Kagemusha
“The Shadow of a man can never stand up and walk on its own.”
Akira Kurosawa's lauded feudal epic presents the tale of a petty thief who is recruited to impersonate Shingen, an aging warlord, in order to avoid attacks by competing clans. When Shingen dies, his generals reluctantly agree to have the impostor take over as the powerful ruler. He soon begins to appreciate life as Shingen, but his commitment to the role is tested when he must lead his troops into battle against the forces of a rival warlord.
Where to watch Kagemusha in United States
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Apple TV StoreClick a service to open Kagemusha there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is Kagemusha streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | — | Google Play Movies, YouTube, Apple TV Store |
| United Kingdom | — | Google Play Movies, YouTube, Sky Store |
| Canada | — | Apple TV Store |
| Germany | — | Apple TV Store |
| France | Molotov TV | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Orange VOD |
| Brazil | Looke, NetMovies | — |
| Japan | U-NEXT | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
About Kagemusha
Kagemusha is a 1980 Japanese-language action, drama and history film directed by Akira Kurosawa. The cast is led by Tatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kenichi Hagiwara. It has a runtime of 3h 0m. Viewers rate it 7.8/10 across 700 ratings. In United States, it is available to rent or buy on Google Play Movies and YouTube.
Kagemusha was produced by TOHO, 20th Century Fox, and Kurosawa Production and made in Japan and United States of America. It was released on April 26, 1980, and carries a PG certification. Made on a budget of about $6 million, it went on to gross $4 million worldwide.
- Director
- Akira Kurosawa
- Writers
- Akira Kurosawa, Masato Ide
- Release date
- April 26, 1980
- Original language
- Japanese
- Age rating
- PG
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Japan, United States of America
- Budget
- $6 million
- Box office
- $4 million
- Production
- TOHO, 20th Century Fox, Kurosawa Production
Kagemusha cast & crew
Kagemusha was directed by Akira Kurosawa and written by Akira Kurosawa and Masato Ide.
The cast features Tatsuya Nakadai as Shingen Takeda / Kagemusha, Tsutomu Yamazaki as Nobukado Takeda, Kenichi Hagiwara as Katsuyori Takeda, Jinpachi Nezu as Sohachiro Tsuchiya, Hideji Ōtaki as Masakage Yamagata, and Daisuke Ryū as Nobunaga Oda.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Shinichiro Ikebe, cinematography is by Shoji Ueda, and it was produced by Akira Kurosawa and Tomoyuki Tanaka.
Is Kagemusha worth watching?
Kagemusha holds an audience score of 7.8/10 from 738 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed action films.
At 3h 0m, it's a full-evening commitment.
If you enjoy action, drama, and history, Kagemusha is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Kagemusha
Kagemusha isn't on a subscription service in United States right now, but you can rent or buy it on Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Apple TV Store.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
Rate & review
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Cast of Kagemusha
Tatsuya Nakadai
Shingen Takeda / Kagemusha
Tsutomu Yamazaki
Nobukado Takeda
Kenichi Hagiwara
Katsuyori Takeda
Jinpachi Nezu
Sohachiro Tsuchiya
Hideji Ōtaki
Masakage Yamagata
Daisuke Ryū
Nobunaga Oda
Masayuki Yui
Ieyasu Tokugawa
Kaori Momoi
Otsuyanokata
Mitsuko Baisho
Oyunokata
Hideo Murota
Nobufusa Baba
Takayuki Shiho
Masatoyo Naito
Kōji Shimizu
Katsusuke Atobe
Kagemusha — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Kagemusha in United States?
Kagemusha is not on subscription streaming in United States right now, but you can rent or buy it on Google Play Movies and YouTube and Apple TV Store.
▸What language is Kagemusha in?
Kagemusha is originally in Japanese. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Kagemusha?
Kagemusha runs 3 hours 0 minutes (180 minutes).
▸What is Kagemusha rated?
Kagemusha is rated PG. It holds a 7.8/10 audience score from 738 ratings.
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