| The Hidden Blade | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Yōji Yamada |
| Written by | Yoshitaka Asama Yōji Yamada |
| Story by | Shūhei Fujisawa |
| Produced by | Hiroshi Fukazawa |
| Starring | Masatoshi Nagase Takako Matsu Yukiyoshi Ozawa |
| Cinematography | Mutsuo Naganuma |
| Edited by | Iwao Ishii |
| Music by | Isao Tomita |
| Distributed by | Shochiku |
Release date |
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Running time | 132 minutes |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
| Box office | $8,043,781[1] |
The Hidden Blade (隠し剣 鬼の爪, Kakushi ken: Oni no tsume, literally "Hidden Blade: Oni's Claw") is a 2004 film set in 1860s Japan, directed by Yoji Yamada. The plot revolves around several samurai during a time of change in the ruling and class structures of Japan. The film was written by Yamada with Yoshitaka Asama and, like its predecessor The Twilight Samurai (2002), based on a short story by Shūhei Fujisawa. The soundtrack is an original composition by Isao Tomita.