Kibakichi
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Kibakichi (牙吉) a Japanese film franchise about the titular Kibakichi, the eponymous hero of a couple of Japanese Samurai horror films directed by Tomo-O Haraguchi, whose previous directing credits are Mikadroid: Robokill Beneath Discoclub Layla (1991) and Sakuya: yôkaiden AKA Sakuya: Slayer of Demons (2000).
The first film, full title Bakko Yokaiden Kibakichi, was released in Japan in February 2004 and in the U.S on DVD by Saiko Films/MTI Home Video in June 2005. It stars Ryuji Harada, Miki Tanaka, and Mubu Nakayama.
Synopsis
In the Edo period of Japan, a lone wanderer wearing a cloak of skins ends up in a gambling town run by demons, namely Boss Ounizo, that hide in the guise of humans to interact with other people. Demons Youkai in this era, like the fair folk, were once equal citizens, and lived beside mankind peacefully; but as advances in technology, especially warfare (with the explosive introduction of the Howitzer, nonetheless), humans have forgotten their tolerance and nearly wiped their counterparts into extinction. Kibakichi is forced to stay, but uncovers the gambling house's secret: the demons, tired of living in fear, have taken the biggest gamble of all - a pact with the current ruling human government to fortify a sanctum where they would be free from tyranny.
However, as Kibakichi himself remembers, though not all humans are bad, not all can be trusted.
Being the likely sole survivor of his exterminated clan (a native tribe of Wolves that once put their faith in humanity, to catastrophic consequences),he is a cautious and un-trusting warrior, though quickly comes to see that not all is as it seems. The shady business acts more like a close and happy family of those without homes, like him, that welcome him warmly; even Ounizo has adopted a human girl, Kikyo, as his daughter, and all do their best to live.
No matter for how short a time that may be.
Kibakichi 2
The sequel was released on R1 DVD release on March 28, 2006 from Saiko Films/MTI Home Video.
Synopsis
The saga of Kibakichi the samurai werewolf continues as his travels find him helping a blind girl and her small village seek revenge on a murdering madman. But, unknown to Kibakichi, he is being spied on by a strange group of people - and someone from his past - who is out for revenge!
External links
- Official homepage
- Kibakichi: Bakko-yokaiden at IMDb
- Saiko Films with separate pages for Kibakichi [1] and Kibakichi 2 [2]