• Release year: 1962
• Director: Akira Kurosawa.
• Producers: Ryûzô Kikushima and Tomoyuki Tanaka.
• Screenplay by: Ryûzô Kikushima, Hideo Oguni, and Akira Kurosawa.
• Cinematography by: Fukuzô Koizumi and Takao Saitô.
• Music by: Masaru Satô.

Shotgun Commentary: brilliant adventure strategy film that works both as a sequel to Yojimbo (1961) and as a stand-alone piece.

Review

Sanjuro is the accidental second adventure of the nameless ronin Sanjuro. Thought as an independent film, the story had some modifications to fit as a sequel after the original project was cancelled. Luckily for us audiences, this cancellation made Sanjuro possible, a fantastic adventure feature where strategy is key and humour is aplenty.

The story is quick to differentiate itself from the first instalment during the first sequence. While the protagonist remains the same, the story is the complete opposite.

Visually, instead of opening with a man walking through a field, you are set in a room full of people. Textually, instead of one man against many, the lonely ronin joins a group of naive samurais to fight against corruption. As you can see, both stories have only a few actors in common and just the one character, making them work well together and apart.

The hero’s journey

Toshirō Mifune plays ronin Sanjuro once again. Still as nameless as he was in the first instalment, he makes up his name taking inspiration from the camellia trees outside the house he is in. By all accounts, he is still the same man, unchanged by the events that transpired in Yojimbo, and just as sharp and brutally honest as ever.

Nevertheless, his swift decision to join the group of inexperienced samurai tells you a lot more about him than the previous instalment did. Turns out, he is not a lone wolf, but a very selective one who doesn’t hesitate to join the right pack when the circumstances are correct.

Sanjuro’s developments are few but quite telling, proof that the director knew, not only when to fix things, but also when to leave well enough alone. Mifune’s character is charming and engaging, partly due to a great writing work, and partly thanks to the actor’s immense talent. Mifune conveys gravity and humour in the same scene, making it look like child’s play. This ability is one of many that gave the actor the legend status he still holds.

Invaluable support

In addition to the main character, all the supporting characters lift the narrative with their mere presence. From the hilarious centipede formation of the nine samurai, to the delightful appearances of the kidnapped enemy, the philosophical reflections of the chamberlain’s wife, and the villainous demeanour of the big bad, every single character brings their own special flavour into the mix, making every single scene of the film worth every ounce of your attention.

The kidnapped guard acts almost like a representative of the audience’s thoughts and feelings, coming out of his designated closet at will only to speak his peace and go back to the closet on his own volition. As for the chamberlain’s wife, she has a Luna-like (Harry Potter saga) attitude towards life that makes her either a genius or a fool, a judgement you need to make on your own. It is characters and details like this that elevate the narrative and make it standout from any other film of the genre. A unique story that is executed flawlessly by all the departments involved.

Steady wins the race

Unlike Yojimbo, Sanjuro is shot with a more paused rhythm. The frames are more static and curated, giving less of an urgent vibe than Yojimbo had. This slower pace is helpful due to the amount of people on screen in almost every shot. With situations as crowded as those, it would’ve been very hard, almost dizzying, to follow the story. Instead, Kurosawa allows you to breathe and take notice of things at your own pace, following his own motto of making films entertaining and easy to understand.

The connection to nature is still there, a topic that you can delve into in the extra context of BFI’s double-feature release, along with some other fascinating titbits from the film such as the fact that the red camellias were never really red.

All in all, Sanjuro is a really fun experience for anyone who enjoys strategy movies. It is a lot more lighthearted as its prequel Yojimbo, but has the same amount of thrills and action. Overall, this is a must-watch for anyone who loves cinema, especially now that the 4K version is out.

BFI’s double-feature release of Yojimbo and Sanjuro can be ordered now on their website. Details and links below!

Special features

• UHD: Restored 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Blu-ray: Newly restored in 4K and presented in High Definition
• Sword For Hire (2024, 25 mins): Kurosawa scholar Jasper Sharp discusses Yojimbo and Sanjuro in this analytical assessment
• Audio commentary on Yojimbo by film critic Philip Kemp (2000)
• Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – Yojimbo (2002, 45 mins): a detailed documentary study of the film
• Introduction to Sanjuro (2003, 5 mins): filmmaker Alex Cox introduces Sanjuro
• Newly recorded audio commentary on Sanjuro by Japanese-Australian filmmaker Kenta McGrath
• Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – Sanjuro (2002, 35 mins): the film is examined in detail in this documentary study
• Out of the Dust Storm and Into the Koi Pond (2025, 18 mins): Nic Wassell considers the role of nature as a background to human machinations in both films
• Alex Cox on Kurosawa (2003, 9 mins): the director discusses the life and work of Akira Kurosawa
• Original trailers
• Image galleries
• ***First pressing only*** Illustrated booklet with new writing on both films by Hayley Scanlon, writing on both films by Akira Kurosawa, originally published in1964, original reviews and film credits

Product details

• UHD: RRP: £39.99 / Cat. no. BFIU0011 / 12

Japan / 1961, 1962 / black and white / 110, 96 minutes / Japanese language with English subtitles / original aspect ratio 2.35:1 UHD66 x 2: 2160p, 23.98fps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio and LPCM 1.0 mono audio (48kHz/24-bit)

• Blu-ray: RRP: £29.99 / Cat. no. BFIB1536 / 12

Japan / 1961, 1962 / black and white / 110, 96 minutes / Japanese language with English subtitles / original aspect ratio 2.35:1 BD50 x 2: 1080p, 23.98fps, DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio and LPCM 1.0 mono audio (48kHz/24-bit)

Where to buy

• UHD: https://shop.bfi.org.uk/yojimbo-sanjuro-4k-uhd.html
• Blu-ray: https://shop.bfi.org.uk/yojimbo-sanjuro-blu-ray.html

Advice to take from this movie:

• Probably the most repeated advice in this blog: don’t judge based on appearances or looks.
• Always eat before a fight.
• Never let them know your next move.

What’s your take? Have you watched Sanjuro? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀