"Actor: Etsuko SHIHOMI"

• Sister Street Fighter Collection | Blu Ray | (04/03/2019) from £12.09   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  After the massive success of The Street Fighter, the Toei Company decided to build a new karate series around a female lead, and cast a young actress who had appeared in a cameo role alongside her mentor Sonny Chiba. Still a teenager at the time, Etsuko Shihomi exploded onscreen in her first leading role and created a new character type: a tough fighter who was fierce, fearless, good-hearted, and decidedly non-sexualised, a departure from Toei's typical formula. In 1974's Sister Street Fighter, Shihomi is the half-Chinese, half-Japanese Li Koryu, who travels to Yokohama to investigate the disappearance of her brother, an undercover cop. Li discovers a smuggling ring run by a drug lord with his own personal army of deadly fighters, and must penetrate his evil lair with the help of a fellow karate master (played by Chiba). Shihomi and director Kazuhiko Yamaguchi (Wolf Guy) made two additional films based on the same character over the next year, Sister Street Fighter: Hanging By A Thread and Return Of The Sister Street Fighter, with a final unrelated follow-up (Sister Street Fighter: Fifth Level Fist) helmed by original Street Fighter director Shigehiro Ozawa appearing in 1976. Genre entertainment of the highest order, the Sister Street Fighter films are a wild ride through some of the best exploitation cinema Japan produced in the 1970s. Funky and over-the-top, filled with wall-to-wall action, and featuring some of the craziest villains ever depicted onscreen, the series embodies female power in a male-dominated genre and is a magnificent showcase for the physical presence and martial arts skills of its lead star. SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS: High Definition digital transfers of all four films High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentations Original uncompressed Japanese mono audio Original English dubbed audio for Sister Street Fighter New optional English subtitle translation for all four films English SDH subtitles for the English dub for Sister Street Fighter New video interviews with actor Shinichi Sonny Chiba, director Kazuhiko Yamaguchi, and screenwriter Masahiro Kakefuda Original Japanese theatrical trailers for all four films Original U.S. theatrical trailer for Sister Street Fighter, plus original English opening titles to the film Original German theatrical trailer for Sister Street Fighter, plus original German opening titles to the film Stills and poster gallery Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Kungfubob O'Brien FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated booklet featuring writing on the series by Patrick Macias and a new essay on the U.S. release of Toei's karate films by Chris Poggiali

• LEGEND OF THE EIGHT SAMURAI | Blu Ray | (17/02/2025) from £17.98   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

• BODYGUARD KIBA 1 + 2 (Eureka Classics) Special Edition 2-Disc Blu-ray | Blu Ray | (25/03/2024) from £27.97   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Two riotously entertaining tales of betrayal and bloodshed starring action superstar Sonny Chiba! A double bill of Japanese martial arts mayhem starring action superstar Sonny Chiba! Based upon the manga by celebrated writer Ikki Kajiwara, Bodyguard Kiba follows the eponymous karate master and professional bodyguard (Chiba) as he is hired to protect the mysterious Reiko (Mari Atsumi), a woman embroiled in the world of organised crime. Kiba's involvement with Reiko brings him into conflict with the yakuza, leading to a final bloody showdown. Then, in Bodyguard Kiba: Deadly Triangle Jump, Kiba is released from prison after taking revenge on the rival martial artists who blinded his sister Maki (Etsuko Shihomi). Back on the streets, he takes a job working for shady nightclub owner Akamatsu (Shoki Fukae), once again forcing him to take on Japan's criminal underworld. Two riotously entertaining tales of betrayal and bloodshed from director Ryuichi Takamori, Bodyguard Kiba and Bodyguard Kiba: Deadly Triangle Jump were released just a year before Sonny Chiba would find international success with his breakout hit The Street Fighter. Eureka Classics is proud to present both films for the first time ever in the UK on Blu-ray from new restorations. Product Features SPECIAL EDITION TWO DISC BLU-RAY FEATURES* Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Chris Malbon 1080p presentations of both films across two Blu-ray discs, from new restorations of the original film elements by Toei Original Japanese mono audio Optional English Subtitles Brand new feature length audio commentaries on both films The Bodyguard - alternate US version of Bodyguard Kiba Viva Chiba! - Brand new documentary featurette looking at Sonny Chiba's Bodyguard Kiba films Original theatrical trailers PLUS: A limited edition collector's booklet featuring new writing by Jasper Sharp * All extras subject to change

• MESSAGE FROM SPACE | Blu Ray | (22/07/2024) from £20.59   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  The spectacular 1978 sci-fi adventure directed by Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale) Eureka Entertainment to release MESSAGE FROM SPACE, the spectacular 1978 sci-fi adventure directed by Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale). Presented on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from an immaculate restoration. Available from 22 July 2024 as part of The Masters of Cinema Series, the first print run of 2000 copies only will feature an O-card slipcase, reversible poster, and collector's booklet. Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale) directs an international cast led by Sonny Chiba, Vic Morrow and Etsuko Shihomi in the science fiction spectacle Message from Space - the Toei Company's answer to the barnstorming box-office success that was Star Wars. Somewhere in a far-flung galaxy lies the planet of Jillucia. Once a peaceful utopia, it has now fallen under the control of the Gavanas Empire, a warlike race ruled by the ruthless Emperor Rockseia (Mikio Narita). Desperate for help, the leader of the Jillucian people (Junkichi Orimoto) launches eight Liabe seeds into space - glowing orbs that, according to legend, will each summon a powerful warrior to the planet's aid. The seeds are followed into the void by Princess Emeralida (Shihomi) and loyal Jillucian soldier Urocco (Makoto Satō), who attempt to find the prophesied protectors of their home world: ex-military commander General Garuda (Morrow) and his robot companion Beba-2 (Isamu Shimizu), thrill-seekers Shiro (Hiroyuki Sanada) and Aaron (Philip Casnoff), gambler Jack (Masazumi Okabe), aristocrat Meia (Peggy Lee Brennan) and swordsman Hans (Chiba), who has a deeply personal score to settle with the Gavanas Empire. Boasting a sweeping score and special effects that impress to this day, Message from Space was the most expensive Japanese film ever made at the time of its release - a cosmic fantasy designed to replicate the success of Star Wars while drawing upon Japan's own genre tradition, recalling such films as Battle in Outer Space, Gorath and Fukasaku's own The Green Slime. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Message from Space on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from an immaculate restoration of the original film elements by Toei. SPECIAL EDITION BLU-RAY FEATURES: Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Scott Saslow | Limited edition reversible poster | 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray from a restoration of the original film elements supplied by Toei | Original Japanese audio English dub | Optional English subtitles | Brand new audio commentary by Tom Mes | An appreciation of the film by film writer Patrick Macias | Reversible sleeve featuring original poster artwork | Stills gallery | Trailers | PLUS: A collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Christopher Stewardson Directed by Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale, Battles Without Honor and Humanity) | Stars Sonny Chiba (Kill Bill, The Street Fighter), Vic Morrow (Twilight Zone:The Movie) and Etsuko Shihomi (Sister Street Fighter) | Toei Company's answer to the barnstorming box-office success that was Star Wars | The most expensive Japanese film ever made at the time of its release | Presented on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from an immaculate restoration. as part of The Masters of Cinema Series | The first print run of 2000 copies only will feature an O-card slipcase, reversible poster, and collector's booklet

• Sonny Chiba Collection - Vol. 1 | DVD | (29/08/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  The Killing Machine (Dir. Norifumi Suzuki 1975): Sonny Chiba stars as real life master Doshin So originator of Shorinji Kenpo who comes to the aid of orphans and a young girl forced into prostitution in post-war Japan. However corrupt authorities are unwilling to allow him to open a martial arts school and the stage is set for a bloody showdown... Yakuza Deka (Dir. Yukio Noda 1970): Tough thriller starring the inimitable unstoppable force of Japanese action cinema

• Shogun's Samurai | DVD | (23/04/2007) from £8.08   |  Saving you £-0.09 (N/A%)   |  RRP £7.99

  Directed by veteran Japanese filmmaker Kinji Fukasaku (Tora! Tora! Tora! Battle Royale) and starring one of the greatest martial arts stars Sonny Chiba (Kill Bill: Volume I Street Fighter) Shogun's Samurai is an all out action epic tale of loyalty and betrayal political intrigue battles and spectacular sword fights in true Japanese style. It's Imperial Japan 1624 the current Shogun General Hidetada has died under mysterious circumstances leaving the succession in doubt - his eldest son Lemestsu (Hiroki Matsukata) should succeed but he is disfigured and stammers. His younger brother Tadanaga (Teruhiko Saigo) seems better suited to the role and had the backing of his father before his untimely death as well as most of the powerful lords. A war between the two brothers soon erupts both recruiting not only government officials but also anybody who is looking for one last fight. Meanwhile the Emperor and his courtiers plot behind the scenes to exploit the chaos and return to power and it soon becomes clear that in a winner takes all struggle for power there are no heroes and villains only winners and losers.

• Sonny Chiba Collection - Vol. 2 | DVD | (19/09/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Three great films from the Japanese king of hardboiled ass-kicking Sonny Chiba! Timeslip (aka G.I. Samurai) (1979): A Japanese Army unit is mysteriously transported 400 years back in time to the warring states period of Japanese history and ends up facing an army of Samurai warriors... Golgo 13 (1973): Sonny Chiba stars as the underworld's no.1 hitman in this hardboiled action-packed adaptation of Japan's all-time bestselling manga... The Bullet Train (1975):

• Shogun's Samurai | DVD | (21/10/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  With Shogun Samurai, veteran Japanese director Fukasaku Kinji demonstrated that he could do more than the gritty social realist cop-and-gangster films for which he remains most famous. A deliberately stately historical drama, with a slightly ponderous narrator introducing some of its most powerful scenes, Shogun Samurai shows the succession crisis that followed the death of the second Tokugawa Shogun in the early 17th-century. The Imperial court fans the flames in an attempt to restore the Emperor's power; a young dancer tries to preserve the young prince she loves; a warrior clan take steps to return to their homeland; and the fencing master Yagyu will expend honour and lives, including those of his own children, to ensure that his school is patronised by the new Shogun. The film alternates powerful scenes of intrigue and stagy monomaniac rants by Yagyu with finely choreographed scenes of battle and duel; it has a powerful and tragic sense of the fragile sadness of things and the futility of all ambitions; Sonny Chiba is unusually impressive as Yagyu's most honourable son, the one-eyed Jubel. On the DVD: Shogun Samurai on disc has minimal additional features: a short prose profile of Fukasaku Kinji and some promotional clips. Picture is anamorphic 16:9. --Roz Kaveney

• The Bullet Train | DVD | (19/09/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  A madman (Ken Takakura) plants a bomb on one of Japan's prestigioss Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Hakata the Hikari 109. Threatening to blow it up unless his demands are met if the train slows below 80km/h it will be destroyed. While the police try to track down the culprit it's up to a heroic train conductor (Sonny Chiba) to find the bomb and disarm it in time... Pre-dating ""Speed"" (and its Korean homage ""Tube"") by almost two decades ""Bullet Train"" is gripping edge of

• Legend Of The Eight Samurai | DVD | (18/04/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  A princess whose clan is destroyed by an army of phantom warriors bands together with eight masterless samurai to defeat the ghostly swordsmen. Along the way they learn that a powerful witch is in command of the ghosts and it is she that must be defeated in order to enact their brutal but necessary vengeance... Inspired by the epic 1814 Japanese novel Nanso Satomi Hakkenden' by Takizawa Bakin this movie sees 1980s super-producer Hiroyuki Kadokawa and legendary director Kinji Fuku

• Golgo 13 | DVD | (19/09/2005) from £6.46   |  Saving you £6.53 (50.30%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Sonny Chiba stars as the underworld's no.1 hitman Golgo 13 who is hired to kill a drugs kingpin in Hong Kong. Plans go awry when a competing assassin beats him to the punch and Golgo finds himself hunted by a legion of cold-blooded killers and a vigilant cop Detective Smith (Callan Leung) who will stop at nothing to get his man and bring down the crime syndicate... Chiba protege Etsuko Shihomi (Sister Streetfighter) co-stars as a feisty undercover cop who goes head to head wi

• The Street Fighter Trilogy Blu-ray | Blu Ray | (24/03/2025) from £24.38   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A