A humble and simple Takezo abandons his life as a knight errant. He's sought as a teacher and vassal by Shogun, Japan's most powerful clan leader. He's also challenged to fight by the supremely confident and skillful Sasaki Kojiro. Takezo agrees to fight Kojiro in a year's time but rejects Shogun's patronage, choosing instead to live on the edge of a village, raising vegetables. He's followed there by Otsu and later by Akemi, both in love with him. The year ends as Takezo assists the villagers against a band of brigands. He seeks Otsu's forgiveness and accepts her love, then sets off across the water to Ganryu Island for his final contest.

Starring:

Akihiko Hirata, Daisuke Katô, Eijirô Tôno, Fumito Matsuo, Haruo Tanaka, Hideo Shibuya, Ikio Sawamura, Kaoru Yachigusa, Katsumi Tezuka, Kichijirô Ueda, Koji Tsuruta, Kokuten Kôdô, Kumeko Otowa, Mariko Okada, Masao Masuda, Michiko Saga, Michiyo Kogure, Minoru Chiaki, Minosuke Yamada, Mitsuko Mito, Noriko Honma, Ren Yamamoto,

Genre:

Action, Adventure, Biography, Drama, History