Souls in the Moonlight (1957) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language

1957 · 106 mins · Japanese

Loading streaming availability…

Directed by

Tomu Uchida

Starring

Isao Yamagata, Bokuzen Hidari, Noboru Umezawa, Satomi Oka, Yoshio Yoshida, Hiroshi Hitomi

First installment of the celebrated Daibosatsu Toge trilogy, adapted from Kaizan Nakazato’s unfinished 41‑volume novel series written between 1913 and 1941. Set in the waning days of the Tokugawa shogunate, it follows Tsuke Ryunosuke, a nihilistic swordmaster who kills without hesitation, friend or foe. Although Nakazato explicitly opposed adaptations, the saga has nevertheless been turned into numerous stage productions and films.