Kwaidan (1965)

7.7/10 183 min Horror Fantasy Drama

Overview

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.

Cast

Michiyo Aratama

First Wife (segment "The Black Hair")

Rentaro Mikuni

Husband (segment "The Black Hair")

Misako Watanabe

Second Wife (segment "The Black Hair")

Kenjirō Ishiyama

Father (segment "The Black Hair")

Fumie Kitahara

(segment "The Black Hair")

Otome Tsukimiya

(segment "The Black Hair") (uncredited)

Tatsuya Nakadai

Minokichi (segment "The Woman of the Snow")

Keiko Kishi

Yuki the Snow Maiden (segment "The Woman of the Snow")

Yūko Mochizuki

Minokichi's Mother (segment "The Woman of the Snow")

Kin Sugai

Village Woman (segment "The Woman of the Snow")

Noriko Sengoku

Village Woman (segment "The Woman of the Snow")

Akiko Nomura

(segment "The Woman of the Snow") (uncredited)

Torahiko Hamada

(segment "The Woman of the Snow") (uncredited)

Jun Hamamura

(segment "The Woman of the Snow")

Recommendations

The Last Voyage of the Demeter
Kizumonogatari Part 2: Nekketsu
Samurai Reincarnation
Kizumonogatari Part 3: Reiketsu
Samurai Rebellion
Samurai Marathon
Urotsukidōji: Legend of the Overfiend
I Still See You
20th Century Boys: Beginning of the End
Tokyo Ghoul 'S'
Dark Harvest
The Garden of Sinners: Future Gospel
Demon City Shinjuku
Onibaba
Tokyo Ghoul
Rurouni Kenshin Part III: The Legend Ends
The Tale of Zatoichi
Kizumonogatari Part 1: Tekketsu
Dororo
Ninja Scroll