A Samurai in Time

A Samurai in Time (Japanese: 侍タイムスリッパー, Hepburn: Samurai Taimu Surippā) is a 2024 Japanese fantasy comedy film directed by Jun'ichi Yasuda.^[2] it is a low-budget independent film produced for 26 million yen.^[1] Initially, it was shown in only one theater, but it gained popularity through word-of-mouth and expanded to more theaters. The media called it a "surprise hit reminiscent of One Cut of the Dead (2017)."^[3]

A Samurai in Time
Theatrical release poster
Japanese	侍タイムスリッパー
Directed by	Jun'ichi Yasuda
Screenplay by	Jun'ichi Yasuda
Starring	Makiya Yamaguchi Norimasa Fuke Yuno Sakura Rantaro Mine
Cinematography	Jun'ichi Yasuda
Edited by	Jun'ichi Yasuda
Production company	Mirai Eiga-sha
Distributed by	Mirai Eiga-sha
Release date	August 17, 2024 (2024-08-17) (Japan)
Running time	131 minutes
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese
Budget	¥26 million[1]
Box office	¥1 billion[1]

Plot

Kosaka Shinzaemon, an Aizu samurai lived in Edo era, was struck by lightning and inexplicably transported to 2007 Japan.^[3] He found work as a kirareyaku (a stunt performer specializing in being 'cut down' in jidaigeki) and became successful. Then, to his surprise, he received a major role offer from movie star Kyoichiro Kazami.

Cast

• Makiya Yamaguchi as Kosaka Shinzaemon, a samurai of the Aizu Domain
• Norimasa Fuke as Kyoichiro Kazami, a movie star. His real name is Yamagata Hikokuro
  • Ken Shonozaki as young Yamagata Hikokuro, a samurai of the Chōshū Domain
• Yuno Sakura as Yuko Yamamoto, an assistant director
• Rantaro Mine as Sekimoto, a sword fighting instructor
• Tsutomu Tamura as Kyotaro Nishiki, a star actor of Jidaiigeki
• Yoshiharu Fukuda as the chief priest
• Manko Kurenai as Setsuko
• Hajime Inoue as Inoue, a studio director
• Akinori Ando as Ando, an actor

Production

Director Jun'ichi Yasuda poured his own personal fortune into the production of this film.^[4] Yuno Sakura, who appears in the film as an assistant director, also served as the actual assistant director.^[5] Makiya Yamaguchi, who played the lead role, is an actor with a long career, but this was his first time starring in a film.^[5] Seizo Fukumoto was initially cast for the role of Sekimoto, but due to his passing, Rantaro Mine, Fukumoto's junior, was cast instead.^[5]

Awards and nominations

Award	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref.
37th Nikkan Sports Film Awards	Best Film	A Samurai in Time	Won	[6] [7]
	Yūjirō Ishihara Award		Nominated
	Best Director	Jun'ichi Yasuda	Won
	Best Actor	Makiya Yamaguchi	Won
67th Blue Ribbon Awards	Best Film	A Samurai in Time	Won	[8] [9]
	Best Director	Jun'ichi Yasuda	Nominated
	Best Actor	Makiya Yamaguchi	Won
48th Japan Academy Film Prize	Best Film	A Samurai in Time	Won	[10] [11]
	Best Director	Jun'ichi Yasuda	Nominated
	Best Screenplay		Nominated
	Best Film Editing		Won
	Best Cinematography		Nominated
	Best Actor	Makiya Yamaguchi	Nominated
	Best Lighting Direction	Kin'ya Doi, Hiroshi Hano and Jun'ichi Yasuda	Nominated