Kagemusha (1980)

The Shadow of a man can never stand up and walk on its own.

Kagemusha (1980) poster

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.

Director: Akira Kurosawa
Genre: Action, Drama, History, War
Runtime: 180 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Music: Shinichiro Ikebe
Cinematography: Shôji Ueda, Takao Saitō
Editing: Akira Kurosawa
Production: TOHO, 20th Century Fox, Kurosawa Production
Country: Japan, United States of America
Language: 日本語
Budget: $6M
Box Office: $4M
Original Language: ja

Themes

Ancient Eastern Dynasties, Samurai Bushido Honor and Feudal Japan, Samurai and Bushido: Feudal Japan, The Horror of War and Humanity, Independence War and Patriot Freedom Battle

Keywords

japan, samurai, army, emperor, warlord, battle, impersonation, doppelgänger, jidaigeki, edo period, sengoku period, feudal lord, feudal japan, 16th century

Trailer

Kagemusha Trailer

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kagemusha about?
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.
Who directed Kagemusha?
Kagemusha was directed by Akira Kurosawa.
Who stars in Kagemusha?
Kagemusha stars Tatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kenichi Hagiwara, Jinpachi Nezu, Hideji Ōtaki, Daisuke Ryū.
How long is Kagemusha?
Kagemusha has a runtime of 3h 0m (180 minutes).
What genre is Kagemusha?
Kagemusha is a Action, Drama, History, War film.
What is the budget of Kagemusha?
Kagemusha had a budget of $6M.
How much did Kagemusha gross?
Kagemusha grossed $4M worldwide.
Where was Kagemusha produced?
Kagemusha was produced in Japan, United States of America.
What are the themes of Kagemusha?
The themes of Kagemusha include: Ancient Eastern Dynasties, Samurai Bushido Honor and Feudal Japan, Samurai and Bushido: Feudal Japan, The Horror of War and Humanity, Independence War and Patriot Freedom Battle.