The Men Who Tread on the Tiger’s Tail
VIKINGS vs SAMURAI takes place in the 13th century. Now, if you’re hunting for a killer samurai flick from that era, you’re in rare territory. But then, you get Akira Kurosawa’s gem, The Men Who Tread on the Tiger’s Tail. It’s a tight, hour-long piece, stripped down to the bone with minimalist sets and sparse action. The story? We’re talking late 12th century—Prince Yoshitsune, on the run from his power-hungry big brother, with his squad of six badass samurai.
Now, Kurosawa, the genius, flips the script by throwing in this comedic wildcard—a nameless porter, played by Ken’ichi Enomoto. This guy brings the laughs, but he’s also why the film got its release delayed. WWII-era Japanese censors didn’t dig the irreverent vibe, and the American censors, clueless as they were, shelved it until ’52.
They say he’s got an amazingly strong bodyguard: Benkei. He’s safe. Benkei is seven feet tall; a giant priest. He swings a one-ton iron rod. He annihilated armies of thousands single-handedly. Unbelievable. He can pull off a man’s head like you’d pull a daikon. I hear he’s not very smart. They’re traveling in disguise. But everybody knows it, even the barrier officers. Stupid, eh?
This flick isn’t just about the escape—it’s a sharp critique of despotism and the twisted bushido code. Prince Yoshitsune disguising himself as a lowly servant? It’s both tragic and a slice of karmic pie, showcasing Kurosawa’s masterful storytelling. The real kicker comes at a tense checkpoint scene. Benkei, the samurai leader, has to bluff his way through, and boy, does he deliver.
Despite its modest scale, you see Kurosawa’s signature all over this. Think Seven Samurai in embryo. The characters, the dynamics—they’re a prelude to his future masterpieces. And the ending? Pure surreal magic. The porter wakes up solo, under a blazing sky, leaving you pondering the timeless journey.
So, The Men Who Tread on the Tiger’s Tail—it’s a small flick, sure, but it’s a crucial chapter in Kurosawa’s legendary saga, laying down the themes and techniques that would make him a cinematic god.
