Harakiri
切腹
“What befalls others today, may be your own fate tomorrow.”
Synopsis
Down-on-his-luck veteran Tsugumo Hanshirō enters the courtyard of the prosperous House of Iyi. Unemployed, and with no family, he hopes to find a place to commit seppuku—and a worthy second to deliver the coup de grâce in his suicide ritual. The senior counselor for the Iyi clan questions the ronin’s resolve and integrity, suspecting Hanshirō of seeking charity rather than an honorable end. What follows is a pair of interlocking stories which lay bare the difference between honor and respect, and promises to examine the legendary foundations of the Samurai code.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2020-06-23
Top Cast
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Tatsuya Nakadai
Hanshiro Tsugumo
Akira Ishihama
Motome Chijiiwa
Shima Iwashita
Miho Tsugumo
Tetsuro Tamba
Hikokuro Omodaka
Masao Mishima
Tango Inaba
Ichirō Nakatani
Hayato Yazaki
Kei Satō
Masakazu
Yoshio Inaba
Jinai Chijiiwa
Hisashi Igawa
Retainer
Toru Takeuchi
Retainer
Yoshirō Aoki
Tatsuo Matsumura
Akiji Kobayashi
Kōichi Hayashi
Ryūtarō Gomi
Jo Azumi
Nakajirō Tomita
Shichisaburo Amatsu
Release History & Theatrical Window
September 11, 1963
Wide Cinema Exhibition
September 15, 2008
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Masaki Kobayashi
- Screenplay & Story
- Shinobu Hashimoto
- Original Score
- Tōru Takemitsu
- Original Title
- 切腹
- Country of Origin
- Japan
- Spoken Languages
- Japanese
- Runtime
- 2h 15m
- Production Studios
- Shochiku
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Masaki Kobayashi
Shinobu Hashimoto, Yasuhiko Takiguchi
Tōru Takemitsu
Yoshio Miyajima
Hisashi Sagara
Tatsuyo Hosoya
Department Leadership Roster
Shinobu Hashimoto
Screenplay
Masaki Kobayashi
Director
Tōru Takemitsu
Original Music Composer
Hisashi Sagara
Editor
Mitsuzô Ueda
Costume Design
Tatsuyo Hosoya
Producer
Yoshio Miyajima
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 18 — Restricted to adults 18 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Harakiri.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Harakiri.
Asian Cinema
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Frequently Asked Questions About Harakiri
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Harakiri about?
Down-on-his-luck veteran Tsugumo Hanshirō enters the courtyard of the prosperous House of Iyi. Unemployed, and with no family, he hopes to find a place to commit seppuku—and a worthy second to deliver the coup de grâce in his suicide ritual. The senior counselor for the Iyi clan questions the ronin’s resolve and integrity, suspecting Hanshirō of seeking charity rather than an honorable end. What follows is a pair of interlocking stories which lay bare the difference between honor and respect, and promises to examine the legendary foundations of the Samurai code.
Who directed Harakiri?
Harakiri was directed by Masaki Kobayashi.
Who stars in Harakiri?
The principal cast of Harakiri includes Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Ishihama, Shima Iwashita, Tetsuro Tamba, Masao Mishima.
When was Harakiri released and how long is it?
Harakiri was released in 1962 with a total runtime of 2h 15m.
Who composed the musical score for Harakiri?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Harakiri was composed by Tōru Takemitsu.
Is Harakiri based on a book or true story?
Harakiri is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Yasuhiko Takiguchi".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Harakiri?
Harakiri holds official age classifications: DE: 18 (FSK 18 — Restricted to adults 18 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).