Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Aug 5, 2026

Samurai Marathon

Samurai Marathon is a 2019 Japanese-British historical action adventure film co-written and directed by Bernard Rose and starring Takeru Satoh, Nana Komatsu and Mirai Moriyama. It is based on the 2014 novel The Marathon Samurai: Five Tales of Japan’s First Marathon by Akihiro Dobashi, itself inspired by the origin story of the Ansei Toashi 30-km footrace held annually in Annaka City.

Last revised
Aug 5, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
466 w
Citations
31
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Samurai Marathon
Film poster
Directed byBernard Rose
Screenplay byBernard Rose
Hiroshi Saito
Kikumi Yamagishi
Based on
The Marathon Samurai: Five Tales of Japan’s First Marathon
by Akihiro Dobashi
Produced byJeremy Thomas
Toshiaki Nakazawa
StarringTakeru Satoh
Nana Komatsu
Mirai Moriyama
Shōta Sometani
Munetaka Aoki
Naoto Takenaka
Danny Huston
Etsushi Toyokawa
Hiroki Hasegawa
CinematographyTakuro Ishizaka
Music byPhilip Glass
Production
companies
Recorded Picture Company
Sedic International
Distributed bySignature Entertainment (UK)
Gaga Corporarion (Japan)
Release date
  • February 2019 (2019-02) (Japan)
Running time
104 minutes
CountriesJapan
United Kingdom
LanguagesJapanese
English

Samurai Marathon (Japanese: サムライマラソン, Hepburn: Samurai Marason) is a 2019 Japanese-British historical action adventure film co-written and directed by Bernard Rose and starring Takeru Satoh, Nana Komatsu and Mirai Moriyama. It is based on the 2014 novel The Marathon Samurai: Five Tales of Japan’s First Marathon by Akihiro Dobashi, itself inspired by the origin story of the Ansei Toashi 30-km footrace held annually in Annaka City.123

Plot summary

In 1855, a daimyo sends his men on a grueling marathon to discover if they're tough enough to face the newly arrived Americans. Misunderstanding his intent, the Shogun dispatches assassins.4

Cast

Release

The film was released in theaters in Japan in February 2019.5 It was later featured at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June 2019.7 Well Go USA Entertainment acquired North American distribution rights to the film in July 2019.1 The film was released on VOD and digital platforms in May 2020.8 It was also released on DVD and Blu-Ray in the United States on July 21, 2020.2

Reception

The film has a 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.9 James Hadfield of The Japan Times awarded the film three stars out of five.3

References

References

  1. Brzeski, Patrick (July 2, 2019). "Bernard Rose's 'Samurai Marathon' to Get North America Release From Well Go USA (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  2. Prange, Stephanie (June 2, 2020). "Japanese Action Film 'Samurai Marathon' Due on Disc July 21 From Well Go". Media Play News. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  3. Hadfield, James (February 27, 2019). "'Samurai Marathon': A sprint through Japanese history". The Japan Times. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  4. "Samurai marason". IMDb.
  5. Clarke, Stewart (February 6, 2019). "HanWay Boards Bernard Rose's 'Samurai Marathon,' Jeremy Thomas Producing (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  6. "サムライマラソン". eiga.com. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  7. Ide, Wendy (June 24, 2019). "'Samurai Marathon': Edinburgh Review". Screen Daily. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  8. Martin, Peter (May 13, 2020). "Now on VOD: Bernard Rose's SAMURAI MARATHON Gets Breathless". Screen Anarchy. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  9. "Samurai Marathon 1855". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
External links