Watch Death of a Ninja

Located in Japan, the movie Death of a Ninja, which was released in 1982, is a thrilling martial arts piece. Directed by Hirokazu Ichimura, the movie stars Hiroyuki Sanada, Noriko Watanabe, and Jun Miho in lead roles. Masazuka (Hiroyuki Sanada) is the lead protagonist in the movie. He is a young and ambitious martial arts student who aspires to be the best. His ambition is fueled by the thought of being able to take revenge on his former sensei, Tetsuo Tanaka (Takashi Noguchi), who dishonored him by expelling him from his dojo. The reason behind his expulsion was that he showed no mercy to his fellow students in the dojo during a sparring match.

Masazuka heavily practices his skills in martial arts and develops a unique fighting style. He is unstoppable in his quest to become the best, but his obsession with vengeance clouds his judgment. He becomes violent, unpredictable, and increasingly dangerous as he sets out on his mission of revenge.

Meanwhile, Akiko (Noriko Watanabe), a young woman, also trains in martial arts. She also has a long history with Masazuka, who, at one time, was her lover. Masazuka, who is engulfed in his obsession for revenge, fails to recognize her potential in martial arts.

Akiko’s life even becomes endangered when Masazuka, in trying to take revenge on his former sensei, travels to Tetsuo’s new dojo. Some of Tetsuo’s pupils have a strong dislike for Masazuka, and they plan to attack him. The attack leads to chaos in the dojo, where Akiko was training. In his rage, Masazuka attacks everyone indiscriminately, including Akiko.

Later, the police arrive at the dojo to investigate the incident. The lead detective in the case, Yamada (Tatsuya Nakadai), questions everyone involved, including Akiko. However, the detectives fail to solve the case since they lack specific intelligence about the attackers.

When Masazuka finds out that Tetsuo has entered a martial arts competition, he sees it as the perfect time to exact his revenge. He enters the competition and starts taking down one opponent after another with ease. However, his actions attract the attention of the tournament officials, who disqualify him due to his violent tendencies. His actions also attract the attention of the police, who begin to tail him.

As the movie nears its climax, Masazuka’s obsession leads him down a dangerous path. He becomes careless, taking risks that cost him his life. The title of the movie, Death of a Ninja, ultimately reflects Masazuka's tragic end.

Death of a Ninja is an action-packed and thrilling martial arts movie that explores the themes of vengeance, obsession, and redemption. The chemistry between the lead characters Akiko and Masazuka, who at one point in the past were lovers, adds a deeper layer of intrigue and drama to the story. The supporting actors, including Tatsuya Nakadai and Takashi Noguchi, are excellent and add to the depth and complexity of the story.

Overall, Death of a Ninja celebrates martial arts while simultaneously showing the destructive nature of revenge and the emotional turmoil that can come with it. For martial arts enthusiasts, this movie is a must-watch, as it showcases the skills of the actors through the various fight scenes, which are beautifully choreographed.

Death of a Ninja is a 1984 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 43 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7.