Photo courtesy of Arrow Films. ©Toei Co., Ltd.
Source: Arrow Films, MVD Entertainment
Special Thanks to Derek Stubinski
Photo courtesy of Arrow Films. ©Toei Co., Ltd.
On the same year that she defined the action heroine with her role in the Female Prisoner Scorpion series, Japanese screen legend Meiko Kaji teamed up with future Sister Street Fighter director Kazuhiko Yamaguchi for a diptych of gambling, deception and violence set on the mean streets of 1970s' Tokyo: WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY (銀蝶渡り鳥, Gincho Wataridori, 1972) and its sequel SHE CAT GAMBLER (銀蝶流れ者 牝猫博奕, Ginchō Nagaremono: Mesuneko Bakuchi, 1972), now coming to Blu-ray in Arrow's WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY COLLECTION.
The first film sees Kaji's character Nami "The Red Cherry Blossom" returning to her old stomping ground in the seedy Tokyo district of Ginza after a stint in prison for killing a yakuza boss. She soon settles in, living in her uncle's pool hall and working at the local hostess club. But when ruthless yakuza Owada (Koji Nanbara, 11 Samurai) attempts to take control of the club, Nami and her uncle devise a plan to take him down.
In the sequel, Kaji is paired up with the equally legendary Sonny Chiba at his most charismatic as the streetwise Ryuji, who takes a shine to Nami and decides to help her on her quest to avenge her father. Together they'll comb through every seedy gambling den and lowlife ruffian of the Ginza underworld until Nami finally zeroes in on her prey.
Meiko Kaji is magnetic as the steely and righteous Nami, whose foray into Tokyo's sordid back alleys is brought to life by Yamaguchi's energetic direction in this electric spectacle of 1970s Japanese crime cinema.
WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY COLLECTION Limited Edition Blu-ray
Running Time: 172 Minutes
Number of Discs: 1
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Audio: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
US
Region Code: 0
SKU: AV776
UPC: 760137187684
Sreet Date: 04/07/26
List Price: $39.95
UK
Region Code: B
Product Code: FCD2756
UK Rating: 18
Street Date: 04/06/26
RRP: £24.99
LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
- Original lossless Japanese mono audio for both films
- Optional newly translated English subtitles for both films
- Brand new audio commentary for WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY by Japanese cinema experts Patrick Macias and Matt Alt, hosts of the Pure TokyoScope podcast
- Archival audio commentary for WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY by Japanese cinema expert Chris D.
- Back to Back in the Yakuza Multiverse, a brand new interview with Patrick Macias and Matt Alt on WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY 2: SHE-CAT GAMBLER
- Genre Mill Memories, an archival interview with director Kazuhiko Yamaguchi
- Butterfly and Scorpion, an archival appreciation of star Meiko Kaji by Japanese action and pink film expert J-Taro Sugisaku
- Original trailers for both films
- Reversible sleeve featuring new artwork for both films by Andy Bourne
- Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the films by Asian cinema expert Camille Zaurin
Photo courtesy of Arrow Films. ©Toei Co., Ltd.
Photo courtesy of Arrow Films. ©Toei Co., Ltd.
Photo courtesy of Arrow Films. ©Toei Co., Ltd.
About Arrow Films
Arrow Films is a leading independent entertainment distribution company, established in 1991. Operating in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, United States of America and Canada, Arrow Films is dedicated to supporting upcoming and established filmmakers of dynamic new cinema and developing an enviable slate of quality films that enjoy a lasting legacy across its award-winning branded labels, channels, and platforms.
About MVD Entertainment Group
MVD Entertainment Group is a full service music and movie distribution firm, exclusively representing thousands of audio and visual products for DVD, Bluray, CD, vinyl, and digital rights, worldwide. MVD also exclusively distributes a growing line of merchandise including limited edition collectibles, tee shirts, and more. “Serving Artists and Audiences†is MVD's purpose statement; it represents a commitment to the interests of the musicians, filmmakers, record labels, producers, managers, and every link in the supply chain. The customers are the Audience, from wholesalers, sub-distributors, major retail chains, online retailers, specialists, and independent mom and pop stores, all the way to the consumer. MVD Entertainment Group was founded in 1986 by Tom Seaman, an industry veteran with prior experience with The Record Hunter, Sam Goody, CBS Retail, and JEM Distribution. Tom, along with his family Elinor, Eve and Ed, initially focused on music videotapes. At the turn of the century, with the advent of DVD, MVD built a large catalog of exclusively distributed audiovisual content on DVDs, with special strength in music concert films, horror movies, documentaries, comedy, cult classics, and much more.