Sanshiro Sugata

Sanshiro Sugata

1943 · 79 min · ★ 6.5 · Drama

A hotheaded youth in 1880s Meiji Japan apprentices to judo master Shōgorō Yano, trading brute jujutsu bravado for discipline and humility. As Sanshirō matures, he proves judo’s spirit against old-guard challengers—including a deadly duel—while falling for his vanquished opponent’s daughter. Based on the novel by Tsuneo Tomita, son of Tomita Tsunejirō, the earliest disciple of judo.

Directed by Akira Kurosawa · Written by Akira Kurosawa

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Cast

Denjirō Ōkōchi Shogoro Yano
Susumu Fujita Sanshiro Sugata
Yukiko Todoroki Sayo Murai
Ryūnosuke Tsukigata Gennosuke Higaki
Takashi Shimura Hansuke Murai, Sayo's father
Ranko Hanai Osumi Kodana
Sugisaku Aoyama Tsunetami Iimura
Ichirō Sugai Police Chief Mishima
Yoshio Kosugi Master Saburo Kodama
Kokuten Kōdō Buddhist Priest
Michisaburō Segawa Wada
Akitake Kōno Yoshima Dan

Make it a double feature

3h 42m together

Sanshiro Sugata

Ikiru

Both from Akira Kurosawa.

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Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two

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A few years after his breakthrough, Sanshiro resumes his path to judo mastery—testing his discipline against an American prizefighter and later facing vengeful karate brothers. As rival schools and public spectacle push him toward violence, he must reconcile strength with restraint and the true spirit of his art.

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