Tokyo Trial (1983): cast, story & where to watch
1983 · Film · ★ 5
Released in 1983, Tokyo Trial is a war and documentary film directed by Masaki Kobayashi, running about 277 minutes.
What it’s about. One of the major documentaries on a specific chapter in modern Japanese history, this look at the trial of Japanese militarists accused of war crimes is excellently handled by director Masaki Kobayashi. Kobayashi and his assistants had to plough through 30,000 reels from the proceedings of the International Military Tribunal which took place between May, 1946 and November, 1948. It took two days to read the charges against the 100 alleged war criminals in the docket (only 28 top officials are actually in the courtroom, which was limited in space), and the final judgment took one week to read.
Who’s in it. Tokyo Trial stars Kei Satō as Narrator.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.0/10, Tokyo Trial has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Tokyo Trial page.
If you liked it. Fans of Tokyo Trial tend to enjoy Schindler's List, Grave of the Fireflies, The Pianist and Apocalypse Now.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Tokyo Trial (1983)?
- In US, Tokyo Trial is available to stream on Criterion Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Tokyo Trial worth watching?
- Tokyo Trial holds an audience score of 5.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy war and documentary. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Tokyo Trial?
- Tokyo Trial stars Kei Satō.
- When was Tokyo Trial released?
- Tokyo Trial was released in 1983, with a runtime of about 277 minutes.