Samurai Reincarnation

Samurai Reincarnation (魔界転生, *Makai Tenshō*, meaning "Demon Realm Reincarnation") is a 1981 Japanese dark fantasy film. Kinji Fukasaku wrote and directed it, with a cast including Sonny Chiba, Kenji Sawada, and Hiroyuki Sanada. The story comes from a novel of the same name by Futaro Yamada.

The film earned three nominations at the Awards of the Japanese Academy and won two. Hiroyuki Sanada received the award for Best Newcomer of the Year, while Tokumichi Igawa and Yoshikazu Sano won for Best Art Direction. The film was also nominated for Best Sound but did not win.

After the Shimabara Rebellion, Christian leader Amakusa Shiro is brought back to life. He rejects his God for abandoning him and thousands of Christians to be killed by the Tokugawa regime, and vows revenge. With the power to resurrect the dead, he tempts and recruits several figures as regret-filled demons: betrayed samurai wife Hosokawa Gracia, legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, and Buddhist monk Hozoin Inshun, who hides his sadistic urges. Yagyu Jubei, son of Musashi’s desired rival Yagyu Tajima-no-kami Munenori, goes to Musashi’s cave seeking training but finds only empty armor.

Young Iga ninja Kirimaru, a friend of Jubei, is barely saved by Shiro and his demons after his village is wiped out by the rival Tokugawa-controlled Koga ninja clan. Shiro resurrects and recruits Kirimaru for vengeance, and the demons taunt Jubei as they leave. The demons infiltrate Edo Castle. Hosokawa seduces Shogun Tokugawa Ietsuna, and the demons kill key official Izu-no-kami, Koga leader Genjuro, and Jubei’s brother Samon. The terminally ill Tajima tries to stop Shiro using a sword forged by exiled swordsmith Muramasa, but dies after killing Inshun. Shiro resurrects Tajima, tempting him with a duel against his son, and Tajima attacks Jubei, who barely escapes.

At a remote shrine, Shiro curses Tokugawa’s crops, sparking farmer protests against high taxes. Kirimaru grows fond of an orphaned girl, Omitsu. Jubei seeks out Muramasa and learns Tajima commissioned a sword that can kill demonic spirits. Musashi attacks Jubei but retreats after recognizing a flute tune played by Otsu, niece of Musashi’s abandoned wife. Muramasa, who adopted Otsu, agrees to forge a similar sword for Jubei. Shiro tempts Kirimaru to seduce Omitsu to complete his fall into evil.