Sanjuro (1962): The Greatest Sequel of all Time

Sanjuro (Japanese: 椿三十郎, Hepburn: Tsubaki Sanjūrō) is a 1962 Japanese jidaigeki film directed by Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshiro Mifune. It is a sequel to Kurosawa's 1961 Yojimbo.
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[@recoil53]

The development of the character is interesting within the movie. You see Sanjuro's physical confidence in just walking into a room of 10 jumpy guys who are armed. At first you can write off his insight by just his experience "seen it all". And his first solution to helping out the kids is wading into an army that was ready for a fight. But by the middle of the movie, he's angry at the kids for forcing him to kill a bunch of mooks to save them. It also messes up his plans, but that's the way it's framed - the killing could have been avoided and that makes him angry. He's already listening to the old lady. His real trauma is that his opponent, Hanbei, is basically Sanjuro's evil twin - a person just as clever and just about as good with a sword. Notice how Hanbei is totally unintimidated by Sanjuro in their introduction. Hanbei is basically what happens if Sanjuro used his talents for evil. And in the end Sanjuro has to face his dark reflection can't avoid killing him.

[@bushidoblues9302]

Wow you nailed it! Very good insight, I didn't think of it that way!

[@user-wo9gl6tc4f]

Who else yawned, because of the super expressive yawning of Toshiro?

[@bushidoblues9302]

😂

[@WR3ND]

You're up already... Did you put the coffee on?

[@markihle3801]

I have seen this film numerous times and I've come to the conclusion it is one of those rare "perfect" films. As you stated, it easily stands alone from Yojimbo and I consider it a much better film. From the opening credits, the score evokes such a mood of foreboding. You get sucked in and that opening scene is a masterpiece. The story is about as compelling as they come with real peril being faced by the 10 men. Mifune is a commanding presence but Nakadai nearly steals the show. What a terrifying villain to be up against. I especially enjoyed little details like Nakadai easily cutting through the stout ropes Mifune was bound with. It showed how positively dangerous a weapon the Japanese sword is. Every step of the way Kurosawa shows himself to be the master. The casting, fight choreography, music, moments of comic relief, it's all genius! I put this film in a 3-way tie with Casablanca and It's a Wonderful Life. (For the record Seven Samurai is in a class by itself.)

[@richardyasushiii3848]

This movie has the BEST final duel of any film. That blood torrent is shocking.

[@vasilypugh696]

So so true. Two perfect films. Sanjuro has the BEST introduction to a character ever (that Mifune yawn punctuating the silence).

[@LoneWolf_Cub_Ogami_Itto]

I saw it 1st back in 2015 on Criterion Collection Laserdisc having 0 clue what I was watching or that it was a sequel, I loved it and it has everything to do with Sanjurō himself and how much I see him in both Hollywood since 1960s and Japanese anime characters and shows such as Samurai Champloo.

[@lesliemarshall3764]

One of my favourite moments is after the servant girl escapes and tells them what’s going on in the house, he asks her to go back and get the guards drunk. She agrees and after she goes, Sanjiro comments ‘that is a real samurai’ and the nine look shocked.

[@loetzcollector466]

Back before the internet , I did not even realize for years that there was a sequel. You don't know how happy I was. It was like watching star wars and then fifteen years later discovering there was a movie called the empire strikes back

[@bushidoblues9302]

Haha, you're in for a treat then! I'm surprised you didn't know because usually Yojimbo is packaged with Sanjuro.

[@loetzcollector466]

@@bushidoblues9302 I saw Yojimbo back in 1992 on vhs and then stumbled on Sanjuro on streaming years later.

[@bushidoblues9302]

@loetzcollector466 oh I see

[@kijekuyo9494]

I've actually always preferred Sanjuro to its predecessor. I like his scenes with the nine boys, his planning, and most of all his interactions with the chamberlain's wife. I don't care about the badass fighting. In fact, I wish the film had followed the original idea of the hero being a lesser fighter who wins through wit and deception.

[@possiblyzslot838]

Yojimbo and Seven Samurai get the most love out of Kurosawa's samurai films (at least in the West), but Sanjuro will forever be my favourite of that time. It was the first Kurosawa film I watched, even before Yojimbo, and didn't even realise it was a sequel at first, it was just the only Kurosawa film I could find (without broken subtitles) on a bootleg movie site because I was tight on money at the time. Only after checking out Yojimbo later did I realise Sanjuro was a sequel, and appreciated it even more so.

[@TheNerdyRonin]

Great video my friend and thanks for the shout out 🎉

[@knoober3756]

Another way of keeping the continuity that I loved was that Sanjuro doesn’t have a Tanto because he lost it after being beaten up in Yojimbo. Nakadai also looks different enough for me to not be too distracting. It’s not nearly as bad as Sergio Leone’s recasting in the Dollars Trilogy. I also love his progression between the 2 films of him realizing that violence is sometimes not the answer as Yojimbo was the complete opposite. I’m also of the opinion that the best length for a series is a trilogy, so I’d love just another adventure with Sanjuro because you could easily have another tale with him grappling on when to solve problems with words and when with violence. Either way, great vid as always!!

[@bushidoblues9302]

Thanks! It is such a loss that a trilogy wasn't made. Imagine a 3rd film as grand and big as The good the bad the ugly!

[@knoober3756]

@@bushidoblues9302 it could’ve been one of his greatest works alongside Seven Samurai and Rashomon

[@richardestevez9220]

Excellent video! I personally love sanjuro more tha yojimbo because of the reasons you mentioned. Although despite the fact that they both stand on their own narratively. I feel that seeing Yojimbo first, enhances the viewing experience of Sanjuro. I feel this way because of the very contrasting surroundings and settings of both films. The first shows gangsters, fiends, and chaos... while Sanjuro shows the uptight and monolithic group mentality and tailored appearances of the tokugawa period which as you mentioned was mocked. Showing that Mifune's Sanjuro can handle himself in both settings yet stand apart and distinguished. And by the end of the film, Sanjuro rejects sensless violence and exits into mythology. Plus excellent performances by so many repeating actors from yojimbo to sanjuro as such contrasted characters. Especially Tatsuya Nakadai whom you've featured here as well. Again, great video and I hope more people see your insight in their journey on discovering these amazing films.

[@DocSanders]

I've studied the Kendo and iaido styles of Toshiro Mifune, Tomisaburo Wakayama and his brother Shintaro Katsu for over 45 years. And Budo since I was 10 years old and even to this day I still stand in awe of these men and their technique even though I know directors lke Kurosawa made everyone on the set repeate the scene hundreds of times until they got it right. Also, please note...those yawns were probably NOT fake, since as the story goes Mifune usually stayed up all night practining his Kenjutsu. The name of his Sensai escapes me at the moment. That kind of dedication is one more reason Kurosawa used him in so many films. Try that with our pampered modern-day US/UK actors.

[@oscarg6260]

If you happen to remember John Belushi based his SNL Samurai character on this movie Character.

[@bushidoblues9302]

He did?? I'll have to compare it.

[@chrisberatis2612]

Excellent samurai movie review Bushido Blues. Indeed this is without a doubt the best samurai sequel of all time.

[@tsukimami]

I loved watching this review! This movie is a masterpiece to me, I was enjoyed and impressed every second of it. Mifune acting and Kurosawa vision are pure gold. You described his character very good, I laughed of how he used to call the old lady and that he didnt care that it was disrespectful 😂

[@lesliemarshall3764]

Yojimbo is a gangster movie (based on Hammett’s Red Harvest). Sanjiro is at heart a western, closer to Shane than anything else. The two warring sides each have their own ‘hired gun’ who recognize and respect each other’s skills. The final showdown is literally decided by who is quickest on the draw, and our hero walks off into the sunset.

[@timediverx]

Haven't watched the video yet but the title is 100% correct

[@asianfilmfan1]

Thanks for sharing. The ending surprised me also like the chest buster in Aiken in 79 .totally unexpected and a thrill to watch.

[@deanzaZZR]

For some reason I always loved the tsubaki/椿/camellia scene. I guess it's the quiet parts that make the action scenes stand out even more.

[@mingyuhuang8944]

Another excellent video from a barely known KZbinr! Not trynna be rude bro but you deserve so many more subs! I'm the president of a Japanese culture club here in an Australian university, and I'm thinking of a kurosawa binging night for all members.

[@bushidoblues9302]

Thanks I appreciate that! Binging all the Kurosawa greats is always a great time!

[@TheLookingOne]

The opening scene was the best in the movie. Startling fight scene though.

[@harsyakiarraathallah2222]

If there ever be a Third Movie, it will be Title Kojinteki=Personal. Here we see that Sanjuro discover his own Pass and had Vengeance against the One who Wrong him but Learns to Forgive him.

[@bushidoblues9302]

The great sequel we never got. Maybe one day with AI.

[@RetroSmoo]

There's also Yojimbo meets Zatoichi

[@fletchkeilman2205]

one more thing......Nakadai was in a Spaghetti Western written by Dario Argento called "Today We Kill! Tomorrow We Die!" . He played a machete wielding Mexican bandit. He does not say much from what I remember, but it is a damn good western

[@hob976]

That intro is sick. Between the 13 Assassins moment and Tatsuya Nakadai at the water tower. ...So good.

[@bushidoblues9302]

Glad someone else appreciates it!

[@hob976]

Fires me up! So, a couple nights ago, I watched a movie called "Crazy Samurai 400 vs 1". It's not tremendous, but it's worth a view because 95% of the movie is a single sword fight take ( no cuts ). It's kind of a fantasy take on Myamoto Musashi.@@bushidoblues9302

[@chrissaffran7655]

Yes.

[@fletchkeilman2205]

Interesting to see Nakadai play the exact opposite to his character here than in Kiru! (1968), where in that film, it seems he plays the "Sanjuro" character with almost the same approach as Mifune"s to the previous film. And I don't find that to be a harsh criticism, either, since he is almost perfect in both Kiru! and Sanjuro. Nakadai can send chills down your spine, or fill your belly with laughter.....each done with the same amount of ease. He is that solid of an actor post script....just saw your review for it done about 7 months ago. Jesus, i am a dunce. Welp, regardless of me being cognitively impaired, it is still a damn good movie and this is still a damn fine channel. thank yo for all you do

[@AlfonsoTheTraitor]

You know , I never thought of it but I think your right . Specially the part that it stands up on it’s own and doesn’t need to rely on the original. Once again great work I really enjoy your videos a lot. Keep up the great work 😉 PS: have you reviewed “Heaven and Earth “ 1990 yet ?

[@bushidoblues9302]

Thank you! I still have yet to watch Heaven and Earth. It looks like it's a higher budget. I also heard Sekigahara is good. I'll cover both soon!

[@jackseditzzz]

Another classic, Yojimbo and Sanjuro are two great 60's Samura films, If only films now an days where a bit more like the classics sometimes.

[@i2su405]

there are a bunch of videos showing how he performed the ending move, it's all in the left wrist.

[@outboundflight4455]

14:04 Bushido I practice Iaijutsu (with Kendo on the side) and I can tell you on of Sanjuros moves in this part of your video shows him doing a technique very similar to one of my styles katas. I read an article that Toshiro Mifune practiced with the Otake branch of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu for his filming training.

[@SengokuStudies]

I am not too sure if he was an actual student. Meaning I do not know if he took keppan (blood oath) . He did have some training with Sugino Yoshio shihan who was mekyo kaiden in Katori Shinto Ryu and was head of the Sugino branch. He was also a swordsmanship trainer/advisor/choreographer on a number of samurai movies, some of which included Mifune Toshiro. So while he was trained in (at least basic) swordsmanship by the head of Sugino branch, I do not know if he was actually taught any of the ryuha's specific kata or waza.

[@outboundflight4455]

@@SengokuStudies I don't think he took a blood oath. As such I'm sure they just taught him the fundamentals of their styles swordmanship and maybe some beginner kata but none of the advanced or classified material of Katori.

[@henrykujawa4427]

I just finished watching this for the 3rd time in decades. My copy of this film is so JAW-DROPPINGLY, MIND-NUMBINGLY awful... it hurts to see clips of this looking so STUNNINGLY CRYSTAL-CLEAR (and, in widescreen). Obviously, before I ever see this again, I have to get it on disc. I swear, my tape (a copy of a GHASTLY rental), you can barely see what you're looking at. I think my favorite part is when the old lady tells him "killing is a bad habit", then, they need to get over a wall, he offers his back, and she says, "That would be rude." and he replies, "HURRY! Before I need to KILL someone else!" (By the way, the English translation on your copy appears to be almost completely different from the one on the old rental!! The words don't match at all. Even the villain's name is different.) In addition, I had NO IDEA the main villains in the 2 films were the same actor. I only recognized the actor who played the scientist in GODZILLA, and another scientist in the 1966 ULTRAMAN tv series.

[@jingalls9142]

I like that knocksteady music you use in this.

[@user-vj2wt7jh7j]

I like both Yojimbo and Sanjuro, but he was the ultra-cool menacing hero in Yojimbo. I don't understand why you say he wasn't that good a swordsman in Yojimbo. He took on multiple opponents with ease, even one with a pistol. I like anything with Toshiro Mifune particularly if directed by Kurosawa! Red Sun wasn't in the same league, but Toshiro was still fun to watch.

[@lonejedi100]

I think it's a great film because it stands alone and is itself a good story, but it being a sequel, Sanjuro to me acts as he would in this scenario, however the Sanjuro of Yojimbo I can't imagine would let himself get in this scenario. It's like seeing Luke go from the absolute optimist to the bitter hermit, I can understand, but it's steps beyond who we last saw.

[@Dr.JustIsWrong]

I don't believe they used a shorter sword. Mifune pushed his hips backward drawing the sheath back. This is important so you don't accidentally gut yourself.. The counter-attack was not a strike, per se, the angles are all wrong and the distance too close once drawn.. Mifune draws with his left hand reversed blade, rotates the cutting edge from up to inwards and uses his right hand/wrist/forearm to push on the back edge, pushing the cutting edge forcibly into his opponent. It's fast and surprising, but you'd better first practice thoroughly with a blunt edge!

[@jereXIX]

Sanjuro is a much better film than Yojimbo. I’ve always felt Yojimbo has some pacing issues and drags in the middle. Interestingly, I think the same dynamic applies to the Clint Eastwood “Man with No Name” movies. A Fistful of Dollars is nearly a scene for scene remake of Yojimbo and shares the pacing issues while For A Few Dollars More is a superior film and, imo, one of the best Westerns ever made.

[@joebloggs396]

I agree, the second film in both cases is great. I can also see why some think Few Dollars More is better than Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Sanjuro and Hidden Fortress have both given me a lot of pleasure.

[@dwayneasher6765]

I love the video can you review anime like ronin kenshi

[@bushidoblues9302]

Thanks. I did cover the live action movies, I haven't seen the anime in years.

[@Sisyphusquit]

I have heard the song in the opening all my life. Can someone tell me the name and what movie it first appeared?

[@massi6528]

Sanjuro is fcking awesome.

[@khosatralkel9491]

Mifune and Nakadai are always great together. Just how many films have they fought eachother in?

[@ulvesparker]

It is probably lost in translation, but the name Sanjuro is not a reference to an age (30 year old) but more the common Japanese practice of naming sons by birth order, like, Ichiro... first born, Niro... second born, Goro... fifth born etc. So when everyone responds with surprise when he says his name is Sanjuro is because he said he was "thirtieth born" 😮. Audiences in Japan usually respond with laughter as this is a little joke. 😄

[@yamanakabiiru]

それは少し違います。産まれた順番を意味するケースもあれば、 そうではないケースもあります。 30番目に生まれたと驚く日本人はいません。 コノエ・ジュウシロウというサムライ映画のスターは 名前に14という数字を含んでいますが、誰も14番目に生まれたなんて おそらく考えたこともないでしょう。

[@bakabaka3281]

How do we join the discord?

[@bushidoblues9302]

discord.gg/7khZw5Ga Welcome aboard!

[@rello5456]

Will you talk about the 2007 remake ?

[@bushidoblues9302]

What's the 2007 remake?

[@Freddy-Da-Freeloadah]

@0:43 My Name Is.... IMHO

[@fistan5447]

To be honest Sanjuuro was a better movie than Youjimbo, just like Empire strikes back was a better movie than A New Hope.

[@liambutler9427]

Are you fucking kidding me? More than Lord of the Rings, Godfather Part II?!?!?!

[@Dan-dd4zs]

Fukurō no Shiro 1999; Samurai Fiction; Azumi

[@dgeo8939]

Hbo max has yojimbo but they are missing sanjuro fail

[@jarebearart8926]

Everyone knows terminator 2 is the greatest sequel of all time

[@bushidoblues9302]

Terminator 2 is like a kids movie lmao

[@TheEphraimUchiha]

Nah it's a masterpiece same as sanjuro

[@treasey8655]

bro has never seen the godfather part II

[@bushidoblues9302]

It's definitely one of the greatest, but it doesn't work as a standalone film and it relies on the previous movie.

[@kinghirasawa10]

Bro hasn't watched this video. Also you look like you're from the mask cult. Go lock yourself inside and PISS OFF!

[@genustinca5565]

You have got to be kidding. Sanjuro is boring as hell.

[@bushidoblues9302]

Watch it again. Mifune’s character is such a badass in this one. Everything he does is iconic.

[@scottmcfarlane7524]

Sorry great film but Godfather 2

[@bushidoblues9302]

Haha great movie and point. I just like how Sanjuro is a great standalone film and doesn't need to build off of the previous episode.

[@hob976]

Also a great film but Terminator 2.

[@kinghirasawa10]

​@hob976 Terminator 2 is a kids movie lmao. Atleast the first movie was done as a horror Sci fi.

[@jessewett]

I prefer Yojimbo, the one that starts it all, the more grim lone warrior before the comic aspect intrudes.