Welcome to the samurai action blog. The samurai films in Japan are like the Western film of the United States. Both were once very popular, but not as much now. Both themes pop up every so often bringing up the hopes for some sort of revival, but that has not yet happened. In 2010, I published a book, titled, Sword of the Undead, which re-told Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula, with a samurai twist. (Click here for excerpt)







Tuesday, July 9, 2013

The Yagyu Clan in fiction

The Yagyu clan served as minor officials during the Tokugawa reign, most notably as the fencing instructors to the Tokugawa clan. 

In fiction, they have become a first family of samurai - good and bad - of sorts. 

Two of the best known Yagyu clan members in pop fiction are Jubei and Retsudo.

Yagyu Jubei, son of Yagyu Tajima no Kami Munenori, considered one of the greatest swordsman in Japanese history, in pop fiction, is a bigger than life folk hero - as I was explaining this to a person, the reply was, "Oh, like Davy Crockett, but Japanese."  The most iconic portrayal of Jubei, is of course, is by martial arts master, Sonny Chiba.  In fact, although in Kill Bill, Chiba plays a character by the name of Hattori Hanzo (another larger than life historical figure Chiba is associated with), it is music from Chiba's Yagyu television series that plays in the background in a couple of the scenes.

The other famous Yagyu in pop fiction is Retsudo, who is the villian in the story series, "Lone Wolf and Cub."  He has his sights set on the Yagyu clan being the controlling force of the Japanese government during the Tokugawa reign.  His son is beaten out of the job of official executioner by Ogami Itto - The Yagyu clan, led by Retsudo frames Ogami as a traitor - Ogami is stripped of his title, and lives his life as an assassin pushing along a baby cart carrying his three year old son, Digoro.  In the story, Retsudo is the youngest brother of Jubei.  To be honest, I don't know if he actually ever lived. 


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