A work in constant progress (and occasional regress).
Release Date:
August 25, 1954
Original Title:
花の白虎隊
Alternate Titles:
Hana no Byakkotai
Production Companies:
Daiei Film
Production Countries:
Japan
Ratings / Certifications:
N/A
Runtime: 91
The Great White Tiger Platoon was part of the Aizu clan's last ditch efforts to stop the advance of Imperial troops after the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Meant to be a reserve unit as it was made of the young, 16-17 year old sons of Aizu samurai. Their story is one of the great tragedies of the Boshin War (1868-1869) as they were called into action. Getting cut off from the main body of their platoon, a group of 20 from the 2nd squad retreated to Iimori Hill, where they looked down upon fires surrounding Aizu Castle and thinking that the castle has fallen and all is lost, they choose to die as samurai by committing seppuku. A superb rendition of this true story that shows the true honor of the samurai.
Art Direction:
Seiichi Ôta
Assistant Director:
Tokuzō Tanaka
Costume Design:
Shima Yoshizane
Director:
Katsuhiko Tasaka
Director of Photography:
Yukimasa Makita
Editor:
Shigeo Nishida
Lighting Technician:
Yasuo Iwaki
Original Music Composer:
Urato Watanabe
Screenplay:
Fuji Yahiro
Sound Recordist:
Iwao Ôtani
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