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Black Belt

Original title: Kuro-obi
  • 2007
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
Black Belt (2007)
ActionDramaSport

A Karate master's three students join the army and go their separate ways, later to unite to battle together against corruption and uphold tradition.A Karate master's three students join the army and go their separate ways, later to unite to battle together against corruption and uphold tradition.A Karate master's three students join the army and go their separate ways, later to unite to battle together against corruption and uphold tradition.

  • Director
    • Shunichi Nagasaki
  • Writer
    • Jôji Iida
  • Stars
    • Akihito Yagi
    • Tatsuya Naka
    • Yûji Suzuki
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    1.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Shunichi Nagasaki
    • Writer
      • Jôji Iida
    • Stars
      • Akihito Yagi
      • Tatsuya Naka
      • Yûji Suzuki
    • 21User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Photos4

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    Top cast20

    Edit
    Akihito Yagi
    • Giryu
    Tatsuya Naka
    • Taikan
    Yûji Suzuki
    • Choei
    Kenji Anan
    Takeshi Bito
    • Punk
    Arashi Fukasawa
    • Kenta
    Hakuryû
    Hakuryû
    • Police Captain Kiichi Tanihara
    Rei Hanaoka
    Atsushi Hida
    Yû Kamio
    Takayasu Komiya
    Takayasu Komiya
    • Ohmoji
    Tatsuya Mori
    Atsuko Nakamura
    Yôsuke Natsuki
    Yôsuke Natsuki
    • Eiken Shibahara
    Fuyuhiko Nishi
    • Takaomi Togo
    Hideyuki Satô
    Masahiro Sudô
      Tarô Suwa
      Tarô Suwa
      • Togo
      • Director
        • Shunichi Nagasaki
      • Writer
        • Jôji Iida
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

      User reviews21

      6.91.7K
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      Featured reviews

      10orochiklan

      Karate... real and pure!

      It was a pleasure to see on screen the true soul of one of the more traditional martial art. The story is great and the masters who play the lead characters do a great job, but for me, what the film was all about is simple as one word: Karate, the soul of the art, the realism of the fights, the Kata, just everything in the movie looks so real and pure. I think in some ways this film reminds me the works of Yoyi Yamada (the hidden blade - the twilight samurai) who also show the realism of the samurai warrior in his last days. For all of you who has practice some kind of martial art, this is a must! but like another comment said, don't expect tony jaa kind of fights, but the simplicity an power of the karate art. great film
      8teodora_hu

      The tagline "Real Fight, Real Karate, Real Japan" just says it all

      The movie tagline: "Real Fight, Real Karate, Real Japan" just says it all. I waited much to see this on DVD.. The movie lived up to my expectations, which were based on the trailer and the fact that the main "actors" are real karate masters of 1st, 5th and 6th dan.

      The story takes place in the 30's, the country is about to go to war. A military troop arrives at a dojo where 3 guys practice karate with an old master and they soon engage in a fight. The soldiers want to take the building but finally they take the karate pupils, after they demonstrated their strength. The old master soon dies and leaves the black belt - representing their dojo - behind so that the most worthy of them can get it. But they have a lot to learn before.. Giryu (Akihito Yagi) is very naive, while Taikan (Tatsuya Naka) is the opposite of him, so they take different routes. The story, the acting, the movie itself could stand on it's own without any fights. The scenery is nice, the drama, the characters are well built, the directing is very simple, yet powerful, honest. The music is also worth mentioning, it was composed by Naoki Sato.

      So, what's so special about this movie? That it's real, and it has it all. Great fighters and actors, a meaningful story, a nice movie with a respectful message and representation of karate. The style which - compared to hundreds of movies about flying swordsmen or vengeful kung fu masters - is just not so popular on screen. Maybe that's because it's not about showing off, so it doesn't look that cool at first. Don't expect any wire-work, stuntmen falling ten meters or special effects to exaggerate anything. There is nothing to exaggerate here, because even the simplest, shortest moves look so perfect and powerful that it needs no explanation. This movie makes a lot of things more clear about karate, and gives meaning to it. Reading about the movie on the net I found several karate forums where people praised the actors for being great masters and also nice, humble persons after knowing them. The fact that the movie was also advertised in these circles made it clear that it's not an average action flick. Naka Sensei, who plays Taikan in the movie is an instructor (ranked 6th dan) of the Japan Karate Association and Akihito Yagi (5th dan) is also an instructor and the president of IMGKA (International Meibukan Gojyu-Ryu Karate Association). I hope it wasn't the last movie they appeared in, their charm and talent would be a great addition to Japanese cinema and could further exhibit the true power and meaning of karate traditions.
      10prestonnaclk9

      Awesome film!

      This is truly a great film. Original and refreshing in its presentation. Sure, the plot can be easily deduced, but the environment, film direction, pure beauty of clean karate used appropriately makes this movie a real winner.

      The picture is beautiful, cinematography excellent. You develop a real connection with the characters as well. The movie is also suspenseful and engaging. The fighting scenes are spectacular. It also captures the historic period of 1930's Japan very well too.

      You can even learn something by watching this movie. There are lessons of life to be learned and you can come away feeling very satisfied that your time was well spent.

      This is one of those movies where after watching it you say, "Wow."
      6A_Different_Drummer

      swing and a miss

      Tracked it down because one blogger named it one of the top MA movies of all time. No, sorry. On the plus side, was great to see real practitioners on screen. (Unlike the zillion dollar hit series Cobra Kai, for eg). But the story did not not work for me. A martial art known worldwide for strikes ... but the student cannot strike? The trope of the wounded fighter getting shelter from the common folk was used successfully in several Jet Li films ... but completely misses the mark here. And the ending was also disappointing. (WARRIOR 2011 heads my list of the best 165+ films ever -- check it out).
      10ninjalust-92254

      Authentic Karate

      The lead actors are real-life Karate masters - Tatsuya Naka (7th Dan JKA Shotokan karate, Akihito Yagi (7th Dan Meibukan Goju-ru Karate), and Yuji Suzuki (1st Dan Kyokushin karate) and action consists of authentic karate techniques.

      The acting and plot are engaging on their own - but if you're done some karate in your life, it's even more satisfying.

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      Related interests

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      Action
      Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
      Drama
      Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill in Moneyball (2011)
      Sport

      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        The styles of karate used by the characters are all different: Taikan trains Shotokan style. Giryu trains Goju-Ryu style. Choei trains Kyokushinkai style
      • Connections
        Featured in Karate World Champion Rates 11 Karate Scenes in Movies and TV (2021)

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      FAQ14

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      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • October 13, 2007 (Japan)
      • Country of origin
        • Japan
      • Official site
        • Official site (Japan)
      • Language
        • Japanese
      • Also known as
        • Kuro-obi
      • Production companies
        • Bandai Visual Company
        • Cafe Groove
        • Cross Media
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Tech specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        • 1h 35m(95 min)
      • Color
        • Color
        • Black and White
      • Sound mix
        • Dolby Digital
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.85 : 1

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