Jidaigeki is a genre of film and television in Japan. The name translates as period drama, in most cases, the Edo period of Japanese history. Set during the time span from 1600 to 1868 A.D., jidaigeki show the lives of the samurai, farmers, craftsmen and merchants of medieval Japan. Jidaigeki films are sometimes referred to as chambara movies, which derives from onomatopoeia for the slow, drum-heavy, march-like scores typical of the genre. (Dictionary definition)

Some of the films commented on in this section are classics, some are cheesy but have influenced the likes of Tarantino et al. Some are dire and I will be honest with my opinions, good, bad or just plain ugly! So from the almost super hero like Zatoichi through the blood spurting Babycart films to the ultra realism of the Twilight Samurai, let's take a trip through the world of Jidaigeki.

Because they?ll be covered in their appropriate sections, I won?t be including films directed by Kurosawa, Mizoguchi or Kitano here.

The Zatoichi films already have their own thread, please use the following link:

Zatoichi, the Blind Swordsman comments

Please feel free to add your own comments, reviews, criticisms to this thread.

INDEX - In alphabetical order.

Gohatto - 1999

Hana yori mo naho - 2006 review by Howard Schumann

Kill - 1968 comments by wpqx.

Lady Snowblood - 1973

Lone Wolf and Cub series 1972-74

Love and Honor - 2006 Thread started by hengcs.

Samurai Banners - 1968 comments by A.

Samurai Rebellion - 1967 comments by wpqx.

The Shogun's Samurai - 1978 

Sword of Doom - 1965 comments started by A.

Sword of the Beast - 1965 comments by wpqx.



To be continued

For other sections of Japanese Journals, please use the links

1.General

2. Kurosawa, Ozu & Mizoguchi - The Classics

3. Kitano, Tsukamoto & Miike - The Modern Cult Directors

4. Anime

5. Horror & Ghost Stories

6. Jidaigeki (Chambara)

Cheers Trev.