Four hours of samurai scheming, and you'll beg for more.
The life story of Japan’s greatest leader, Tokugawa Ieyasu, whose shogunate ruled the nation for almost 300 years has never been told like this before. From the early days as a supporter of Imagawa Yoshimoto, then on to his days with Oda Nobunaga, leading to his wars against and ultimate victory over the Toyotomi to become shogun is a fascinating tale of his military genius coupled with a native intelligence that allowed him to become the last of the great warlords and ultimately the leader of the nation. With great performances from an all-star cast featuring names like Kitaoji Kinya and Takahashi Hideki this is history come to life on the screen.
Acting
Kitaoji Kinya's simmering restraint as the ultimate patient strategist.
Production
Battle sequences that actually understand military tactics, not just chaos.
Writing
Turns bureaucratic maneuvering into genuine suspense. Wizardry.
Director
Toshio Masuda
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The 246-minute runtime was actually the theatrical cut; a six-hour television version exists with even more political intrigue.
Released during Japan's economic bubble burst, the film's meditation on long-term sacrifice resonated uncomfortably with salarymen watching their own lifetime employment crumble.
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