Akadô Suzunosuke

1957 0h 58m JA

🙌

8.0

BANGER

★8.0TMDB · 1

FantasyActionHistory

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

First of nine films based on the novel. The first live-action adaptation focuses on the origins of how Akadô Suzunosuke learned his skills as a swordsman.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Shoji Umewaka
Akadô Suzunosuke
Naritoshi Hayashi
Yataro Kurokawa
Yōko Uraji
Tamao Nakamura
Sumire Harukaze
Setsuko Hama
Shōzō Nanbu

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Bin Katō
Writers: Tsunayoshi Takeuchi
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 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 58-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

69 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Bin Katō, shot by Hiroshi Imai. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Shoji Umewaka and Naritoshi Hayashi and Yataro Kurokawa carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Bin Katō directs. Hiroshi Imai behind the camera. Urato Watanabe scores. Shigeo Nishida cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 58-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
269 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Part of the "Akado Suzunosuke Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Bin Katō, shot by Hiroshi Imai. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Urato Watanabe. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Shigeo Nishida shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Shoji Umewaka and Naritoshi Hayashi and Yataro Kurokawa carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt0229757 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.