Nemuri Kyoshiro: Full Moon Killing IV

This is the fourth installment of the special drama featuring Masakazu Tamura as Nemuri Kyoshiro. The scene where he comes to the rescue of a woman on horseback amidst exploding flames is the highlight of this work. Subsequently, the expression as he delivers the finishing blow to the saved woman with his own hands is a poignant and must-see portrayal of the true essence of Kyoshiro's character. One day, Nemuri Kyoshiro (Tamura Masakazu) is invited to the home of ukiyo-e artist Gensai (Honda Hirotaro), where he is shown several paintings of bound women, showing expressions of agony, similar to images of hell. Gensai expresses his desire to witness the beauty floating between life and death, and asks Kyoshiro to show him the "Engetsu" technique. Kyoshiro declines, arguing that to demonstrate the technique he would have to kill someone. However, Gensai takes Kyoshiro to another room, where he finds a woman tied up exactly as in the paintings. It is revealed that the woman is Gensai's wife, Orin (Kuroki Hitomi), who has long been in love with Kyoshio and wishes to be killed by him. Kyoshiro cuts the ropes binding Orin and leaves the mansion. In reality, it was all a ruse: Fukami Tenzan (Kawarasaki Kenzo), an official of the lord of the Kurume domain, wanted Gensai to portray the "Engetsu" technique.