Japanese Title:

Shura Yuki Hime

English Equivalent

Lady Snowblood: Blizzard From Hell

Release Date:

1973

Producer:

Okuda Kikumaru

Based on a Story by:

Kamimura Kazuo, Koike Kazuo

Screen Writer:

Osada Norio

Cinematography:

Tamura Masaki

Music:

Masaaki Hirao

Art Direction:

Matsuya Kazuo

Editing:

Inoue Osamu

Sound:

Kamikura Noboru

Director:

Fujita Toshiya

Produced by:

Toho

Theme Song:

“Shura No Hana” (Flower of Carnage)
Lyrics: Koike Kazuo
Music: Hirao Masaaki
Arrangement: Ryuzaki Koji
Performed by: Kaji Meiko

During the turbulent Meiji Era in a small village near Koichi, a schoolteacher, his beautiful wife and young son are unmercifully and brutally attacked by a radical Anti-Government gang who have taken over the town in an extortion scheme.

Kajima Sayo is the only one to survive the attack but is subjected to an unrelenting series of tortures and rapes. The gang flees the town with Sayo in tow and soon part ways in Edo (Tokyo). Sayo is still held captive by one of the gang members and is forced to prostitute herself or face death. One night Sayo kills her tormentor and is subsequently jailed for the crime.

Determined to seek vengeance on the remaining three gang members who had massacred her family, she vows to give birth to an “avenging spirit”. After taking on a series of lovers, she finally gets pregnant and gives birth to a daughter whom she names “Yuki”. While Sayo dies after giving birth, her cellmates take on the duty of raising the daughter. Yuki is sent to a Warrior Priest named “Dokai” who proceeds to train Yuki in various arts of combat and swordsmanship.

After many years of training and tutelage under the Priest, Yuki emerges as a beautiful but deadly assassin. She vows to kill the remaining three criminals (Tsukamoto Kishiro, Kitamura O-Kon, and Takemura Banzou) no matter what the cost. Along the way she meets up with renegade News Reporter Ashio Yurei and together they set out on a “rambling road of revenge”.

The hauntingly beautiful Kaji Meiko has made a career of playing strong heroines in a number of Toei “Pinky Violence” films. In the early part of career she starred as a bit player in a number of low budget Nikkatsu films. It was not until she starred in the female gang movie “Onna Bancho Noraneko Rock” (Female Boss – Alley Cat Rock; Hori Pro, 1970) that she started to get some notice. Thereafter she starred in a string of sequels including “Nora Neko Rock – Wild Jumbo” (Alley Cats – Wild Jumbo; Hori Pro/Nikkatsu, 1970), “Nora Neko Rock – Sex Hunter” (Alley Cats – Sex Hunter; Nikkatsu, 1970), “Nora Neko Rock – Machine Animal” (Alley Cats – Machine Animal; Nikkatsu, 1970) and “Nora Neko Rock – Bousou Shudan ‘71” (Alley Cats – Crazy Gang ’71; Nikkatsu, 1971). It was not until she went to Toei that she found her biggest success playing the tragic character of Matsushima ‘Matsu’ Nami in the film “Jyoshu 701 Go Sasori” (Female Prisoner #701 – Scropion; Toei, 1972). She subsequently starred in four sequels including “Jyoshu Sasori - Dai 41 Zakkyo Bou” (Female Prisoner Scorpion – Jailhouse 41; Toei, 1972), “Jyoshu Sasori – Kemono No Beya” (Female Prisoner Scorpion – Beast Staple; Toei, 1973) and “Jyoshu Sasori – 701 Go Urami Bushi” (Female Prisoner #701 Scorpion – Grudge Song; 1973).

Kaji also starred in other Toei projects such as “Jingi Naki Tatakae – Hiroshima Shito Hen” (Fight Without Honor or Humanity – Hiroshima Battle; Toei, 1973), “Jeans Blues – Ashita Naki Muraiha” (Jeans Blues – There Is No Tomorrow; Toei, 1974) and “Yakuza No Hakaba” (Yakuza Graveyard; Toei, 1976).

In addition to being a film star, she also had some minor success as an “Enka” (Japanese Ballad) singer and released a number of singles including “Onna No Jyumon” (Charm of a Woman – Theme song to “Jyoshu 701 Go Sasori”), “Urami Bushi” (Grudge Song – Theme song to “Jyoshu Sasori - Dai 41 Zakkyo Bou”), “Jeans Blues” (Theme song to “Jeans Blues - Ashita Naki Muraiha”) and “Gincho Wakari Dori” (Silver Winged Wandering Bird – “Gincho Wakari Dori”).

Akaza Miyoko made her debut in the film “Botan Tourou” (Daiei, 1966) and has appeared in a number of other films and TV projects including “Kiss Me” (Toei, 1996), “Kagero 3” (Shochiku, 1997) and “Sada” (Shochiku, 1998). She recently appeared in “Aijin Wa Sniper” (My Lover is a Sniper; Toei, 2004).

Veteran movie actor Nishimura Kou has appeared in a number of diverse films including “Yojimbo” (Toho, 1961), “Yosei Gorath” (Gorath; Toho, 1962), “Daibosatsu Toge” (Sword of Doom; Toho, 1966), “Jinruigaku Nyumon” (The Pornagraphers, Nikkatsu, 1966), “Zatoichi Ryoyaburi” (Zatoichi – The Outlaw; Katsu Pro/Daiei, 1967), “Kurotogake” (Black Lizard; Shochiku, 1968) and “Teito Monogatari” (Doomed Megalopolis, 1988). His most famous role however was as the villainous Yagyu Retsudo in the TV series “Kozure Okami” (Lonewolf and Cub, 1973).

Takagi Hitoshi is more familiar as the voice behind the loveable character of Totoro in Miyazaki Hayao’s “Tonari No Totoro” (My Neighbor Totoro, 1988).

Tokusatsu fans may recognize Daimon Masaaki as Chief Ito Junkichi, a member of the UGM (Utility Government Members) team in Ultraman 80 (Tsuburaya/TBS, 1980). He was also seen in “Godzilla vs. Mecha Godzilla” (Toho, 1974), “Mecha Godzilla No Gyakushu” (Terror of Mecha Godzilla, Toho, 1975), and “Sailor Fuku To Kikanjyu” (Sailor Uniform and Machine Gun; Kadokawa, 1981).

Negishi Akemi has appeared in a number of movie including “Jyoshu 701 Go – Sasori” (Female Convict #701 Scorpion; Toei, 1973), “Jyoshu Sasori 701 Go – Urami Bushi” (Female Convict #701 Scorpion – Grudge Song; Toei, 1973) and “King Kong vs. Godzilla” (Toho, 1962).

Okada Eiji was also seen in the movies “E.S.P.y” (Toho, 1974), “Kozure Okami – Meifu Madou” (Lone Wolf & Cub – Road To Hades; Katsu Pro, 1973) and “The Yakuza” 1974).

Chi Takeo played the character of Kijima in the “Be-Bop High School” series of films (1985-1988).

Kurosawa Toshio can be seen in such movies as “Chi O Suu Bara” (AKA The Evil of Dracula; Toho, 1974), “Nostradamus No Daiyogen” (AKA Last Days of Planet Earth; Toho, 1974) and “Okami No Mansho” (Mark of the Wolf; Toho, 1974). He was also portrayed Prof. Mori Haruhiko in the series “Kinkyu Shirei 10-4-10-10” (Emergency Alert 10-4-10-10; Toei, 1972.

Nakada Yoshiko has since gone on to star in a number of TV drama series and can frequently be seen on various variety programs. Some of her TV credits include “Haru O Koi” (Come Forth Spring; NHK, 1995), “Kofuku” (Happiness; TBS, 1980), “Otoko Jyozu Onna Jyozu” (Men Do Well, Women Do Well; TV Asahi, 1986) and “Prison Hotel” (TBS, 1997).

Quentin Tarantino’s crowd-pleasing adventure film “Kill Bill - Vol. 1/Vol. 2” draws inspiration from “Shura Yuki Hime” and even uses Kaji Mieko’s haunting ballad as one of its signature songs.

An inferior sequel to “Shura Yuki Hime” was made in 1974. “Shura Yuki Hime: Urami Renga” (Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance) took place directly after the events of the first movie and told of Yuki’s capture at the hands of the Meiji Governmental Police. She is however freed by a renegade Secret Police Force and manipulated into assassinating various Revolutionaries seeking to topple the Meiji Government.

A modern update of “Shura Yuki Hime” was made in 2002 and starred Shaku Yumiko in the title role. This “Shura Yuki Hime” took place not in the Japan’s past but rather in Japan’s apocalyptic future and told the story of a lone female warrior’s battle against her former associates while battling a corrupt future “Bakufu” (Governmental Organization).

Writer Koike Kazuo is probably one of the most prolific manga writers today. Having studied under the guidance of famous manga writer Saito Takao (Golgo 13), Koike soon began to develop his own style and became a freelance writer. Among Koike’s long list of writing credits include: “Kozure Okami” (Lone Wolf and Cub), “Kizoibito” (The Wounded), “Brothers”, “Offered”, “Crying Freeman”, “Mad Bull 34”, “Auction House”, “Jitken Ningyo Oscar” (AKA Dummy Oscar), “Yokohama Homeros” and “Musashi” among others. He is a frequent collaborator with manga artist Ikegami Ryoiichi.