Goemon

Goemon

Year: 2009

Runtime: 128 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Kazuaki Kiriya

ActionFantasyDrama

The film follows the legendary ninja thief Ishikawa Goemon, portrayed by Yosuke Eguchi, as he mounts a daring raid on the Nanban—Southern Barbarians—seeking treasure. Amid the loot he discovers a secret grave that holds a mysterious box, an ancient relic whose forgotten powers could alter his destiny.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Goemon (2009)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Goemon (2009). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

16th century

The events unfold in the late 1500s, a time of rapid territorial shifts and intense feudal conflict. Nobunaga’s death triggers a power vacuum that leads Hideyoshi and Mitsunari to battle for supremacy. The era is defined by betrayals, daring assassinations, and large-scale battles that shape Japan's future.

Location

Nobunaga's castle, Kyoto city, temple ruins, Hideyoshi's palace, royal ships

Set against the volatile Sengoku period, the story moves through noble castles, bustling urban centers, sacred temples, and grand ships. Castles and palaces become the theaters of shifting loyalties and brutal power plays, while temples and waterfalls mark moments of fate and confrontation. The world is torn between warlords, spies, and ninjas, all vying for control of a fractured country.

🏯 Feudal Japan ⚔️ Warfare 🗺️ Political intrigue

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:20

Main Characters – Goemon (2009)

Meet the key characters of Goemon (2009), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Ishikawa Goemon (Yosuke Eguchi)

A daring outlaw who rises from tragedy to become a legendary figure navigating loyalty, vengeance, and personal freedom. His arc moves from rescue and training under a warlord to brutal acts in the name of peace, culminating in a self-sacrificing final stand.

🗡️ Antihero 🏹 Freedom seeker 🌌 Destiny

Kirigakure Saizō (Takao Osawa)

Goemon’s pragmatic ally who seeks status within the samurai world. His ambition leads to perilous choices and devastating losses, ending in a brutal fate that tests loyalties and courage.

🗡️ Loyalist ⚔️ Rival 🧭 Ambition

Chacha Asai (Ryoko Hirosue)

Noblewoman and Nobunaga’s designated liaison, she grows to navigate danger and political machination. Her bond with Goemon becomes a linchpin in the shifting loyalties around the central power struggles.

👑 Noblewoman 💔 Love 🧭 Political Player

Mitsunari Ishida (Jun Kaname)

A high-ranking samurai whose ambition fuels the post-Nobunaga power struggle. He serves as a calculating antagonist whose schemes heighten the stakes for Goemon and Saizō.

🗡️ Strategist 🧭 Rival 💼 Politician

Tokugawa Ieyasu (Masatô Ibu)

A rising power who becomes the central political force after the clashes. His leadership and decisions shape the ongoing struggle between competing factions.

🏛️ Statesman 🗺️ Power broker 🛡️ Leader

Goemon's Mother (Ryo)

A maternal figure whose death underscores the personal costs of the feuds sweeping through Goemon’s world. Her fate highlights the human stakes behind the battles for power.

👩 Tragedy 🧭 Catalyst 🪡 Family

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:20

Major Themes – Goemon (2009)

Explore the central themes of Goemon (2009), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗡️ Power Struggle

Warlords and their retinues vie for dominance, turning every alliance into a bargaining chip. The pursuit of land, influence, and prestige drives alliances, betrayals, and brutal decision-making. The narrative centers on how power is gained, maintained, and contested.

🕊️ Loyalty and Betrayal

Characters switch sides and test fealty in a world where trust is scarce. Personal bonds collide with political necessity, leading to crushing betrayals and costly sacrifices. Loyalties are constantly renegotiated as the balance of power shifts.

✨ Sacrifice and Destiny

Individual costs are immense as characters sacrifice freedom, family, and even life for a larger peace. The protagonist’s choices are driven by a sense of destined duty, even as they seek personal redemption. The pursuit of peace comes at a steep, often tragic price.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:20

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Tragic Hero Action Epics like Goemon

High-stakes action stories where heroes sacrifice everything for a noble cause.Discover movies like Goemon, featuring legendary warriors and heroes whose noble quests are shadowed by personal tragedy. These action-packed epics share a bittersweet tone, heavy emotional weight, and fast pacing, perfect for viewers who enjoy stories of sacrifice and honor.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a larger-than-life hero on a grand quest, often for vengeance or justice, set against a backdrop of political turmoil. Their journey is marked by intense action, profound personal loss, and unwavering loyalty, ultimately culminating in a sacrificial ending that achieves a greater good at immense personal cost.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are united by their fusion of spectacular action with a tragic, character-driven story. They share a high-intensity, fast-paced feel, a bittersweet emotional tone, and a focus on a hero whose destiny is intertwined with sacrifice, creating a powerful and resonant viewing experience.

Bleak Historical Action and Political Betrayal like Goemon

Gritty historical dramas where violence and treachery shape destinies.If you liked the political intrigue and war-torn setting of Goemon, explore these similar historical action movies. They feature warriors and ninjas navigating webs of betrayal, with high intensity, fast pacing, and a dark, dramatic tone focused on honor and destiny.

atmosphericdramaticaction-packedbleakpoliticalbetrayalhistorical

Narrative Summary

The plot typically revolves around a skilled warrior or operative caught in a web of political deception. The narrative is driven by shifting alliances, shocking betrayals, and violent confrontations, leading characters to question their loyalties and confront the bleak nature of their world. The journey is often one of disillusionment set against an atmospheric historical backdrop.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared setting in a gritty historical period, a focus on political machinations and betrayal, and a consistently high-intensity, dramatic tone. They deliver a specific vibe of atmospheric dread and fatalistic action, appealing to fans of complex, morally gray historical narratives.

Unlock the Full Story of Goemon

Don't stop at just watching — explore Goemon in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Goemon is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Goemon Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Goemon, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Goemon Summary

Goemon Timeline

Track the full timeline of Goemon with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Goemon Timeline

Goemon Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Goemon that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Goemon Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Goemon

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Goemon: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Goemon