Samurai Spy (1965): Cast & Plot
Samurai Spy is a 1965 action drama directed by Masahiro Shinoda, starring Eiji Okada as Tatewaki Koriyama, Kōji Takahashi and Tetsuro Tamba. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 40m (100 min)
- Director
- Masahiro Shinoda
- Original language
-
Japanese - Studio
- Shochiku
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Samurai Spy About?
The premise of Samurai Spy without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
After years of war, Japan is unified under the Tokugawa shogunate. Samurai spy Sasuke Sarutobi, tired of conflict, craves peace, but when high‑ranking spy Tatewaki Koriyama defects to a rival clan, turmoil erupts. Sasuke hunts Tatewaki while a mysterious white‑hooded figure stalks them both. By the end, loyalties shift, identities are revealed, and the truth is far more personal than expected. Director Masahiro Shinoda blends clan intrigue, ninja espionage, and double‑crosses, offering a bold break from traditional sword‑play conventions.
Samurai Spy Themes & Keywords
· 20 tags- japanese new wave
- kiss
- foreplay
- female nudity
- 17th century
- samurai action
- samurai
- slow motion
- ronin
- persecution of christians
- ninja
- martyrdom
+8 more Show fewer
- espionage
- duel
- deception
- clan
- christianity
- bridge
- bible
- based on novel
Samurai Spy Cast & Characters
Eiji Okada leads the cast as Tatewaki Koriyama, with Kōji Takahashi as Sarutobi Sasuke and Tetsuro Tamba as Sakon Takatani. Directed by Masahiro Shinoda; 27 actors are credited in all.
- Director Masahiro Shinoda
- Eiji Okada as Tatewaki Koriyama
- Kōji Takahashi as Sarutobi Sasuke
- Tetsuro Tamba as Sakon Takatani
- Eitarô Ozawa as Shigeyuki Koremura
Also Starring in Samurai Spy
· 23 more- Kei Satô Takanosuke Nojiri
- Rokkō Toura Mitsuaki Inamura
- Minoru Hodaka Genba Kuni
- Jun Hamamura Joshin Temple Priest
- Seiji Miyaguchi Jinnai-Kazutaka Horikawa
- Misako Watanabe Okiwa
- Jitsuko Yoshimura Omiyo
- Takeshi Kusaka Narrator
- Yasunori Irikawa Yashiro Kobayashi
- Taku Kido
- Kentarō Imai
- Hiroshi Aoyama
- Kenji Sonoda
- Shuichi Oki
- Shôsuke Oni
- Matsuko Shiga
Show all 27 cast members Show fewer cast members
More from Masahiro Shinoda
More films directed by Masahiro Shinoda: Spy Sorge, Owls’ Castle, Moonlight Serenade and Sharaku.
Samurai Spy Plot Summary
What happens in Samurai Spy from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Sarutobi Sasuke, Kōji Takahashi, a spy for the Sanada Clan, carries a weary heart after years of conflict and quietly longs for lasting peace in a country rebuilding after upheaval. The chronicle unfolds in the tense lull between the pivotal battles of Sekigahara in 1600 and the looming Siege of Osaka in 1614, when the Tokugawa shogunate holds strategic sway but still faces simmering resentments from samurai who have become ronin and from rival factions that remember the cost of war.
Full summary
The whole story of Samurai Spy, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Samurai Spy?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the main spy protagonist of the film?
Samurai Spy Also Known As
10 alternative titles, including “Ibun Sarutobi Sasuke” and “Удивительная история одного ниндзя”.
- Also known as
-
- Ibun Sarutobi Sasuke
- Удивительная история одного ниндзя
- Samuraj - szpieg
- La guerre des Espions
- El samurái espía
- Szamuráj kém
- Самурай-шпион
- 猿飞佐助异闻录
- 사무라이 스파이
- Sarutobi Sasuke – jiný příběh
Seen Samurai Spy?
Movies Like Samurai Spy
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Samurai Marathon, Samurai Assassin and Samurai Resurrection.
Samurai Spy FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of Samurai Spy, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Samurai Spy?
Samurai Spy runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).
When was Samurai Spy released?
Samurai Spy was released on July 10, 1965.
Who directed Samurai Spy?
Samurai Spy was directed by Masahiro Shinoda.
More films by Masahiro Shinoda Who is in the cast of Samurai Spy?
Samurai Spy stars Eiji Okada as Tatewaki Koriyama, Kōji Takahashi as Sarutobi Sasuke and Tetsuro Tamba as Sakon Takatani, among 27 credited actors.
Does Samurai Spy have a post-credit scene?
No. Samurai Spy has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Samurai Spy in?
The original language of Samurai Spy is Japanese.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
