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Harakiri (1962)

Harakiri (1962)

Action Drama History

What befalls others today, may be your own fate tomorrow.

Release Date: 1962, September 15
Directors: Masaki Kobayashi
Countries: Japan
Production: Shochiku
Cast: Yoshio Inaba, Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Ishihama, Shima Iwashita, Tetsuro Tamba, Masao Mishima, Ichirō Nakatani, Kei Satō, Hisashi Igawa, Toru Takeuchi, Rentaro Mikuni

Overview:

Down-on-his-luck veteran Tsugumo Hanshirō enters the courtyard of the prosperous House of Iyi. Unemployed, and with no family, he hopes to find a place to commit seppuku—and a worthy second to deliver the coup de grâce in his suicide ritual. The senior counselor for the Iyi clan questions the ronin’s resolve and integrity, suspecting Hanshirō of seeking charity rather than an honorable end. What follows is a pair of interlocking stories which lay bare the difference between honor and respect, and promises to examine the legendary foundations of the Samurai code.

Keywords:

distressing complex excited revenge suicide poverty flashback samurai asia complicated japan black and white philosophical jidaigeki bushi seppuku ronin edo period 17th century shogunate bakumatsu