Scene annalis Seven samurai- Armor

Seven Samurai (1954)

Director: Kurosawa Akira

Screenplay: Hashimoto Shinobu, Oguni Hideo and Kurosawa Akira

Cinematography: Nakai Asakazu

Music: Hayasaka Fumio

Running time: approx. 200 min

The scene I have chosen to analyses for this assignment is the armor scene from Kurosawa’s “Seven samurai”. This scene focuses on Kikuchiyo; the outcast of the group. Not only is he the only samurai of the seven who is not an actual samurai, but he is also born a farmer. His troubles past are further unreeled later on in the battles to come. But this scene exemplifies just how large the gap between the samurai class and peasant class is.

The scene is set with the five senior samurai discussing battle plans and Kikuchiyo returning with armor of slain samurai to aid them in the upcoming fights against the bandits.


From the Beginning, Kikuchiyo was the outcast, the comic relief, the stray dog playing samurai. Nevertheless, he was shown to be the greatest hero of them all, and when he was slain, he was laid to rest the same as any other samurai. This scene is vital because it reveals the innermost workings of kikuchiyo, as well as exposes the faults of the samurai class and it's result on the farmers. His tragic past and humility toward peasants is further expanded later on during the burning windmill scene, when Kikuchiyo sobs holding the baby. Close ups and cuts are nearly seamlessly used in this scene and reinforce the emotions packed in. Also, the fact of having no music track or ambient noise  (except a stream) allows the viewer to focus on the content. 

After retrieving the armor, Kikuchiyo is shun by the other samurai. They feel as though the villagers are monsters and sit in silent contemplation. The sound at this point is non-existent, except for the noise on funning water from a nearby stream and Heihachi (funny one) stabbing at the floor with a stick. Tension builds steadily, as Kikuchiyo becomes visibly more and more aggravated with his comrade’s reactions. He breaks his silence when Kyuzo (sword master) speaks out that  “Now I want to kill them all.”

Manzo cowers in fear when Kikuchiyo blurts that he got the armor from him. He knows what this will mean in the eyes of the senior samurai.

 Initially he throws the armor aside and casts a raging stare upon his fellow warriors. Then; In the Mifune Toshiro style that we have come to love, presents us with an energetic storm of emotion.

 His smile and laughter bursts out, while still allowing his rage against the others to seep through. The result is a powerful speech. Filled with frustrated laughter and sadness; as he gives them the reality of the situation.

His expression shifts chaotically as he reveals the truth of the samurai-peasant dynamic. The other five, being actual samurai do not really understand peasants. He rants about how "what, do you think they are buddahs?"The others see the villagers as monsters, for hunting previous samurai for their armor and Kikuchiyo tells them why. Yelling about the secret cashes and supplies held by the villagers makes them seem even worse. That is, until he explains to them that it was the samurai who made them this way. Without protection, they were forced to live and behave in such a devious manor. Kikuchiyo has an insight that the others do not and hi is frustrated that they do not see that the villagers are the victims. 

Still with no music ion this scene, he throws aside the armor and arrows, symbolically renouncing his fellow samurai for the moment, as he is discussed by their attitude. The only noise at this point is the still running stream and Kikuchiyo's rant .

Even the peasants are taken into shock by Kikuchiyo's words. His rage increases and he protests that farmers are "mean, stupid, murders!" But it was the samurai who made them this way. These words mixed wit his emotion reveals enough about his past and himself to see that not only was he a farmer, but he has hatred for the world in total. Thus, he assumes the role of a "samurai".