A young man trains for revenge against a murderous shogun in Norifumi Suzuki’s entertaining but convoluted ninja film mishmash, Shogun’s Ninja. The 1980 film is now on Blu-ray from Arrow Video.
The Film
Spanning a dozen or so years in late 1500s Japan, Shogun’s Ninja is a far-reaching tale of a young man losing everything and rebuilding toward revenge, along with a whole butt-ton of other plotting. Warlord Hideyoshi wants to gain more money and power (because having some is never enough) and decides to eliminate the Momochi clan and seize their gold, which is hidden in a map on a McGuffin sword. He sends the titular character, Shiranui Shogen, as played by Sonny Chiba, to wipe them out. Only Takamuru survives as a child, flees to China, and returns 10 years later to gain his training and revenge. Played by Hiroyuki Sanada, he’s driven to get what he needs.
Written by Fumio Konami and Ichiro Otsu, Shogun’s Ninja is a slightly strange film. My main takeaway while watching was the tonal oddities. There’s dark stuff: the Shogun’s army outright murdering women and children, death and depravity; people boiled alive, nasty murders. But also using wuxia wire fu, the cheesiness of Wu-tang movies at times, and a bouncy “goofy cops in Halloween 5” soundtrack, along with very out-of-place pop-punk tunes. It made it hard to connect with the tone. It’s also often a straight comedy and has big action sequences. So many of them, thankfully. A bit off all over the place. These are a bit overlong, with several side plots that don’t go too far, clocking in at 1h55. But I get why they are there for the heart; there’s the basic train-for-revenge flick mixed with a guerrilla war film, but a whole lot of other stuff going on. Heck, Hattori Hanzo is running about.
But within that same old are some amazing fight sequences. Choreographed by Sonny Chiba, they vary in power and largeness. In the rain, in canyons, one-on-ones, one-on-nine- what a great setup. Director Norifumi Suzuki, who made Wandering Ginza Butterfly, keeps things moving with great energy. As I noted, there’s a ton going on all over the place. It’s big and fun, with everything one can think of. Training by white-haired old dudes? Check. All sorts of other ninjas as they spider-walk up and around trees, and also exist as Robin Hood figures?. Oh yeah. A few women to gain his attention and fight as well. One is Etsuko Shihomi from Sister Street Fighter and from Sonny Chiba’s Japan Action Club, as is our hero. She kicks ass. Lots of ass-kicking all around. There’s a solid amount of the drama of Takamaru’s drive and his various conflicts with Chiba before coming to the conclusion.
Based on history (but rewritten for story purposes), Shogun’s Ninja is a mostly engaging film, often on the back of Hiroyuki Sanada. Sanada makes a solid hero here in his first lead role (with the second, Roaring Fire, getting a release and review next week. That ALSO features Sonny Chiba, who was Sanada’s mentor). After some child acting and the start of a small musical career (he sings the title song here!), this marked the start of his leading roles. Looking at him here or seeing the name might not click, but you know him. Emmy winner in Shogun, Scorpion in the new Mortal Kombat films, John Wick 4, The Wolverine, Last Samurai. Oh yeah, HIM, you say now. Of course he fights in those stories, but here, in Roaring Fire, he gets to show off true skills that are tempered by Hollywood productions. In his prime, and as a graduate of Chiba’s Japan Action Club, he shows off incredible moves and speed. He has a very kinetic style, comedic flair, and body control. He’s not unlike Jackie Chan, and that was wholly on purpose, especially in Raging Fire (more on that review). Not to mention he’s charismatic as hell.
Shogun’s Ninja is in some ways an unwieldy mess. But it’s highly entertaining and works best if you just let it flow as a Sonny Chiba-designed film of a ton of sequences kinda held together by the plot.
The Packaging
Arrow presents Shogun’s Ninja on a single-disc Blu-ray. The disc image is the new art. It has a reversible sleeve with the original artwork on one side and new art by Chris Skinner on the other. The new art is on the O-sleeve and in the bound booklet inside.
The Presentation
The Blu-ray looks solid but not exceptional. Perhaps the source isn’t the best, and Arrow did as they could. Not washed out or lost, just a little fuzzy and varies across the film, depending on the setting and action. In Japanese mono or English-dubbed mono. With English subtitles.
The Features
Arrow keeps Shogun’s Ninja light.
Commentary
Asian film expert Chris Poggiali gives a solid, incredibly informative commentary. He has volumes of information about everyone involved, the world around the film, the real history, and just a great track. Weirdly, he doesn’t really talk about the plot or any actual filmmaking details. But as I noted, it’s a bit rote when it’s not distracting itself, so there isn’t much to go on. 
The Rebirth of Japanese Action Cinema
Japanese cinema expert Clement Rauger, who is also on the Roaring Fire disc, gives fantastic context in an entertaining discussion of how Japanese cinema was changing at the time. The serious dramas were sliding out of fashion in favor of more poppy work, influenced by Hong Kong cinema and the increase in the amount of TV in Japanese households, thus needing more draw in movies. Quite a lot to cover in 25 minutes. In French, with English subtitles.
Booklet
A bound 24-page booklet is included. With the normals plus the following extras: The Double Agents of Shogun’s Ninja by Earl Jackson. Jackson writes a wide-ranging piece of the historical setting, the shift in Japanese filmmaking at the time, and the dualites within the film.
Final Thoughts
Shogun’s Ninja will appeal to martial arts fans, especially for those who love Sonny Chiba (but who doesn’t?). It’s a bit of a mess but has a lot to offer, despite the issues in the storytelling. Chiba’s fight sequences are very well put together and have a go-for-it-all energy. The disc looks good, but not great, with very good commentary and additional features. Shogun’s Ninja is now on Blu-ray from Arrow Video.