

Zenjiro (Masaru Shiga) is a lowlife criminal, roaming the country with his merry band of crooks, gamblers and rapists. When he gets done with his latest escapade of banging a samurai's wife, he finds that his love Okoyo (Eiko Matsuda), has managed to be recruited as one of Shogun Tokugawa Ietsuna's (Kantaro Suga) concubines. While attempting to win her back, Zenjiro becomes involved in increasingly murderous palace intrigues.

Eiko Matsuda
Okoyo
Lead
Tokuko Watanabe
Kumemura

Hiromi Maya
Hatsuse

Yūsuke Kazato
—

Masataka Iwao
—
Ryumei Azuma
Kikutaro

Akira Shioji
—
Rena Uchimura
Nun
“A staggering achievement of craft and ambition. Ikuo Sekimoto's vision lands with breathtaking precision.”
“Every frame feels alive. The General and His Empire of Joy is the rare release that takes its audience seriously.”