Daibutsu, Kamakura

Daibutsu, Kamakura
Daibutsu in Kamakura, June 2010. There were thousands of school kids visiting that day. It was still great fun.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy


Following the death of the Shogun, it becomes evident that his death was no accident. He was poisoned because he wanted his second-son to be heir to his throne. A battle between the eldest and his younger brother erupts. Warriors take each side swearing devotion to the prospective lords. The plot to pit brother against brother is secretly being controlled by the Yagyu clan, a group of warriors who have trained the Tokugawa shogunate's family in the art of swordsmanship for generations. A group of Imperial nobles are also secretly pulling the strings of this plot, hoping to weaken the power of the Shogunate and restore power to the Emperor.

This film was released in 1978 and stars Sonny Chiba and Toshiro Mifune. The plot of this movie surrounds the death of the second Tokugawa Shogun Hidetada. The movie is based on what is believed to have been a true rivalry between the real Tokugawa Iemitsu, the eldest son of Shogun Hidetada, and Tokugawa Tadanaga, the second son of Hidetada. In reality, Tokugawa Hidetada had abdicated rule to Iemitsu in 1623 but the movie plays it a different way from historical reality. In the film, Hidetada dies before naming his heir but apparently he had told several people that he planned on naming Tadanaga as his heir going against the tradition of naming the eldest son. The head of the Yagyu clan who was loyal to Iemitsu became aware of this and they did not agree with Hidetada's plan and therefore the Yagyu plotted to do something about it. So they assassinated Hidetada.

This is a Good movie with many, many good sword fighting scenes and political intrigue. The ending of the movie is also a complete shocker and is a total twist from historical reality. But it is interesting to imagine if this really happened historically. Conspiracy theorists would love this type of movie. This is one huge conspiracy theory.

4 comments:

  1. Yagyu Conspiracy is one of my favorite movies. We don't see much of Mifune but we do see a young Hiroyuki Sanada (who Played Tasogare Seibei and Hiro in Last Samurai). Yes I will agree that ending was a shocker. Aside from the departure from history you just have to love the exaggerrated speech of the Elder Yagyu and that of the Court Nobles. At some point I have to get around to buying The Yagyu Conspiracy Series - early Sonny Chiba Series - The trailer for it rocks!

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    1. KAMI SEKELUARGA MENGUCAPKAN BANYAK TERIMA KASIH ATAS BANTUANNYA MBAH , NOMOR YANG MBAH BERIKAN/ 4D SGP& HK SAYA DAPAT (350) JUTA ALHAMDULILLAH TEMBUS, SELURUH HUTANG2 SAYA SUDAH SAYA LUNAS DAN KAMI BISAH USAHA LAGI. JIKA ANDA INGIN SEPERTI SAYA HUB MBAH_PURO _085_342_734_904_ terima kasih.الالله صلى الله عليه وسلموعليكوتهله صلى الل

      KAMI SEKELUARGA MENGUCAPKAN BANYAK TERIMA KASIH ATAS BANTUANNYA MBAH , NOMOR YANG MBAH BERIKAN/ 4D SGP& HK SAYA DAPAT (350) JUTA ALHAMDULILLAH TEMBUS, SELURUH HUTANG2 SAYA SUDAH SAYA LUNAS DAN KAMI BISAH USAHA LAGI. JIKA ANDA INGIN SEPERTI SAYA HUB MBAH_PURO _085_342_734_904_ terima kasih.الالله صلى الله عليه وسلموعليكوتهله صلى الل


      KAMI SEKELUARGA MENGUCAPKAN BANYAK TERIMA KASIH ATAS BANTUANNYA MBAH , NOMOR YANG MBAH BERIKAN/ 4D SGP& HK SAYA DAPAT (350) JUTA ALHAMDULILLAH TEMBUS, SELURUH HUTANG2 SAYA SUDAH SAYA LUNAS DAN KAMI BISAH USAHA LAGI. JIKA ANDA INGIN SEPERTI SAYA HUB MBAH_PURO _085_342_734_904_ terima kasih.الالله صلى الله عليه وسلموعليكوتهله صلى الل


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  2. I agree about the elder Yagyu's speech. And the court noble was impressive as well. I don't recall his name but the one who was unusually skilled with the sword.

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  3. Probably the best line has to come from that court noble who when he first see's Jubei and his younger brother then comments that their large swords are "very scary" then in kabuki like fashion covers his mouth with a folding fan and mockingly laughs:hohohohoho! - lol
    Tina loves that guy!

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