Sanshiro Sugata (1965): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1965, Sanshiro Sugata is an action and drama film directed by Seiichirô Uchikawa, running about 159 minutes. “Judo Saga” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Remake of Kurosawa's films Sanshiro Sugata and Sanshiro Sugata part 2. A young man, Sanshiro Sugata, troubled by personal problems, takes up judo. His teacher, Shogoro Yano, is a devout man who has aroused the enmity of the local practitioners of jujitsu, the older and more accepted of the two sports. Sugata uses his newly learned prowess to gain a measure of respect from others; however, Shogoro insists that the sport has a spiritual side, a lesson Sugata has yet to learn. Eventually, in hand-to-hand combat with the father of a young woman he loves, he comes to understand the true meaning of judo.

Who’s in it. Sanshiro Sugata stars Yûzô Kayama as Sanshiro Sugata, Toshirō Mifune as Shogoro Yano, Tsutomu Yamazaki as Genshiro and Eiji Okada as Gennosuke / Tesshin, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.0/10, Sanshiro Sugata has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Sanshiro Sugata page.

If you liked it. Fans of Sanshiro Sugata tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.