Writing

Shuhei Fujisawa

Born December 26, 1927 · Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan

Died January 26, 1997 · aged 69

No biography available.

Known For

The Twilight SamuraiThe Twilight Samurai · 2002
The Twilight Samurai
7.82002
MovieDramaRomance
Seibei Iguchi leads a difficult life as a low ranking samurai at the turn of the nineteenth century. A widower with a meager income, Seibei struggles to take care of his two daughters and senile mother. New prospects seem to open up when the beautiful Tomoe, a childhood friend, comes back into he and his daughters' life, but as the Japanese feudal system unravels, Seibei is still bound by the code of honor of the samurai and by his own sense of social precedence. How can he find a way to do what is best for those he loves?
Love and HonorLove and Honor · 2006
Love and Honor
7.42006
MovieDramaRomance
A look at the relationship between a young blind samurai and his wife, who will make a sacrifice in order to defend her husband's honor.
Sword of DesperationSword of Desperation · 2010
Sword of Desperation
6.92010
MovieActionThriller
A talented but troubled Edo Period swordsman, Kanemi Sanzaemon. Three years earlier, Kanemi killed a woman, Renko, the corrupt mistress of the powerful daimyo Tabu Ukyou. Unexpectedly, Kanemi received a lenient sentence for his crime and is allowed to return to his clan after only one year of imprisonment. Following his return, Kanemi is faced with the death of his wife, Mutsue. Thereafter, Kanemi lives with and cares for his wife's niece, Satoo, who has secret affections for Kanemi and expresses them by helping change his bleak outlook on life. Meanwhile, Kanemi's develops his unique "bird-catching" sword technique which he will soon put to test in battle for the first time against the fearsome swordsman, Hayatonosho Obiya.
After the FlowersAfter the Flowers · 2010
After the Flowers
7.32010
MovieHistoryDrama
Ito, daughter of a clan official, encounters Magoshiro Eguchi. Magoshiro is a low ranking samurai sparks an attraction with Ito. Ito challenges Magoshiro to a sword match using bamboo sticks. Mahoshiro accepts. The pair's duel causes sparks to fly an attraction from both sides. Meanwhile, Ito faces an arranged marriage with Saisuke Katagiri and Magoshiro is with Kayo...
Yamazakura, The Cherry Tree in the HillsYamazakura, The Cherry Tree in the Hills · 2008
Yamazakura, The Cherry Tree in the Hills
7.52008
MovieHistoryDrama
Based on a short story written by Shuhei Fujisawa (who also wrote Twilight Samurai, The Hidden Blade, Love and Honor), the film depicts the uneasy life of Noe Isomura (Rena Tanaka) with the difficult family she has married into after her former husband passed away. One day as she tries to brake off a branch of a cherry tree, she is aided by a samurai who she does not recognize but who recognizes her. He turns out to be a former suitor that she never met named Yaichiro Tezuka (Noriyuki Higashiyama) and who teaches swordsmanship to the local samurai. Meanwhile, the powerful new chief retainer of the village enacts land policies that threaten the survival of the local farmers.
The Hidden BladeThe Hidden Blade · 2004
The Hidden Blade
7.42004
MovieDramaRomance
Set in 19th Century Japan a young samurai who finds himself in love with a farm girl leaves his home to begin a new life. He has to take stock of his new life when he is put to the test and ordered to kill a traitor who just happens to be his dearest friend.
At River's EdgeAt River's Edge · 2011
At River's Edge
7.32011
MovieDramaHistory
A samurai Sakunosuke gets an order from clan chamberlain to kill another samurai who is married with his own younger sister. As a loyal samurai he has to accept the mission even though he has inner conflicts.
A Duel TaleA Duel Tale · 2015
A Duel Tale
8.02015
MovieTV MovieDrama
Nakadai Tatsuya, Japan’s greatest living actor, gives the performance of a lifetime as Shoji Sanosuke, and elderly samurai forced to pick up his sword to protect those he loves in this adaptation of a Fujisawa Shuhei novel. As a ”Heya-zumi” (essentially a freeloader living off his family) Sanosuke has one last chance to help his grandniece escape from the cruel samurai of an arranged marriage. Nakadai proves he ”still has it,” when fate forces him into a deadly duel. This award winning samurai drama from the pen of noted author Fujisawa Shuhei is a tribute to one of the greatest actors to ever grace the silver screen!

Filmography

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Sword of DesperationSword of Desperation · 2010
Sword of Desperation
6.92010
MovieActionThriller
A talented but troubled Edo Period swordsman, Kanemi Sanzaemon. Three years earlier, Kanemi killed a woman, Renko, the corrupt mistress of the powerful daimyo Tabu Ukyou. Unexpectedly, Kanemi received a lenient sentence for his crime and is allowed to return to his clan after only one year of imprisonment. Following his return, Kanemi is faced with the death of his wife, Mutsue. Thereafter, Kanemi lives with and cares for his wife's niece, Satoo, who has secret affections for Kanemi and expresses them by helping change his bleak outlook on life. Meanwhile, Kanemi's develops his unique "bird-catching" sword technique which he will soon put to test in battle for the first time against the fearsome swordsman, Hayatonosho Obiya.

Novel

Yamazakura, The Cherry Tree in the HillsYamazakura, The Cherry Tree in the Hills · 2008
Yamazakura, The Cherry Tree in the Hills
7.52008
MovieHistoryDrama
Based on a short story written by Shuhei Fujisawa (who also wrote Twilight Samurai, The Hidden Blade, Love and Honor), the film depicts the uneasy life of Noe Isomura (Rena Tanaka) with the difficult family she has married into after her former husband passed away. One day as she tries to brake off a branch of a cherry tree, she is aided by a samurai who she does not recognize but who recognizes her. He turns out to be a former suitor that she never met named Yaichiro Tezuka (Noriyuki Higashiyama) and who teaches swordsmanship to the local samurai. Meanwhile, the powerful new chief retainer of the village enacts land policies that threaten the survival of the local farmers.

Novel

Love & War of a SamuraiLove & War of a Samurai · 2003
Love & War of a Samurai
8.02003
SeriesDrama
Based on the jidaigeki novel, Semishigure, written by Fujisawa Shuhei. Duty and honor were the principles of the samurai, but just like others throughout history, greed and power motivated some while friendship, truth and love guided others. This is the story of Bunshiro, a true warrior who survives tragedy in his youth to become a great swordsman and defender of the weak, and Fuku, the love of his life. They first fall in love as teenagers, but her poverty and his tragedy separate them. After a corrupt official forces Bunshiro's father to commit suicide, he is treated like an outcast. Later, the same official tries to use Bunshiro in a plot to kill Fuku, who has become a wife of the local lord, but he turns the tables, saving Fuku and her child and uncovering the corruption. Many years later Bunshiro and Fuku meet again to reminisce about their lives, and the love that remains smoldering in their hearts.

Creator

The Story of Bodyguard Shuhei FujisawaThe Story of Bodyguard Shuhei Fujisawa · 1997
The Story of Bodyguard Shuhei Fujisawa
1997
SeriesDrama
13th year of the Genroku era. Matahachiro Aoe, a samurai of the Shonai clan from Dewa Province, accidentally learned that a group of conspirators led by the main vassal of Tango Otomi were planning to poison the Lord. Matahachiro decided to consult with the father of his fiancée Yuki, Kizaemon Hiranuma, an employee of the security department, and told him everything. However, when Matahachiro was about to leave for home, Hiranuma attacked him from behind and Matahachiro defended himself by killing his future father-in-law in front of Yuki. Matahachiro escapes to Edo and provides bodyguard services to earn a living. He is pursued by assassins who are sent by conspirators from his former clan. And soon he also becomes involved in the conflict between Asano and Kira, which arose due to a blade wound in a pine corridor in Edo Castle...

Novel