Shogun's Samurai
Following the death of the second Tokugawa shogun, it is revealed that he was poisoned by retainers of his son Iemitsu in hopes of gaining him the shogunate despite the stammer and birthmark which undermine his respect. Iemitsu and his brother Tadanaga become bitter rivals for the shogunate, and the land is split into factions, eventually erupting into warfare. Iemitsu's mentor, his fencing instructor Yagyu, is fixated upon securing Iemitsu the shogunate and ends up betraying everyone, even his own family, in pursuit of the goal.
Where to watch Shogun's Samurai in United States
YouTube TV
Midnight Pulp
Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel
Cineverse Amazon Channel
Fawesome
CineverseClick a service to open Shogun's Samurai there. Availability last verified on June 21, 2026.
Where is Shogun's Samurai streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | YouTube TV, Midnight Pulp, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel | — |
| Canada | Midnight Pulp, Cineverse | — |
| France | Molotov TV | Sooner, Amazon Video, VIVA by videofutur |
| Japan | Hulu, U-NEXT, Toei On Demand Amazon Channel | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
About Shogun's Samurai
Shogun's Samurai is a 1978 Japanese-language action, drama and adventure film directed by Kinji Fukasaku. The cast is led by Kinnosuke Nakamura, Sonny Chiba, Hiroki Matsukata. It has a runtime of 2h 10m. In United States, it is currently streaming on YouTube TV, Midnight Pulp, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel.
Shogun's Samurai was produced by Toei Company and made in Japan. It was released on January 21, 1978.
- Director
- Kinji Fukasaku
- Writers
- Hirō Matsuda, Kinji Fukasaku, Tatsuo Nogami
- Release date
- January 21, 1978
- Original language
- Japanese
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Japan
- Production
- Toei Company
Shogun's Samurai cast & crew
Shogun's Samurai was directed by Kinji Fukasaku and written by Hirō Matsuda, Kinji Fukasaku, and Tatsuo Nogami.
The cast features Kinnosuke Nakamura as Yagyu Tajima, Sonny Chiba as Jûbê Yagyû, Hiroki Matsukata as Iemitsu Tokugawa (Older Prince), Teruhiko Saigō as Tadanaga Tokugawa (Younger Prince), Reiko Ōhara as Okuni (Singer), and Yoshio Harada as Sanza Nagoya (Flute Player).
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Toshiaki Tsushima and cinematography is by Tôru Nakajima.
Is Shogun's Samurai worth watching?
At 2h 10m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy action, drama, and adventure, Shogun's Samurai is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Shogun's Samurai
In United States, you can stream Shogun's Samurai on YouTube TV, Midnight Pulp, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel, and Fawesome. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of Shogun's Samurai
Kinnosuke Nakamura
Yagyu Tajima
Sonny Chiba
Jûbê Yagyû
Hiroki Matsukata
Iemitsu Tokugawa (Older Prince)
Teruhiko Saigō
Tadanaga Tokugawa (Younger Prince)
Reiko Ōhara
Okuni (Singer)
Yoshio Harada
Sanza Nagoya (Flute Player)
Isao Natsuyagi
Shozaemon Bekki
Mikio Narita
Ayamaro Karasumasu
Toshirō Mifune
Yoshinao Tokugawa
Hiroyuki Sanada
Hayate
Etsuko Shihomi
Yagyu Akane
Kentaro Kudo
Yagyu Matajuro
Shogun's Samurai — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Shogun's Samurai in United States?
Shogun's Samurai is streaming on YouTube TV, Midnight Pulp, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel in United States.
▸Is Shogun's Samurai on YouTube TV?
Yes — Shogun's Samurai is currently available on YouTube TV in United States.
▸What language is Shogun's Samurai in?
Shogun's Samurai is originally in Japanese. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Shogun's Samurai?
Shogun's Samurai runs 2 hours 10 minutes (130 minutes).
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