TOMOE 巴
One Tragedy Gathers Twenty Blades.
One Battle Through Twenty Eyes.
Story
A woman named Tomoe becomes the victim of a terrible crime.
As tensions rise between multiple groups seeking justice, revenge, and power, a gathering intended to prevent violence instead triggers a devastating battle.
Twenty warriors enter the conflict for different reasons.
Some seek vengeance.
Some seek honour.
Some seek glory.
Others simply want to survive.
As alliances shift and violence escalates, the battle becomes larger than any one person, pulling everyone into its orbit.
Through a collection of interconnected stories, TOMOE explores how violence spreads, how ordinary people become part of history, and how even skilled warriors can be powerless against the consequences of human emotion.
Why Samurai?
I have loved samurai films since I was a child.
Many of the martial arts I practice and admire—such as kendo, judo, karate, and jujutsu—have roots in Japan’s often brutal history.
Many samurai films focus on extraordinary heroes performing extraordinary feats.
TOMOE will certainly feature skilled warriors and exciting combat, but I am equally interested in ordinary people.
The soldier who is afraid.
The fighter who is inexperienced.
The man who is obsessed with techniques.
The follower who would rather be somewhere else.
War affects everyone differently.
Inspired by films such as The Last Samurai, Ikusagami, Baragaki (Moeyo Ken), All Quiet on the Western Front, and Saving Private Ryan, TOMOE aims to present conflict from multiple perspectives rather than a single viewpoint.
I also hope to bring more realistic unarmed combat to the samurai genre. While swords are iconic, grappling, throws, chokes, and close-range struggles were equally important parts of historical combat and deserve more representation on screen.
New Zealand’s Independent Samurai Feature Film
Many people are surprised to learn that much of The Last Samurai was filmed in New Zealand.
That film remains one of my favourite samurai movies ever made.
TOMOE aims to become one of New Zealand’s first independent samurai feature films.
Created by local and international talent based in New Zealand, the project seeks to combine Japanese-inspired storytelling with the country’s stunning landscapes and filmmaking community.
The goal is not to imitate larger productions, but to create something authentic, personal, and uniquely our own.
Future Prospects
TOMOE is planned as a feature film and will be submitted to film festivals both in New Zealand and internationally.
If successful, I hope to continue developing historical action projects that explore different cultures, periods, and stories—not limited to Japanese history alone.
New Zealand is home to incredible creative talent and cultural diversity. Through projects like TOMOE, I hope to continue building opportunities for performers, martial artists, filmmakers, and artists from a wide range of backgrounds.
This film is not only about samurai.
It is also about what passionate people can create together.
Support the Project
Independent films are only possible because of the support of passionate people.
Funding for TOMOE will help cover:
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Cast and crew compensation
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Martial arts and stunt training
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Costumes and props
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Location permits and insurance
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Equipment and production expenses
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Festival submissions and distribution
Every contribution helps us move closer to creating an ambitious historical action film from New Zealand.
Whether through financial support, sharing the project, joining the production, or simply following our journey, your encouragement means a great deal.
Thank you for helping us bring TOMOE to life.
