But Mifune’s global reputation—27 years after his death, he’s still Japan’s most famous actor—was cemented by two Kurosawa films from the following decade: “Yojimbo” (1961 ...

Usagi Yojimbo has been the exception to that rule for four decades. The story of Miyamoto Usagi, an anthropomorphic ronin rabbit wandering late 16th century Japan, penned by cartoonist Stan Sakai ...

Made just one year later, Sanjuro matches Yojimbo’s storytelling dexterity yet adds layers of world-weary pragmatism that brings the two films to a thrilling and unforgettable conclusion.