Sanshiro Sugata movie poster

Sanshiro Sugata

1943 Film Synopsis & Plot Summary

6.5/10

Rating

80 min

Runtime

1943

Release Year

Akira Kurosawa

Director

Cast

Denjirō Ōkōchi, Susumu Fujita, Yukiko Todoroki, Ryūnosuke Tsukigata, Takashi Shimura

Quick Synopsis

A hotheaded youth in 1880s Meiji Japan apprentices to judo master Shōgorō Yano, trading brute jujutsu bravado for discipline and humility. As Sanshirō matures, he proves judo’s spirit against old-guard challengers—including a deadly duel—while falling for his vanquished opponent’s daughter. Based on the novel by Tsuneo Tomita, son of Tomita Tsunejirō, the earliest disciple of judo.

Full Plot Summary of Sanshiro Sugata

A hotheaded youth in 1880s Meiji Japan apprentices to judo master Shōgorō Yano, trading brute jujutsu bravado for discipline and humility. As Sanshirō matures, he proves judo’s spirit against old-guard challengers—including a deadly duel—while falling for his vanquished opponent’s daughter. Based on the novel by Tsuneo Tomita, son of Tomita Tsunejirō, the earliest disciple of judo.

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