Harakiri

切腹 (1962)

Timing: 2:15 (135 min)

8.437/10
1224

8.175/10
11165

8.6/10
90000

All about film

Video 3

Photo 109

Actors and characters

Release date

1962-09-15

Country

Japan

Production

Shochiku

Genre

Action, Drama, History

Budget

$0

Revenue

$15 222

Website

Director

Masaki Kobayashi

Actors

Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Ishihama, Shima Iwashita, Tetsurō Tamba, Masao Mishima, Ichirō Nakatani, Kei Satō, Yoshio Inaba, Hisashi Igawa, Tōru Takeuchi
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

Tatsuo Hosoya, Tatsuyo Hosoya

Operator

Yoshio Miyajima

Composer

Toru Takemitsu

Artist

Audition

Editing

Hisashi Sagara
All team (18)

• During the filming of the action scenes, Tatsuya Nakadai (who played the ronin Hanshiro Tsugumo) was constantly afraid because the swords and spears were real—even though the use of real weapons is prohibited in Japanese cinema. He was not particularly comforted by the fact that all the fights were choreographed and the weapons were in the hands of professionals.
• The ronin in the film claim they served Masanori Fukushima until his exile, after which they were left without a master. Fukushima was exiled for unilaterally beginning repairs on a castle in Hiroshima, which contradicted the law. Fukushima and his son were stripped of all their property and banished to another prefecture.
• Tatsuya Nakadai and his co-star Rentaro Mikuni clashed during filming over their speaking styles. The former delivered his lines loudly and clearly, while the latter spoke considerably softer—both stood their ground, citing their own professional experiences to support their views. It ended with director Masaki Kobayashi halting production and informing the actors that filming would not resume until they finally reached an agreement. The hiatus lasted three days.
• The film is a vivid example of how Masaki Kobayashi opposed the practice of idealizing Japan's former feudal system. The samurai code of honor is repeatedly called into question throughout the movie. This kind of opposition was characteristic of the post-occupation movement in Japan, which was linked to protests against the presence of American military bases in the country.
• After Shima Iwashita's character married, she was depicted on screen exclusively with blackened teeth. In feudal Japan, black teeth were a sign that a lady was married. The tradition of teeth blackening was called 'ohaguro'.
• The bamboo swords shown in the film were called 'takemitsu,' and the film's composer was named Toru Takemitsu. A joke circulated among the crew: 'Harakiri via Takemitsu, music by Takemitsu'.