(Dai Chushingura) is a Japanese television dramatization of the events of the

Forty-seven Ronin 47 (forty-seven) is the natural number following 46 and preceding 48. It is a prime number. In mathematics Forty-seven is the fifteenth prime number, a safe prime, the thirteenth supersingular prime, the fourth isolated prime, and the sixth L ...

. The first episode aired on January 5, 1971, and the 52nd and final episode appeared on December 28 of the same year. The

NET Net or net may refer to: Mathematics and physics * Net (mathematics), a filter-like topological generalization of a sequence * Net, a linear system of divisors of dimension 2 * Net (polyhedron), an arrangement of polygons that can be folded up ...

network broadcast it in the Tuesday evening 9:00–9:56 prime-time slot in Japan. The series featured an all-star cast. The central actor was

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 '' ...

, who portrayed

Ōishi Kuranosuke Oishi may refer to: * Ōishi (surname), a Japanese surname * Oishi (Philippine brand), a snack company from the Philippines * Oishi Group, a Thai food-and-drink company * Ōishi Station is a railway station on the Hanshin Electric Railway Main ...

;

Yoko Tsukasa is a Japanese actress. She won the award for best actress at the 17th Blue Ribbon Awards for '' Kinokawa''. She is professor at Tokyo University of Social Welfare and serves as the 2nd head of Nihon Taishōmura theme park. Life Yōko Shōji ...

his wife; and

kabuki is a classical form of Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily-stylised performances, the often-glamorous costumes worn by performers, and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers. Kabuki is thought to ...

actor Onoe Kikugorō VII their son Chikara. Ichikawa Chūsha VIII took the part of

Kira Yoshinaka was a '' kōke'' (master of ceremonies). His court title was '' Kōzuke no suke (上野介)''. He is famous as the adversary of Asano Naganori in the events of the Forty-seven rōnin. Although his name (義央) has been long pronounced as "Yosh ...

, but died after the filming of Episode 47; his brother Kodayū replaced him. Many actors appeared as guest stars in only a few episodes. Among them were many known to audiences outside Japan. These included superstar

Kinnosuke Nakamura (November 20, 1932 – March 10, 1997) was a Japanese people, Japanese kabuki actor. Born , son of kabuki actor Nakamura Tokizō III, he entered kabuki and became the first in the kabuki tradition to take the name Nakamura Kinnosuke. He took on hi ...

as Wakisaka Awaji-no-kami,

Matsumoto Kōshirō is the stage name of a line of kabuki actors in Japan. Most of these were blood relatives, though some were adopted into the family. Kōshirō, like other actors' names, is bestowed (or given up) at grand naming ceremonies called ''shūmei'' in ...

Shintaro Katsu was a Japanese actor, singer, and filmmaker. He is known for starring in the ''Akumyo'' series, the ''Hoodlum Soldier'' series, and the ''Zatoichi'' series. Life and career Born Toshio Okumura (奥村利夫 ''Okumura Toshio'') on 29 Novemb ...

(of

Zatoichi is a fictional character created by Japanese novelist Kan Shimozawa. He is an itinerant blind masseur and swordsman of Japan's late Edo period (1830s and 1840s). He first appeared in the 1948 essay , part of Shimozawa's ''Futokoro Techō'' serie ...

fame), Mifune's frequent co-star

Takashi Shimura was a Japanese actor who appeared in over 200 films between 1934 and 1981. He appeared in 21 of Akira Kurosawa's 30 films (more than any other actor), including as a lead actor in ''Drunken Angel'' (1948), ''Rashomon'' (1950), ''Ikiru'' (1952) an ...

Eiji Okada was a Japanese film actor from Chōshi, Chiba. Okada served in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II and was a miner and traveling salesman before becoming an actor. Internationally, his best-remembered roles include Lui ("him" in Fre ...

Yukiyo Toake is a Japanese actress. She won the award for best actress at the 23rd Blue Ribbon Awards for ''Furueru Shita'' and at the 29th for ''Gray Sunset''. Filmography Film *1974 - ''Tora-san's Lullaby'' *1980 - ''Furueru Shita'' *1983 - ''The Catch ...

Kinichi Hagimoto is a Japanese comedian. He is active as a stage performer, emcee, and manager of the amateur Ibaraki Golden Golds (''ibaraki goruden gōruzu'') of the Japanese Baseball Association (''nippon yakyuu renmei''). Born in the Taitō ward of Tōky� ...

Terumi Niki Terumi (written: , , or in hiragana) is a feminine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese long-distance runner *, Japanese handball player *, Japanese women's footballer *, Japanese actress *, Japanese cyclist Ma ...

Masaaki Sakai is a popular Japanese performer from Tokyo. He is best known to English-speaking audiences as the title star of the TV show ''Monkey''. Biography Masaaki Sakai is a Japanese actor, singer and martial artist. Born the son of , a famous comed ...

, and

Shinji Maki was a Japanese mandan comedian who played the ukulele. Biography Maki was born in Meguro, Tokyo on 26 September 1934. His real name was . His appearance in the live vaudevillian show ''Shiroto Yose'' featuring amateur entertainers established h ...

. The series has been rerun during the more than 35 years that have passed since it was first aired. It is available in several DVD sets.

Cast

Ōishi Yoshio was the chamberlain (karō) of the Akō Domain in Harima Province (now Hyōgo Prefecture), Japan (1679 - 1701). He is known as the leader of the Forty-seven Rōnin in their 1702 revenge vendetta and thus the hero of the ''Chūshingura''. He is ...

Tetsuya Watari born (December 28, 1941 – August 10, 2020) was a Japanese film, stage, and television actor. Life He graduated from Aoyama Gakuin University. Watari belonged to the karate club at university. He made his screen debut in 1964, in Isamu Kosugi ...

Horibe Yasubei was a warrior in Japan. Yasubee was born to , a samurai of the Shibata Domain (a Han (country subdivision), ''han'' in present-day Niigata Prefecture) . When Yasubee was 13, his father lost his position and became a rōnin. Soon afterwards, Yaji ...

as Ōishi Riku *

Go Wakabayashi Go, GO, G.O., or Go! may refer to: Arts and entertainment Games and sport * Go (game), a board game for two players * '' Travel Go'' (formerly ''Go – The International Travel Game''), a game based on world travel * Go, the starting position l ...

as Maebara Isuke *

Shinjirō Ehara was a Japanese actor. Ehara joined Toei Company and began his acting career with"Nagurikomi Nijyuohachinin shu". In 1957, he won Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year. He died on 27 September 2022, aged 85. Selected filmography Film *''Jun'a ...

as Kataoka Gengoemon *

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 Ku ...

Ōno Kurobei (?–November 11, 1751) was the chief retainer of the Banshū Ako Domain, held by the Asano family. His annual earnings were 650 '' koku''. Biography He was a bureaucrat specializing in economic affairs. He demonstrated skill in managing the d ...

Masakazu Tamura was a Japanese film and theatre actor. Profile Masakazu Tamura was born 1 August 1943 in Kyoto, Japan to Japanese actor Tsumasaburō Bandō. Tsumasaburō Bandō died when Tamura was only nine years old. His brothers Takahiro and Ryō are also ...

as Yato Emohichi *

Takahiro Tamura was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in 100 films between 1954 and 2005. He and his younger brothers Masakazu and Ryō were known as the three Tamura brothers. They were sons of actor Tsumasaburo Bando. Biography Tamura graduated from Dosh ...

as Takadaya Gunbei * Tetsuro Tamba as Chisaka Takafusa *

Shigeru Tsuyuguchi is a Japanese actor. Biography Tsuyuguchi was born in Tokyo and raised in Ehime.Nihon Eiga Jinmei Jiten　2　190-191 He attended Ehime University, but withdrew before completing his degree and joined the Haiyuza Theatre Company in 1955. His c ...

as Usuke * Ichiro Arishima *

Etsushi Takahashi was a Japanese actor from Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture. Takahashi often worked with Kihachi Okamoto and Satsuo Yamamoto. After graduating Rikkyo University, Takahashi joined NHK acting school. In 1964, he joined Bungakuza Theatre Company's act ...

as Mori Koheita *

Kōji Ishizaka is a Japanese actor. Ishizaka graduated from Keio University with a B.L. degree. He serves as a special advisor for the Japan Plamodel Industry Association, and on 23 February 2009, he founded Rowguanes, a plastic model enthusiast group for th ...

as Kayano Sanppie *

Yoko Yamamoto is a Japanese actress represented by Kabushikigaisha Sanyō Kikaku. Filmography Films TV dramas NHK Tokyo Broadcasting System Nippon TV Fuji Television TV Asahi TV Tokyo Stage References External linksProfile at Yahoo! Japan ...

as Okei *

Kunio Murai is a Japanese actor and voice actor. He is famous for Japanese dubbing roles for Harrison Ford (Especially for Indiana Jones). Filmography Films * '' Godzilla vs. Gigan'' (1972) (Takashi Shima) * ''Japan Sinks'' (1973) (Kataoka) * ''The Batt ...

Takeo Chii was a Japanese actor. He appeared in more than 70 films between 1968 and 2012. Biography Chii was the youngest of eight brothers. He made his acting debut in 1968. He made his film debut with Kihachi Okamoto's '' Kill!''. Chii married actress ...

as Minagawa Shoroku *Yoshiko Sakuma *Miyoko Akaza *

Ryosuke Kagawa was a Japanese actor. His son was child actor Sō Shuntarō. He appeared in more than 400 films between 1928 and 1986. His final film role was in the 1986 film ''Dixieland Daimyō'' directed by Kihachi Okamoto. Selected filmography * ''Story ...

as Hara Sōemon * Kenji Imai as Saitō Seizaemon *

Nobuo Kawai was a Japanese actor. He is most famous for playing villains and appeared in many jidaigeki and detective television dramas as a guest. He was a member of Yukio Mishima's Roman Gekijo Theatre Company. He died of cerebral infarction on June 24, ...

as Endō Sanzaemon *

Tamao Nakamura (born July 12, 1939 in Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese actress. Her father is kabuki actor Nakamura Ganjirō II. She was scouted by director Teruo Ogiyama and made her film debut with ''Kageko to Yukie'' when she was a junior high school student. A ...

as Aiba Shino *

Frankie Sakai (13 February 1929 – 10 June 1996) was a Japanese comedian, actor, and musician. Career From his days at Keio University, Sakai worked as a jazz drummer at American Army camps during the Occupation of Japan, often doing comic routines with his ...

as Akabane Genzo * Yoshi Kato as Yato Chosuke *

Yoshio Tsuchiya was a Japanese actor who appeared in such films as Toshio Matsumoto's surreal ''Bara No Soretsu'' (a.k.a. ''Funeral Parade of Roses'') and Akira Kurosawa's '' Seven Samurai'' (as the firebrand farmer Rikichi) and ''Red Beard'', and Kihachi Okam ...

as Tsuchiya Shuzen *

Yoshio Inaba was a Japanese actor best known for his role as Gorobei in Akira Kurosawa's '' Seven Samurai''. In addition to his career in film, Inaba was also a prolific theater actor and a member of the prestigious Haiyuza Theatre Company. He died of a heart ...

Katsumasa Uchida was a Japanese actor. He is most famous for playing villains and appeared in many ''jidaigeki'' and detective television dramas as a guest.『日本タレント名鑑'82』 VIPタイムズ社、1981 P.33 Uchida graduated from Aoyama Gakuin Unive ...

as Gojō Ryuta *

Isao Yamagata was a Japanese film actor. In 1942, Yamagata and So Yamamura formed the ''Bunkaza Theatre Company''. In 1949 he made his film debut with ''Kirareya Senta''. Yamagata became famous for his role in 1953 film '' Gate of Hell''. He became a charac ...

Shigeru Kōyama was a Japanese actor. Career Born in Kure, Hiroshima, Kōyama joined the Bungakuza theatre troupe in 1952, first as a directorial assistant and then as an actor. He made his film debut in 1953 in Tadashi Imai's ''An Inlet of Muddy Water''. He l ...

Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu was a Japanese samurai of the Edo period. He was an official in the Tokugawa shogunate and a favourite of the fifth shōgun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. His second concubine was Ogimachi Machiko, a writer and scholar from the noble court who wrote ...

Akiji Kobayashi , sometimes credited as Shōji Kobayashi, was a Japanese actor. He attended Nihon University College of Art, but withdrew before completing his degree and joined the Haiyuza Theatre Company in 1949. He made his film debut with ''Satsujin Yogisha' ...

as Terasaka Kichiemon *

Katsuo Nakamura is a Japanese actor. Nakamura is a former Kabuki actor as well as his older brother Kinnosuke Nakamura. His first film appearance was in the 1955 film ''Furisode Kenpo''. He won the award for best supporting actor at the 5th Japan Academy Prize ...

as Okano Kingoemon *

Shinsuke Ashida was a Japanese actor. He appeared in more than 90 films between 1952 and 1996. Selected filmography Film * ''Gendai-jin'' (1952) * ''Mahiru no ankoku'' (1956) * ''An Actress'' (1956) * ''Underworld Beauty'' (1958) * ''Arashi no naka o tsuppash ...

as Kobayashi Haihachi *

Shigeru Amachi was a Japanese actor. He appeared in more than 120 films from 1953 to 1984. Career Amachi joined the Shintoho studio as one of its "New Face" actors of 1951 and established himself in action and jidaigeki films. He gained fame for the nihilist ...

as Shimizu Ichigaku * Junzaburo Ban as Onodera Junai *

Jun Tazaki , born Minoru Tanaka, was a Japanese actor best known for his various roles in kaiju films produced by Toho, often portraying scientists or military personnel. Career Tanaka began his career as a traveling stage actor in the 1930s, perform ...

Hideo Takamatsu was a Japanese actor from Nankoku, Kōchi Prefecture. Takamatsu appeared in more than 120 films between 1948 and 2007. Profile In 1951, he signed his contract with Daiei film company. Two years later, Takamatsu made his film debut with ''Ikare ...

as Rinzo Kakui *

Toru Abe was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in more than 100 films from 1944 to 1985. Selected filmography References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Abe, Toru 1917 births 1993 deaths Japanese male film actors 20th-century Japanese male ...

as Horiuchi Denbeiemon *

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 '' ...

as Horiuchi Gentaemon *

as Tawaraboshi Genba

References

External links

"Dai Chûshingura"
at IMDB

''Jidaigeki Hour: Daichūshingura'' at TV-Tokyo
DVD announcement (includes English)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Daichushingura 1971 Japanese television series debuts 1971 Japanese television series endings Jidaigeki television series TV Asahi original programming Works by Ichirô Ikeda Television series set in the 17th century