At the beginning of this movie, Kirakozukenosuke and a concubine, Mizuki, used witchcraft to make a scheme against a samurai named Oishi Kuranosuke who was from the domain of Ako ruled by Lord Asano Takumi no Kami. Kirakozukenosuke and Mizuki manipulated Asano so that he would have to commit seppuku (suicide by disembowelment), and they were able to facilitate the imprisonment of Oishi in a pit.

The samurai of Ako became masterless samurai, or so-called ronin, and were forced to leave their beloved land of Ako.

When at last Oishi was finally released from imprisonment, he gathered together the 47 ronin, also known as Akoroshi -- the masterless samurai from Ako -- who with Oishi, swore to avenge the death of their former lord.

At that time, their nemesis, Kira, conspired further plots against them.

After a battle of wills between Kai and the Tengu, Oishi left with Kai and his men to confront Kira.

The movie, 47 Ronin, is actually an action fantasy that borrowed basic concepts from the famous story depicted by Chikamatsu in his popular drama.

Rather than the enchanting landscape of ancient Japan during the Edo period when Japan was governed by the Shogun, the movie oozes with epic battles against evil in exotic ways.

Since 47 Ronin is a full-length movie using many computer graphics, visual effects, and includes the appearance of sorcery and monsters one after the other. Since the movie unfolds with flashy battles that seem to be like battles between the Gods, you might be confused if you make an attempt to use this movie as a period drama for studying Japanese history.

However, this movie might be useful as an introduction to Chikamatsu’s story called, “Chushingura”

It should be noted that the grave site of the 47 Ronin actually exists at Sengakuji Temple in Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo. Sengakuji Temple is only a two-minute walk from Sengakuji Station on the Toei Asakusa Line or the Keikyu Main Line.

【Amazon】47 Ronin