::FILMOGRAPHY::

(this filmography courtesy of Michael Reid)

Hopefully, before too long you'll be able to click on many if not all of the following titles to read comments on the films which our members have seen or read about.

Michael has recommended some texts which cover Shinsengumi films:

This book has in depth reviews of some Shinsengumi Bakumatsu films. Michael recommends the revised 2005 edition:
Silver, Alain. The Samurai Film. Woodstock, NY : Overlook Press, 2005. isbn 1585675962 (hbk.) 1585677809 (pbk.)

Toshiro Mifune's Band of Assasins (1969) and Raizo Ichikawa's I Want to Die a Samurai (SHINSENGUMI SHIMATSUKI 1963) are covered:
Galloway, Patrick. Stray Dogs & Lone Wolves : The Samurai Film Handbook. Berkeley, Calif. : Stone Bridge Press, 2005. isbn 1880656930

DESCRIBES SHINSENGUMI AS SAMURAI KNIGHTS OF THE ROUNDTABLE AND SWAT TEAM OF YORE
,and Calls the film "BAKUMATSU" BORING (TRUE ),Also reviews OKAMOTO'S 1975 BOSHIN WAR epic BATTLE CRY
Weisser, Thomas, Yuko Mihara Weisser. Japanese cinema : the essential handbook. Miami, Fla. : Vital Groups, Inc. : Asian Cult Cinema
Publications, 1998. ISBN: 1889288500

Shinsengumi movie posters...
Silver screen samurai : the best of Japan's samurai movie posters. Denver, Colo. : D.H. ; London : Turnaround, 2004 ; isbn: 0972312439 (pbk.)

SHINSENGUMI (1928-SHOCKIKU-Silent 28 mins)

KOBO SHINSENGUMI (1930 NIKKATSU starring OKOCHI DENJIRO )

DAIBOSATSU TOGE PT 1 a/k/a GREAT BODDISATVA PASS (1935)

The first of many adaptations of NAKAZATO KAIZAN'S massive 10 volume novel about the renegade samurai RYONOSUKE TSUKE actually this is based on a true story of course it has some embellishments for dramatic effect, it follows the karmic journey of TSUKE as he kills an old man praying at the famous shrine at the Daibostatsu pass outside KAMAKURA, actually as horrible as it sounds it was not a crime TSUKE was a samurai and the old duffer was a lowly commoner .

Next TSUKE is forced to flee his clan after winning a duel and raping his opponents wife before hand ,arriving in KYOTO with the deceased's wife in tow he joins the SHINSENGUMI ,of course he signs up with the SERIZAWA faction and barley escapes with his life when KONDO and co decide to seize power .The most famous version is the 1966 SWORD OF DOOM with NAKADAI as TSUKE however it concludes with TSUKE'S escape from the SHINSENGUMI ,All other versions take the story much further we see TSUKE join CHOSHU renegades then losing his sight

The remainder of the story has him walk a strange path through wisdom ,redemption and than back to his old murderous self before the elements take a hand in settling the final score . Although the performance by NAKADAI is most famous I prefer RAIZO ICHIKAWA in the 1960/2 trilogy ,aside from the fact that it has an ending ,NAKADAI'S performance has a tinge of madness thus letting his character off the hook,RAIZO however see's no wrong in his actions in fact he cant even understand why so many want him dead ,so caught up in his aura of self right he is blinded as too the way others see him thus in his warped mind he becomes the victim .

SHINSENGUMI (1938-SHOCKIKU)

OKITA SOUJI (1940-NIKKATSU)

DAIBOSATSU TOGE PT1 (1953)

KONDO ISAMI IKEDAYA SONDO TOMIYASU IKEDAYA (1953-DAEI)

THE INTREPID CAPTAIN OF THE SHINSENGUMI (1954 -DAEI Directed by KOUNO JIUCHI starring CHIEZO KATAOKA )

MOEYOKEN (BURNING SWORD )(1955-DAEI ,Directed BY KENJI MISUMI )

DAIBOSATSU TOGE PT 1 a/k/a SOULS in the MOONLIGHT(1955)

SHINSENGUMI NTV TV SERIES (195? )

(BAKUMATSU BISHONEN AIZU NO KESHITAI (TOEI )(More SHINSENGUMI related its actually about THE AIZU SUICIDE CORPS and THE WHITE TIGERS ,HIJIKATA is included )

DAIBOSATSU TOGE (DAEI -1960 a/k/a SATANS SWORD w/ RAIZO )

SORETSU SHINSENGUMI BAKUMATSU NO DORAN a/k/a WILD SHINSENGUMI REVOLT AT THE END OF THE FEUDAL AGE (1960)

SHINSENGUMI SHIMATSUKI a/k/a SHINSENGUMI CHRONICLES (DAEI 1963-KENJI MISUMI'S adaptation of the novel by KAN SHIMOZAWA (ZATOICHI)TOMISABURO WAKAYAMA plays the most historically accurate portrayal of KONDO one of the best SHINSENGUMI films

BAKUMATSU ZANKOKU MONOGATARI a/k/a CRUEL STORY AT THE END OF THE TOKUGAWA SHOGUNATE (TOEI-1963 )dubbed the "full metal jacket of samurai films" director TAI KATO pulls no punches in this harsh depiction of the SHINSENGUMI code

SHINSENGUMI KEPPUROKU KONDO a/k/a THE BLOODY RECORD OF THE SHINSENGUMI (1963)

ANSATSU a/k/a ASSASSINATION (SHOCKIKU-1964) SHINODA"s Chronicle of ROSHIGUMI leader HACHIRO KIOKAWA

SHINSENGUMI KEPPUROKU a/k/a SHINSENGUMI SHOGUNS DEFENSE (TV ASAHI 26 EPISODES -1965/66)

MOEYOKEN a/k/a BURNING SWORD (1966 -Directed by HIROKAZU ICHIMURA starring TSUGI RYOTARO and UCHIDA RYUHEI adapted from a novel by RYOTARO SHIBA

DAIBOSATSU TOGE a/k/a SWORD OF DOOM (TOH0 1966 directed by OKOMOTO KIHACHI )

(21 )MOEYOKEN a/k/a BURNING SWORD (NT TV SERIES 1966/7)

RYOMA GA YUKU a/k/a RYOMA FOREVER (NHK TAIGA DRAMA 1968 "last taiga in black and white "SHINSENGUMI guest in some episodes )

NIHON KENJAKU DEN DAI WUKA OKITA SOJI a/k/a JAPANESE MASTER SWORDSMAN CHRONICLES 'OKITA SOJI (NET TV MOVIE )

SHINSENGUMI a/k/a BAND OF ASSASSINS(TOHO-1969 TOSHIRO MIFUNE (who also produced)and KINJA KITOJI star in an adaptation of RYOTARO SHIBA'S novel SHINSENGUMI BAKUMATSU KEPPUROKU )

SHINSENGUMI (1973 -FUJI TV SERIES 11 EPISODES )

DAIBOSATSU TOGE (NTV TV SERIES -1974 )

OKITA SOUJI a/k/a THE LAST SWORDSMAN (TOHO -1974 )director DEME MASANOBU crafts yet another adaptation of SHIBA'S KEPPUROKU novel as a vehicle for pop singer KUSAKARI MASAO but this is a worthy adaptation as with the MIFUNE film it suffers slightly by trying to cram too much into its short running time but on the whole its still a great film.

OKAMI YO RAKUJITSU O KIRE : HUUNHEN, GEKIJOHEN, DOTOHEN a/k/a THE LAST SAMURAI a/k/a WIND CLOUDS PASSION AND ANGRY WAVES (1974 SCHOCHIKU )KENJI MISUMI'S swansong and one of the all time greatest samurai films as we follow the lives of 4 young men and their friendship through the Bakumatsu era ,One of the young men happens to be OKITA SOJI ,There is one word for this film "MASTERPIECE ".HIDEKI TAKASHI and KEN OGATA star.

KASHIN a/k/a FLOWER GODESS a/k/a AMBITION (NHK TAIGA DRAMA 1977 50 EPISODES )very ambitous taiga drama that follows the life of a country doctor and his good friend TAKASUGI SHUNSAKU ,This follows the story of CHOSHU clan from the 1850's Through the MEIJI period ,SHINSENGUMI wet blankets that they are show up to ruin the party at IKEDAYA and squash a good old storming of the imperial gates .Actually this bombed as it had so much going on viewers could not keep up with the many plotlines and endless cast of characters

(29)SHISHI NO JIDAI (NHK TAIGA DRAMA 1980 -51 EPISODES ) BUNTA SUGAWARA is a samurai stationed in PARIS at the Japanese embassy (In one scene he fights SATSUMA clansmen by the RIVER SEINE)When YOSHINOBU throws in the towel BUNTA gets back in time for a good ol knee's up at TOBA /FUSHIMI not satisfied with that he's off to AIZU than FT EZO (where he teams up with HIJIKATA )finally he gives up becomes a rickshaw driver until his younger siblings join the SATSUMA REBELLION so he's off again this gets him thrown in prison when he gets out joins every peasant uprising he can get his outraged hands on until he finally is killed in battle ''this actually had a better lifetime in its paired down 8 hour format than its original 51 episode format ,but again any one who likes the MISUMI film LAST SAMURAI will do cartwheels of joy over this as its just as good and an amazing companion piece.

KURUMA TENGU (NTV -1982) 22 EPISODES )KURUMA TENGU first made his debut in 1922 since than he has been a the subject of many films and tv series ,So if ZORRO moved to BAKUMATSU ERA Japan you have KURUMA TENGU in this the final season TENGU has to form an uneasy alliance with his ENEMY'S "THE SHINSENGUMI "to defeat the usual dastardly plotters MIKIO NARITA plays KONDO in this .It also has a tremendous spaghetti western styled score.

SHINSENGUMI (NHK ANIME -1983) one 28 minute film

OI RYOMA (NTV ANIME series -1984) -28 EPISODES )RYOMA fights the SHINSENGUMI

BYAKKO-TAI a/k/a THE WHITE TIGERS OF AIZU (TBS 1984 )Big budget epic 4 hour tv special the first 2 hours covers HIJIKATA'S reformed KONDO-less SHINSENGUMI in AIZU ,pt 2 see's the gumi off to war and the tragedy of the AIZU SUICIDE CORP'S which were 3 divisions one of seniors ,one of young women and the tragedy of the White tigers young teenage boys .you will boo and hiss !!! at SAIGO TAKAMORI by the end of this one . Learn about the historical group RONIN (1985) TATSUYA TAKEDA in the 60's was the Japanese BOB DYLAN ,in 1980 he carved out a successful tv career with a show called KINPACHI SENSEI AND THE CLASS OF 3B where he plays a wizened literature teacher who guides his pupils through a difficult path to to a basic acceptance of others ,of course the show dealt with many issues teen suicide ,pregnancy,transgender ,gay issues and hazing ,the show became a massive hit ,and new episodes are still being made today ,throughout its 24 year history it has also been a major launching pad for many of today's idols (a young SHINGO KATORI was in the 1984 season )(Director KINJI FUKASAKU parodied the show in BATTLE ROYALE using the same class and school )

In 1985 someone had the great idea of doing the story of RYOMA SAKAMOTO as a feudal version of KINPACHI SENSEI ,and as such it falls flat on its wizened face .The plot concerns SAKAMOTO and his navy ,TAKEDA plays SAKAMOTO and his navy are just like the class of 3B ,SAKAMOTO also hangs out with people like ERNEST SATOW and speaks English ,The SHINSENGUMI for some reason seem to flee in panic every time TAKEDA and pupils stroll down the busy KYOTO metropolis ,On top of this we have an aging portly SHINSENGUMI that look more like they are waddling to a Jenny Craig meeting than protecting the mean streets of KYOTO .

The storming of the Imperial gates actually is impressive with a SAM PECKINPAH styled mini bloodbath the TAKEDA shows up arms outstretched ,teary eyed like an anti war protester and all parties lay down their arms ,This does not work at all ,But I have saved the best for last the title song "IM A RONIN IN 1985 RONIN RONIN IN 85 YEEEEAAAHHHHHHHHH "this makes for a truly excruciating listening experience ,It makes the likes of GREAT WHITE and WHITESNAKE seem pleasurable in fact if you put this on an answering machine no one would ever call you ,

I actually like KINPACHI SENSEI and TAKEDA was great in the TAI HEIKE and IEYASU TOKUGAWA taiga drama's but this is just a waste of filmstock.

RYOMA O KITTA OTOKO a/k/a THE MAN WHO KILLED RYOMA (1987)
Director HASAMU YAMASHITA ,Starring KENICHI HAGIWARA and MIWAKO FUJITANI
This is the story of MIMAWARI GUMI member SASAKI TAWASUBURO who has claimed to be the murderer of RYOMA SAKAMOTO ,this is very significant for SHINSENGUMI fans as HARADA'S clog and scabbard were placed at the crime scene ,In fact SAKAMOTO'S murder was one of many charges that were leveled at KONDO in his trial in April 1868 ,So if its answers you want than you should look elsewhere as they will not be found here .

The downfall of this film is that like ANSATSU which it resembles a chance for a good docudrama is wasted in favor of creating an arty film which rambles and goes no where .SASAKI is played by KENJI HAGIWARA lead singer of Japanese rock outfit "THE TEMPLERS "(can you imagine a Japanese BOB SEGER !!!!!),actress MIWAKO FUJITANI was arrested for trying to break into the imperial palace claiming to be a member of the ROYAL FAMILY ,If you really want to at least get on the right path as to who killed RYOMA ????? Than check out the 1991 TBS film that actually brings the viewer closer to the truth than any other film .>

As for the real SASAKI he was arrested (rather turned himself in )for RYOMA'S murder ,in fact he spent two years in jail (during which time KONDO was executed for the same charge )but was than released as his account of the crime did not make any sense and was full of holes .

GORYOKAKU a/k/a FIVE POINT STAR a/k/a FORT EZO (TBS 1989 )The finale see's HIJIKATA waving the famed banner of sincerity as he charges on his horse at the SATSUMA RIFLE CORP'S ,his horse is shot out from under him grabbing the flag he charges on foot and is shot to pieces (more boo's at SATSUMA ),The tragic story of HIJIKATA (TETSUYA WATARI in an oscar caliber performance )and ENOMOTO TAKEAKI (KINJA KITAOJI also approaching greatness )and their failed attempt to secure HOKKAIDO and secede from Japan (GORYOKAKU was a fortress in the shape of a five point star )at nearly 6 hours this big budget TBS production will hold you until the end .

SAKAMOTO RYOMA (TBS 1989) starring HIROYUKI SANADA ,KEN WATANABE ,TOMISABURO WAKAYAMA ,TERIYUKI KAGAWA (who will play RYOMA in the 1997 remake),RINA KATASE,KOICHI SAITO,NAOTO TAKENAKA ,GO WAKABAYASHI ,YUKI MEGUMO.HIROAKI MATSUKATA,YUKO NATORI,MAMI NOMURA
This 3 hour TBS/TOEI co production is the definitive film on SAKAMOTO ,HIROYUKI SANADA is nothing short of superb in the title role ,It is a massive all star big budget production that focuses on many aspects of SAKAMOTO that other films overlook like the fact he was an expert swordsman and skilled with a pistol .And really what a major player he was though behind the scenes it literal depicts others taking credit for his achievements .

Minimal SHINSENGUMI action in this they are shown in action killing TOSA ROYALIST'S and at the Storming of the imperial gates by CHOSHU .
SANADA just makes every other actor to have played this role seem redundant .
The murder of SAKAMOTO is depicted in slow motion its pretty graphic but you cant realy have a samurai film with out any violence .
It also gives clear insight into why SAKAMOTO was killed ,At one point he is a driving force behind the restoration than his idea's of a bloodless revoloution and a constitution based on the U.S. version soon become a problem for the majority of the loyalist's who favor total war .In fact the film actually in a very clever way delivers 4 candidates inc SASAKI ,This is a really remarkable achievement in film making (AUTHOR ROMULOUS HILLSBOUROUGH is a big fan of this film too ).

MOEYOKEN (BURNING SWORD TBS 1990 )another big budget TBS production starring KOJI YAKUSHO as HIJIKATA this takes RYOTARO SHIBA'S novel all the way to the end instead of finishing at IKEDAYA as the films do

BAKUMATSU JUNJO DEN (SCHOCHIKU 1991) director KADOKAWA HARUKI (TEN TO CHI TO Plummets to an all time low with this romantic comedy RYOMA SAKAMOTO (KEN WATANABE )and HIJIKATA vie for the heart of OKITA SOJI at the end SOJI turns out to be a girl but by that time you will be so demoralized from sitting through this garbage you wont care ,for the record right after this director KADOKAWA got busted for selling coke to a narc and got 5 years in the pokey ,since his release he has been promising a film on SEKIGAHARA but its promises promises


SAMURAI X (ANIME 1996 )what can I add that millions have already said actually nothing so lets move on

Kunoichi Deadly Mirage (1997) director Yutaka Akiyama.

RYOMA GA YUKU a/k/a RYOMA FOREVER (1997 TBS )TERIYUKI KAGAWA does a splendid turn as the title character in this 7 hour drama here RYOMA and the GUMI have a better relationship previous outings as usual this is great a lot of attention is paid to HANEPITA and IZO fans of TENCHU will love this

YOSHINOBU (NHK TAIGA DRAMA 1998 =51 EPISODES )I have not seen this but would dearly love too ,It seems to be a BAKUMATSU greatest hits all the faves are here KATSU KAISHU,KATSURA KOGORO,II NAOSUKE,YAMAOKA TESSHU ,and the SHINSENGUMI enter the scene at episode 31 and stick around to the end ,every major incident of the Bakumatsu era and every battle is featured this would seem to be well worth tracking down (though seemingly impossible to actually find)

GOHATTO a/k/a TABOO (SCHOCHIKU 1998 )director OSHIMA crams two of SHIBA'S KEPPUROKU stories into one film .People seem to be split on this aside from the gay theme ,the wacky costumes and a half asleep KITANO as HIJIKATA do not help but its RYUHEI MATSUDA and ASANO TADANOBU that just burn up the screen and turn it into a classic of GUMI lore

SHINSENGUMI KEPPUROKU (1998 TV ASAHI 11=EPISODES) TETSUYA WATARI and HIROAKI MURAKAMI take over as KONDO and HIJIKATA for this great rendition of some of RYOTARO SHIBA'S KEPPUROKU stories ,This is so good you will forget WATARI'S about thirty years older than the part he plays and SHUNSUKE NAKAMURA is one of the best Souji's ever,Not much focus on the other members though but its told through HIJIKATA'S eyes so its focus is the original trio from KONDO'S DOJO well worth picking up .

Jin-Ro (1998 Jin Roh: The Wolf Brigade, Kerberos Panzer Cops The Wolf Brigade) [imdb] The animated masterpiece was written by Mamoru Oshiii (best known for GHOST IN THE SHELL). Jin-Ro is a synthesis of Shinsengumi lore in a post WW2 Japan world. The social and economic circumstances, the rioting, and finally the government's decision to employ a highly mobile, well trained, group of police armed to the teeth is exactly similar to the Bakumatsu situation. Like the law enforcement landscape in Kyoto, the different police troops compete and spy on one another. Mamoru Oshii studies paramilitary, police troops, weaponry and technology. He synthesized and interpreted the Shinsengumi in a dark and modern way. WATCH IT NOW! of Stray Dog: Kerberos Panzer Cops the live-action movie made before Jin-Ro]. Learn more about this film here.

KON ICHIKAWA'S SHINSENGUMI (1999 =EUROSPACE) a 28 minute puppet show no less never on video and virtually unseen as with most GUMI films

MOBILE FORCE SHINSENGUMI (anime-2000) love it or hate it (I have never seen it )but this is probably responsible for keeping the gumi alive and well in the hearts and minds of many

OKITA SOUJI (TBS-2000 )another was OKITA SOUJI a girl?

SHINSENGUMI MOEYOKEN (ANIME 2000) I once asked author ROMULOUS HILLSBOROUGH to explain the SHINSENGUMI'S seemingly increasing popularity over the last 140 years considering most historians dismiss them as a bloodthirsty feudal swat team ,he thought young girls was the answer particularly OKITA SOJI(SOUJI)seems to always have a mythic status ,For me i would also add MANGA and ANIME .

MOEYOKEN is author RYOTARO SHIBA'S attempt to put a human edge to HIJIKATA TOSHIZIO ,The token bad cop to KONDO'S good cop,DEMON HIJIKATA author of the SHINSENGUMI'S cruel draconian code ,This animated version depicts our heroes as lovable bug eyed muppets traditional anime artwork (similar to the little snippet at the end of the taiga drama )MOEYOKEN along with KEPPUROKU seems to form the basis of most SHINSENGUMI tales (for some reason I tend to put down to fate I have never managed to see any versions of this tale )it has been on film ,tv ,anime.manga,radio shows etc.

And its good to have a human face put to one who historically is cast as the arch villain ,architect of a code that killed more of its own members than any enemies (biggest historical complaint ...not true at all actually its just a bias by prejudiced authors ).

Millenium Actress (2001 Sennen joyu) A breathtaking tour of Japanese history though cinema! The animated film by Satoshi Kon is about a woman pursued by her own memories and yet she runs after the shadow of a man she loves. Look for the Shinsengumi and artistic transition between eras through the use of a scene taken from a woodblock print of the battle at Toba and Fushima. Contributed by secretarytocapt3

Samurai X (Rurouni Kenshin Reflections (2001 Seisohen) sequel to Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal. Please look for the director's cut with deleted scenes featuring Saitou Hajime (Fujita Goro)

SAMURAI X VOL 2 (2003-ANIME ) better than the KENSHIN TV series

MIBU GISHI DEN a/k/a WHEN THE LAST SWORD IS DRAWN (MIBUGISHIDEN)(SCHOCHIKU -2003 )if you want to know the difference between this and the 8 hour tv series this the film cuts out a lot of the fat I:e the misfortunes of KANCHIRO YOSHIMURA'S family, also KIICHI NAKAI and KOICHI SAITO are much better in the roles of YOSHIMURA and HAJIME SAITO ,Author ASADO claims this is a true story and is based on the memoirs of a gumi member and purports to have RYOMA SAKAMOTO killed by SAITO but no evidence supports this .The tv series suffers from having the gumi played by the usual aging generic tv actors and it also has poor production values though it picks up after 3 hours. Missing or rather played down is the rivalry between YOSHIMURA and SAITO ,the film is tightly constructed and KIICHI NAKAI is tremendous ,WATANABE and TAKENAKA seem miscast stick with the film its also one of the best samurai films in years

SAKAMOTO RYOMA (TBS 2004) another 8 hour production filled with the usual generic tv actors ,It does portray the gumi in a harsh brutal light though

SHINSENGUMI! (NHK TAIGA DRAMA 2004- 50 EPISODES )when this wraps up it may emerge as the DEFINITIVE portrait of the SHINSENGUMI ,this time around NHK has eschewed the old familiar faces in favor of higher production values ,SMAP singer SHINGO KATORI heads up a strong (YOUNG !!!!!)ensemble cast of alumni from BATTLE ROYALE, AZUMI, PING PONG, GO, BRIGHT FUTURE, ARAGAMI, SABU and GET UP ,Most of these guys were carefully selected by their resemblance to the real life characters they play (Not SHINGO though )like KOJI YAMATO could be the re-incarnation of HIJIKATA (he looks like a dead ringer for the real TOSHIZIO )right of the bat KOICHI SAITO (KAMO SERIZAWA )MASATO SAKAI(YAMANAMI)JO ODAGIRI (HAJIME SAITO),TARO YAMAMOTO (HARADA SANOSUKE)just own these roles .this is an interesting blend of fact (KAMO means WILD DUCK,the SHINSENGUMI'S uniforms were modeled after the 47 RONIN )and fiction (KONDO'S friendship with RYOMA ),The first 10 episodes are marred by YASUKO SAWAGUCHI as SOUJI'S older tom boy sister at first funny then she gets on your nerves but its worth sitting through for the background info like how the core members all came together from episode 11 onwards it shifts to a more darker tone KONDO the leader is a real stand up guy but he's sort of naive,HIJIKATA and YAMANAMI are the true architects KONDO has the title they have the brains and both are totally ruthless ,HAJIME SAITO moonlights as an enforcer for local gamblers unknown to all the rest ,The killing of the SUMO WRESTLERS and finally SERIZAWA are revisionist compared to other films but actually darker and just as violent ,special mention to the great animated title sequence and and that anthemic operatic theme that just sticks in your head if NHK keep this up through the next 28 episodes this could be one of the best taiga's ever (it opened with a 14.4 rating in Japan one of the lowest openings ever ,though its also NHK'S most popular export title ever go figure)

IZO directed by Takashi Miike. Two Shinsengumi, one is clearly Okita Souji and another Kondou Isami? make cameo appearances in this extremely episodic art film featuring multiple dimensions, vengeful ghosts, images of modern wars, strong sexuality, hell and time travel which examines the nature of VIOLENCE and the irrationality of seeking justice. The two Shinsengumi and the main character have a little scuffle on a modern highway. Our boys deliver some interesting philosophical lines before giving the "hero" some trouble. Interestingly, another scene in the film takes Izo back to the Bakumatsu where he fights hordes of black clad special ops military men from modern times, and in another scene Edo era cops, doshin and the hero fight in a modern setting. This film is not for everyone especially if the only calm scene involves elementary school kids giving thought provoking definitions on nation and democracy shortly before the hero massacres the school staff. Many of the "aristocrats" the target of Izo, purposefully resemble notorious figures in Japanese history. The film also stars NHK Shinsengumi's Harada Sanosuke, Yamamoto Taro as a cleaver wielding, real estate selling vampire.

JITSUROKU SHINSENGUMI (2006) See the English article here and visit their official site to view the trailer.