Soundtrack: Masaru Satô

Direction Akira Kurosawa

Cast Toshirô Mifune · Kyôko Kagawa · Yutaka Sada · Takashi Shimura

Synopsis High and Low (1963) centers around Gondo, a prominent executive in the shoe industry, portrayed by Toshirô Mifune, who is orchestrating a corporate takeover to seize control of his company. Gondo has secured the necessary funds for his scheme when...

Direction Akira Kurosawa

Cast Toshirô Mifune · Yûzô Kayama · Yoshio Tsuchiya · Kyôko Kagawa

Synopsis Red Beard (1965) is set in 19th-century Japan, where a newly graduated and haughty doctor, Dr. Noboru Yasumoto (Yuzo Kayama), is compelled to serve at the Koshikawa Clinic. This charitable medical facility is overseen by the esteemed Dr. Kyojio Niide...

Direction Akira Kurosawa

Cast Toshirô Mifune · Isuzu Yamada · Takashi Shimura · Akira Kubo

Synopsis Throne of Blood (1957) presents a unique retelling of Shakespeare's "Macbeth," set in the world of feudal Japan. The narrative follows Taketoki Washizu (Toshiro Mifune), a brave and loyal samurai whose destiny takes a dramatic turn after an eerie encounter...

Direction Akira Kurosawa

Cast Toshirô Mifune · Tatsuya Nakadai · Yôko Tsukasa · Isuzu Yamada

Synopsis Yojimbo (1961) is set in the 19th century during the feudal era of Japan, where a skilled samurai wanders into a small, isolated village. The village is torn apart by a power struggle between two rival factions, neither of which...

Direction Akira Kurosawa

Cast Toshirô Mifune · Tatsuya Nakadai · Keiju Kobayashi · Yûzô Kayama

Synopsis Sanjuro (1962) is set in 18th century Japan, where a group of nine young samurai aim to expose corruption within their clan by presenting their case to the local magistrate. However, their plans are thwarted by a traitor within their...

Direction Akira Kurosawa

Cast Toshirô Mifune · Takeshi Katô · Masayuki Mori · Takashi Shimura

Synopsis The Bad Sleep Well (1960) follows a young corporate executive who embarks on a relentless quest to avenge his father's murder. Directed by the renowned Akira Kurosawa, this film is a biting critique of the corrupt corporate culture in post-war...

Direction Akira Kurosawa

Cast Toshirô Mifune · Minoru Chiaki · Misa Uehara · Takashi Shimura

Synopsis The Hidden Fortress (1958) follows the journey of Princess Yuki Akizuki, also known as "Yukihime" in Japanese, as she navigates through hostile lands. Her mission is to restore her kingdom with the help of a substantial amount of gold she...

Direction Kihachi Okamoto

Cast Tatsuya Nakadai · Yûzô Kayama · Michiyo Aratama · Toshirô Mifune

Synopsis Sword of Doom (1966) follows the chilling journey of Ryunosuke, a ruthless samurai devoid of empathy or moral restraint. When he is set to compete in a demonstration match at his swordsmanship school, the spouse of his adversary implores Ryunosuke...

Direction Mikio Naruse

Cast Hideko Takamine · Yôko Tsukasa · Eitarô Ozawa · Daisuke Kato

Direction Toshio Masuda · Hajime Takaiwa

Cast Atsuo Nakamura · Sanae Tsuchida · Kei Sato · Isamu Nagato

Direction Kenji Mizoguchi

Cast Narutoshi Hayashi · Raizô Ichikawa · Tatsuya Ishiguro · Akitake Kôno

Synopsis The Taira Clan Saga (1955) unfolds in the vibrant and tumultuous 12th Century Japan, where a complex tapestry of social and political intrigue sets the stage for an epic narrative of power dynamics, familial conflicts, and human vulnerability. The story...

Direction Hideo Gosha

Cast Tatsuya Nakadai · Kinnosuke Nakamura · Tetsurô Tanba · Yôko Tsukasa

Synopsis Steel Edge of Revenge (Official Gold) (1969) follows the journey of a tormented samurai, burdened by his past, as he strives to prevent a looming bloodbath. Driven by his inner demons, he navigates a world of danger and deceit, determined...

Direction Akira Kurosawa

Cast Toshirô Mifune · Isuzu Yamada · Kyôko Kagawa · Ganjiro Nakamura

Synopsis The Lower Depths (1957) unfolds in a grimy, rundown boarding house, where a motley crew of vagabonds and criminals lament their harsh existence. The narrative centers around Osugi, the stern landlady, who finds herself in a bitter feud with her...

Direction Takashi Koizumi

Cast Akira Terao · Yoshiko Miyazaki · Shiro Mifune · Fumi Dan

Synopsis After the Rain (1999) follows the journey of Ihei Misawa, a skilled and generous masterless samurai, and his wife Tayo, as they find themselves unexpectedly staying at a rural inn due to heavy rains. Their presence brings joy and positivity...

Direction Kihachi Okamoto

Cast Toshirô Mifune · Sô Yamamura · Chishu Ryu · Seiji Miyaguchi

Synopsis Japan's Longest Day (1967) portrays the intense internal struggle within Japan after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Japanese military, led by Minister of the Army Anami, advocates for continued resistance, even at the cost of every Japanese...

Direction Yôji Yamada

Cast Hisashi Igawa · Chieko Baisho · Chishu Ryu · Gin Maeda

Synopsis Home from the Sea (1972) is set on a picturesque island in the Seto Inner Sea, where Seichi and Minko earn a living by ferrying rocks to construction sites via boat. They hold a profound love for their homeland and...

Direction Kihachi Okamoto

Cast Tatsuya Nakadai · Etsushi Takahashi · Shigeru Kôyama · Akira Kubo

Synopsis Kill! (Kiru) (1968) follows the journey of Tatsuya Nakadai as Genta, a disenchanted former samurai who abandoned his warrior path to join the ranks of a roaming yakuza group. Along his journey, he crosses paths with Hanjiro Tabata, portrayed by...

Direction Yôji Yamada

Cast Ken Takakura · Chieko Baisho · Hidetaka Yoshioka · Tokuko Sugiyama

Direction Kihachi Okamoto

Cast Toshirô Mifune · Keiju Kobayashi · Michiyo Aratama · Yûnosuke Itô

Synopsis Samurai Assassin (1965) unfolds over a tense 14-day period in 1860 within the confines of Edo Castle. A clandestine group of assassins lies in wait at Sakurada Gate, their target being the influential lord of the House of Ii, a...

Direction Koreyoshi Kurahara

Cast Nobuo Kaneko · Kojiro Kusanagi · Kô Nishimura · Mari Shiraki

Synopsis Intimidation (1960) is a meticulously crafted, compact noir film directed by Koreyoshi Kurahara. The narrative revolves around the intertwined destinies of a desperate bank manager, who is being blackmailed for falsifying records, and his resentful yet timid subordinate, who feels...