Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple

1955 1h 43m JA

👍

7.2

SOLID

⭐

7.3

IMDB

★7.2TMDB · 147★7.3IMDB · 7,643

DramaActionAdventure

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

After years on the road establishing his reputation as Japan's greatest fencer, Takezo returns to Kyoto. Otsu waits for him, yet he has come not for her but to challenge the leader of the region's finest school of fencing. To prove his valor and skill, he walks deliberately into ambushes set up by the school's followers.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Toshirō Mifune
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
Koji Tsuruta
Kojiro Sasaki
Kaoru Yachigusa
Otsu
Mariko Okada
Akemi
Michiyo Kogure
Lady Yoshino
Akihiko Hirata
Seijuro Yoshioka
Mitsuko Mito
Oko
Kurôemon Onoe
Takuan

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Hiroshi Inagaki
Writers: Hiroshi Inagaki, Tokuhei Wakao
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

71 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Samurai Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Hiroshi Inagaki, shot by Jun Yasumoto. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Ikuma Dan. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Hideshi Ohi shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Toshirō Mifune and Koji Tsuruta and Kaoru Yachigusa carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0048579 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Hiroshi Inagaki directs. Jun Yasumoto behind the camera. Ikuma Dan scores. Hideshi Ohi cuts. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

171 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Part of the "Samurai Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Directed by Hiroshi Inagaki, shot by Jun Yasumoto. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Ikuma Dan. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Hideshi Ohi shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Toshirō Mifune and Koji Tsuruta and Kaoru Yachigusa carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0048579 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Jun Yasumoto
Original score: Ikuma Dan
Editing: Hideshi Ohi
Production design: Kisaku Ito
Runtime: 103 min · 1h 43m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: JA
IMDB: Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple (1955)
IMDB rating: 7.3/10 · 7,643 votes
MPAA: TV-PG

Part of

Samurai Collection

A historical adventure spanning three films, adapted from the novel Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. They follow the development of the famous author and warrior, Musashi Miyamoto.