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Sanjuro
is a 1962 black-and-white Japanese ''jidaigeki'' film directed by Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshiro Mifune. It is a sequel to Kurosawa's 1961 ''Yojimbo''. Originally an adaptation of the Shūgorō Yamamoto novel ''Hibi Heian'', the script was altered following the success of the previous year's ''Yojimbo'' to incorporate the lead character of that film. Plot Nine young samurai believe that the lord chamberlain, Mutsuta, is corrupt after he tore up their petition against fraud at court. One of them tells the superintendent Kikui of this and he agrees to intervene. As the nine meet secretly to discuss this at a shrine, a rōnin overhears and cautions them against trusting the superintendent. While at first they do not believe him, he saves them from an ambush. But as their rescuer is about to leave, he realises that Mutsuta and his family must now be in danger and decides to stay and help. By the time the samurai get to Mutsuta's house, the chamberlain has been abducted an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yojimbo
is a 1961 Japanese samurai film co-written, produced, edited, and directed by Akira Kurosawa. The film stars Toshiro Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Yoko Tsukasa, Isuzu Yamada, Daisuke Katō, Takashi Shimura, Kamatari Fujiwara, and Atsushi Watanabe. In the film, a rōnin arrives in a small town where competing crime lords vie for supremacy. The two bosses each try to hire the newcomer as a bodyguard. Based on the success of ''Yojimbo'', Kurosawa's next film, '' Sanjuro'' (1962), was altered to incorporate the lead character of this film. In both films, the character wears a rather dilapidated dark kimono bearing the same family ''mon''. The film was released and produced by Toho on April 25, 1961. ''Yojimbo'' received highly positive reviews, and, over the years, became widely regarded as one of the best films by Kurosawa and one of the greatest films ever made. The film grossed an estimated $2.5 million worldwide with a budget of ¥90.87 million. It was unofficially rem ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Akira Kurosawa
was a Japanese filmmaker and painter who directed thirty films in a career spanning over five decades. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. Kurosawa displayed a bold, dynamic style, strongly influenced by Western cinema yet distinct from it; he was involved with all aspects of film production. Kurosawa entered the Japanese film industry in 1936, following a brief stint as a painter. After years of working on numerous films as an assistant director and scriptwriter, he made his debut as a director during World War II with the popular action film '' Sanshiro Sugata''. After the war, the critically acclaimed '' Drunken Angel'' (1948), in which Kurosawa cast the then little-known actor Toshiro Mifune in a starring role, cemented the director's reputation as one of the most important young filmmakers in Japan. The two men would go on to collaborate on another fifteen films. '' Rashomon'' (1950), which pr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Toshiro Mifune
was a Japanese actor who appeared in over 150 feature films. He is best known for his 16-film collaboration (1948–1965) with Akira Kurosawa in such works as '' Rashomon'', '' Seven Samurai'', '' The Hidden Fortress'', '' Throne of Blood'', and ''Yojimbo''. He also portrayed Miyamoto Musashi in Hiroshi Inagaki's '' Samurai Trilogy'' and one earlier Inagaki film, Lord Toranaga in the NBC television miniseries '' Shōgun'', and Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto in three different films. Early life Toshiro Mifune was born on April 1, 1920 in Seitō, Japanese-occupied Shandong (present-day Qingdao, China), the eldest son of Tokuzo and Sen Mifune. His father Tokuzo was a trade merchant and photographer who ran a photography business in Qingdao and Yingkou, and was originally the son of a medical doctor from Kawauchi, Akita Prefecture. His mother Sen was the daughter of a '' hatamoto'', a high-ranking samurai official. Toshiro's parents, who were working as Methodist missionaries ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Takako Irie
was a Japanese film actress. Born in Tokyo into the aristocratic Higashibōjō family (her birth name was ), she graduated from Bunka Gakuin before debuting as an actress at Nikkatsu in 1927. She became a major star, even starting her own production company, Irie Productions, in 1932. One of Kenji Mizoguchi's silent film masterpieces, ''The Water Magician'', was produced at that company with Irie starring. She appeared in many advertisements, as well as on fans and other commercial goods. Irie was also the subject of a folding screen painting by ''Nihonga'' artist Nakamura Daizaburō, which appeared in the 1930 Teiten (Imperial Exhibition), and which is today in the collection of the Honolulu Museum of Art; toy dolls were also produced based on this image.Brown, Kendall et al (eds.). ''Taishō Chic: Japanese Modernity, Nostalgia, and Deco''. Honolulu Academy of Arts, 2001. pp. 70–77. In the postwar period, Irie became known as a "ghost cat actress" (''bakeneko joyū'') for ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yūzō Kayama
is a Japanese popular musician, singer-songwriter and actor. Life and career Son of mid-twentieth century film star Ken Uehara,and actress Yoko Kozakura, ( ja) Kayama graduated from Keio University. Yuzo Kayama signed with Toho and made his film debut with ''Otoko tai Otoko'' directed by Senkichi Taniguchi in 1960. He was cast in the leading role in the 1960 film ''Dokuritsu Gurentai Nishie'' directed by Kihachi Okamoto. Kayama rose to stardom in the 1960s in the '' Wakadaishō'' ("Young Guy") film series. He showed his ability for drama when Akira Kurosawa cast him for his films ''Sanjuro'' and '' Red Beard''. In the 1970s, he starred such television dramas as ''Edo no Kaze'' and ''Daitsuiseki''. As a guitarist, he took inspiration from the American instrumental group The Ventures, and performed a form of psychedelic surf music in the 1960s with his Mosrite guitar. One of his best-known instrumentals is "Black Sand Beach". "Kimi to Itsumademo" ("Love Forever"), another of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Masaru Sato
(sometimes transliterated Satoh) was a Japanese composer of film scores. Following the 1955 death of Fumio Hayasaka, whom Sato studied under, Sato was the composer of Akira Kurosawa's films for the next 10 years. He was nominated for Best Music at the 15th Japan Academy Prize in 1992. In 1999, the Japanese government decorated Sato with the Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette for his contributions to the arts. Career He was born in Rumoi, Hokkaido, and raised in Sapporo. While studying at the National Music Academy, Sato came under the influence of Fumio Hayasaka, Akira Kurosawa's regular composer for his earlier films. He became a pupil of Hayasaka's, studying film scoring with him at Toho Studios, and working on the orchestration of '' Seven Samurai'' (1954). When the older composer died suddenly in 1955, leaving the scores to Kenji Mizoguchi's '' New Tales of the Taira Clan'', and Kurosawa's '' I Live in Fear'' incomplete, Toho assigned Sato to fi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Reiko Dan
, real name , was a Japanese actress. She appeared in multiple films between 1957 and 1974, such as ''Sanjuro'' and ''Red Beard is a 1965 Japanese ''jidaigeki'' film co-written, edited, and directed by Akira Kurosawa, in his last collaboration with actor Toshiro Mifune. Based on Shūgorō Yamamoto's 1959 short story collection, '' Akahige Shinryōtan'', the film takes pl ...''. She retired in 1974, coming back briefly from the late 1980s to 1990 to support her son, Yuta Dan (1967–2006), who was also an actor. Partial filmography References {{DEFAULTSORT:Dan, Reiko 1935 births 2003 deaths Japanese actresses ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rōnin
A ''rōnin'' ( ; ja, 浪人, , meaning 'drifter' or 'wanderer') was a samurai without a lord or master during the feudal period of Japan (1185–1868). A samurai became masterless upon the death of his master or after the loss of his master's favor or privilege.Stephane Lun (2021). ''A Guide on Shinsengumi: the background and management.'' In modern Japanese usage, usually the term is used to describe a salaryman who is unemployed or a secondary school graduate who has not yet been admitted to university. Etymology The word ''rōnin'' literally means 'wanderer'. It is an idiomatic expression for 'vagrant' or 'wandering man', someone who finds the way without belonging to one place. The term originated in the Nara and Heian periods, when it referred to a serf who had fled or deserted his master's land. In medieval times, the Ronin were depicted as the shadows of samurai, master-less and less honorable. It then came to be used for a samurai who had no master (hence the ter ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yūnosuke Itō
was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in more than ninety films from 1947 to 1979. Career Itō made his film debut at Toho in 1946, and although mostly a prominent supporting actor—playing memorable figures such as the novelist in Akira Kurosawa's '' Ikiru''—he also was cast in leading roles such as Kon Ichikawa's ''Mr. Pu''. He is acclaimed as "one of the...extremely talented character actors who populated Japanese movies in Shōwaera, playing a broad range of roles." Itō received the 1962 Blue Ribbon Award for Best Supporting Actor for his dual role in the seminal Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Supporting Actor">Blue Ribbon Award for Best Supporting Actor for his dual role in the seminal ninja film ''Shinobi no Mono">ninja">Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Supporting Actor">Blue Ribbon Award for Best Supporting Actor for his dual role in the seminal ninja film ''Shinobi no Mono''. Film scholar Stuart Galbraith IV has noted that the "horse-faced actor...was a real chamele ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Masao Shimizu
was a Japanese actor. His wife was actress Yumi Takano. His first starring role in the film was in ''Momoiro no Yuwaku'' in 1931. In 1947, he formed the Mingei Theatre Company. Shimizu often work with Akira Kurosawa. He appeared in more than 250 films between 1931 and 1976. Selected filmography * ''The 47 Ronin'' (1941) * '' No Regrets for Our Youth'' (1946) as Professor Hakozaki * '' A Ball at the Anjo House'' (1947) * '' One Wonderful Sunday'' (1947) as the Dance Hall Manager * '' Drunken Angel'' (1948) as Boss * ''Stray Dog'' (1949) * ''Bōryoku no Machi'' (1950) * ''Scandal'' (1950) as Judge * '' Story of a Beloved Wife'' (1951) * '' The Life of Oharu'' (1952) * ''Children of Hiroshima'' (1952) * '' The Life of Oharu'' (1952) as kikuoji * '' Ikiru'' (1952) as Doctor * ''Epitome'' (1953) * '' Gate of Hell'' (1953) * ''Sansho the Bailiff'' (1954) as Masauji Taira * ''I Live in Fear'' (1955) as Yamazaki, Yoshi's husband * ''Season of the Sun'' (1956) * '' Rusty Knife'' (1958) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sachio Sakai
, born , was a Japanese actor. In 1947, he made his film debut with Akira Kurosawa's '' One Wonderful Sunday''. He often worked with Akira Kurosawa and Kihachi Okamoto. Filmography Films * '' One Wonderful Sunday'' (1947) as Ticket seller * ''Drunken Angel'' (1948) as Guitarist * ''Stray Dog'' (1949) as Spectator of theater * '' Aoi sanmyaku'' (1949) * ''Bōryoku no Machi'' (1950) * ''Aoi Shinju'' (1951) as Yanagiya * '' Vendetta for a Samurai'' (1952) * ''Nangoku no hada'' (1952) * '' The Man Who Came to Port'' (1952) * ''Ikiru'' (1952) as Gang * ''Eagle of the Pacific'' (1953) * ''Seven Samurai'' (1954) as a coolie * ''Godzilla'' (1954) as Hagiwara * '' Half Human'' (1955) as Nakata * '' Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple'' (1955) as Matahachi Honiden * ''Throne of Blood'' (1957) as Washizu's vassal * ''Song for a Bride'' (1958) as Kurokawa * ''The Hidden Fortress'' (1958) as Ashigaru * '' Life of an Expert Swordsman'' (1959) * ''The Secret of the Telegian'' (1960) as Taki ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kamatari Fujiwara
was a Japanese actor. Fujiwara worked regularly and extensively with Akira Kurosawa, and was known for both being adept at comic acting, as well as being able to take on serious roles. Early life and career Early life Fujiwara was born on January 15, 1905, in Tokyo, Japan. Fujiwara's parents ran a printing business. The business did not go well, so at the age of 10, Fujiwara started working at a local confectionery store. By the age of 14 he had started selling timber for building and manufacturing in Shizuoka prefecture. A year later he returned to Tokyo to study as a pharmacist. Asakusa Opera Movement The Movement was started in 1916, and was part of the mass culture of the time. By the 1920s it had become very popular. His early life focused initially focussed on music, before he was known as a comic actor Perhaps inspired by this, Fujiwara enrolled at the Takinoga actor/martial arts school. Following graduation, he approached actor Kenzo Kuroki at Asakisa's kinrukan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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