Kenji Misumi’s THE LAST SAMURAI Now on DVD

Hanjiro Nakamura (Ken Ogata) faces off with Toranosuke (Hideki Takahashi) in director Kenji Misumi’s classic THE LAST SAMURAI, now on DVD from Neptune Media. Photo courtesy of Neptune Media. © 1974 Shochiku Co., Ltd.

Source: Neptune Media Special Thanks to William Ferguson

"Let the enemy slice your skin, so you can cut his bone." After several years of inactivity, the home video label Neptune Media is back with their inaugural DVD release, Kenji Misumi’s THE LAST SAMURAI (???????, Okami yo Rakujitsu o Kire, 1974). This is the first legitimate release of this film in the west, and Neptune Media is confident that fans will be pleased with its DVD presentation. Hideki Takahashi stars as Toranosuke, a disinherited son who finds new life by immersing himself in the true "Way of the Samurai." Mentored by Ikemoto, the "Boss of Spies," Toranosuke is eager to test his skill in the service of the Shogunate. It is a time of crisis. The city of Kyoto has been overrun with insurgents. Forbidden by his master to get involved, Toranosuke is soon drawn into the wars, massacres and upheavals that marked the final days of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Samurai vs. Samurai, spy vs. spy, friend vs. friend, conspiracies and assassinations abound. Who will survive to become THE LAST SAMURAI? The 67th and final film by famed director Kenji Misumi (ZATOICHI THE BLIND SWORDSMAN, RETURN OF DAIMAJIN, LONE WOLF AND CUB). Featuring dazzling sword fights, elaborate battle sequences and a stirring score from internationally renowned composer Akira Ifukube (Godzilla series, CHUSHINGURA), THE LAST SAMURAI stands among the great classics of the genre. Boasting a script co-written by Kenji Misumi, this is perhaps Misumi`s most epic and personal film.

Kenji Misumi’s THE LAST SAMURAI: Special Edition DVD Number of discs: 1 Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Audio: Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono Subtitles: English Running Time: 159 minutes SPECIAL FEATURES • 16:9 High Definition Digital Transfer • Original Theatrical Trailer • Essay by Tom Mes, Author of Agitator: the Cinema of Takashi Miike • Actor Biographies • Film to novel comparison • Photo Gallery • And more! Release Date: June 26, 2012 SRP: $29.95 Kenji Misumi`s THE LAST SAMURAI is currently available online at Amazon for 30% off the SRP.

About Neptune Media

Neptune Media, Inc. was formed in the Summer of 1997. Their first release was a collaborative effort, releasing GIANT MONSTER GAMERA and the US version GAMMERA THE INVINCIBLE on VHS while with Synapse Films released a special limited edition Laserdisc of GIANT MONSTER GAMERA. Over the next several years, Neptune Media released English subtitled and English dubbed VHS editions of GAMERA VS GUILLON and GAMERA VS ZIGRA. Additionally, Neptune Media was involved in the television distribution of several films in the Gamera series. Aside from the occasional corporate work, Neptune Media has lain largely dormant for several years. In 2012, the company returned to production with their first DVD, Kenji Misumi’s THE LAST SAMURAI.