The Three Treasures
1959 Japanese film
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The Three Treasures (日本誕生, Nippon Tanjō; lit. 'The Birth of Japan') is a 1959 Japanese epic religious fantasy film directed by Hiroshi Inagaki, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced by Toho as their celebratory thousandth film, it was the most expensive Japanese film produced at the time and is based on the legends Kojiki and Nihon Shoki and the origins of Shinto.[3][1][5] The film was the highest-grossing film of 1959 for Toho and the second highest grossing domestic production in Japan for the year.[4]
- Toshio Yasumi
- Ryūzō Kikushima[1]
| The Three Treasures | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Hiroshi Inagaki |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Based on | Kojiki and Nihon Shoki |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Kazuo Yamada[1] |
| Edited by | Kazuji Taira |
| Music by | Akira Ifukube |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Toho |
Release date |
|
Running time | 182 minutes[1] |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
| Budget | ¥250 million[2] ($1 million)[3] |
| Box office | ¥344.32 million[4] |
The film was shown in Japan in 1959 as Nippon Tanjo (The Birth of Japan) with a running time of 182 minutes, but it was released in the United States in December 1960 as The Three Treasures, edited down to only 112 minutes. It was also shown internationally under the title Age of the Gods.[1]
Plot
The Three Treasures retells the story of the Yamato Takeru legend, and features a recounting of the great battle between Susanoo and the legendary dragon Orochi.
Cast
- Toshiro Mifune as Prince Yamato Takeru and Susanoo
- Takashi Shimura as Elder Kumaso
- Kōji Tsuruta as Younger Kumaso
- Nakamura Ganjirō II as Emperor Keikō
- Akira Takarada as Prince Wakatarashi
- Kinuyo Tanaka as Princess Yamato
- Ichiro Arishima as Gods of Yaoyorozu
- Yoko Tsukasa as Princess Oto Tachibana
- Kyōko Kagawa as Princess Miyazu
- Setsuko Hara as Amaterasu
- Misa Uehara as Princess Kushinada
Production
Stuart Galbraith IV described the film as a religious epic in the style of director Cecil B. DeMille that featured "virtually every star and bit player on the Toho lot".[1]
Release
The Three Treasures was distributed theatrically in Japan by Toho on November 1, 1959.[1] The film was Toho's most profitable film of the year and second highest grossing domestic film of 1959.[1] The film was released in the United States by Toho International Company with English-language subtitles on December 20, 1960.[1] This version of the film was cut to 112 minutes.[1]
The film received a Blu-Ray release in Japan on August 20, 2025.[6]
