The Samurai and the Prisoner

Set in feudal Japan, this historical mystery follows Lord Murashige, who has rebelled against the ruler Oda and is now besieged within his own fortress. As he struggles to maintain order among his followers and defend against the surrounding army, a series of inexplicable murders occurs inside the castle walls. To identify the killer and uncover a traitor within his ranks, Murashige forms a tense partnership with Kanbei, a dangerous military strategist held captive in the castle dungeons.

The film was written and directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, marking the 15th project in his directorial career and following his 2024 film Cloud. The production was a collaboration between Shochiku, TBS, and Shochiku Studio. The main cast features Masahiro Motoki as Araki Murashige, Masaki Suda as Kuroda Kanbei, and Yuriko Yoshitaka as Chiyoho, supported by a credited cast of 21 actors.

Released on June 19, 2026, the drama has a runtime of 147 minutes. It earned 7 million USD at the worldwide box office. Audiences have given the film a rating of 7.9/10 on TMDB based on 12 votes.