The King
王将
“The life story of the shogi master & maniac Sankichi Sakata in the Meiji era.”
Synopsis
The film takes place at the junction of the two eras of Meiji and Taisho. Sakata Sankichi, an uneducated zori sandal maker, becomes a professional shogi player through his genius shogi skills and lives a fanatically devoted shogi game supported by the love of his family. This is the 3rd adaptation of Hideji Hojo's famous play.
Top Cast
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Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Daisuke Itō
- Screenplay & Story
- Daisuke Itō
- Original Score
- Akira Ifukube
- Original Title
- 王将
- Country of Origin
- Japan
- Spoken Languages
- Japanese
- Runtime
- 1h 32m
- Production Studios
- Toei Company
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Daisuke Itō
Daisuke Itō, Hideji Hōjō
Akira Ifukube
Department Leadership Roster
Daisuke Itō
Screenplay
Daisuke Itō
Director
Akira Ifukube
Original Music Composer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The King.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The King
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The King about?
The film takes place at the junction of the two eras of Meiji and Taisho. Sakata Sankichi, an uneducated zori sandal maker, becomes a professional shogi player through his genius shogi skills and lives a fanatically devoted shogi game supported by the love of his family. This is the 3rd adaptation of Hideji Hojo's famous play.
Who directed The King?
The King was directed by Daisuke Itō.
Who stars in The King?
The principal cast of The King includes Rentaro Mikuni, Chikage Awashima, Yoshiko Mita, Hideo Murata, Sonny Chiba.
When was The King released and how long is it?
The King was released in 1962 with a total runtime of 1h 32m.
Who composed the musical score for The King?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The King was composed by Akira Ifukube.
Is The King based on a book or true story?
The King is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Hideji Hōjō".