Yagyû ichizoku no inbô

Aired in 1978-79, "The Yagyu Conspiracy" remains one of the greatest ever Japanese samurai TV shows featuring Sonny Chiba and a virtual who's who of the great and good of 1970's samurai cinema. Chiba stars as Yagyu Jubei who must battle against the conspiracies between the court nobles and daimyo seeking to bring down the Shogun. To aid him in his fight he has the Negoro ninja group, his father Tajima, brother Samon and sister Akane as well as his own ninja group - the Ura Yagyu, but he is up against some strong enemies in the form of villainous court noble Karasumaru Shosho and sinister swordsman Ogasawara Genshinsai, Yagyu Tajima's nemesis. An all-action samurai/ninja adventure thriller that is highly recommended, this remains one of Chiba's defining roles.