BLOOD WORK: CHANBARA ~ WAY OF THE SAMURAI: GOYOKIN

Chanbara is the genre name given to Japanese sword fighting cinema. Authentic Samurai and Ninja films are a passion of mine. There's something about Bushido and Ninjutsu that I find incredibly entertaining and captivating. It's the same reason why I enjoy martial arts films, 80's horror, spaghetti westerns, and tokusatsu films (Japanese special effects films i.e. Godzilla). There's something there that you can only get from these movies. I am always on the look out for more quality chanbara films. It's a feeling of discovery when I uncover another wonderful movie from these genres.

Original Japanese Poster

My latest discovery is a chanbara film titled GOYOKIN (literal translation: Official Gold). The film is also known as THE STEEL EDGE OF REVENGE. The movie stars the amazing Tatsuya Nakadai, a man I firmly feel is Japan's greatest actor. If Toshiro Mifune is the John Wayne of Japan then Nakadai is the Clint Eastwood. Nakadai is most known for his work in Akira Kurosawa's RAN, YOJIMBO, and SANJURO. His best work in my opinion are in service to Japan's other premiere directors Kihachi Okamoto, Hideo Gosha, and Masaki Kobayashi in such films as HARAKIRI, SWORD OF DOOM, and KILL!

Here he worked with director HIDEO GOSHA, the director of the chanbara classic THREE OUTLAW SAMURAI. Mr. Gosha shot the film on the Shimokita Peninsula by the Japanese north sea in severe cold weather. Rarely do we get to see movies filmed in such harsh climates. The movie came out in 1969 from the legendary TOHO Studios. This tells me that the actors, while filming, endured extreme cold temperatures. The snow, wind, water, and ice are much of what makes this film appealing and enthralling. It isn't often audiences are treated to movies filmed in such extremes where the cast and crew risked their own personal health and well-being just to give us an entertaining piece of fiction. The story alone is powerful and engaging, coupled with the amazingly harsh location.

THE PLOT

1831. The Echizen Sabai Domain has fallen under difficult times and has great need of money to pay the taxes to the Tokugawa Shogunate. If they do not pay the taxes the government will seize all the assets of the ruling family and the people of Sabai will not be able to survive. The domain will crumble and the samurai will be without a lord and without purpose. The samurai of Sabai have one duty, to ensure the survival of their lord and domain. They are honor bound to protect the domain and a samurai's honor is worth more than his life.

Lone survivor Oriha played by Ruriko Asaoka

Sado Island, resting just off the main land of Japan in the North Sea was a large deposit of silver and gold. For the 300 years of the Tokugawa Shogunate rule they had been financed by the gold and silver mined from Sado Island. The gold, referred to as "Goyokin" was loaded onto ships sailing for Edo (modern day Tokyo). The ships would sail past the Sabai domain in what was always the most perilous leg of the journey. Sailing around the Noto Peninsula meant avoiding the many reefs, sailing through strong tides that often created whirlpools, and avoiding the jutting rocks. Many believed that water demons resided within that area. The area was more notably referred to as "The Graveyard of Ships."

In 1831 one shipment of goyokin was lost to the sea around the Noto Peninsula. The disappearance of the Tokugawa Bakufu's goyokin occurred just off the shores of the village of Kurosaki. Oriha, a beautiful young woman from the village, returned from five years of indentured servitude in Miyazu, learning textile skills. When she entered her home village there was not a soul in sight. The village looked completely abandoned except for a murder of crows covering the buildings. After finding a body, desiccated and half eaten, she ran away screaming, believing the villagers has been taken by the "Kamikakushi" or "spirited away."

Italian Poster

All 30 plus inhabitants of Kurosaki Village in the Sabai domain disappeared without a trace. The young woman, Oriha, was the lone survivor. The tale of the Kamikakushi was spread throughout the domain causing fear and panic among the people. Three years later the horrific tale still persisted among the people of the province.

In Edo a vagabond named Magobei was beset by assassins. Displaying incredible swordsmanship, Magobei slew the assassins, the last one left alive uttering the word "Kamikakushi." A flood of memories came rushing back to Magobei from a time three years prior. He was living in Sabai at the time, a retainer for the lord of the domain. The domain was in dire straits, needing money. A group of samurai, including Magobei and his close friend Tatewaki, road out to the village of Kurosaki to investigate a lost shipment of goyokin off the village shore. Magobei was the last to arrive, discovering his fellow samurai had killed every villager and stole the goyokin. Magobei was horrified at what his brethren had done, especially his friend Tatewaki. Tatewaki friend told him that the village had to be sacrificed for the domain to survive, that it was their duty as samurai to see to the domain's survival.

Mexican Lobby Card

Magobei renounced his position as vassal to Sabai and left the domain. His soul was unable to bear being a part of such a gruesome massacre. He went into exile under the condition that his friend Tatewaki never commit such an act again. Flash forward three years. The assassin confessed to Magobei that there was going to be another Kamikakushi. A lightning quick slash of the sword and the assassin fell down dead. Magobei sheathed his sword and set out for Sabai, determined to do whatever it took, kill as many corrupt samurai as needed, to ensure the Kamikakushi would not happen again.

THE GOOD

That's where the story begins. From there we get some great scenery, wonderful characters, and some hella cool fight scenes. The story draws you in and keeps you until the end. Tatsuya Nakadai offers up another amazing role, embodying a new and unique persona among the pantheon of characters he has played. The actor amazes me more and more with every role I see him play. In truth all the actors rise to the occasion in this film from minor to major.

English Poster

The inversion of the view of samurai was a common theme in 1960's Japanese cinema. Portraying the samurai as corrupt or less than honorable was the central theme of this film, how honor and duty can lead to some truly evil actions. The film, as did many others, posed the questions of how does one maintain honor and duty? When does duty to one's lord compromise your honor? Are duty and honor the same thing? It's a grim subject and a very complicated concept. And it is another reason why this movie is still relevant. What would you do to ensure the survival of your family?

I also love the sword fights. These guys really know how to use a sword. They aren't merely actors who learned on the set of the film how to wield a sword. There's blood splatter in the sword fights too. I don't need blood to enjoy a good sword fight but seeing the blood spray adds a certain bite and rawness that wouldn't be there otherwise. I mentioned the snowy landscape before as being an incredible feature of this movie. The contrast of the beautiful clear white snow soaked in blood adds another great level to this film.

THE BAD

The Region 1 dvd release of this film was given to us by the wonderful people at MEDIA BLASTERS under their TOKYO SHOCK line of releases. Sadly the edition is now out of print making it considerably more expensive to track down. The dvd is devoid of nearly all special features save the original theatrical trailer. This is actually on par with many Criterion Collection chanbara releases too (Criterion Collection being the one of the best importers of great chanbara cinema). It's a shame though nearly all of Hideo Gosha's films released in the US on dvd have practically the same treatment, a trailer and or a booklet at best. Amazon has a few other region releases available with considerably more special features. Why Media Blasters didn't port over the special features is a mystery.

THE VERDICT

As far as the movie goes I can't speak ill of this film. I've watched it twice now in under a month. This movie is truly fantastic and it prompts me to urge lovers of the genre to seek samurai films outside of the works of Kurosawa. For truly great chanbara classics begin with seeking out the films of Akira Kurosawa but don't limit yourself to just his works. Kihachi Okamoto, Hideo Gosha, and Masaki Kobayashi are responsible for many of the best samurai films I've ever seen. Goyokin is another wonderful example of Japan's greatest era of film.

Overall Ranking: 8 out of 10