Samurai Marathon
Samurai Marathon (Japanese: サムライマラソン, Hepburn: Samurai Marason) is a 2019 Japanese-British historical action adventure film co-written and directed by Bernard Rose and starring Takeru Satoh, Nana Komatsu and Mirai Moriyama. It is based on the 2014 novel The Marathon Samurai: Five Tales of Japan’s First Marathon by Akihiro Dobashi, itself inspired by the origin story of the Ansei Toashi 30-km footrace held annually in Annaka City.[1][2][3]
| Samurai Marathon | |
|---|---|
![]() Film poster  | |
| Directed by | Bernard Rose | 
| Screenplay by | Bernard Rose Hiroshi Saito Kikumi Yamagishi  | 
| Based on | The Marathon Samurai: Five Tales of Japan’s First Marathon by Akihiro Dobashi  | 
| Produced by | Jeremy Thomas Toshiaki Nakazawa  | 
| Starring | Takeru Satoh Nana Komatsu Mirai Moriyama Shōta Sometani Munetaka Aoki Naoto Takenaka Danny Huston Etsushi Toyokawa Hiroki Hasegawa  | 
| Cinematography | Takuro Ishizaka | 
| Music by | Philip Glass | 
| Distributed by | Well Go USA Entertainment | 
Release date  | 
  | 
Running time  | 104 minutes | 
| Countries | Japan United Kingdom  | 
| Languages | Japanese English  | 
Cast
    
- Takeru Satoh as Karasawa Jinnai[1]
 - Nana Komatsu as Princess Yuki[4]
 - Mirai Moriyama as Tsujimura Heikurō[1]
 - Shōta Sometani as Uesugi Hironoshin[1]
 - Munetaka Aoki as Ueki Yoshikuni[1]
 - Ryu Kohata[1]
 - Yuta Koseki[1]
 - Motoki Fukami[5]
 - Shinsuke Katō[5]
 - Joey Iwanaga[5]
 - Ruka Wakabayashi[5]
 - Mariko Tsutsui[5]
 - Mugi Kadowaki[5]
 - Nao[5]
 - Junko Abe[5]
 - Taishi Nakagawa[5]
 - Naoto Takenaka as Kurita Mataemon[5]
 - Danny Huston as Commodore Perry[4]
 - Etsushi Toyokawa as Ioki Suketora[5]
 - Hiroki Hasegawa as Itakura Katsuakira[5]
 
Release
    
The film was released in theaters in Japan in February 2019.[4] It was later featured at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June 2019.[6] Well Go USA Entertainment acquired North American distribution rights to the film in July 2019.[1] The film was released on VOD and digital platforms in May 2020.[7] It was also released on DVD and Blu-Ray in the United States on July 21, 2020.[2]
Reception
    
The film has a 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[8] James Hadfield of The Japan Times awarded the film three stars out of five.[3]
References
    
- Brzeski, Patrick (July 2, 2019). "Bernard Rose's 'Samurai Marathon' to Get North America Release From Well Go USA (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
 - Prange, Stephanie (June 2, 2020). "Japanese Action Film 'Samurai Marathon' Due on Disc July 21 From Well Go". Media Play News. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
 - Hadfield, James (February 27, 2019). "'Samurai Marathon': A sprint through Japanese history". The Japan Times. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
 - Clarke, Stewart (February 6, 2019). "HanWay Boards Bernard Rose's 'Samurai Marathon,' Jeremy Thomas Producing (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
 - "サムライマラソン". eiga.com. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
 - Ide, Wendy (June 24, 2019). "'Samurai Marathon': Edinburgh Review". Screen Daily. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
 - Martin, Peter (May 13, 2020). "Now on VOD: Bernard Rose's SAMURAI MARATHON Gets Breathless". Screen Anarchy. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
 - "Samurai Marathon 1855". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
 
