Overview

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.

Genres

Cast

Toshirō Mifune

Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo

Koji Tsuruta

Kojiro Sasaki

Kaoru Yachigusa

Otsu

Mariko Okada

Akemi

Michiko Saga

Omitsu

Takashi Shimura

Court official

Minoru Chiaki

Sasuke the boatman

Takamaru Sasaki

Omitsu's father

Haruo Tanaka

Kumagoro the horse thief

Kichijirō Ueda

Priest Ogon

Ikio Sawamura

Innkeeper (uncredited)

Nakajirō Tomita

(uncredited)