The Return of Sister Street Fighter A.K.A. • 帰って来た女必殺拳 (1975)

THE RETURN OF SISTER STREET FIGHTER brings Etsuko Shihomi back as Li Koryu for another fast-moving Japanese martial arts adventure. Directed by Kazuhiko Yamaguchi, this third entry in the Sister Street Fighter series sends Koryu back to Japan after learning that her childhood friend Shurei has disappeared. What begins as a rescue mission soon places her against a dangerous criminal organization and a group of highly trained martial artists.

STORY OVERVIEW

Koryu learns that her childhood friend Shurei has been kidnapped by gangsters and immediately sets out to find her. The trail leads into a criminal organization operating around Japan, where Koryu discovers that the disappearance is far more dangerous than she originally expected. With enemies closing in, she must rely on her karate skills and determination to locate Shurei and uncover the truth.

Koryu soon finds herself surrounded by opponents trained in karate, boxing and wrestling. Rather than backing down, she challenges the gangsters head-on, receiving assistance from the female karate fighter Yuriko and a mysterious stranger whose motives are not immediately clear. The rescue mission becomes a series of increasingly dangerous confrontations showcasing Koryu's trademark fighting ability.

MARTIAL ARTS HIGHLIGHTS

The Return of Sister Street Fighter continues the series' emphasis on Etsuko Shihomi's physical performance and practical karate action. The film combines karate with boxing, wrestling, hand-to-hand combat and fast-moving fight choreography, giving Koryu a variety of opponents to overcome. Shihomi's athletic presence remains the central attraction for martial arts collectors.

WHY COLLECTORS PICK IT

Collectors of classic Japanese martial arts cinema will want this third Sister Street Fighter adventure alongside the earlier films in the series. Etsuko Shihomi returns as Koryu, while Yasuaki Kurata, Akane Kawasaki, Miwa Cho and Mitchi Love add familiar faces to the cast. The film is particularly appealing to fans of 1970s karate movies, female martial arts heroes and the Toei action tradition.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Released in 1975, The Return of Sister Street Fighter was directed by Kazuhiko Yamaguchi and produced by Toei Company. It followed Sister Street Fighter and Sister Street Fighter: Hanging by a Thread, completing the original trilogy before the series continued with Sister Street Fighter: Fifth Level Fist in 1976. The film remains an important part of the 1970s Japanese female-led martial arts cycle surrounding Etsuko Shihomi.

• Verified A.K.A.s:
  • The Return of Sister Street Fighter – English title
  • Return of the Sister Street Fighter – Alternate English title
  • 帰って来た女必殺拳 – Original Japanese title
  • Kaette kita onna hissatsu ken – Japanese romanization
• Director: Kazuhiko Yamaguchi
• Writers: Masahiro Kakefuda, Takeo Kaneko
• Producer: Kineo Yoshimine
• Starring: Etsuko Shihomi, Yasuaki Kurata, Akane Kawasaki, Miwa Cho, Mitchi Love, Rinichi Yamamoto
• Li Koryu: Etsuko Shihomi
• Go Kurosaki: Yasuaki Kurata
• Shurei: Akane Kawasaki
• Reika: Miwa Cho
• Michi Katahira: Mitchi Love
• Wang Long-Ming / Oh Ryu Mei: Rinichi Yamamoto
• Country: Japan
• Genre: Martial Arts, Action, Crime, Drama
• Martial Arts Focus: Karate, Boxing, Wrestling, Hand-to-Hand Combat
• Original Language: Japanese
• Release Year: 1975
• Format: DVD
• Edition: Uncut
• Running Time: Approximately 149 Minutes on the photographed DVD edition
• Theatrical Runtime: Approximately 77 Minutes
• Video: NTSC, 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen, MPEG-5
• Audio: Japanese, Dolby Digital
• Subtitles: English
• Disc: Dual Layer
• DVD Label: Sister Street Fighter 3
• Publisher: Tung Ah Entertainment

Carefully researched and prepared for collectors of classic Japanese martial arts and Sister Street Fighter cinema by ClassicKungFuMovies.com.