A ronin's long con collapses when his mark turns out to be his own ghost.
Matoba Kokingo, who once served as a retainer for a hatamoto, becomes disillusioned with his master and elopes with his lover, Oyuki. They flee their lord's household, taking with them 30 ryō of official funds. However, the money is stolen from them at an inn, and shortly after, Oyuki dies of illness. Eight years later, Kokingo has fallen into disgrace, now making a living as a ronin who specializes in extortion. One day, he attempts to extort a restaurant owner named Hanzo, only to discover that Hanzo was the very thief who stole the 30 ryō from him eight years ago…
Acting
Umenosuke Nakamura's wrecked dignity in every frame.
Direction
Onoda's cramped interiors amplify suffocating fate.
Cinematography
Rain-soaked 1980s Toei aesthetic, gloriously grainy.
Director
Yoshiki Onoda
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was one of Toei's last 35mm chambara productions before the genre shifted to V-cinema.
The 'stray wolf' archetype peaked in 1970s-80s cinema as salaryman alienation metaphors replaced pure feudal loyalty.
US
