The Samurai
The Samurai
TV ShowEnded

The Samurai

10.0 / 10
1962
10 seasons
128 episodes
ComedyDrama

The Samurai is a Japanese historical fiction television series made by Senkosha Productions during the early 1960s. Its original Japanese title was Onmitsu Kenshi. The series premiered in 1962 on TBS and ran continuously until 1965 for ten self-contained story arcs, usually of 13 episodes each. Also created were two black-and-white feature films by Toei Company, made in 1964 by the same crew which has created the TV series, and a stage show. The Samurai proved to be highly successful despite its initially very limited budget. It was the first Japanese TV program ever screened in Australia, where it premiered in 1964 and built up a remarkably large fan-base among the local young audience at the time, rapidly becoming a cult favourite. Despite its massive popularity in Australia as well as success in Japan, New Zealand and the Philippines, the series was not widely screened elsewhere and its fame remains largely restricted to those countries.

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Cast

Seasons

  • Ep 1

    1.OVA

    01-11-198724m

    Shintarō saves a young Ainu wrongly accused of murder, relying on his wits and his pistol.

  • Ep 2

    2.Duel at Kiritap

    14-10-196224m

    Shintarō captures an escaped thief and takes him to the town of Kiritap to be held until Kiba arrives. However, the villagers' greed allows the thief to free himself and kill one o...

  • Ep 3

    3.Sword Storm

    21-10-196224m

    Shintarō comes upon a woman and her young son who are being terrorised by a loan-shark and his offsider, a disreputable but skilled swordsman.

  • Ep 4

    4.Revenge of the Ainus

    28-10-196224m

    A group of Ainu take a wagon carrying gold from the goldmine on the Shibuchari River in revenge for the death of the son of one of them caused by two of the guards.

  • Ep 5

    5.Imitation Prince

    04-11-196224m

    A shipwrecked rōnin impersonates Matsudaira Nobuchiyo at the instigation of a smuggler of guns so he can get them to the Ainu who has purchased them.

  • Ep 6

    6.Sudden Death

    11-11-196224m

    Shintarō helps a young boy find his mother who was taken by Onibishi, an Ainu chief. Kiba persuades Onibishi to set a trap for Shintarō.

  • Ep 7

    7.Ambush at Hell Valley

    18-11-196224m

    Shintarō, Sanpei and the refugee Ainu women continue on their way to Kunashiri Island. Sanpei mistakenly thinks Shintarō is really after Ainu treasure. Kiba and Onibisho are follo...

  • Ep 8

    8.Outlaw Brothers

    25-11-196224m

    Goromatsu's two outlaw brothers break him out of Shiranuka Gaol where he is awaiting transfer to Matsumae. He vows to kill Kiba and enlists their help.

  • Ep 9

    9.Blind Swordsman

    02-12-196224m

    Shintarō encounters Tendō Sawanosuke, a blind rōnin and his young daughter who are being harassed by Hidaya's bullies. Sawanosuke is well able to defeat them and Hidaya hires him t...

  • Ep 10

    10.Pirate Treasure

    09-12-196224m

    Habaro a young part-Japanese Ainu hunter is persuaded by an ambitious gang leader to kill his boss so he can take over but is shot in turn. Shintarō is accused of the murders but h...

  • Ep 11

    11.Master of the Sword

    16-12-196224m

    Shintarō helps a brother and sister from Aizu take revenge on the man who killed their father who is now using another name and is the sword instructor for the Matsumae Clan. Kiba...

  • Ep 12

    12.Return of the Outlaw

    23-12-196224m

    Chusuke the Weasel returns to Usu seeking Yaichi, the man who put him in gaol. None of the villagers will stand by Yaichi. They think he should leave town and then maybe Chusuke wo...

  • Ep 13

    13.Code of the Samurai

    30-12-196224m

    Matsumae government convoys and samurai have been attacked by a man in white who claims to the onmitsu. Shintarō resolves to unmask the impostor and clear his own name. He calls on...

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