Movie Sekigahara to be released throughout Japan on Saturday, August 26

The Battle of Sekigahara is a historical event that all Japanese people are familiar with, but what were the dramatic stories hidden behind the fight? The decisive battle to rule Japan is widely known, but not understood at great depth. The movie Sekigahara, which depicts the individual stories of the warlords, will be released throughout the country on August 26.

The movie is based on Ryotaro Shiba’s novel Sekigahara, a bestseller which moved more than 6.2 million copies in total. Sumitomo Corporation and Asmik Ace, a Sumitomo Corporation Group company, participated in the film’s production. The star-studded cast includes Junichi Okada as Mitsunari Ishida, Koji Yakusho as Ieyasu Tokugawa, and Kasumi Arimura as Hatsume, a female ninja from Iga. The director, Masato Harada, is known for his work on The Emperor in August, among others. The movie depicts the greatest battle in Japan’s Sengoku, or Warring States, period (1467–1603). Actual historical structures such as Himeji Castle were used, and about 3,000 extras were hired for the battle scenes. The film’s massive scale and stunning images are sure to amaze the audience.

In the movie, the characters of the warlords were written to feature new interpretations of their personalities added by Mr. Harada. Mitsunari Ishida trusts in justice and is overly pure in his belief in love. Ieyasu Tokugawa burns with his great ambition to rule the country. And Hideaki Kobayakawa, who is generally viewed as a traitor, is portrayed in the movie as steadfast in his own beliefs.

The names of these historical figures are widely known to the Japanese, but the movie fills them out as actual people. The characters struggle to keep their faith despite the great influence exerted over them by those in power, and show a timeless strength of perseverance relevant to us in the modern age. They pursue justice on their own terms and never waiver, resisting simple classifications such as "heroes" or "villains." We hope you will have an opportunity to see the film and witness for yourself how these historical figures of Japan led their remarkable lives.