Oshidori utagassen

Anyone who ever wondered if Japanese films in general and samurai pictures in particular are ever capable of lightening up have probably already had their minds set at rest by the delightful tap-dancing finale of Kateshi Kitano's 'Zatoichi' (2003). But if they have further need of convincing here comes this Hollywood-style frolic described by Alex Jacoby as a "samurai musical" dashed off during a two-week break in another production with the same cast, crew and sets.

Fluidly shot by master cameraman Kazuo Miyagawa, it's fast-moving and full of lively cinematic effects such as a sword fight accompanied by asynchronous music. Playing an umbrella manufacturer with a ruinously expensive penchant for antiques, the 34 year-old Takeshi Shimura was already playing fathers even then, and - along with most of the rest of the cast - sings too!