Sanshiro Sugata

1943

1h 19m

Drama

Action

List

80%

Tomatometer

5 Reviews

65%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

Sanshiro Sugata (Susumu Fujita) wants to learn jujitsu. But after he witnesses the power of judo firsthand, he abandons his jujitsu training to study with judo master Shogoro Yano (Denjirô Ôkôchi). Under Yano, Sanshiro learns the combative elements of the art, and he also masters satori -- the quiet, meditative aspects of judo style. With both in hand, he fights for the respect of his former teacher and for the love of his teacher's daughter, Sayo (Yukiko Todoriki).

Read More

Read Less

Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

All things considered, Sanshiro Sugata is a simplistic and relatively ordinary film, albeit one with occasional flashes of inventiveness and verve.

Rated: 6/10

Dec 27, 2021

Full Review

Alberto Abuín

Espinof

Really a very weak film, although technically it is impeccable. [Full Review in Spanish]

Feb 12, 2020

Full Review

Panos Kotzathanasis

Asian Movie Pulse

Kurosawa unfolded the narrative much like a silent film, including the text on black screen explaining what is happening and particularly the passing of time, while the dialogue is scarce throughout the film.

Dec 23, 2019

Full Review

Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Vigorously told, excellent drama about the martial arts.

Dec 3, 2016

Full Review

Christopher Long

Movie Metropolis

A simple story, but an intricately crafted movie.

Rated: 8/10

Aug 1, 2010

Full Review

Read all reviews

william d

There's a disclaimer at the beginning stating that the wartime government cut over 1800 feet of film from the original version and it shows. There is very little plot or character development. Plus, I really don't care about the whole "judo vs. jujitsu" contretemps. Still, the film is entertaining enough and it bears Kurosawa's impeccable direction.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This has a fairly standard and predictable story told within the confines of mid 19th century Japan. Aside from the obvious technical limitations the film isn't nearly as captivating as Kurosawa's later projects but is still a mostly carefully shot martial arts period piece with some palpable characterization between the 2 leads.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A (almost) sports film with uncommon grace and a full, proud heart and an eye for the things that move and astound.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

john m

Somewhat bland for Kurosawa but not bad at all. He seems to be developing some styles here that are in their very early stages which is interesting to see. It's a filmmaker playing around for the most part and while some of it is meandering and confusing, there are also moments of pure astonishment and atmospheric beauty. It's also hard to criticize when 1800 feet of film has been cut out by the government with no consent from Kurosawa and is forever gone so...

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Kurosawa's first is a minor work compared to his later masterpieces. Repeat viewings however reveal a likeable and endearing film about a country bumpkin who realizes his strength and spiritual growth through Judo. At first he's all strength, so much so, his instructor detests him to the point of calling him a useless bully. He's never a bully despite a scene in which he appears to be randomly fighting strangers on the streets. When his instructor says he lacks the spirituality to continue with judo, he all of a sudden jumps into a pond determined to die there if necessary. He stays there over a day until a blossoming lotus flower gives him sudden insight. He jumps out a changed man, with newfound humility. Eventually he excels so much at judo that children follow him around singing about him like a folk hero. But this notoriety attracts a nefarious character who is determined to humiliate him in a fight. Sanshiro however, never loses his cool or his humility. And if you've ever seen Kurosawa's masterpiece Ran, you know clouds feature prominently in that film. Clouds are important to Sanshiro Sugata as well.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Akira Kurosawa's debut film in 1943. The trials and tribulation of a young martial artist. The ultimate question, the argument that has spanned centuries in Martial Arts culture since its first incarnation, which style is better. American-Chinese martial art legend Bruce Lee in his later years of his life would depart himself from having a style, (using the term "No Way as Way" with his way of fighting Jeet-Kune-Do) because of the criticism and opposing styles of fighting loyalty and live or die dedication to a style of system that is so strict in an actual fight its movements are rendered useless. Black and white Japaneses film from highly respected director Akira Kurosawa who has inspired, George Lucas's Star Wars series and films by Steven Spielberg and Ford Coppola. Sanshiro Sugata is the first installment in The Judo Saga; this film centers around a young man traveling to a small town to learn Jujitsu but soon finds a new style that, in the film is more superior. He soon learns the style but has not conquered the mental state of mind. During the film while having a test of deadly dedication to his new style of fighting he confines himself in a muddy swamp were he get his first enlightenment by a beautiful flower growing near by him, teaching the beauty of life itself and that to push himself to death because he cant conquer Judo spirituality is not the answer, he has more trials for his art with love and at last the final battle; will he have what it takes to become the best? Still enjoyable considering it is a partially losted film and was made quite a long time ago any new fans to Kurosawa's film need to watch his first film, with noticeable limits on his production but his filmmaker talent fights through with ease, a good-old-classic.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Akira Kurosawa

Director

Susumu Fujita

Sanshiro Sugata

Denjirô Ôkôchi

Shogoro Yano

Yukiko Todoriki

Sayo Murai

Ryûnosuke Tsukigata

Gennosuke Higaki

Takashi Shimura

Hansuke Murai

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

96%

94%

Throne of Blood

80%

90%

The Sword of Doom

100%

93%

Woman in the Dunes

96%

91%

Stray Dog

94%

91%

The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Sanshiro Sugata (Susumu Fujita) wants to learn jujitsu. But after he witnesses the power of judo firsthand, he abandons his jujitsu training to study with judo master Shogoro Yano (Denjirô Ôkôchi). Under Yano, Sanshiro learns the combative elements of the art, and he also masters satori -- the quiet, meditative aspects of judo style. With both in hand, he fights for the respect of his former teacher and for the love of his teacher's daughter, Sayo (Yukiko Todoriki).

Director: Akira Kurosawa
Screenwriter: Akira Kurosawa, Tsuneo Tomita
Production Co: Toho Company Ltd.
Genre: Drama, Action
Original Language: Japanese
Runtime: 1h 19m