Judo Saga II (1945)

Japanese Judo - 1, American Boxing - 0

Genre: Period Action Sport Drama (Japan)

Starring: Susumu Fujita (The Hidden Fortress • Mothra Versus Godzilla), Denjirô Ôkôchi (No Regrets for Our Youth • Judo Saga),

Directed By: Akira Kurosawa (Throne Of Blood • Kagemusha)

Overview: The now-disciplined Sugata is challenged to more trials by combat, including an American Boxer and a master of Karate, however his dojo forbids fighting for sport.

The film opens up with an American sailor screaming at the Japanese rickshaw man to stop. The rickshaw driver keeps running, swerving and seeming just a little reckless amidst the cries of the American. When the rickshaw runner does stop, the American begins boxing him into a pummelled mess. In these moments, watching the subtitles of an American speaking ENGLISH, I knew right away that this copy was going to be a fiasco of out of context, an all too literal bablefish translation molestation of storytelling. And it was, and I'll try to ignore the fact that every sentence needed to be retranslated in one's mind to make sense of the tale, as it was with the two previous Kurosawa films I watched (and, I presume, the next few).

In Judo Saga II, we find our Judo devotee and hero, Sugata, as strong and brave as ever, yet still with just a hint of his old impetuous fighting streak. He has become legendary in his skill, with children chanting songs of 'the frightening and mighty Sugata'. Still he is a humble man and focuses on his craft with the dignity and respect deserved of such a Martial Art.

With Americans all over Japan, Sugata sees boxing for the first time, finding the gory exhibition sport repulsive, and turns down offers to pit his Judo against American fists. A parallel plot involves a Karate master's arrogant invite for a fight of Judo versus Karate. We all know the story must take us to a reluctantly accepted battle or two, and as predictable and formulaic Martial Arts Drama goes, there are obvious streaks of talent in the cinematography and the suspense during the battle scene, though as expected, no great moral lessons are taught, and given the era this was made in, propaganda is seen on rare occasions.

"Had enough?"

Overall Rating: 60% (Threw Me A Little Too)

Aftertaste:

A sequel that I found better than the original, Judo Saga II had appropriate forward momentum of character and directorial skill, and though overly dramatic, the final Karate / Judo fight is by far the best scene of the film, and certainly worthy of a stand alone viewing.