Dai Chūshingura (1971)

Original title

大忠臣蔵

Genre

drama, Jidaigeki

Country

Japan

Length

1 season, 52 episodes

Rating

9.0 of 10 from 2 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

This 1971 Japanese television series dramatizes the true story of the Forty-seven Ronin. It follows a group of samurai who seek revenge after their lord is forced to commit suicide. Toshiro Mifune stars as the leader of the ronin.

historicaldramaticslow-burnnobleseriousformalepictense

What happens

Daichūshingura (大忠臣蔵) (Dai Chushingura) is a Japanese television dramatization of the events of the Forty-seven Ronin. The first episode aired on January 5, 1971, and the 52nd and final episode appeared on December 28 of the same year. The NET network broadcast it in the Tuesday evening 9:00–9:56 prime-time slot in Japan. The series featured an all-star cast. The central actor was Toshiro Mifune, who portrayed Ōishi Kuranosuke; Yoko Tsukasa his wife; and kabuki actor Onoe Kikugorō VII their son Chikara. Ichikawa Chūsha VIII took the part of Kira Yoshinaka, but died after the filming of Episode 47; his brother Kodayū replaced him. Many actors appeared as guest stars in only a few episodes. Among them were many known to audiences outside Japan. These included superstar Kinnosuke Nakamura as Wakisaka Awaji-no-kami, Matsumoto Kōshirō, Shintaro Katsu (of Zatoichi fame), Mifune's frequent co-star Takashi Shimura, Eiji Okada, Yukiyo Toake, Kinichi Hagimoto, Terumi Niki, Masaaki Sakai, and Shinji Maki. The series has been rerun during the more than 35 years that have passed since it was first aired. It is available in several DVD sets. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

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