Rikyu (1989)

Late in the 1500s, an aging tea master teaches the way of tea to a headstrong Shogun. Through force of will and courageous fighting, Hideyoshi becomes Japan's most powerful warlord, ... See full summary »

Director:

Hiroshi Teshigahara

Writers:

Genpei Akasegawa, Yaeko Nogami (novel),

Stars:

Rentarô Mikuni, Yoshiko Mita, Tsutomu Yamazaki

11 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rentarô Mikuni	...	Rikyu
Yoshiko Mita	...	Riki, his wife
Tsutomu Yamazaki	...	Hideyoshi Toyotomi
Kyôko Kishida	...	His wife
Tanie Kitabayashi	...	His mother
Sayaka Yamaguchi	...	Chieha, his mistress
Ryô Tamura	...	Lord Hidenaga, his brother
Kôshirô Matsumoto	...	Lord Oda
Kichiemon Nakamura	...	Lord Ieyasu
Yasosuke Bando	...	Mitsanari
Akira Kubo	...	Geni
Keishi Arashi	...	Orike, Rikyu's friend
Hisashi Igawa	...	Soji
Ichirô Zaitsu	...	Abbott Kokei
Hideo Kanze	...	Rikyu's brother in law

Storyline

Late in the 1500s, an aging tea master teaches the way of tea to a headstrong Shogun. Through force of will and courageous fighting, Hideyoshi becomes Japan's most powerful warlord, unifying the country. Rikyu, through the tea ceremony and floral arrangements, tempers his lord, helping Hideyoshi focus on a single flower or be in a simple room where the shape of a cup is of most importance. But other forces fuel Hideyoshi's ambitions: the Portuguese bring a globe and guns, and he believes he can conquer Korea and China. When Rikyu raises doubts about invading China, Hideyoshi demands an apology, and Rikyu himself must find courage in the way of tea.

---

Plot Keywords:

1500s | warlord | japan | art | japanese culture | 

---

Genres:

Drama | History

---

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese Portuguese

Release Date:

18 January 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rikyu - teemestari

Company Credits

Production Co:

C. Ito and Company Ltd., Shôchiku Eiga, Teshigahara Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Love and Faith (1978)

User Reviews

exquisite meditation on Japanese tea ceremony and it's importance to social and political status in medieval Japan.

This is a very Japanese and Zen Buddhist film. The observations are almost painfully clear and intense, there is great attention to detail, it is highly ritualized and formal, and moves very slowly. To be appreciated, it must be viewed as a totality, rather than as a linear story with a beginning and an end. It is a snapshot stretched over 2 hours, and very much "there". It's a lot like a Zen garden, and most Americans will probably find it boring, but if you're into the peculiar Japanese view of time, it's such a beautiful film, it almost hurts.