Samurai Marathon Bonus

The Bluray and DVD collector’s editions for Samurai Marathon include a bonus disc which is really worth the extra money: superb making of documentary, premiere event report and various interviews. (Amazon Japan – CD Japan)

The atmosphere of involvement, complicity and good humor from the cast, which pervades the Making of Documentary, can also be felt in the 3SHOT Interview with Takeru Satou, Mirai Moriyama and Nana Komatsu.

The actors are asked about difficult scenes, things they had to care or worry about and if Bernard Rose, being a foreign director, was different from Japanese directors. We get the impression that the shooting was exciting and enjoyable but rather demanding both physically and mentally. For instance, Mirai Moriyama recalls the water he had to swim in was awfully cold.

Takeru Satou had no problem running with others but he was asked to deliver extra speed when he was on his own. Nana Komatsu was a bit worried about her kimono (a very valuable and unique piece) not getting dirty or wet, quite an issue when one considers weather conditions in Japan (end of summer, early fall). The three actors portray director Bernard Rose as a nice and benevolent man who relies a lot on his actors’ ability to be spontaneous.

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Samurai Marathon US 2020

It’s official, Samurai Marathon will be released in US theaters in 2020. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Bernard Rose’s film.

“Samurai Marathon is such an engrossing, often moving film — there were times it was difficult to catch a breath,” Doris Pfardrescher, president and CEO of Well Go, said Tuesday in a statement. “Staying true to tradition while finding a place in the quickly modernizing and progressing world is a rather timely [theme], and we feel audiences in North America will connect to this story.”

Original article: Hollywood ReporterOther sources: Bernard Rose

Samurai Marathon US PREMIERE

From Asian Film Festivals: “the organizers of the New York Asian Film Festival announced that the opening film will be Samurai Marathon by Bernard Rose. The festival will take place from June 28th until July 14th.”

Samurai Marathon by Bernard Rose – Japan, UK | 2019 – 104 minutes
Cast: Satoh Takeru, Komatsu Nana, Moriyama Mirai.


Pictures released by director Bernard Rose

Bernard Rose on Twitter

Samurai Marathon in Europe

Samurai Marathon, the movie directed by British director Bernard Rose will premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on June 25 and 26. This period film which is also a modern epic has a formidable ensemble cast: Takeru Satoh, Mirai Moriyama, Shota Sometani, Hiroki Hasegawa, Naoto Takenaka and Nana Komatsu to name a few.


Samurai Marathon is inspired by the real-life race (still held annually in Japan) established in the 1850s by an ageing feudal lord who, in response to the arrival of American fleets, challenged his lazy samurais to complete a marathon. In the mix is a ninja whose loyalties are tested and the lord’s rebellious daughter, Princess Yuki (Nana Komatsu), who wants to participate in the race. Directed by Bernard Rose (Candyman) with a score by Philip Glass, this Japanese-language film mixes humour with action against a striking period backdrop” (source: E.I.F.F.)