13 Assassins

Introduction

“13 Assassins”  begins with the seppuku of Zusho Mamiya, the chief retainer of Akashi domain of Edo shogunate, played by Uchino Seiyō. The film with its ensemble cast depicts the events leading up to the murder of Matsudaira Naritsugu, who despite being the half-brother of the shogun, is the cruel tyrant and dark lord of Akashi domain. 

All characters are stuck in a system where both enemy and ally are bushi, including the ones who decide on the murder such as the shogun’s elderly council and the implementation unit led by the protagonist Shimada Shinzaemon, as well as the ones who attempt to hinder the murder such as Kitō Hanbei. The one most aware of this absurdity is none other than the enemy and seemingly madman Matsudaira Naritsugu which is rather ironic.

Summary of the 1963 Version  

The film, “13 Assassins” was released in 2010; however, it is a remake of the film released back in 1963 under the same title. 

The 1963 version of “13 Assassins” is a film that represents the new “group conflict period drama”. With jidaigeki losing popularity back then, this new style was an attempt to strike out a new line of the genre. 

The group conflict period drama points to the collection of jidaigeki films which were made in the Toei Kyoto Movie Studio (Toei) for several years beginning in 1963.

Toei was reigning on the top of the filming industry during the 1950’s when the audience loved jidaigeki starring gorgeous stars with didactic storylines or action films with combat scenes which were like beautiful dance moves.

However, the audience grew tired of them as similar films were mass produced. Around the year 1960, the genre of jidaigeki itself was in decline.

This is why the films were replaced by the works of Toho’s film director and maestro, “Kurosawa Akira of the world”.

With suspenseful stories and thrilling action scenes, “Yojimbō” in 1961 and “Tsubaki Sanjūrō” in 1962 were both record-breaking hits. Compared to Kurosawa films which were highly acclaimed by the world, Toei jidaigeki films seemed to lack in realism and speed, and it gradually began to appear rather behind the times in the eyes of the audience.

Toei was not doing well at the box office, and the audience was drifting away from their films.

Amidst all this, Toei decided to make a fresh new start with their new group conflict period drama jidaigeki.

The combat scenes became more realistic, and the stories had an emphasis on “logic” rather than “sentiment”. Casting both veteran film stars as well as struggling newcomers made the films more realistic with variety. It was these policies that created the standard of the production of Toei films.

Following the first of their films “17 Ninjas”, the 1963 version “13 Assassins”  was filmed.

With film director Kudo Eiichi and screenwriter Ikegami Kaneo for the production team, the film starred actors Kataoke Chiezō, Satomi Kōtarō, Arashi Kanjūrō, Uchida Ryōhei, Tanba Tetsurō and Yamashiro Shingo. In addition to these veteran actors, the team hired many young rising stars; however the film was not as successful at the box office.

Nonetheless, appointing several great actors for the roles and depicting disputes between groups instead of a single leading actor for the absolute hero was a refreshing new change. The film is being re-evaluated by present day critics who consider that this change is what brought about more realism in jidaigeki films.

After 50 years from the 1963 version, the remake “13 Assassins” was made in 2010. In an interview, the director Miike Takashi says,

“The frustration felt by the team of the original version for not having the public accept what they produced must have been great. The sublimation of their frustration was at rest for 50 years and was reenacted on the set of our version of the film made today”.

This sort of passion on the set may have caused the film to make an impact on the audience of 2010 when jidaigeki was unable to gain popularity.

Plot

The story of the 2010 version of “13 Assassins” basically follows the original plotline with 13 men assembling to form a team and risking their lives in order to carry out the murder of the tyrannical lord of the Akashi domain, Matsudaira Naritsugu. 

【Introduction】Plot of 13 Assassins 

The film begins in the year 1844, when Zusho Mamiya, the chief retainer of the Akashi Domain of Edo shogunate put his life on stake for standing up against the tyranny of Matsudaira Naritsugu, the lord of the Akashi domain.

Naritsugu was the half-brother of the shogun, and he was to be promoted to become a rōchū as well meaning that he would soon gain absolute political power. However, this man with power was actually a violent lord who killed just for fun and raped women.

At the time of sankin kōtai, Naritsugu murdered the son of the Owari retainer, Makino Tadakazu and also raped his son’s wife. Additionally, Naritsugu toyed with the daughter of the leader who had planned an uprising in his domain and eventually cut off her limbs to turn her into a “daruma woman”.

When asked by her family what had happened, the daughter in tears, replies by holding a brush in her mouth to write on a piece of paper:

“Minagoroshi”

which meant “kill them all”. As soon as she finished, she collapsed from exhaustion.

While the shogunate being aware of situations such as this is unable to punish Naritsugu for his crimes because he was related to the shogun, the head rōchū Doi Toshitsura secretly decides on removing him from his position. He orders his most trusted metsuke supervisor, Shimada Shinzaemon to form an assassination squad.

To assassinate Naritsugu, Shinzamon gathers a group of men including his nephew Shimada Shinrokurō, his friend and second in command metsuke Kuranaga Saheita, and a masterless ronin samurai who he had been supporting named Hirayama Kujūrō.

Shinzaemon also collects 11 members for his squad including Hirayama’s disciple Ogura Shōjiro, Hirayama’s acquaintance and ronin samurai Sahara Heizō, Kuranaga’’s subordinate Mitsuhashi Gunjirō, Mitsuhashi’s subordinates Higuchi Gannai, Horii Yahachi, Hioki Yasokichi, Ōtake Mosuke and a foot soldier who had been serving the Shimada family for many years named Ishizuka Rihei.

【Development】Plot of 13 Assassins 

Shinzaemon plans a raid on the lodge which Naritsugu will be stopping by after sankin kōtai. Naritsugu and his men were to go through Kiso on their way back from Edo, and this is why Shinzaemon conceived the idea of the attack.

The north of Kiso was Tenryō (Edo shogunate’s domain), the south was Owari domain where Owari retainer Makino Tadakazu’s son and daughter-in-law were brutally murdered.

Shinzaemon decides to reveal his plan and asks for Makino’s cooperation to prevent Naritsugu and his men from going through Owari domain. The first step of the plan was to make them stall in the borders of Kiso.

Just as Shinzaemon had guessed, the stubborn and proud Naritsugu did not turn back and  avoided the Owari domain only to go through Naegi domain and Ochiai juku which was between Kiso of Owari domain and Owari domain. Shinzaemon was to prepare for the raid at Ochiai juku where he could attack Naritsugu and his men upon arrival.

Shinzaemon orders Mitsuhashi and Horii to head to Ochiai juku beforehand to obtain by purchase the whole post-town.

At the same time, he sends Kuranaga and Ishizuka to Owari to ask for Makino’s assistance.

Kuranaga fulfills his duty and with Makino Tadakazu’s cooperation succeeds in blocking Naritsugu and his men. To conceal any involvement in the conspiracy, Makino kills himself on the spot by seppuku.

To outrun Naritsugu, Shinzaemon and the rest of the men hurry on their horses but just like Doi Toshitsura had Shinzamon, the Akashi domain had a faithful servant named Kitō Hanbei.

Kitō Hanbei used to be a rival of Shinzaemon at school, and he was adamant to become promoted before Shinzaemon. He was offered a job from Akashi domain and became their servant.

Shinzaemon’s squad is attacked by rōnins hired by Kito, and they decide to hide as well as forestall the enemy by going through a mountain path but they lose their way. This is where they meet a hunter named Kiga Koyata.

Koyata seemed to despise samurais and kept on cursing but he followed them nonetheless and with his help, the squad was able to go through the mountain path and arrive at Ochiai juku.

Ochiai juku had been turned into a fortress, after being purchased by Mitsuhashi and Horii. Kuranaga and Ishizuka returns to jjoin them, and Kiga Koyata is recruited to join as the last member of the squad. The 13 assassins waited for the arrival of their enemy.

【Twist】Plot of 13 Assassins

Naritsugu and his men do not show up no matter how long they wait. This was because Kito, who had suspected that Shinzaemon was organizing an attack decided to increase their party of soldiers by taking his good time to prepare more than 300 guards. 

Naritsugu was heading towards Ochiai juku as a huge group, a size far more than they initially expected. The odds were against them as the difference in military strength was 13 against 300 men, but this didn’t change Shinzaemon’s mind; the plan was to be commenced.  

【Conclusion】Plot of 13 Assassins

Naritsugu and his men finally arrive at Ochiai juku. Kitō Hanbei immediately notices something odd about the place but it was too late.

The group is trapped in Ochiai juku, the exits are blocked and by using “kagyū no kei” which is a tactic used to attack an enemy with a cow (or luggage carried by the cow) set on fire, Naritsugu’s guards are blasted away. The assassins fire arrows from forts and scaffolds they set up on rooftops.

Shinzaemon takes out a piece of paper from his inside pocket.

“Minagoroshi” (“kill them all”)

It was the message written by the girl who had been turned into a daruma by getting her limbs violently amputated by Naritsugu.

“The 13 of us have gathered because of fate! It is time to fulfill our mission and we will fight to the death! Are you all ready for this? No more playing games, we will kill them all!”

With these words, the battle opens fire and the assassins use swords and spears to fight the guards.

However, as they were completely outnumbered, the 13 assassins get defeated one by one after a death struggle. On Naritsugu’s side, there were 3 men left including Hanbei. Shinzaemon and Shinrokurō were the only 2 remaining from the assassin squad.

Hanbei and Shinzaemon engage in a 1 on 1 battle, and Hanbei is defeated. While Shinrokurō is battling with the remaining 2 guards, Shinzaemon engages in a battle with Naritsugu.

Although suffering from his wounds, Naritsugu thanks Shinzaemon by telling him “Today was the most exciting day of my life”, and Shinzaemon decapitates him before dying himself.

Shinrokurō survives the battle, as well as Koyata who regains consciousness, they say their farewells, and Shinrokurō heads back home on his own.

Cast 

Now we will introduce some of the main characters that appear in “13 Assassins”. 

Shimada Shinzaemon: Yakusho Kōji (Born on January 1, 1956) Birth Name・Hashimoto Kōji  

Kōji plays the protagonist and his character is left in charge by Doi Toshitsura to assassinate Naritsugu. In the eyes of Kitō Hanbei who had always considered Shinzaemon his rival, Shinzaemon is “not especially sharp and so is his swordskills but he is always one step ahead of everybody else and somehow manages to win in the end.”

Shinzaemon’s hobby is fishing, and when the assassins are impatient with the delay of Naritsugu and his men, he preaches the importance of waiting through fishing. As a result, the squad succeeded in defeating Naritsugu at Ochiai juku in the end. 

Shimada Shinrokurō：Yamada Takayuki (Born on October 20, 1983)

Shinrokurō is Shinzaemon’s nephew. Although he is a skilled swordsman, he lives a life of debauchery and a geisha supports him. Before joining the mission as part of the assasination squad, he tells the geisha, “I will be back for obon” which means he will not make it back alive. In the end, he along with Koyata survives the battle, and the film closes with the smiling face of the geisha, played by Fukiishi Kazue.  

Shinrokurō shows a caring side such as when Ogura Shōjiro is in shock for killing a person for the first time. He is also very cool-headed yet thoughtful of his team as he rushes towards Shinzaemon straight away when he and Naritsugu stab each other. 

On a side note, Satomi Kōtarō who plays Shinrokurō in the original 1963 version plays the rōchu Doi Toshitsura in the 2020 NHK TV series version.  

Kitō Hanbei：Ichimura Masachika (Born on January 28, 1949)

Kitō is the servant of Akashi domain. He and Shinzaemon used to be rivals from school. Guessing from his lines throughout the film, it appears Kitō was always a step behind Shinzaemon.

The reason he decided to work for Akashi domain was simply because he wanted to outdo Shinzaemon. Kitō is very much aware that his lord Naritsugu is a tyrant but since it is only natural for a bushi stay loyal and risk his life for his master, he does everything he can to stop Shinzaemon and his plan.

In the end, he is outdone by Shinzaemon yet again and is decapitated in battle.

Kitō is a character with an unfortunate fate because after he is decapitated by Shinzaemon, Naritsugu kicks his head out of the way which is unquestionably an insult to the samurai who had risked his life for him.

Matsudaira Naritsugu：Inagaki Gorō (Born on December 8, 1973)

Naritsugu is the lord of Akashi domain and half-brother of the shogun known for his tyrannous behavior and cruelty. He would even massacre a whole clan including children if he feels like it.

Naritsugu’s way of thinking is completely abnormal such as the lines he says out loud after his guards are defeated one after another in Ochiai juku:

“So this is what a battlefield is like, it is actually quite nice. On the day I become the ruler of the world..”

This shocks his followers as well as the audience watching the film. He is insane to the point that the rōchu Doi Toshitsura and Shinzaemon are sure the country would be completely ruined if he gains more power as a rōchu within the shogunate.

On the other hand, Naritsugu is the only character in the film that is aware of the problems of the samurai system. There is a scene in which he remarks how absurd it is that somebody as crazy as him can become rōchu. In a way, Naritsugu is the most far-sighted out of all the characters in the film.

There are no historical records that say Naritsugu was actually a cruel tyrant as depicted in the film. The incident at the Owari domain with his group being blocked from entry is a dramatization of an actual incident that occurred to Matsudaira Narikoto.

Film Review of 13 Assassins

IMDb（☆7.5/10）

Miike Takashi’s films are highly praised overseas, his works ranging from sadistic thrillers to harmless children films.

In the film “13 Assassins”, there is a build up of characters and themes expressing the world of bushi, and they all seem to come together to explode in the brilliant 50 minute battle sequence in the later half of the film.

The opening scene which introduces the brother of the shogun and the dark lord is truly horrifying with images of murder and amputation, reminding the audience that this indeed is a Miike film.

Shinzaemon and the rest of the samurais seem to suffer from remaining submissively obedient as they try to stick with the principles of being a bushi.

Rotten Tomatoes（☆4.1/5.0）

In the first hour of the film, Shinzaemon collects 12 other assassins. These assassins include a drunk nephew, a wandering rōnin, a teengager, an old warrior who is an expert with a spear but nothing else, and a man from the woods whose character is very similar to Mifune Toshirō’s character in “The Seven Samurai”.

The film reaches its climax with the 13 heroes fighting the evil Naritsugu, Hanbei and 300 guards for 45 minutes in a fierce battle scene.

Shinzaemon had turned the whole town into a boobytrap with bombs and dropgates. In comparison to “The Seven Samurai”, this ending sequence is reminiscent of an ending from a Kurosawa classic. The battlescene is truly exhilarating from the beginning to the end.

Director Miike is honest with his storytelling of a time when people’s beliefs of their ways to live were correct but at the same time somewhat foolish. He succeeded in making a reverential and vigorous film out of a subject and genre which were almost considered archaic.

Summary

The film was remade again in 2020 by NHK, but Miike Takashi’s version of “13 Assassins” is an excellent jidaigeki action film with violent but entertaining action scenes and deeply thoughtful themes behind the story. 

“13 Assassins” is a film that shows you both sides of the seemingly glorious world of samurais. It might be interesting to explore this idea but you could also watch it simply for the action scenes which will definitely blow your mind away.