Kwaidan

Story

Synopsis

Taking its title from an archaic Japanese word meaning "ghost story," this anthology adapts four folk tales. A penniless samurai marries for money with tragic results. A man stranded in a blizzard is saved by Yuki the Snow Maiden, but his rescue comes at a cost. Blind musician Hoichi is forced to perform for an audience of ghosts. An author relates the story of a samurai who sees another warrior's reflection in his teacup.

Director

Masaki Kobayashi

Writers

Yōko Mizuki, Lafcadio Hearn

Language

Japanese

Country

Japan

Release date

6 January 1965

Ensemble

Cast

• 

  Michiyo Aratama

  First Wife (segment "The Black Hair")

• 

  Rentaro Mikuni

  Husband (segment "The Black Hair")

• 

  Misako Watanabe

  Second Wife (segment "The Black Hair")

• 

  Kenjirō Ishiyama

  Father (segment "The Black Hair")

• Ranko Akagi

  Mother (segment "The Black Hair")

• 

  Fumie Kitahara

  (segment "The Black Hair")

• Kappei Matsumoto

  (segment "The Black Hair") (uncredited)

• Yoshiko Ieda

  (segment "The Black Hair") (uncredited)

• 

  Otome Tsukimiya

  (segment "The Black Hair") (uncredited)

• Kenzō Tanaka

  (segment "The Black Hair") (uncredited)

• Kiyoshi Nakano

  (segment "The Black Hair") (uncredited)

• 

  Tatsuya Nakadai

  Minokichi (segment "The Woman of the Snow")