Unforgiven (Japanese, DVD)

Lee Sang-il writes and directs this Japanese remake starring Ken Watanabe. Set in 19th-century Hokkaido during the Meiji era, the film follows swordsman Jubei Kamata (Watanabe) who killed many rebels while working for the now collapsed Tokugawa shogunate, gaining a reputation as a fearful assassin. With the new government looking for him, Jubei disappears. For ten years he lives a quiet life in isolation along with his wife and children but as they struggle to survive Jubei agrees to take up work as a bounty hunter, despite having promised never to engage in violence again. Along with an old friend, Kingo Baba (Akira Emoto), Jubei tracks down samurai Sanosuke (Yukiyoshi Ozawa), who has disfigured a prostitute, hoping that he will be able to provide a better life for his family with the reward money. Will his mission be a success?