The Ballad of Narayama
“Only Time Could Change the Cruelty of Tradition… Only Their Love Could Survive It…”
In a small village in a valley everyone who reaches the age of 70 must leave the village and go to a certain mountain top to die. If anyone should refuse they would disgrace their family. Old Orin is 69. This winter it is her turn to go to the mountain. But first she must make sure that her eldest son Tatsuhei finds a wife.
Where to watch The Ballad of Narayama in United States
ARROW
Kanopy
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTubeClick a service to open The Ballad of Narayama there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is The Ballad of Narayama streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | ARROW, Kanopy | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| United Kingdom | Arrow Video Amazon Channel, ARROW | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Canada | ARROW | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| Japan | U-NEXT, Toei On Demand Amazon Channel | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
About The Ballad of Narayama
The Ballad of Narayama is a 1983 Japanese-language drama film directed by Shōhei Imamura. The cast is led by Ken Ogata, Sumiko Sakamoto, Tonpei Hidari. It has a runtime of 2h 10m. Viewers rate it 7.5/10 across 200 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on ARROW, Kanopy.
The Ballad of Narayama was produced by Toei Company and made in Japan. It was released on April 29, 1983, and carries a PG certification.
- Director
- Shōhei Imamura
- Writers
- Shōhei Imamura
- Release date
- April 29, 1983
- Original language
- Japanese
- Age rating
- PG
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Japan
- Production
- Toei Company
The Ballad of Narayama cast & crew
The Ballad of Narayama was directed by Shōhei Imamura and written by Shōhei Imamura.
The cast features Ken Ogata as Tatsuhei, Sumiko Sakamoto as Orin, Tonpei Hidari as Risuke, Aki Takejo as Tamayan, Shoichi Ozawa as Katsuzô, and Fujio Tokita as Jinsaku.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Shinichiro Ikebe, cinematography is by Masao Tochizawa, and it was produced by Jirô Tomoda.
Is The Ballad of Narayama worth watching?
The Ballad of Narayama holds an audience score of 7.5/10 from 203 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed drama films.
At 2h 10m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama, The Ballad of Narayama is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Ballad of Narayama
In United States, you can stream The Ballad of Narayama on ARROW and Kanopy, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Click any service above to open it directly.
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
Your rating and review are saved privately in this browser — no account needed.
Cast of The Ballad of Narayama
Ken Ogata
Tatsuhei
Sumiko Sakamoto
Orin
Tonpei Hidari
Risuke
Aki Takejo
Tamayan
Shoichi Ozawa
Katsuzô
Fujio Tokita
Jinsaku
Sanshō Shinsui
Zeniya Tadayan
Seiji Kurasaki
Kesakichi
Junko Takada
Matsuyan
Mitsuko Baisho
Oei
Taiji Tonoyama
Teruyan
Ben Hiura
Yakimatsu
The Ballad of Narayama — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Ballad of Narayama in United States?
The Ballad of Narayama is streaming on ARROW, Kanopy in United States.
▸Is The Ballad of Narayama on ARROW?
Yes — The Ballad of Narayama is currently available on ARROW in United States.
▸What language is The Ballad of Narayama in?
The Ballad of Narayama is originally in Japanese. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Ballad of Narayama?
The Ballad of Narayama runs 2 hours 10 minutes (130 minutes).
▸What is The Ballad of Narayama rated?
The Ballad of Narayama is rated PG. It holds a 7.5/10 audience score from 203 ratings.
More like The Ballad of Narayama
