Etajima, the Naval Academy (1959): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1959, Etajima, the Naval Academy is a drama, war and mystery film directed by Mitsuo Murayama, running about 105 minutes.

What it’s about. The former Japanese Naval Academy was at Etajima, one of the many islands of the beautiful Inland Sea. Among the new cadets were Ishikawa and Murase. Murase's mother had remarried after his father's death and the impressionable boy hated his overbearing father who held the whip-hand over his gentle mother. Out of defiance of his step-father he became wayward. But he was bright and his teacher persuaded him to enter the Academy as he knew that if he left home, his mother need not feel apologetic towards her husband on his account. Discipline was strict, their studies were hard and, in between, all the new cadets received an ample share of beatings, at the hands of the senior cadets, for the slightest mistakes. Murase thought all picked on him the most, especially Cadet First Class Kogure, who manhandled him at the slightest excuse.

Who’s in it. Etajima, the Naval Academy stars Katsuhiko Kobayashi as Ryutaro Ishikawa, Shōzō Nanbu as Sakutaro Ishikawa, Kōjirō Hongō and Keiji Noguchi, among others.

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

If you liked it. Fans of Etajima, the Naval Academy tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.