Sun Wukong but make it vaudeville: 1940 Japan's wildest opera-monkey fever dream.
A legendary pre-war comedy operetta starring Enomoto Kenichi, Hideko Takamine and Li Xianglan. The Sanzo Ikkou continues its westward journey, on a mission to prevent a demonic resurrection. As Genjo Sanzo, Cho Hakkai, Sha Gojyo, and Son Goku (Kenichi Enomoto) fight their way to their goal, their path is fraught with internal strife.
Acting
Enomoto Kenichi's physical comedy as Goku predates Chaplin's influence on Japan.
Production
Massive sets blending Chinese mythology with contemporary Japanese variety show aesthetics.
Director
Kajirō Yamamoto
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Li Xianglan/Yoshiko Yamaguchi was a Manchurian-born Japanese citizen forced into propaganda films; her presence here layers real political trauma onto fantasy.
Director Kajirō Yamamoto gave Kurosawa his first assistant director credit on this production—The Monkey King literally trained the Seven Samurai guy.
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