Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet (2011)
A powerful Japanese historical drama tracing Admiral Yamamoto's tragic path from peace advocate to architect of the Pearl Harbor attack.
Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet - Movie Information
- Original Title: 聯合艦隊司令長官 山本五十六 – 太平洋戦争70年目の真実
- Release Year: 2011
- Directed by: Izuru Narushima
- Type: Movie
- Genres: History, War
- Runtime: 2h 15m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Release Date (Theatrical): December 23, 2011 (Japan), September 24, 2012 (United Kingdom - 15)
- Alternative Titles: Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet (NL), Rengô kantai shirei chôkan: Yamamoto Isoroku (JP), Атака на Перл-Харбор (RU), The Admiral (UK), Admiral Yamamoto (US), Isoroku Yamamoto, comandante in capo della flotta combinata (IT)
- Production Companies: Yoshidamasaki, Bandai Visual, Kinoshita Komuten, TV Asahi, Watanabe Entertainment, SBI Holdings, Broadmedia Studios, Toei Company, ADK
- Production Countries: Japan
Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet - Plot
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto (1884-1943) was the Japanese Naval commander who was given the order to attack Pearl Harbour, an order he was duty bound to obey which went against his own personal beliefs. While this infamous attack is a low point in Japanese and US history it wouldn't have happened if the Japanese government had listened to Yamamoto in 1939 and searched for a more peaceful way to end their war campaign, proving his many ominous presages of the outcomes of the attack to come true.
Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet - Trailer
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Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Izuru Narushima
Main Cast
- Koji Yakusho
- Hiroshi Abe
- Akira Emoto
- Hiroshi Tamaki
- Teruyuki Kagawa
- Bandō Mitsugurō X
- Nobuko Miyamoto
- Toshiro Yanagiba
- Rena Tanaka
- Eisaku Yoshida
Writers
- Kenzaburō Iida
- Yasuo Hasegawa
Producers
- Shohei Kotaki
Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet - FAQs
Is Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief based on a true story?
Yes, the film is rooted in real history. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto (1884–1943) was a genuine figure who commanded Japan's Combined Fleet during World War II. He opposed the war with the United States but was duty-bound to execute the Pearl Harbor attack, and his prophetic warnings about Japan's defeat proved tragically accurate.
Who plays Admiral Yamamoto in the 2011 film?
Koji Yakusho takes on the central role of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. He's joined by a strong ensemble including Hiroshi Abe as Yamaguchi Tamon, Teruyuki Kagawa as Keikiyoshi Munakata, and Nobuko Miyamoto as Yamamoto's mother, among other notable Japanese actors.
What is Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief about?
The film follows Admiral Yamamoto, a man who foresaw disaster if Japan went to war with the United States yet was ordered to plan and execute the Pearl Harbor attack. It's a portrait of a conflicted military leader caught between duty and conscience during the Pacific War, exploring the human cost of political decisions.
Did Yamamoto really oppose the Pearl Harbor attack?
Historically, yes. Yamamoto strongly opposed war with the United States, famously warning that Japan would face a formidable foe it could not ultimately defeat. Despite his objections, he was ordered to plan the Pearl Harbor strike and carried it out, believing Japan's military leadership had made a catastrophic miscalculation.
When was Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief released?
The film opened in Japan on December 23, 2011, and later reached the United Kingdom on September 24, 2012, where it was rated 15. It was also released in other markets under alternative titles including The Admiral in the UK and Admiral Yamamoto in the US.
What genre is Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief?
The film sits squarely in the History and War genres. It blends large-scale naval combat sequences with intimate character drama, offering both a sweeping look at Pacific War strategy and a deeply personal portrait of a military commander wrestling with duty, conscience, and the weight of history.
What are similar films to Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief?
If you enjoy this film, you might also appreciate Pearl Harbor (2001), Letters from Iwo Jima (2006), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Midway (1976), Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983), and Fires on the Plain (1959) — all compelling explorations of World War II from various perspectives.
How long is Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief?
The film runs for 135 minutes — just over two hours and fifteen minutes. That runtime gives director Izuru Narushima enough space to develop both the grand strategic sweep of the Pacific War and the more intimate, human dimensions of Yamamoto's conflicted leadership.
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