Harakiri (1962): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1962, Harakiri is an action, drama and history film directed by Masaki Kobayashi, running about 135 minutes. “The world has never understood why the Japanese prefer death to dishonor! Winner of Prix Special du Jury at Cannes 1963 provides the answer!” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Down-on-his-luck veteran Tsugumo Hanshirō enters the courtyard of the prosperous House of Iyi. Unemployed, and with no family, he hopes to find a place to commit seppuku—and a worthy second to deliver the coup de grâce in his suicide ritual. The senior counselor for the Iyi clan questions the ronin’s resolve and integrity, suspecting Hanshirō of seeking charity rather than an honorable end. What follows is a pair of interlocking stories which lay bare the difference between honor and respect, and promises to examine the legendary foundations of the Samurai code.

Who’s in it. Harakiri stars Tatsuya Nakadai as Hanshiro Tsugumo, Akira Ishihama as Motome Chijiiwa, Shima Iwashita as Miho Tsugumo and Tetsurō Tamba as Hikokuro Omodaka, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 8.4/10, Harakiri sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Harakiri page.

If you liked it. Fans of Harakiri 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.