Blu-ray release: 'The Wicked Priest Collection'

Arrow Video will release ‘The Wicked Priest Collection’ on Blu-ray in the UK on September 14, 2026.

Directed by Kiyoshi Saeki, Takashi Harada and Buichi Saito, the set includes all five ‘Wicked Priest’ films, which centre on a travelling Buddhist monk battling the yakuza and other criminals. The cast includes Tomisaburo Wakayama and Bunta Sugawara.

Wicked Priest (1968):
Forced out of his position after a violent confrontation, the wayward monk Shinkai finds himself battling corrupt priests and a ruthless yakuza gang as he tries to protect a young couple.

Wicked Priest 2: Ballad of Murder (1968):
After rescuing a fugitive yakuza and his young son, the wandering monk Shinkai becomes embroiled in a bitter dispute between a respected jujutsu master and a ruthless local gang determined to seize control of the area’s cockfighting grounds.

Wicked Priest 3: A Killer’s Pilgrimage (1969):
Seeking redemption for his past, Shinkai embarks on a pilgrimage that leads him to a remote fishing village, where he becomes embroiled in a struggle against a ruthless criminal organisation exploiting the local community while confronting the family of a man he killed years earlier.

Wicked Priest 4: The Killer Priest Comes Back (1969):
Returning to his hometown after several years away, Shinkai becomes caught in a violent feud between two rival yakuza families while trying to help an old childhood friend who has fallen in with the wrong crowd.

Wicked Priest 5: Breaking the Commandments (1969):
Returning to Tokyo, Shinkai comes to the aid of the residents of a rundown tenement targeted by corrupt officials and a powerful yakuza gang seeking control of the area’s transport trade, while his long-running rivalry with Ryotatsu draws to an unexpected close.

Features:

Brand new restorations of all five films
1080p high-definition presentations of all five films
Original Japanese lossless mono audio
Optional English subtitles
‘Composing the Gospel’ video essay on Isao Tomita by James Balmont
‘Taisho Troubles’ video essay on the films’ depiction of historical Japan by Jonathan Clements
‘Offscreen Battles’ interview on 1960s Japanese cinema with James Mudge
‘Martial Arts and Super Mario Brothers’ interview on Tomisaburo Wakayama with Patrick Macias and Matt Alt
‘Priest or Monk’ featurette on Buddhism and pop culture by Patrick Macias and Matt Alt
Original theatrical trailers for all five films
Reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by Chris Malbon
Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the films by Camille Zaurin
Region: B