Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

Sanjuro (1962) Directed by Kurosawa Akira

Sanjuro is both a sequel and prequel to Kurosawa Akira’s famed Yojimbo. Filmed one year later, the story takes place earlier.

Both follow the exploits of Sanjuro, a ronin or masterless samurai. Ronin literally means “wave man” and indicates the samurai has been cast adrift on the oceans of fate. Such men wandered the country, signing on with what ever lord would take them, some, forever, many, for a battle.

Sanjuro means thirty, and as he says in both movies, “Thirty, going on Forty.” He takes a last name in this movie as well, gazing about the garden when asked his name, his eyes light on the camellias in bloom, so he is Tsubaki (camellia) Sanjuro (30 year old). He is played by the incredibly talented Mifune Toshiro. (Note, I always follow the Japanese habit of placing the family name first, then the personal name.)

The movie starts with nine samurai, (Bless their hearts) led by the local Chamberlain’s nephew, meeting to discuss a horrid plot he has uncovered. He has discovered graft and corruption in the use of the village funds. When he approached his uncle, his uncle was calm, and informed him the real evil was something he has never dreamed of. When the nephew chided his uncle for his reserve, the old man commented, perhaps I am the evil one.

So the nephew (Bless his heart) runs off to the Superintendent. He lays out all that he has found. The Superintendent is horrified! He tells the nephew (Bless his heart) to gather his allies together, and they will rise up and arrest the Chamberlain.

That is when the nine (Bless their hearts) hear a voice in the darkness. It is Sanjuro. He tells them that the nephew (Bless his heart) has it all wrong. The Superintendent is the evil one. The nine (Bless their hearts) are outraged, but he catches their attention by supposing that the Chamberlain is an ugly man. The Superintendent is much better looking. This is true, so they listen.

The Chamberlain’s job is to keep everything running smoothly. He probably wanted to gather evidence quietly, rather than run around arresting people and initiating needless bloodshed. But the Superintendent’s job is to keep peace in the clan, and he is inciting people to riot. He is probably the villain, and if so, he will be coming for the nephew and his friends (Bless their hearts)! And they admit, they were supposed to meet the Superintendent here. (Bless their hearts)!

A quick look outside confirms Sanjuro’s fears. The place is surrounded. But the quick thinking of the Ronin saves the nine (Bless their hearts)! They hide, and Sanjuro faces the samurai, beating a half dozen with his sheathed sword. The fight is halted by Muroto Hanbei (Nakadai Tatsuya), leader of the strike force. He can clearly see that taking Sanjuro would be too costly, and since he is alone, there is no point. He instead invites Sanjuro to enlist with the Superintendent, and then withdraws.

Inside, the nine samurai (Bless their hearts) emerge from hiding. They puzzle over what to do. Sanjuro listens, and stops them from doing anything stupid. It soon becomes obvious that the Superintendent has seized the Chamberlain and his family, and will be forcing him to confess. But Sanjuro and the nine, (Bless their hearts) manage to free them. They hide out at one of the nine’s house, which is right next door to the Superintendent’s and is called Camellia Mansion.

So now Sanjuro must figure out how to defeat a vastly superior force of warriors, and free the Chamberlain. His assets, the strength of his sword arm, and the razor edge of his wits and the fact that the Superintendent has no information. The forces arrayed against him, several hundred samurai, a master class swordsman, Muroto, and his incompetent nine allies (Bless their hearts)!

In Japan, this movie is generally preferred over Yojimbo, particularly among mature audiences. While Yojimbo is almost a Samurai Film Noir, in Sanjuro, the hero is exactly that, a hero. In Yojimbo the Ronin played two Yakuza gangs off against each other, to their mutual destruction. In Sanjuro, the Ronin has a noble calling, and a noble inspiration, the Lady Mutsuta, (Irie Takako) the Chamberlain’s wife. While she is perhaps somewhat unrealistic she is shrewd and wise. She observes:
Lady Mutsuta: You're too sharp. That's your trouble. You're like a drawn sword. Sharp, naked without a sheath. You cut well. But good swords are kept in their sheaths.

He respects the Lady, even to letting her use him as a step in climbing the wall during their escape. This is a humanizing side not seen in Yojimbo.

I would argue however that it is less about him being better, (though he is angered when he has to kill the Superintendents guards to rescue four of the nine (Bless their hearts.)) I think it has more to do with the forces arrayed against him. In Sanjuro, there are a few bad apples; the Superintendent, his two cronies, and Muroto. All the rest are honorable is stupid samurai (Bless their collective hearts!). In Yojimbo, his opponents, from highest to lowest are Yakuza scum who deserve nothing better than death.

This film is a masterpiece. Kurosawa is perhaps the greatest director to ever live, rivaling, even surpassing Alfred Hitchcock. (That would make a good write off) Everything about this movie is perfect, sets, costumes, plot, pacing. Best of all, of course is Mifune’s performance as the itchy master strategist, Sanjuro.

I think one of the reasons the West does not know about this film is the fact it was never ripped off and made into a western. None the less, it is a wonderful film that stands the test of time. I give it my highest recommendation.

Check out my reviews of all things Japanese:

My Neighbor Totoro
Across the Nightingale Floor
Grass For His Pillow
Brilliance of the Moon
Onmyoji II
Onmyoji
The Hidden Fortress
Hellboy: Storm of Swords
Vexille
Sanjuro
The Hidden Blade
Yaji & Kita: Midnight Pilgrims
Princess Mononoke
Spirited Away
Gay Tales of the Samurai
Howl's Moving Castle
Ghost Dog
Memoirs of a Geisha (Book)
Memoirs of Geisha (Movie)
The Last Samurai
The Sword that Cut the Burning Grass
Taboo
Forbidden Colors

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older