The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
“The Immortal Story.”
After handing in a report on the treatment of Chinese colonial labor, Kaji is offered the post of labour chief at a large mining operation in Manchuria, which also grants him exemption from military service. He accepts and moves with his newlywed wife Michiko, but when he tries to put his ideas of more humane treatment into practice, he finds himself at odds with scheming officials, cruel foremen, and the military police.
Where to watch The Human Condition I: No Greater Love in United States
Criterion ChannelClick a service to open The Human Condition I: No Greater Love there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is The Human Condition I: No Greater Love streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Criterion Channel | — |
| United Kingdom | — | YouTube, Apple TV Store |
| Canada | Criterion Channel | — |
| France | — | LaCinetek |
| Spain | Filmin | — |
| Japan | FOD | FOD |
| South Korea | Watcha | wavve |
About The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love is a 1959 Japanese-language war, drama and history film directed by Masaki Kobayashi. The cast is led by Tatsuya Nakadai, Michiyo Aratama, Chikage Awashima. It has a runtime of 3h 24m. Viewers rate it 8.1/10 across 300 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love was produced by Ninjin Club and made in Japan. It was released on January 15, 1959.
- Director
- Masaki Kobayashi
- Writers
- Masaki Kobayashi, Zenzō Matsuyama
- Release date
- January 15, 1959
- Original language
- Japanese
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Japan
- Production
- Ninjin Club
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love cast & crew
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love was directed by Masaki Kobayashi and written by Masaki Kobayashi and Zenzō Matsuyama.
The cast features Tatsuya Nakadai as Kaji, Michiyo Aratama as Michiko, Chikage Awashima as Tôfuku Kin, Ineko Arima as Shunran Yô, So Yamamura as Okishima, and Akira Ishihama as Chin.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Chūji Kinoshita, cinematography is by Yoshio Miyajima, and it was produced by Shigeru Wakatsuki.
Is The Human Condition I: No Greater Love worth watching?
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love holds an audience score of 8.1/10 from 282 ratings, ranking it among the most acclaimed war films.
At 3h 24m, it's a full-evening commitment.
If you enjoy war, drama, and history, The Human Condition I: No Greater Love is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
In United States, you can stream The Human Condition I: No Greater Love on Criterion Channel. 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 Human Condition I: No Greater Love
Tatsuya Nakadai
Kaji
Michiyo Aratama
Michiko
Chikage Awashima
Tôfuku Kin
Ineko Arima
Shunran Yô
So Yamamura
Okishima
Akira Ishihama
Chin
Kōji Nanbara
Kô
Seiji Miyaguchi
Kyôritsu Ô
Tōru Abe
Watarai Gunsô
Masao Mishima
Kuroki Shochô
Eitarō Ozawa
Okazaki
Kōji Mitsui
Furuya
More from the The Human Condition Collection
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Human Condition I: No Greater Love in United States?
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love is streaming on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸Is The Human Condition I: No Greater Love on Criterion Channel?
Yes — The Human Condition I: No Greater Love is currently available on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸What language is The Human Condition I: No Greater Love in?
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love is originally in Japanese, with audio tracks including Mandarin, Japanese. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Human Condition I: No Greater Love?
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love runs 3 hours 24 minutes (204 minutes).
▸What is The Human Condition I: No Greater Love rated?
It holds a 8.1/10 audience score from 282 ratings.
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