SANJURO

Sanjuro is the eponymous role played by Toshiro Mifune in the 1962 film. The movie was made as a comedic follow-up to the more serious Yojimbo. The character of Sanjuro appears in both films, and unusually although described as a sequel, it cannot technically be such, as it occurs in an earlier period of history than its predecessor!

In both films Sanjuro, whose name means ‘thirty years old’, is a mercenary who sets out to help people in need. The latter film is the one I refer to in the rest of this post.

In the film, Sanjuro reluctantly plays mentor to a naïve group of young Samurai as he tries to help them to learn their trade.

Why I feel uplifted by this character is the way in which he makes use of his intelligence to support and encourage his charges although it is ultimately a fruitless task. That’s not to say he exploits his position. He makes himself indispensable to the nine fledgling Samurai by trying to get them to think for themselves. However much he tries, they continue to mindlessly act with one voice. Although somewhat disdainful of their inability to act independently, he still perseveres with them.

Sanjuro outwits everyone he comes into contact with – most emphatically in the very famous final scene frequently referred to as the ‘briefest and most breathtaking duels in the history of cinema’.

But for me he is a SPIRITUAL WEIGHTLIFTER because of his indefatigability and dogged determination to help others.