Kenji Misumi

Directing

Kenji Misumi

Born — Died

1921-03-02 — 1975-09-24

Place of birth

Kyoto, Japan

Known for

Directing

Credits

40 titles

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Kenji Misumi (三隅 研次 Misumi Kenji) (2 March 1921, Kyoto, Japan - 24 September 1975) was a notable Japanese film director. He created films such as Lone Wolf and Cub and the initial film in the long-running Zatoichi (座頭市, Zatōichi) series. He died at age 53. Description above from the Wikipedia article Kenji Misumi, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia. ​

Known for

Behind the camera

The Ghost of Yotsuya poster
6.4

In one of Japan's most frequently-told ghost stories, a murdered wife returns in an act of vengeance.

The Ghost of Yotsuya

1959

Shogun Assassin poster
6.9

A Shogun who grew paranoid as he became senile sent his ninjas to kill his samurai. They failed but did kill the samurai’s wife. The samurai swore to avenge the death of his wife and roams the countryside with his toddler son in search of vengeance.

Shogun Assassin

1980

The Tale of Zatoichi poster
7.3

The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur and master swordsman. Zatoichi targets a yakuza-controlled village, because war with a neighbouring town's smaller gang is brewing.

The Tale of Zatoichi

1962

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades poster
7.1

Ogami Itto volunteers to be tortured by Yakuza in order to save a prostitute and is hired by their leader to kill an evil chamberlain.

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades

1972

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx poster
7.4

Ogami Itto battles a group of female ninja in the employ of the Yagyu clan and must eliminate a traitor who plans to sell his clan's secrets to the Shogunate.

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx

1972

Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance poster
7.4

Official Shogunate executioner Ogami Itto has been framed for disloyalty to the Shogunate by the Yagyu clan, against whom he now is waging a one-man war, along with his infant son, Daigoro.

Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance

1972

Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice poster
6.2

Fearless Edo-period police inspector Hanzo Itami, nicknamed The Razor, has developed his own unique way of extracting information for his inquiries. His first adventure sees him investigating his superior officer's mistress, whom he suspects of having ties with a reputed criminal on the loose.

Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice

1972

The Shadow That Kills the Moon poster
NR

By day, he is a young master whose beauty melts women’s hearts. By night, he is the elusive “White Hood.”

The Shadow That Kills the Moon

1955

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons poster
7.2

Ogami Itto is challenged by a quintet of warriors, each armed with one fifth of Ogami's assassin fee and one fifth of the information he needs to complete his assignment.

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons

1973

Sword Devil poster
6.3

Hanpei is a gentle young samurai that loves flowers. One day, he witnesses an old man's quick draw of the sword. He is so impressed that he becomes the old man's pupil. Soon, Hanpei's skill of sword comes to attention of his lord. The lord orders him to assassinate a man...

Sword Devil

1965

Buddha poster
10.0

An Indian prince leaves his world of comfort and riches behind to wander and meditate for six years in search of spiritual enlightenment. Siddartha (Cojoin Hong) turns his back on the old religion when people are starving needlessly and holy rituals include human sacrifices. During his meditations, he is tempted by erotic dancing women, demons, and the evil machinations of his criminal cousin. Devastate to attain the spiritual perfection and become the Buddha. He travels to convert followers by his kindness and wisdom, gaining a multitude of believers when he stops an elephant from crushing a local priest. Buddha of course goes on to become one of the great religious leaders of the world.

Buddha

1961

The Last Samurai poster
7.6

The film follows the story of Sugi Toranosuke, a ronin, who returns to his home town of Edo many years after his attempted suicide as a sickly child. Rescued and adopted by a master swordsman, he has grown into a master swordsman and a very kind gentleman. The time is around 1868 the year that the nails were finally put into the coffin containing the feudal system that nurtured and sustained the samurai. Sugi is confused and unsure about what is happening but his teacher wants him out of the chaos of the multiple power struggles between the various clans.

The Last Samurai

1974

The Last Samurai poster
7.6

The film follows the story of Sugi Toranosuke, a ronin, who returns to his home town of Edo many years after his attempted suicide as a sickly child. Rescued and adopted by a master swordsman, he has grown into a master swordsman and a very kind gentleman. The time is around 1868 the year that the nails were finally put into the coffin containing the feudal system that nurtured and sustained the samurai. Sugi is confused and unsure about what is happening but his teacher wants him out of the chaos of the multiple power struggles between the various clans.

The Last Samurai

1974

Return of Giant Majin poster
6.2

The tyrannical Lord Danjo Mikoshiba covets the rich, fertile lands surrounding Lake Yakumo. During a memorial ceremony for the late Chigusa lord, Mikoshiba launches an attack, overthrowing the honorable Lord Juro. Just when all seems lost, Daimajin rises from Lake Yakumo to settle a score of his own.

Return of Giant Majin

1966

Secret Letter of the Crescent Moon poster
NR

A beautiful swordswoman dressed as a man falls in love with the young lord who is her enemy.

Secret Letter of the Crescent Moon

—

Zatoichi Challenged poster
7.0

Ichi is staying at an inn when a woman dies. Her dying wish is that Ichi take her son to his father, an artist living in a nearby town. After arriving in the town, Ichi finds out that the father has been forced by a local boss to create illegal pornography to pay off his gambling debts. Ichi makes it his mission to save the man and reunite the family, even though it brings him into conflict with a samurai he sort of befriended on his way to the town.

Zatoichi Challenged

1967

Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival poster
6.8

The blind masseuse is targeted by the leader of a powerful yakuza group while also fending off a jealous husband bent on revenge. Zatoichi tours Edo's underground via a rousing onsen fight scene, gambling houses and the gender-bending character of Umeji, before a final, flame-filled conflagration.

Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival

1970

Gonpachi poster
NR

Early film directed by Kenji Misumi.

Gonpachi

1956

The Casebooks of Heiji Zenigata: Beautiful Spider poster
NR

Set in the Edo period, Zenigata Heiji is a policeman who catches criminals by throwing coins (zeni).

The Casebooks of Heiji Zenigata: Beautiful Spider

1960

Samaritan Zatoichi poster
6.8

Zatoichi is forced to kill a young man who owes a debt to a yakuza boss. Moments later, his sister Osode arrives with the money she earned (prostituting herself) to pay his debts. The bosses true motives are revealed and he attempts to steal Osode even though the debt is paid. Zatoichi realizes his grievous error and protects the girl from the gang. Osode and Zatoichi are caught in a dilemma as she must rely on her brother's killer for protection and Zatoichi wrestles with the injustice he has caused.

Samaritan Zatoichi

1968

Zatoichi and the Chess Expert poster
6.7

Zatoichi makes friends with a dangerous chess player, while fending off angry yakuza and bloodthirsty relatives out for revenge, and trying to save a sick child. Meanwhile, his luck with dice is turning.

Zatoichi and the Chess Expert

1965

Gambler and the Princess poster
7.0

Film directed by Kenji Misumi.

Gambler and the Princess

1959

Wearing a Long-Sleeved Kimono poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Wearing a Long-Sleeved Kimono

1958

Fight, Zatoichi, Fight poster
6.8

Blind swordsman/masseuse Zatoichi befriends a young woman returning home with her baby. When gangsters mistake her for Zatoichi and kill her, Zatoichi determines to escort the baby to its father. He gains the reluctant help of a young pick pocket and together they travel to find the baby's father. But they do not reckon on the father's reaction to their arrival, nor on their own growing feelings for the child.

Fight, Zatoichi, Fight

1964

The Funeral Racket poster
7.0

The film portrays a satirical view of today's heartless money-oriented society.

The Funeral Racket

1968

The Magoichi Saga poster
6.2

Lord Oda Nobunaga gains control of nearly all of Japan and tries to enlist the aid of Magoichi and his 3.000 gunners.

The Magoichi Saga

1969

Flowery Brothers poster
NR

Early film by Kenji Misumi.

Flowery Brothers

1956

Freelance Samurai poster
6.0

One of Japanese folklore's most popular characters is brought to life on the silver screen in this terrific version of legendary Demon slaying Peach Boy.

Freelance Samurai

1957

Ken poster
7.7

Kokubu, captain of his university's kendo team, is a mystery to those who know him: An ascetic dedicated to a point of obsession with the simplicity and beauty of the sword arts. Kagawa, a promising but arrogant kendo student, is attracted to Kokubu's devout leadership but kept at a distance by his standoffish nature. With the national championships fast approaching, the pair clash as Kokubu drives his students with increasingly rigorous training and Kagawa tests Kokubu's grip on the class.

Ken

1964

Dynamite Doctor poster
NR

Film by director Kenji Misumi

Dynamite Doctor

1966

Ōkuma Shigenobu the great poster
NR

The biopic of Shigenobu Ōkuma, one of the main Japanese leaders at the turn of the 20th century, a supporter of rapprochement with the United Kingdom, and who brought his country into the Triple Entente against the German Empire.

Ōkuma Shigenobu the great

1963

Satan's Sword poster
6.6

The Dai-bosatsu toge trilogy is based on Kaizan Nakazato's unfinished long series of novels (41 books, written from 1913 to 1941). Set in the last period of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Daibosatsu Toge tells the story of Ryunosuke Tsukue, a nihilistic swordmaster who doesn't hesitate to kill anyone, bad or good.

Satan's Sword

1960

The Angry Sword poster
NR

Story about a gambler who gets involved in a struggle between companies.

The Angry Sword

1970

Internal Sleuth poster
7.5

When 150 guns are stolen from Iwakuni base and two police officers are shot dead, a detective criminal tries to find out the truth.

Internal Sleuth

1973

Destiny's Son poster
6.8

In Edo-period Japan, Shingo is born the son of an assassin who was executed for murdering her lord’s concubine. Decades later, his adoptive family is massacred for keeping the secret. Armed with an unbeatable swordfighting technique, Shingo embarks on the path of the masterless samurai in search of vengeance and a path beyond his own ignominious origins.

Destiny's Son

1962

The Rust Cleaner Sings poster
NR

A passionate young man takes on a corrupt boss, determined to save innocent teachers and numerous orphans.

The Rust Cleaner Sings

1955

Sleepy Eyes of Death 5: Sword of Fire poster
6.3

Fifth film in the series. When Kyoshiro, in a moment of weakness, saves the life of a woman being attacked on the road, he quickly finds himself entangled in a conspiracy involving a corrupt chamberlain, a wily merchant, the survivors of a pirate gang, and a missing treasure trove.

Sleepy Eyes of Death 5: Sword of Fire

1965

Asataro the Crow poster
10.0

Early film directed by Kenji Misumi.

Asataro the Crow

1956

Obsessive Snake poster
6.0

Utaji heard that her ex-lover Seijirou would get married to Ochiyo a daughter of Ise-ya. She murdered Ochiyo and took over the Ise-ya's shop with Hikoroku a head clerk of Ise-ya. Moreover Utaji killed Hikoroku. But...

Obsessive Snake

1958

Ginji of the Seven Faces poster
NR

Yesterday a gentleman, today a student, tomorrow a stylish man in a casual kimono—Ginji, the pickpocket with seven faces, has his sights set on the gold watch of destiny. A tale of passion, love, human emotion, pistols, and thrills.

Ginji of the Seven Faces

1955