In the War's closing days, when a conscience-driven Japanese soldier fails to get his countrymen to surrender to overwhelming force, he adopts the lifestyle of a Buddhist monk.
In Japan, Nikkatsu, the studio that commissioned the film, released it in two parts, three weeks apart. Part one (running 63 minutes) opened on January 21, 1956, and part two (80 minutes) opened on February 12, both accompanied by B movies. Its total running time of 143 minutes was cut to 116 minutes for later re-release and export, reputedly at Ichikawa's objection.
I have only recently become aware of Nikkatsu, and more so in the context of their gangster films. This is really quite a feat, and the use of music is excellent. I appreciate these stories of post-war Japan (and the surrounding countries). Such a marked difference from post-war America, which was mostly celebration... everywhere else was destroyed.
In Japan, Nikkatsu, the studio that commissioned the film, released it in two parts, three weeks apart. Part one (running 63 minutes) opened on January 21, 1956, and part two (80 minutes) opened on February 12, both accompanied by B movies. Its total running time of 143 minutes was cut to 116 minutes for later re-release and export, reputedly at Ichikawa's objection.
I have only recently become aware of Nikkatsu, and more so in the context of their gangster films. This is really quite a feat, and the use of music is excellent. I appreciate these stories of post-war Japan (and the surrounding countries). Such a marked difference from post-war America, which was mostly celebration... everywhere else was destroyed.