Four people recount different versions of the story of a man's murder and the rape of his wife.
The Fox Dancing in the Dusk
In 16th century Japan, peasants Genjuro and Tobei sell their earthenware pots to a group of soldiers in a nearby village, in defiance of a local sage's warning against seeking to profit from warfare. Genjuro's pursuit of both riches and the mysterious Lady Wakasa, as well as Tobei's desire to become a samurai, run the risk of destroying both themselves and their wives, Miyagi and Ohama.
Five swordsmen are murdered and hung from a tree and the chase is on to find the killers. Two magistrates pursue the leads to solve the crime and it leads to a potential conspiracy to kill the Shogun.
A mysterious coin found at a murder scene stirs the curiosity of young actress detective Oshichi and her brother Hyoma, who set out on a private investigation to unveil the secrets hidden behind the coin.
In January 1810 in Edo, Kikunosuke, the 17-year-old-son of a murdered samurai, takes revenge on his father's murderer, Sakubai, who was his father's former retainer. Kikunosuke gloriously defeats the swaggering Sakubai in single combat in front of a theater, witnessed by a huge audience that had just finished watching a production of 47 Ronin. With Sakubai's severed head, Kikunosuke has achieved his revenge and ensured that his family won't be exiled. 18 months later, a ronin named Soichiro Kase from Kikunosuke's domain arrives at the theater. While he seems silly and smooth-talking, he's very keen on finding out more about the incident and Kikunosuke's time working at the theater. The theater's staff – the barker Ippachi, the swordsmanship teacher Sagara, the costumer Hotaru, the craftsman Kyuzo, and the playwright Kinji – are apprehensive and suspicious at his digging. However, not everything is as it seems.
Shinsuke Inaba, a thief who snuck into the Kishu family residence in Edo. He was almost discovered by a patrol, but he is helped by Kajio, a woman who holds the position of a junior maid of honor. She was later reprimanded and moved into her family's candle shop. One day, she meets the popular actor Nakazo Nakamura, and is surprised by his exact resemblance to Shinsuke…
A period mystery in which an unconventional priest exposes the truth behind the bizarre death of a maid in the shogun's harem. Kinuyo Tanaka stylishly plays a constantly intoxicated geisha in this all-star entertainment film.
Escaping the hustle and bustle of Edo, the Young Lord came to Oshima Island in Izu to take a vacation. Unexpectedly, the island's boss, Amimoto, was brutally murdered with a harpoon. As usual, the Young Lord sets out to solve the case. However, most of the islanders have a grudge against Amimoto, and there are so many suspects that he is at his wits' end this time. Set against the beautiful sea of Izu and the majestic Mt. Mihara, the Young Lord's brilliant deductions and his secret sword Ichimonjo-Kakureshi cut through the mystery!
In Edo-era Japan, a ukiyo-e artist languishes in his master’s shadow. Creatively stifled, he finds consolation in the company of a prostitute, and becomes entangled in a love triangle. A mystery emerges involving two portraits and the sudden disappearance of the artist Sharaku. Helmed by Cannes-selected director Tatsuji Yamazaki, the film employs kabuki-inspired sequences and stylised sets.
Umon’s services are called upon when innocent bystanders, Kayo and Minokichi, along with the ronin, Gontaro are mistakenly identified as suspects in several recent murder cases. To prove their innocence and uncover the truth, Umon launches his own investigation.
All is not well in an a small fishing village not far from Edo. Mysterious goings-on are happening at Echigoya’s Red Crane Mansion, and when Young Lord comes to relax he finds no peace until he can unravel the mystery rooted in the past when a beautiful samurai princess prayed for a handsome bridegroom to take her away. When a body turns up on the riverbank it is high time for Young Lord to delve into the case, while avoiding dangerous gangsters who have taken over the town. This is the 7th case that Young Lord is called upon to solve. Leaving only the mystery of who he is and where he came from! As always, Okawa Hashizo plays the role to perfection.
Set in the late Edo period. Ohatsu, who is the signboard girl for a diner in Nihonbashi Torichō, awakens to a mysterious power – the spiritual ability to see and hear things that ordinary people cannot. Southern Edo magistrate Negishi Hizen-no-kami Yasumori approached her to request assistance in gathering strange tales for a collection called Mimibukuro, and introduces her to Furusawa Ukyonosuke, a trainee yoriki. Thus, the two of them encounter some bizarre events...
A decapitation at the hands of the shogun's monstrous misbegotten son kicks off the action and draws nomadic Nemuri Kyoshiro (Raizô Ichikawa) into more sword-fighting adventures when he's blamed for the beheading. Meanwhile, the head-chopper's mother is busy knocking off the shogun's lawful heirs to secure the shogunate for her son.
Provincial lord of the Arioka Castle, Murashige Araki, rebels against tyrannical despot Oda Nobunaga, and makes a stand at his stronghold castle. He decides to take siege but is subsequently surrounded by Oda's forces, leaving its denizens isolated and in need of allies. With the sensitive support of his wife Chiyoho, Murashige struggles to keep his hot-blooded retainers in check, while also protecting the castle and its people. One day, a young samurai is murdered within the fortress with the mysterious killer unknown. A succession of bizarre incidents follows. The suspects are Murashige's close retainers and the people inside the Arioka Castle's land. Outside, enemy troops lie in wait. Inside, traitors lie to conceal themselves. As suspicion runs rampant, Murashige seeks the help of a prisoner in his dungeon—dangerous master tactician Kanbei Kuroda—to solve the mysteries.
Veteran director Nakajima Sadao examines the appeal, background, context and transition of chambara, or period sword-fighting and samurai films, in Kyoto. Not only interviews with actors, choreographers and critiques are included, but the director orchestrates an original chambara scene for the documentary.
When the brutal Boshin War breaks out in Japan, a group of inmates on death row unite to defend a fortress against the Imperial army.
A samurai answers a village's request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits, so the samurai gathers six others to help him teach the people how to defend themselves, and the villagers provide the soldiers with food.
Edo town thief called "Acrobatics boy" has been rampant in town, just that time, spy, Goro of Otaki will see a woman who had been an inside contact of the Yataro by chance. Also, Heizo is worried about the child of Inoue Tatsuizumi, who decided to ask for help for Gen'an.
Heizo "The Demon" deals with an arson thief gang known as "Bungoro" the fire thief who leaves a calling card as evidence. As a street notice, showing the thief of Ohno shop, but it is not Bungoro, it's the quick work of a solo member. Heizo Hasegawa with his hands full may have caught a break, it may be a falling out among the thieves.