John Wick: Chapter 4
ジョン・ウィック:コンセクエンス
A 2023 action film directed by Chad Stahelski, the fourth installment in the John Wick series. The katana duel between Hiroyuki Sanada's Shimazu, manager of the Osaka Continental, and Donnie Yen's blind assassin Caine, was widely praised as one of the series' finest sequences.
Description
Overview
John Wick: Chapter 4 is a 2023 action film directed by Chad Stahelski, the fourth installment in the Keanu Reeves-led John Wick series, released theatrically in Japan on September 22, 2023. The film follows legendary assassin John Wick as he wages a final battle for his freedom against the shadowy High Table organization, and became the franchise's biggest hit, grossing over $400 million worldwide.
A Katana Duel Set in Osaka
A central sequence of the film unfolds at the Osaka Continental Hotel. Hiroyuki Sanada plays Shimazu, the hotel's manager, portrayed as a swordsman who wields a Japanese katana. As Donnie Yen's blind assassin Caine — holding Shimazu's daughter Akira (played by musician Rina Sawayama) — closes in on John Wick, a one-on-one duel between Shimazu and Caine takes place. The clash between Shimazu's katana and the steel blade concealed in Caine's cane was staged as an homage to classic samurai films by directors such as Akira Kurosawa.
Commitment to Authentic Choreography
In interviews, Hiroyuki Sanada described his deep involvement in choreographing the duel, drawing on the rhythm and spacing of traditional Japanese sword combat ("tate"). The interplay between Caine's blindness-driven fighting style and Shimazu's swordsmanship was singled out by numerous film outlets as one of the series' finest action sequences.
Reception
The film received strong reviews, scoring in the high 7s on IMDb, and critics widely praised the katana duel in the Osaka sequence as a high point of Japanese sword choreography in Hollywood action cinema.
Real Swords Featured
The Breath and Rhythm of Japanese Swordsmanship in the Choreography
The katana duel sequence was choreographed to reflect the traditional 'ma-ai' (spacing) and rhythm of Japanese swordsmanship. Real katana technique involves switching between one- and two-handed grips, parries that make use of the blade's ridgeline (shinogi), and fluid drawing strikes (nukitsuke); reviewers have repeatedly cited this sequence as a rare instance of Hollywood action cinema consciously recreating such classical technique.
Homage to Japanese Period Films
The Osaka sequence has been widely reported as an homage to the stylistic traditions of Japanese jidaigeki (period drama) cinema pioneered by Akira Kurosawa, particularly his use of tension-filled 'ma' (stillness) contrasted with sudden bursts of motion in sword combat. The choice of a katana duel as a narrative centerpiece reflects a recurring pattern among overseas filmmakers of using Japanese swordsmanship to express reverence for bushido and sword culture.
See authentic Japanese swords
See authentic Japanese swordsThis page is intended to introduce Japanese sword culture and is not affiliated with any of the works mentioned.