Guide to Inagaki's Film Version of Chushingura ("The Treasury of Loyal Retainers" or "The 47 Samurai")

(this comes from http://faculty.vassar.edu/brvannor/AS105/chushingura.html but I've added quotations from the subtitles... the synopsis is Bryan Van Norden's)


This story is loosely based on an actual historical event. There are many versions of the story, including a puppet play and cartoon versions. This is one of the best movie versions. The story has been called "the national epic of Japan."

This movie is complicated. There are many characters and subplots. The most important characters (and the actors who portray them) are Lord Asano (Yuzo Kayama), Lord Kira (Chusha Ichikawa), Chamberlain Oishi (Koshiro Matsumoto), and Tawaraboshi (Toshiro Mifune). (Mifune is the only actor who is well known outside Japan, having starred in numerous samurai films.) Asano is a paradigmatic noble samurai lord. Kira is a samurai in name only: he is venal and cowardly. Oishi is Asano's chief retainer, and he must lead the other retainers after Asano is forced to commit seppuku (also called hara-kira, ritual suicide). Tawaraboshi is a ronin (masterless samurai) who joins the conspiracy out of admiration for their ideals.

The story in general and this particular version of it raise countless isssues. However, one key theme is the conflict between giri and ninjo. Giri is one's obligation, typically specified by one's social role (e.g., as a lord or as a retainer). Ninjo is one's human feelings. Consider how the tension between these two demands plays itself out in the actions of Asano, Oishi, and other characters.

The numbers below refer to the section divisions on the DVD version of the film. The titles in quotation marks are those given in the DVD version. Following that are brief descriptions of the content of each section. Letters indicate different scenes within each part.

1. "Main Title sequence"

"Part 1: Blossoms"

2. The imperial envoys pass through an inn. The innkeeper and his wife discuss the visit, and dismissively comment on a piece of calligraphy given to him by one of the envoys.

3. "Edo": Lord Kira gives a present (a Western-style globe) to Lord Yanagisawa. They discuss the fact that Kira will be Grand Master of Ceremonies at the visit of the Imperial Envoys, while Lord Asano will be "Head of the Reception." Kira will be responsible for advising Asano on the niceties of protocol. Kira complains that the gifts given by Asano are too small. Yanagisawa advises Kira to use his position to punish Asano.

Yanagisawa: There are many ways to teach. Make sure he learns his lesson.

4. "The Values of Life": (a) Lady Yanagisawa sleeps with the Shogun (with Lord Yanagisawa's encouragement). (b) Lord Kira praises Lord Yanagisawa to his wife and brags that his values are "lust and greed."
Kira: Without a desire for money and women, life has no value. With lust and greed as my values, I intend to live a long life.

5. "Lord Asano": We first see Lord Asano at his estate, where his advisors warn him that he must give a larger "gift" to Lord Kira. Asano responds that it would be unethical to do so.
Asano: I don't like bribery. I hate it. It's the cause of corruption in government, isn't it?
Asano and his wife express their sadness that they will be parted for the duration of the ceremony for the envoys.

6. "A Visit from Lord Kira": Kira inspects the place where the reception is to take place, and drops broad hints that Asano should give him a larger "gift."
Kira: In a position like this, gifts are of the utmost importance. Head of Reception means Head of Gift-Giving. It is crucial to be generous to those you meet along the way. The word will spread, you will be well liked, your duties will ease. It's expensive, but it leads to success if you are careful. The more generous you are, the better the results.
When Asano does not offer one, Kira announces that all the mats must be replaced (overnight, since the reception is the next day). Asano protests that Kira had said previously that the current mats were acceptable, but Kira denies it.
Kira: There's a way not to have to waste so much money, if you used your money wisely. Understand?

7. "A Matter of Honor": (a) Asano's retainers swear that they will round up every matmaker in the area and get the new mats made in time. (b) When one matmaker refuses, one of Asano's retainers gets him to agree by threatening to commit seppuku right in front of him.
Gengo: My life depends on the favor I'm about to ask you. I am Gengo Otaka, humbling myself before you.
(c) Horibe (another retainer) finds a matmaker in a bar and tries to get him to come with him. However, the matmaker had just agreed to a drinking match with the spearmaster Tawaraboshi, and Tawaroboshi insists that he stay to finish the match. In exchange for letting the matmaker go, Horibe agrees to stay and take part in a drinking match with Tawaraboshi. (d) By dawn, all the mats are replaced.

8. "Receiving the Envoys": (a) Kira refuses to tell Asano whether he should greet the envoys at the top or the bottom of the stairs. (b) Lord Wakisaka advises Lord Asano about how to handle Kira: play it cool. It will look bad for Kira if Asano fails in his duties, so Kira will tell him what to do in the end.
Any mistake you make would reflect on Kira
(c) Sure enough, Kira tells Asano at the last minute what to do.

9. "Asano's Breaking Point": (a) Kira refuses to show Asano some instructions that had been sent with the envoys. Wakisaka, who had read the instructions, advises Asano that it doesn't make any difference, because they were just routine instructions about fire safety and such. (b) Still, Asano follows Kira and asks to see them. Kira insults Asano. When Asano looks enraged, Kira reminds him that his clan will be destroyed if he violates the rules by drawing his sword in a place where the imperial envoys are visiting. Kira then slaps Asano. Asano pulls his sword, but only inflicts two minor flesh wounds on Kira before he is restrained by others.
Shogun: The rules are clear. Keep to the rules.

10. "Formal Questioning": Asano is formally questioned about the incident. One of the interrogators makes clear that he will be absolved if he claims that he was "mentally disturbed" at the time of the incident. Asano twice refuses to admit this. One interrogator asks him to explain his actions, but the other interrogator cuts him off, saying that it makes no difference what his motives were.
If he was not mentally deranged he is a criminal. Our responsibility ends there.

11. "Following Orders": (a) Asano's brother complains to his sister-in-law, Lady Asano, about what Asano has done to them through his actions. Lady Asano asks whether Lord Asano might be allowed to live. (b) Lord Asano calmly commits seppuku. His last words are, "My people will wonder when they hear of this day."
Asano's death poem:
Sadder than blossoms swept off by the wind
A life torn away in the fullness of Spring

12. "Kira's Pain": We suddenly cut to a shot of Lord Kira waking up from a nightmare and moaning in pain. We learn that Kira's son has married into the powerful and wealthy Uesugi clan. Kira begs his son and those around him to protect him, saying, "If I'm called a coward, I'm proud to be one."
Kira's son: Let me be a dutiful son no matter what happens.

Kira: I haven't had my fill of wealth or women yet.


13. "March 15, 1701: Couriers on the Run": Couriers are carried from Edo to Lord Asano's castle to bring the news. The group of the retainer Sampei accidentally kills an old woman. Without stopping, Sampei shouts out his name, explains that they are on an emergency mission, and asks them to forgive him.

14. "The Asano Clan Castle in Ako": (a) Lord Asano's retainers, led by Chamberlain Oishi, discuss whether to surrender the castle (as ordered by the Shogun, who has directed that the Asano clan be dissolved) or fight to the death.
Our lives belong to our late Lord

Lord Asano broke the Shogun's rules but he upheld the samurai code. He risked his clan to stop corruption.

(b) The Treasurer obtains permission from Oishi to collect the taxes and loans owed them, supposedly so that they can pay the local people what they owe them for the paper currency they have issued.

15. "The Army of Lord Wakisaka": (a) Lord Wakisaka (see 8-9, above) arrives in Ako to take the castle, by force if necessary. (b) We glimpse the Treasurer fleeing in a boat (with all the money he had collected).

16. "Blood Pledge": (a) Chamberlain Oishi suggests to the other retainers that, rather than fight, they ask the Shogun to restore the clan under the leadership of Asano's brother. (b) Oishi remarks, regarding the Treasurer, "From now on I'll doubt everyone." (c) The remaining retainers affix their thumbprints in blood to an oath, pledging loyalty to Oishi.

17. "Surrendering the Castle": Wakisaka, taking control of the castle, tells Oishi that Asano "broke the Shogun's rules but upheld the samurai code." He then interrogates Oishi about his motives, suggesting that Oishi plans to kill Kira. But Oishi states his plan to ask Shogun to reinstate the clan under Asano's brother's leadership.

18. "Hyobu the Protector": (a) Hyobu, a retainer of the Uesugi clain, has been assigned to direct security for Kira. Kira insults samurai in front of Hyobu, calling them "stupid," and saying that he became a Grand Master of Ceremonies to avoid having to put his life at risk for honor.
Kira: The reason I studied to become Master of Ceremonies was to avoid the samurai duty to die at the slightest provocation. Samurai all look very stupid to me.
(b) Towarabashi demonstrates his abilities with a spear (by tossing bales of dirt) to the Uesugi clan, and asks about becoming their retainer.

19. "Oishi's Home in Yamashina": A friend of Oishi's visits his house on the anniversary of Asano's death and is surprised to find that he is away at a teahouse (essentially a brothel, in this case), rather than commemorating this sad day.

20. "Refuge in a Brothel": (a) Sampei (see 13, above) and his fiancee, Okura, talk of their love for one another. (b) Oishi engages in drunken revelry at the teahouse. Another samurai seeks him out, wanting to find out what his true intentions are. We learn that Oishi had been given some money by Lady Asano.
Courtesan: No violence. You will be ridiculed.
The other samurai leaves in disgust when it appears that Oishi is wasting the money on sake and prostitutes, and has no interest in avenging his late lord. (c) Passers-by throw dirt at Oishi's house and mock him.

21. "Sampei's Honor": (a) The son of the woman whom Sampei accidentally killed (see 13, above), tries to kill him. Since the son is not a samurai, Sampei easily disarms him, but does not kill him. (b) Sampei goes to Oishi and asks to be relieved of his oath (see 16, above), so that he can commit seppuku to atone for killing the old lady.
Sampei: My samurai honor requires that I die.

Oishi: Our lord had to commit hara kiri for his samurai pride.

Oishi agrees, and Sampei presses him to tell him his true intentions before he dies. Oishi says, "Up until this moment I have wavered," but now he will definitely lead the other retainers to take revenge on Kira.
Oishi: My dissolute life is to deceive the Shogunate
(c) The son of the woman who was killed shows up at Sampei's house, this time with several people to help him kill Sampei. Before they can enter the house, Sampei slits his own throat.

22. "Oishi Gets the News": This is one of the best scenes in the movie! While at the teahouse, Oishi is told that Sampei had killed himself. He must feign indifference so that no one will suspect that he is still a man of honor and passion. He tells the other people at the teahouse that he wants to have a mock wake for his dead sparrow. He sings and dances while trying to hide his tears.

23. "Time for Revenge; Off to Tajima": (a) We learn that Asano's brother has been banished, so there is no longer any hope of restoring the clan. Most of the conspirators will now move to Edo. (b) We see Okura (see 20, above) tending Sampei's grave. (c) Oishi says goodbye to his mistress at the teahouse. (d) Oishi's wife and younger children leave him to go and live with her parents. Oishi and his son debate whether Oishi should have told his wife explicitly what his true feelings and intentions were.