Hattori
Hanzou: Kage no Gundan
(Hattori, Hanzou:
Shadow Warriors)
Hattori Hanzou: Kage no Gundan (Hattori, Hanzou:
Shadow Warriors) ran April 1, 1980 - September 30, 1980 (27 episodes)
Producers: Iwasaki, Tadashi (KTV); Matsudaira, Norimichi; Makiguchi,
Yuji & Kyou, Namura (Toei)
Music: Watanabe, Shigeki
| Character |
|
Actor |
| Hattori, Hanzou III |
|
Chiba,
Shinichi (Sonny Chiba) |
| Hyoroku |
|
Takaoka, Kenji |
| Okiri |
|
Naomi Hase |
| Daihachi |
|
Hino, Shouhei |
| Kisanta, Mizuguchi |
|
Suga, Kantaro |
| Kiheiji |
|
Haruta,
Junichi |
| Oume |
|
Kurita, Yoko |
| Oen |
|
Asano, Mayumi |
| Yataro |
|
Moritsugu, Kouji |
| Yonosuke |
|
Moriya, Shunji |
| Genjirou |
|
Hirose, Yoshinbo |
| Onami |
|
Yoshima, Tomko |
| Haruo, Ikoma |
|
Kaneko, Nobuo |
| Orin |
|
Kirin, Kiki |
| Masayuki, Hoshina |
|
Yamamura, Sou |
| Okou |
|
Mitsubayashi, Kyoko |
| Dr. Kyonosuke Tsutsumi |
|
Saigo, Teruhiko |
| Narrator |
|
Koike, Asao |
Under the leadership
of Hattori, Hanzou III the Iga ninja of Edo try to maintain the peace
and order of feudal Japan (1651), as the Shadow Warriors (Kage no
Gundan).
After
Hattori, Hanzou II displeased the Shogun (and lost his head) the Iga
were excilled. As a result Hattori, Hanzou III is forced to hide his
true identity behind the persona of a gambling bathhouse owner "Mr.
Han". Hattori, Hanzou III's right hand man, Hyoroku, works in the
Kijiyuu bathhouse. Hyoroku is a master of disguises and believes that a
ninja must not fall in love with any woman. Daihachi works as a "Frog
Oil" salesman and tries to be a womanizer. He'a an explosives expert.
Kiheiji is a construction worker. Hattori, Hanzou III's Kunoichi
(female ninja) Okiri works as a hairdresser. Also working for the
Shadow Warriors is Dr. Kyonosuke Tsutsumi, who not only treats their
wounds but his own as well.
After the
death of Shogun Tokugawa, Iemitsu the government of Japan fell to
regents as his his heir, Tokugawa, Ietsuna was only 10 years old (5
years old in this TV series). Hattori, Hanzou III occasionally works
for Hoshina, Masayuki, guardian of the young Shogun, though he does not
trust politicians, he's acccepted him as the best of lot. Hanzo is
often disappointed in Masayuki's playing it safe, and disgusted at the
corruption in the goverment.
The bathhouse
matrin, Orin (who is not a ninja) is infatuated with her employeer. She
has a rival, a younger bathhouse employee, Oume (also not a ninja). Mr.
Han does not encourage either of them. For a time Okou, who is actually
a spy for the Kogou ninja, worked in the bathhouse as well. Hattori,
Hanzou II killed Okou's father and Mitsubayashi, Kyoko, leader of the
Kogou, expects her to take revenge by killing Hattori, Hanzou III.
Mitsubayashi, Kyoko suspects that Okou is stalling because she's fallen
in love with Hattori, Hanzou III (he's right). Hattori, Hanzou III knew
all along that she was Kouga agent but believed having her nearby would
let him monitor the Kouga clan's actions. However, once she realised
that he knew she left the bathhouse. She does however follow him
around, sometimes hindering, sometmes helping.
After
Mitsubayashi, Kyoko is maimed by Hattori, Hanzaou (who refuses to kill
him because that would be too good for him) Kyoko's younger brother,
Kishirou, shows up with a plan to kill Hattori, Hanzaou. Actually, its
a plan to get rid of his brother so he can become leader of Kouga. Okou
has a younger sister, Okiku, who is blind. After Mitsubayashi, Kyoko is
killed, Okou leaves Edo with her sister, hoping for a better life for
Okiku. Of the two, Mitsubayashi, Kyoko and Mitsubayashi, Kishirou;
Kishirou is the worst. While, Kyoko would fight with his men,
Kishishour is willing to stand by and watch them be killed, he cares
nothing for them.
When men and
women are killed in this show they bleed. At the Kijiyuu bathhouse
there are many scenes of naked women.
Although the
major characters in this series are based on real historical figures,
the stories are of course fictionalized. Tokugawa, Ietsuna was the 4th
Tokugaw Shogun. The Oniwaban, government employeed ninja, did not
actually come into existance until the 8th Tokugawa Shogun and were in
fact Iga Ninja not Kouga as portrayed in this series.
Shihomi,
Etsuko (Mari in Kikaida 01) guest stars in
episode 9 as Hanzo's niece Kirara.
The opening
theme for Hattori Hanzou: Kage no Gundan is
instrumental, composed by Watanabe, Shigeki. The ending theme is,
"Prayer of G", words, music and vocals by Okabayashi, Nobuyasu;
arrangement by Watanabe, Shigeki.
Shadow Warriors: The Complete First
Season box set
Hattori Hanzou: Kage no Gundan was followed by Kage no Gundan II
(1981/26 episodes), Kage no
Gundan III (1982/26 episodes), Kage no Gundan IV
(1985/27 episodes), Kage
no Gundan: Bakumatsu-Hen (1985/13 episodes) and a
direct to video series Shin
Kage no Gundan (2003-2005/6 volumes). All starring
Sonny Chiba, as different Iga ninja.
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Last modified Thursday, November 26, 2020
Hattori Hanzou: Kage no Gundan © 1980 Kansai Telecasting
Corporation (KTV) & Toei Co., Ltd.