Known in English as Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai, this film’s release was delayed from its initially scheduled date for May 2020 and is set to come to theaters October 15, 2021. In promotion for the film, a special video was aired 3 days ago on August 18th that focuses on understanding the history of the Shinsengumi which I have translated and subtitled.

Largely based off of superstar historical novelist Shiba Ryotaro’s famous novel Moeyo Ken (燃えよ剣, “Burn, My Sword”), which serves as the Japanese title for the film, tells the story of the Shinsengumi during the Bakumatsu (a Japanese term to refer to the final years of the Tokugawa Shogunate) through the eyes of Hijikata Toshizou, who served as the vice commander in the group, which also serves as the Japanese title for the film.

As the opening screen states, “How did the Shinsengumi, history’s strongest group of swordsmen that became a legend after only existing for a meager 6 years, come to be?” The focus of this special video is meant to detail the group’s chronology to be understood in about 3 minutes.

Starring Okada Junichi as Hijikata Toshizou, a “baragaki” with a burning dream to become a warrior/samurai, Moeyo Ken features a strong cast and promises to be a film of great scale and passion.

As a huge fan of Japanese history, especially the Bakumatsu and the Shinsengumi (Shiba Ryotaro’s novel is one of my favorite works of historical fiction), I have been interested in this film for well over a year now and look forward to the opportunity to watching it.

Cast features:

• Okada Junichi (岡田准一) as Hijikata Toshizou
• Suzuki Ryohei (鈴木亮平) as Kondou Isami
• Yamada Ryosuke (山田涼介) as Okita Souji
• Itou Hideaki (伊藤英明) as Serizawa Kamo
• Yamada Yuki (山田祐樹) as Tokugawa Yoshinobu
• Onoe Ukon (尾上右近) as Matsudaira Katamori