Samurai Marathon

Samurai Marathon (Japanese: サムライマラソン, Hepburn: Samurai Marason) is a 2019 Japanese-British historical action adventure film co-written and directed by Bernard Rose and starring Takeru Satoh, Nana Komatsu and Mirai Moriyama. It is based on the 2014 novel The Marathon Samurai: Five Tales of Japan’s First Marathon by Akihiro Dobashi, itself inspired by the origin story of the Ansei Toashi 30-km footrace held annually in Annaka City.^[1][2][3]

Samurai Marathon
Film poster
Directed by	Bernard Rose
Screenplay by	Bernard Rose Hiroshi Saito Kikumi Yamagishi
Based on	The Marathon Samurai: Five Tales of Japan’s First Marathon by Akihiro Dobashi
Produced by	Jeremy Thomas Toshiaki Nakazawa
Starring	Takeru Satoh Nana Komatsu Mirai Moriyama Shōta Sometani Munetaka Aoki Naoto Takenaka Danny Huston Etsushi Toyokawa Hiroki Hasegawa
Cinematography	Takuro Ishizaka
Music by	Philip Glass
Distributed by	Well Go USA Entertainment
Release date	February 2019 (2019-02) (Japan)
Running time	104 minutes
Countries	Japan United Kingdom
Languages	Japanese English

Plot summary

In 1855, a daimyo sends his men on a grueling marathon to discover if they're tough enough to face the newly arrived Americans. Misunderstanding his intent, the Shogun dispatches assassins.^[4]

Cast

• Takeru Satoh as Karasawa Jinnai^[1]
• Nana Komatsu as Princess Yuki^[5]
• Mirai Moriyama as Tsujimura Heikurō^[1]
• Shōta Sometani as Uesugi Hironoshin^[1]
• Munetaka Aoki as Ueki Yoshikuni^[1]
• Ryu Kohata^[1]
• Yuta Koseki^[1]
• Motoki Fukami^[6]
• Shinsuke Katō^[6]
• Joey Iwanaga^[6]
• Ruka Wakabayashi^[6]
• Mariko Tsutsui^[6]
• Mugi Kadowaki^[6]
• Nao^[6]
• Junko Abe^[6]
• Taishi Nakagawa^[6]
• Naoto Takenaka as Kurita Mataemon^[6]
• Danny Huston as Commodore Perry^[5]
• Etsushi Toyokawa as Ioki Suketora^[6]
• Hiroki Hasegawa as Itakura Katsuakira^[6]

Release

The film was released in theaters in Japan in February 2019.^[5] It was later featured at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June 2019.^[7] Well Go USA Entertainment acquired North American distribution rights to the film in July 2019.^[1] The film was released on VOD and digital platforms in May 2020.^[8] It was also released on DVD and Blu-Ray in the United States on July 21, 2020.^[2]

Reception

The film has a 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.^[9] James Hadfield of The Japan Times awarded the film three stars out of five.^[3]

References

1. Brzeski, Patrick (July 2, 2019). "Bernard Rose's 'Samurai Marathon' to Get North America Release From Well Go USA (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
2. Prange, Stephanie (June 2, 2020). "Japanese Action Film 'Samurai Marathon' Due on Disc July 21 From Well Go". Media Play News. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
3. Hadfield, James (February 27, 2019). "'Samurai Marathon': A sprint through Japanese history". The Japan Times. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
4. "Samurai marason". IMDb.
5. Clarke, Stewart (February 6, 2019). "HanWay Boards Bernard Rose's 'Samurai Marathon,' Jeremy Thomas Producing (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
6. "サムライマラソン". eiga.com. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
7. Ide, Wendy (June 24, 2019). "'Samurai Marathon': Edinburgh Review". Screen Daily. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
8. Martin, Peter (May 13, 2020). "Now on VOD: Bernard Rose's SAMURAI MARATHON Gets Breathless". Screen Anarchy. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
9. "Samurai Marathon 1855". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 10, 2021.

External links

• Samurai Marathon at IMDb
• Samurai Marathon at Rotten Tomatoes