KAMUI: THE LONE NINJA on UK DVD and Blu-ray in August

Fudo (Hideaki Ito) duels Kamui (Kenichi Matsuyama) in KAMUI: THE LONE NINJA, Shochiku`s big budget movie adaptation based on the classic manga series. Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 2009 Kamui Film Partners

Source: The Associates press release Official Movie Site: kamuigaiden.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Farhana Shaikh

Based on the legendary multi-volume manga series created by Japanese artist and essayist Sanpei Shirato in 1964, directed by Yoichi Sai (BLOOD AND BONES; DOING TIME; ALL UNDER THE MOON) and scripted by Sai and Kankuro Kudo (ZEBRAMAN; PING PONG; GO), the live-action, special effects-laden extravaganza KAMUI (Kamui Gaiden, 2009) perfectly captures the spirit and flavor of Shirato’s original vision. The film will be released on DVD and Blu-ray in the UK next month as KAMUI: THE LONE NINJA. A high-spirited adventure involving deadly ninjas, fierce warrior clans, treacherous pirates and fearless shark hunters, KAMUI: THE LONE NINJA boasts a star-studded cast that features some of Asian cinema’s hottest talent, including Kenichi Matsuyama (the DEATH NOTE trilogy), Koyuki (BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE; KITARO), Koichi Sato (SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO; STARFISH HOTEL), Ekin Cheng (STORM WARRIORS; DIVERGENCE), Yuta Kanai (DEATH NOTE: L change the worLd) and Suzuka Ohgo (MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA). It is 17th century Japan and from a young age Kamui has been considered something of an outcast, even within his own ninja clan. Disillusioned with the laws and principles, which dictate that he must use his skills to kill others, Kamui chooses to leave his past behind him and go in search of true freedom. But for a ninja liberation comes at a price and the only way to escape the bonds of the ninja brotherhood is to die. Now a fugitive on the run from his clan, who are determined to hunt him down and eliminate him for his betrayal, Kamui finds himself constantly fighting for his life and unable to trust anyone. He eventually finds some solace when he meets an indomitable fisherman who saves his life and invites him to settle with his family. Unexpectedly, the arrangement brings Kamui face to face with a long-forgotten nemesis of his, another renegade ninja with a deadly score to settle. Meanwhile, the ninja army hunting Kamui is setting a trap from which there can be no escape…

Remaining faithful to its source material, KAMUI: THE LONE NINJA is a thrilling fantasy-adventure, full of martial arts action and spectacular set-pieces that vividly bring Sanpei Shirato’s unique manga images to life in dazzling style. KAMUI: THE LONE NINJA (cert. 15) will be released on DVD (£15.99) and Blu-ray (£19.99) by Manga Entertainment on 9th August 2010.

KAMUI: THE LONE NINJA

Label: Manga Entertainment Release date: 9th August 2010 Release type: DVD, Blu-ray Certificate: 15 Running time: 120 minutes Pricing: Bluray - £19.99, DVD - £15.99 Genre: Eastern cinema Director: Yoichi Sai Stars: Kenichi Matsuyama, Koyuki, Suzuka Ohgo, Hideaki Ito, Anna Tsuchiya

For more information on KAMUI please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: