A fake monk scams a samurai lord for 150k koku and somehow you're rooting for him.
Kotiyama is a swindler and extortionist, the head of a whole gang of crooks, usually posing as a poor monk; once he really took vows, but he was kicked out of the monastery long ago. He is enterprising, smart and not too cruel, so his accomplices love him. Posing as an envoy from the abbot of the Kennei Temple, Kotiama plays a show in front of Lord Matsue with an income of 150,000 koku, and extorts money from him. The film is based on the famous play by Kawatake Mokuami.
Acting
Tetsuro Tamba's smirking charm sells every lie.
Production
Theatrical roots shine in ornate Edo sets and staging.
Writing
Mokuami's centuries-old dialogue still snaps.
Director
Yūichi Harada
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
JP
