Ninja Wars – Toy Robot Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1982
Director: Kōsei Saitō
Writer: Ei Ogawa
Cast: Hiroyuki Sanada, Noriko Watanabe, Mikio Narita, Akira Nakao, Jun Miho, Seizo Fukumoto, Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba, Strong Kobayashi

Release Date: September 28th, 2026 (UK), September 29th, 2026 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 100 Minutes 39 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £15.99 (UK), $34.95 (USA)

"The story follows Jotaro, a wandering ninja who becomes entangled in a deadly conflict between rival clans after a brutal massacre wipes out his comrades. As he investigates, he discovers that the violence is tied to a sinister conspiracy involving a demonic sect seeking power through forbidden rituals. This group employs grotesque, otherworldly abilities--blurring the line between human and monster--to eliminate their enemies and dominate the region.

Jotaro joins forces with a mysterious female survivor whose own past is steeped in tragedy and vengeance. Together, they confront increasingly bizarre and terrifying foes, each wielding unnatural powers. As the battles escalate, Jotaro must rely not only on his physical skill but also on inner resolve to resist corruption and defeat the dark forces threatening to consume the land." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "2022 4K digitally restored version produced by Kadokawa Corporation."

Ninja Wars comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 43.1 GB

Feature: 27.4 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones and colors look correct, contrast, black levels, image clarity, and compression are solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The track sounds clean, clear, and balanced, and action sequences sound robust when they should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include three theatrical trailers (6 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English and Japanese, no subtitles), an interview with author Matt Alt titled A Japanese Ninja (22 minutes 8 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an author and academic, Daisuke Miyao titled The Way of the Ninja (24 minutes 42 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with film historian Jonathan Clements, a VHS version of Ninja Wars (101 minutes 33 seconds, 4:3 aspect ratio, in standard definition, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a text-based extra titled Dark Magic Fantasy of Ninja, Sword and Sorcery written by Zach Davisson, three art cards, reversible cover art, an obi sleeve, three art cards, and a slipcover.

Summary:

Kôsei Saitô directed Ninja Wars. Although he mostly worked in television, his notable theatrical feature films are Devil’s Flute and G.I. Samurai. Ninja Wars is an adaptation of Fûtarô Yamada’s novel Iga Ninpōchō. Fûtarô Yamada also wrote the historical fantasy novel Makai Tenshō, which was adapted into Samurai Reincarnation. 

Lord Donjo Matsunaga is infatuated with Lady Ukyo, who is in love with Lord Miyoshi. A sorcerer named Kashin promises Lord Donjo Matsunaga the love of Lady Ukyodayu via a love potion. Whoever marries Lady Ukyodayu, the shogun’s daughter, will become the next ruler of the land. Kashin’s five henchmen capture Ukyodayu’s twin sister, Kagaribi, to obtain the tears needed for the love potion. Jotaro has searched high and low for his lover, Kagaribi. He soon discovers her death, vowing revenge against Kashin and his henchmen. Will Lady Ukyodayu finally fall in love with Lord Matsunaga or does her love belong to someone else?

Ninja Wars explores themes like love, obsession, revenge, and betrayal. The opening setup does a phenomenal job setting the foundation by introducing key characters and creating a conflict that drives the narrative. While the action scenes will be a main draw from many, the narrative is actually a very satisfying balance of exposition and action. Another strength of the narrative is how effectively it creates tension and builds momentum to its exceptional finale.

The entire cast excels in their performances. The standout performance is Noriko Watanabe (His Motorbike, Her Island) in the dual roles of Kagaribi and Lady Ukyodayu, twin sisters separated at birth. Hiroyuki Sanada (The Twilight Samurai) superbly portrays Jotrao, the protagonist of Ninja Wars. Another cast member of note is Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba (The Executioner) in the role of a samurai named Shinzaemon Yagyu. Hanzo Hattori, a character Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba portrayed multiple times, makes an appearance in Ninja Wars, where another actor, Hiroshi Tanaka, portrays him.

It's not surprising that the action sequences and stunt work are impressive, since Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba was Ninja Wars’ action coordinator. While Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba has a few action-related moments where he shines, the most memorable action sequences all feature Hiroyuki Sanada. When it comes to carnage, Ninja Wars is not as bloody as Shogun’s Ninja. Ultimately, Ninja Wars is a highly entertaining blend of action, fantasy, and melodrama.

Ninja Wars gets an excellent release from Toy Robot Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and informative extras. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer