The Shogun and the Fishmonger

1961 1h 33m JA

👍

6.5

SOLID

★6.5TMDB · 4

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Fishmonger Tasuke and Shogun Iemitsu swap their identities in pretence for the protection of Iemitsu.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Kinnosuke Nakamura
Katsuo Nakamura
Noriko Kitazawa
Hiroko Yoshikawa
Hiroko Sakuramachi
Michiyo Kogure
Haruo Tanaka
Kyoji Sugi

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Tadashi Sawashima
Writers: Hideo Oguni
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

65 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

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#03

4 / 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#04

5 / 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#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Kinnosuke Nakamura and Katsuo Nakamura and Noriko Kitazawa carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0200744 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 4 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

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

165 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Part of the "Isshin Tasuke" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Directed by Tadashi Sawashima, shot by Makoto Tsuboi. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Seiichi Suzuki. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Shintarō Miyamoto shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Kinnosuke Nakamura and Katsuo Nakamura and Noriko Kitazawa carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0200744 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 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: 93 min · 1h 33m
Status: Released
Original language: JA
IMDB: The Shogun and the Fishmonger (1961)

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.