A wandering ronin with a toothpick and zero chill gets dragged into every fight he tried to avoid.
Season 2 • Episode 20
LatestMonjiro was born into a poor farm family in Mikazuki Village, Nitta County, Ueshu, and abandoned his hometown when he was 10 years old. He has been traveling aimlessly with a long toothpick in his mouth. Monjiro avoided getting involved in anything, but wherever he went, he ended up getting involved in incidents
Direction
Kon Ichikawa brings arthouse polish to pulp material.
Acting
Atsuo Nakamura's toothpick is basically a co-lead.
Production
1970s location shooting hits different—gritty, gorgeous.
Creator
Kon Ichikawa
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Kon Ichikawa was already a Cannes regular when he directed this—imagine him pitching TV samurai pulp to executives.
The toothpick became Monjiro's trademark; Japanese audiences still reference it as shorthand for cool indifference.
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