Japan Synopsis
異聞猿飛佐助
Years of warfare end in a Japan unified under the Tokugawa shogunate, and samurai spy Sasuke Sarutobi, tired of conflict, longs for peace. When a high-ranking spy named Tatewaki Koriyama defects from the shogun to a rival clan, however, the world of swordsmen is thrown into turmoil. After Sasuke is unwittingly drawn into the conflict, he tracks Tatewaki, while a mysterious, white-hooded figure seems to hunt them both. By tale’s end, no one is who they seemed to be, and the truth is far more personal than anyone suspected. Director Masahiro Shinoda’s Samurai Spy, filled with clan intrigue, ninja spies, and multiple double crosses, marks a bold stylistic departure from swordplay film convention.
The 1964–1966 Japan Window
74 Japan films released in this three-year window, ranked here by audience rating. Samurai Spy sits at position #41.
Other Titles From Shochiku
The 1960s Japan Landscape
Catalog density by release year in the 1960s. Highlighted year (yellow) is when Samurai Spy premiered. 202 total titles in this decade from Japan.
Reception Benchmarks
Ranked #2,952 of 4,579 Japan films indexed here (36th percentile by TMDB audience score).
Rating is -0.3 points below the Japan average of 6.9/10.
Among Japan Action productions specifically: #1,169 of 1,714 (top 68%).
Production Details
| Primary Country | Japan |
|---|---|
| Original Language | Japanese |
| Production Companies | Shochiku |
| Runtime | 1h 40m |
| Release Date | July 10, 1965 |
| IMDb | tt0059303 |