Television series "Kendo Ippon"
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.)
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Originally Posted by Hamish
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.
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