Sleepy Eyes of Death

"Sleepy Eyes of Death" is the "fake" American title of a 1960s Japanese film series that starred Ichikawa Raizo as a ronin named nihongo|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." [http://www.animeigo.com/Samurai/SLEEPY.t AnimEigo] , Series Introduction (December 28, 2007).] 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. [http://www.e-budokai.com/chambara/sleepyeyes.htm Nemurai Kyoshiro] at e-budokai.com (December 28, 2006)]

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."White, Allen. [http://www.greencine.com/static/primers/samurai1.jsp "Samurai"] , GreenCine (December 28, 2006)]

The stories take place during Edo period under the Tokugawa shogunate and the rule of Tokugawa Ienari. [http://www.e-budokai.com/chambara/sleepyeyes.htm Nemurai Kyoshiro] at e-budokai.com (December 28, 2006)]

Animeigo released the series on VHS, but currently has no plans for it to be on DVD.

The "Sleepy Eyes of Death" film series

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

#'Nemuri Kyôshirô Burai Hikae' (1956)
#'Nemuri Kyôshirô Burai Hikae Dainibu' (1957)
#'Nemuri Kyôshirô Burai Hikae: Maken Jigoku' (1958)

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

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

#'Nemuri Kyôshirô: Engetsu Sappo' (1969) ("The Full Moon Swordsman")
#'Nemuri Kyôshirô: Manji Giri' (1969) ("Fylfot Swordplay")

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

#'Nemuri Kyôshirô' (1989)
#'Nemuri Kyôshirô: Conspiracy in Edo Castle' (1993)
#'Nemuri Kyôshirô: The Man with No Tomorrow' (1996)

Manga

There was also a manga adaptation briefly published in the U.S. by Raijin Comics near the end of that magazines' run. Its misogynistic tone [I.E. rape tends to be trivialized.] , and potentially controversial anti-Christian elements made it a bold, but hard, sell for the company, which presumably was trying to cash in on the success of Rurouni Kenshin.

References

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/find?s=all&q=nemuri+kyoshiro Nemuri Kyoshiro at imdb.com]
* [http://www.animeigo.com/SamLiner/SLEEPYLINER.t Series liner notes at AnimEigo] (covers first five films)