

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.

Denjirō Ōkōchi
Shogoro Yano
Lead
Susumu Fujita
Sanshiro Sugata

Yukiko Todoroki
Sayo Murai

Ryūnosuke Tsukigata
Gennosuke Higaki

Takashi Shimura
Hansuke Murai, Sayo's father

Ranko Hanai
Osumi Kodana
Sugisaku Aoyama
Tsunetami Iimura

Ichirō Sugai
Police Chief Mishima
“A staggering achievement of craft and ambition. Akira Kurosawa's vision lands with breathtaking precision.”
“Every frame feels alive. Sanshiro Sugata is the rare release that takes its audience seriously.”