Oda Nobunaga (1940)
A landmark prewar jidaigeki chronicling the legendary warlord who set Japan on the path to unification.
Oda Nobunaga - Movie Information
- Original Title: 織田信長
- Release Year: 1940
- Directed by: Masahiro Makino
- Type: Movie
- Runtime: 1h 34m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Release Date (Theatrical): February 5, 1940 (Japan)
- Alternative Titles: 織田信長 (JP)
- Production Companies: Nikkatsu Kyoto
- Production Countries: Japan
Oda Nobunaga - Plot
A classic wartime jidaigeki about the life of the famous samurai and first of the "Great Unifiers" of Japan, Oda Nobunaga, with Kataoka Chiezo and Shimura Takashi
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Oda Nobunaga - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Masahiro Makino
Main Cast
- Chiezo Kataoka
- Takashi Shimura
- Eiji Takagi
- Chikako Miyagi
- Gorō Kawabe
- Ryōsuke Kagawa
- Michisaburō Segawa
- Shojiro Ichikawa
- Takashi Ogawa
- Mitsuru Toyama
Oda Nobunaga - FAQs
What is Oda Nobunaga (1940) about?
Oda Nobunaga follows the rise of Japan's most celebrated warlord, the man credited with beginning the unification of feudal Japan in the Sengoku period. The film traces his ambitions, alliances, and battles through the lens of classic jidaigeki storytelling, with Chiezo Kataoka commanding the title role.
Who plays Oda Nobunaga in the 1940 film?
Chiezo Kataoka takes on the iconic role of Oda Nobunaga. A celebrated star of Japanese period cinema, Kataoka brings commanding presence to the legendary warlord. Takashi Shimura, later famous for his work with Akira Kurosawa, also appears in a supporting role.
Who directed Oda Nobunaga (1940)?
Masahiro Makino directed the film. One of the most prolific filmmakers in Japanese cinema history, Makino was a master of the jidaigeki genre and directed hundreds of films throughout his career, making him a defining figure in prewar Japanese period filmmaking.
Is Oda Nobunaga (1940) based on a true story?
Yes, the film is rooted in real history. Oda Nobunaga was a genuine 16th-century warlord who rose from a minor lord to become the first of Japan's three Great Unifiers. While the film takes dramatic liberties typical of the genre, its central figure and historical context are firmly grounded in fact.
What genre is Oda Nobunaga (1940)?
It's a jidaigeki — the classic Japanese period drama genre set in feudal or pre-Meiji Japan. The film blends historical drama with samurai action, offering a portrait of one of Japan's most mythologized figures during a turbulent era of civil war and political ambition.
What language is Oda Nobunaga (1940) in?
The film is entirely in Japanese. As a 1940 production from Nikkatsu Kyoto, it was made for Japanese audiences and reflects the cinematic and cultural conventions of wartime Japan. Viewers watching outside Japan will need subtitles to follow the dialogue.
What are similar films to Oda Nobunaga (1940)?
Fans of this film may enjoy other Nobunaga-focused works like Kubi (2023), THE LEGEND & BUTTERFLY (2023), and Nobunaga Concerto: The Movie (2016). For broader samurai cinema, Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954) and When the Last Sword Is Drawn (2003) are excellent companions.
How significant is Oda Nobunaga (1940) in Japanese cinema?
The film holds a notable place in prewar Japanese cinema as an early sound-era jidaigeki produced by Nikkatsu Kyoto. It also features a young Takashi Shimura before his legendary collaborations with Kurosawa, making it a fascinating artifact for scholars of classic Japanese film history.
More About Oda Nobunaga
Explore further details about this classic Japanese period film through these authoritative sources.