| Daichūshingura | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | 大忠臣蔵 |
| Genre | Jidaigeki |
| Directed by | Mitsuo Murayama Takumi Furukawa |
| Starring | Toshiro Mifune[1] Tetsuya Watari Tetsuro Tamba Takashi Shimura Masakazu Tamura |
| Theme music composer | Isao Tomita |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Original language | Japanese |
| No. of episodes | 52 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 45 minutes (per episode) |
| Production companies | TV Asahi, Mifune production |
| Original release | |
| Network | TV Asahi |
| Release | January 5 (1971-01-05) – December 26, 1971 (1971-12-26) |
Daichūshingura (大忠臣蔵) (Dai Chushingura) is a Japanese television dramatization of the events of theForty-seven Ronin. The first episode aired on January 5, 1971, and the 52nd and final episode appeared on December 28 of the same year. TheNET network broadcast it in the Tuesday evening 9:00–9:56 prime-time slot in Japan.[2]
The series featured anall-star cast. The central actor wasToshiro Mifune, who portrayedŌishi Kuranosuke;Yoko Tsukasa his wife; andkabuki actor Onoe Kikugorō VII their son Chikara.[3]
Ichikawa Chūsha VIII took the part ofKira Yoshinaka, but died after the filming of Episode 47; his brother Kodayū replaced him.
Many actors appeared as guest stars in only a few episodes. Among them were many known to audiences outside Japan. These included superstarKinnosuke Nakamura as Wakisaka Awaji-no-kami,Matsumoto Kōshirō,Shintaro Katsu (ofZatoichi fame), Mifune's frequent co-starTakashi Shimura,Eiji Okada,Yukiyo Toake,Kinichi Hagimoto,Terumi Niki,Masaaki Sakai, andShinji Maki.
The series has been rerun during the more than 35 years that have passed since it was first aired. It is available in several DVD sets.