Eureka Entertainment is releasing Cruel Tale of Bushido (1963) on Blu-ray in March as spine #345 in their Masters of Cinema series.
Film Overview
Cruel Tale of Bushido (1963), directed by Tadashi Imai, is a Japanese historical drama that examines the human cost of rigid loyalty across generations. The film is also known as Bushido, Samurai Saga (武士道残酷物語, Bushidō zankoku monogatari) and Bushido: The Cruel Code of the Samurai.
The story follows seven generations of a single family from the beginning of the Tokugawa shogunate through the early 1960s, tracing the extremes of devotion demanded by feudal, national, and corporate authority. The film received international recognition after winning the Golden Bear at the 13th Berlin International Film Festival.
The cast is led by Kinnosuke Nakamura, who portrays multiple members of the family line, and includes Eijirō Tōno, Kyōko Kishida, Masayuki Mori, and Misako Watanabe.
Video and Audio Specs
The Blu-ray includes a 1080p HD presentation sourced from a 4K restoration by Toei. Audio is presented in original Japanese mono, with an optional DTS-HD MA 5.1 track also included. Optional English subtitles are provided and have been newly revised for this release.
Bonus Features
- Telling a Cruel Tale – new interview with film critic Tony Rayns
- Years of Honour – new video essay on Cruel Tale of Bushido and Japanese history by Jonathan Clements, author of A Brief History of Japan
- Trailer
Packaging and Edition Size
The Cruel Tale of Bushido (1963) Blu-ray includes a limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Tony Stella and a limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Hayley Scanlon. It is limited to 2,000 copies.
Release Date
Eureka Entertainment will release Cruel Tale of Bushido (1963) on Blu-ray on March 23, 2026 in the UK, followed by March 24, 2026 in the United States and Canada.
Pre-order links (commissions earned)
