To elaborate, the Ichikawa Raizo (1963-1969) versions of Sleepy Eyes of Death are the ones I mean:
Sleepy Eyes of Death 1: The Chinese Jade (1963)
Nemuri Kyōshirō 1: Sappocho (Enter Kyoshiro Nemuri, the Swordsman)
Sleepy Eyes of Death 2: Sword of Adventure (1964)
'Nemuri Kyōshirō 2: Shōbu (Adventure of Kyoshiro Nemuri)
Sleepy Eyes of Death 3: Full Circle Killing (1964)
Nemuri Kyōshirō 3: Engetsugiri (Exploits of Kyoshiro Nemuri)
Sleepy Eyes of Death 4: Sword of Seduction (1964)
Nemuri Kyōshirō 4: Joyoken (Kyoshiro Nemuri at Bay)
Sleepy Eyes of Death 5: Sword of Fire (1965)
Nemuri Kyōshirō 5: Enjo-ken (The Swordman and the Pirate)
Sleepy Eyes of Death 6: Sword of Satan (1965)
Nemuri Kyōshirō 6: Masho-ken (The Mysterious Sword of Kyoshiro)
Sleepy Eyes of Death 7: The Mask of the Princess (1966)
Nemuri Kyōshirō 7: Tajo-ken (The Mask of the Princess)
Sleepy Eyes of Death 8: Sword of Villainy (1966)
Nemuri Kyōshirō 8: Burai-ken (The Sword That Saved Edo)
Sleepy Eyes of Death 9: A Trail of Traps (1967)
Nemuri Kyōshirō 9: Burai-Hikae masho no hada (The Trail of Traps)
Sleepy Eyes of Death 10: Hell Is a Woman (1968)
Nemuri Kyōshirō 10: Onna jigoku (The Ronin Called Nemuri)
Sleepy Eyes of Death 11: In the Spider's Lair (1968)
Nemuri Kyōshirō 11: Hito hada kumo (The Human Tarantula)
Sleepy Eyes of Death 12: Castle Menagerie (1969)
Nemuri Kyōshirō 12: Akujo-gari (Castle Menagerie)
If Arrowdrome did a series of these I'd probably buy them 5 times in excitement. I think Animeigo have released the first 7 or 8 films in the States
There's also a Criterion set that includes Samurai Rebellion, Samurai Spy, Kill! and Sword of the Beast.
I've not seen SOTB, but the others are crackers, especially Samurai Rebellion.
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