Kenji Misumi (三隅研次 Misumi Kenji, Kyoto, March 2, 1921 - September 24, 1975) was a Japanese director of period dramas for Daiei studio. He is best known as the originator of the jidai-geki film series, Zatoichi and Lone Wolf and Cub, and as the director of three of the Sleepy Eyes of Death films and the second Daimajin film. Best known in the West for Shogun Assassin, re-edited from the Lone Wolf and Cub films, his output exhibits more concern with humanism and visual impressionism than is evident in that film. Known as a chambara film director, Misumi remained loyal to this genre in spite of opportunities to move into A-list films. Despite inclinations towards an auteur-like control of his films throughout his career, he was able to script only his final film, The Last Samurai (1974), whic