Shogun's Ninja: Limited Edition – Arrow Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1980
Director: Norifumi Suzuki
Writers: Takao Ishikawa, Ichirō Otsu, Shirō Kannami
Cast: Hiroyuki Sanada, Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba, Etsuko Shiomi, Shōhei Hino, Yōko Nogiwa, Yuki Ninagawa, Katsumasa Uchida, Masashi Ishibashi, Akira Hamada, Asao Koike, Masumi Harukawa, Makoto Satō, Isao Natsuyagi, Tetsuro Tamba

Release Date: August 25th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 117 Minutes
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $39.95

"During the Warring States period, a lone man on a small boat approaches the shores of Japan. His name is Takamaru Momochi, heir to the Iga clan, returning after ten years of hiding in China and fully intent on finding the ruthless ninja Shiranui (Chiba), the man who betrayed and murdered his father. But with Shiranui and his thugs now in control of the country, Takamaru must gather the scattered remnants of his clan and train in the shadowy art of ninjutsu so they can mount a guerrilla resistance, defeat the corrupt ninja and restore the Iga's honor." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "The High-Definition master provided by Toei Company, LTD."

Shogun's Ninja comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.2 GB

Feature: 36.6 GB

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

Audio: 4/5 (LPCM Mono Japanese), 3.5/5 (LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese and a LPCM mono mix in English. While both tracks sound clear and balanced, the English-language track sounds more confined. Included are English subtitles for the Japanese-language track and a second English subtitle track for text in Japanese. It should be noted that languages and subtitles can only be changed via the setup menu.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an interview with Japanese cinema expert Clément Rauger titled The Rebirth of Japanese Action Cinema (22 minutes 9 seconds, LPCM stereo French with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary by Asian cinema expert Chris Poggiali, reversible cover art, a slipcover (limited to the first pressing), and a 24-page booklet (limited to the first pressing) with cast & crew information, an essay titled The Double Agents of Shogun’s Ninja written by Earl Jackson, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Norifumi Suzuki directed Shogun's Ninja. He’s known for The Lustful Shogun and His 21 Concubines, Sex and Fury, School of the Holy Beast, The Killing Machine, Star of David: Hunting for Beautiful Girls, and Roaring Fire. He also directed several films in the Girl Boss and Terrifying Girls' High School film series.

Hideyoshi Toyotomi, a power-hungry warlord, makes a pact with Shogun Shiranui to destroy the Momochi clan and find out where their cache of gold is hidden. After Shogen Shiranui and his men slaughter the Momochi clan, they are unable to retrieve the knife, which contains engravings that are a map that tells us where the gold is hidden. When his family was murdered, Takamaru was secretly taken away by a loyal servant. Ten years later, now a man, Takamaru, returns to Japan to reform the Momochi clan and exact revenge on those who killed his family.

Shogun's Ninja is the type of film that should convert anyone who dislikes ninja films into a fan. The well-crafted narrative does an excellent job grabbing your attention, and things move briskly from one action set piece to the next. That said, while action-heavy, there is just enough exposition to flesh out key characters.

When it comes to the action sequences, they are inventive and very gory. Another area where the action sequences standout is how each one somehow tops the previous one. The most memorable action sequences involve Shogun Shiranui and two of his henchmen who combine their skills and fight as one. The action sequences were choreographed by Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba’s Japan Action Club.

By the early 1980s, Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba (The Street Fighter) moved away from leading man to ensemble films that often feature two of his protégés, Hiroyuki Sanada (The Last Samurai) and Etsuko Shiomi (Dragon Princess). Hiroyuki Sanada is cast in the role of the protagonist, Takamaru, the lone survivor and heir to the Iga clan. He delivers one of his most well-rounded performances, and some of the moves he executes in action sequences are jaw-dropping.

While Shogun’s Ninja is a film that’s not going to be remembered for its performances, the cast, especially Hiroyuki Sanada, Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba, Etsuko Shiomi, and Etsuko Shiomi, elevate everyone around him. Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba’s character, Shogun Shiranui, is a man of action who only sparsely uses words. Although there have been many female action stars that have come out of Asia, still none have ever consistently held their own with their male counterparts like Sue Shihomi.

Norifumi Suzuki is an underrated filmmaker whose output in the 1970s is among the best out of any filmmaker working for Toei. Although he continued to work throughout the 1980s, his standouts from this era are ninja films, all of which feature Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba. That said, Norifumi Suzuki excelled most at action and exploitation; Shogun's Ninja delivers in spades when it comes to these two things. Ultimately, Shogun's Ninja is a fast-paced action extravaganza that fans of ninja films should thoroughly enjoy.

Shogun's Ninja gets a first-rate release Arrow Video that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Roaring Fire – Toy Robot Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1981
Director: Norifumi Suzuki
Writers: Shinsuke Inoue, Masakazu Shimura, Norifumi Suzuki
Cast: Hiroyuki Sanada, Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba, Etsuko Shiomi, Mikio Narita, Toshiaki Minami, Tatsuo Endô, Shunji Sasaki, Rikiya Yasuoka, Seizô Fukumoto, Abdullah the Butcher

Release Date: September 7th, 2026 (UK), September 8th, 2026 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 94 Minutes 52 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)

"On the death bed of his adoptive father, Texas-raised rancher Joji learns a shocking family secret - he has a twin brother and sister he never knew about. Determined to find his brother, Joji travels to Japan only to discover he has been mysteriously killed. As he stays with his sister and digs deeper, Joji uncovers his uncle's involvement in criminal enterprises, including plans to obtain a priceless 130-carat diamond known as the Queen of Sheba. Betrayal and vengeance unfold as Joji confronts his corrupt uncle and fights to avenge his family." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Roaring Fire comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.5 GB

Feature: 25.2 GB

There is no information provided about the source used for this release transfer; it is in line with most of Toei’s off-the-shelf HD transfers. Flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity is strong, black levels fare well, and there are no issues with compression. That said, there are times where the image does not retain an organic look and there appears to be some digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4/5

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

Extras:

Extras for this release include a US TV spot (31 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), two theatrical trailers (3 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese, no subtitles), an interview with film critic Clément Rauger titled A Buffet of Comedy and Action (24 minutes 49 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French with removable English subtitles), an interview with film critic James Mudge titled A Roaring Success (20 minutes 28 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English subtitles for Japanese film clips), an interview with pro-wrestling critic and film writer Chris Lines, who provides a career retrospective of Abdullah the Butcher titled A Roaring Success (16 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English subtitles for Japanese film clips), an interview with Japanese film critic Akihiko Ito titled Fire-Storm! Sonny Chiba, the Man, the Actor, and the Legend (23 minutes 11 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with film historian Brian Bankston, three art cards, reversible cover art, an obi sleeve, three art cards, and a slipcover.

Summary:

Norifumi Suzuki directed Roaring Fire. He’s known for The Lustful Shogun and His 21 Concubines, Sex and Fury, School of the Holy Beast, The Killing Machine, Star of David: Hunting for Beautiful Girls, and Shogun's Ninja. He also directed several films in the Girl Boss and Terrifying Girls' High School film series.

On his death bed, the man who raised Joji reveals that he is not his real father and that Joji’s real parents died tragically in a plane crash. Shortly thereafter, Joji goes to Japan in search of his sister and his twin brother, Toru. Joji quickly finds his sister Chihiro, who is now blind and lives with their uncle. Joji one evening accidentally overhears his uncle, who has ties to the criminal underworld, discussing his various illegal operations. His uncle discovers Joji's eavesdropping and offers him a chance to join the organization. Joji promptly turns his uncle’s offer down, which immediately puts his life in danger.

Roaring Fire is a melting pot of genres that leans heavily into action and exploitation elements. The initial setup does an excellent job laying out the main characters and there are an ample amount of surprises that ensures there is never a dull moment. A strength of the narrative is how well it balances action and exposition as it builds to an outstanding finale that perfectly brings everything together. 

When it comes to action sequences, Roaring Fire delivers and then some. The stuntwork throughout is impressive and many of the fights feature high-flying choreography. For a film where all of the action set pieces leave a strong impression, a scene between Joji and a character named Samson is arguably the most memorable. Samson is portrayed by Abdullah the Butcher, a former professional wrestler, whose imposing size makes for some fascinating fights. The scene in question takes place in a pool and Joji uses his speed to wear Samson down.

While action is front and center, Roaring Fire has many wonderful comedic moments, like the scene where Joji returns to his family's home. When he arrives, there is a group of girls hanging out at the pool in bikinis who confront him after his monkey steals one of their tops. Things escalate; his hand accidentally rips off another girl's top. Another humorous moment of note is a scene where Joji is being chased by ninjas who are not that skillful. Other humor comes from Shunsuke Tachikawa, an undercover narcotics agent who’s posing as a magician.

Hiroyuki Sanada (Rush Hour 3) is the star of Roaring Fire. He’s cast in two roles, twin brothers Joji and Toru. In the case of the latter, he dies in a hellfire of bullets that opens the film. A frequent collaborator of Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba, Roaring Fire gives him the opportunity to lead a film instead of his usual supporting role. That said, he delivers an excellent performance that features some of his best fight scenes.

Hiroyuki Sanada is surrounded by a solid supporting cast of familiar faces from 1970s and 80s Japanese action cinema. Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba (The Street Fighter) delivers a memorable performance in the role of Shunsuke Tachikawa. He takes his limited screentime and creates a character that steals every moment he’s in. Another performance of note is Etsuko Shiomi (Sister Street Fighter) in the role of Chihiro, Joji’s sister. Her character is blind and she uses the sound around her to defend herself against all attackers. Her fighting prowess is impressive, and unable to beat her, the bad guys use music to cover up their movement as they attack her.

When it comes to exploitation elements, Roaring Fire pushes the extremes. The main bad guy is a drug kingpin with a Nazi fetish. Besides having a portrait of Adolf Hitler and swastikas, he has a room that's rigged like a gas chamber. That said, these Nazi-related moments add shock value and nothing more. Norifumi Suzuki was one of the best Japanese filmmakers when it came to down-and-dirty exploitation cinema and with Roaring Fire, he delivers another gem. Ultimately, Roaring Fire is a highly entertaining mix of action, exploitation, and mayhem.

Roaring Fire gets a first-rate release from Toy Robot Video that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Sex and Fury / Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture: Limited Edition – Arrow Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Japan, 1973 (Sex and Fury, Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture)
Directors: Norifumi Suzuki (Sex and Fury), Teruo Ishii (Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture)
Cast: Reiko Ike, Christina Lindberg, Akemi Negishi, Jun Midorikawa (Sex and Fury), Reiko Ike, Makoto Aikawa, Arumi Kuri, Meika Seri, Jun Midorikawa, Emi Jô (Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture)

Release Date: July 5th, 2026
Approximate Running Times: 88 Minutes 33 Seconds (Sex and Fury), 85 Minutes 52 Seconds (Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Films)
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese (Both Films)
Subtitles: English (Both Films)
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £24.99 (UK)

"Following their genre-defining "female delinquent" classic Girl Boss Guerrilla, director Norifumi Suzuki and action star Reiko Ike would join forces once again for the shocking Sex & Fury. Pulpy and bathed in lurid violence of the highest order, the film would beget the sequel, Female Yakuza Tale, directed by none other than the king of ero-guro, Teruo Ishii (Horrors of Malformed Men).

In Sex & Fury, deadly swordswoman Ocho Inoshika (Ike) is looking for the men who killed her father and finds herself infiltrating a sordid den of sexually deviant yakuza, involving a British secret agent (Christina Lindberg, Thriller: A Cruel Picture) and a twisted international scheme that could alter the fate of Japan. The sequel sees Ocho captured by devious yakuza who use Chinese women as drug mules, forcing her to use her sharp wits and blade to fight her way out.

Unparalleled levels of sleaze and violence combine in a haze of psychedelia with this deadly duo of Japanese exploitation, representing the high watermark of 1970s Toei yakuza madness." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5 (Sex and Fury), 3.75/5 (Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “The restored high-definition masters were provided by Toei Company LTD.”

Sex and Fury and Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture come on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 46.2 GB

Feature: 21 GB (Sex and Fury), 20.3 GB (Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture)

Arrow Video uses the same source that Discotek Media used for their 2022 Blu-ray releases. Sex and Fury’s source looks excellent; flesh tones look healthy, image clarity, color saturation, black levels, and compression are solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction. Though Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture’s source looks similar in most areas, black levels are not as convincing as they should be.

Audio: 4.25/5 (Both Audio Tracks)

Each film comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. Both tracks sound excellent; dialogue always comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer for Sex and Fury (3 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), a theatrical trailer for Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture (3 minutes 26 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with Yakuza film historian Akihiko Ito titled Naked Vengeance (20 minutes 10 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival audio commentary with Japanese cinema expert Chris D. for Sex and Fury, an archival audio commentary with Chris D. for Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture, reversible cover art, a slipcover (limited to the first pressing), and a 24-page booklet (limited to the first pressing) with cast & crew information for both films, an essay titled Pinky Violence: Tales of Sex and Fury written by Camille Zaurin, and information about the transfers.

Summary:

Sex and Fury: Norifumi Suzuki directed Sex and Fury. He’s known for The Lustful Shogun and His 21 Concubines, School of the Holy Beast, The Killing Machine, Star of David: Hunting for Beautiful Girls, and Roaring Fire. He also directed several films in the Girl Boss and Terrifying Girls' High School film series.

As a child, the traumatic event of watching her police officer father murdered turned Ochô Inoshika towards a life of crime. Years later, she searches gambling houses looking for her father's killers; her only clues are three cards that hold the key to uncovering their identities. Along the way, she gets involved in a card game that will determine the fate of a young woman who she promised to free from the world of prostitution.

Sex & Fury is the first film in a series of two, followed by Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture. Both films star Reiko Ike (Graveyard of Honor) in the role of Ochô Inoshika, a gambler who's also deadly with the sword. Furthermore, Sex & Fury and Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture had different directors, content-wise and stylistically; there is not much separation between these two films.

Sex & Fury dives right in with an excellent pre-credits sequence that lays the groundwork for why the protagonist has devoted her life to revenge. From there, the narrative does a phenomenal job of balancing exposition and action, as pacing is never an issue. Another strength of the narrative is how effectively it builds momentum towards a sensational finale that perfectly brings Ochô Inoshika’s journey to a climax.

The main attraction is Reiko Ike’s portrayal of Ochô Inoshika; she delivers a scene-stealing performance that is arguably the best of her career. Though Ochô Inoshika bears all the traits that one has come to expect from Japanese female assassins, the result is a character that actually stands apart from the rest of the pact. Not only does Ochô Inoshika ooze sexuality, but she is also a force who can go toe to toe with any man.

Not to be overlooked is Christina Lindberg’s (Thriller: A Cruel Picture) portrayal of a British spy named Christina. Despite her limited range as an actress, she still delivers a charismatic performance that relies heavily on her physical presence. That said, the rest of the cast are very good in their roles.

Without a doubt, one of Sex & Fury’s most durable assets is Norifumi Suzuki’s stylized visuals, which heighten the mood. A few standout moments include a scene where a bathing Ochô Inoshika is forced to fight assassins in the nude and Christina’s death is one of the most beautiful deaths ever filmed. That said, the scene that stands out more than any other is an elegant ballroom sequence that introduces Christina.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where Sex and Fury does not excel, and then some. There is never a shortage of nudity, depravity, or carnage, with some dark humor thrown in for good measure. The fight scenes are spectacular, especially when it comes to the strategic placement during the nude sword fighting. Another strength is composer Ichirô Araki’s exemplary score, which does an exceptional job reinforcing the mood. Ultimately, Sex & Fury is one of Toei’s high-watermark films of the 1970s and a must-see if you're a fan of Pinky Violence cinema.

Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture: Teruo Ishii directed A Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture. He was a versatile filmmaker who worked in just about every film genre. No matter the quality of the source material, he always somehow manages to craft something that is above and beyond an amazing thrill ride. The Man from Abashiri Prison, Horrors of Malformed Men, Blind Woman's Curse, The Executioner, The Executioner II: Karate Inferno, and the Joy of Torture series are notable films directed by Teruo Ishii.

A Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture picks up right where its predecessor, Sex & Fury, left off as we see the prototagnoist Ochô surrounded by a group of assassins with their samurai swords drawn as she spins her umbrella. A tongue-in-cheek opening credits sequence showcases not only Ochô’s impressive fighting skills but her other ample assets as well.

Teruo Ishii’s direction is inspired; he keeps things moving along at a brisk pace. The highlight of his direction is a jaw-dropping finale in which numerous naked women use swords and other weapons against their male counterparts. When it comes to more exploitative elements, which are overflowing throughout In A Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture, Teruo Ishii does not miss a beat.

As good as the cast is in their roles, everyone is obscured by Reiko Ike’s (Graveyard of Honor) mesmerizing performance in the role of Ochô Inoshika, a gambler who is also a deadly assassin. She delivers a solid performance that expands on her role from Sex & Fury. Although she is portraying the same character, her portrayal of Ochô Inoshika is slightly different for each film.

Ryohei Uchida (Bodyguard Kiba), who made a career portraying offbeat characters, portrays Jôji, who has a score to settle with the same people Ochô Inoshika is going after. Although his screen time is limited, when he does appear on screen, he tends to dominate that scene. His character's most memorable moment is a scene where he throws bullets like throwing stars as they pierce his eyes and forehead.

Teruo Ishii goes for a more realistic look at the carnage in Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture than in Sex & Fury. The fighting scenes are beautifully photographed and executed. That said, one area where A Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture comes up short is the obvious lack of budget. Most noticeable is the overuse of framing compositions at an angle or tight close-ups that obscure the background. Increasing the level of violence when compared to its predecessor, Sex & Fury, this film takes disrobing to another level.

Another distinct difference is that Sex & Fury was a period film that took place in the past, whereas Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture looks and feels modern. Besides increasing the level of violence when compared to its predecessor, Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture takes disrobing to another level. Ultimately, Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture is a very satisfying sequel that stands well on its own.

Sex and Fury and Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture are given their best home media release to date. Highly recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

Terrifying Girls' High School: Women's Violent Classroom – Discotek Media (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1972
Director: Norifumi Suzuki
Writers: Masahiro Kakefuda, Ikuo Sekimoto, Norifumi Suzuki
Cast: Miki Sugimoto, Natsuko Miura, Masataka Naruse, Ryôko Ema, Miwako Onaya, Naomi Oka, Yôko Mihara, Akira Ôizumi, Nobuo Kaneko, Hiroshi Nawa, Reiko Ike

Release Date: October 28th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 78 Minutes 43 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $24.95

"If you’re lucky enough to make it out of Seikou Girls’ Academy, they say it’ll make you a wise wife and a gentle mother. Yeah, right. In these harrowing halls, most students survive by keeping their heads down or having them smashed in! Out of all the academy’s gangs, there’s none more terrifying than O-Michi (Miki Sugimoto) and the Stormbreakers. But when a mysterious transfer student (Reiko Ike) steps on O-Michi’s turf, the ensuing gang war reveals a trail of blood that leads straight back to the school itself!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5

Terrifying Girls' High School: Women's Violent Classroom comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 16.3 GB

Feature: 15.6 GB

No information is provided about the source used for this transfer. That said, the source is in good shape, and any source debris is minimal. Flesh tones and colors look correct, the image looks crisp, black levels are strong, and there are no issues with compression.

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese, and included with this release are removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced. Range-wise, things sound very good.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 14 seconds, LPCM mono Japanese with removable English subtitles) and a slipcover.

Summary:

Norifumi Suzuki directed Terrifying Girls' High School: Women's Violent Classroom. He’s known for Tokugawa Sex Ban, The Lustful Shogun and His 21 Concubines, School of the Holy Beast, The Killing Machine, Star of David: Hunting for Beautiful Girls, and Roaring Fire. He also directed several films in the Girl Boss and Terrifying Girls' High School film series.

A new student enrolls at the prestigious Seikou Girls’ Academy, determined not to yield to a gang of delinquent girls known as the Stormbreakers. She has hidden motives for attending the academy, and no one will hinder her quest for revenge.

By the time Toei called upon Norifumi Suzuki to direct Terrifying Girls' High School: Women's Violent Classroom, he had already directed three sukeban films. Norifumi Suzuki is more synonymous with these types of films than any other filmmaker working in Toei's "pinky violence" subgenre. Terrifying Girls' High School: Women's Violent Classroom also pairs Miki Sugimoto and Reiko Ike, the biggest stars of Toei’s “pinky violence.”

There are three things at play in Terrifying Girls' High School: Women's Violent Classroom. The first is a storyline that revolves around a new idealistic teacher named Keiichi Yoshioka. He believes the best way to combat delinquents is by force, while those around him warn him to tone down his aggressive behavior. The other storyline revolves around a new student named Yuki Onozaki; she’s an orphan and her past trauma is linked to someone at Seikou Girls’ Academy. Outwardly she appears to be a model student in a school overrun by delinquents. These two storylines intersect with Michiko Nakata, the leader of a girl gang known as the Stormbreakers.

All around, the cast are excellent, especially Miki Sugimoto (Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs) in the role of Michiko and Reiko Ike (Girl Boss: Revenge) in the role of Yuki. The character of Michiko is much more than an adolescent with a brutal outlook; a traumatic event from her past changed her into what she's now become. Ultimately, it is the weight of past trauma that unites Michiko and Yuki for a final confrontation with their oppressors.

At just under 80 minutes, the narrative covers a lot of ground and always moves briskly. There is an ample amount of depravity and violence, two of Toei’s “pinky violence” staples. Norifumi Suzuki's direction is exemplary; he really excels when it comes to the type of subject matter covered in Toei’s “pinky violence” films. Another area where Terrifying Girls' High School: Women's Violent Classroom shines is its use of music that perfectly contrasts the brutality. Ultimately, Terrifying Girls' High School: Women's Violent Classroom is one of the best examples of Toei's "pinky violence" subgenre.

Although it is great that a film like Terrifying Girls' High School: Women's Violent Classroom is getting an English-friendly release, the lack of extras is a disappointment since most boutique labels releasing Asian cinema come with extras that provide insight about these films. Terrifying Girls' High School: Women's Violent Classroom is another barebones release from Discotek Media that comes with a strong audio/video presentation.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Great Chase: Limited Edition – Neon Eagle (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1975
Director: Norifumi Suzuki
Writers: Masahiro Kakefuda, Takeo Kaneko
Cast: Etsuko Shihomi, Hisako Tanaka, Mach Fumiake, Bin Amatsu, Masashi Ishibashi, Yôichi Numata, Shôhei Yamamoto, Naoyuki Sugano, Fujika Ômori, Tôru Yuri, Torahiko Hamada, Eiji Gô, Fumio Watanabe

Release Date: July 21st, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 83 Minutes 3 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $39.99

"See! Singing lady wrestlers! Drug running, whip-wielding nuns! A blow-dart-spewing assassin dressed like a Native American for no reason! A Nazi-loving Catholic bishop/drug lord who sports a ratty bear suit to assault kidnapped girls! Witness! Etsuko (and her no-doubt underpaid double) do truly perilous and death-defying stunts! Hear! An absolutely banging funk-jazz soundtrack that propels the whole movie along at a breakneck pace!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "2K restoration."

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

Disc Size: 29.5 GB

Feature: 23.5 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds excellent; the dialogue comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced. This track sounds great range-wise.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background (posters/stills), a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 56 seconds, DTS-HD mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with film critic/historian Tatsuya Masuto (19 minutes 17 seconds, DTS-HD stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Chris Poggiali and John Charles, reversible cover art, a slipcover (limited to 2000 copies), and a 12-page booklet (limited to 2000 copies) with an essay titled Norifumi Suzuki: King of Comedy written by Nathan Stuart.

Summary:

Norifumi Suzuki directed The Great Chase. He’s known for Tokugawa Sex Ban, The Lustful Shogun and His 21 Concubines, School of the Holy Beast, The Killing Machine, Star of David: Hunting for Beautiful Girls, and Roaring Fire. He also directed several films in the Girl Boss and Terrifying Girls' High School film series.

A racecar driver named Shinobu Yashiro is recruited by the Japanese secret service, who wants her to use her unique set of skills to infiltrate and bring down a drug cartel.

Etsuko Shihomi is a name anyone familiar with 1970s Japanese action cinema knows. She was a protégé of Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba, and she would ultimately become the female equivalent to him. Compared to other actresses in Japanese action films, her skill level was so superior that she had no rivals. Etsuko Shihomi delivered many memorable performances in films where Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba was the star. However, she proved that she could hold her own as a lead when given the opportunity, as exemplified by her role in The Great Chase.

When we are introduced to Shinobu Yashiro, she is riding high after winning a prestigious race. She is approached by the Japanese secret service not only because of her skill set but also because the case they are working on is connected to her father, who was framed and sent to prison, where he died. This personal connection adds a layer to her character, who always believed her father was innocent, and now she has the opportunity to avenge him by clearing his name and bringing those responsible to justice.

The Great Chase is a film that gives Etsuko Shihomi so much to work with. Not only does she get to showcase impressive stunt work and exceptional fighting skills, but also her character is a master of disguise who appears as a man, an old cleaning woman, and a nun. Cast opposite of Shinobu Yashiro is a colorful gallery of villains, like a compulsive gambler, a man who breaks boulders with his head, a man who throws cards that slice through things, a knife thrower, an Indian that blows darts, and a man who wears a gorilla suit as part of his sexual fetish. That said, all around, the performances are outstanding.

Norifumi Suzuki was truly one of the most gifted filmmakers working in 1970s Japanese cinema. There was no genre that he shied away from, and by the time he was done, his films always had a uniqueness to them that set him apart from his contemporaries. In The Great Chase, Suzuki creates a unique blend of genres, incorporating melodrama, elements of exploitation such as T&A, graphic violence, and action sequences that consistently surpass expectations.

The narrative does an excellent job fleshing out characters and building momentum to an exemplary action-packed finale. Though all of the action set pieces are phenomenal, The Great Chase saves its best for last, in a sequence where Shinobu Yashiro hangs from an aerial tramway while the bad guy tries to get her to fall from a great height. Composer Masao Yagi (Terrifying Girls' High School: Women's Violent Classroom) delivers a solid score that’s in line with the funky scores that so many 1970s Toei action films had. Another strength of The Great Chase is its use of classical music during its most shocking moments. Ultimately, The Great Chase stands out as an exceptional action and exploitation film, making it one of the highwater marks of Etsuko Shihomi's career.

Neon Eagle gives The Great Chase an excellent release that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a trio of informative extras; highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer