New Blu-ray Trailer for Japanese Sports Classic ‘The Boxer’ from 1977

by Alex Billington
July 2, 2026
Source: YouTube

“Becoming a boxer isn’t easy. Can you hate people?” “I can!” 🥊 🇯🇵 Radiance Films has revealed their new modern trailer for the new Blu-ray re-release of the “lost” 1977 Japanese sports movie classic The Boxer, arriving to own later this month. A 70s classic about a boxer, made just one year after Rocky first debuted in the US in 1976. Reviews state it “will stay with you for all the right reasons… A worthy contender for the title of ‘Best boxing movie ever made.'” A young ambitious boxer named Tenma accidentally kills an ex-boxing champion’s brother. He then approaches the ex-champ to train him to become the next champion. Starring Bunta Sugawara and Kentarô Shimizu. This fresh new HD upgrade features new and improved English subtitle translation, an essay, a Toei video, and more. I like this synopsis for it much more: In the midst of a match, a successful boxer – Hayato, has had enough of the sport. He lets himself get knocked, quits boxing, leaving his wife and start living alone with his mangy dog. One day a young mediocre boxer knocks at the door and wants to be Hayato’s apprentice. The cinematography in this by DP Tatsuo Suzuki is spectacular. So many dynamic shots, so much vivid color, it’s awesome. Well now I have to see this! Check it out below.

Here’s the new HD re-release trailer (+ cover art) for Shūji Terayama’s film The Boxer, from YouTube:

A former boxing champ on the skids (Bunta Sugawara) finds an opportunity for redemption by training a young fighter everyone judges beyond hope (Kentaro Shimizu). Legendary director and playwright Shuji Terayama (Throw Away Your Books, Rally in the Streets) made The Boxer for major studio Toei, at the request of lead actor Sugawara. While the story has the studio’s trademark gritty 1970s setting, Terayama imbues the film with his characteristic carnivalesque atmosphere and his unparalleled passion for sports, resulting in a boxing movie like no other and a unique entry in his own filmography. The Boxer, originally known as ボクサー in Japanese, is directed by Japanese filmmaker Shūji Terayama, director of the films Emperor Tomato Ketchup, Throw Away Your Books Rally in the Streets, Pastoral: To Die in the Country before making this. The screenplay is co-written by Shirô Ishimori, Rio Kishida, Shūji Terayama. Made by Toei Company. The film originally opened in Japan in October 1977, but it never played in US theaters at the time. It was added to the Harvard Film Archive in 2017. Radiance Films is releasing Terayama’s The Boxer film on HD Blu-ray on July 20th, 2026 – for more info and to order, visit their official site. Anyone seen it?

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