MIZOGUCHI KENJI'S MIYAMOTO MUSASHI (Miyamoto Musashi)

1944 – B&W - 53 min. – REMASTERED ACADEMY STANDARD (4:3)

               Starring: KAWARASAKI Chojuro

                               NAKAMURA Kanemon, TANAKA Kinuya

Directed by: MIZOGUCHI Kenji

COURTESY OF KUROTOKAGI & ICHIBAN

Contrary to popular belief, the famed duel between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro was not a contest to see who was the strongest swordsman in Japan. It was borne out of animosity and a desire to avenge the brutal murder of a young samurai who had come to Musashi requesting to be his disciple in order to take revenge against the Hidarimoto brothers who had slain his father. The Hidarimoto brothers went to Sasaki Kojiro seeking his aid, and as events unfolded they led to the showdown on Ganryu Island between Musashi and Kojiro. Directed by world renowned filmmaker Mizoguchi Kenji this is one of the rarest of all samurai films to have survived intact. A true classic of Japanese cinema!