A warlords' retainer offers a farmer the chance to become a samurai, but he is instead forced to serve as a double of the warlord at expense of his freedom. (Source: IMDb) Edit Translation
- English
- magyar / magyar nyelv
- עברית / עִבְרִית
- dansk
- Native Title: 第三の影武者
- Also Known As: Daisan no Kage Musha , Daisan no Kagemusha
- Director: Inoue Umetsugu
- Screenwriter: Hoshikawa Seiji
- Genres: Historical, Drama, War
Cast & Credits
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![Ichikawa Raizo VIII in Third Shadow Warrior Japanese Movie]( "Ichikawa Raizo VIII in Third Shadow Warrior Japanese Movie")
Ichikawa Raizo VIIINinomiya Kyonosuke / Ikemoto YasutakaMain Role -
![Takachiho Hizuru in Third Shadow Warrior Japanese Movie]( "Takachiho Hizuru in Third Shadow Warrior Japanese Movie")
Takachiho HizuruPrincess TeruSupport Role -
![Banri Masayo in Third Shadow Warrior Japanese Movie]( "Banri Masayo in Third Shadow Warrior Japanese Movie")
Banri MasayoKohagi [Concubine]Support Role -
![Kaneko Nobuo in Third Shadow Warrior Japanese Movie]( "Kaneko Nobuo in Third Shadow Warrior Japanese Movie")
Kaneko NobuoShinomura SaheitaSupport Role -
![Sumi Rieko in Third Shadow Warrior Japanese Movie]( "Sumi Rieko in Third Shadow Warrior Japanese Movie")
Sumi RiekoUrazuSupport Role -
![Kobayashi Katsuhiko in Third Shadow Warrior Japanese Movie]( "Kobayashi Katsuhiko in Third Shadow Warrior Japanese Movie")
Kobayashi KatsuhikoKuwano GentaSupport Role
Photos
Reviews
"In this world, the weak are playthings to the strong"
Third Shadow Warrior showed how man’s desire for carnage and power wasted the lives and resources of the land. Whether a farmer dreaming of being a samurai or a samurai lord desiring to rule everyone, the greed sank deep into the hearts of the sword bearing warriors.In 1564 the Hida area within the mountains escaped the large armies’ invasion. That didn’t stop smaller forces from desiring to rule the clans. Lord Yasutaka was winning the battles and close to being the ruler supreme of the Hida. A young farmer named Ninomiya Kyonosuke’s dream of being a samurai appears to be answered when Shinomura Saheita comes down from the castle to hire him. Ninomiya discovers he is to be one of Yasutaka’s three doubles, trained to exactly mimic the lord. Whatever troubles befall Yasutaka, befall the three doubles as well.
The message behind the film was strong. Samurai were not to be admired as they were blood-thirsty fighters who only desired more power and wealth never caring about anyone below them in stature or station. Each of the clans betrayed the other in order to move ahead. Betrayals were also rampant within the clans. Despite making strides forward, Ninomiya’s future burned around him with every step. Never clever nor ruthless enough, the farmer fell victim to others with more power. His own greed spelled his doom.
As much as I appreciated the bleak, disturbing story, the unfolding of the revelations felt perfunctory. I called out each disaster before they occurred. While I felt sorry for Ninomiya losing his identity, his impulsive actions also sealed his fate. His was not the sharpest katana in the drawer. The acting for many of the characters was also overly theatrical as if they were on a stage playing to the back row.
Third Shadow Warrior played out the ridiculous degrees of loyalty some samurai were called upon to enact. Not that the nobility and superiors were required to show the same loyalty, more often than not, those ranked below them suffered terrible consequences. Fate was not kind to those who did not understand their place and the sacrifices mandated upon them. Definitely worth a look if you enjoy anti-samurai or Jidaigeki films.
18 March 2026
Trigger warnings: Loss of eyes, loss of an arm.
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