A visually stunning anthology of Japanese folktales adapted from Lafcadio Hearn, marked by production struggles and critical triumph.
Producer Shigeru Wakatsuki pitches the adaptation of Lafcadio Hearn's folktales to director Masaki Kobayashi. The project faces a decade-long development delay before Toho finally accelerates production.
Principal photography begins in March 1964 but quickly overruns the scheduled July completion date. Budget and schedule constraints intensify as the anthology takes shape.
The film premieres in late 1964 and launches a roadshow release in early 1965. Despite high production costs, domestic box office returns fail to cover expenses, leading to studio bankruptcy.
Critical acclaim emerges despite financial failure. The film secures the Special Jury Prize at Cannes and gains lasting recognition for its artistic vision.
Taking its title from an archaic Japanese word meaning "ghost story," this anthology adapts four folk tales. A penniless samurai marries for money with tragic results. A man stranded in a blizzard is saved by Yuki the Snow Maiden, but his rescue comes at a cost. Blind musician Hoichi is forced to perform for an audience of ghosts. An author relates the story of a samurai who sees another warrior's reflection in his teacup.
Masaki Kobayashi
Rating: 7.7/10 (468 votes)
Plot analysis generated from content on Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related entry on Wikidata (Q133488), public domain (CC0).