Shintaro The Samurai "Intro"

The Samurai was a Japanese television historical drama series of the 1960s made by Senkosha Productions. The series premiered on October 7, 1962 in Japan and ran until March 1965. Its original Japanese title was Onmitsu Kenshi ('spy swordsman').

It was the first Japanese TV program ever screened in Australia, where it premiered in 1964, and it built up a remarkably large fan-base among pre-teen children. Despite its massive popularity in Japan, Australia, and the Philippines, the series was not widely screened elsewhere and its fame remains largely restricted to those countries.

Filmed in black-and-white, the series was based in part on historical events, but it borrowed heavily from the Japanese historical romance genre. The producers compensated for its low budget by using real historical locations around Japan, including the imposing feudal castles from the era.

The series portrayed the adventures of a roving samurai, Akikusa Shintaro (whose real name is Matsudaira Nobuchiyo), played by Ose Koichi. Shintaro is the older half-brother of Ienari, the 11th Tokugawa shogun. Because he is the son of a concubine, he has no claim to power, so he assumes the guise of a wandering spy-swordsman (along with the name Shintaro) to seek out and eliminate plots by rival warlords, in this way protecting his younger brother, who is still a minor. Acting on secret orders from roju (chief councillor) Matsudaira Sadanobu, Shintaro gathers information in the various fiefdoms and battles rival warriors and spies, aided by his Iga Ninja friend Tombei the Mist (Japanese: Kiri no Tonbei), as played by Fuyukichi Maki. Shintaro is also helped by Shusaku (played by the 9 or 10 year old Omori Shunsuke ), whose father has been kidnapped by Koga ninja, and whom Shusaku and Shintaro are also trying to find.

The series had some memorable villains, especially those played by Bin Amatsu, including the imposing Kongo of Koga, the other-worldly Fuma Kotaro (a descendant of the famous 16th century ninja Fūma Kotarō) and Gensai the Wolf. Genkuro Momochi, played by Toshiyuki Katsuki, was another villain who had a genuinely menacing screen presence; as well as a prominent scar in the middle of his brow. The Negishi (Negoro) ninja leaders Garidoshi (played by Yoshio Yoshida) and Onime the Bat (a one-eyed evil-doer with a shuriken for an eye-patch) also projected an aura of menace.

The Samurai was shown in 10 stories (or series) usually of 13 episodes each. It was only at the start of the second story (Koga Ninjas) that the shows signature feature ninjas was introduced. And it wasnt until the first episode of Story Three (Iga Ninjas) that the audience was introduced to Shintaros faithful assistant Tombei The Mist.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Shintaro
• The Samurai
• Iga
• Koga
• Ninja
• Shinobi

[4boysmom]

Thanks for posting. This show was also very popular in the Philppines (dubbed in English) in the 1960s.

[ShinobiWolf2012]

Thanks to both of you for watching, it is indeed a wonderful show, one of the many classic series from Japan during the 60's....so many great ones!

[ShinobiWolf2012]

LOL, Thanks bro, yeah it was kind of an experiment, but came out fairly well, especially on the audio end, so I said why not... Great show though man.

[THESTORMWOLF9]

Very Good Brother ShinobiWolf!!!!*****

[retrocleo]

I remember watching this great show in Melbourne Australia on channel 9 at 6am during the mid 70's. I always wanted to jump onto the roof of the house when I got older. A friend of mine recalls not only the gum cards , but also cardboard stars given away by channel 9 promoting the show.

[fjbutch]

loved this show,,still do... great post...

[aupian94]

Yeah I watched this in the 70's when i was growing up in the Philippines the Iga and the Koga Ninja.

[denidowi]

@KingFahtah He was brilliant - and the Samurai was HUGE in AustraliaLOL

[denidowi]

I think this show was the beginnings of matial arts movies etc around the world; wasn't it??

[kimboparker]

a gun is a last resort!...remember we're Phantom Agents!

chuckle; that was part of the opening creds - the boss chastising one of the phantom agents for pulling their piece.

cheers,

Kimbo

[gainguide]

@Garidoshi

yes! Phamtom Agents.

[Garidoshi]

Any fan can relive the entire series now. JB HiFi have the lot. They weren't lost in a fire. That was the Phantom Agents. I saw Shintaro live at the Sydney stadium in '67. Will never forget the thrill when he made his entrance. The greatest thrill of my young life. The only regret was there was no Tombay. D love to know more about him.

[midcitygym]

@jenk1255 had a great collection of these cards, the excitement of opening a new pack on a summers arvo after school! great memories

[AccordGTR]

@PogoMorgan Me too although we made it out of metal plates with carpenter's chisel. I was only like maybe 6 or 8 years old at the time. We used to play "Ninja" at night and spy on our maids. hahaha