

A hotheaded youth in 1880s Meiji Japan apprentices to judo master Shōgorō Yano, trading brute jujutsu bravado for discipline and humility. As Sanshirō matures, he proves judo’s spirit against old-guard challengers—including a deadly duel—while falling for his vanquished opponent’s daughter. Based on the novel by Tsuneo Tomita, son of Tomita Tsunejirō, the earliest disciple of judo.
Shogoro Yano

Sanshiro Sugata

Sayo Murai

Gennosuke Higaki

Hansuke Murai, Sayo's father

Osumi Kodana

Tsunetami Iimura
Police Chief Mishima

Master Saburo Kodama

Buddhist Priest

Wada
Yoshima Dan
Yujiro Toda

Kohei Tsuzaki
Toranosuki Niiseki
Nemoto
Torakichi
Monma's pupil (uncredited)
