Originally Posted by
dimaria
...With all the samurai films that Toshiro Mifune played, did he ever had any formal training in swords or in martial arts in general...
I don't have my notes or reference citations handy, but from memory I recall that he spent considerable time training with Sugino Sensei in Sugino-ha Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu (Sugino being the main sword-fight coordinator for his classic samurai films), and he also trained in Kendo and ZNKR Iaido. If I recall, he was ranked nanadan (7th degree) in Kendo. Along with Takakura Ken, he was considered one of the most-skilled swordsmen in Japanese films.
Yours in Budo,
---Brian---