Sansho the Bailiff
山椒大夫
“Without mercy, man is like a beast.”
Synopsis
In 11th-century feudal Japan, following the exile of an idealistic governor, his wife and children are separated by slave traders; the children, Zushio and Anju, are sold into brutal servitude under the cruel bailiff Sansho.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Cinematography Of Sansho the Bailiff (山椒大夫)
Type: Featurette • Published 2022-07-30
Top Cast
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Kinuyo Tanaka
Tamaki
Yoshiaki Hanayagi
Zushiô
Kyōko Kagawa
Anju
Eitarō Shindō
Sanshô dayû
Ichirō Sugai
Minister of Justice
Bontarō Miake
Kichiji
Yōko Kozono
Kohagi
Chieko Naniwa
Ubatake
Kikue Mōri
Priestess
Ken Mitsuda
Prime Minister Fujiwara
Masao Shimizu
Masauji Taira
Ryōsuke Kagawa
Ritsushi Kumotake
Akitake Kōno
Taro
Kanji Koshiba
Kaikudo Naito
Shinobu Araki
Sadaya
Masahiko Tsugawa
Young Zushiō
Keiko Enami
Young Anju
Teruko Ōmi
Nakagimi
Release History & Theatrical Window
Venice Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
September 14, 1955
Wide Cinema Exhibition
November 2, 2017
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Kenji Mizoguchi
- Screenplay & Story
- Fuji Yahiro, Yoshikata Yoda
- Original Score
- Kanahichi Odera, Tamekichi Mochizuki, Fumio Hayasaka
- Original Title
- 山椒大夫
- Country of Origin
- Japan
- Spoken Languages
- Japanese
- Runtime
- 2h 4m
- Production Studios
- Daiei Film
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Kenji Mizoguchi
Fuji Yahiro, Yoshikata Yoda, Mori Ogai
Kanahichi Odera, Tamekichi Mochizuki, Fumio Hayasaka
Kazuo Miyagawa
Mitsuzō Miyata
Masaichi Nagata
Department Leadership Roster
Masaichi Nagata
Producer
Kanahichi Odera
Original Music Composer
Tamekichi Mochizuki
Original Music Composer
Kenji Mizoguchi
Director
Fumio Hayasaka
Original Music Composer
Mitsuzō Miyata
Editor
Kazuo Miyagawa
Director of Photography
Shima Yoshizane
Costume Design
Fuji Yahiro
Screenplay
Yoshikata Yoda
Screenplay
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Sansho the Bailiff.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Sansho the Bailiff.
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
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Letterboxd's Top 500 Films
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TSPDT - 1000 Greatest Films
They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? (TSPDT) - The 1,000 Greatest Films. A definitive meta-list aggregating thousands of critics' polls, historical rankings, and director top 10s to represent the ultimate critical consensus in cinema history. TSPDT 影史最伟大的1000部电影： 全球最权威的电影元榜单，由该网站汇总世界各大电影刊物历史评选结果及数千名影评人、学者的个人十佳榜单，通过算法加权计算得出的终极共识。 *片单说明：* 本片单只收录纯电影，以下剧集或迷你剧不予收录： • [#335] Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) • [#514] Twin Peaks: The Return (2017) • [#614] Edvard Munch (1974) • [#703] The Sorrow and the Pity (1969) • [#890] Elephant (1989) • [#925] Heimat (1984) • [#968] Doomed Love (1978) 以下作品在 TMDB 被拆分为多个独立电影条目；本片单按作品/章节顺序连续收录，且每个分拆条目均沿用同一 TSPDT 名次： • [#171] Dekalog (1989) — 展开为 10 部电影 • [#988] Olympia (1938) — 展开为 2 部电影 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:30:01 UTC+8)*
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sansho the Bailiff
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Sansho the Bailiff about?
In 11th-century feudal Japan, following the exile of an idealistic governor, his wife and children are separated by slave traders; the children, Zushio and Anju, are sold into brutal servitude under the cruel bailiff Sansho.
Who directed Sansho the Bailiff?
Sansho the Bailiff was directed by Kenji Mizoguchi.
Who stars in Sansho the Bailiff?
The principal cast of Sansho the Bailiff includes Kinuyo Tanaka, Yoshiaki Hanayagi, Kyōko Kagawa, Eitarō Shindō, Ichirō Sugai.
When was Sansho the Bailiff released and how long is it?
Sansho the Bailiff was released in 1954 with a total runtime of 2h 4m.
Who composed the musical score for Sansho the Bailiff?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Sansho the Bailiff was composed by Kanahichi Odera, Tamekichi Mochizuki, Fumio Hayasaka.