Cast: Rentarô Mikuni

Direction Masaki Kobayashi

Cast Tatsuya Nakadai · Rentarô Mikuni · Akira Ishihama · Shima Iwashita

Synopsis Harakiri (1962) follows the tale of a wandering samurai, bereft of his lord, who seeks consent to perform a ritualistic act of self-sacrifice within the residence of a formidable and cruel daimyo. The daimyo is hesitant to grant this request,...

Direction Masaki Kobayashi

Cast Tatsuya Nakadai · Rentarô Mikuni · Katsuo Nakamura · Kei Sato

Synopsis Kwaidan (1964) is a cinematic journey through four unique and chilling tales. "Yuki-onna" follows a woodcutter who, during a blizzard, encounters a spectral woman who saves his life but demands silence about their encounter. Years later, he inadvertently breaks his...

Direction Kon Ichikawa

Cast Rentarô Mikuni · Shoji Yasui · Jun Hamamura · Taketoshi Naitô

Synopsis The Burmese Harp (1956) unfolds in July 1945, as Japan's army retreats. A platoon in Burma lifts their spirits through song, inspired by their self-taught lute player, Mizushima. Post-war, while awaiting repatriation at Mudon prison camp, Mizushima is tasked with...

Direction Hiroshi Inagaki

Cast Toshirô Mifune · Rentarô Mikuni · Kuroemon Onoe · Kaoru Yachigusa

Synopsis Samurai I - Musashi Miyamoto (1954) follows the journey of Takezo, a wild and untamed orphan, who, along with his best friend Matahachi, departs their village to join a military force heading into combat. After their side suffers defeat, the...

Direction Tomu Uchida

Cast Rentarô Mikuni · Sachiko Hidari · Koji Mitsui · Yoshi Kato

Synopsis A Fugitive from the Past (1965) follows the story of a prosperous entrepreneur whose dark and violent history resurfaces when a woman from his past, a prostitute, identifies him as a murderer. This revelation forces him to confront his criminal...

Direction Shôhei Imamura

Cast Rentarô Mikuni · Choichiro Kawarazaki · Kazuo Kitamura · Yasuko Matsui

Synopsis The Profound Desire of the Gods (1968) follows the journey of a Tokyo engineer, Kariya, who travels to a remote tropical island to construct a well for a sugar mill. He is aided by Kametaro, a member of the isolated...

Direction Mikio Naruse

Cast Mieko Takamine · Ken Uehara · Rentarô Mikuni · Michiyo Aratama

Synopsis Wife (1953) delves into the trials of a woman who uncovers her husband's infidelity. Rather than face the societal shame of a failed marriage, she resolves to take extraordinary measures to retain her husband's loyalty and keep their union intact.

Direction Yoshishige Yoshida

Cast Rentarô Mikuni · Sachiko Murase · Choichiro Kawarazaki · Orie Satoh

Synopsis The Human Promise (Ningen no yakusoku) (1986) marks Yoshida's return to feature filmmaking after a thirteen-year break, presenting a poignant and courageous exploration of aging, dignity, and mortality. This film delves into the complex and often taboo subject of euthanasia...

Direction Mikio Naruse

Cast Ken Uehara · Yôko Sugi · Rentarô Mikuni · Keiju Kobayashi

Synopsis Husband and Wife (1953) explores the challenges faced by a young couple navigating the complexities of married life, which are further strained by financial hardships. The film follows Ken Uehara and Yoko Sugi as they grapple with the difficulties of...

Direction Hiroshi Teshigahara

Cast Rentarô Mikuni · Yoshiko Mita · Tsutomu Yamazaki · Kyôko Kishida

Synopsis Rikyu (1989) unfolds in the late 16th century, where an elderly tea master imparts the art of tea to a determined and ambitious Shogun. Through his resilience and bravery in battle, Hideyoshi ascends to become Japan's most influential warlord, bringing...

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Hashizo Okawa · Ryutaro Otomo · Satomi Oka · Rentarô Mikuni

Synopsis The Rebel (The Revolutionary) (1962) unfolds in 1637 Shimabara, Japan, during the Tokugawa shogunate. The narrative revolves around a group of downtrodden peasant Christians who rise up against the ruling shogunate. Their rebellion is fueled by the leadership of a...

Direction Nagisa Ôshima

Cast Rentarô Mikuni · Hugh Hurd · Jun Hamamura · Toshirô Ishidô

Synopsis The Catch (1961) is a compelling World War II drama directed by Nagisa Oshima that delves into the themes of prejudice and misunderstanding. The narrative revolves around an African American pilot who is shot down and subsequently held captive in...

Direction Shôhei Imamura

Cast Ken Ogata · Rentarô Mikuni · Mayumi Ogawa · Mitsuko Baisho

Synopsis Vengeance is Mine (1979) follows the chilling journey of Iwao Enokizu, a middle-aged man driven by an inexplicable compulsion to carry out brutal and senseless murders. Pursued relentlessly by law enforcement across Japan, Enokizu's elusive nature allows him to evade...

Direction Kon Ichikawa

Cast Raizô Ichikawa · Hiroyuki Nagato · Eiji Funakoshi · Rentarô Mikuni

Direction Kazuo Mori

Cast Shintarô Katsu · Rentarô Mikuni · Hisaya Morishige · Etsushi Takahashi

Direction Tadashi Sawashima

Cast Toshirô Mifune · Keiju Kobayashi · Kinya Kitaoji · Rentarô Mikuni

Synopsis Band of Assassins (1969) unfolds in late 19th century Japan, a time of political transition as the Shogunate's power wanes and the Emperor's influence grows. The nation stands on the brink of a new era, but not everyone is pleased...

Direction Satsuo Yamamoto

Cast Shintarô Katsu · Rentarô Mikuni · Kô Nishimura · Yuko Hamada

Direction Yoshishige Yoshida

Cast Rentarô Mikuni · Yasuyo Matsumura · Akiko Kurano · Yasuo Miyake

Synopsis Kaigenrei (Coup D'Etat) (1973) follows the story of Ikka Kita, a revolutionary who is deeply affected when he receives his younger brother's blood-stained clothes. Ikka's sibling had adhered to the revolutionary's principles and attempted to assassinate a financial group manager,...

Direction Kaneto Shindô

Cast Rentarô Mikuni · Shinobu Otake · Akira Emoto · Hideko Yoshida

Synopsis Will to Live (1999) explores the enduring legend of leaving elderly individuals in the mountains, a tale deeply rooted in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, with parallels found in folktales across the country. This narrative has inspired numerous poems throughout history....

Direction Yoshishige Yoshida

Cast Yusaku Matsuda · Yûko Tanaka · Tatsuro Nadaka · Rentarô Mikuni

Synopsis Arashi ga oka (Wuthering Heights) (1988) is a unique adaptation of Emily Brontë's classic novel, directed by Japanese filmmaker Yoshishige Yoshida. Set in a medieval Japanese folklore context, the story revolves around a mysterious outsider, Onimaru (Heathcliff), who attempts to...