Crest of Betrayal

Crest of Betrayal (忠臣蔵外伝　四谷怪談, Chushingura Gaiden: Yotsuya Kaidan, a.k.a. Loyal 47 Ronin: Yotsuya Ghost Story) is a 1994 Japanese film directed by Kinji Fukasaku.

Crest of Betrayal
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKinji Fukasaku
Written byMotomu Furuta
Kinji Fukasaku
Music byKaoru Wada
CinematographyShigeru Ishihara
Edited byKoichi Sonoi
Release date
October 22, 1994
Running time
106 minutes
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese

Plot

When Lord Asano draws his sword and injures Kira, he is sentenced to death by seppuku. That night rioters raid the Asano house to steal his belongings. Twenty days later, the Asano samurai meet and vow to take revenge, but Ōishi Kuranosuke makes them wait a year to see if the Asano clan can be restored through appeals. Meanwhile, he divorces his wife and sends her away to her father's house with their younger children as he whiles away his time in the companionship of geisha to lull his enemies into a sense of security. When all hope of restoring the Asano clan is lost, Ōishi gathers the men in Kyoto to prepare for their vendetta.

Tamiya Iemon saves Oume when she is being accosted on her way to the shrine and earns the gratitude of her grandfather Ito Kihei, steward to Kira, but the Asano clan members refuse to accept his money. He then has poison sent to his wife Oiwa, claiming that it is medicine from Iemon. The poison disfigures her face and causes her to have a miscarriage. She grabs a knife to murder Ito but accidentally stabs herself to death with it while struggling to get free from her admirer Takuetsu. When Ito confesses his actions, Iemon agrees to marry his granddaughter Oume in return for being recommended for a position with Lord Kira. Ito introduces him to Shimizu Ichigaku, Kira's bodyguard. Iemon returns home and kills Takuetsu, then Ito's men dispose of the bodies in the river for him.

On his wedding night, Iemon sees a vision of Oiwa and strikes at her with his sword, killing Oume. Shimizu covers up the murder, blaming it on robbers, and promises Iemon that he will still recommend him to Kira. In return, Iemon agrees to assassinate Ōishi. He sneaks to Ōishi's house and announces his intention to kill Ōishi, causing Horibe and the other ronin to attack and kill him.

As a half-dead ghost, Iemon watches as Oishi and the Asano clan raid the inn where Kira is staying. Oiwa's ghost assists them by using the power of storms to kill several of Kira's men, including the men who put her body in the river. Hazama Jujiro finds Kira's hiding spot and Ōishi instructs Jujiro to behead Kira. When he does, it severs Iemon's ties to the world of the living and his death is complete. Iemon's ghost and Oiwa's ghost gaze once more upon the Asano clan and the ghosts from the Ito household before wandering away.

Cast

Other Credits
  • Art Direction by
    • Kazutoshi Marui
    • Yoshinobu Nishioka
  • Sound Department
    • Koichi Hirose - sound
    • Shinichi Suzuki - sound editor
  • Gaffer: Toshio Nakajima
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