
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.

Toshirō Mifune
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo

Koji Tsuruta
Kojiro Sasaki

Kaoru Yachigusa
Otsu

Mariko Okada
Akemi
Kurôemon Onoe
Takuan

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)

The Prince of Thieves
The Prince of Thieves

Open Your Eyes
Open Your Eyes

Vanilla Sky
Vanilla Sky

Memoirs of a Geisha
Memoirs of a Geisha

The 13th Warrior
The 13th Warrior

The Sea Inside
The Sea Inside

The Elephant Man
The Elephant Man

Love in Thoughts
Love in Thoughts

A Friend of Mine
A Friend of Mine

Alexander
Alexander

The Last Mistress
The Last Mistress

The Promise
The Promise