Sleepy Eyes of Death Collection

TOTAL BINGE TIME: 19h 23m

The Definitive Watch Order & Chronological Timeline

Sleepy Eyes of Death 1: The Chinese Jade

Released: 1963 // Runtime: 82m // Rating: 5.1

Nemuri Kyoshiro, a youthful and cynical ronin with unparalleled skill, is approached by both sides in a game of corruption, ambition, and double crosses. The leader of the Kaga clan, who thinks he has killed his smuggling partner, fears that the shogunate will discover his illegal activities. He learns of evidence that will prove his guilt. Meanwhile, his partner is not dead, and, assisted by a master of Shorenji boxing, is looking for revenge and for his loot. The Kaga leader sends the beautiful Chisa to enlist Nemuri's aid. The unexpected happens: the hard-bitten Nemuri falls in love. Can he protect her, topple the criminals, and avoid the boxer's deadly skill?

1963

Sleepy Eyes of Death 2: Sword of Adventure

Released: 1964 // Runtime: 83m // Rating: 5.5

Wandering samurai Nemuri Kyoshiro (Raizô Ichikawa) finds a bulls-eye on his back after befriending the shogunate's tightfisted financial adviser, Asahina, who's earned the wrath of the shogun's self-indulgent daughter for cutting off her allowance. The enraged princess promptly hatches a scheme to have Asahina bumped off -- along with his protector, Kyoshiro. Shiho Fujimura also stars in this installment of the enormously popular film series.

1964

Sleepy Eyes of Death 3: Full Circle Killing

Released: 1964 // Runtime: 86m // Rating: 5.8

A decapitation at the hands of the shogun's monstrous misbegotten son kicks off the action and draws nomadic Nemuri Kyoshiro (Raizô Ichikawa) into more sword-fighting adventures when he's blamed for the beheading. Meanwhile, the head-chopper's mother is busy knocking off the shogun's lawful heirs to secure the shogunate for her son.

1964

Sleepy Eyes of Death 4: Sword of Seduction

Released: 1964 // Runtime: 87m // Rating: 5.6

A fugitive christian "saint" (female, of course!) and a sadistic drug-addled princess both have their eye on Kyoshiro. The fact that a bunch of ruthless smugglers also want him dead is the least of his problems!

1964

Sleepy Eyes of Death 5: Sword of Fire

Released: 1965 // Runtime: 83m // Rating: 5.9

Fifth film in the series. When Kyoshiro, in a moment of weakness, saves the life of a woman being attacked on the road, he quickly finds himself entangled in a conspiracy involving a corrupt chamberlain, a wily merchant, the survivors of a pirate gang, and a missing treasure trove.

1965

Sleepy Eyes of Death 6: Sword of Satan

Released: 1965 // Runtime: 75m // Rating: 6.1

Sixth film in the series. A little boy who just wants to be a carpenter is at the center of a plot that might topple -- or save -- a mighty Clan, and while the swords of some angry samurai may not cause Kyoshiro much trouble, the deadly wiles of two women may be more difficult to survive!

1965

Sleepy Eyes of Death 7: The Mask of the Princess

Released: 1966 // Runtime: 85m // Rating: 6.1

The masked daughter of the Shogun wants to kill a samurai who has seen her scarred face. She sends waves of ninja warriors to kill the samurai and plots diabolical schemes / ambushes without much success.

1966

Sleepy Eyes of Death 8: Sword of Villainy

Released: 1966 // Runtime: 79m // Rating: 5.4

Nemuri Kyoshiro discovers a conspiracy centering around a band of disgruntled samurai wanting to avenge the death of their sensei, a political reformer that pushed for better provisions for the lower classes until he was assassinated by Shogunate agents. Their plot, to set fire to the oil refineries of two rich merchants and unleash a raging inferno that will hopefully burn down the Edo Castle.

1966

Sleepy Eyes of Death 9: Trail of Traps

Released: 1967 // Runtime: 88m // Rating: 5.8

The Son of the Black Mass returns in this ninth installment in Daiei's longstanding Nemuri Kyoshiro series. This time Raizo Ichikawa as Nemuri is called to see that a gold statuette of the Virgin Mary gets safe passage to Kyoto from the prying hands of a sect of murderous Christian ronin that call themselves the Black Finger Group.

1967

#10

Sleepy Eyes of Death 10: Hell Is a Woman

Released: 1968 // Runtime: 82m // Rating: 6.4

Two devious retainers are competing to take control of a fief when the current Lord dies, but involving Kyoshiro in the conflict against his will is the textbook example of a bad idea - especially when the collateral damage starts to tick him off.

1968

#11

Sleepy Eyes of Death 11: In the Spider's Lair

Released: 1968 // Runtime: 81m // Rating: 6.0

The titular "tarantula" is a murderous woman who, along with the brother who is in love with her, kill without warrant because they are wealthy & above the law. Kyoshiro the homeless masterless wandering samurai has nothing to lose, & no scruples anyway, so can reproach even the powerful with ease. He is thus, for all that he has broad streaks of villainy all his own, a champion of the people by default.

1968

#12

Sleepy Eyes of Death 12: Castle Menagerie

Released: 1969 // Runtime: 82m // Rating: 4.8

Just when you think Kyoshiro's life can't get any stranger, someone starts running around raping and murdering, and leaving notes proudly proclaiming that he did it. Tracking down the real culprit will take him along a twisted trail that involves the Shogun's harem, hidden Christians, and positively pregnant politics!

1969

#13

Sleepy Eyes of Death 13: The Full Moon Swordsman

Released: 1969 // Runtime: 82m // Rating: 5.2

Inspector General Kanjuro Sano conspires with the future shogun twin brother. They replace Ieyoshi Tokugawa with his twin, but it becomes a problem when suspicion arises and Nemuri Kyoshiro gets involved.

1969

#14

Sleepy Eyes of Death 14: Fylfot Swordplay

Released: 1969 // Runtime: 88m // Rating: 4.4

Getting an opportunity to meet with another half-Caucasian swordsman, Kyoshiro finds himself involved in a series of dangerous encounters.

1969