Sleepy Eyes of Death

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Sleepy Eyes of Death is the "fake" American title of a 1960s Japanese film series that starred Ichikawa Raizo as a ronin named Nemuri Kyôshirô (眠狂四郎, Nemuri Kyōshirō^?). The character is described as a "mysterious stranger, the samurai with the strange, sleepy eyes. His mother Japanese; his father a foreigner."^[1] He is also called "the son of the Black Mass" (because of being conceived during a Black Mass in which his mother, a noble's daughter, was raped by a fallen Western priest) and is a master of Engetsu-Sappo, "The Full Moon Cut", in which he draws a circle with his sword, slaying his opponents upon completion of the circle.^[2]

In the first film, Sleepy Eyes of Death 1: The Chinese Jade, Nemuri Kyôshirô says: "I'm just someone who's pissed off at all mankind even though I'm a man myself. I'm past the point of no return... I know not what the future holds, but in the time that I have, I shall be the ruin of evil men that cross my path."^[3]

The stories take place during Edo period under the Tokugawa shogunate and the rule of Tokugawa Ienari.^[2]

[edit] The Sleepy Eyes of Death film series

"Nemuri Kyoshiro" was first played by Koji Tsuruta in three films released by Toho Studios:

1. 'Nemuri Kyôshirô Burai Hikae' (1956)
2. 'Nemuri Kyôshirô Burai Hikae Dainibu' (1957)
3. 'Nemuri Kyôshirô Burai Hikae: Maken Jigoku' (1958)

From 1963 to 1969, Ichikawa Raizo played "Nemuri Kyoshiro" in the Daiei Studios series:

1. Sleepy Eyes of Death 1: The Chinese Jade (1963)
   • Nemuri Kyôshirô 1: Sappocho (Enter Kyoshiro Nemuri, the Swordsman)
2. Sleepy Eyes of Death 2: Sword of Adventure (1964)
   • 'Nemuri Kyôshirô 2: Shôbu (Adventure of Kyoshiro Nemuri)
3. Sleepy Eyes of Death 3: Full Circle Killing (1964)
   • Nemuri Kyôshirô 3: Engetsugiri (Exploits of Kyoshiro Nemuri)
4. Sleepy Eyes of Death 4: Sword of Seduction (1964)
   • Nemuri Kyôshirô 4: Joyoken (Kyoshiro Nemuri at Bay)
5. Sleepy Eyes of Death 5: Sword of Fire (1965)
   • Nemuri Kyôshirô 5: Enjo-ken (The Swordman and the Pirate)
6. Sleepy Eyes of Death 6: Sword of Satan (1965)
   • Nemuri Kyôshirô 6: Masho-ken (The Mysterious Sword of Kyoshiro)
7. Sleepy Eyes of Death 7: The Mask of the Princess (1966)
   • Nemuri Kyôshirô 7: Tajo-ken (The Mask of the Princess)
8. Sleepy Eyes of Death 8: Sword of Villainy (1966)
   • Nemuri Kyôshirô 8: Burai-ken (The Sword That Saved Edo)
9. Sleepy Eyes of Death 9: A Trail of Traps (1967)
   • Nemuri Kyôshirô 9: Burai-Hikae masho no hada (The Trail of Traps)
10. Sleepy Eyes of Death 10: Hell Is a Woman (1968)
    • Nemuri Kyôshirô 10: Onna jigoku (The Ronin Called Nemuri)
11. Sleepy Eyes of Death 11: In the Spider's Lair (1968)
    • Nemuri Kyôshirô 11: Hito hada kumo (The Human Tarantula)
12. Sleepy Eyes of Death 12: Castle Menagerie (1969)
    • Nemuri Kyôshirô 12: Akujo-gari (Castle Menagerie)

The role of "Nemuri Kyoshiro" was then played by Matsukata Hiroki in two more Daiei films after Ichikawa's death:

1. 'Nemuri Kyôshirô: Engetsu Sappo' (1969) (The Full Moon Swordsman)
2. 'Nemuri Kyôshirô: Manji Giri' (1969) (Fylfot Swordplay)

Tamura Masakazu starred as "Nemuri Kyoshiro" in three made-for-TV movie specials:

1. 'Nemuri Kyôshirô' (1989)
2. 'Nemuri Kyôshirô: Conspiracy in Edo Castle' (1993)
3. 'Nemuri Kyôshirô: The Man with No Tomorrow' (1996)

[edit] References

1. ^ AnimEigo, Series Introduction (December 28, 2007).
2. ^ ^{a b} Nemurai Kyoshiro at e-budokai.com (December 28, 2006)
3. ^ White, Allen. "Samurai", GreenCine (December 28, 2006)

[edit] External links

• Nemuri Kyoshiro at imdb.com
• Series liner notes at AnimEigo (covers first five films)