Sword of Desperation (2010)

Sword of Desperation is a 2010 Japanese samurai movie directed by Hideyuki Hirayama. It's based on a short story taken from Fujisawa’s “Hidden Blade” series, a compilation of stories which involve a character (not always the protagonist) mastering a secret sword technique to be unleashed on his enemies later on.

Movie info

Original title: 必死剣鳥刺し
Transliterated title: Hisshiken Torisashi
Release date: July 10, 2010
Directed by: Hideyuki Hirayama
Written by: Shuhei Fujisawa (short story)
Distributed by: Toei

Region 1 NTSC DVD (English subtitles)
Label: AnimEigo (US)
Out: Feb 14, 2012
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Plot

Kanemi Sanzaemon is a skilled swordsman and the tending president of the Unasaka clan. Three years ago, he dealt with a case of misgovernment by murdering a former prostitute named Renko who was abusing the influence she had gained by becoming the mistress of a powerful daimyo. However, he received a lenient punishment for his actions and was eventually allowed to return to his duties within the clan.

After the death of his wife, Sanzaemon takes care of her niece, Rio, but doesn’t realize she harbors a secret love for him. Meanwhile, a situation arises which will put Sanzaemon’s “bird-catching” sword fighting technique to the ultimate test.

Featured Cast

Actor		Role
	Etsushi Toyokawa	Sanzaemon Kanemi
	Chizuru Ikewaki	Rio
	Koji Kikkawa	Obiya Hayatonoshō
	Naho Toda	Mutsue
	Jun Murakami	Ukyōdayū
	Megumi Seki	Renko
	Kinuo Yamada	Tae
	Kenichi Yajima	Yabe Magochiyo
	Masayuki Yui	Ōba
	Edamame Tsumami	Fukui
	Mitsutoshi Shundo	Mitsuoka
	Seminosuke Murasugi	Yamauchi
	Risho Takigawa	Anzai
	Yudai Ishiyama	Farmer representative
	Sogen Tanaka	Farmer
	Toru Kizu	Farmer
	Ken Maeda	Kisuke, farmer
	Bunmei Tobayama	Seizō Kanemi
	Kazuya Takahashi	Denichirō Kenemi
	Tenkyu Fukuda	Maki Tōbei
	Hana Kino	Hana
	Fumiyo Kohinata	Hoshina
	Ittoku Kishibe	Tsuda
	Honoka Asada	Child