Isshin Tasuke: A World in Danger

1958 1h 31m JA

👍

6.5

SOLID

★6.5TMDB · 4

ActionComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Tasuke stumbles across Kokichi, a distraught man whom having lost his fiancee to Lord Kawakatsu is ready to commit suicide. Tasuke learns that Kokichi's fiancee, Otoyo, was a chambermaid whom Kawakatsu abducted in order to make her his concubine and Tasuke feels compelled to right this wrong. Meanwhile Kawakatsu is dealing in black-market lumber and receiving kick-backs but unbeknownst to him he is under investigation by Lord Izu, one of the Shogun Elders. Will Tasuke be able to rescue Otoyo from the clutches of Lord Kawakatsu and can Lord Izu put an end to his money hungry evildoings.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Kinnosuke Nakamura
Hitomi Nakahara
Ryūnosuke Tsukigata
Satomi Oka
Kensaku Hara
Shunji Sakai
Hiroko Sakuramachi
Isao Yamagata

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Tadashi Sawashima
Writers: Tadashi Sawashima
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

ERA

Did you know

68 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CRAFT

Did you know

Part of the "Isshin Tasuke" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Tadashi Sawashima, shot by Makoto Tsuboi. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Kinnosuke Nakamura and Hitomi Nakahara and Ryūnosuke Tsukigata carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0201974 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Tadashi Sawashima directs. Makoto Tsuboi behind the camera. Seiichi Suzuki scores. Shintarō Miyamoto cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

168 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Part of the "Isshin Tasuke" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Tadashi Sawashima, shot by Makoto Tsuboi. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Seiichi Suzuki. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Shintarō Miyamoto shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Kinnosuke Nakamura and Hitomi Nakahara and Ryūnosuke Tsukigata carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0201974 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 4 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Makoto Tsuboi
Original score: Seiichi Suzuki
Editing: Shintarō Miyamoto
Runtime: 91 min · 1h 31m
Status: Released
Original language: JA
IMDB: Isshin Tasuke: A World in Danger (1958)

Part of

Isshin Tasuke

The Isshin Tasuke films starring Kinnosuke Nakamura are a series of period dramas set in the Edo period of Japan. Nakamura portrays the titular character, Isshin Tasuke, a legendary figure known for his bravery, sense of justice, and deep connection to the common people. Tasuke is often depicted as a fishmonger with a strong moral compass who helps the downtrodden while getting involved in various conflicts and adventures. The films blend action, drama, and historical intrigue, highlighting themes of loyalty, justice, and friendship, with Nakamura delivering a charismatic performance in the lead role.