When was Throne of Blood released in Japan?
Throne of Blood received its theatrical release in Japan on the 15th of January 1957. The film later appeared at the first BFI London Film Festival on the 16th of October 1957.
Questions about Throne of Blood
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who directed Throne of Blood and which actors starred in it?
Akira Kurosawa directed Throne of Blood after originally planning for Ishiro Honda to lead the project. Toshiro Mifune portrayed Taketoki Washizu while Isuzu Yamada played Lady Asaji in the central roles.
Where were Castle exteriors constructed during filming of Throne of Blood?
Castle exteriors were constructed on the volcanic slopes of Mount Fuji during filming. Volcanic soil from Fuji matched the ground texture at Toho's Tamagawa studio courtyard where interior scenes took place.
What awards did Throne of Blood win upon release?
Throne of Blood won two Mainichi Film Awards including Best Actor for Toshiro Mifune. The production also secured the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival under Kurosawa's direction.
How does Throne of Blood incorporate Noh theater elements into its narrative structure?
Kurosawa preferred Noh theater over Kabuki when incorporating stylistic elements into the narrative structure. The production used masks reminiscent of traditional yaseonna faces for the evil spirit character and incorporated flute and drum instruments drawn directly from Noh musical traditions.