"Kurosawa's very first film heralds themes that were to reappear throughout his later work: the search for personal fulfillment by a dedicated individual, the dignity and perseverance of an average man, the education of the hero. Set in the 1890s, the story deals with the early development of judo. Sanshiro Sugata, an innocent young student of martial arts, apprentices himself first to an arrogant teacher of jujitsu, but is soon converted to the superior way of judo by a master who stresses spiritual ideals and discipline over the morally void techniques of jujitsu. Sanshiro struggles to control his wilder impulses and to adhere to his master's spiritual guidance.... To this simple fable of moral education, Kurosawa brought an intensity and energy and a lithe narrative style that made the film an astonishing debut for the 33-year-old director. Equally impressive were the performances he elicited from his actors. Its quasi-military subject and its firm moral message that individual zeal and ambition must be restrained were both obvious attractions for the censors." David Owens, Japan Society