The Legacy of Chūshingura: Cinematic Adaptations and Myth-Making in Japan

Through extensive reproduction and transmission, the story of the eighteenth-century historical vendetta of the 47 samurai-turned-ronin from Akō domain, often referred to metonymically as Chūshingura, became one of Japan’s most beloved cultural myths, believed to exhibit values shared across Japanese society. It is remembered as a tale about heroic men who fought for a noble cause and no personal gain, and who died by performing seppuku, proud to have accomplished what they set out to do. This article, however, argues that more attention should be given to the many variations in Chūshingura adaptations, which give the tale various nuanced meanings. Using selected film adaptations of the tale, I show how the cause for which the heroes are willing to die has constantly changed, reflecting larger sociocultural and political transformations. In other words, these adaptations exhibit transformations in the understanding of heroism and of what it means to be a hero. This adaptability in creating heroes that suit their times is an important element in sustaining the enduring effectiveness of Chūshingura as a cultural myth.