Shinnosuke Ikehata

Japanese avant-garde filmmaker Shūji Terayama is known for his visually striking and highly provocative works, from which Fruits of Passion is one of the most controversial. Presented at the Directors’ Fortnight in 1981, this is a sexually abrasive and disturbingly powerful tale.

Cowritten by star Shintaro Katsu, this adventure pits Zatoichi against one of his most diabolical foes: a blind yakuza boss whose reign of terror and exploitation has made him nearly mythic. Guest starring the legendary Tatsuya Nakadai as a ronin haunted by a traumatic past, and featuring an unforgettable nude swordfight in a bathhouse, this twenty-first entry in the series is a fan favorite.

Based on the manga series, the epic story of formidable warrior Ogami Itto and his son comes full circle in this outstanding sword-filled production.