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.


Ryūnosuke Tsukigata
Gennosuke Higaki

Takashi Shimura
Hansuke Murai, Sayo's father

Ranko Hanai
Osumi Kodana
Sugisaku Aoyama
Tsunetami Iimura

Ichirō Sugai
Police Chief Mishima