The Samurai
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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Seasons & Episodes
1. OVA
Shintarō saves a young Ainu wrongly accused of murder, relying on his wits and his pistol.
2. Duel at Kiritap
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.
3. Sword Storm
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.
4. Revenge of the Ainus
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.
5. Imitation Prince
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.
6. Sudden Death
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.
7. Ambush at Hell Valley
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.
8. Outlaw Brothers
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.
9. Blind Swordsman
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
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
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
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
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.
