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74 Years Old, His Final Battle The truth of the man Akira Kurosawa, as witnessed on the set of the film Ran. 

Trailer for Filming Akira Kurosawa
40 years after the release of Ran, a documentary film revealing the unknown side of the genius filmmaker, captured in the only surviving footage from the set, is finally complete.
Distribution has officially begun today in the UK and the US. Below are the detail page links for Filming Akira Kurosawa: UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B0FX2ZR5D1/ US https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0FX33PB73/

Screening confirmed at Cinema Skhole!
📅 February 7 (Sat) – February 13 (Fri), 2026

📍 Cinema Skhole
Art Building 1F, 8-12 Tsubaki-cho, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 453-0015, Japan
📞 Tel: +81-52-452-6036
🪑 Seating capacity: 51 seats

🚶‍♂️ Access: 2-minute walk from JR Nagoya Station (Taiko-dori Exit)

We look forward to welcoming you.
Why This Film Needed 40 Years to Be Completed — The Origin Story of Filming Akira Kurosawa

Why did this film take forty years to complete? Because from the very moment it was shot, the footage became “invisible” for a long time. In 1984, I spent an entire year documenting the production set of Akira Kurosawa’s Ran. I recorded about 150 hours of material—nearly 400 U-matic tapes. But after filming ended, a tragedy occurred, and all of the footage went missing. It did not return for thirteen years. When it was finally found, the playback equipment had already disappeared from the world, and I couldn’t even watch my own recordings. At that time, digitization technology was limited and extremely expensive, so even twenty years after shooting, I still could not view the footage. In 2006, when I was close to giving up, Kurosawa appeared in my dream and scolded me. He said, “Kawamura! Do you truly understand the value of these tapes?” I panicked—and I borrowed money to digitize the footage. I went bankrupt, and I even went through a divorce. Still, I uploaded the raw, unedited recordings to YouTube, and the response from around the world was tremendous. But to turn it into a film back then, the era—and the budget—still hadn’t caught up. In those days, to screen video publicly, you essentially had to transfer it onto film, and I simply could not afford it. Then in 2020, I was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I thought, “I cannot die without completing this.” And at that moment, the world had finally changed. Projectors for digital video became standard, and high-definition editing became possible on a personal computer. That is how, forty years later, Filming Akira Kurosawa was finally completed. This is not only my film. It is the time of the Kurosawa-gumi set—the living time of that crew—reaching all of you today across four decades.
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“This text explains not only the film, but why it matters today.”

Filming Akira Kurosawa — a documentary by Mitsuhiko Kawamura. Runtime: 93 minutes.

This film is a rare behind-the-scenes documentary, captured during the production of Akira Kurosawa’s epic Ran, in 1984 and 1985. I filmed it on location as a university student— and I was the only videographer allowed to record the set.
The documentary is based on over 150 hours of original footage. It offers an intimate view of Kurosawa’s working methods, his communication with actors, and his philosophy of filmmaking.
Rather than mythologizing Kurosawa as an untouchable master, the film presents him as a deeply human creator— calm, demanding, humorous, and profoundly attentive to the people around him. You will see him repeat scenes dozens of times— not for perfection alone, but to draw out truth from performance. The film avoids retrospective narration or academic interpretation. Instead, it lets Kurosawa speak through his actions and words on set— so audiences can experience cinema at the moment of its creation. In Japan, the film has been widely praised, and recognized for its authenticity and restraint, and for preserving a creative process that can never be recreated.
Filming Akira Kurosawa is not only a record of how Ran was made— it is a testament to Kurosawa’s enduring belief in humanity, and in the power of cinema.
Why this film matters now: At a time when filmmaking is increasingly driven by efficiency and algorithms, this film reminds us of a cinema built on patience, discipline, and trust in human creativity.
And one important note:
All footage is original behind-the-scenes material—there are no scenes from Ran itself.
Trailer
“This text explains not only the film, but why it matters today.”

Filming Akira Kurosawa
A Documentary by Mitsuhiko Kawamura (93 min)
Filming Akira Kurosawa is a rare behind-the-scenes documentary captured during the production of Akira Kurosawa’s epic film Ran (1984–85). Shot on site by director Mitsuhiko Kawamura—then a university student and the only videographer allowed to record the set—the film is based on over 150 hours of original footage, offering an intimate view of Kurosawa’s working methods, his communication with actors, and his philosophy of filmmaking. Rather than mythologizing Kurosawa as an untouchable master, the documentary presents him as a deeply human creator: calm, demanding, humorous, and profoundly attentive to the people around him. Viewers witness Kurosawa repeating scenes dozens of times, not for perfection alone, but to draw out truth from performance. The film avoids retrospective narration or academic interpretation. Instead, it lets Kurosawa speak through his actions and words on set—allowing audiences to experience cinema at the moment of its creation. Widely praised in Japan, including by Kinema Junpo, the documentary has been recognized for its authenticity and restraint, and for preserving a creative process that can never be recreated. Filming Akira Kurosawa is not only a record of how Ran was made, but a testament to Kurosawa’s enduring belief in humanity and the power of cinema.

Key Facts
Director: Mitsuhiko Kawamura
Runtime: 93 minutes
Footage recorded: 1984–1985
Language: Japanese (English subtitles available)
Awards / Recognition: Japan Film Pen Club Award (Encouragement Prize)

Why This Film Matters Now
At a time when filmmaking is increasingly driven by efficiency and algorithms, Filming Akira Kurosawa reminds us of a cinema built on patience, discipline, and trust in human creativity—values that resonate strongly with today’s global audiences.

“All footage is original behind-the-scenes material, with no scenes from Ran itself.”
akirakurosawa.info
『映画の中の黒澤明　Filming Akira Kurosawa』 is not merely a behind-the-scenes documentary, but a rare historical record that captures Akira Kurosawa’s filmmaking philosophy at work. Based on approximately one year of video recordings made during the production of Ran (1985), the film preserves moments that were never intended for public view: rehearsals, repeated instructions to actors, and Kurosawa’s calm, patient engagement with his cast and crew. The documentary reveals a director far removed from the stereotypical image of an authoritarian genius. Instead, Kurosawa appears as a teacher-like figure, carefully guiding performers through repetition and explanation, emphasizing meaning over intimidation. The footage also includes scenes normally forbidden to be filmed at the time, made possible by the then-silent video cameras, capturing Kurosawa’s voice calling “Action” and “Cut” during actual takes. Beyond rehearsals, the film documents large-scale battle scenes, horses and soldiers filling the frame, and Kurosawa’s innovative use of multiple cameras to capture a single scene in one take—methods he explains directly in the film. Originally unfinished, the documentary was re-edited decades later and released as Life Work of Akira Kurosawa, receiving critical recognition. Filming Akira Kurosawa stands as a vital primary source for film history and education, offering an irreplaceable insight into the creative process of one of cinema’s greatest masters.

秦野市市制70周年記念映画上映会
2025年10月18日
『映画の中の黒澤明　Filming Akira Kurosawa』
Director：MitsuhikoKawamura talking
トークショーの動画は
check here
YouTube

Do you truly know the real Akira Kurosawa? 

Akira Kurosawa, recipient of the People's Honour Award and known globally as “Kurosawa of the World,” is often misunderstood in Japan,
described with words like “scary” or “strict.”
While he continues to influence creators abroad,
few in Japan are familiar with his true character.
In reality, Kurosawa was a remarkably gentle, soft-spoken, and masterful director. 

The Light of Rashomon: — On Three Lies and a Single Light  – Mitsuhiko Kawamura

Akira Kurosawa The Light of Rashomon — A Story of Unspoken Ethics and Redemption

This profound literary essay examines Ryunosuke Akutagawa's short story In a Grove and Akira Kurosawa's film Rashomon, confronting timeless themes of silence, storytelling, forgiveness, and human morality. Can truth truly be spoken? Is forgiveness ever possible?

Drawing from his own experience documenting Kurosawa during the filming of Ran, filmmaker Mitsuhiko Kawamura weaves personal narrative with cultural analysis, exploring the ethical architecture hidden beneath both literature and cinema.

Written in the shadow of illness and hardship, this book is not only a critical study but also a testimony of redemption. It is a quiet yet powerful light offered to those who seek meaning amidst the chaos of conflicting truths.

Amazon
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This documentary showcases the human side of Akira Kurosawa
during the production of Ran.

“What I want to express is:
why can’t people live more peacefully, happily together?
Why can’t we act with more goodwill?”
These were Kurosawa’s own words
— a dream that inspired the creation of this documentary.

- 黒澤明 (キネマ旬報 1963年)
40 years after the release of Ran, this valuable record,
edited from previously incomplete video footage, has been reimagined
and awarded the 2024 Japanese Film Pen Club Encouragement Award.
Now presented as Filming Akira Kurosawa,
it vividly captures the passion and kindness of the 74-year-old Kurosawa,
who gave his all to filmmaking.
You’ll be moved by the intensity and warmth of the man behind the camera.
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映画の中の黒澤明
Filming Akira Kurosawag
予告編
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Recognition speaks for itself

🏆 2024 Japanese Film Pen Club Award

– Encouragement Prize Originally presented
under the title LifeWork of Akira Kurosawa,
this film has been praised for its artistic merit and archival value.

“This is not just a making-of. It is a record of the soul of a great artist.”
— Peter Barakan
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よくある質問

実際の公開ページでは回答部分が閉じた状態で表示されます。

  • この映画はドキュメンタリーですか？

    はい、映画『乱』の製作現場を記録したドキュメンタリー映画です。黒澤明監督の実際の姿を捉えた貴重な記録映像となっています。

  • 上映時間はどのくらいですか？

    上映時間は93分です。映画『乱』の制作過程を通じて黒澤監督の人間性に迫る内容となっております。

  • どこで観ることができますか？

    秦野市立本町公民館（入船町12-2）　2階多目的ホールで上映予定です。
    詳しい上映館とスケジュールについては、下記の上映情報をご確認ください。

  • 映画初心者でも楽しめますか？

    はい、映画好きの方はもちろん、黒澤明作品を観たことがない方にも楽しんでいただけます。一人の人間としての黒澤監督の魅力を描いた作品です。

  • ここをクリックして表示したいテキストを入力してください。

    ここをクリックして表示したいテキストを入力してください。テキストは「右寄せ」「中央寄せ」「左寄せ」といった整列方向、「太字」「斜体」「下線」「取り消し線」、「文字サイズ」「文字色」「文字の背景色」など細かく編集することができます。
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Meet the real Akira Kurosawa in the theater.

作品名: 映画の中の黒澤明 Filming Akira Kurosawa

監督: 河村 光彦　撮影: 谷口 裕幸　音楽:山田百合

映倫区分: G 
Director Profile – Mitsuhiko Kawamura
Mitsuhiko Kawamura is a Japanese documentary filmmaker
known for his intimate portrayals of artists and creators.
While in his fourth year at Kwansei Gakuin University,
he joined a team documenting the production of Kurosawa’s Ran.

He spent a full year closely following the director,
recording over 150 hours of behind-the-scenes footage.

From this archive, Filming Akira Kurosawa was created, capturing vivid moments
between the legendary director and his actors.
This work reveals Kurosawa’s hope that the 21st century would be an era free of war.

Kawamura’s films blend keen observation with profound respect for his subjects,
creating historical and culturally significant cinematic records.

📩 Contact: sun10ro@ymail.ne.jp

"Filming Akira Kurosawa" Trailer – 2 minutes
📽️ Watch here:
https://youtu.be/MLTnFuD8Vb8?si=1vyLIjvF6AFE1FQb