Introduction

Shogun’s Shadow (Japanese: 将軍家光の乱心 激突, Shôgun Iemitsu no ranshin – Gekitotsu) is a 1989 Japanese film directed by Yasuo Furuhata.

• 

• 

• 

Outline

Iemitsu, Tokugawa Shogun III, hates his eldest son Takechiyo; all his love is given to his younger son Tokumatsu. One day, he orders Takechiyo to an initiation rite in Yedo (today’s Tokio). Takechiyo lives far away under the surveillance of Hotta Masamori, head of the Skura clan, where he was also raised. Hotta does suspect some kind of treachery, but he can not ignore the direct command of the Shogun. Therefore, he starts on his travel with Takechiyo and seven accompanying samurais. A large army under the command of Iba Shoemon, a vassal of the Shogun, attacks their night camp in the vicinity of a copper mine. Hotta dies in this first battle, but Takechiyo and the samurai manage to escape. They are chased by the army, and several skirmishes between the small force and the larger army follow.

Cast

• Ken Ogata: Igō Gyōbu.
• Kano Miyuki: Yajima no Tsumone (Lady Yajima).
• Sayoko Ninomiya: Oman no Kata.
• Takeshi Maya: Hotta Masatoshi.
• Toshihiro Asari: Sofue Iori.
• Masaki Kyomoto: Tokugawa Iemitsu.
• Yūji Oda: Tobe Sahieji.
• Masashi Ishibashi: Momochi Sandayū.
• Seizo Fukumoto.
• Masataka Naruse: Domon Genzaburō.
• Hiroyuki Nagato: Tagaya Rokubei.
• Hu Jianqiang [ja]: Inokojin Goemon.
• Hiroki Matsukata: Abe Shigetsugu.
• Tetsuro Tamba: Hotta Masamori.
• Sonny Chiba: Iba Shōzaemon.

Trivia

• The film inspired the story of the kidnapped Hutt in the film Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008).

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s): Yasuo Furuhata.
• Producer(s): Tatsuo Honda and Shigeru Okada.
• Writer(s): Sadao Nakajima and Hiroo Matsuda.
• Music: Masaru Sato.
• Cinematography:
• Editor(s): Eifu Tamaki.
• Production: Toei Company.
• Distributor(s): Toei Company.
• Release Date: 14 January 1989.
• Running Time: 111 minutes.
• Country: Japan.
• Language: Japanese.

Video Link