Famed Japanese film maker Akira Kurosawa --

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akira_Kurosawa

Have seen Ran and saw Seven Samurai and Shadow Warrior last night.

Here's a film review/synopsis of Kagemusha (Shadow Warrior)

http://www.heroic-cinema.com/reviews/kagemush

Kagemusha --

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kagemusha

Watercolor paintings by Kurosawa, which he used to obtain funding for Shadow Warrior.

http://akirakurosawa.info/kurosawas-paintings/

Ran, made in 1985. Kagemusha was made in 1980.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ran_(film)

More commentary on Ran --

http://www.acepilots.com/discussions/ran.html

Seven Samurai -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Samurai