I have not seen the film. But I did buy the merch.
The Merch Piles Up, Film Still Unseen
At the cinema, I came across a huge banner for “Samurai Detective Onihei: Blood for Blood”, a period-drama film starring Koshiro Matsumoto. The shop had merchandise too, and I duly bought a clear sticker. Two of them, actually — one to keep and one to use. “Came across”, I say, but it would hardly be an exaggeration to admit I went there to buy it. In fact, that is exactly why I went.
The Crisps I Could Not Eat
A few days later, I spotted the tie-in snack at a convenience store: Kataage Potato crisps in “Oni-Uma Black Pepper” flavour. It is a snack I love and eat all the time — but with Koshiro printed on the packet, everything changed. Once you finish the crisps, you have to throw the packet away, do you not?! What?! No way! I could not bring myself to eat them for the longest time. In the end I did, reluctantly. They were delicious, mind you.
I still have not seen the film, but Onihei has well and truly worked his way into my life. When will I finally watch it? At this rate, the kabuki stage version may come first.
