Ken, Misumi's movie about kendo

[Hisham]

This video is from Misumi Kenji's movie about kendo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJPRg2zzWHc).
Was suprised to find it on youtube, anyway the couple of scenes in it depict some sides of kendo training including the joyfull moments of moping the floor and pucking for a good cause.:) I've shown it to my father and he wondered why i"m so nostalgic about dojo training.

[j.noh]

Sonkyo haya-suburi's...poor bastards.

[Gessho]

This video is from Misumi Kenji's movie about kendo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJPRg2zzWHc).
Was suprised to find it on youtube, anyway the couple of scenes in it depict some sides of kendo training including the joyfull moments of moping the floor and pucking for a good cause.:) I've shown it to my father and he wondered why i"m so nostalgic about dojo training.

I have that movie and it is based on a short story by Yukio Mishima (which pretty much tells you what the ending will be like). The training scenes in there are pretty hardcore and fun to watch and the only "shocking" thing was the after-class bath scene in which a low-ranked student is lathering up the head instructor:confused2...I guess things were different in the old days...!

[Rob W.]

I have that movie and it is based on a short story by Yukio Mishima...

Where did you get it? This movie looks amazing, and I love Mishima. I couldn't find it on ebay or any of the other usual suspects.

Sankyo haya suburi = my new favorite in-apartment exercise. Awesome.

[JSchmidt]

Where did you get it? This movie looks amazing, and I love Mishima. I couldn't find it on ebay or any of the other usual suspects.

Sankyo haya suburi = my new favorite in-apartment exercise. Awesome.

They used to have it on Amazon.jp, but I can't seem to find it right now?

[Hisham]

Where did you get it? This movie looks amazing, and I love Mishima. I couldn't find it on ebay or any of the other usual suspects.


Here is a webstore (http://www.kurotokagi.com/) that sells it, check under the action section on the left side of the page, it'll be the 32nd movie from the top.


Sankyo haya suburi = my new favorite in-apartment exercise. Awesome.


Yeah great work out, there is another one that we did from time to time while in seiza. the knees would take a beating. Good times.

[Rob W.]

Here is a webstore (http://www.kurotokagi.com/) that sells it, check under the action section on the left side of the page, it'll be the 32nd movie from the top.

Thanks for the heads up, bought and bought. $20 isn't too bad for a movie, no beer or takeout for a week should even it up.

[Hisham]

Glad i could help.

[Legionario]

http://wg-img.blogspot.com/2007/07/lc-ken-1964.html

[Darknails]

I ordered it through amazon.co.jp (http://www.amazon.co.jp/?-????/dp/B0002RN9LI/ref=sr_1_9/250-1753423-6077069?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1181806859&sr=1-9) it talks more about mentality and psychology than methodology or techniques. It's a good film, but it's not exciting in the sense of kendo action. It will disappoint many people who expect to see more of the scenes in the YouTube clip, as they are about all the kendo actions there are in the movie.

Having said that I enjoyed the film, and I think it does help the audience to understand the mentalities of serious kendo practicianers.

[Charlie]

Awesome blogpost, thanks for that! Is this movie subtitled in English, perchance? (The story was great.)

[Hisham]

Is this movie subtitled in English, perchance? (The story was great.)

Yes Charlie there is an english subbed version. Check the link in this quote

Here is a webstore (http://www.kurotokagi.com/) that sells it, check under the action section on the left side of the page, it'll be the 32nd movie from the top.

[Charlie]

Thank you! Hmmm, wonder if I can find this at the library...

[Anime12478]

You know it's a tough practice when everyone falls down on the ground asleep during break.

[Rob W.]

This movie was great for anyone who enjoys Mishima (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukio_Mishima)'s philosophy and idealist based tragedies. The cinematography and settings are amazing. The kendo in it is enjoyable to watch, and is integral to the story but it's by no means a "sports movie". Worth the $20 for me, maybe not to the average movie watcher.

Great stills Legionario.

[xvikingx]

the only "shocking" thing was the after-class bath scene in which a low-ranked student is lathering up the head instructor:confused2...I guess things were different in the old days...!
Still common today. It's good manners to wash the back of your senior or superior if you go to the bath house together. I do it for my sensei and father-in-law. Nothing weird about it.

[Wesley Myers]

I found a link for this movie on sharevirus.com for emule/ed2k.

It is: http://www.sharevirus.com/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=60927

[Usagi San]

(...) It's a good film, but it's not exciting in the sense of kendo action. It will disappoint many people who expect to see more of the scenes in the YouTube clip, as they are about all the kendo actions there are in the movie.
(...)

Meaning no jodan kamae? Because in the book Mishima describes the way the captain of the team fights. And it sure is jodan kamae.

I have a french translation and I remember him describing it as if the shinai was a long horn pointing up. It's nice. A good description... if you know what he's talking about, of course...

[ne0r]

Can anyone tell me how I get the book? I'm more interested in written stuff... That's because usually it's cheaper and easier to get^^

[Wesley Myers]

After seeing the movie I would be very interested in reading the book.

I can't recommend the movie enough.

The movie is full of Kendo - in fact it's all Kendo. Some of it is training, some of it is philosophy, but all of it is Kendo.

[ShinKenshi]

Sorry to practice a little a little necromancy here but just got the movie in the mail the other day and just finished watching it. Personally, I have mixed feelings about it. I love the fact that kendo permeates everything in the film and that Kokubu's strength and conviction is conveyed so vividly. There's absolutely nothing about practice at my dojo (or anywhere for that matter) after seeing what these guys were put through. That being said however, I found some of the acting unconvincing, particularly scenes early in the film such as when Tada speaks with Kagawa about convincing Kokubu to let him wear bogu. Despite that, I found the whole film to be fantastic and I am eager to find a copy of the Mishima's novel to read.

[Wesley Myers]

A director's and actor's commentary for the movie would be wonderful.

I have thought about if they hired Kendoka and trained them as actors or did they train actors as Kendoka?

I think it would be much easier to train Kendoka to be actors than to train actors to be Kendoka.

[Legionario]

I have thought about if they hired Kendoka and trained them as actors or did they train actors as Kendoka?
Back in the days, it was 1964, kendo was so widespreaded in Japan that I think wouldn't have been a problem to find persons who were both.