
Kagemusha(1980)
“The Shadow of a man can never stand up and walk on its own.”
Overview
Akira Kurosawa's lauded feudal epic presents the tale of a petty thief who is recruited to impersonate Shingen, an aging warlord, in order to avoid attacks by competing clans. When Shingen dies, his generals reluctantly agree to have the impostor take over as the powerful ruler. He soon begins to appreciate life as Shingen, but his commitment to the role is tested when he must lead his troops into battle against the forces of a rival warlord.
Director
Akira Kurosawa
Studio
TOHO
Budget
$6M
Revenue
$4M
Cast

Tatsuya Nakadai
as Shingen Takeda / Kagemusha

Tsutomu Yamazaki
as Nobukado Takeda

Kenichi Hagiwara
as Katsuyori Takeda

Jinpachi Nezu
as Sohachiro Tsuchiya

Hideji Ōtaki
as Masakage Yamagata

Daisuke Ryū
as Nobunaga Oda

Masayuki Yui
as Ieyasu Tokugawa

Kaori Momoi
as Otsuyanokata

Mitsuko Baisho
as Oyunokata

Hideo Murota
as Nobufusa Baba
Takayuki Shiho
as Masatoyo Naito

Kōji Shimizu
as Katsusuke Atobe
Where to Watch
Availability may vary by region. Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Movie Facts
Release Year
1980
Runtime
3h 0m
Language
Japanese
Rating
7.8 / 10
Budget
$6M
Box Office
$4M
Production Companies
TOHO • 20th Century Fox • Kurosawa Production
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Kagemusha?▼
Check the "Where to Watch" section above for current streaming platforms, rental options, and purchase links for Kagemusha (1980).
What is Kagemusha about?▼
Akira Kurosawa's lauded feudal epic presents the tale of a petty thief who is recruited to impersonate Shingen, an aging warlord, in order to avoid attacks by competing clans. When Shingen dies, his generals reluctantly agree to have the impostor take over as the powerful ruler. He soon begins to appreciate life as Shingen, but his commitment to the role is tested when he must lead his troops into battle against the forces of a rival warlord.
Who directed Kagemusha?▼
Kagemusha was directed by Akira Kurosawa and released in 1980. It is a action, drama, history, war film.
How long is Kagemusha?▼
Kagemusha has a runtime of 3 hours and 0 minutes (180 minutes total).
Who stars in Kagemusha?▼
The cast of Kagemusha includes Tatsuya Nakadai as Shingen Takeda / Kagemusha, Tsutomu Yamazaki as Nobukado Takeda, Kenichi Hagiwara as Katsuyori Takeda, Jinpachi Nezu as Sohachiro Tsuchiya, Hideji Ōtaki as Masakage Yamagata and more.
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