Shingo's Final Duel

1964 1h 36m JA

HistoryAction

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

After Aoi Shingo, the illegitimate son of Shogun Yoshimune has gained prominence as the finest swordsman in the land, he tries to lead a peaceful life with his mother far away from the seat of government in Edo. Not wanting to inconvenience his father anymore his plan is to stay away from the city and enjoy life like a normal man. Unfortunately for him, his past comes back to haunt him in the person of his mortal enemy, the one swordsman that is skillful enough to defeat him. This is the most perilous moment of Shingo's life as he must face his deadliest foe in a battle to the death!

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Hashizo Ōkawa
Hiroki Matsukata
Kunie Tanaka
Ryōhei Uchida
Sumiko Fuji
Yumiko Hasegawa
Hiroko Sakuramachi
Hizuru Takachiho

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Sadatsugu Matsuda
Writers: Matsutarō Kawaguchi, Tatsuo Nogami
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

62 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CRAFT

Did you know

Part of the "20 Duels of Young Shingo" — 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 Sadatsugu Matsuda, shot by Shintarō Kawasaki. 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 Chūji Kinoshita. 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 Katsumi Kawai 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

Hashizo Ōkawa and Hiroki Matsukata and Kunie Tanaka carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt9446148 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Sadatsugu Matsuda directs. Shintarō Kawasaki behind the camera. Chūji Kinoshita scores. Katsumi Kawai cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

162 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Part of the "20 Duels of Young Shingo" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Sadatsugu Matsuda, shot by Shintarō Kawasaki. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Chūji Kinoshita. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Katsumi Kawai shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Hashizo Ōkawa and Hiroki Matsukata and Kunie Tanaka carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt9446148 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.