Sister Street Fighter 4 A.K.A. Fifth Level Fist • 女必殺五段拳 (1976)

Sister Street Fighter 4: Fifth Level Fist (1976), also known as Sister Street Fighter 4, was originally released in Japan as Onna Hissatsu Godan-ken (女必殺五段拳). Directed by Shigehiro Ozawa and starring Etsuko Shihomi as Kiku Nakagawa, the film follows a young karate enthusiast who becomes involved in a dangerous battle against an international drug syndicate operating from a movie studio in Kyoto. The fourth film associated with the Sister Street Fighter series, it delivers the hard-hitting Japanese martial arts action and physical fight choreography that made Shihomi a standout female action star of the 1970s.

STORY OVERVIEW

Kiku Nakagawa, the only daughter of the owners of an old kimono shop in Kyoto, is passionate about karate and has little interest in settling into the traditional life her parents envision for her. When her friend Michi's brother becomes involved with a dangerous drug operation and is killed by the syndicate, Kiku decides to help her friend seek revenge.

Following the trail to a movie studio in Kyoto where the drug organization operates, Kiku infiltrates the criminal network and finds herself surrounded by dangerous opponents. Her karate skills are put to the test as she battles her way through the syndicate, combining determination, physical technique, and relentless fighting ability in a series of confrontations that build toward a violent final showdown.

MARTIAL ARTS HIGHLIGHTS

Sister Street Fighter 4: Fifth Level Fist puts Etsuko Shihomi at the center of the action, with Kiku Nakagawa relying on karate techniques and close-range fighting against the criminals standing in her way. The film emphasizes practical martial arts movement, hand-to-hand combat, kicking techniques, and extended fight sequences while maintaining the energetic style associated with Japanese action cinema of the 1970s.

WHY COLLECTORS PICK IT

Collectors value Sister Street Fighter 4: Fifth Level Fist for Etsuko Shihomi's commanding performance and its combination of female-led martial arts action, crime, and international intrigue. The Kyoto setting, movie-studio drug operation, and succession of karate battles give the film a distinctive place within the Sister Street Fighter cycle and make it an especially interesting title for fans of vintage Japanese martial arts cinema.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Released in 1976, Sister Street Fighter: Fifth Level Fist was directed by Shigehiro Ozawa, the filmmaker behind The Street Fighter and other major Japanese action productions. It is often grouped with the Sister Street Fighter films even though Shihomi plays a different character, Kiku Nakagawa, rather than returning as Li Koryu. The film remains notable as another showcase for Shihomi's martial arts screen presence during the peak period of Japanese karate and action movies. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

• Verified A.K.A.s:
  • Sister Street Fighter 4 – English release title
  • Sister Street Fighter: Fifth Level Fist – International English title
  • Fifth Level Fist – Alternate English title
  • Onna Hissatsu Godan-ken – Japanese romanization
  • 女必殺五段拳 – Original Japanese title
• Director: Shigehiro Ozawa
• Writers: Isao Matsumoto, Motohiro Torii
• Based On: Original story
• Starring: Etsuko Shihomi, Mitchi Love, Ken Wallace, Tsunehiko Watase, Nobuo Kawai, Masafumi Suzuki
• Kiku Nakagawa: Etsuko Shihomi
• Michi: Mitchi Love
• Jim Sullivan: Ken Wallace
• Takeo Nakagawa: Masafumi Suzuki
• Country: Japan
• Genre: Martial Arts, Action, Crime, Drama
• Martial Arts Focus: Karate, Hand-to-Hand Combat, Kicking Techniques
• Release Year: 1976
• Format: DVD
• Edition: Uncut
• Running Time: Approximately 149 Minutes
• Video: NTSC, Anamorphic Widescreen 16:9
• Audio: Japanese (Mono)
• Subtitles: English
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9
• Publisher: Tung Ah Entertainment

Carefully researched and prepared for collectors of classic martial arts cinema by ClassicKungFuMovies.com.