The Ceremony
Oshima’s magisterial epic, centering on the ambivalent surviving heir of the Sakurada clan, uses ritual and the microcosm of the traditional family to trace the rise and fall of militaristic Japan across several decades.
Where to watch The Ceremony in United States
Criterion Channel
Amazon VideoClick a service to open The Ceremony there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is The Ceremony streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Criterion Channel | Amazon Video |
| United Kingdom | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads | Amazon Video |
| Canada | Criterion Channel | — |
| Japan | Amazon Prime Video, U-NEXT, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, FOD | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
About The Ceremony
The Ceremony is a 1971 Japanese-language drama film directed by Nagisa Ōshima. The cast is led by Kenzō Kawarasaki, Atsuko Kaku, Atsuo Nakamura. It has a runtime of 2h 3m. In United States, it is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.
The Ceremony was produced by Sozosha and Art Theatre Guild and made in Japan. It was released on May 18, 1971.
- Director
- Nagisa Ōshima
- Writers
- Mamoru Sasaki, Nagisa Ōshima, Tsutomu Tamura
- Release date
- May 18, 1971
- Original language
- Japanese
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Japan
- Production
- Sozosha, Art Theatre Guild
The Ceremony cast & crew
The Ceremony was directed by Nagisa Ōshima and written by Mamoru Sasaki, Nagisa Ōshima, and Tsutomu Tamura.
The cast features Kenzō Kawarasaki as Sakurada Masuo, Atsuko Kaku as Sakurada Ritsuko, Atsuo Nakamura as Tachibana Terumichi, Nobuko Otowa as Sakurada Shizu, Hōsei Komatsu as Sakurada Isamu, and Rokkō Toura as Sakurada Mamoru.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Toru Takemitsu, cinematography is by Tōichirō Narushima, and it was produced by Kinshirō Kuzui and Takuji Yamaguchi.
Is The Ceremony worth watching?
At 2h 3m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama, The Ceremony is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Ceremony
In United States, you can stream The Ceremony on Criterion Channel, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video. 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.
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Cast of The Ceremony
Kenzō Kawarasaki
Sakurada Masuo
Atsuko Kaku
Sakurada Ritsuko
Atsuo Nakamura
Tachibana Terumichi
Nobuko Otowa
Sakurada Shizu
Hōsei Komatsu
Sakurada Isamu
Rokkō Toura
Sakurada Mamoru
Fumio Watanabe
Susumu
Shizue Kawarazaki
Sakurada Tomiko
Chisako Hara
Isamu's flower girl
Maki Takayama
Sakurada Kiku
Sue Mitobe
Sakurada Chiyo
Eitarō Ozawa
Tachibana Takeyo
The Ceremony — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Ceremony in United States?
The Ceremony is streaming on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸Is The Ceremony on Criterion Channel?
Yes — The Ceremony is currently available on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸What language is The Ceremony in?
The Ceremony is originally in Japanese. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Ceremony?
The Ceremony runs 2 hours 3 minutes (123 minutes).
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