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IMDbPro

Ninja, a Band of Assassins

Original title: Shinobi no mono
  • 19621962
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
882
YOUR RATING
Ninja, a Band of Assassins (1962)
  • Action
  • Drama
Ishikawa Goemon (Ichikawa Raizo), a talented young ninja, becomes ensnared in a twisted scheme to assassinate Oda Nobunaga, an evil warlord bent on ruling feudal Japan with an iron fist. Dec... Read allIshikawa Goemon (Ichikawa Raizo), a talented young ninja, becomes ensnared in a twisted scheme to assassinate Oda Nobunaga, an evil warlord bent on ruling feudal Japan with an iron fist. Deceit, treachery, and entire gangs of enemy ninja lurk around every corner as Goemon travels... Read allIshikawa Goemon (Ichikawa Raizo), a talented young ninja, becomes ensnared in a twisted scheme to assassinate Oda Nobunaga, an evil warlord bent on ruling feudal Japan with an iron fist. Deceit, treachery, and entire gangs of enemy ninja lurk around every corner as Goemon travels the countryside to complete his task, win back his honor, and save his skin!
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
882
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Satsuo Yamamoto
  • Writers
    • Tomoyoshi Murayama(novel)
    • Hajime Takaiwa
  • Stars
    • Raizô Ichikawa
    • Shiho Fujimura
    • Yûnosuke Itô
Top credits
  • Director
    • Satsuo Yamamoto
  • Writers
    • Tomoyoshi Murayama(novel)
    • Hajime Takaiwa
  • Stars
    • Raizô Ichikawa
    • Shiho Fujimura
    • Yûnosuke Itô
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 11User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins

    Photos6

    Ninja, a Band of Assassins (1962)
    Raizô Ichikawa in Ninja, a Band of Assassins (1962)
    Ninja, a Band of Assassins (1962)
    Raizô Ichikawa in Ninja, a Band of Assassins (1962)
    Tomisaburô Wakayama in Ninja, a Band of Assassins (1962)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Raizô Ichikawa
    Raizô Ichikawa
    • Ishikawa Goemonas Ishikawa Goemon
    Shiho Fujimura
    Shiho Fujimura
    • Makias Maki
    Yûnosuke Itô
    Yûnosuke Itô
    • Sandayû Momochias Sandayû Momochi
    Katsuhiko Kobayashi
    • Nobuo Odaas Nobuo Oda
    Tomisaburô Wakayama
    Tomisaburô Wakayama
    • Oda Nobunagaas Oda Nobunaga
    • (as Jô Kenzaburô)
    Yôko Uraji
    • Hinonaas Hinona
    Reiko Fujiwara
    Reiko Fujiwara
    • Hataas Hata
    Chitose Maki
    • Tamoas Tamo
    Kyôko Kishida
    Kyôko Kishida
    • Inoneas Inone
    Takeshi Katô
    Takeshi Katô
    Kô Nishimura
    Kô Nishimura
    • Kizaruas Kizaru
    Yutaka Nakamura
    Yutaka Nakamura
    Kuniichi Takami
    • Kôtarôas Kôtarô
    Toshio Chiba
    Sônosuke Sawamura
    Sônosuke Sawamura
    Yoshi Katô
    Yoshi Katô
    Kôichi Mizuhara
    Kôichi Mizuhara
    Shintarô Nanjô
    • Director
      • Satsuo Yamamoto
    • Writers
      • Tomoyoshi Murayama(novel)
      • Hajime Takaiwa
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This movie was seen in Japan in 1963 by author Roald Dahl, from which he got several ideas for the writing of the screenplay to the James Bond movie You Only Live Twice (1967). The scene where Goemon attempts to assassinate Nobunaga with poison was referred to in "You Only Live Twice" and "Grosse Pointe Blank". Several scenes shows Nobunaga petting his cats. This is also done by the villain Blofeld in "You Only Live Twice".
    • Quotes

      Kotaro: Goemon, what does a ninja live for?

      [Continues]

      Kotaro: Starting as a innocent toddler, he must endure hard training in ninjutsu... then he's sent to serve some warlord in the east or some daimyo in the west... and does so knowing that his life is always at risk. If he is captured, he must endure exquisite tortures, and yet not divulge the truth. Rather than disclose his name, he will intently seek death instead. When escape is no longer possible...

      Ishikawa Goemon: [Goemon continues] "He will burn his face with fire... and if fire be not at hand, he will disfigure his face with his sword... and thus, no one will ever know his true identity... He was born in darkness and he will die in darkness... This is the path of the ninja's life, it is the path of death".

    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Movie Ninjas (2014)

    User reviews11

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A Nutshell Review: The Ninjas
    I suppose many of us would have loved the romanticism associated with ninjas, with their famed skills of invisibility, swordsmanship, cunning and a whole host of weaponry and gadgets that add to their element of surprise. If you'd think you know a lot of their modus operandi, then perhaps The Ninjas, aka Shinobi No Mono, would contribute to that wealth of knowledge, and at the same time dispel some of the myths and stories that add to the stature of these masked assassins.

    If you'd wonder what a ninja does when out of his mask, then the film would have painted a rather mundane picture of the practicing ninjas, who hone their skills in enclaves, and frankly look no more like your usual Samurais, except sans status, and honing their skills ala rebels in hiding at their fortified base, and being skilled assassins for hire to Samurais who need someone to do their dirty work for them (yes, even back then you can outsource your dirty laundry), as they themselves are bounded by the honor code of bushido.

    The movie doesn't waste time in building up a proper background, but throws you thick into the action. With characters loosely adapted from history, you have Oda Nobunaga, a ruthless warlord on rampaging victories across Japan in an effort to unify the country. Needless to say such aggression doesn't sit well with the able bodied, and 2 clans of ninjas are pitted against each other to see who can carry out a successful mission to stop the warlord. The story centers upon Goemon (Raizo Ichikawa), an up and coming, though ambitious and impatient ninja, who is recognized and granted a promotion (to the back office, away from the battlefield, as an accountant!) but in a moment of lustful folly, becomes the pawn of his master Sandayu (Yunosuke Ito), pledging his life to his master's bidding.

    So begins Goemon's mission, which includes a ruining of his reputation, and committing acts which defy even the ninja's code of conduct (yes there is one!). In fact, we learn and observe many rules and regulations of ninja-dom, what with the need to disfigure oneself prior to death, and how torture must be endured and death always an option. All these get interpreted through Goemon's ultimate shame in living with his guilt, up until he meets a prostitute called Maki (Shiho Fujimura), who gives him new cause to live, setting the stage for the truth of his double-headed master to be revealed.

    Shinobi No Mono was credited as the first film to popularize the ninja series of films, and had relatively low key special effects, decided to root itself in more realistic elements, rather than have things like tunnelling through sand dunes, and blink and you miss puffing of smoke. Secret passages, booby traps, poison and darts still remain staple, but don't expect any fancy swordplay as targets get dispatched rather quickly. If you're looking for a climatic ending, then you'll likely be sorely disappointed, as everything goes into a big shebang, lacking in any mano-a-mano opportunities.

    That said, this film is still rather enjoyable for its shedding of light on these mysterious group who operate in the shadows, and it's not always they have to dress up in black for their operations. It'll look rather dated, but somewhat a refreshing change from current films in its presentation sans the easy way out using tons of computer aided imagery.
    helpful•8
    4
    • DICK STEEL
    • Sep 17, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 1, 1962 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Ninja 1
    • Production company
      • Daiei Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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