Onmyoji: The Yin Yang Master (2001)

Set in the capital city of Kyoto during the Heian period, a magician and fortune teller Onmyoji Seimei is called in to assist Hiromasa to thwart court wizard and minister Doson who is ... See full summary »

Director:

Yôjirô Takita

Writers:

Richard Epcar (script adaptation), Baku Yumemakura

Stars:

Mansai Nomura, Hideaki Itô, Hiroyuki Sanada

6 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Mansai Nomura	...	Abe no Seimei
Hideaki Itô	...	Minamoto no Hiromasa
Eriko Imai	...	Mitsumushi
Yui Natsukawa	...	Fujiwara no Sukehime
Mai Hosho	...	Uri no onna
Ken'ichi Yajima	...	Fujiwara no Morosuke
Kenjirô Ishimaru	...	Onmyo-gashira
Ken'ichi Ishii	...	Fujiwara no Kaneie
Hôka Kinoshita	...	Kanmu-Ten'nou
Sachiko Kokubu	...	Fujiwara no Tadako
Kenji Yamaki	...	Tachibana no Ukon
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Cansino	...	Fujiwara no Morosuke (voice) (as Edward Zilla)
Peter Doyle	...	Nagamasa (voice) (as Jim Taggert)
Akira Emoto	...	Fujiwara no Motokata
Masato Hagiwara	...	Sawara-Shin'nou

Storyline

Set in the capital city of Kyoto during the Heian period, a magician and fortune teller Onmyoji Seimei is called in to assist Hiromasa to thwart court wizard and minister Doson who is suspected of being at the cusp of orchestrating a coup. With the physical and metaphysical worlds allied the combined force may have a chance to beat back Doson. Magic, surrealism and beauty fill the screen, and air,

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Plot Keywords:

spell | magician | supernatural | severed head | severed hand | 

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Taglines:

In a heart of darkness lies a battle for this world and the next

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Genres:

Action | Fantasy | Drama | Horror

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

6 October 2001 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Onmyoji: The Yin Yang Master

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dentsu, Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., Toho Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

From the Making-Of Documentary on the Special Edition DVD: - Total number of cuts: 1026 - Concept planning: 5 years - Number of days filming: 93 days - Number of days in post-production: 128 days - Location crew: 86 people - SFX crew: 31 people - CG integration staff: 37 people - Total number of crew: 154 people - Those who camped out for the first show: 400 people (at Nihon Gekijo Theater) - Number of theaters: 225 theaters - Number of viewers: 2.2 million people (as of Summer 2001) - Gross at box office: Approx. 3 billion yen (roughly $30 million USD)

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Connections

Followed by Onmyoji 2 (2003)

User Reviews

Superb recreation of Heian Japan

Contrary to some of the more unfavorable comments, this is Japanese movie, has nothing to do with the Chinese genre of wuxia or martial hero movie, and does not prominently feature martial arts. Instead, it is a movie about an Onmyoji or Master or Yin and Yang, an ancient Japanese master of the occult arts, including exorcism, necromancy, foreknowledge, etc. The recreation of these arts is quite authentic and the movie is suitable for use in the classroom to help students understand the jumble of Chinese Daoism and Indian Buddhism that made up Chinese esoteric learning for the early Japanese. The hero, Abe no Seimei, is played by a noted Noh actor. His style is arresting, so mannered that it might seem artificial. But in this performance it gives Seimei an otherworldly, superhuman air that ads mystery to the character. If you rent it on DVD, be sure to choose to hear it in Japanese with subtitles rather than in the dubbed version. Much of the magic depends on chants and spells and I can't imagine how they could have dubbed those. THis movie requires close attention to follow the story, but it is worth it. An engrossing story of a totally different world, where the fate of nations is determined by sorcerers and wrathful spirits, and imperial forces rely as much on exorcists and priests as on generals. Highly recommended.