Shogun's Ninja - Blu-ray Review

[Michael Scott]

Shogun's Ninja



Movie:
Video:
Audio:
Extras:
Final Score:




AV NIRVANA is member and reader-supported. When you purchase an item using our links, we might earn an affiliate commission. ​

Movie
Back in the late 70s and early 80s, the Japanese studios were desperate to have another hit, another superstar, as cinema tickets had been dwindling since the early 60s. TV was cannibalizing those sweet sweet theater profits, and the 60s and 70s were a hodgepodge of experimental ideas for the major studios. Several, like Shintoho, didn’t survive the doldrums, while several of the others barely avoided bankruptcy as is. Switching away from the age-old samurai films, the powers that be aimed for more modern films, hybridizing early 80s J-Pop with tales of Ninjas and hidden assassins. The samurai were traded in for the silent killers that were the old villains of previous films. And it actually worked to a certain degree. The 80s and VERY early 90s were the time of the Ninja, complete with several very powerful superstars arising from that time period. We of course know of Sho Kosugi, but a young man by the name of Hiroyuki Sanada was hand-picked by Toei to star in Shogun’s Ninja, which was effectively a revenge drama specifically catered to young Sanada in hopes of making him a superstar. A move which worked in ways they never imagined, as the legendary martial arts actor would become one of the biggest Japanese crossover actors of all time, starring in everything from classic Japanese cinema to huge Hollywood hits like The Last Samurai, and even the latest two Mortal Kombat iterations.

As I said, Shogun’s Ninja is your typical revenge story, told from the point of view of an orphaned member of the local royalty. Sonny Chiba co-stars as the villain Shiranui Shogen, a monster who wipes out the Momochi clan through treachery and his ninjas. But before she took her own life, the matriarch of the Momochi clan sends her only son, Takamatsu (Sanada), into hiding in Japan. There he is safe from Shogen, but also free to grow up and enact his revenge when the time is right. After spending a lifetime practicing the Chinese martial arts, Takamatsu returns to Japan, where he is intent on reclaiming his birthright. But little does he know, the family dagger that he was told would be his legacy is not only a symbol of his rank and title, but also a hidden map to a secret treasure that was the reason for Shogen’s betrayal in the first place a decade earlier.

Shogun’s Ninja is a gonzo ride of old and new, blending classic period piece martial arts tropes with modernized musical scores and a bit of melodrama. Sanada is great as the returning royal son, acting a bit stiff for the time period, but still showcases some amazing martial arts prowess. As a martial arts practitioner myself, it was fun to see him blend classic Japanese Karate with Chinese martial arts in his fights. And Sonny Chiba still proves he has some gas left in the tank as he was getting a bit long in the tooth at the time.

There are some pace changes in the center half, with Ninagawa as Otsu taking up the romantic interest for Takamatsu, adding in some syrupy melodrama and angst, while the fights pick up in the 3rd act as Takamatsu and Shogen finally have their inevitable confrontation. Is the film one of the better Ninja movies from the 80s? Nah, in fact it’s arguably rather mid. The action is fun, but still feels sluggish and lagging on the heels of the older 60s and 70s choreography (Sonny Chiba doubled as the villain and fight choreographer), and has a bit TOO much angst in it for my tastes. But Sanada is the highlight of the film, and the bent towards the mysterious Ninja still harbors a soft spot in my heart, as was that kid who grew up idolizing the Ninja flicks of the 80s and 90s.




Rating:

Not Rated by the MPAA




Video:

This is another one of the “Non-Arrow remasters” that was simply provided TO Arrow via Toei Company LTD., and the results look pretty solid. I’m not sure how old the master is, but I’m guessing fairly recent as the image is quite pleasant to the eye. There’s a healthy layer of grain over everything, but it’s not super heavy in ways that would obscure the screen. Certain shots have some slightly soft backdrops; every once in a while I’d notice a little bit of that “Vaseline” texture on faces. Otherwise skin tones look great, and the colors warm and rich (especially in the pastels). Reds/oranges pop EXTREMELY well, and almost look a bit TOO hot if you know what I mean. Black levels are strong all the way around, but I did notice some detail degradation in some of the darker shots.







Audio:

Arrow/Toei provides 2 LPCM 2.0 Mono tracks, one in the original Japanese, and the other an English dub. As per usual, I’m heavily biased towards the original Japanese mix, as the English Dub’s voice acting is a bit weird. Plus,s the vocals are muffled and a bit muted in comparison to the Japanese mix. The Japanese mix is a bit harsher and brighter, with some obvious distortion on the higher end of the register, while the English track feels a bit more boxy, with the high end clipped a bit. Overall it’s a solid mix, but not a GREAT one in either language. Just solid.










Extras:

• The Rebirth of Japanese Action Cinema
• Audio Commentary by Chris Poggiali

Final Score: ​

Shogun’s Ninja was a massive success over in Japan in 1980, and started Hiroyuki Sanada on his way to becoming one of the biggest international stars that Japan ever had. The story is a bit goofy at times, but still a blast when it comes to non-stop Ninja fun. The manic fights are over the top and crazy fun, with Sonny Chiba giving us a great end battle to enjoy. The Blu-ray looks and sounds great considering how cheaply this was filmed back in the day, and I still say that this sparks my interest despite the goofiness. Sadly, extras are a bit limited, but the overall package is still a solid recommendation.


Technical Specifications:

Starring: Sonny Chiba, Hiroyuki Sanada, Etsuko Shihomi, Isao Natsuyagi
Directed by: Norifumi Suzuki
Written by: Fumio Konami, Ichiro Otsu
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 AVC
Audio: English: LPCM 2.0 Mono, Japanese LPCM 2.0 Mono
Subtitles: English
Studio: Arrow
Rated: NR
Runtime: 117 Minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: August 25th, 2026

Recommendation: Fun Watch