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In the Kyōhō era under the Tokugawa shogunate, a conspiracy to usurp the household unfolded at Shinshū Kurohime Castle. The lord, Yūki Takanobu (played by Kurama Hayatarō), was targeted by his concubine O-Ran (Ayukawa Tōshiko) and her son Harunosuke, conspiring with the evil steward, Ōnuki Jūtayū (Kagawa Ryōsuke). Takanobu was assassinated by Jūtayū's swordsman Totsuka Denpachirō (Morozumi Keijirō) during a hunting expedition. The righteous elder retainer, Mizuki Shōzaemon, faced a crisis after supporting the legitimate heir, Takechiyo.
Director
Screenplay
Status
Released
Original Language
JA

Akira Kurosawa's lauded feudal epic presents the tale of a petty thief who is recruited to impersonate Shingen, an aging warlord, in order to avoid attacks by competing clans. When Shingen dies, his generals reluctantly agree to have the impostor take over as the powerful ruler. He soon begins to appreciate life as Shingen, but his commitment to the role is tested when he must lead his troops into battle against the forces of a rival warlord.

Returning to their lord's castle, samurai warriors Washizu and Miki are waylaid by a spirit who predicts their futures. When the first part of the spirit's prophecy comes true, Washizu's scheming wife, Asaji, presses him to speed up the rest of the spirit's prophecy by murdering his lord and usurping his place. Director Akira Kurosawa's resetting of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" in feudal Japan is one of his most acclaimed films.