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Black Ox

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In the Meiji Period, in the 19th century Japan, transitioning towards modernization, BLACK OX explores the relationship between man and ox, inspired by the "Ten Ox-Herding Pictures" a series of short poems and illustrations from Zen Buddhism tradition that depict the path to enlightenment and spiritual awakening. BLACK OX follows the life of a Man, a former hunter-gatherer who loses his connection to the gods of nature and to his spirituality in the process of becoming a farmer and becoming "Japanese" during the nation's period of westernization in the Meiji Period. Transitioning from a life in the mountains to a life in the farm, one day he comes across a Black Ox. He somehow succeeds in leading the reluctant animal back to his home, and begins living with it. The OX becomes his companion in a life of seasons in the attempt to reconnect with nature.

Critics Reviews

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Stephen A. Russell Orion's Shoulder (Substack) Boundlessly brilliant ... Tetsuichirô Tsuta haunting ode to love between man and beast, resting on an eminently watchable Lee Kang-sheng’s sturdy shoulders ... [is] dreamily deep. Sep 14, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews
Black Ox

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Cast & Crew

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Tetsuichirô Tsuta

Director

Lee Kang-sheng

Actor

Min Tanaka

Actor

Ryubun Sumori

Actor

Kei Takei

Actor

Blanca Adika

Actor
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Black Ox

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the Meiji Period, in the 19th century Japan, transitioning towards modernization, BLACK OX explores the relationship between man and ox, inspired by the "Ten Ox-Herding Pictures" a series of short poems and illustrations from Zen Buddhism tradition that depict the path to enlightenment and spiritual awakening. BLACK OX follows the life of a Man, a former hunter-gatherer who loses his connection to the gods of nature and to his spirituality in the process of becoming a farmer and becoming "Japanese" during the nation's period of westernization in the Meiji Period. Transitioning from a life in the mountains to a life in the farm, one day he comes across a Black Ox. He somehow succeeds in leading the reluctant animal back to his home, and begins living with it. The OX becomes his companion in a life of seasons in the attempt to reconnect with nature.
Director
Tetsuichirô Tsuta
Producer
Tetsuichirô Tsuta, Shozo Ichiyama, Eric Nyari, Yin-Yu Huang, Alex C. Lo
Screenwriter
Tetsuichirô Tsuta, Koichi Kubodera, Masayuki Ueda, Keita Kumano
Production Co
Niko Niko Film, Moolin Films, Cinema Inutile, Cineric Creative, Fourier Films
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Japanese
Runtime
1h 54m