Kwaidan
“In the tradition of "RASHOMON" and "GATE OF HELL."”
Taking its title from an archaic Japanese word meaning "ghost story," this anthology adapts four folk tales. A penniless samurai marries for money with tragic results. A man stranded in a blizzard is saved by Yuki the Snow Maiden, but his rescue comes at a cost. Blind musician Hoichi is forced to perform for an audience of ghosts. An author relates the story of a samurai who sees another warrior's reflection in his teacup.
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Cast
75 people
Michiyo Aratama
First Wife (segment "The Black Hair")
Known for
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
The Sword of Doom
Rentaro Mikuni
Husband (segment "The Black Hair")
Known for
The Burmese Harp
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto
Misako Watanabe
Second Wife (segment "The Black Hair")
Known for
Youth of the Beast
The Great Passage
Kenjirō Ishiyama
Father (segment "The Black Hair")
Known for
High and Low
Ranko Akagi
Mother (segment "The Black Hair")
Known for
Red Angel
Intentions of Murder
Fumie Kitahara
(segment "The Black Hair")
Known for
Anne of Green Gables
Intentions of Murder
Kappei Matsumoto
(segment "The Black Hair") (uncredited)
Known for
Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx
Stray Dog
Yoshiko Ieda
(segment "The Black Hair") (uncredited)
Also in
Watashi-wa beretto
Farm Girls
Otome Tsukimiya
(segment "The Black Hair") (uncredited)
Known for
Daimajin
Kenzō Tanaka
(segment "The Black Hair") (uncredited)
Also in
Harakiri
Women of the Night
Kiyoshi Nakano
(segment "The Black Hair") (uncredited)
Also in
The Third Shadow Warrior
Shinobi no Mono 2: Vengeance
Tatsuya Nakadai
Minokichi (segment "The Woman of the Snow")
Known for
Ran
Harakiri
Masaki Kobayashi Director · Yōko Mizuki Screenplay Lafcadio Hearn Author
United States release July 15, 1965 · Produced in Japan · Production TOHO, Bungei
Production
Ninjin Club
Production
TOHO
Production
Bungei
Production
Toyo Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Production
Japan
Produced in
Languages
Original title
怪談
Original language
Japanese
Spoken on screen
Japanese
Release dates
Japan · December 29, 1964
Premiere · Yuurakuza Theater
Japan · January 6, 1965
Limited theatrical · Roadshow
United States · July 15, 1965
Theatrical
United States · October 10, 2000
Physical · DVD
United States
October 20, 2015 · Physical · Blu-ray
May 27, 2020 · Digital · HBO Max
Australia
March 15, 2006 · Physical · DVD
Finland
January 6, 1965 · Theatrical
France
July 28, 1965 · Theatrical
January 3, 2026 · Premiere · 4k restoration, Cinémathèque française
July 1, 2026 · Theatrical
Japan
February 27, 1965 · Theatrical
November 29, 1982 · Theatrical · Re-release
Malaysia
July 30, 1994 · Theatrical · Japan Festival
Netherlands
June 19, 2008 · Physical · DVD
Philippines
September 1, 2005 · Theatrical · Eigasai
Portugal
February 28, 1968 · Theatrical
Spain
May 13, 1968 · Theatrical
Thailand
October 12, 2025 · Premiere · Bangkok International Film Festival
United Kingdom
May 29, 2006 · Physical · DVD
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Some details come from TheTVDB.