Hidejirō is sent to prison after killing the boss of a rival family. After being released, he discovers that his family has scattered and he is taken in by a company of quarry workers, whose boss has a strict code of non-violence. When the rival family tries to take over the company and kills their boss, Hidejirō must choose between his promise of non-violence and his yakuza code of revenge...
Acting
Ken Takakura's jaw could cut glass, and he barely moves it
Cinematography
Quarry landscapes that make violence feel biblical
Direction
Makino stages the final showdown like a funeral procession
Director
Masahiro Makino
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The karajishi (lion dog) tattoo was a mark of berserker warriors in Japanese folklore, making Hidejirō's suppression of violence a direct rejection of his own mythic branding.
This was the fifth in a nine-film series, yet Ken Takakura plays a completely different character than in parts 1-4 — 1960s Japanese franchise logic was beautifully unhinged.
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