Details

Release year: 1966

Storyline

A Noh dramatization of the suicides of Lt. Shinji Takeyama and his wife Reiko. After participating in a failed 1936 coup and being ordered to execute his friends, he bids his wife an intimate farewell and commits harakiri.

Top credits

Directors

Yukio Mishima

Writers

Yukio Mishima

Cast

Yukio Mishima — Shinji Takeyama
Yoshiko Tsuruoka — Reiko

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Did you know

• After Mishima's death on 25 November 1970, all prints of this film were rumored to have been destroyed by his wife Yoko. However, in August 2005, original film negatives were "discovered" at the late author's residence in Ota Ward, Tokyo. About 40 reels have now been found in what Japanese media refer to as an "airtight tea box". According to Hiroaki Fujii (78), the movie's producer (who at the time apparently urged Yoko to keep the original intact), the recovered elements are in "pristine condition". The film will be released on DVD by Shinchosha early in 2006.

• This is a silent film with a musical track - there is no dialogue spoken. Mishima filmed two versions, one with Japanese title cards, the other with English title cards.

• This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #433.