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Series · 1962–1987Ended

The Samurai

10.0·10 seasons·128 episodes·24 min avg.·Japan

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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01
OVA
OVAUp next
Nov 1, 1987

Shintarō saves a young Ainu wrongly accused of murder, relying on his wits and his pistol.

02
Duel at Kiritap
Duel at Kiritap
Oct 14, 1962

Shintarō captures an escaped thief and takes him to the town of Kiritap to be held until Kiba arrives. However, the villagers' greed allows the thief to free himself and kill one of them and hold another to ransom.

03
Sword Storm
Sword Storm
Oct 21, 1962

Shintarō comes upon a woman and her young son who are being terrorised by a loan-shark and his offsider, a disreputable but skilled swordsman.

04
Revenge of the Ainus
Revenge of the Ainus
Oct 28, 1962

A group of Ainu take a wagon carrying gold from the goldmine on the Shibuchari River in revenge for the death of the son of one of them caused by two of the guards.

05
Imitation Prince
Imitation Prince
Nov 4, 1962

A shipwrecked rōnin impersonates Matsudaira Nobuchiyo at the instigation of a smuggler of guns so he can get them to the Ainu who has purchased them.

06
Sudden Death
Sudden Death
Nov 11, 1962

Shintarō helps a young boy find his mother who was taken by Onibishi, an Ainu chief. Kiba persuades Onibishi to set a trap for Shintarō.

07
Ambush at Hell Valley
Ambush at Hell Valley
Nov 18, 1962

Shintarō, Sanpei and the refugee Ainu women continue on their way to Kunashiri Island. Sanpei mistakenly thinks Shintarō is really after Ainu treasure. Kiba and Onibisho are following them and try to ambush them at Hell Valley.

08
Outlaw Brothers
Outlaw Brothers
Nov 25, 1962

Goromatsu's two outlaw brothers break him out of Shiranuka Gaol where he is awaiting transfer to Matsumae. He vows to kill Kiba and enlists their help.

09
Blind Swordsman
Blind Swordsman
Dec 2, 1962

Shintarō encounters Tendō Sawanosuke, a blind rōnin and his young daughter who are being harassed by Hidaya's bullies. Sawanosuke is well able to defeat them and Hidaya hires him to kill Shintarō because he has a deed of his. He wants to get Shintarō before Kiba does.

10
Pirate Treasure
Pirate Treasure
Dec 9, 1962

Habaro a young part-Japanese Ainu hunter is persuaded by an ambitious gang leader to kill his boss so he can take over but is shot in turn. Shintarō is accused of the murders but has help from an old friend, a geisha he knew in Edo.

11
Master of the Sword
Master of the Sword
Dec 16, 1962

Shintarō helps a brother and sister from Aizu take revenge on the man who killed their father who is now using another name and is the sword instructor for the Matsumae Clan. Kiba plays something of a double game.

12
Return of the Outlaw
Return of the Outlaw
Dec 23, 1962

Chusuke the Weasel returns to Usu seeking Yaichi, the man who put him in gaol. None of the villagers will stand by Yaichi. They think he should leave town and then maybe Chusuke won't bother them. Yaichi's son worships him and Yaichi fears to disappoint him because deep down he is afraid.

13
Code of the Samurai
Code of the Samurai
Dec 30, 1962

Matsumae government convoys and samurai have been attacked by a man in white who claims to the onmitsu. Shintarō resolves to unmask the impostor and clear his own name. He calls on Kiba to witness this. Kiba does so but still wants him dead to fulfil his mission.

Cast

2 credited
SA
Shintaro Akikusa
Kôichi Ôse
Koichi Ose
Shintaro

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