Kazuo Koike

In this interview, conducted in 2015, prolific author Kazuo Koike talks about his original LADY SNOWBLOOD manga.

A documentary about the making of the Lone Wolf and Cub film series.

500年に及ぶ鎖国政策が続けられているその国 建御雷家の末裔である若く美しい娘・雪は、あらゆる感情を抑圧し、冷徹に人を殺す刺客として育てられてきた。ある日、空暇と名乗る老人から雪の母・亞空を殺した人物が建御雷家の首領・白雷だと知らされ、反旗を翻す。ところが、返り討ちに合い重傷を負った彼女は、反政府組織の活動家である隆に助けられ、彼との生活の中で、次第に人間らしい感情を取り戻していく。しかし、執拗な追手はすぐそこまで迫っていた。白雷と壮絶な戦いの中、翻弄される雪の運命は――。

A lethal assassin for a secret Chinese organisation, who sheds tears of regret each time he kills, is seen swiftly and mercilessly executing three Yakuza gangsters by a beautiful artist. She is captivated by the grace of his kill and later falls in love with him. An intense power struggle for the leadership of the Yakuza Clans ensues as they seek vengeance for the death of their leader.

One day poison is discovered in the shogun's food. The brilliant swordsman Mondo sets out to save Japan's leader from certain death.

A noble samurai serving the Shogun as 'Kogi Kaishaku-nin' (Official Executioner) is the target of a plot by the evil Yagyu Clan to take away his position and replace him with a member of their own family. When his wife is murdered and evidence is produced that he was plotting against the Shogun the Code of Bushido calls for him and his son to commit sepuku. Instead he defies the Shogun's orders and takes up arms against his enemies, becoming an assassin for hire.

During Tenpo period, Bakuhu announced a law regulating expenditures in order to improve the financial situation. However, Doshin of a government office Itami Hanzo, called Kamisori Hanzo, challenged Bakuhu's oppressive way. Because of this, his father Magobei was told to kill himself by the Bakuhu and Hanzo himself was demoted. Five years later, Hanzo came back to the government office and implement a law regulating expenditures. He stands up for revenge Torii Kainokami who desires power as he likes.

『花平バズーカ』（はなっぺバズーカ）は、原作：小池一夫、作画：永井豪による日本の漫画作品。『週刊ヤングジャンプ』（集英社）にて1979年6月7日号から1982年1月7日号まで連載されていた。単行本は同社のヤングジャンプ・コミックスより全10巻。ストーリー性があって尚且つエロチックな世界が描かれている。 1992年にOVAがリリースされた。2001年には「花平バズーカ デラックス版」として特典映像を収録したDVDがリリース。

The tale of Ogami Itto and his son Daigoro has come full circle with the greatest sword actor of all time, Wakayama Tomisaburo now playing Lone Wolf's mortal enemy, the evil Lord Yagyu Retsudo, who masterminded Ogami's fall from grace. Brilliant sword actor Takahashi Hideki takes over as the former shogunate decapitator, and his stunning swordsmanship is second to none! The story of Lone Wolf and Child has been told many times, but never before like this. With the magnificent sword skills of Takahashi Hideki as Ogami Itto, the Shogun's Decapitator and Wakayama Tomisaburo as the power hungry Lord Yagyu Retsudo the story has come full circle.

The tale of Ogami Itto and his son Daigoro has come full circle with the greatest sword actor of all time, Wakayama Tomisaburo now playing Lone Wolf's mortal enemy, the evil Lord Yagyu Retsudo, who masterminded Ogami's fall from grace. Brilliant sword actor Takahashi Hideki takes over as the former shogunate decapitator, and his stunning swordsmanship is second to none! The story of Lone Wolf and Child has been told many times, but never before like this. With the magnificent sword skills of Takahashi Hideki as Ogami Itto, the Shogun's Decapitator and Wakayama Tomisaburo as the power hungry Lord Yagyu Retsudo the story has come full circle.

A devil-girl with the face of an angel and a heart of gold, blond Betty falls in love with an earthbound gangster, Danpei Kimogawa, when they meet in a rainstorm. They end up living together in a Tokyo highrise apartment, though Danpei has trouble coping with his new witch and demon in-laws dropping in at inopportune moments. Betty has actually been sent to the human world on a mission to defeat the demon Lutan. While Betty continues her task, her skeletal grandmother sends nubile nymphs to tempt Danpei and see if he is suitable husband material. Based on the manga Mamonogatari itoshi no beti.

A devil-girl with the face of an angel and a heart of gold, blond Betty falls in love with an earthbound gangster, Danpei Kimogawa, when they meet in a rainstorm. They end up living together in a Tokyo highrise apartment, though Danpei has trouble coping with his new witch and demon in-laws dropping in at inopportune moments. Betty has actually been sent to the human world on a mission to defeat the demon Lutan. While Betty continues her task, her skeletal grandmother sends nubile nymphs to tempt Danpei and see if he is suitable husband material. Based on the manga Mamonogatari itoshi no beti.

Yuko Kusaka is a Japanese journalist sent to Brazil to do a report on the gold rush phenomenon that seems to be making many people rich from night to day. Rumors say that among the many "garimpeiros" (gold diggers) currently on the Amazon forest, there is a Japanese known as Rio Baraki. Reaching their destination, her crew member is promptly attacked and she is raped as a warning to stop their work and return immediately to their home country. Determined to do her job, she stays and finds out from the attacker that he is none other than Baraki, a white haired muscular man with a large scar on his back. Later she discovers that his real name is Keisuke Ibaraki. Once a promising quarterback, he ended up falsely incriminated by a powerful organization known as GPX.

Itto Ogami- High Executioner to the Shogun- has been betrayed by his political enemies and sentenced to a dishonorable death. Seeking to restore the honor of his name, Ogami- The Wolf- must flee the Shogun's grasp and live long enough to prove his innocence. Taking only his sword and his son, Ogami embarks on a bloody journey of righteousness and revenge as he seeks to destroy those who would disgrace his family's name. Hunted mercilessly by the Shogun's troops, by his enemies, and by those who seek the reward put on his head, Ogami must fight his way through feudal Japan, challenging and defeating all who stand in the way of his quest for honor. Can Ogami- a true Samurai Warrior- endure the ceaseless violence which surrounds him?

A Shogun who grew paranoid as he became senile sent his ninjas to kill his samurai. They failed but did kill the samurai’s wife. The samurai swore to avenge the death of his wife and roams the countryside with his toddler son in search of vengeance.

Based on the comic by Kazuo Koike and Satomi Kôe.

Lady Snowblood is caught by the police and sentenced to death for her crimes. As she is sent to the gallows she is rescued by the secret police who offer her a deal to assassinate some revolutionaries.

In the sixth and final film of the Lone Wolf and Cub series, the final conflict between Ogami Itto and the Yagyu clan is carried out.

Deep in the mountains of feudal Japan, a group of children endure cruel and unorthodox training in order to become the Shogunate's most secret and deadly weapons - the Demon Spies! Their true identities are hidden - even from each other. Behind their demon masks, they are educated in the deadly arts of infiltration, espionage, assassination - and seduction! If they survive to become strong enough to kill their teachers, they will become - the Demon Spies! Sent on a suicide mission to uncover a deadly conspiracy, five inexperienced Demon Spies must infiltrate a powerful fief, discover the location of its secret arsenal, and destroy it. But Lord Shogen, the Demon Hunter, plans to brutally interrogate, ingeniously torture, and cruelly execute - the Demon Spies!

The Bohachi Clan, the most vile, corrupt organization with ties deep in the Shogunate, have controlled the flesh trade in Japan for generations. When threatened by a competitor, they employ Saburai, a nihilistic ronin on the verge of self destruction. Blood gushes and limbs fly for anyone who stands against Saburai as he instills the Way of the Bohachi.

小池一雄&上村一夫コンビによる同名劇画を、藤田敏八監督が鮮血飛び散る派手な演出でダイナミックに描いたバイオレンス・アクション。文明開化華やかな明治初期を舞台に、母から託された怨念をはらすために、修羅の道を歩く美貌の殺し屋・雪を描く。鬼才クエンティン・タランティーノ監督が『キル・ビル』でオマージュを捧げ、雪の庭園での決闘を見事に再現。ルーシー・リュー演じたオーレン・イシイはお雪がモデルだという。主演・梶芽衣子の魅力が光り、カルト的人気を誇る作品。

江戸北町奉行所きっての切れ者の同心で、“かみそり半蔵”の異名を取る板見半蔵。ある日、2人組の悪党を捕まえて、彼らが水車小屋に捨てられていた女の死体から品物を盗み出していたことを知った半蔵は、その死体が、最近寺や神社でひそかに流行っている“子おろし”と関係があるとにらみ、独自の調査を開始。女性の神主を責め立てて、とある尼寺でいかがわしい見せ物が行なわれていることを知った半蔵は、早速現場に潜入する。

In the fifth film of the Lone Wolf and Cub series, Ogami Itto is challenged by five warriors, each has one fifth of Ogami's assassin fee and one fifth of the information he needs to complete his assassination.

In the fifth film of the Lone Wolf and Cub series, Ogami Itto is challenged by five warriors, each has one fifth of Ogami's assassin fee and one fifth of the information he needs to complete his assassination.

Based on the comic by Kazuo Koike

Based on the comic by Kazuo Koike

Based on the comic by Kazuo Koike

A Ronin with a death wish reluctantly joins the Clan of the Forgotten Eight, a nasty crew of ronin who are wrapped up in a clan war over local prostitution.

士道を捨て、冥府魔道に生きる鬼となった拝一刀とその子・大五郎、人呼んで子連れ狼の死闘と生き様を描いたシリーズ第4作！拝一刀と柳生軍兵衛との因縁の再会。そして妖しい童子の入墨を胸に持つ女、お雪とは…。元別式女・お雪の刺殺を請け負った一刀。その女は背には山姥、胸には乳をまさぐる童子の入墨を入れた異形の女だった。復讐を秘めたお雪とその父・仁兵衛の悲痛な覚悟。仁兵衛とお雪、一刀と大五郎。親子の悲しい宿命と、それぞれの死を賭した因縁の対決！

江戸北町奉行所の同心で、その切れ味鋭い頭脳と精力絶倫ぶりから“かみそり半蔵”との異名を取る板見半蔵。ある日、江戸市中で無宿人狩りが行なわれ、半蔵は、島送りにされていた重罪人の人斬り屋・三途の竿兵衛が島破りをしてどうやら江戸に潜んでいることを知る。竿兵衛の愛人・お美乃を捕らえた半蔵は、自らの男性的魅力で彼女を陥落させて、今回の事件の裏に大奥にまで広がる意外な悪事が秘められていることをさらに知る。

江戸北町奉行所の同心で、その切れ味鋭い頭脳と精力絶倫ぶりから“かみそり半蔵”との異名を取る板見半蔵。ある日、江戸市中で無宿人狩りが行なわれ、半蔵は、島送りにされていた重罪人の人斬り屋・三途の竿兵衛が島破りをしてどうやら江戸に潜んでいることを知る。竿兵衛の愛人・お美乃を捕らえた半蔵は、自らの男性的魅力で彼女を陥落させて、今回の事件の裏に大奥にまで広がる意外な悪事が秘められていることをさらに知る。

士道を捨て、冥府魔道に生きる鬼となった拝一刀とその子・大五郎、人呼んで子連れ狼の死闘と生き様を描いたシリーズ第4作！拝一刀と柳生軍兵衛との因縁の再会。そして妖しい童子の入墨を胸に持つ女、お雪とは…。元別式女・お雪の刺殺を請け負った一刀。その女は背には山姥、胸には乳をまさぐる童子の入墨を入れた異形の女だった。復讐を秘めたお雪とその父・仁兵衛の悲痛な覚悟。仁兵衛とお雪、一刀と大五郎。親子の悲しい宿命と、それぞれの死を賭した因縁の対決！

In the third film of the Lone Wolf and Cub series, Ogami Itto volunteers to be tortured by Yakuza to save a prostitute and is hired by their leader to kill an evil chamberlain.

In the third film of the Lone Wolf and Cub series, Ogami Itto volunteers to be tortured by Yakuza to save a prostitute and is hired by their leader to kill an evil chamberlain.

In the second film of the Lone Wolf and Cub series, Ogami Itto battles a group of female ninja in the employ of the Yagyu clan and must assassinate a traitor who plans to sell his clan's secrets to the Shogunate.

In the second film of the Lone Wolf and Cub series, Ogami Itto battles a group of female ninja in the employ of the Yagyu clan and must assassinate a traitor who plans to sell his clan's secrets to the Shogunate.

In this first film of the Lone Wolf and Cub series, adapted from the manga by Kazuo Koike, we are told the story of the Lone Wolf and Cub's origin. Ogami Itto, the official Shogunate executioner, has been framed for disloyalty to the Shogunate by the Yagyu clan, against whom he now is waging a one-man war, along with his infant son, Daigoro.

In this first film of the Lone Wolf and Cub series, adapted from the manga by Kazuo Koike, we are told the story of the Lone Wolf and Cub's origin. Ogami Itto, the official Shogunate executioner, has been framed for disloyalty to the Shogunate by the Yagyu clan, against whom he now is waging a one-man war, along with his infant son, Daigoro.