The Ceremony
儀式
Synopsis
Oshima’s magisterial epic, centering on the ambivalent surviving heir of the Sakurada clan, uses ritual and the microcosm of the traditional family to trace the rise and fall of militaristic Japan across several decades.
Top Cast
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Kenzō Kawarasaki
Sakurada Masuo
Atsuko Kaku
Sakurada Ritsuko
Atsuo Nakamura
Tachibana Terumichi
Nobuko Otowa
Sakurada Shizu
Hōsei Komatsu
Sakurada Isamu
Rokkō Toura
Sakurada Mamoru
Fumio Watanabe
Susumu
Shizue Kawarazaki
Sakurada Tomiko
Chisako Hara
Isamu's flower girl
Maki Takayama
Sakurada Kiku
Sue Mitobe
Sakurada Chiyo
Eitarō Ozawa
Tachibana Takeyo
Taiji Tonoyama
Old Chief
Akiko Koyama
Setsuko
Kei Satō
Sakurada Kazuomi, Grandfather
Release History & Theatrical Window
February 7, 1974
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Nagisa Ōshima
- Screenplay & Story
- Mamoru Sasaki, Nagisa Ōshima, Tsutomu Tamura
- Original Score
- Tōru Takemitsu
- Original Title
- 儀式
- Country of Origin
- Japan
- Spoken Languages
- Japanese
- Runtime
- 2h 3m
- Production Studios
- Sozosha, Art Theatre Guild
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Nagisa Ōshima
Mamoru Sasaki, Nagisa Ōshima, Tsutomu Tamura
Tōru Takemitsu
Tōichirō Narushima
Keiichi Uraoka
Kinshirō Kuzui, Takuji Yamaguchi
Department Leadership Roster
Nagisa Ōshima
Director
Mamoru Sasaki
Screenplay
Nagisa Ōshima
Screenplay
Tsutomu Tamura
Screenplay
Kinshirō Kuzui
Producer
Takuji Yamaguchi
Producer
Keiichi Uraoka
Editor
Tōichirō Narushima
Director of Photography
Tōru Takemitsu
Original Music Composer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Ceremony.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Ceremony.
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Radiance Films
Films released by Radiance Films, built from the label's store catalogue. Refreshed 2026-09-08.
Radiance Films
Films released by Radiance Films, built from the label's store catalogue.
Japanese New Wave
Films of the Japanese New Wave, late 1950s through the 1970s.
Nagisa Oshima
Films directed by Nagisa Oshima.
Cinematography One
Photography aligned with beauty.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Ceremony
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Ceremony about?
Oshima’s magisterial epic, centering on the ambivalent surviving heir of the Sakurada clan, uses ritual and the microcosm of the traditional family to trace the rise and fall of militaristic Japan across several decades.
Who directed The Ceremony?
The Ceremony was directed by Nagisa Ōshima.
Who stars in The Ceremony?
The principal cast of The Ceremony includes Kenzō Kawarasaki, Atsuko Kaku, Atsuo Nakamura, Nobuko Otowa, Hōsei Komatsu.
When was The Ceremony released and how long is it?
The Ceremony was released in 1971 with a total runtime of 2h 3m.
Who composed the musical score for The Ceremony?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Ceremony was composed by Tōru Takemitsu.