Shintaro! (ATOM Study Guide)

In 1964, an extraordinary cross-cultural television sensation swept through the suburban lounge rooms of Australia. Every afternoon after school The Samurai left an indelible impression on the children of the swinging sixties. Imported from Japan and dubbed into American English, it was a smash hit, astonishing broadcasters, advertisers, the press and critics alike.

The Samurai was a Japanese television historical drama series made by Senkosha Productions. Its original Japanese title was Onmitsu Kenshi (Spy Swordsman). The series was set in seventeenth-century Japan and was a combination of pantomine, violent action, brilliant swordplay and magicianship. The producers compensated for its low budget by using real historical locations around Japan, including the imposing feudal castles from the era.

Shintaro! explores how and why Australian children took so fanatically to a television program from a radically different world. It considers the perceptions of the children who watched The Samurai and remain fans, as well as the perception of their parents, grandparents and the school principal who was brave enough to battle Shintaro.

This study guide to accompany Shintaro!, a documentary directed by Marco Sinigaglia, has been written for secondary students. It provides information and suggestions for learning activities in English, Drama, SOSE and Media. Shintaro! is fifty-five minutes in duration.