Fight! Win! The complete story of a man who dedicated his life to the sword and fought to the end!
Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of director Yasushi Kato
■A grand historical drama produced by Shochiku, following Yasushi Kato's "Life Theater" and "Flower and Dragon"!
■Based on the masterpiece and greatest work of national literary author Eiji Yoshikawa.
Part 1: From Sekigahara to Ichijoji-sagari-matsu, Part 2: From Yagyu Village to Ganryu Island, fully adapted into a film!
■Hideki Takahashi as Miyamoto Musashi, Jiro Tamiya as Sasaki Kojiro, Keiko Matsuzaka as Otsu, Chishu Ryu as Takuan, and Frankie Sakai as Matahachi.
*First time on Blu-ray (using HD master)
【Synopsis】
This is the story of men who lived by the sword, or who fell by the sword.
Therein lies the drama of men who staked their omniscience, omnipotence, and entire souls on a single moment of struggle that determined life and death, victory or defeat. This film is also about asking you, you, and us, what that truly means to us.
I don't intend to offer any complicated theories, nor can I. I simply want to say that I felt compelled to explore this subject matter because, as long as you, you, and we are alive in this world, there's no guarantee we won't encounter such moments, nor can we avoid them.
—Director's words, Yasushi Kato / from the press sheet—
【Story】
Part One: From Sekigahara to Ichijoji-no-Shitamatsu After his defeat at the Battle of Sekigahara, Zen Master Takuan hangs Musashi from a thousand-year-old cedar tree to punish his single-minded devotion to martial arts. Otsu sympathizes with Musashi and helps him, but Musashi, seeking further martial arts training, flees. Three years later, Musashi faces a duel alone against the Yoshioka clan of Kyoto…
Part Two: From Yagyu Village to Ganryu Island. Musashi defeats Hozoin Agon, a master of spear fighting, and also defeats Shishido Baiken, a master of the chain sickle. He even challenges Yagyu Tajima-no-kami, the Shogun's instructor in Edo, but Musashi realizes his own inexperience. Later, Sasaki Kojiro challenges Musashi to a duel, but fear prevents him from accepting. In 1612 (Keicho 17), the duel between Musashi and Kojiro on Ganryu Island begins.
[Cast]
Hideki Takahashi, Jiro Tamiya, Keiko Matsuzaka, Mitsuko Baisho, Chishu Ryu, Toshiyuki Hosokawa, Makoto Sato,
Yunko Nitta, Toshie Kimura, Kenjiro Ishiyama, Yoshi Kato, Takeshi Kato, Takanobu Hozumi,
Rokuhiro Toura, Masahiko Tanimura, Akira Shioji, Akio Kono, Seiji Endo, Fuyukichi Maki, Ushio Akashi,
Hitoshi Omae, Masakatsu Tamura, Kenkichi Hamahata, Akiko Nishina, Ichiro Arishima, Frankie Sakai
Narrator: Saikane Yonekura
[Staff]
Director: Yasushi Kato
Producer: Yoshiji Mishima
Original Story: Eiji Yoshikawa
Screenplay: Yoshitaro Nomura, Kiyozumi Yamashita
Music: So Kaburagi
Cinematography: Keiji Maruyama
Art Direction: Gohei Morita, Yoshiro Urayama
Lighting: Rei Miura
Editing: Shizu Osawa
Editing: Tokio Hiramatsu
[Bonus Features]
Trailer
*Product specifications and bonus features are subject to change.