Andres Gomez
8/10Great movie! Akira Kurosawa is just a master movie maker.
Reviewed on June 16, 2014
Yojimbo(1961)
用心棒
Kill one or a hundred... you only hang once
8.1(1,743)1h 50m1961-04-25
DramaThriller
Yojimbo Synopsis
A nameless ronin, or samurai with no master, enters a small village in feudal Japan where two rival businessmen are struggling for control of the local gambling trade. Taking the name Sanjuro Kuwabatake, the ronin convinces both silk merchant Tazaemon and sake merchant Tokuemon to hire him as a personal bodyguard, then artfully sets in motion a full-scale gang war between the two ambitious and unscrupulous men.
Yojimbo (1961) is a drama and thriller film directed by Akira Kurosawa, released on April 25, 1961 with a runtime of 1h 50m. It stars Toshirō Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Yōko Tsukasa and Isuzu Yamada. Viewers rate it 8.1 out of 10 across 1,743 ratings.
- Director:
- Akira Kurosawa
- Writers:
- Ryuzo Kikushima, Akira Kurosawa
- Producers:
- Akira Kurosawa
- Cinematographer:
- Kazuo Miyagawa
- Composer:
- Masaru Satō
- Production:
- TOHO
- Status:
- Released
Yojimbo (1961) Trailer
Watch the official trailer for Yojimbo before you stream it.
Yojimbo Videos & Clips
Official trailers, teasers, clips and featurettes for Yojimbo.
Yojimbo (1961) Original Trailer [4K]
Trailer
YOJIMBO Trailer (1961) - The Criterion Collection
Teaser
Yojimbo Cast & Crew
Main cast
Toshirō Mifune
as Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai
Tatsuya Nakadai
as Unosuke, gunfighter
Yōko Tsukasa
as Nui
Isuzu Yamada
as Orin
Daisuke Katō
as Inokichi
Seizaburō Kawazu
as Seibê - brothel operator
Takashi Shimura
as Tokuemon, sake brewer
Hiroshi Tachikawa
as Yoichiro
Yōsuke Natsuki
as Kohei's Son
Eijirō Tōno
as Gonji, Tavern Keeper
Kamatari Fujiwara
as Tazaemon
Ikio Sawamura
as Hansuke
Key crew
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, written by Ryuzo Kikushima and Akira Kurosawa, produced by Akira Kurosawa.
Explore more Drama titles
Yojimbo Reviews & Ratings
Average viewer score of 8.1/10 from 1,743 ratings.
CRCulver
9/10Akira Kurosawa's 1961 film YOJIMBO is a Japanese period drama where wily strategy is worth just as much as prowess with a sword. In the late Edo era (some decades before its end in 1868) a community is plagued by two opposing gangs who have built up a criminal empire of prostitution and gambling. Even the local officials are on the take. Into this town steps a nameless samurai (Toshiro Mifune). Once they get a…
Reviewed on June 5, 2018
CinemaSerf
7/10I was surprised when I saw this, how late it was set - 19th Century - as I'd always imagined it to be of a more historical nature. That doesn't remotely detract from the story though - as again Kurosawa casts Yoshirô Mifune ("Sanjûrô") in the leading role. Here he is a wandering samurai who arrives in a village torn by strife. His skills are sought by the two opposing headmen and he quite successfully manages to…
Reviewed on August 13, 2023
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Yojimbo – Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Yojimbo online?
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Yojimbo (1961) is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel and HBO Max, and to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
Who stars in Yojimbo?
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The main cast of Yojimbo (1961) includes Toshirō Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Yōko Tsukasa, Isuzu Yamada and Daisuke Katō. The film was directed by Akira Kurosawa. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
When was Yojimbo released?
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Yojimbo was released on April 25, 1961 and runs for 1h 50m.
Is Yojimbo worth watching?
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Yojimbo (1961) holds an average rating of 8.1 out of 10 from 1,743 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy drama and thriller films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Is there a trailer for Yojimbo?
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Yes. The official Yojimbo trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.