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.
Other Titles From Shochiku
Action + Drama in Japan
444 Japan titles in our catalog blend the Action and Drama genres. Below: the top-rated of them (excluding Samurai Spy itself).
The 1964–1966 Japan Window
Samurai Spy holds position #41 of 74 Japan films in the 1964–1966 window, below highlighted by audience rating.
The 1960s Japan Landscape
Catalog density by release year across the 1960s in Japan, 202 titles in total. Highlighted year (yellow) is when Samurai Spy premiered alongside 21 others.
Position in Catalog
Released alongside 21 other Japan films in 1965.
The 223rd Japan title from Japan we index (earliest catalogued entry: 1899).
Our Japan catalog contains 4,579 titles in total (2,908 films).
Audience Engagement
38 audience reviews — more than 58% of Japan films in our index.
Review volume (58th percentile) outruns trending popularity (22th) — a durable title with sustained audience attention.
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 |