Kinji Fukasaku’s Shogun’s Samurai Getting A 4K Upgrade

We do enjoy an epic samurai thriller and Eureka Entertainment have one coming in November. Kinji Fukasaku’s unflinching Shogun’s Samurai, releasing on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from a stunning 4K restoration as part of The Masters of Cinema Series.

Shogun’s Samurai  (also known as The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy)  is one of Kinji Fukasaku’s most revered forays into the chanbara or samurai genre: a twisting tale of political intrigue and bloody betrayal starring Kinnosuke Yorozuya (The Fall of Ako Castle), Hiroki Matsukata (Battles Without Honor and Humanity) and the incomparable Shinichi “Sonny” Chiba (The Street Fighter) in its lead roles.

During the Edo period, shogun Hidetada Tokugawa is killed, poisoned by an unknown assailant. In the aftermath of his death, a vicious power struggle breaks out between his two sons Tadanaga (Teruhiko Saigo) and Iemitsu (Matsukata), who is suspected of having arranged his father’s murder. As the conflict between the two brothers intensifies and their father’s former allies are forced to choose sides, samurai Munenori Yagyu (Yorozuya) and his own sons Jubei (Chiba) and Munefuyu (Kentaro Kudo) become embroiled in the conflict until it reaches its bitter end.

Featuring Chiba’s first portrayal of the legendary samurai Jubei Mitsuyoshi Yagyu (a character he would later return to in Fukasaku’s Samurai Reincarnation), Shogun’s Samurai stands with The Fall of Ako Castle as one of its director’s finest and most accomplished samurai epics.

A new Trailer has been released by Eureka Entertainment for promoting the release.

“The film is epic in every way imaginable, with beautiful cinematography and incredible battle sequences” – DVD Talk

LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES:
Limited edition of 2,000 copies | Limited O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by John Dunn strictly exclusive to this edition only | Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by on the film by Jonathan Clements | 1080p HD presentation from a 4K restoration by Toei | Uncompressed original Japanese mono audio | Optional English subtitles, newly revised for this release | New video essay by Japanese cinema expect Joe Hickinbottom | New interview with East Asian film expert Tony Rayns | Original theatrical trailer | * All extras subject to change

JAPAN |1978 |15 | 130 MINS | 2.35:1 OAR | ACTION/MARTIAL ARTS (CHANBARA) | JAPANESE

Shogun’s Samurai will be released as part The Masters Of Cinema range on 4K Blu-ray from  17th November.