MINAMOTO YOSHITSUNE
1990 TV Warlord Movies
Directed by: MASUDA Toshio
Cast: HIGASHIYAMA Noriyuki, MATSUKATA Hiroki, SHIMADA Yoko, KATASE Rino, TSUGAWA Masahiko, TAKAHASHI Hideki, CHIBA Shinichi, WAKAYAMA Tomisaburo
One evening, when the monk Saito Musashibo Benkei was luring for his sword
number 1000 at Gojo bridge, Shanao (later Yoshitsune), a young man of small and
fragile stature passed by. He wore a nice sword and played the flute.
It was an
unequal fight, but the outcome was different than one would have expected. Not the
physically superior Benkei won, but the agile Yoshitsune. He defeated the crude giant
with his swift and skillful movements and superior fighting techniques.
Legend has it
that Shanao had received his sword training by the Tengu. They are mythological
creatures, half-human/half-bird, and first-class fighters in martial art.
After this
remarkable "mother of all sword fights", Benkei vowed eternal loyalty to Shanao. His
life took a complete turn. From now on he accompanied his new lord through
numerous adventures and battles as the faithful vassal and second banana.
It was
the time of the Genpei wars, when the Minamato clan finally defeated their arch-rivals,
the Taira clan in fierce fighting. Yoshitsune was the brilliant military leader of the
Minamato. Japanese history and legend books and Kabuki plays are full of
Yoshitsune's audacious and clever moves. And on his side, his faithful vassal Benkei,
feared by the enemy and revered by book readers and movie and theater spectators.
Digitally Remastered Print
1990 - Color - Fullscreen - 2 Discs with "Making of"
Japanese with Removable English subtitles
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