The Imagery of Samurai
Donald Richie narrates, “They (farmers) have heard of a village which once hired masterless samurai and was saved…Since there is no pay, merely food, a place to sleep, and the fun of fighting, the farmers are fortunate that they first meet Kambei (Takashi Shimura), a strong and dedicated man who decides to make their cause his own. A young ronin, Katsushiro ( Ko Kimura) joins him, then he accidentally meets an old friend, Shichiroji ( Daisuke Kato).He himself choose Gorobei (Yoshio Inaba) who in turn chooses Heihachi ( Minoru Chiaki).A master swordsman, kyuzo ( Seiji Miyoguchi) joins, and so, eventually does Kikuchiyo (Toshiro Mifune), a farmer son himself, who has been following them around from some time, attracted- as all of them are- by Kambei.” The number of the samurais alludes to completeness for they are seven in total. The villagers are hopeful that the samurais would redeem them from their enemies. Kambei is a material figure who influences all the other samurais to participate in the course.
The Imagery of a Samurai freeing a child
Dewit reports, “The samurai puts on his disguise. He feels mifune watching and turns…Mifune sits on a stump close behind him to watch. The samurai tells the thief he has brought food, to tosses the rice cakes through the door, and follows. The thief runs from the barn and falls down dead. The samurai drops the thief’s sword in the dirt. The parents of the child rush forward to take it.” The samurai tactic of donning the monk’s attires is an impressive ploy which misleads the thief. Seeing the robes convinces the thief that a monk cannot endanger him. Moreover, the rice is comparable to bait which distracts the thief. Tossing the rice offers the samurai an opening to slay the thief for it is distinctive.
