IFFR 2025
30 Jan – 9 Feb 2025

      EN
      Misumi Kenji

      Misumi Kenji

      Still: The Tale of Zatoichi
      MISUMI Kenji (1921–1975, Japan) attended the private Ritsumeikan University, but his love for film, particularly chanbara, led him to pursue a career as a filmmaker. In 1941, he became a trainee director at Nikkatsu, shortly before he was drafted into the army. During World War II, he spent two-and-a-half years as a prisoner in Siberia, eventually returning to Japan in 1948. He became a friend of Kinugasa Teinosuke, and with the latter's support and mentorship, Misumi got the chance to direct his first film Sazen Tange: The Monkey Pot in 1954, which was a big commercial success. He went on to direct several chanbara films at a prolific rate, often working with the same people, such as actor Katsu Shintaro. His 1961 epic Buddha was the first Japanese 70 mm film. Afterwards, he returned to samurai films with The Tale of Zatoichi (1962), the first of many films and television series about fictional swordsman Zatoichi; Misumi would direct five more films about the character. He directed Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance in 1972, the first of six adaptations of the Lone Wolf and Cub manga. In 1974, he directed The Last Samurai, which would become his final film before passing away in September 1975. In 1980, Robert Houston compiled and edited the first two Lone Wolf and Cub films into Shogun Assassin.

      Filmography

      (selection) Tange Sazen: Kokezaru no tsobu/Sazen Tange: The Monkey Pot (1954), Nanatsu no kao no ginji/Ginji of the Seven Faces (1955), Tsuki o kiru kageboshi/The Shadow That Kills the Moon (1955), Kankanmushi wa utau/The Rust Cleaner Sings (1955), Asa Tarô garasu (1956), Hana no kyodai/The Flower Brothers (1956), Shiranui bugyo/The Fiery Magistrate (1956), Amigasa Gompachi (1956), Mikazuki hibun/Secret Letter of the Crescent Moon (1957), Momotarô-zamurai/Freelance Samurai (1957), Furisode matoi/Wearing a Long-Sleeved Kimono (1958), Kaibyô noroi no kabe/The Ghost-Cat Cursed Wall (1958), Shunen no hebi/Vindictive Snake (1958), Mito Kômon man’yûki (1958), Kagerô-gasa (1959), Senbazuru hichô (1959), Yotsuya kaidan/Yotsuya Ghost Story (1959), Machibugyô nikki: Tekka botan (1959), Zenigata Heiji torimono hikae: Bijin-gumo/The Casebooks of Heiji Zenigata: Beautiful Spider (1960), Joyô(1960), Shirakoya Komako (1960), Daibosatsu tôge/Satan’s Sword (1960), Daibosatsu toge: Ryujin no maki/Satan’s Sword 2: The Dragon God (1960), Sen-hime goten (1960), Shaka/Buddha (1961), Onnakeizu (1962), Zatôichi monogatari/The Tale of Zatoichi (1962), Kiru/Destiny’s Son (1962), Aobajô no oni (1962), Shinsengumi shimatsuki/Shinsengumi Chronicles (1963), Nyokei kazoku (1963), Maiko to ansatsusha (1963), Kyojin Ôkuma Shigenobu (1963), Nemuri Kyôshirô: Shôbu/Sleepy Eyes of Death: Sword of Adventure (1964), Ken/The Sword (1964), Mushuku mono/Homeless Drifter (1964), Zatôichi kesshô-tabi/Fight, Zatoichi, Fight (1964), Nemuri Kyôshirô: Enjôken/Sleepy Eyes of Death: Sword of Fire (1965), Nezumi kozo Jirokichi/Jirokichi the Rat (1965), Muhômatsu no isshô/Life of Matsu the Untamed (1965), Ken ki/Sword Devil (1965), Zatôichi jigoku tabi/Zatoichi and the Chess Expert (1965), Shojo ga mita/The Virgin Witness (1966), Yoidore hakase/Dynamite Doctor (1966), Daimajin ikaru/Wrath of Daimajin (1966), Nemuri Kyôshirô: Buraiken/Sleepy Eyes of Death: Sword of Villainy (1966), Yuki no mosho (1967), Koto yûshû: Ane imôto/The Sisters and I (1967), Namida gawa (1967), Zatôichi chikemuri kaidô/Zatoichi Challenged (1967), Nihiki no yojimbo (1968), Zatôichi kenka-daiko/Samaritan Zatoichi (1968), Tomuraishi tachi (1968), Oni no sumu yakata/The Devil’s Temple (1969), Shirikurae Magoichi/The Magoichi Saga (1969), Kyôjô nagare dosu/Wandering Fugitive Sword (1970), Zatôichi abare-himatsuri/Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival (1970), Kitsune no kureta akanbô (1971), Shin onna tobakushi tsubogurehada/Woman Gambler’s Iron Rule (1971), Kozure Ôkami: Ko wo kashi ude kashi tsukamatsuru/Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972), Kozure Ôkami: Sanzu no kawa no ubaguruma/Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx (1972), Kozure Ôkami: Shinikazeni mukau ubaguruma/Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades (1972), Goyôkiba/Hazo the Razor: Sword of Justice (1972), Sakura no Daimon/Internal Sleuth (1973), Hissatsu shikakenin (1973, TV series, 6 episodes), Kozure Ôkami: Meifumadô/Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons (1973), Oshi samurai: Kiichi Hôgan/Mute Samurai (1973, TV series, 1 episode), Okami yo rakujitsu o kire/The Last Samurai (1974), Zatôichi monogatari/The Tale of Zatoichi (1974, TV series, 2 episodes), Shogun Assassin (1980, co-dir)

      More info: Wikipedia, Misumi Kenji

      Misumi Kenji op IFFR