Tokijiro: Lone Yakuza: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1966
Director: Tai Katô
Writers: Shin Hasegawa, Masahiro Kakefuda, Naoyuki Suzuki
Cast: Kinnosuke Nakamura, Junko Ikeuchi, Kiyoshi Atsumi, Yôko Mihara, Hideki Takahashi, Kazuko Izumi, Jirô Okazaki, Keiko Yumi

Release Date: August 26th, 2024 (UK), August 27th, 2024 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 90 Minutes 23 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK), $39.95 (USA)

"Weary of the rigid codes of the underworld, gambler Tokijiro (Kinnosuke Nakamura, Goyokin) wanders Japan in search of freedom. But escape proves to be impossible when an obligation to a gang boss leaves him with no choice but to kill a man. To atone for his crime, he vows to take care of his victim’s widow and young son. But the gang won’t rest until they’ve killed the entire family - including the man who stands in their way." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Tokijiro: Lone Yakuza was transferred in High-Definition by Toei Co. Ltd. and supplied to Radiance Films as a High-Definition digital file."

Tokijiro: Lone Yakuza comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 30.2 GB

Feature: 24.6 GB

The source used for this transfer is in great shape. Flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, mage clarity and compression are solid, contrast and black levels are strong throughout, and there does not appear to be any digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio is in great shape. Dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a newly created trailer (1 minute 18 seconds, LPCM mono Japanese with non-removable English subtitles), a video essay titled Young Master about Kinnosuke Nakamura by Japanese cinema expert Robin Gatto (17 minutes 35 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with film critic Koushi Ueno who discusses Tokijiro: Lone Yakuza (16 minutes 36 seconds, LPCM stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 24-page booklet (limited to 3000 copies) cast & crew information, an essay titled Dark Blue, With Splashes of Red written by Ivo Smits, an archival review of Tokijiro: Lone Yakuza written by Tetsuya Fukasawa, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Directed by Tai Katô, whose other notable films are Eighteen Years in Prison, The Ghost Story of Oiwa's Spirit, I, the Executioner, By a Man's Face Shall You Know Him, and Beast in the Shadows.

The narrative revolves around Tokijiro, a lone wolf gambler who is a reluctant fighter who hates killing.

What starts off as a story about survival transforms into a story about redemption when the protagonist agrees to take care of the wife and child of a man that he killed. Besides redemption, honor plays a significant role in the story that unfolds; there are several instances where characters lean on the protagonist after offering him hospitality.

The narrative quickly jumps right in with bloody ambush sequences that perfectly set the stage for what follows. This opening setup also serves as an excellent introduction to the protagonist; it gives you a glimpse into how deadly he is with a sword. From there, the narrative does a superb job introducing the other characters who cross paths with the protagonist, with everything coming full circle with a blood-soaked finale and a bittersweet coda.

When it comes to the performances, their entire cast is great in their roles, especially Kinnosuke Nakamura’s (Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy) portrayal of the protagonist. Tokijiro is clearly a man of honor, whereas all the other swordsmen in this film are cold-blooded assassins who have no code of honor. This film’s most important moment is a scene where Tokijiro has gravely wounded a man he’s dueling, and when other swordsmen try to gang up on the wounded man, he prevents them.

Tokijiro: Lone Yakuza is not a conventional example of this genre, despite having many of yakuza cinema’s familiar staples like gambling, killing, and prostitution. In fact, Tokijiro: Lone Yakuza's strengths lie not in the moments with those three elements, but in the humanity-driven moments. A powerful example of this is the scene where the protagonist reacts to the death of his sidekick, who impulsively ran into danger. Ultimately, Tokijiro: Lone Yakuza is an extraordinary exploration about a man holding onto his moral code in a world void of morality.

Tokijiro: Lone Yakuza gets an exceptional release from Radiance Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer