Overview

Down-on-his-luck veteran Tsugumo Hanshirō enters the courtyard of the prosperous House of Iyi. Unemployed, and with no family, he hopes to find a place to commit seppuku—and a worthy second to deliver the coup de grâce in his suicide ritual. The senior counselor for the Iyi clan questions the ronin’s resolve and integrity, suspecting Hanshirō of seeking charity rather than an honorable end. What follows is a pair of interlocking stories which lay bare the difference between honor and respect, and promises to examine the legendary foundations of the Samurai code.

Cast

Tatsuya Nakadai

Hanshiro Tsugumo

Akira Ishihama

Motome Chijiiwa

Shima Iwashita

Miho Tsugumo

Tetsuro Tamba

Hikokuro Omodaka

Masao Mishima

Tango Inaba

Ichirō Nakatani

Hayato Yazaki

Kei Satō

Masakazu

Yoshio Inaba

Jinai Chijiiwa

Hisashi Igawa

Retainer

N/A

Toru Takeuchi

Retainer

Yoshirō Aoki

Tatsuo Matsumura