Sanshiro Sugata (Japanese: 姿三四郎, Hepburn: Sugata Sanshirō, a.k.a.
Judo Saga) is a 1943 Japanese martial arts drama film and the directorial debut of the Japanese film director Akira Kurosawa.
First released in Japan on 25 March 1943 by Toho film studios, the film was eventually released in the United States on 28 April 1974.
The film is based on the novel of the same name written by Tsuneo Tomita, the son of prominent judoka Tsunejirō Tomita.
It follows the story of Sanshiro, a talented though willful youth, who travels to the city in order to learn Jujutsu.
However, upon his arrival he discovers a new form of self-defence: Judo.
The main character is based on Saigō Shirō.