* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Ichimei (Film, 2011)
一命（映画・2011年）
A period film directed by Takashi Miike, released on 15 October 2011. Set in the early Edo period and centred on the feigned ritual suicide known as kyōgen seppuku, it follows the ronin Tsukumo Hanshirō, who appears at the gate of the Ii household. Based on Takiguchi Yasuhiko's period novel Ibun Rōninki; an earlier film adaptation, Harakiri, was released in 1962.
Description
Overview
Ichimei is a period film released on 15 October 2011. Directed by Takashi Miike and distributed by Shochiku, it runs 126 minutes. Based on Takiguchi Yasuhiko's period novel Ibun Rōninki, it stars Ichikawa Ebizō, with Ayase Eita, Mitsushima Hikari and Yakusho Koji in supporting roles.
Source and Earlier Adaptation
The source novel Ibun Rōninki was earlier adapted as the 1962 film Harakiri, starring Nakadai Tatsuya.
Synopsis
In the early Edo period, masterless ronin who had lost their positions after their domains were dissolved made a living by appearing at daimyo gates and requesting to commit seppuku, receiving a position or money in return; this practice of feigned ritual suicide was known as kyōgen seppuku. One day, Tsukumo Hanshirō appears at the gate of the Ii household and asks to commit seppuku. The chief retainer Saitō Kadeyu begins to recount the fate of a young ronin, Chichiiwa Motome, who had come to the gate in the same way several months earlier.
Swords
The story recounts how Chichiiwa Motome sold his sword, the samurai's soul, and replaced it with a bamboo sword (takemitsu), and then asked to commit seppuku. The bamboo blade is central to the plot as a substitute for a real sword.
See authentic Japanese swords
See authentic Japanese swordsRelated Content
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Film七人の侍
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Video Game仁王2
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Anime & Mangaルパン三世（石川五ェ門・斬鉄剣）
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Game信長の野望
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This page is intended to introduce Japanese sword culture and is not affiliated with any of the works mentioned.