Heaven and Earth (1990 film)
1990 film by Haruki Kadokawa
Heaven and Earth (Japanese: 天と地と, Hepburn: Ten to Chi to) is a 1990 Japanese epic jidaigeki film directed by Haruki Kadokawa, based on a novel by Chōgorō Kaionji. The film stars Takaaki Enoki, Tsugawa Masahiko, Asano Atsuko, Zaizen Naomi and Nomura Hironobu. It was released on 23 June 1990, in Japan, and an English version was released in North America in 1991.
Ken Watanabe was originally cast in the role of Kenshin, but had to pull out after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.
Plot
Set in feudal Japan, the story begins as the daimyō Kagetora (also known as Uesugi Kenshin) obtains power from the shogun to rule the province of Echigo. However, he must protect his lands and his people from the ambitions of the warlord Takeda Shingen, the daimyo of Kai Province who has just invaded and taken control of Shinano. From the beginning, the Takeda army appears to be stronger, but due to Kagetora’s tactics, he manages to win a few minor battles and kill Nobushige, Shingen’s brother, and Kansuke, one of Shingen’s trusted men.
After years of conflict, Takeda and Kagetora finally face each other in a duel. Kagetora injures Takeda, while his forces ultimately defeat Takeda's army at the Battle of Kawanakajima in October 1561.
Cast
Takaaki Enoki as Uesugi Kenshin
Masahiko Tsugawa as Takeda Shingen
Atsuko Asano as Nami
Naomi Zaizen as Yae
Hironobu Nomura as Takeda "Tarō" Yoshinobu
Taro Ishida as Takeda Nobushige
Binpachi Itō as Kakizaki Kageie
Akira Hamada as Naoe Kagetsuna
Hiroyuki Okita as Kōsaka Danjō
Hideo Murota as Obu Toramasa
Isao Natsuyagi as Yamamoto Kansuke
Tsunehiko Watase as Usami Sadayuki
Morio Kazama
Masatō Ibu
Kyōko Kishida
Hideji Ōtaki
Tomomichi Nishimura as Narrator
Production
Heaven and Earth was the most expensive Japanese production ever made at the time, with a budget of $40 million.
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Object files, edition statements, performance records and contemporary criticism preserve different stages of the work’s history. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 23, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q994716. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1990, 1991 and 1561.
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