Tsuneo Tomita
Director
Musashibo Benkei (1986)
Season 1
After being carried in his mother’s womb for three years, Benkei is born with long hair and teeth and the body of a small child. It is said that he immediately laughed and commented on the brightness of the outside world, leading local people in his native Kii (modern Wakayama) to proclaim that he is a devil. Abandoned on a mountainside, he is adopted by Dainagon, a Kyoto resident who rears him until age seven when he leaves to become a monk. Thrown out of the monastery for his violent behavior, Benkei wanders Japan in search of enlightenment, though only trouble seems to find him. After accidentally causing a temple to burn down, he decides to begin a quest to defeat 1,000 of the hated Heike samurai in battle and donate their swords to a temple. Obtaining the first 999 swords proves relatively easy but the final weapon belongs to Yoshitsune, a young boy whose appearance belies his great skill as a warrior.
Released April 8, 1986
Episode 46 min
None+
S1E1 - Ferocious Monk of Love
First episode.
April 9, 1986, midnight
S1E2 - The Proud Taira clan
April 16, 1986, midnight
S1E3 - Spring evening at Gojo Bridge
April 23, 1986, midnight
S1E4 - The boy from Kurama
April 30, 1986, midnight
S1E5 - Tokiwa and Shizuka
May 7, 1986, midnight
S1E6 - A Turbulent Dance of Love and Hate
May 14, 1986, midnight
S1E7 - To the Oshu
May 21, 1986, midnight
S1E8 - Northern king
May 28, 1986, midnight
S1E9 - Oniwaka's lullaby
June 4, 1986, midnight
S1E10 - Crying Hokuro
June 11, 1986, midnight
S1E11 - Gather the Genji
June 18, 1986, midnight
S1E12 - Meeting at Kisegawa river
June 25, 1986, midnight
S1E13 - Half brother
July 2, 1986, midnight
S1E14 - Trouble of a truce bearer
July 9, 1986, midnight
S1E15 - Episode 15
July 16, 1986, midnight
S1E16 - Episode 16
July 23, 1986, midnight
S1E17 - Episode 17
July 30, 1986, midnight
S1E18 - Episode 18
Aug. 6, 1986, midnight
S1E19 - Episode 19
Aug. 13, 1986, midnight
S1E20 - Episode 20
Aug. 20, 1986, midnight
S1E21 - Episode 21
Aug. 27, 1986, midnight
S1E22 - Episode 22
Sept. 3, 1986, midnight
S1E23 - Episode 23
Sept. 10, 1986, midnight
S1E24 - Episode 24
Sept. 17, 1986, midnight
S1E25 - Episode 25
Sept. 24, 1986, midnight
S1E26 - Episode 26
Oct. 1, 1986, midnight
S1E27 - Episode 27
Oct. 8, 1986, midnight
S1E28 - Episode 28
Oct. 15, 1986, midnight
S1E29 - Episode 29
Oct. 22, 1986, midnight
S1E30 - Episode 30
Oct. 29, 1986, midnight
S1E31 - Episode 31
Nov. 5, 1986, midnight
S1E32 - Episode 32
Nov. 12, 1986, midnight
Network: NHK
Episode Runtime: 46 min.
Season Runtime: 46 min.
Released: April 8, 1986
Last Air Date: Nov. 12, 1986, midnight
Status: Ended
Certification: NR
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