The Samurai (1962)
The Samurai is a Japanese historical fiction television series made by Senkosha Productions during the early 1960s. Its original Japanese title was Onmitsu Kenshi. The series premiered in 1962 on TBS and ran continuously until 1965 for ten self-contained story arcs, usually of 13 episodes each. Also created were two black-and-white feature films by Toei Company, made in 1964 by the same crew which has created the TV series, and a stage show. The Samurai proved to be highly successful despite its initially very limited budget. It was the first Japanese TV program ever screened in Australia, where it premiered in 1964 and built up a remarkably large fan-base among the local young audience at the time, rapidly becoming a cult favourite. Despite its massive popularity in Australia as well as success in Japan, New Zealand and the Philippines, the series was not widely screened elsewhere and its fame remains largely restricted to those countries.
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Episode 1 - Secret Mission to Kyoto
Release Date: 1963-04-07Sadanobu summons some close associates to tell them of his mission to Kyoto, ostensibly to oversee the rebuilding of the Imperial palace destroyed in a fire some months before but actually to root out a conspiracy against the shogunate as Lord Owari has offered to rebuilt the palace at his own expense, thus curry favour with the emperor. Plus there are documents which reveal just how vulnerable the shogunate is. High Priest Donkai asks Shintarō to defend Sadanobu on his journey but Shintarō refuses, having renounced the sword and gone fishing because of all the killing he had to do with the Kōga ninja and Takeda Shingen's treasure.
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Episode 2 - Rocket Attack
Release Date: 1963-04-14At Totsuka, the 6th station of the 53 on the Tokaido, Momochi Genkurō and his 10 master ninja, from the Manji Valley, who have been hired by Lord Owari to assassinate Sadanobu, plan to attack his caravan with a rocket packed with gunpowder, and fired by their best archer Koheita.
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Episode 3 - The Bribe
Release Date: 1963-04-21At Fujisawa, the 7th station, Gensai, one of the Iga group, bribes a maid at the inn Sadanobu is staying at, to put sleeping powder in the well. She immediately repents of her action and is saved by Shintarō, who cuts off Gensai's arm in a duel.
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Episode 4 - Betrayed by a Ninja
Release Date: 1963-04-28Discontented with Tonbei's leadership, Sanosuke is forced into working for Genkurō, to lure Shintarō into a trap with a false message from Sadanobu who is staying at Odawara Castle, Odawara being the 10th station.
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Episode 5 - Spy's Revenge
Release Date: 1963-05-05Okayo, the ninja sister of Koheita, the archer, assumes the guise of an innocent traveller who has had her papers stolen but needs to get through the checkpoint at Hakone, the 11th station to visit her sick mother. Shintarō helps her but Tonbei and Sanosuke, who is trying to redeem himself are suspicious.
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Episode 6 - Poison Blade
Release Date: 1963-05-12At Yoshiwara, the 15th station, Genkurō challenges Shintarō to a duel. Okayo is his guide, so she can watch him be destroyed. The plan is that Tonbei's Iga ninja will also follow Shintarō to see if they can help leaving Sadanobu unguarded. Both Shintarō and Genkurō are wounded but Genkurō's sword had poison on it. However, Okayo gives Shintarō the antidote.
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Episode 7 - The Face-Stealer
Release Date: 1963-05-19Ninja Toma the Face-stealer impersonates Tonbei and lures Shintarō to the Utsunoya Pass, near the 22nd station, and pushes him over a cliff, then goes back to Fuchū, the 20th station (now Shizuoka City), to eliminate Sadanobu's ninja guard. Meantime, the real Tonbei is captive in a hut watched over by Okayo, who is torn by appeals to her humanity by remembrances of Shintaro and by Tonbei's pleas to free him so he can try to save Sadanobu. She draws a knife to free him and says she will pray for the souls of Shintarō and Koheita just as Toma returns who kills her as a traitor.
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Episode 8 - Mysterious Pilgrims
Release Date: 1963-05-26The Tokaido divides at Kakegawa, the 27th station, into two parallel roads. Genkurō is not sure which one Sadanobu will take but becomes suspicious when a box of pilgrims' clothes is found at the inn Sadanobu's party is staying at. Gensai suggests they attack both roads. They think they have found Sadanobu disguised as a komusō (itinerant flute-playing priest), having found a group of pilgrims to be what just that. But all is not what it seems.
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Episode 9 - Hide and Seek Death
Release Date: 1963-06-02At Miya, the 42nd station, Sadanobu is to take ship to reach his next destination, Kuwana, the 43rd station. Genkurō cannot attack him where he is as they are in Lord Owari's territory. However, he plans to load gunpowder into Sadanobu's boat to destroy him on the sea.
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Episode 10 - Dongan the Master Ninja
Release Date: 1963-06-09Genkuro and his remaining ninja go to Onime Dōgan, an ancient master ninja who has 4 pupils, to ask his help, as do Shintarō and Tonbei. Dōgan refuses both groups, not wanting to become involved.
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Episode 11 - Stolen Case
Release Date: 1963-06-16Suiki, one of Dōgan's pupils is persuaded to join Genkurō. Genkurō kills him and uses a stolen case to incriminate Shintarō. Suiki was actually Dōgan's only grandson and the old man swears vengeance. When he discovers the truth, he sends the remaining three pupils with Shintarō. Sadanobu is at nearby Kameyama, the 47th station.
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Episode 12 - Wolf Ninja
Release Date: 1963-06-23At Minakuchi, the 51st station, 40 miles from Kyoto and Gensai's home town, Genkurō's group is joined by Wolf Ninja who fight as a pack. Gensai uses his local knowledge to infiltrate the castle where Sadanobu is staying and put sleeping powder in the well. However, his thirst for revenge against Shintarō for cutting off his arm gets the better of him and he hunts him down instead of returning to Genkurō. He is apparently killed.
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Episode 13 - The Last Duel
Release Date: 1963-06-30Otsu, just 10 miles from Kyoto, is Genkurō's last chance to kill Sadanobu.. The councillor is persuaded to hide in the inn's warehouse while Shintarō takes his place in his room. However, Genkurō is aware of the trick and captures Sadanobu and takes him to a boat, rows him off shore and offers him a choice of being killed or committing suicide. However, the other ninja in the boat turns out to be Shintarō who attacks Genkurō, they duel and Genkurō, mortally wounded by Shintarō's sword thrown into his back, kills himself. Sadanobu reaches Kyoto in safety and Tonbei offers to pray for those of his Iga gorup who were killed and Shintarō suggests they also pray for Genkurō and his group.