Limited Edition version.

Tokuzō Tanakas The Betrayal (1966), starring Raizō Ichikawa, is a gripping jidaigeki tale of loyalty, honor, and vengeance in feudal Japan. When betrayal strikes his clan, a samurai must navigate shifting alliances and deadly swordplay in a drama that blends political intrigue with explosive chambara action.

To protect his clan, an honourable samurai (Raizo Ichikawa, Shinobi) takes the blame for a murder committed by one of his fellows. He is promised a safe return after one year in exile, but this vow is broken and he becomes a fugitive chased by his own clansmen. Disillusioned by the bushido code of honour, he realises there are only two ways out: vengeance or death. From director Tokuzo Tanaka (The Snow Woman), a former assistant to Akira Kurosawa, this cruel jidaigeki stands alongside such notable works of the genre as Harakiri and Sword of Doom with its classic mix of honour codes and samurai action. Beautifully filmed in black and white scope with thrilling set pieces, The Betrayal features one of the most breathtaking finales in all of samurai cinema.

Från IMDB:
A naively honorable samurai comes to the bitter realization that his devotion to moral samurai principles makes him an oddity among his peers and a very vulnerable oddity in consequence.

LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY FEATURES

High-Definition digital transfer by Kadokawa

Uncompressed mono PCM audio

Select-scene audio commentary by Japanese film historian Tom Mes (2025)

The Path to Betrayal - Visual essay by film critic Philip Kemp, comparing The Betrayal with the original Orochi [The Serpent] (2025, 10 mins)

Visual essay on director Tokuzo Tanaka by Tom Mes (2025, 9 mins)

New English subtitle translation

Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwor