Ask John: What’s the Background of Ninja Resurrection?

Question:
What’s the deal with Ninja Ressurection? I watched it a while ago, and it was pretty good, but what’s the story behind it? I know Jubei Yagyu was a real person, but the two episodes seemed like they were taken from a larger series. The second episode ended pretty strangely. What am I missing here?

Answer:
If my research isn’t mistaken, Japanese author Fuutarou Yamada’s first book dealing with the concept of “Makai Tenshou” (Resurrection from Hell) and the 1638 Shimabara Revolt was a novel titled Oboro Ninpuchou, published in Japan in 1967. Although Yamada continued to write fictional samurai and ninja adventure novels loosely based on actual history, it wasn’t until 1991 that he published his first novel with the actual title “Makai Tenshou.” But since the debut of Yamada’s fictional continuation of a historical event, the story of Makai Tenshou has been immensely popular in Japan and has adapted into live action movies, anime and manga.

To provide some initial background, Yagyu Jubei Mitsuyoshi (1606-1644) is one of Japan’s favorite samurai because so little is known about him. Yagyu Jubei descended from a famous family of samurai. His father was the personal sword instructor of the shogun. In the normally extensively detailed written records of feudal Japan, however, there seems to be a suspicious absence of details about Yagyu Jubei’s life, fueling suspicions that he was actually an undercover agent and spy for the Tokugawa shogunate. In the absence of trustworthy facts, legends have sprung up around Yagyu Jubei, turning him into a virtually superheroic samurai warrior.

From December 1637 until February 28, 1638, Hara Castle in Nagasaaki Prefecture was besieged by shogunate forces. The unsuccessful revolution by overtaxed peasants, poor samurai and Christians now known as the Shimabara Revolt was led by Amakusa Shiro Tokisada (1621-1638). Amakusa was presumably killed in the battle, but his body was never found. While the Shimabara Revolt did occur during Yagyu Jubei’s lifetime, I’ve not been able to find any factual evidence that he was actually involved in or present at the Shimabara Revolt. However, author Fuutarou Yamada embellished the historical facts by creating the fantasy that after the unsuccessful Christian uprising, Shiro Amakusa returned to life, this time supporting the side of Satan.

Makai Tenshou was first adapted into a live action feature film in 1981 by director Kinji (Battle Royale) Fukasaku. Makai Tenshou was again adapted into live action with the made for video movie Makai Tenshou, released on April 26, 1996 and its video sequel Makai Tenshou Madouhen, released on October 4, 1996. (These two video movies have been released in America by Media Blasters under the titles “Reborn from Hell: Samurai Armageddon” and “Reborn from Hell: Jubei’s Revenge.”)

In May and June 1997, manga artist Shouko Toba published the two volume Makai Tenshou: Yume no Ato (“Sign of Dreams”) manga series.

In 1998, Phoenix Entertainment announced plans for a 4 volume anime adaptation of Makai Tenshou. Makai Tenshou Jigokuhen OAV 1 was released on February 27, 1998. The second episode was released on March 27, 1998. And for some reason the following two episodes were never produced. I’m not certain if Phoenix Entertainment still exists, so the production of the anime may have been halted due to the studio closing. It may also be because much of the staff of the Makai Tenshou anime was carried over from the Giant Robo anime, including producer Masayuki Miyashita and character designer/animation director Kenji Hayama, that the extensive delays that plagued Giant Robo carried over to, and ultimately killed the production of Makai Tenshou. AD Vision released the two existing Makai Tenshou anime OAVs in America under the American name “Ninja Resurrection.”

The anime release was followed by the November 1998 release of a Makai Tenshou manga written by Fuutarou Yamada and illustrated by Getter Robo manga artist Ken Ishikawa.

Manga artist Tomi Shinzou published a two volume adaptation of Makai Tenshou in March and April 2002.

A new, big budget theatrical version of Makai Tenshou, directed by Hirayama Hideyuki, was released to Japanese theaters on April 26, 2003. This recent hit movie was the basis of a Playstation 2 action game produced by D3 Publisher, released on July 31, 2003.

Manga artist Naoko Kugo published a single volume Makai Tenshou: Seijya no Koushin (“March of Saints”) manga in August 2003.

AD Vision has hinted at plans to someday sponsor a revival of the Makai Tenshou anime. And the concluding image in the 2003 live action Makai Tenshou movie clearly hints at a sequel, so there seem to be pretty good odds that we’ll see more adaptations of the Makai Tenshou story in the future.