Ninja, a Band of Assassins (1962)

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. ... See full summary »

Director:

Satsuo Yamamoto

Writers:

Tomoyoshi Murayama (novel), Hajime Takaiwa

Stars:

Raizô Ichikawa, Shiho Fujimura, Yûnosuke Itô

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Raizô Ichikawa	...	Ishikawa Goemon
Shiho Fujimura	...	Maki
Yûnosuke Itô	...	Sandayû Momochi
Katsuhiko Kobayashi	...	Nobuo Oda
Tomisaburô Wakayama	...	Oda Nobunaga (as Jô Kenzaburô)
Yôko Uraji	...	Hinona
Reiko Fujiwara	...	Hata
Chitose Maki	...	Tamo
Kyôko Kishida	...	Inone
Takeshi Katô
Kô Nishimura	...	Kizaru
Yutaka Nakamura
Kuniichi Takami	...	Kôtarô
Toshio Chiba
Sônosuke Sawamura

Storyline

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. 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!

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Plot Keywords:

foreplay | ninja | ichikawa goemon | jidai geki | well | 

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Genres:

Action | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

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".

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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... ...

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Connections

Followed by Shinobi No Mono 4: Siege (1964)

User Reviews

Ninjas torturing Ninjas

It's Japan in 1575. Warlord Tomisaburô Wakayama is assassinating the Emperor's family, killing daimyo and buying Portugese guns to take over Japan. Meanwhile, rising young ninja Raizô Ichikawa is seduced by the wife of his master. The affair is discovered and she is killed. His master, Yûnosuke Itô, orders him to go become a thief -- which is very dishonorable for a ninja -- and pass most of the money on to his handler. Eventually, he will be called on to assassinate Wakayama, but first he must hesitate like Hamlet for three quarters of the movie, fall in love -- which is also a ninja no-no -- with Shiho Fujimura, and have Itô torment him with his superior ninjitsu.

It's a very roundabout, tail-biting plot. I can't figure out why Itô doesn't do it himself, except for the sheer joy of making Ichikawa miserable. Of course, there are wheels within wheels in this 100-minute exhibition of movie ninjitsu backflips, elaborate poisonings and shuriken-tossing, as Ichikawa would rather go off with Miss Fujimura and be happy.

I suppose there's something in the Japanese movie-goer's psyche that gives him pleasure in the perception that handsome, super-powered Ichikawa can't be happy either. It's all very cinematic, and Roald Dahl stole bits and pieces for the James Bond movies.

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

1 December 1962 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Ninja 1

Company Credits

Production Co:

Daiei Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1