Ken aka The Sword

Ken is a 60's film starring Ichikawa Raizo, and directed by Misumi Kenji, both known for their work in period samurai films. Here the setting is more contemporary; 60's Japan. Based on a novel by Mishima Yukio, Ichikawa plays the main character, Kokubu Jiro, a star pupil of a univerity Kendo club, who is known for his single-minded devotion to the sport. Neither games, drinking, girl chasing, or television interest him, as it does his friends and classmates. Kokubu has a rival in the club, Kagawa, the second best in the club, who is constantly trying to better him, but is never able to. The club is about to enter a major tournament, and Kokobu is given charge of training the group. They go to a seaside resort, described as a "rustic village," but scenic and a perfect place to train the young men. Kokubu puts them through a gruelling two week training, where they work so hard that they can't eat. The point is to bring them up to a high physical level, and mentally to that transcendent state that will enable them to win. However, Kagawa is harboring resentment towards his classmate, and has tried several ways to bring him down. For instance, he tries to seduce him with a university female student; it fails, and she falls in love with him, though it is not reciprocated. Finally, on the second to last day of training, while Kokubu and several others go to the docks to await the arrival of their master, Kagawa convinces the others to go for a swim, something that was forbidden for them to do. The master and the others come back as they are returning from the swim. The master is furious; Kokubu horrified. Kagawa is expelled from the training, but not from the group, and is allowed to return for the competition. But Kokubu has lost his control over the class, and this apparent lack of leadership causes him to commit suicide. The movie ends with the class mourning over the loss.

This is a simple story, beautifully shot, with excellent direction by Mitsumi, focusing on the school and the process of training, giving it a documentary feeling. The melodrama is provided by Kagawa and Kokubu's potential love interest, showing the conflict between dedication to one's craft versus indulging in the pleasures of everyday life. Ichikawa Raizo acts with restraint and nobility, and I think this is one of his finest roles. Recommended!