
The Samurai is a Japanese historical fiction television series made by Senkosha Productions during the early 1960s. Its original Japanese title was Onmitsu Kenshi. The series premiered in 1962 on TBS and ran continuously until 1965 for ten self-contained story arcs, usually of 13 episodes each. Also created were two black-and-white feature films by Toei Company, made in 1964 by the same crew which has created the TV series, and a stage show. The Samurai proved to be highly successful despite its initially very limited budget. It was the first Japanese TV program ever screened in Australia, where it premiered in 1964 and built up a remarkably large fan-base among the local young audience at the time, rapidly becoming a cult favourite. Despite its massive popularity in Australia as well as success in Japan, New Zealand and the Philippines, the series was not widely screened elsewhere and its fame remains largely restricted to those countries.
Air Date: 1987-11-01
Shintarō saves a young Ainu wrongly accused of murder, relying on his wits and his pistol.
Air Date: 1962-10-14
Shintarō captures an escaped thief and takes him to the town of Kiritap to be held until Kiba arrives. However, the v...
Air Date: 1962-10-21
Shintarō comes upon a woman and her young son who are being terrorised by a loan-shark and his offsider, a disreputab...
Air Date: 1962-10-28
A group of Ainu take a wagon carrying gold from the goldmine on the Shibuchari River in revenge for the death of the ...
Air Date: 1962-11-04
A shipwrecked rōnin impersonates Matsudaira Nobuchiyo at the instigation of a smuggler of guns so he can get them to ...
Air Date: 1962-11-11
Shintarō helps a young boy find his mother who was taken by Onibishi, an Ainu chief. Kiba persuades Onibishi to set a...
Air Date: 1962-11-18
Shintarō, Sanpei and the refugee Ainu women continue on their way to Kunashiri Island. Sanpei mistakenly thinks Shint...
Air Date: 1962-11-25
Goromatsu's two outlaw brothers break him out of Shiranuka Gaol where he is awaiting transfer to Matsumae. He vows to...
Air Date: 1962-12-02
Shintarō encounters Tendō Sawanosuke, a blind rōnin and his young daughter who are being harassed by Hidaya's bullies...
Air Date: 1962-12-09
Habaro a young part-Japanese Ainu hunter is persuaded by an ambitious gang leader to kill his boss so he can take ove...
Air Date: 1962-12-16
Shintarō helps a brother and sister from Aizu take revenge on the man who killed their father who is now using anothe...
Air Date: 1962-12-23
Chusuke the Weasel returns to Usu seeking Yaichi, the man who put him in gaol. None of the villagers will stand by Ya...
Air Date: 1962-12-30
Matsumae government convoys and samurai have been attacked by a man in white who claims to the onmitsu. Shintarō reso...