Sanshiro Sugata: A thorough review of the legendary judoka's story of youth and growth

Sanshiro Sugata

■ Public Media

TV Special

■ Original Media

novel

■ Broadcast period

June 8, 1981 -

■Broadcasting station

Fuji Television

■Frequencies

70 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Tsuneo Tomita

■Works

©Tsuneo Tomita/TMS

■ Story

The time is the Meiji era, and the place is Tokyo. A young man named Sugata Sanshiro, who has been practicing judo every night in search of a teacher, loses to his 39th opponent for the first time. His opponent is Yano Shogoro, who advocates that soft overcomes hard in judo. Impressed, Sanshiro immediately becomes his disciple and trains alongside his rivals. And then, he finally discovers the secret technique of Yamaarashi!

■Cast

Sanshiro Sugata: Hideki Saijo / Otomi Murai: Yoshimi Iwasaki / Shogoro Yano: Nachi Nozawa / Gennosuke Higaki: Norio Otsuka / Kinnosuke Natsume: Kei Toyama / Saburo Monma: Osamu Kato / Takako Minamikoji: Rihoko Yoshida / Hansuke Murai: Yoichi Miyagawa / Narrator: Enjo Sanyutei and others

■ Main staff

Produced by: Yutaka Fujioka / Screenplay by: Fumio Kannami, Kiyohide Ohara / Character design by: Monkey Punch / Music by: Talisman / Animation director: Kazuhide Tomonaga / Art director: Masazumi Matsumiya / Music director: Susumu Aketagawa / Director of photography: Hirotaka Takahashi / Sound director: Satoshi Kato / Director of production: Yasumi Mikamoto

■ Theme songs and music

[Theme song] Song title: Season / Singer: Talisman / Lyrics: Akira Ito, Bill Billy / Composer: Noboru Kimura [Insert song] Song title: Unforgettable Season / Singer: Noboru Kimura, Kenji Mishiro / Lyrics: Akira Ito / Composer: Kenji Mishiro

Sanshiro Sugata - Detailed Review and Recommendation

The TV special "Sanshiro Sugata", broadcast in 1981, is a coming-of-age drama set in Tokyo during the Meiji period, and tells the story of a young man who grows through judo. The work is based on a novel by Tsuneo Tomita, and moved viewers by depicting the spirit and techniques of judo. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and background of this work, as well as the recommended points.

The appeal of the story

The story of "Sugata Sanshiro" is the coming-of-age tale of Sugata Sanshiro, a young man seeking a judo teacher. Night after night, Sanshiro challenges himself to Tsuji-nage, but is defeated by Yano Shogoro for the first time after 39 attempts. This defeat inspires Sanshiro, who is inspired by Yano's judo style, in which soft overcomes hard, and he decides to become his disciple. The story follows Sanshiro as he trains alongside his rivals, eventually awakening to the legendary deadly technique "Yamarashi."

The appeal of this story lies in Sanshiro's growth and passion for judo. By depicting his setbacks and challenges, as well as the bonds with his teammates, viewers can feel Sanshiro's growth together with them. Also not to be missed is the depiction of his growth as a person through the techniques and spirit of judo. In particular, the judo philosophy that softness overcomes hardness deeply moves viewers.

Character Appeal

Each character in "Sanshiro Sugata" is unique and charming. The protagonist, Sanshiro Sugata, is played by Hideki Saijo, who conveys the heat of youth and his passion for judo. Nozawa Nachi, who plays Shogoro Yano, also has a strong presence. His philosophy on judo and leadership skills support Sanshiro's growth.

Other unique characters such as Norio Otsuka as Gennosuke Higaki and Kei Tomiyama as Kinnosuke Natsume add excitement to the story. In particular, Yoshimi Iwasaki as Otomi Murai is important in portraying Sanshiro's relationships in depth. Through her interactions, Sanshiro's growth feels more real.

The production background and the appeal of the staff

"Sugata Sanshiro" is based on a novel by Tomita Tsuneo, and many staff members worked together to bring out the best in the original work. Fujioka Yutaka, who was in charge of production, poured all his energy into the production of this work, creating a work that moved viewers. In addition, Kannami Fumio and Ohara Kiyohide, who wrote the script, faithfully reproduced the story of the original work while bringing out its appeal as a drama.

Monkey Punch, who was in charge of character design, provided designs that highlighted the individuality of each character. Talisman, who was in charge of music, deepened the emotion of the story through the theme song "Season" and the insert song "Wasurenai Kisetsu". Animation director Kazuhide Tomonaga and art director Masazumi Matsumiya also pursued beauty and realism in the images.

Recommended points

"Sugata Sanshiro" is a work that can be enjoyed as both a youth drama and a sports drama. It is especially recommended for viewers who are moved by the sight of young people growing through judo. In addition, the story is set in Tokyo during the Meiji period, so you can also enjoy the historical background.

Furthermore, this work is also fascinating in its portrayal of the characters' personalities and human relationships. It is a deep human drama, with the master-disciple relationship between Sanshiro and Yano Shogoro, the competition with rivals, and the relationship with Murai Otomi. The beauty of the music and images is also not to be missed, making this a work that can be enjoyed both visually and aurally.

"Sugata Sanshiro" was broadcast as a TV special in 1981, but its appeal has not faded even today. This is a work that I would highly recommend to anyone who likes judo and youth dramas, and to anyone who wants to enjoy human drama. By watching this, you will be able to feel the spirit and technique of judo, as well as the growth and passion of young people.