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Director: Akira Hirose. Review: Adam Wing. I’m often surprised by the quality of entertainment that falls through my letterbox, but nothing quite prepared me for the day I found a copy of Akira Hirose’s Chanbara Striptease in my mail. From the creators of Chanbara Beauty comes ‘blades, babes and boobs’, which unless I’m very much mistaken is also the official tagline for the movie. Lili is celebrating her 20th birthday, during the ceremony she is mysteriously transported back in time to a small village in 18th Century Japan. The village is suffering at the hands of an evil geisha and her wicked army of bandits. Lili decides to protect the villagers and the honour of her family using her skills with a katana and her magical hypnotic breasts - what’s that you say? Maybe we should start again. The film follows a young woman called Lili,...

Exploitation cinema at its best? In Akira Hirose’s Chanbara Striptease, farcical comedy, martial arts and gratuitous breast baring are the orders of the day, and its heading to the UK on DVD. Striptease boasts action and boobs aplenty - mixed with more cheese than a Dairylea factory - in a time-travelling romp starring two of Japan’s hottest Adult (ahem) Video stars, Ryo Akanishi and Sasa Handa. There’s a summary of “the plot” to be read, or whizz on down for gals, topless katana duels, and sword-wielding mayhem. Which will you choose…hmmm. Chanbara Striptease goes on sale via Manga Entertainment, on July 26th.

From the creators of, but not to be confused with “Chanbara Beauty” or its sequel “Vortex” comes “Chanbara Striptease”. Directed by Akira Hirose, the film delivers pretty much exactly as expected, being a low budget slice of uniquely Japanese silliness that revolves entirely around the premise of topless sword fighting. The film’s Av idol lead cast are certainly well qualified for such a challenge, including the likes of Sasa Handa (also in the excellent “The Girls Rebel Force of Competitive Swimmers”), Ryo Akanishi, Lulu Anoa, and Mina Asa. Viewers can now enjoy the spectacle for themselves as the film arrives on region 2 DVD via Manga Entertainment, coming as a bare bones, extras free release. The film follows a young woman called Lilli, who on her 20th birthday is informed by her grandmother that she is to inherit her family’s mystical martial arts technique. During the ceremony, she is...