Tange Sazen

Tange Sazen returns as a rough-hewn swordsman who walks the streets of Edo with one eye and one arm, a reluctant hero who looks out for ordinary people. When a mysterious vessel known as the kokezaru no tsubo, an earless monkey jar, disappears it pulls Sazen into a web of intrigue. The jar holds a secret that could alter the balance of power in Shogun Yoshimune's city, and rival sword schools and corrupt officials circle like predators. Sazen is steady in a fight but soft around women, and the story leans on fast-paced duels, sly humor, and the politics of the time without giving away how the conflict is resolved.

This 1990 TV movie was directed by Kazuyoshi Yoshikawa and draws on characters created by Yoshimi Shinozaki and Kaitaro Hasegawa. Makoto Fujita stars as Tange Sazen, joined by So Yamamura, Azusa Mano, Isao Hashizume, and Ryo Tamura in supporting roles, framing the piece as an all-star samurai showcase.

As a production made for television it did not have a theatrical run or box office figures to report. It was produced for broadcast audiences, so its reach depended on TV scheduling and home video availability rather than cinema grosses.

Tange Sazen is a long-established figure in Japanese popular culture, and this entry leans into that legacy. The film keeps familiar motifs alive: the damaged but morally clear warrior, honor codes, and the crowded streets of Edo as a stage for spectacle. Fans of period action will recognize traditional costumes, stunt choreography, and the trope of a single artifact carrying outsized political meaning.

Critical metrics are scarce for this TV release, so broad consensus is hard to gauge. The movie emphasizes themes of social justice, corruption, and personal honor, and it showcases swordplay and theatrical set pieces more than psychological depth. Viewers who enjoy classic samurai melodrama and charismatic lead performances will find its strengths, while those seeking modern realism may find it dated.