Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple (1955)
"Zoku Miyamoto Musashi: Ichijôji no kettô" (original title)

After years on the road establishing his reputation as Japan's greatest Samurai, Takezo returns to Kyoto. Otsu waits for him, yet he has come not for her but to challenge the leader of the ... See full summary »

Director:

Hiroshi Inagaki

Writers:

Hideji Hôjô (play), Hiroshi Inagaki,

Stars:

Toshirô Mifune, Koji Tsuruta, Mariko Okada

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Toshirô Mifune	...	Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo)
Koji Tsuruta	...	Kojiro Sasaki
Mariko Okada	...	Akemi
Kaoru Yachigusa	...	Otsu
Michiyo Kogure	...	Dayu Yoshino
Mitsuko Mito	...	Oko, Akemi's mother
Akihiko Hirata	...	Seijuro Yoshioka
Daisuke Katô	...	Toji Gion
Kuroemon Onoe	...	Priest Takuan
Sachio Sakai	...	Matahachi Honiden
Yû Fujiki	...	Denshichiro Yoshioka
Machiko Kitagawa	...	Kogure
Eiko Miyoshi	...	Osugi, Matahachi's mother
Eijirô Tôno	...	Baiken Shishido
Kenjin Iida	...	Jotaro

Storyline

After years on the road establishing his reputation as Japan's greatest Samurai, Takezo returns to Kyoto. Otsu waits for him, yet he has come not for her but to challenge the leader of the region's finest school for Kendo. To prove his valor and skill, he walks deliberately into ambushes set up by the school's followers. While Otsu waits, Akemi also seeks him, expressing her desires directly. Meanwhile, Takezo is observed by Sasaki Kojiro, a brilliant young fighter, confident he can dethrone Takezo. After leaving Kyoto in triumph, Takezo declares his love for Otsu, but in a way that dishonors her and shames him. Once again, he leaves alone.

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Plot Keywords:

young | japan | warrior | jidai geki | samurai | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Biography | Drama | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

20 October 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

Duel at Ichijoji Temple

Filming Locations:

Toho Studios, Tokyo, Japan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Toho Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

The levels of water and the mud in the rice paddies at Ichijoji Temple vary between shots.

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Connections

Follows Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954)

User Reviews

Big improvement, but ....

My view of this early Musashi trilogy is strongly coloured by the far-superior 1960's series of five. The first in this 1950's trilogy was a shattering disappointment. With Japan's greatest actor playing one of Japan's greatest folk heroes, how could you miss ? Well, the first one was flat. The pace was slow, and Mifune's exploding energy was kept well under control. Shame ! This second instalment corrected many of the problems of the first. The action is staged much better (with one caveat : see below), Mifune gets to be ferocious, as well as express a range of other emotions, including something close to love. The story is a bit disorienting, as it shows events in a different order to the 1960s series, but it still works well. The women throw themselves at our hero at a much faster rate, which gets things moving along nicely.

Nevertheless, I have marked down this movie significantly for the incredible stupidity of setting most of the action scenes in the dark. Director, what were you thinking ?! Instead of having the duels at six in the morning, move them to seven or use a moonlit night. Hell, what a waste.