Kwaidan poster

Kwaidan

In the tradition of "RASHOMON" and "GATE OF HELL."

7.7(484)19653h 3m5

Taking its title from an archaic Japanese word meaning "ghost story," this anthology adapts four folk tales. A penniless samurai marries for money with tragic results. A man stranded in a blizzard is saved by Yuki the Snow Maiden, but his rescue comes at a cost. Blind musician Hoichi is forced to perform for an audience of ghosts. An author relates the story of a samurai who sees another warrior's reflection in his teacup.

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Status
Released
Budget
—
Box office
—
Language
Japanese
  • samurai
  • based on novel or book
  • story teller
  • snowstorm
  • tea
  • promise
  • snow
  • blind
  • spirit
  • vengeful ghost
  • ghost story
  • ghost

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Produced in

Japan

Gallery

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Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • Theatrical15 Jul 1965
    • PhysicalDVD10 Oct 2000
    • PhysicalBlu-ray20 Oct 2015
    • Digital / OTTPG-13HBO Max27 May 2020
  • United KingdomGB

    • Physical15DVD29 May 2006
  • AustraliaAU

    • PhysicalPGDVD15 Mar 2006
  • FinlandFI

    • TheatricalK-166 Jan 1965
  • FranceFR

    • TheatricalTP28 Jul 1965
    • Premiere4k restoration, Cinémathèque française3 Jan 2026
    • Theatrical1 Jul 2026
  • JapanJP

    • PremiereYuurakuza Theater29 Dec 1964
    • Theatrical (limited)Roadshow6 Jan 1965
    • Theatrical27 Feb 1965
    • TheatricalRe-release29 Nov 1982
  • MalaysiaMY

    • TheatricalJapan Festival30 Jul 1994
  • NetherlandsNL

    • Physical12DVD19 Jun 2008
  • PhilippinesPH

    • TheatricalEigasai1 Sept 2005
  • PortugalPT

    • TheatricalM/1628 Feb 1968
  • SpainES

    • Theatrical13 May 1968
  • ThailandTH

    • PremiereBangkok International Film Festival12 Oct 2025

Frequently asked questions

Kwaidan was released on 6 January 1965.

Audience reviews

1
  • C

    CinemaSerf

    12/2/2024

    7/10

    I'm always a little daunted when I settle down in a cinema seat for a film that is 3 hours long - I fear the last glass of wine may have been one too many - but this simply flew by. It is a compendium of four different Japanese "poems" that deal with just about every emotion in the human panoply - love, hate, greed, joy, fear, envy, betrayal... You name it! Each story has a central theme that, perhaps not terribly so…

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