Television series "Kendo Ippon"

[Spencer]

During the 1970s,I used to watch a television series called KENDO IPPON. It centered on a high school student named Gentaro (played by actor MIURA TOMOKAZU). At first,Gentaro's Mother tries to discourage him from taking up kendo because it was from a kendo accident that Gentaro's Father got killed. During a match, the opponent's shinai inadvertently thrust between the Father's mengane and caused the tragic death. In spite of or maybe because of that tragedy,Gentaro is determined to pursue and excell at kendo. One day, while strolling leisurely at a harbor, Gentaro chances upon a 40ish dock worker. They strike up a friendly conversation and eventually the chat turns to kendo. Turns out that the dock worker, SAOTOME, is an experienced kendoist who then encourages Gentaro in his pursuit. In fact, Saotome offers generously to privately tutor Gentaro. Of course,Gentaro accepts enthusiastically. After Gentaro leaves, Saotome goes to visit a graveyard and surprisingly kneels down sadly at the grave of Gentaro's dead Father. It turns out that it is this Saotome who had caused the man's accidental death!! Saotome realizes now the twist of fate by which he and Gentaro have met. In subsequent episodes of this half-hour series, Gentaro would continually meet with Saotome for private kendo lessons but never knowing Saotome's hidden past.

(Background on the actors: MIURA TOMOKAZU later married actress YAMAGUCHI MOMOE, both of whom acted together in the same movies. In the movies they made, they played characters who were Romantically entwined, but then it came true when they later got married in real life. As for the character Saotome, he was played by actor NAKATANI ICHIRO. NAKATANI's most famous role was in the TV-series MITO KOMON in which he regularly played one of Lord Mito's ninja, namely KAZAGURUMA NO YASHICHI.)

[hamish]

That was from the Musashi No Ken Manga series, wasn't it?

[PhoenixProfile]

I was about to say that as well Hamish but you got there first :ko:

[Tatsuko]

That was from the Musashi No Ken Manga series, wasn't it?
The only thing similar to Musashi no Ken is that Musashi's father dies in a shiai--but it was due to the aftereffects of a very strong tsuki, not because the shinai broke and went through his mengane. The person who killed Musashi's dad doesn't teach or train Musashi at all.

[Nanbanjin]

The only thing similar to Musashi no Ken is that Musashi's father dies in a shiai--but it was due to the aftereffects of a very strong tsuki, not because the shinai broke and went through his mengane. The person who killed Musashi's dad doesn't teach or train Musashi at all.
Shura's dad trains with Musashi a little.
Does my dad have to be killed by in a kendo comp for be to become any good at kendo?
No way my kids (should I have any) will ever be playing kendo now.

[Tatsuko]

Shura's dad trains with Musashi a little.
Not really...After Musashi's dad dies, Musashi apparently gives up kendo for 3 years. But he was actually secretly practicing his tsuki so that he could beat Todo (Shura's dad) with the same technique Todo used to kill Musashi's father. When Musashi breaks through the tree he was practicing on, he thinks he's ready and goes to challenge Todo. Todo refuses at first, but Musashi insists. Todo sees Musashi's father in Musashi, so he agrees to let Musashi fight him...on the condition that if Musashi loses, he has to leave immediately and go home. Musashi gets so scared he can barely move, and Todo tells him not to look him in the eyes. Musashi closes his eyes and does a tsuki on Todo. Todo doesn't move (!) and the shinai BREAKS on his throat. :shocked: Todo then explains that he won't fight Musashi--because the only one he'll fight is Musashi's dad. He says that Musashi's desire for revenge has "dulled" his fighting skill, and with his kind of thinking he won't even be able to win against someone his own age. Musashi still doesn't understand, so Todo lets him fight Shura. Musashi tries to tsuki Shura, but it doesn't work. Musashi loses, and Todo throws him out. And I think that's the last we see Shura's dad for any significant length of time.


Does my dad have to be killed by in a kendo comp for be to become any good at kendo?
No way my kids (should I have any) will ever be playing kendo now.
LOL. Or at least don't tell them the "secret," or they might plot to get you killed in a shiai so they can get better at kendo. :D

[Spencer]

Although the Musashi No Ken series is anime, let me make it clear that Kendo Ippon is different---it's Live-action. That's why I included the names of the Actors. Let me ask you, Tatsuko, if the Shura that you mention is the daughter of Todo? Because in KENDO IPPON, Saotome has a daughter named Hikaru. Saotome had abandoned his wife and daughter many years ago, and ever since then Hikaru has been searching for him,i.e.,her Father. By the time the TV-series begins, Hikaru is in high school but in a RIVAL school as opposed to Gentaro's. In a later episode,there is a tournament between those two schools, so the man Saotome comes to watch his pupil Gentaro participate. In a match,Gentaro faces off against Hikaru, and in that moment the man Saotome realizes to his shock that SAOTOME HIKARU is his daughter that he had abandoned! Saotome has vowed at the grave of Gentaro's dead Father that he will keep training Gentaro to become the best but now realizes also that Gentaro's MAIN RIVAL is his own daughter!

[Hai_hai]

Although the Musashi No Ken series is anime, let me make it clear that Kendo Ippon is different---it's Live-action.
Was this live-action version of the anime, i.e. the manga came first, the live-action adaptation was second?

[Tatsuko]

Although the Musashi No Ken series is anime, let me make it clear that Kendo Ippon is different---it's Live-action.
Actually, Musashi no Ken is both a manga and an anime, but yeah, I really don't see any similarities between it and Kendo Ippon except that they're about kendo and the main character's father dies in a shiai.

Kendo Ippon sounds pretty interesting, wish i could see it.


Let me ask you, Tatsuko, if the Shura that you mention is the daughter of Todo? Shura is Todo's son. In Musashi no Ken, Todo was Musashi's dad's sempai, and they were rivals. Their rivalry gets carried over into the next generation, because Todo's son Shura becomes Musashi's main rival.