NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Arrow Blu-ray (June 2025): Arrow has transferred Yoshiyuki Kuroda's The Invisible Swordsman to Blu-ray. Hiroshi Imai’s shadowy, evocative cinematography is showcased beautifully despite minor limitations in darker scenes. While the film’s dark visuals may occasionally frustrate, the quality of the 1080P transfer outweighs the minor flaws. Sourced from a new 2K scan, the image boasts true colors, particularly in the rich reds and golds of Edo-period costumes and sharp detail in textured elements, like tatami mats and forested backdrops. Cinematographer Hiroshi Imai’s work (known from his contributions to Daiei’s Zatoichi series) is showcased effectively with his use of low-key lighting and deep shadows creating a moody, almost noir-like atmosphere that complements the film’s supernatural themes. However, Imai’s deliberate choice to under light night scenes (likely to conceal the rudimentary invisibility effects, as noted by Jonathan Clements in the commentary) results in occasional loss of detail, where blacks can appear crushed. Overall, the HD presentation is pleasing.

NOTE: We have added 44 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

On their Blu-ray, Arrow uses a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original Japanese language. The track captures the dialogue, environmental sounds, and Takeo Watanabe’s evocative score with fidelity, free from distortion or hiss. Watanabe (renowned for his work on anime, like Candy Candy and live-action films such as Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance) crafts a minimalist yet haunting score for The Invisible Swordsman. His use of traditional Japanese instruments, like the shamisen alongside subtle percussion, underscores the film’s eerie tone and heightens tension during invisible duels. The mono mix (while limited in dynamic range) suits the film’s modest production and maintains balance between vocals and effects. The Invisible Swordsman's uncompressed audio presentation ensures that Watanabe’s understated but impactful contribution shines through, enhancing the film’s mystique. Arrow offers optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Arrow Blu-ray offers a new commentary by author and Asian culture expert Jonathan Clements (A Brief History of Japan: Samurai, Shogun and Zen: The Extraordinary Story of the Land of the Rising Sun.) It is a standout, offering an erudite exploration of the film’s production context, Daiei’s financial decline in the late 1960s, and the technical challenges of its invisibility effects. Clements also touches on Hiroshi Imai’s cinematographic techniques, noting how his shadow-heavy aesthetic was both artistic and pragmatic, and praises Takeo Watanabe’s score for its economy and emotional resonance. “The Invisible People” (1/4 hour,) a new interview with film critic Kim Newman (author of Classic Monsters Unleashed,) provides a global perspective on invisibility in cinema, referencing H.G. Wells and Hollywood’s The Invisible Man while situating the film within Japan’s tokusatsu tradition. “Phantom Fighter”, a new 27-minute interview with Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp (Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema, The Midnight Eye Guide to New Japanese Film,) delves into the film’s genre-blending of chanbara and supernatural elements with Sharp highlighting Imai’s visual style as a bridge between Daiei’s historical dramas and its experimental output. The disc also includes an image gallery showcasing rare stills and posters, a reversible sleeve (see below) with original artwork and a striking new piece by Jolyon Yates, and an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Zack Davisson (The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Yokai: Ghosts, Demons, Monsters and Other Mythical Creatures from Japan,) who contextualizes the film within Daiei’s late-period struggles. 

Yoshiyuki Kuroda's The Invisible Swordsman follows a classic revenge-driven hero’s journey, adapted into a tokusatsu framework that blends Edo-period folklore with fantastical elements. The film explores themes of courage, identity, and the transformative power of the supernatural, rooted in Japanese folklore and moral lessons. The film’s humor and lack of graphic violence distinguish it from darker samurai films, aligning with Daiei’s strategy to maintain a broad, wholesome appeal. The film’s look is a blend of historical realism and fantastical exaggeration. Arrow Video’s Blu-ray of The Invisible Swordsman is a commendable release that rescues an obscure gem from Daiei’s catalog. Clements’ commentary and the interviews with Newman and Sharp provide exceptional value, making this a must-have for fans of chanbara, tokusatsu, or Japanese cinema history. Recommended.

Gary Tooze