Shinran: Path to Purity (親鸞 白い道) 37 years old

In the 12th century, Buddhism was still a relatively new religion in Japan. At that time, one school (Shingon) offered extensive training in complex and very demanding practices which might eventually bring about spiritual purification and realization. Various Zen schools offered students a lengthy path, literally composed of a blank wall and unceasing meditation. Yet another school (Tendai) emphasized complex metaphysics and the study of philosophical systems. Basically, all of them were designed to cater to the few who were able to give up everything else in their lives and focus on liberation, such as scholars and noblemen. In this historical and biographical drama, this is the situation that the young Shinran (1173-1263) discovered when he began exploring Buddhism as an alternative to the violence and ceaseless civil wars that racked Japan at the time.

Credits

Shinran: Path to Purity Cast

Name Character
Miki Odagiri She was 56, 76 years old when she died
Sen Hara
Eitaro Ozawa He was 78, 79 years old when he died
Rentarō Mikuni He was 64, 90 years old when he died
Katsuo Nakamura He was 49, now 86 years old
Tomisaburo Wakayama He was 57, 62 years old when he died
Hanshiro Iwai
Mako Midori She was 43, now 80 years old
Frankie Sakai He was 58, 67 years old when he died
Akaji Maro He was 44, now 81 years old
Junko Miyashita She was 38, now 75 years old
Tetsurō Tamba He was 64, 84 years old when he died
Kantarō Suga He was 52, 59 years old when he died
Sanae Nakahara She was 51, 76 years old when she died
Hôsei Komatsu He was 62, 78 years old when he died
Koji Shimizu He was 17, now 55 years old
Guts Ishimatsu He was 37, now 75 years old
Shigeru Izumiya He was 39, now 76 years old
Michiyo Ookusu She was 41, now 78 years old
Ako (actress) She was 29, now 66 years old

Shinran: Path to Purity Crew

Name Department
Rentarō Mikuni as Director. He was 64 (90) years old when He died Directing
Shinran: Path to Purity poster
Shinran: Path to Purity (37 years)

  • Release day: Tuesday, June 02, 1987
  • Runtime: 139 minutes