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The Ambitious

The Ambitious

The Restoration of Meiji

19707.22h 0m

Overview

The story of Ryoma Sakamoto, considered to be the architect behind the downfall of the Tokugawa shogunate. He was considered an outlaw by his own clan, hunted by his government, and was despised by supporters of the Shogun as well as the Loyalists for desiring the opening of Japan to the West in order to learn its technology, in the hopes of one day defeating the West with a modern army and navy.

Directed by Daisuke Itō
Written by Ryōtarō Shiba, Daisuke Itō
0

Top Cast

Kinnosuke Nakamura

Kinnosuke Nakamura

Ryoma Sakamoto

Toshirō Mifune

Toshirō Mifune

Shojiro Goto

Keiju Kobayashi

Keiju Kobayashi

Yoshinosuke Saigo

Tatsuya Nakadai

Tatsuya Nakadai

Shintaro Nakaoka

Sayuri Yoshinaga

Sayuri Yoshinaga

Oryo

K

Katsuo Nakamura

Chojiro Kondo

Noboru Nakaya

Noboru Nakaya

Hanheita Takeichi

E

Eitarō Matsuyama

Umanosuke Shinmiya

Shigeru Kōyama

Shigeru Kōyama

Kaishu Katsu

Shinsuke Mikimoto

Shinsuke Mikimoto

Kogoro Katsura

Themes & Keywords

japanchambarajidaigekishinsengumibakumatsu

About The Ambitious

The Ambitious is a action, adventure, drama film released in 1970 exploring themes of japan, chambara, jidaigeki, shinsengumi, bakumatsu. Directed by Daisuke Itō, it stars Kinnosuke Nakamura, Toshirō Mifune, Keiju Kobayashi. The story of Ryoma Sakamoto, considered to be the architect behind the downfall of the Tokugawa shogunate. He was considered an outlaw by his own clan, hunted by his government, and was despised by supporters of the Shogun as well as the Loyalists for desiring the opening of Japan to the West in order to learn its technology, in the hopes of one day defeating the West with a modern army and navy.

Movies Similar to The Ambitious

Discover titles like The Ambitious — ranked by similarity and community votes

We found 15 movies similar to The Ambitious

If you enjoyed The Ambitious, you'll love these handpicked recommendations. Each title below shares similar themes, tone, and storytelling style. Our algorithm analyzes genres, keywords, director filmography, and cast connections to find the closest matches. Whether you're looking for the same emotional depth, narrative structure, or visual style, these picks are curated to deliver the best viewing experience for fans of The Ambitious.

Rurouni Kenshin Part II: Kyoto Inferno
45% Match

Kenshin has settled into his new life with Kaoru and his other friends when he is approached with a request from the Meiji government. Makoto Shishio, a former assassin like Kenshin, was betrayed, set on fire and left for dead. He survived, and is now in Kyoto, plotting with his gathered warriors to overthrow the new government. Against Kaoru's wishes, Kenshin reluctantly agrees to go to Kyoto and help keep his country from falling back into civil war.

The Tale of Zatoichi
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The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur and master swordsman. Zatoichi targets a yakuza-controlled village, because war with a neighbouring town's smaller gang is brewing.

13 Assassins
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A bravado period action film set at the end of Japan's feudal era in which a group of unemployed samurai are enlisted to bring down a sadistic lord and prevent him from ascending to the throne and plunging the country into a war-torn future.

Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo
37% Match

Zatoichi treks to a village that has always been a favorite spot of his, only to discover that it’s become a living hell, plagued by feuding father and son yakuza as well as the younger crime boss’s bodyguard, scruffy, smart-mouthed, cash-hungry Yojimbo of legend.

13 Assassins
35% Match

A sadistic Daimyo (feudal lord) rapes a woman and murders both her and her husband, but even when one of his own vassals commits suicide to bring attention to the crime, the matter is quickly hushed up. Not only will there be no punishment, but because the Daimyo is the Shogun's younger brother, he will soon be appointed to a high political position from which he could wreak even more havoc. Convinced that the fate of the Shogunate hangs in the balance, a plot is hatched to assassinate the Daimyo. The two most brilliant strategic minds of their generation find themselves pitted against each other; one is tasked to defend a man he despises, and has a small army at his disposal. The other is given a suicide mission, and has 12 brave men. They are the 13 Assassins.

Zatoichi
32% Match

Zatoichi(2003)

Movie7.2/10

Blind traveler Zatoichi is a master swordsman and a masseur with a fondness for gambling on dice games. When he arrives in a village torn apart by warring gangs, he sets out to protect the townspeople.

Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple
28% Match

After years on the road establishing his reputation as Japan's greatest fencer, Takezo returns to Kyoto. Otsu waits for him, yet he has come not for her but to challenge the leader of the region's finest school of fencing. To prove his valor and skill, he walks deliberately into ambushes set up by the school's followers.