Sanshiro Sugata (1943)

Name: Sanshiro Sugata
Released: 1943

A hotheaded youth in 1880s Meiji Japan apprentices to judo master Shōgorō Yano, trading brute jujutsu bravado for discipline and humility. As Sanshirō matures, he proves judo’s spirit against old-guard challengers—including a deadly duel—while falling for his vanquished opponent’s daughter. Based on the novel by Tsuneo Tomita, son of Tomita Tsunejirō, the earliest disciple of judo.

Genres: Drama

What to watch after Sanshiro Sugata

Scandal (1950) — Same feel: dramatic, serious
The Idiot (1951) — Akira Kurosawa directed both
I Live in Fear (1955) — Same feel: dramatic, serious
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954) — Same feel: dramatic, serious
Blue Jean (2022) — Same feel: dramatic, serious
Taboo (1999)