Three more spectacular tales of ninja action in this continuation of the hugely influential series. This time, Raizo Ichikawa (Shinobi 1-3) stars as Mist Saizo, a ninja with a grudge who won’t rest until he has assassinated the supreme leader, the Tokugawa shogun. directed by three of the Daiei Studio’s top period action specialists, these films feature epic battles, ingenious spycraft and thrilling ninja fights.

In Siege, Raizo Ichikawa is Mist Saizo, the legendary folk hero and Iga ninja. Working in the service of warlord Yukimura Sanada (Tomisaburo Wakayama), he plots to assassinate Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa, but finds himself facing the might of the nation’s supreme ruler.

In Return of Mist Saizo, our black-clad hero continues his mission to avenge his master, even after Ieyasu has abdicated from the throne. Told as one continuous story, these two films weave their ninja action in and out of Japanese martial history, featuring epic battles, ingenious spycraft and thrilling fight scenes.

In Part 6, The Last Iga Spy, Mist Saizo’s son Saisuke takes over his father’s name and mission. He is recruited by a rebellious warlord to assist a plot to overthrow the government, but the Shogun hires a rival ninja clan to thwart the uprising. Meanwhile, other forces are also at play. Directed by Kazuo Mori (Shinobi 3: Resurrection, Zatoichi at Large), this film pits ninja against ninja, including a breathtaking rooftop battle scene that is one of the highlights of the entire Shinobi series.

For thoughts on The Shinobi Collection: Volume 2, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Shinobi 4: Siege, Shinobi 5: Return of Mist Saizo, and Shinobi 6: The Last Iga Spy debut on Blu-Ray domestically courtesy of Radiance Films with 2K masters supplied by Kadokawa. While it is always ideal when Radiance can lend a hand to the restoration efforts, given their impeccable history, companies like Kadokawa often prefer to take the lead on their holdings. It is clear to see that the company has once again prepared masters that equal what they accomplished with the debut volume. These three films share numerous overlapping qualities, so they will be discussed as a group with any notable differences pointed out. These three films hold up incredibly well, even if they might not be the pinnacle from Radiance. The new transfers maintain a lovely sheen of natural film grain which resolves consistently with no globs or excessive noise spotted across any of the three films.

The black-and-white photography holds up with sterling contrast in all locales with firm highlights and no exceptional instances of black crush. Even the darkest moments present some valuable depth to the image. There is a canvas of distinct detail viewed for the first time in the outfits, props, and shooting locations. Minor softness in the original photography is present, but there is very little that displeases thanks to the standard quality of the master. Each transfer preserves the natural look of the series in a way that works so well. There is the occasional blemish, but we largely get a sumptuous transfer for each film. Radiance Films has released a set that reaches the bar set by the previous release.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray set comes with an LPCM 2.0 mono track for each film. The tracks are presented in the original Japanese (with optional English subtitles) and brought to life on these discs with the utmost care. These narratives rely on environmental sounds to provide texture to ground the world. Every element radiates with precious little in the way of age-related wear and tear. The scores created for these three features come through without any harsh faltering of fidelity. Dialogue holds up with nice clarity and no exceptional signs of damage or distortion. Exchanges never get obscured by the sound effects or the score. Radiance Films has done an enviable job with this set.

Special Features

The first pressing of the Radiance Films Blu-Ray box set of Shinobi includes a 56-page book featuring new writing by Jonathan Clements on the Shinobi no mono series and a 2015 article from Stephen Turnbull on the historical truth of ninjas. There are also six postcards of promotional material from the films included. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Disc One – Shinobi 4: Siege & Shinobi 5: Return of Mist Saizo

Scene-Specific Commentary on Shinobi 4: Siege by Tom Mes: A four-part, 49-minute commentary track in which the Japanese expert does not necessarily speak to what is happening on screen, but rather discusses the series as a whole, the specifics of these entries, the impact of Daiei, and more.

Taichi Kasuga: A new 24-minute interview with the Japanese film historian in which he discusses the penchant for Daiei studios to make historical epics, how this franchise fits into that lineage, and more.

The Faces of Raizo: A nearly five-minute visual essay from Tom Mes that looks at the many roles Raizo Ichikawa originated for Daiei in the ‘50s and ‘60s.

Disc Two – Shinobi 6: The Last Iga Spy

Mance Thompson: A new 18-minute interview with the film historian in which he discusses how the Shinobi no mono series integrates history into the narratives.

The Tragedy of Mist Saizo: A new 12-minute video essay from film critic Hayley Scanlon in which she explores the character of Mist Saizo and the arc throughout the series.

Final Thoughts

Shinobi continues to deliver plenty of thrills and intrigue in this second volume of ninja goodness. Compared to your normal martial arts fare, this series feels very calculating and mysterious in the best way. There are times when you want blunt action, but it is also rewarding to watch these masters sneak around and carry out their tasks with barely a footprint left. This arc of this section of the franchise is quite layered and enveloping in a way that will have you plowing through it. We cannot wait for more! Radiance Films has released a Blu-Ray set featuring a rich A/V presentation and some cool special features. If you enjoy premium ninja content, look no further. Highly Recommended

Shinobi: Volume 2 will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on August 19, 2025.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Radiance Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.