© 2002 Lawrence Tuczynski

Title: Kagemusha
Also Known As: The Double
Kagemusha (The Shadow Warrior)
Kagemusha the Shadow Warrior
Shadow Warrior
CD Label: Toho Music Corporation
CD Number: AK-0012
Music by: Shinichro Ikebe
Number of tracks: Disc 1 - 44
Disc 2 - 49
Running time: Disc 1 - 64:51
Disc 2 - 68:09
Number of discs: 2
Year of release/manufacture: Nov. 14, 2002
Year movie released: 1980

REVIEW

Dec. 20, 2002

This has to be the most complete soundtrack to this movie ever released. It spans over two discs with a total playing time of 133 minutes. The running time for the movie is: Japan:179 min / Argentina:162 min / USA:159 min. As you can see, for US release we lost 20 minutes (but that's much better than the over 1 hour chopped from Dodes' Kaden). Another interesting tidbit is that Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas are listed as the executive producers for the international version.

The main theme here is a haunting low key piece that is simply beautiful and repeated often in several variations. There are also many action oriented pieces but they are not loud and overbearing and a few male chorus pieces that pretty much sound like men grunting. In fact there are about three main themes that get repeated quite often across the discs. I enjoyed the discs and felt the music by itself is a fine listening experience but quite repetitious and may not be a good thing to listen to both discs all the way through in one sitting.

THE SHADOW WARRIOR (KAGEMUSHA) (1980)
Shin'ichirou Ikebe

Track translations courtesy of John Cassidy!

    DISC 1
  1. Main Title (SE) ~Mud Warrior (M-1)
  2. The Moon Of Nodajou (M-1A)
  3. The Horsemen Ride (S-16 Hand Drum #2 = #7, M-9, S-21 Chopping Board # 3 Echo Process)
  4. The Setting Sun (M-2)
  5. The Death Of Shingen (Noh Instrument S.O. Pelt 1#6 From [THREE BADMEN OF] THE HIDDEN FORTRESS, Noh Flute Only S31 # 6, Noh Instrument S.O. Pelt 1#7 From THE HIDDEN FORTRESS, Noh Flute Only # 5)
  6. Misu Road (M-3 T-2)
  7. Troop Parade (I) (M-4 T-2)
  8. Troop Parade (II) (M-5 T-2)
  9. Kenfukuji (M19)
  10. Noh "Winning Battle 'Tamura'" (From M.E.)
  11. May (M-6)
  12. Silhouette (M-7)
  13. In The Imperial Consort (S-76 Ookawa # 3, # 5, S-76 Second Half Closing Drum)
  14. Gather The Samurai Generals! (M-8)
  15. Nightmare (EXT)
  16. Departing Ffrom Gifu Castle (M-9)
  17. Rear Guard Formation (M-10 T-3)
  18. Corpse (M-11 T-4)
  19. The Offensive Of Koutenjin Castle (I) (M-12)
  20. The Offensive Of Koutenjin Castle (II) (M-13)
  21. Assault (M-20 T-2)
  22. Death (M-22)
  23. The End of the Battle (M-23)
  24. The Mountain Is Shifting (M-24)
  25. Astonishment (S-146 Hand Drum)
  26. Ominous Rainbow (M-14)
  27. The Samurai Generals' Farewell (M22B Type)
  28. Nobunaga And Ieyasu (M-9-3 T-1 Final Edit)
  29. The Forest (ONLY + M-8A)
  30. Downfall (From the Film 18A, 18B, 18C, M- 18D-T-1)
  31. Finale - The Theme Of KAGEMUSHA (M-15)

    32. BONUS TRACKS - Unused Edits & Extra Takes

  32. To Jinkeigen (M-21 Unused)
  33. Catastrophic Omen (M-17 Unused)
  34. Misu Road -Extra Take- (M-3 T-1)
  35. Troop Parade (I) -Extra Take- (M-4 T-1)
  36. Troop Parade (II) -Extra Take- (M-5 T-1)
  37. The Forest (I) (M-8A-M T-2 Unused)
  38. The Forest (II) (M-8A-M' T-1 Unused)
  39. Rear Guard Formation -Extra Take- (M-10 T1)
  40. Corpse -Extra Take- (M-11 T-3)
  41. Downfall (M-18A, 18B, 18C Trumpet Raw Materials)
  42. Downfall (M-18-D Timpani Raw Material)
  43. Assault -Extra Take- (M-20 T-1)
  44. Rear Guard Formation -Extra Take- (M-10 T2)

    DISC 2

    Original Soundtrack KAGEMUSHA

  1. Mud Warrior
  2. The Moon Of Nodajou
  3. Setting Sun
  4. Cold Wilderness Mountains - The Death Of Shingen
  5. Misuo Road
  6. Troop Parade (I)
  7. Troop Parade (II)
  8. Kenfukuji
  9. May
  10. Silhouette
  11. Gather The Samurai Generals!
  12. Nightmare
  13. Departing From Gifu Castle
  14. Rear Guard Formation
  15. Corpse
  16. The Offensive Of Koutenjin Castle (I)
  17. The Offensive Of Koutenjin Castle (II)
  18. Assault
  19. Death
  20. The End Of The Battle
  21. Ominous Rainbow
  22. Downfall
  23. Finale - The Theme Of KAGEMUSHA

    24. BONUS TRACKS "KAGEMUSHA" TV Special Music

  24. Theme A (M-1 Director's Audition Use)
  25. Theme B (M-2 Long Version B Type - Director's Audition Use)
  26. Theme C (EXT Chord Only)

    27. BONUS TRACK "KAGEMUSHA" From Music Rehearsal

  27. Mud Warrior (M-1 T-1)
  28. Mud Warrior (M-1 T-2)
  29. Setting Sun (M-2)
  30. Misuo Road (M-3)
  31. Troop Parade (I) (M-4)
  32. Troop Parade (II) (M-5)
  33. May (M-6 T-1)
  34. May (M-6 T-2)
  35. Silhouette (M-7 T-1)
  36. Gather The Samurai Generals! (M-8 T-1)
  37. Gather The Samurai Generals! (M-8 T-2)
  38. Gather The Samurai Generals! (M-8 T-3)
  39. Departing From Gifu Castle (M-9 T-2 Mic off)
  40. Rear Guard Formation (M-10 T-1)
  41. The Offensive Of Koutenjin Castle (I) (M-12)
  42. The Offensive Of Koutenjin Castle (II) (M-13)

    43. BONUS TRACKS - International Edition Take Edits (Mono)

  43. Mud Warrior (M-1 Retake T-2)
  44. Troop Parade (I) (M-4 T-1)
  45. Troop Parade (I) (M-4 T-2)
  46. Troop Parade (I) (M-4 B)
  47. Troop Parade (II) (M-5)
  48. Finale - The Theme Of KAGEMUSHA (M-15A)
  49. Finale - The Theme Of KAGEMUSHA (M-15B)