Ran

Ran may refer to several topics, including a major Japanese film and a given name.

Ran (film) is a 1985 epic directed by Akira Kurosawa, inspired by William Shakespeare’s King Lear and set in feudal Japan. The story follows Hidetora Ichimonji, a aging warlord who distributes his realm to his sons and descends into chaos as family loyalties fracture and power struggles erupt. The film is renowned for its sweeping landscapes, bold color design, and intricate battle sequences, as well as its stark exploration of ambition, betrayal, and the collapse of a household. The title, meaning chaos in Japanese, reflects the turbulent events that unfold. Ran is widely regarded as a landmark of Kurosawa’s career and a milestone in world cinema.

Ran (name) is commonly used as a feminine given name in Japan, often written with kanji such as 蘭, meaning orchid, though other characters and readings are also possible. The name appears in various East Asian contexts with meanings that depend on the chosen kanji or local usage. As a given name, Ran can carry different nuances across cultures, and its spelling and pronunciation may vary in non-Japanese communities.

In addition to these uses, Ran may appear in other proper nouns in literature, media, and geography, reflecting its adoption across languages. The capitalization distinguishes it from the English word ran, the past tense of run.