Kagemusha (影武者, Kagemusha^?) is a 1980 film by Akira Kurosawa. The title (which means "Shadow Warrior" in Japanese) is a term used for an impersonator. It is set in the Warring States era of Japanese history and tells the story of a lower-class criminal who is taught to impersonate a dying warlord in order to dissuade opposing lords from attacking the newly vulnerable clan. The warlord whom the kagemusha impersonates is based on daimyo Takeda Shingen and the climactic 1575 Battle of Nagashino [1]. Kurosawa redirects here. ... Ishirō Honda (本多 猪四郎 Honda Ishirō, May 7, 1911 in Yamagata Prefecture - February 28, 1993) was a Japanese film director. ... Francis Ford Coppola (born April 7, 1939) is a five-time Academy Award winning American film director, producer, and screenwriter. ... Kurosawa redirects here. ... George Walton Lucas, Jr. ... Tomoyuki Tanaka may refer to: Tomoyuki Tanaka is the name of the Japanese film producer responsible for the Godzilla movies Tomoyuki Tanaka is the name of the Japanese musician commonly known as Fantastic Plastic Machine This is a disambiguation page, a list of pages that otherwise might share the same... Kurosawa redirects here. ... Japanese leading actor Tatsuya Nakadai (仲代達矢 Nakadai Tatsuya) became a star after he was discovered working as a shop clerk by filmmaker Masaki Kobayashi during the 1950s. ... Toho Co. ... Twentieth (20th) Century Fox Film Corporation (known from 1935 to 1985 as Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation) is one of the six major American film studios. ... is the 116th day of the year (117th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 279th day of the year (280th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... The year 1980 in film involved some significant events. ... Kurosawa redirects here. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... “Sengoku” redirects here. ... History of Japan Paleolithic Jomon Yayoi Yamato period ---Kofun period ---Asuka period Nara period Heian period Kamakura period Muromachi period Azuchi-Momoyama period ---Nanban period Edo period Meiji period Taisho period Showa period ---Japanese expansionism ---Occupied Japan ---Post-Occupation Japan Heisei Pre-History/The Origin of History Jomon Period Main... A warlord is a person with power who has de facto military control of a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. ... Daimyo Matsudaira Katamori visits the residence of a retainer. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Combatants Takeda forces combined Oda-Tokugawa forces Commanders Takeda Katsuyori, Anayama Nobukimi, Takeda Nobukado, Takeda Nobutoyo Oda Nobunaga, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Okudaira Sadamasa Strength 15,000 38,000 Casualties 10,000 dead, incl. ...

Synopsis

Takeda Shingen and his brother meet the kagemusha, a spared criminal.

The film opens with a seven-minute static shot, in which Shingen's brother, Nobukado, introduces a thief whom he spared from crucifixion, believing the thief's striking resemblance to Shingen would prove useful. The shot is in fact a special effect in which the same actor plays both Shingen and the thief; it is the only time they are seen together. For other uses, see Crucifixion (disambiguation). ...

Shingen's army has besieged a castle of Tokugawa Ieyasu. When Shingen visits the battlefield to hear a mysterious nightly flute player, he is shot by a sniper. Mortally wounded, he orders his generals to keep his death a secret for three years. Shingen later dies while being carried over a mountain pass, with only a small group of witnesses. Tokugawa Ieyasu January 31, 1543 – June 1, 1616)was the founder and first shogunof the Tokugawa shogunateof Japanwhich ruled from the Battle of Sekigaharain 1600until the Meiji Restorationin 1868. ...

Nobukado presents the thief to the generals and contrives a plan to have the kagemusha impersonate Shingen full-time. At first, even the thief is unaware of Shingen's death, until he tries to break into a coffin and finds the corpse.

Shingen's corpse, located within a large jar-like coffin, is disposed of at the bottom of Lake Suwa. At the time of burial, spies witness the disposal of the jar, and suspect the Shingen has passed away. However, the Takeda clan continues to cover up Shingen's death by saying they were making an offering to the god of the lake. Lake Suwa ) is a lake in the central part of Nagano Prefecture, Japan. ...

The kagemusha trying to fool Shingen's grandson.

Spies working for Tokugawa and his ally, Oda Nobunaga, follow the Takeda army as they march home from the siege. They suspect that Shingen has been replaced, but are later convinced by the kagemusha's performance. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (854x467, 64 KB) Summary http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (854x467, 64 KB) Summary http://www. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Returning home, the kagemusha successfully fools Shingen's concubines and grandson, who seems to prefer the substitute. By imitating Shingen's gestures, the kagemusha appears to take on the attitude of a zen master, and is able to awe even the bodyguards and wakashu who know his secret. When tested, he relies on the clan motto, which identifies Shingen with an unmoving mountain. For other uses, see Zen (disambiguation). ... Man and youth Tryst between a man and a male youth. ...

One of the tests comes when Tokugawa and Oda Nobunaga launch an attack against Takeda territory. Shingen's son, Katsuyori, launches a counterattack against the advice of other generals. The kagemusha is forced to lead reinforcements to the Battle of Takatenjin, and inspires his troops to victory. The Battle of Takatenjin (高天神の戦い) was fought in 1574 between the forces of Tokugawa Ieyasu and the forces of Takeda Katsuyori. ...

In a fit of overconfidence, the kagemusha attempts to ride Shingen's unruly horse. When he is unable to tame the beast, he is revealed as an impostor. The thief is driven out of the palace as Katsuyori, despite being disinherited, takes over the clan.

The aftermath of the Battle of Nagashino.

Katsuyori leads an ill-advised attack against Oda Nobunaga, who controls Kyoto, resulting in the Battle of Nagashino. Wave after wave of cavalry and infantry are cut down by volleys of musket fire, effectively wiping out all the Takeda (though in reality, the clan continued under Katsuyori's leadership for years after the battle). The kagemusha, who has followed the Takeda army, witnesses the slaughter. In a final show of loyalty, he takes up a lance and makes a futile charge against Oda's fortifications. The final image is of the kagemusha's bullet-riddled body being carried down a stream. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (854x467, 96 KB) Summary http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (854x467, 96 KB) Summary http://www. ... For other uses, see Kyoto (disambiguation). ... Combatants Takeda forces combined Oda-Tokugawa forces Commanders Takeda Katsuyori, Anayama Nobukimi, Takeda Nobukado, Takeda Nobutoyo Oda Nobunaga, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Okudaira Sadamasa Strength 15,000 38,000 Casualties 10,000 dead, incl. ... Muskets and bayonets aboard the frigate Grand Turk. ...

Production

George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola are credited at the end of the film as executive producers in the international version. This is because they convinced 20th Century Fox to make up a shortfall in the film's budget when the original producers, Toho Studios, could not afford to complete the film. In return, 20th Century Fox received the international distribution rights to the film. George Walton Lucas, Jr. ... Francis Ford Coppola (born April 7, 1939) is a five-time Academy Award winning American film director, producer, and screenwriter. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Twentieth (20th) Century Fox Film Corporation (known from 1935 to 1985 as Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation) is one of the six major American film studios. ... Toho Co. ...

The Criterion Collection (2005)

Kurosawa originally cast the boisterous comic actor Shintaro Katsu in the title role. Katsu left the production, however, before the first day of shooting was over; in an interview for the Criterion Collection DVD, executive producer Coppola states that Katsu angered Kurosawa by arriving with his own camera crew to record Kurosawa's filmmaking methods. It is unclear whether Katsu was fired or left of his own accord, but he was replaced by Tatsuya Nakadai, a well-known actor who had appeared in a number of Kurosawa's previous films. Nakadai played both the kagemusha and the lord he impersonates. Shintaro Katsu in Shintaro Katsus Zatoichi (1989), which he wrote, produced, directed and starred in. ... The Criterion Collection is a joint venture between Janus Films and The Voyager Company that was begun in the mid 1980s for the purpose of releasing authoritative consumer versions of classic and important contemporary films on the laserdisc and DVD formats. ... Francis Ford Coppola (born April 7, 1939) is a five-time Academy Award winning American film director, producer, and screenwriter. ... Japanese leading actor Tatsuya Nakadai (仲代達矢 Nakadai Tatsuya) became a star after he was discovered working as a shop clerk by filmmaker Masaki Kobayashi during the 1950s. ...

Kurosawa wrote a part in Kagemusha for his longtime regular actor Takashi Shimura, and Kagemusha was the last Kurosawa film in which Shimura appeared. However, the scene in which he plays a doctor consulting with Shingens advisors was cut from the western release of the film. The Criterion Collection DVD release of the film restored this scene as well as approximately another twenty minutes worth of footage which had not been seen previously in the west, most notably a scene where Uesugi Kenshin makes his only appearance in the film. Takashi Shimura as the doomed bureaucrat Watanabe in Ikiru. ... The Criterion Collection is a joint venture between Janus Films and The Voyager Company that was begun in the mid 1980s for the purpose of releasing authoritative consumer versions of classic and important contemporary films on the laserdisc and DVD formats. ... DVD (also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc - see Etymology) is a popular optical disc storage media format. ... Uesugi Kenshin February 18, 1530—April 19, 1578) was a daimyo who ruled Echigo province in the Sengoku Period of Japan. ...

According to Lucas, Kurosawa used 5000 extras for the final battle sequence, filming for a whole day, then he cut it down to 90 seconds in the final release. Many beautiful special effects, and a number of scenes that filled holes in the story, landed on the "cutting-room floor."^{[citation needed]}

Awards

At the 1980 Cannes Film Festival, Kagemusha shared the Palme d'Or with All That Jazz. Kagemusha was nominated for two Academy Awards (Best Art Direction and Best Foreign Language Film). The film won the César Award in 1981 for Best Foreign Film. The Cannes Film Festival (French: le Festival de Cannes), founded in 1939, is one of the worlds oldest, most influential and prestigious film festivals. ... Palme dOr The Palme dOr (Golden Palm) is the highest prize given to a film at the Cannes Film Festival. ... All That Jazz is a 1979 musical film directed by Bob Fosse. ... Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ... The Academy Awards are the oldest awards ceremony for achievements in motion pictures. ... As a Special Award 1947 Shoeshine (Sciuscià) (Italy) - Societa Co-operativa Alfa Cinematografica - Paolo William Tamburella producer - Vittorio De Sica director 1948 Monsieur Vincent (France) - E. D. I. C., Union Général Cinématographique - George de la Grandiere producer - Maurice Cloche director 1949 The Bicycle Thief (Ladri di biciclette) (Italy) - Mayer - Vittorio... The César Award is the national film award of France first given out in 1975. ... César Award for Best Foreign Film: 1976: Scent of a Woman (Italy), directed by Dino Risi 1977: We All Loved Each Other So Much (Italy), directed by Ettore Scola 1978: A Special Day (Italy), directed by Ettore Scola 1979: The Tree with the Wooden Clogs (Italy), directed by Ermanno...

Cast

Tatsuya Nakadai as Takeda Shingen/Kagemusha
Tsutomu Yamazaki as Takeda Nobukado
Kenichi Hagiwara as Takeda Katsuyori
Jinpachi Nezu as Tsuchiya Sohachiro
Hideji Otaki as Yamagata Masakage
Daisuke Ryu as Oda Nobunaga
Masayuki Yui as Tokugawa Ieyasu
Kaori Momoi as Otsuyanokata
Mitsuko Baisho as Oyunokata
Hideo Murota as Baba Nobufusa
Takayuki Shiho as Naito Masatoyo
Koji Shimizu as Atobe Katsusuke
Noburo Shimizu as Hara Masatane
Sen Yamamoto as Oyamada Nobushige
Shuhei Sugimori as Kōsaka Masanobu
Japanese leading actor Tatsuya Nakadai (仲代達矢 Nakadai Tatsuya) became a star after he was discovered working as a shop clerk by filmmaker Masaki Kobayashi during the 1950s. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Tsutomu Yamazaki (山崎 努 Yamazaki Tsutomu) (born December 2, 1936 in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actor. ... Takeda Nobukado (武田信廉)(d. ... // Biography Kenichi Hagiwara (born 25 July 1950 in Tokyo, Japan), also known as Sho-Ken, was the lead singer of The Tempters, the bad boys of the Group Sounds Japan pop scene in the mid to late 1960s. ... Statue of Takeda Katsuyori (Yamato (KōshÅ«, Yamanashi), Japan) Takeda Katsuyori (武田勝頼: 1546 – 3 April 1582) was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku Period, who was famed as the head of the Takeda clan and the successor to the legendary warlord Takeda Shingen. ... Yamagata Masakage ) (1524-1575) was one of the 24 generals of the Takeda clan. ... Daisuke Ryu is a Japanese actor born in Tokyo, Japan on 14th February 1957. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Tokugawa Ieyasu January 31, 1543 – June 1, 1616)was the founder and first shogunof the Tokugawa shogunateof Japanwhich ruled from the Battle of Sekigaharain 1600until the Meiji Restorationin 1868. ... Kaori Momoi (桃井 かおり Momoi Kaori; born April 8, 1952 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actress. ... Mitsuko Baisho (倍賞美津子 Baishō Mitsuko, born 22 November 1946 in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actress. ... Hideo Murota , 7 October 1937 – 15 June 2002) was a Japanese actor who appeared in over 100 films. ... Baba Nobuharu )(d. ... Masatoyo was one of Takeda Shingens most reliable generals and fought in many of his battles. ... Atobe Katsusuke (1529-1582) a retainer of the japanese clan of Takeda during the Sengoku Period of the 16th century. ... Hara Masatane ) (d. ... Oyamada Nobushige ) (1545-1582) was an officer in the Takeda army under Takeda Shingen. ... Kōsaka Masanobu )(d. ...

Additional Credits

• Yoshiro Muraki- Art Direction

Quotes

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Shingen Takeda: Even with this resemblance, Nobukado, he is so wicked as to be sentenced to crucifixion. How could this scoundrel be my double?
Kagemusha: I only stole a few coins. A petty thief. But you've killed hundreds and robbed whole domains. Who is wicked, you or I?
Shingen Takeda: I am wicked, as you believe. I am a scoundrel. I banished my father and I killed my own son. I will do anything to rule this country. War is everywhere. Unless somebody unifies the nation and reigns over us, we will see more rivers of blood and more mountains of the dead.

Masakage Yamagata: How old are you, sire? Fifty-three, as I remember.
Shingen Takeda: Why?
Masakage Yamagata (angrily chastening his lord): And you still behave like a five-year-old child! People gather, scatter, they go left and right following their interests. That is not surprising. But then I find you like this. With such a narrow mind, you must not dream of rulership. Go back to your own domain. You are a mountain monkey. You should be gathering nuts in the mountains of Kai!

Nobukado Takeda: I know it is difficult. I was for a long time the lord's double. It was torture. It is not easy to suppress yourself to become another. Often I wanted to be myself and free. But now I think this was selfish of me. The shadow of a man can never desert that man. I was my brother's shadow. Now that I have lost him, it is as though I am nothing.

Councillor 1: What of the horse? If he cannot ride it, everyone will know.
Councillor 2: His lordship has been ill, and must refrain from riding.
Councillor 1: And his mistress?
Councillor 2: His lordship has been ill, and must refrain from riding. (general laughter) Wikiquote is one of a family of wiki-based projects run by the Wikimedia Foundation, running on MediaWiki software. ...

External links

• Kagemusha at the Internet Movie Database
• Criterion Collection essay by Peter Grilli
• 影武者 (Kagemusha) (Japanese). Japanese Movie Database. Retrieved on 2007-07-19.

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