Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice (1975)

Description

This first film of the trilogy introduces Hanzo 'Razor' Itami, the stone-faced samurai policeman. Refusing to swear the police blood oath due to his fellow officers and superiors' bribery and corruption, Hanzo's duty is to protect the people of Edo and fight corruption using whatever means or weapon is to hand. His reputation as the hardest man on the beat is quickly established as we witness his gruelling training routines of self-torture to test his limits of strength and endurance. Special methods – employed to prepare his 'long arm of the law' – include an array of devices such as wooden blocks, boiling water, and rice-dollies. Beyond these eye-watering spectacles, crime-fighting Hanzo seeks out women who have been involved in corruption and forces information from them. With outstanding fight scenes and a sweaty, grinding 1970s funk track, the Hanzo trilogy is pinku entertainment at its absolute best.