Harakiri

Overview

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.

Director

• Masaki Kobayashi

Cast

• Tatsuya Nakadai as Hanshiro Tsugumo
• Akira Ishihama as Motome Chijiiwa
• Shima Iwashita as Miho Tsugumo
• Tetsuro Tamba as Hikokuro Omodaka
• Masao Mishima as Tango Inaba
• Ichirō Nakatani as Hayato Yazaki
• Kei Satō as Masakazu
• Yoshio Inaba as Jinai Chijiiwa
• Hisashi Igawa as Retainer
• Toru Takeuchi as Retainer