Overview: Three more spectacular tales of ninja action in this continuation of the hugely influential series.

This time, Raizo Ichikawa (Shinobi 1-3) stars as Mist Saizo, a ninja with a grudge who won’t rest until he has assassinated the supreme leader, the Tokugawa shogun.

Directed by three of the Daiei Studio’s top period action specialists, these films feature epic battles, ingenious spycraft and thrilling ninja fights.

In Siege, Raizo Ichikawa is Mist Saizo, the legendary folk hero and Iga ninja. Working in the service of warlord Yukimura Sanada (Tomisaburo Wakayama), he plots to assassinate Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa, but finds himself facing the might of the nation’s supreme ruler.

In Return of Mist Saizo, our black-clad hero continues his mission to avenge his master, even after Ieyasu has abdicated from the throne. Told as one continuous story, these two films weave their ninja action in and out of Japanese martial history, featuring epic battles, ingenious spycraft and thrilling fight scenes.

In part 6, Mist Saizo’s son Saisuke takes over his father’s name and mission. He is recruited by a rebellious warlord to assist a plot to overthrow the government, but the Shogun hires a rival ninja clan to thwart the uprising. Meanwhile, other forces are also at play.

Directed by Kazuo Mori (Shinobi 3: Resurrection, Zatoichi at Large), this film pits ninja against ninja, including a breathtaking rooftop battle scene that is one of the highlights of the entire Shinobi series.

Blu-ray Verdict: In Shinobi no Mono 4: Siege (1964), Tokugawa Ieyasu is now the ruler of all Japan, but one last loose thread must be tied up before his domination is complete – the destruction of the Toyotomi clan, now besieged in Osaka castle. Ieyasu’s ninja are the only ones who can penetrate the fortress, but unfortunately for Ieyasu, Kirigakure Saizo and the other Toyotomi ninja can just as easily get out. As armies of samurai maneuver for battle, the fate of the nation will be decided by a desperate struggle in the dark.

The best one since the first and probably the best directed of them all so far, in my humble opinion. Quite amazing how Tanaka manages to infuse another quite complicated, extremely exposition-heavy setup with his sense of romantic pictorialism, stripping away the weight of history at least temporarily in favor of pure sensual cinema. The stone prison sequence introduces a sense of existential thread that reaches far beyond the abstract scheming’s of shogun power politics.

Up next is Shinobi No Mono 5: Return of Mist Saizo (1964), on May 8th, 1615 the summer campaign of Osaka has reached the climax. This film takes place immediately following ‘Ninja 4: Mist Saizo, Last of The Ninja’. Staying one step ahead of the Shogun’s forces, “Mist” Saizo tries to save the Sanada Clan, and avenge the death of his lord by assassinating the first Tokugawa Shogun.

Following the first four films in this remarkable series, more previously unknown Ninja skills are shown to the world for the first time. The action heats up as Saizo single-handedly attacks the Shogun’s Palace.

This kicks things off with a bang - literally - as a dazzling ninja ambush on water sets the tone for a more action-packed and accessible sequel. Saizo’s fog-shrouded escape with his quarry sets up a brisker, more colorful chapter, one that sees him wheel and deal his way through political intrigue and clan conflict to try and control a gun-manufacturing island to sway the outcome of the upcoming final battle.

Leaner and more focused than its predecessor, it’s a confident slice of genre cinema - double-crosses abound, but they’re easier to track, and the ninja set-pieces are snappy and stylish.

Lastly we get Shinobi No Mono 6: The Last Iga Spy (1965), well, this is one of the most complicated plots of any of the Shinobi no Mono films! This film tells the story of Saizo’s son, Kirigakure Saisuke, who after seeing his father die at the Battle Of Shimabara, grows up to be an expert ninja. Before he dies, “Mist” Saizo tells his children Saisuke, and Yuri that they are not really brother and sister.

She, in fact, is the daughter of the late lord Sanada Yukimura, and must be saved from the shogun’s forces. In the chess match of spy versus spy, can Saisuke defeat the shogun’s chief strategist, Matsudaira Izunokami at his own game? Showing many exciting ninja tactics, it is not to be missed.

In contrast to its predecessor, The Last Iga Spy struggles under the weight of its ambition., if I am being truthful. The ninja action is still present - a rain-soaked rooftop fight is genuinely impressive - but it’s buried beneath a Game of Thrones-style web of court politics and betrayal that turns convoluted rather than compelling.

A drawn-out final act fizzles rather than explodes, clearly saving narrative heft for the next instalment. A disappointing conclusion to this new three film Shinobi Vol 2 box-set, sure, but led by the parts 4 and 5, it does hold a lot of visual strength.

Limited Edition Special Features:
Limited Edition of 3000 copies, presented in a rigid box with full-height Scanavo cases and removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings
Reversible sleeves featuring artwork based on original promotional materials
Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by Jonathan Clements
Six postcards of promotional material from the films
Trailers
New and improved optional English subtitles
Interview with Japanese period film historian Taichi Kasuga (2025)
Uncompressed mono PCM audio
Interview with ninja film scholar Mance Thompson (2025)
High-Definition digital transfer of each film presented on two discs, made available on Blu-ray (1080p) for the first time outside of Japan
Select-scene audio commentary on Siege by Tom Mes (2025)

Official Purchase Link