Zakurozaka no adauchi

Master swordsman Shimura Kingo is charged with protecting the Shogun's chief minister, and fails. Forbidden from taking his own life, he is instead commanded to track down and kill the assassins. Only then will he be permitted an honourable death.

Events conspire against the quest. One by one, the assassins die before he can reach them, each time to the increasing frustration of Kingo and his lord. Worse, the times are changing rapidly. The Meiji Restoration makes swordsmen an embarrassing irrelevance.

Only one assassin remains at large. Even after the death of his lord, Kingo presses on.

Snow On The Blades is beautifully filmed and is a continuous joy to behold. The costumes and scenery are fantastic. The acting is on key and convincing, and the fight scenes superb.

SOTB does go on for a bit too long and drags a little along the way. The two male leads are simply marvellous and superbly well-matched, while the lovely Ryoko Hirosue provides stoic support as Kingo's true samurai wife.

Highly recommended.