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Samurai I
is a 1954 Japanese film directed and co-written by Hiroshi Inagaki and starring Toshiro Mifune. The film is the first film of Inagaki's ''Samurai Trilogy'' of historical adventures. The film is adapted from Eiji Yoshikawa's novel '' Musashi'', originally released as a serial in the Japanese newspaper ''Asahi Shimbun'', between 1935 and 1939. The novel is loosely based on the life of the famous Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. The film was followed by '' Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple'' (1955) and '' Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island'' (1956). The film won a Special/Honorary Award at the 1955 Academy Awards for outstanding foreign language film. Plot Following the battle of Sekigahara, Takezo (Toshiro Mifune) and his friend Matahachi (Rentarō Mikuni) find themselves on the losing side. Instead of the grand victory and glory Takezo had anticipated, he finds himself a hunted fugitive, having to assist a severely injured Matahachi. The pair seek shelter with a widow ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hiroshi Inagaki
was a Japanese filmmaker best remembered for the Academy Award-winning '' Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto'', which was released in 1954. Career Born in Tokyo as the son of a shinpa actor, Inagaki appeared on stage in his childhood before joining the Nikkatsu studio as an actor in 1922. Wishing to become a director, he joined Chiezō Kataoka's Chiezō Productions and made his directorial debut with ''Tenka taiheiki'' (1928). Returning to Nikkatsu, he continued making jidaigeki and participated in the Naritaki Group of young filmmakers such as Sadao Yamanaka and Fuji Yahiro who collaboratively wrote screenplays under the made up name "Kinpachi Kajiwara". Like others in the group, Inagaki was known for his cheerful and intelligent samurai films. Inagaki later moved to Daiei and then Toho, where he made big budget color spectacles as well as delicate works depicting the feelings of children. He also produced many films and wrote the scripts for dozens of others. Recognition His film ' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Battle Of Sekigahara
The Battle of Sekigahara (Shinjitai: ; Kyūjitai: , Hepburn romanization: ''Sekigahara no Tatakai'') was a decisive battle on October 21, 1600 (Keichō 5, 15th day of the 9th month) in what is now Gifu prefecture, Japan, at the end of the Sengoku period. This battle was fought by the forces of Tokugawa Ieyasu against a coalition of Toyotomi loyalist clans under Ishida Mitsunari, several of which defected before or during the battle, leading to a Tokugawa victory. The Battle of Sekigahara was the largest battle of Japanese feudal history and is often regarded as the most important. Toyotomi's defeat led to the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate. Tokugawa Ieyasu took three more years to consolidate his position of power over the Toyotomi clan and the various ''daimyō'', but the Battle of Sekigahara is widely considered to be the unofficial beginning of the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled Japan for another two and a half centuries until 1868. Background Toyotomi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Daisuke Katō
was a Japanese actor. He appeared in over 200 films, including Akira Kurosawa's ''Seven Samurai'', ''Rashomon'', ''Yojimbo'', and ''Ikiru''. He also worked repeatedly for noted directors such as Yasujirō Ozu, Mikio Naruse and Kenji Mizoguchi. Career Born as Tokunosuke Katō to a theatrical family, his older brother was the actor Kunitarō Sawamura and his older sister the actress Sadako Sawamura. He joined the Zenshinza Theatre Company in 1933 and appeared in a number of stage and film productions under the stage name Enji Ichikawa, including Sadao Yamanaka's '' Humanity and Paper Balloons'' and Kenji Mizoguchi's '' The 47 Ronin''. After spending the war in New Guinea, he returned to Japan and signed with the Daiei Film studio, appearing now under the name Daisuke Katō. In addition to appearing in traditional jidaigeki roles, notably as one of Kurosawa's ''Seven Samurai'', Katō became a popular everyman in contemporary shōshimin-eiga movies. His transfer to Toho in 1951 wa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Terumasa Ikeda
was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the early Edo period. His court title was '' Musashi no Kami''. Terumasa was also known by the nickname ''saigoku no shōgun'', or, "The ''Shōgun'' of Western Japan". Terumasa fought in many of the battles of the late Azuchi–Momoyama period, and due to his service at the Battle of Sekigahara, received a fief at Himeji. His childhood name was Araokojimaru (荒尾古新丸). He was the son of Ikeda Tsuneoki and brother of Ikeda Sen. Biography Terumasa was the 2nd son and heir of Ikeda Nobuteru, Terumasa held Ikejiri Castle (Mino Province) and joined his father in fighting for Hideyoshi in the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute 1584, he led troops at Nagakute, the battle in which his father was killed. In 1590, following the transfer of Tokugawa Ieyasu to the Kanto, Terumasa was established at Yoshida in Mikawa, a 152,000-''koku'' fief. In 1594 Terumasa married one of Tokugawa's daughters, and after Hideyoshi's death in 1598, the Ikeda drifted into Iey ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eitaro Ozawa
, also credited as Sakae Ozawa (小沢栄), was a Japanese actor. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1935 and 1988, directed by notable filmmakers such as Kenji Mizoguchi, Mikio Naruse, Keisuke Kinoshita and Kaneto Shindō. Selected filmography Films * ''Lady from Hell'' (1949) as Fujimura * ''Lightning'' (1952) * ''Ugetsu'' (1953) * ''The Crucified Lovers'' (1954) * ''Princess Yang Kwei-Fei'' (1955) * ''Wolf'' (1955) * ''A Girl Isn't Allowed to Love'' (1955) * ''An Actress'' (1956) * '' Suzakumon'' (1957) * ''The H-Man'' (1958) * '' The Loyal 47 Ronin'' (1958) * ''Tsukihime keizu'' (1958) * ''Ballad of the Cart'' (1959) * '' Lucky Dragon No. 5'' (1959) * ''When a Woman Ascends the Stairs'' (1960) * ''Scar Yosaburo'' (1960) * ''Go to Hell, Hoodlums!'' (1960) * ''The Demon of Mount Oe'' (1960) * ''Kurenai no Kenju'' (1961) * ''The Mad Fox'' (1962) * ''Gorath'' (1962) * '' Assassination'' (1964) * ''Our Blood Will Not Forgive'' (1964) * '' Akuto'' (1965) * ''Shiroi Kyotō ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Akihiko Hirata
(December 16, 1927 – July 25, 1984), born , was a Japanese film actor. While Hirata starred in many movies (including Hiroshi Inagaki's ''Samurai'' trilogy), he is most well known for his work in the ''kaiju'' genre, including such films as ''King Kong vs. Godzilla'', ''The Mysterians'', ''Terror of Mechagodzilla'', ''Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla'', and his most famous role of Dr. Daisuke Serizawa, the brilliant but disturbed young scientist in the original ''Godzilla'', released in 1954. Hirata was married to the popular actress Yoshiko Kuga from 1961 until his death. He died at age 56 in 1984 after a long battle with lung cancer. Early life Hirata was born in Seoul, Korea, in 1927, into a wealthy family. He was educated at the prestigious Tokyo University's School of Interior Design. Before joining Shintoho as an assistant director (under his older brother, Yoshiki Onoda), Hirata moved into still photography, and eventually joined Toho in 1953, under the studio's "New Face" pro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mitsuko Mito
was a Japanese actress. She appeared in more than 150 films between 1935 and 1973 under the direction of filmmakers like Kenji Mizoguchi, Yasujirō Ozu and Kaneto Shindō. Selected filmography * ''Wakadanna haru ranman'' (1935) – Girl student * ''Sendō kawaiya'' (1935) * ''Mr. Thank You'' (1936) * ''Hanayome karuta'' (1937) – Emako * ''Kōjō no tsuki'' (1937) – Keiko * ''Okusama ni shirasu bekarazu'' (1937) – Ohatsu * ''Koi mo wasurete'' (1937) – Woman at hotel * ''Suigō jōka – Kojō no reikon'' (1937) – Machiko * ''Hanagata senshu'' (1937) – Girl at hiking * ''Shingun no uta'' (1937) * ''Haha to ko'' (1938) * ''Aizen katsura'' (1938) – Kimura's Wife / Kimura's child * ''Minamikaze'' (1939) – Keiko Kita * ''Imōto no haregi'' (1939) – Kiyoko Sudō * ''Zoku aizen katsura'' (1939) – Kimura's wife / Kimura's child * ''Shin josei mondo'' (1939) * ''Kuwa no mi wa akai'' (1939) * ''Aizen katsura – Kanketsu-hen'' (1939) – Kimura's wife / Kimura's child * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mariko Okada
is a Japanese stage and film actress who starred in films of directors Mikio Naruse, Yasujirō Ozu, Keisuke Kinoshita and others. She was married to film director Yoshishige Yoshida. Biography Okada was born the daughter of silent film actor Tokihiko Okada (real name Eiichi Takahashi), who died the year following her birth, and raised by her mother's sister in her early childhood. She gave her film debut in Mikio Naruse's 1951 ''Dancing Girl'', for whom she worked again in '' Husband and Wife'', ''Floating Clouds'' and '' Nagareru''. Unsatisfied with the roles she was assigned to, she left Toho studios after her contract expired, and signed with Shochiku. In the following years, she starred in Yasujirō Ozu's '' Late Autumn'' and ''An Autumn Afternoon'', Keisuke Kinoshita's ''Spring Dreams'' and '' The Scent of Incense'', and Heinosuke Gosho's ''Hunting Rifle''. The 1962 '' Akitsu Springs'' was Okada's 100th film and the first under the direction of her future husband Yoshishi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shōgun
, officially , was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, though during part of the Kamakura period, shoguns were themselves figureheads, with real power in hands of the Shikken of the Hōjō clan. The office of shogun was in practice hereditary, though over the course of the history of Japan several different clans held the position. The title was originally held by military commanders during Heian period in the eighth and ninth centuries. When Minamoto no Yoritomo gained political ascendency over Japan in 1185, the title was revived to regularize his position, making him the first shogun in the usually understood sense. The shogun's officials were collectively referred to as the ; they were the ones who carried out the actual duties of administration, while the Imperial court retained only nominal authority.Beasley, William G ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan, which ruled Japan from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was one of the three "Great Unifiers" of Japan, along with his former lord Oda Nobunaga and fellow Oda subordinate Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The son of a minor daimyo, Ieyasu once lived as a hostage under daimyo Imagawa Yoshimoto on behalf of his father. He later succeeded as daimyo after his father's death, serving as a vassal and general of the Oda clan, and building up his strength under Oda Nobunaga. After Oda Nobunaga's death, Ieyasu was briefly a rival of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, before declaring his allegiance and fighting on his behalf. Under Toyotomi, Ieyasu was relocated to the Kanto plains in eastern Japan, away from the Toyotomi power base in Osaka. He built his castle in the fishing village of Edo (now Tokyo). He became the most powerful daimyo and the most senior officer under the Toyotomi regime. Ieyasu preserved his strength i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Himeji Castle
is a hilltop Japanese castle complex situated in the city of Himeji which is located in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan. The castle is regarded as the finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture, comprising a network of 83 rooms with advanced defensive systems from the feudal period. The castle is frequently known as ''Hakuro-jō'' or ''Shirasagi-jō'' ("White Egret Castle" or " White Heron Castle") because of its brilliant white exterior and supposed resemblance to a bird taking flight. Himeji Castle dates to 1333 when Akamatsu Norimura built a fort on top of Himeyama hill. The fort was dismantled and rebuilt as Himeyama Castle in 1346 and then remodeled into Himeji Castle two centuries later. Himeji Castle was then significantly remodeled in 1581 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who added a three-story castle keep. In 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu awarded the castle to Ikeda Terumasa for his help in the Battle of Sekigahara, and Ikeda completely rebuilt the castle from 1 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Takuan Sōhō
was a Japanese Buddhist prelate during the Sengoku and early Edo Periods of Japanese history. He was a major figure in the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. Noted for his calligraphy, poetry, tea ceremony, he is also popularly credited with the invention of the ''takuan'' pickled radish. Biography Takuan Sōhō was born as the second son of Akiba Tsunanori, a samurai and senior retainer of the Yamana clan in the town of Izushi, in Tajima Province (present-day Toyooka, Hyōgo). When he was eight years old, the Yamana clan were defeated by the forces of Oda Nobunaga led by Hashiba Hideyoshi, making his father a '' ronin''. In 1582 Takuan entered the temple of Shōen-ji in Izushi as an acolyte, and in 1586 he was sent to the temple of Sōkyō-ji, also in Izushi, to further studies. In 1591, Maeno Nagayasu, the lord of Izushi Castle during this period, invited Kaoru Sotada a disciple of Daitoku-ji's Shunoku Sōen to administer Sōkyō-ji and Takuan became his disciple. When Kaoru was t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
.jpg "Click for more on -> Mariko Okada")
