Arrow Video is the first distributor that got me into the world of Asian Cinema, with their release of Battle Royale on DVD. But it wasn’t until a few years later that I eventually looked into their Blu-ray releases for titles like Battle Royale (again) and Blade of the Immortal. I also then jumped into more of the J-Horror scene and so forth.
While I have since been focusing more on Third Window Films, 88 Films and Eureka Entertainment, Arrow does have some really interesting titles from time to time. In October 2021, they released a new box set of Japanese fantasy horror yokai films called Yokai Monsters (ๅฆๆชใทใชใผใบ), from directors Kimiyoshi Yasuda and Yoshiyuki Kuroda. These films came out during the 60s and since then we even got a remake from Takashi Miike which recently also had a sequel not too long ago.
With Arrow known for re-releasing J-Horror films from various decades, it makes sense for them to also bring back the Yokai Monsters films for their label and most importantly, for home video on the Blu-ray format.
Background:
Kimiyoshi Yasuda (ๅฎ็ฐๅ ฌ็พฉ), born in Tokyo, Japan in 1911, directed a number of action Japanese films during the 50s to 70s. His notable works include a couple of films from the Suzunosuke Akado series in 1957 including Suzunosuke Akado: The One-Legged Demon (่ตค่ด้ดไนๅฉ ไธๆฌ่ถณใฎ้ญไบบ, Akadล Suzunosuke: Ippon ashi no majin), as well as six films for the Zatoichi series with 1963’s Zatoichi: On the Road (ๅบง้ ญๅธๅงๅฉๆ , Zatลichi kenka-tabi), 1964’s Adventures of Zatoichi (ๅบง้ ญๅธ้ขๆ็ ดใ, Zatลichi sekisho-yaburi) and 1971’s Zatoichi and the One-Armed Swordsman (ๆฐๅบง้ ญๅธใป็ ดใ๏ผๅไบบๅฃ, Shin Zatลichi: Yabure! Tลjin-ken). He also directed 1966’s Daimajin (ๅคง้ญ็ฅ). The director passed away in 1983.
Yoshiyuki Kuroda (้ป็ฐ ็พฉไน), born in Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan in 1928, has directed a few films in his career as well as some special effects. His film director credits include 1974’s Lone Wolf and Cub: White Heaven in Hell (ๅญ้ฃใ็ผ ๅฐ็ใธ่กใใ!ๅคงไบ้, Kozure ลkami: Jigoku e ikuzo! Daigoro) and special effect credits include 1966’s Daimajin (ๅคง้ญ็ฅ). The director passed away in 2015.
Takashi Miike (ไธๆฑ ๅดๅฒ), born in Yao, Osaka, Japan in 1960, has directed well over a hundred titles in his career. His work also spans dozens of genres, including original and adaptations of popular anime & manga material. throughout his career. His films include 1999’s Audition (ใชใผใใฃใทใงใณ, ลdishon), 1999’s Dead or Alive (DEAD OR ALIVE ็ฏ็ฝช่ , Dead or Alive: Hanzaisha), 2019’s First Love (ๅๆ, Hatsukoi), and 2001’s Ichi the Killer (ๆฎบใๅฑ1, Koroshiya 1).
Yokai Monsters Collection features four films from three directors. The first three are its own trilogy from two Japanese directors during the 60s, while the fourth film is a remake from a very well-known modern Japanese director!
Yokai Monsters: 100 Monsters (ๅฆๆช็พ็ฉ่ช, Yลkai Hyaku Monogatari), released in March 1968, is directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda starring Shinobu Araki, Jun Fujimaki, Ryรปtarรด Gomi, and Shozo Hayashiya.
Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare (ๅฆๆชๅคงๆฆไบ, Yลkai Daisensล), released in December 1968, is directed by Yoshiyuki Kuroda starring Chikara Hashimoto, Akane Kawasaki, Yoshihiko Aoyama, Takashi Kanda, Keiko Yukitomo, Ikuko Mori, and Gen Kuroki.
Yokai Monsters: Along with Ghosts (ๆฑๆตท้ใๅใ้ไธญ, Tลkaidล Obake Dลchลซ), released in March 1969, is directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda and Yoshiyuki Kuroda starring Kojiro Hongo, Pepe Hozumi, and Masami Burukido.
The Great Yokai War (ๅฆๆชๅคงๆฆไบ, Yลkai Daisensล), released in 2005, is directed by Takashi Miike starring Ryunosuke Kamiki, Hiroyuki Miyasako, Chiaki Kuriyama, and Mai Takahashi. The film is a loose remake of Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare.
About Arrow Video / Arrow Films:
Arrow Films, also known as Arrow Video, is an independent UK distributor for Asian Cinema, Spaghetti Westerns, Italian Cinema, Horror, Cult Classics and Action. Their line-up of films in the Asian Cinema scene includes the works of Chan-Wook Park (JSA, Oldboy), Hideo Nakata (Dark Water, Ringu), Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale, Battles Without Honour & Humanity), Takashi Miike (Audition, Dead or Alive Trilogy), Teruo Ishii (Blind Woman’s Curse, Horrors of Malformed Men), Yasuzo Masumura (Black Test Car, Giants & Toys) and also many individual films from Hirokazu Kore-eda, Jia Zhangke, Seijun Suzuki, Shohei Imamura, Tomu Uchida and more. The distributor also has a US branch which offers some of the same range as titles that are available in the UK. Their 2022 line-up for Asian Cinema is quiet but will include more Shaw Brothers films including The 36th Chamber of Shaolin and more volumes of the Shaw Scope series.
Limited Edition Contents:
UK distributor Arrow Video and their limited editions mostly have a consistent approach with a rigid box, amaray cases and a booklet. Yokai Monsters is no different to this.
The rigid box set houses two Amaray Blu-ray cases and a few physical items. One of the two Blu-ray cases also includes 4 Art Cards. Next to the cases is a double-sided fold-out poster and a 60-page book featuring new writing on the series by Stuart Galbraith IV, Raffael Coronelli and Jolyon Yates.
The SRP is ยฃ59.99 and has an unspecified print run. Once the print run is out of stock, this edition wonโt be available. A standard edition was recently released that omits the booklet but I don’t know if they have kept the rigid box or not, as Arrow’s recent approach for the past year has opted for cardboard boxes instead.
Physical Contents:
- Rigid Box with clean artwork and Amaray packaging
- 60-page book featuring new writing on the series by Stuart Galbraith IV, Raffael Coronelli and Jolyon Yates
- Postcards featuring newly commissioned artwork for each film by Jolyon Yates
- Foldout โyokai guideโ poster illustrated by Jolyon Yates
On-Disc Contents:
Distributor: Arrow Video
Released: 18th October 2021
The limited edition release of the Yokai Monsters Collection contains all four films spread across three Blu-ray discs. All films are presented with Japanese audio with English subtitles, and the English dub is included for The Great Yokai War. The white subtitles are unlockable during playback, and the regions are accessible to Blu-ray players set to A & B.
Blu-ray Specs:
| Languages | Japanese |
| Audio | Yokai Monsters: 100 Monsters: Japanese Linear PCM Mono 1.0 Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare & Yokai Monsters: Along with Ghosts: Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio Mono 1.0 The Great Yokai War: Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Japanese Linear PCM 2.0 English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 |
| Video | Yokai Monsters: 100 Monsters, Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare & Yokai Monsters: Along with Ghosts: 1080p High Definition Native format 2.35:1 aspect ratio The Great Yokai War: 1080p High Definition Native format 1.85:1 aspect ratio |
| Region | A B |
| Subtitles | English |
| Locked Subtitles | No |
| Discs | 3 BD-50s |
Blu-ray On-Disc Extra Features:
Disc 1: Yokai Monsters: 100 Monsters
- Hiding In Plain Sight: A Brief History of Yokai
- Theatrical Trailer
- US Re-release Trailer
- Image Gallery
Disc 2: Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare & Along with Ghosts
- Theatrical Trailers
- US Re-release Trailers
- Image Galleries
Disc 3: The Great Yokai War
- Audio Commentary by Tom Mes
- Interviews with the Cast
- Interviews with the Crew
- Short Drama of Yokai
- Another Story of Kawatoro
- World Yokai Conference
- Promotional Events
- Documentary of Ryunosuki Kamiki
- Theatrical Trailer
- Image Gallery
Unboxing Photos:
Final Notes:
Yokai Monsters Collection limited edition box set is licensed and released by UK distributor Arrow Video. The limited edition has sold out on Arrow’s store but is available on Amazon, but a standard edition is available across multiple retailers including the Arrow store.
The Normanic Vault 
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