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What's After the Movie?
Action horror film

Samurai Reincarnation (1981): Cast & Plot

Samurai Reincarnation (1981) movie poster

Samurai Reincarnation is a 1981 action horror film directed by Kinji Fukasaku, starring Kenji Sawada as Shiro Amakusa, Noboru Matsuhashi and Ken Ogata. It runs 2 hours 2 minutes.

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Samurai Reincarnation (1981) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 2m (122 min)
Director
Kinji Fukasaku
Genres
Horror , Action , Fantasy
Original language
Japanese
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Samurai Reincarnation About?

The premise of Samurai Reincarnation without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

After surviving a 350‑year‑old massacre of Christians, a disillusioned samurai denounces God for ignoring the faithful. He bargains his soul to Satan, gaining the ability to raise the dead. With an undead army at his command, he embarks on a murderous rampage.

Samurai Reincarnation Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • female rear nudity
  • villain
  • samurai
  • showdown
  • sword
  • undead
  • ronin
  • swordsman
  • sword duel
  • disarming someone
  • kendo
  • combat
+38 more
  • samurai sword
  • katana sword
  • duel
  • hand to hand combat
  • fistfight
  • brawl
  • roundhouse kick
  • karate kick
  • karate chop
  • karate
  • martial arts master
  • martial artist
  • anti hero
  • action hero
  • martial arts
  • female nudity
  • bodily possession
  • loss of girlfriend
  • demonic cult
  • massacre
  • cross
  • young love
  • tragedy
  • social commentary
  • righteous rage
  • magic
  • knife throwing
  • good versus evil
  • fire
  • female frontal nudity
  • back from the dead
  • apocalypse
  • unrequited love
  • temptress
  • devil mask
  • damnation
  • unhappy marriage
  • tragic villain
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Cast & crew

Samurai Reincarnation Cast & Characters

Kenji Sawada leads the cast as Shiro Amakusa, with Noboru Matsuhashi as Ietsuna Tokugawa and Ken Ogata as Musashi Miyamoto. Directed by Kinji Fukasaku; 43 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Kinji Fukasaku

More films directed by Kinji Fukasaku, best-rated first: Tora! Tora! Tora!, Battle Royale, Battle Royale II: Requiem and Battle Royale.

Full filmography
Plot

Samurai Reincarnation Plot Summary

What happens in Samurai Reincarnation from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Following the Shimabara Rebellion, Christian rebellion leader Amakusa Shiro, Kenji Sawada, is resurrected, renounces his God for abandoning him and thousands of Christians to be massacred by the Tokugawa regime, and swears vengeance. With the uncanny power to raise the dead, he tempts, resurrects, and recruits a trio of disillusioned figures to his cause as regretful demons: the betrayed samurai wife Hosokawa Gracia, Akiko Kana; the unfulfilled legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, Ken Ogata; and the Buddhist monk Hozoin Inshun, Hideo Murota, who suppresses his sadistic impulses while embracing a darker, demonic role.

Full summary

The whole story of Samurai Reincarnation, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

Samurai Reincarnation Videos

3 videos: 3 clips.

"Intruder!"
  • Clip Confrontation on the beach
  • Clip "What I want is a sword to kill ghosts"
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Samurai Reincarnation?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the resurrected Christian rebellion leader seeking vengeance?

Details

Samurai Reincarnation Also Known As

7 alternative titles, including “Makai tenshô” and “Szamuráj reinkarnáció”.

Also known as
  • Makai tenshô
  • Szamuráj reinkarnáció
  • 마계전생
  • 魔界转生
  • Samuraje z Piekła Rodem
  • 魔界轉生
  • Makai Tensho - Samurai Reincarnation

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FAQ

Samurai Reincarnation FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of Samurai Reincarnation, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Samurai Reincarnation?

Samurai Reincarnation runs 2 hours 2 minutes (122 minutes).

When was Samurai Reincarnation released?

Samurai Reincarnation was released on June 6, 1981.

Who directed Samurai Reincarnation?

Samurai Reincarnation was directed by Kinji Fukasaku.

More films by Kinji Fukasaku

Who is in the cast of Samurai Reincarnation?

Samurai Reincarnation stars Kenji Sawada as Shiro Amakusa, Noboru Matsuhashi as Ietsuna Tokugawa and Ken Ogata as Musashi Miyamoto, among 43 credited actors.

Does Samurai Reincarnation have a post-credit scene?

No. Samurai Reincarnation has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Samurai Reincarnation in?

The original language of Samurai Reincarnation is Japanese.

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