial artist skilled in karate, judo, kung-fu and Muay Thai. This is something he would put to good use throughout his career and after a decent role in the (awful) Hollywood adaptation of Streetfighter (1994) with Van Damme, Sawada moved to working in the Hong Kong film industry starting with Jackie Chan in Thunderbolt (1995). A role in the Aaron Kwok, Sammo Hung film Somebody Up There Likes Me came next, followed by Brice Law's Extreme Crisis (1998) with starring roles in Colour of Pain (2002), Shinjuku Incident (2009), The Legend Is Born: Ip Man (2010), The Great Magician (2011), Hidden Man (2018), and Warriors Of The Nation (2018) keeping him busy over the years. The late Mikijiro Hira stars as the King of Zipang in one of his 120 roles over his 50+ year career. Having made his debut in Kampai! Miai Kekkon (1958), Hira went on to star in titles such as Sword Of Destiny (1960), Osho (1962), The Third Ninja (1964), Illusion Of Blood (1965), Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis (1988), Azumi 2: Death Or Love (2005), Princess Raccoon (2005), and Goemon (2009) – along with roles in 13 Assassins (2010) and Ninja Kids!!! (2011) for Takashi Miike. The rest of the cast do a great job in playing their roles, most of whom seem to be having a lot of fun doing so, which also makes for a highly enjoyable watch.

​

As much as I love Zipang, it's only fair to say that it still has some minor flaws throughout. But it's certainly not the kind of flaws that are cause for concern. Instead, it would be more to do with the fact that this is still very much an independent production and only suffers from some overly ambitious ideas that may have succeeded with a bigger budget. Regardless, Kaizo Hayashi did an amazing job in providing a wonderfully entertaining piece, filled with some hugely memorable visuals, great comedy, and plenty of ninja action all wrapped up in a beautifully fantastical world. Here's hoping it reaches us on shiny-blue sometime soon!

​

Overall: Although it may have its flaws, Zipang never gets boring and proves to be a unique piece of Japanese cinema that deserves to be seen!

​

DVD Extras: Stills Gallery, Cast & Crew Bio's