Best Samurai

After a one-year hiatus, Shinpachi Shimura returns to Edo, only to stumble upon a shocking surprise: Gintoki and Kagura, his fellow Yorozuya members, have become completely different characters! Fleeing from the Yorozuya headquarters in confusion, Shinpachi finds that all the denizens of Edo have un...

Gintoki, Shinpachi, and Kagura return as the fun-loving but broke members of the Yorozuya team! Living in an alternate-reality Edo, where swords are prohibited and alien overlords have conquered Japan, they try to thrive on doing whatever work they can get their hands on. However, Shinpachi and Kagu...

After joining the resistance against the bakufu, Gintoki and the gang are in hiding, along with Katsura and his Joui rebels. The Yorozuya is soon approached by Nobume Imai and two members of the Kiheitai, who explain that the Harusame pirates have turned against 7th Division Captain Kamui and their...

While Gintoki Sakata was away, the Yorozuya found themselves a new leader: Kintoki, Gintoki's golden-haired doppelganger. In order to regain his former position, Gintoki will need the help of those around him, a troubling feat when no one can remember him! Between Kintoki and Gintoki, who will claim...

Himeji Castle stands as one of Japan’s most impressive historic landmarks. This UNESCO World Heritage site, located in Hyogo Prefecture, is a remarkably preserved feudal castle built primarily between the 14th and 16th centuries. Its distinctive white exterior earned it the name “White Heron Castle....

Following the temporary retreat of the Altana Liberation Army from the Kabuki District, the state of the war has seemingly improved. However, as the Oniwaban, Shinsengumi, and residents of the district combat the army's remnants, Edo's greatest inventor Gengai Hiraga is abducted. Responsible for cau...

Shōgun is a historical drama television series adapted from James Clavell’s novel. The show centers on John Blackthorne, an English navigator who becomes embroiled in political intrigue during 17th-century Japan. Featuring a predominantly Japanese cast and dialogue, it offers a detailed depiction of...

Akira Kurosawa was a highly influential Japanese filmmaker celebrated for his epic narratives exploring themes of honor, duty, and human connection. His work, encompassing samurai films like *Seven Samurai* and *Rashomon*, dramatically combined action with profound humanist drama. Kurosawa’s visuall...

When Gintoki apprehends a movie pirate at a premiere, he checks the camera's footage and finds himself transported to a bleak, post-apocalyptic version of Edo, where a mysterious epidemic called the "White Plague" has ravished the world's population. It turns out that the movie pirate wasn't a pirat...

Edo is a city that was home to the vigor and ambition of samurai across the country. However, following feudal Japan's surrender to powerful aliens known as the "Amanto," those aspirations now seem unachievable. With the once-influential shogunate rebuilt as a puppet government, a new law is passed...

The devastation of the Mugen Train incident still weighs heavily on the members of the Demon Slayer Corps. Despite being given time to recover, life must go on, as the wicked never sleep: a vicious demon is terrorizing the alluring women of the Yoshiwara Entertainment District. The Sound Hashira, Te...

After the fierce battle on Rakuyou, the untold past and true goal of the immortal Naraku leader, Utsuro, are finally revealed. By corrupting the Altana reserves of several planets, Utsuro has successfully triggered the intervention of the Tendoshuu’s greatest enemy: the Altana Liberation Army. With...

When an Emishi village is attacked by a fierce demon boar, the young prince Ashitaka puts his life at stake to defend his tribe. With its dying breath, the beast curses the prince's arm, granting him demonic powers while gradually siphoning his life away. Instructed by the village elders to travel w...

Full Metal Daemon Muramasa is a visually striking Japanese visual novel developed by Nitroplus. The game blends samurai action with dark fantasy elements set during a reimagined World War II period. It features intricate character designs and a mature narrative exploring themes of revenge, duty, and...

Akira Kurosawa’s *Sanjuro* presents a compelling narrative of a lone samurai, Mifune, navigating political turmoil in 17th-century Japan. The film expands upon themes introduced in *Yojimbo*, utilizing action and martial arts to resolve disputes between warring clans. It's notable for its sophistica...

When mankind's savagery surpasses his fear of death, there is little hope for those who wish to live honest lives. Beneath a full moon, a young boy witnesses the murder of the bandits who had enslaved him, and is then christened with a new name by the man who rescued him. This boy is Shinta, now kno...

Yojimbo is a 1961 Japanese jidaigeki film directed by Akira Kurosawa. It depicts a wandering samurai who becomes embroiled in a conflict between two rival criminal factions vying for control of a town. The narrative features a cast including Toshiro Mifune and explores themes of violence and power d...

Ever since the death of his father, the burden of supporting the family has fallen upon Tanjirou Kamado's shoulders. Though living impoverished on a remote mountain, the Kamado family are able to enjoy a relatively peaceful and happy life. One day, Tanjirou decides to go down to the local village to...

FX's Shgun is a lavish and meticulously crafted historical drama that seamlessly blends Japanese culture with Western storytelling conventions. The series, based on James Clavell's novel, offers a nuanced portrayal of feudal Japan, exploring themes of honor, loyalty, and cultural clash. Its attentio...

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice offers a unique and challenging action experience rooted in Japanese mythology. Unlike many action games, Sekiro emphasizes precise parrying and posture breaking over button-mashing. The game's combat is demanding but rewarding, requiring players to master its intricate me...

As the Fourth Holy Grail War rages on with no clear victor in sight, the remaining Servants and their Masters are called upon by Church supervisor Risei Kotomine, in order to band together and confront an impending threat that could unravel the Grail War and bring about the destruction of Fuyuki Cit...

Lone Wolf and Cub is a celebrated Japanese graphic novel series exploring themes of violence, family, and redemption within feudal Japan. Created by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, it centers on a former assassin and his young son as they flee justice while navigating brutal landscapes. The work’s st...

With the promise of granting any wish, the omnipotent Holy Grail triggered three wars in the past, each too cruel and fierce to leave a victor. In spite of that, the wealthy Einzbern family is confident that the Fourth Holy Grail War will be different; namely, with a vessel of the Holy Grail now in...

Gintoki and his Yorozuya friends (or rather, employees suffering under labor violations), Shinpachi and Kagura, continue to scrape by in the futuristic, alien-infested city of Edo. They take on whatever work they can find while trying not to get involved in anything too dangerous. But when Katsura,...

Hikone Castle stands as a significant example of early Edo-period castle architecture within Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Constructed in 1622, it is recognized as one of only five Japanese castles designated a National Treasure due to its meticulously preserved keep. The castle’s design reflects the evo...

Fuu Kasumi is a young and clumsy waitress who spends her days peacefully working in a small teahouse. That is, until she accidentally spills a drink all over one of her customers! With a group of samurai now incessantly harassing her, Fuu desperately calls upon another samurai in the shop, Mugen, wh...

As the war temporarily calms down and Edo rebuilds, Gintoki finds Shinpachi—who is still unaware of his return—on a bridge. However, as a fight quickly breaks out between the Yorozuya and the Tenshouin Naraku, suspicion grows, forcing Gintoki to use what is nearest—a loincloth—to mask his identity....

In the Sengoku period of Japan, a young orphan named Kotarou and his dog Tobimaru steal from unsuspecting villagers in order to make ends meet. However, Kotarou is forced to remain on the run when he finds himself being hunted down by assassins sent by China's Ming Dynasty for mysterious reasons not...

Samurai Shodown II is a 1994 fighting game developed by SNK. It distinguishes itself with its focus on traditional Japanese samurai and their weaponry rather than fantastical elements common in other titles of the era. The game’s roster includes iconic warriors like Haoumaru, appealing to players in...