Sep. 29, 2007|Japan|103 Min.|n/A
Genre: Action;Animation;History
Description: Set during the Sengoku period, *Sword of the Stranger* follows a young boy named Kotaro and his dog Tobimaru as they flee from unknown pursuers. Guided by a monk named Shouan, Kotaro seeks refuge with Master Zekkai at Mangaku Temple in Akaike Province. Meanwhile, a group of Ming Chinese warriors, led by the elderly Bai-Luan, is escorted by Akaike soldiers. The Ming have struck a deal with Lord Akaike to construct a large altar on his land in exchange for gold. When attacked by bandits, the Ming’s skilled swordsman, Luo-Lang, effortlessly defeats them.
While hiding in an abandoned temple, Kotaro meets Nanashi, a wandering swordsman. Soon after, they are discovered by two Ming warriors accompanied by Akaike soldiers. A fight ensues, and Nanashi kills one of the Ming warriors, but Tobimaru is injured by a poisoned dagger. Kotaro hires Nanashi as his protector, and they take Tobimaru to a doctor for treatment.
Elsewhere, Akaike soldiers capture Tu-Si, a Ming warrior, who reveals under torture that the Ming are tasked by their emperor to create an elixir of immortality called the Xian Medicine. The key ingredient is the blood of a prophesied child—Kotaro—who must be sacrificed at a specific time. Learning this, Lord Akaike decides to capture Kotaro for ransom.
As they journey together, Nanashi shares fragments of his past with Kotaro, explaining that he has served various masters but knows little about his origins. A shipwreck survivor with red hair, Nanashi dyes it black to blend in with the Japanese population. He eventually leaves Kotaro in the care of Shouan and the monks at Mangaku Temple. However, the monks betray Kotaro, handing him over to the Ming to save themselves.
When Akaike soldiers arrive to seize Kotaro, Nanashi realizes the betrayal and returns. By then, the Ming have already left with Kotaro. With Tobimaru leading the way, Nanashi sets out to track down Kotaro and his captors.
Cast director: Masahiro Ando
Cast actor: Tomoya Nagase, Yuri Chinen, Koichi Yamadera, Akio Otsuka, Unsho Ishizuka, Mamoru Miyano, Maaya Sakamoto, Jun Hazumi, Tomoyuki Shimura, Takurou Kitagawa
Original name: ストレンヂア -無皇刃譚-