What is the story of Kagemusha?

Released in 1980, Kagemusha (meaning "The Shadow Warrior") is a celebrated film by the Japanese director Kurosawa Akira.

The story centers on a petty thief who is recruited to serve as a body double—or "shadow warrior"—for a powerful daimyo (feudal lord) who has been killed in battle. The film explores the complexities of this impersonation and is particularly noted for its powerful and grand battle sequences.12

The narrative is a dramatization inspired by the life of the historical figure Takeda Shingen, a prominent 16th-century military leader who struggled for control of Japan during the chaotic Sengoku ("Warring States") period.1