Parents' Guide to

Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan

By Martin Brown, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Historical documentary features violence, war, sex.

Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

age 14+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 14+
age 14+
Terrible and also violent

This title has:

Too much sex

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Samurai have an interesting place in Western culture, as samurai stories have influenced plenty of American art -- from Star Wars to the Wu-Tang Clan. Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan is a fine introduction to feudal Japan for those who might want to dig deeper into the history of the samurai. There is a Shakespearean level of complexity and character depth in this history. The interviews are simple and straightforward while giving important context along the way. On the other hand, the historical reenactments are filmed like excerpts of '70s-era samurai serials like Lone Wolf and Cub, but are otherwise unimaginative and redundant. Unfortunately, they also take up a significant amount of time. As a result, the series drags a bit and never gets quite as deep as the rich history probably deserves.

TV Details

  • Premiere date: February 23, 2021
  • Network: Netflix
  • Genre: Educational
  • Topics: History
  • TV rating: TV-MA
  • Last updated: February 18, 2023

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