Azumi

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Movie: Azumi
Romaji: Azumi
Japanese: あずみ
Director: Ryuhei Kitamura
Writer: Yu Koyama (comic), Mataichiro Yamamoto
Producer: Toshiaki Nakazawa, Mataichiro Yamamoto
Cinematographer Takumi Furuya
Release Date: May 10, 2003
Runtime: 128 min.
Production Company: Amuse, Nippon Herald Films, Pony Canyon, Shogakukan Productions, Toho, TBS
Distributor: Toho
Language: Japanese
Country: Japan

Plot

Orphan Azumi (Aya Ueto) is brought up in war-torn feudal Japan as an assassin. She is trained by Master G along with 10 of her fellow orphaned male assassins to kill two rival warlords - this is for the purpose of bringing peace to the nation. After completing their training, Master G has one final test for the 10 assasins. The 10 assasins are to pair off with each other and have one final battle to the death, leaving only 5 assassins. With their mission set, Azumi and the other surviving assassins journey out to decapitate the rival warlords.

Notes

Related titles:
1. Azumi 2: Death or Love (2005)

Cast

Aya Ueto - Azumi
Shun Oguri - Nachi
Hiroki Narimiya - Ukiha
Kenji Kohashi - Hyuga
Takatoshi Kaneko - Amagi
Yuma Ishigaki - Nagara
Yasuomi Sano - Yura
Shinji Suzuki - Awa
Eita - Hiei
Shogo Yamaguchi - Komoru
Kazuki Kitamura - Inoue, Kanbe'e
Kenichi Endo - Sajiki Isshin
Kazuya Shimizu - Sajiki Nisai
Ryo - Osowareru Haha-Oya
Yoshio Harada - Gessai
Masato Ibu - Nagamasa Asano
Minoru Matsumoto - Saru
Joe Odagiri - Bijomaru Mogami
Aya Okamoto - Yae
Tak Sakaguchi - Sajiki brother #2
Hideo Sakaki - Nagato
Naoto Takenaka - Kiyomasa Kato
Yasunari Takeshima
Takashi Taniguchi
Yasuomi Sano - Yura

Trailer

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Image Gallery

Awards

"Rookie of the Year" (Aya Ueto) - 2004 (27th) Japan Academy Prize - February 20, 2004
"Rookie of the Year" (Joe Odagiri) - 2004 (27th) Japan Academy Prize - February 20, 2004
"Most Popular Actor" (Aya Ueto) - 2004 (27th) Japan Academy Prize - February 20, 2004

Comments

Comment #4
Ki Says:
Feb 01 2011 9:42 pm

Obviously this movie was not inspired by any of Akira Kurosawa’s films. The movie comes from a popular Japanese manga and seems to have been inspired by the fast cut-and-paste action sequences favored by the A.D.D./MTV generation. One complaint about the movie would be the aweful soundtrack used in the film. I did not mind placing contemporary music in a film set in the 1800’s, but I did mind placing bad contemporary music in a film set in the 1800’s (1980s type of heavy metal music played in a sterile muzak form). Besides that, I enjoyed the movie for what it was, alot of mayhem caused by a J-pop singer in a mini skirt and her sword.
Comment #3
Flix Says:
Feb 07 2010 5:57 am

Azumi was an entertaining movie; with a touch of artistic humanism
Comment #2
Mister JONES Says:
Nov 26 2009 6:12 pm

One of my favorite chanbara movies. I can watch this one quite a few times. A great balance of story and action and cuteness.
Comment #1
Nalyah Says:
Jun 14 2009 2:20 pm

Actually I was disappointed by this movie. I enjoy marital arts and fantasy attachments, but this one was too much on the brutal side and less on the ‘plot side’ as for my taste. I also agree about the music- it was really nice, but didn’t really fit this particular movie.