The history of Kuze Shichiyoukai

Shichiyoukai set up in 1954 when is the most prosperous era in

Japanese movies.

Shichiyoukai　was formed by Ryu Kuze and some of the

actors( members) was in [Jirocho sangokushi] series directed by

Masahiro Makino.

He had been very active in Samurai Movies directed by

Akira Kurosawa, Hiroshi Inagaki and Kihachi Okamoto in Toho.

Our team name, “Shichiuyoukai” originates from Samurai movie

｢Seven Samurai｣ directed by Akira Kurosawa.

“Shichi” of Shichiyoukai is written “Seven” by Chinese

character (Kanji).

The meaning of Shiyou is Seven days, that is to say a week.

We practice for our performances with several types of swords

every single day. For example, exercises for the sword on Monday.

Exercises for the spear (Yari) on Tuesday. Exercises for Rokusyaku bar on Wednesday….

Ryu Kuze the first whose specialized techniques of staged fights were so dynamic as well as realistic that audiences were

impressed deeply. And he was the person who made people know the importance of stage combats and created plenty of

sword plays with Director Akira Kurosawa.

He worked as a stage combat [Seven Samurai],[Kakushitoride no sanakunin], [Yojinbo],[Sanjyuro] and [Akahige] He was in

good contact with Toshiro Mifune who starred in many movies directed by Akira Kurosawa and is the most popular Japanese

actor in the world.

He joined Kuze shichiyoukai in Mifune promotion.

While “Ran“was filmed, Ryu Kuze passed away. Kuze second, Hiroshi Kuze, took over the position of him.

After that Kuze shichiyoukai was independent of Mifune promotion and became Kuze shichiyoukai corp in 1985.

Hiroshi Kuze succeeded to Kuze the second in 1978.

Kuze the second set out for the films [Run], {Ameagaru}. He was known as a stage combat for the latest work which is the

trilogy directed by Yoji Yamada [Twilight Samrai], [Kakushi ken oni no tsume] and [Bushi no itibu].

He has recently been active in not only Movies but also Television　and other medias.