The Boxer: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1977
Director: Shūji Terayama
Writers: Fumio Ishimori, Rio Kishida, Shūji Terayama
Cast: Bunta Sugawara, Kentarô Shimizu, Masumi Harukawa, Jūrō Kara, Yôsuke Natsuki, Hiroshi Nawa, Keiko Niitaka, Akira Ôizumi 

Release Date: July 20th, 2026 (UK), July 21st, 2026 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 94 Minutes 18 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 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)

"A former boxing champ on the skids (Bunta Sugawara, Japanese Godfather) finds an opportunity for redemption by training a young fighter everyone judges beyond hope (Kentaro Shimizu, Mermaid Legend)." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “The Boxer was transferred in high-definition by Toei Company and supplied to Radiance Films as a high-definition digital file."

The Boxer comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 33.3 GB

Feature: 27.4 GB

The transfer is clean, free of any source-related imperfections. The film has a distinct look that employs a diverse color palette, and the transfer does a great job recreating it. Image clarity and black levels are strong, and there are no issues with compression or 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 clean, clear, and balanced, with well-represented ambient sounds.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an interview with composer J.A. Seazer (18 minutes 29 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), a video essay by Tom Mes titled Toei Studio in the Year 1977 (12 minutes 21 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), reversible cover art, a removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings; and a 20-page booklet (limited to 3,000 copies) with cast & crew information, an essay titled The Performance of the Body written by Maria Roberta Novielli, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Shūji Terayama directed The Boxer. He’s known for Pastoral: To Die in the Country, Fruits of Passion, and Farewell to the Ark.

An ex-boxer agrees to mentor a fighter who accidentally killed his brother.

While boxing is at the forefront of The Boxer, it is ultimately a film about redemption and acceptance. In the case of the former, Hayato is a self-loathing former boxer whose life has been on a downward spiral since he killed a man in the ring. Then there is the latter character, Tenma, a boxer whose determination far outpaces his skill level. That said, despite being set in the world of boxing, calling The Boxer a Japanese Rocky would be doing a great disservice to this remarkable film.

The Boxer is a film that’s overflowing with style and in many instances it goes against what one would expect from a boxing film. When it comes to the visuals, they employ a style that’s not based in reality. The Boxer does not have a conventional color scheme; it employs black and white and color filters. Another area where the visuals go against the grain is the odd angles and way the camera moves.

The two leads, Bunta Sugawara's (Street Mobster) portrayal of Hayato and Kentarô Shimizu's (Stranger) portrayal of Tenma, are excellent in their roles. It is interesting seeing Bunta Sugawara in a different kind of role, where he usually portrays confident characters who are fearless, while Hayato has given up. Another performance of note is Masumi Harukawa (The Threat) in the role of Hayato’s ex-wife, who still has feelings for him.

The opening setup does a solid job fleshing the two main characters' backstories. From there the narrative is very effective at maintaining momentum as it builds to a bittersweet finale that stays with you. Another strength of the narrative is how well it blends exposition and boxing/training moments. Ultimately, The Boxer is an extraordinary exploration of the human condition.

The Boxer gets a first-rate release from Radiance Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a trio of insightful extras. Recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer