Principal cast
Toshirō Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Yōko Tsukasa, Isuzu Yamada and Daisuke Katō
Film 364 of 498 on the Screen Path
Yojimbo
Kill one or a hundred... you only hang once
About the film
Yojimbo at a glance.
Screen Path places this 1961 film at stop 364 in one curated journey through cinema. The learning experience adds context before you watch and deeper analysis after.
A nameless ronin, or samurai with no master, enters a small village in feudal Japan where two rival businessmen are struggling for control of the local gambling trade. Taking the name Sanjuro Kuwabatake, the ronin convinces both silk merchant Tazaemon and sake merchant Tokuemon to hire him as a personal bodyguard, then artfully sets in motion a full-scale gang war between the two ambitious and unscrupulous men.
Key craft credits
Kazuo Miyagawa (director of photography), Akira Kurosawa (editor), Masaru Satō (original music composer), Ryuzo Kikushima (screenplay) and Yoshirō Muraki (production design)
- Director
- Akira Kurosawa
- Release
- 1961-04-25
- Runtime
- 110 minutes
- Genres
- Drama and Thriller
- Country
- Japan
- Quiz
- 50 questions
The Screen Path journey
Before. After. Remember.
The featured film is watched outside Screen Path. The app provides the learning experience around it: a guide, an analysis, and a quiz with explanations.
01
Before you watch
Start with a spoiler-free video guide to the context and filmmaking choices worth noticing.
Spoiler-free02
After the film
Return after watching for a deeper video analysis of craft, meaning, and legacy.
Contains spoilers03
Quiz yourself
Answer 50 questions with clear rationales designed to make the ideas stick.
50 questions in this journeyCitizen Kane is the complete public example: both learning videos and a five-question sample quiz are available below.
Start the example →Full cast
Full cast
- Toshirō MifuneCharacter: Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai
- Tatsuya NakadaiCharacter: Unosuke, gunfighter
- Yōko TsukasaCharacter: Nui
- Isuzu YamadaCharacter: Orin
- Daisuke KatōCharacter: Inokichi
- Seizaburō KawazuCharacter: Seibê - brothel operator
- Takashi ShimuraCharacter: Tokuemon, sake brewer
- Hiroshi TachikawaCharacter: Yoichiro
- Yōsuke NatsukiCharacter: Kohei's Son
- Eijirō TōnoCharacter: Gonji, Tavern Keeper
- Kamatari FujiwaraCharacter: Tazaemon
- Ikio SawamuraCharacter: Hansuke
Full crew
Full crew
- Akira KurosawaCredits: Director, Editor, Screenplay, Producer
- Kazuo MiyagawaCredits: Director of Photography
- Tomoyuki TanakaCredits: Executive Producer
- Masaru SatōCredits: Original Music Composer
- Ryuzo KikushimaCredits: Screenplay, Executive Producer
- Yoshirō MurakiCredits: Production Design, Costume Design
- Reiko KanekoCredits: Editorial Production Assistant
- Teruyo NogamiCredits: Script Supervisor
- Hiroshi NezuCredits: Production Supervisor
- Ryū KuzeCredits: Choreographer
- Masanobu DemeCredits: Assistant Director
- Masanobu MiyazakiCredits: Sound Mixer
- Shirō MoritaniCredits: Assistant Director
- Takao SaitōCredits: First Assistant Camera
- Yoshifumi HondaCredits: Assistant Art Director
- Ichirô MinawaCredits: Sound Effects Editor
- Chōshirō IshiiCredits: Lighting Technician
- Junjirō YamadaCredits: Hairstylist
- Yoshiko MatsumotoCredits: Hairstylist
- Kôichi HamamuraCredits: Property Master
- Daisaku KimuraCredits: Focus Puller
- Chôshichirô MikamiCredits: Sound Recordist
- Hisashi ShimonagaCredits: Sound Recordist
Film data and images provided by TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.