I saw "Goyokin" in 1969 at a small theater in Yokohama, Japan. It was in Japanese, of course, but the evolution of the story was understood. The film was so well done, and beyond what I was used to as an American watching Japanese movies in Japan. The acting was superb and the tension was palpable. The story was unique and its presentation was gorgeous. It's not hyperbole to say I was awestruck. With the advent of VHS I began searching for this movie as a video. After years of searching, I bought a barely watchable re-re-re-reprint with multiple subtitles. I was happy to HEAR the movie again! Tom ("Billy Jack") Loughlin made the putrid, displaced "The Master Gunfighter" but it was ludicrous as a Western. I will never understand why this classic has not been produced as a Video! Obviously, many people know about it, and it appears on wish lists throughout the world. It deserves the full DVD treatment and, PLEASE, while the great Tatsuya Nakadai is still alive to provide commentary on it.