Shogun's Samurai

Shogun's Samurai
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Kinji Fukasaku
Written by	Kinji Fukasaku Tatsuo Nogami Hirō Matsuda
Starring	Kinnosuke Yorozuya Shinichi Chiba Hiroki Matsukata
Cinematography	Norimichi Ikawa
Music by	Toshiaki Tsushima
Production company	Toei Company
Distributed by	Toei Company
Release date	January 21, 1978 (1978-01-21)
Running time	130 minutes
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese

Shogun's Samurai, known in Japan as The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy (Japanese: 柳生一族の陰謀, Hepburn: Yagyū Ichizoku no Inbō), is a 1978 Japanese historical martial arts period film directed and co-written by Kinji Fukasaku.^[1] The film is the first of two unrelated Fukasaku films to star Shinichi "Sonny" Chiba as Jūbei Mitsuyoshi Yagyū, the other being Samurai Reincarnation.

The film was adapted into a 39-episode TV series, The Yagyu Conspiracy (1978–1979), and two TV film remakes were released in 2008 and 2020.

^[2] In 1624, shogun Tokugawa Hidetada died suddenly. His taster kills himself, leading to a suspicion of poisoning. Hidetada's first son, Iemitsu, was heir but his father, disliking his lage facial birthmark and stammer, favoured his popular second son, Tadanaga. Hidetada's widow influenced ministers such as Lord Owari and Chief Chamberlain Doi, to back Tadanaga; Chamberlain Matsudaira and Lady Kasuga, leader of the harem, back Iemitsu. Scheming nobles Sanjo Saneeda and Ayamaro Karasumasu see an opportunity to overthrow the shogunate.

Ninjas hired by Doi remove Hidetada's heart to test for poison, but lose it to a group including Akane, daughter of Yagyu, Iemitsu's fencing instructor. Yagyu determines Hidetada was poisoned and confronts Kasuga and Matsudaira who admit it, telling the innocent Iemitsu it was necessary to ensure his succession. Yagyu summons his son, Jubei, who lived with the Negoro.

Hayate and Mon become Negoro clan fighters seeking their Yamato Province lands, lost 20 years earlier. Their leader, Sagenta, agrees to Yagyu's appeal for help, sensing an opportunity; Jubei arrives as they kill Doi's Koga ninja spies.

Doi tells Tadanaga his father was poisoned by Iemitsu's retainers; they deny it and Iemitsu forbids a post mortem or any discussion. Tadanaga invites his mother to live with him. Yagyu promises the Negoro their land for their promised help, asking if Mon will work for him.

Doi resigns to side with Tadanaga. Iemitsu makes Matsudaira Chief Chamberlain and Yagyu Inspector General and prepares to fight his brother. The court block Iemitsu's succession, hoping uncommitted lords will restore imperial power. Tadanaga refuses Iemitsu's offer of land if he withdraws and dismisses his mistress, Okuni, as he mobilises. Bekki Shōzaemon, his commander, drives off the Negoro, despite their false friendliness. Doi secures Lord Date's support for Tadanaga and recruits fighter Ogasawara Genshinsai who offers help in exchange for becoming fencing instructor and vows to kill Yagyu. As ronin gather in support, Doi promises to recruit other lords.

The Yagyu siblings with some Negoro ambush Doi's party, but Karasumasu kills Samon, one of Yagyu's sons; they retreat when reinforcements arrive. Yagyu sends Mon to Kasuga's harem to guard Iemitsu. Genshinsai challenges Yagyu, but he declines as the fencing instructor. When Genshinsai draws his sword, Jubei cuts off his left hand through the wall; Genshinsai wounds him back and escapes. Genshinsai persuades his old swordfighting apprentice Yukinojo, who performs kabuki, to dress as a handmaiden and attack Iemitsu. Mon intervenes, becoming injured; Yagyu kills Yukinojo and Hayate brings her medicine.

The Yagyu siblings and Negoro attack Doi's party again; he, Akane and Segenta are killed. Yagyu sends Jubei to intimidate the nobles and he kills Karasumasu. The frightened nobles abandon their plot and Saneeda visits Yagyu to deny it. Iemitsu consequently sets off with Saneeda for Kyoto, while Tadanaga, informed, tries to reach the emperor first. The ronin supporting Tadanaga are persuaded by the Negoro with rumours and guns to attack Iemitsu en route, but they are cut down en masse by concealed riflemen. It is a trick by Yagyu. Imperial envoy Saneeda is killed by a ronin; Yagyu kills any surviving ronin to hide his role. Tadanaga realizes he will be blamed and turns back.

Previously supportive lords abandon Tadanaga due to the envoy's killing and Iemitsu orders Lord Ando to occupy Tadanaga's Sunpu Castle. Tadanaga surrenders to avoid bloodshed, but Shōzaemon refuses, charges and is killed. Tadanaga is exiled to Takasaki. Jubei abandons his father and becomes a ronin. Genshinsai challenges Yagyu again but is killed.

Okuni visits Lord Owari at Nagoya Castle to dance, accompanied by the blinded Sanza, who denounces Yagyu's trick attack. To forestall an inquiry, Iemitsu orders via Yagyu that Tadanaga performs seppuku. Sanza kills Okuni at her request. To cover his tracks, Yagju has the Negoro massacred. Yubei finds the bodies, including his children. Survivors Hayate and Mon tell him the attack was led by Yagyu's men.

Iemitsu becomes shogun, tells his dead father he has no regrets and reassures Yagyu that his Yagyu Shikage school will continue. Jubei arrives and beheads Iemitsu, then severs Yagyu's right hand. Yagyu wanders away holding the head and telling the panicked court that "It's all a dream".

In May 2022, Discotek Media announced they licensed the film in North America under their new Nihon Nights imprint.^[3] They released it on Blu-ray on September 27, 2022 as Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy.

The film received five Japan Academy Prize nominations, including best actor (Kinnosuke Yorozuya), best art direction (Norimichi Ikawa), best film, best screenplay (Kinji Fukasaku, Tatsuo Nogami, Hirō Matsuda), and best supporting actor (Shinichi Chiba).^[4]

The film was adapted into a teleplay called The Yagyu Conspiracy which was broadcast by Kansai Telecasting Corporation for 39 one-hour TV episodes from 1978 to 1979.^[5] A TV movie remake starring Takaya Kamikawa as Jūbei and Hiroki Matsukata as Munenori aired on TV Asahi on September 28, 2008. A second TV movie remake starring Kōtarō Yoshida as Munenori and Junpei Mizobata as Jūbei aired on NHK BS Premium on April 11, 2020.^[6]

• Shogun's Samurai at IMDb
• Trailer for Shogun's Samurai on YouTube