Following the death of the second Tokugawa shogun, it is revealed that he was poisoned by retainers of his son Iemitsu in hopes of gaining him the shogunate despite the stammer and birthmark which undermine his respect. Iemitsu and his brother Tadanaga become bitter rivals for the shogunate, and the land is split into factions, eventually erupting into warfare. Iemitsu's mentor, his fencing instructor Yagyu, is fixated upon securing Iemitsu the shogunate and ends up betraying everyone, even his own family, in pursuit of the goal.
萬屋錦之介
as Yagyu Tajima
千葉真一
as Jûbê Yagyû
松方弘樹
as Iemitsu Tokugawa (Older Prince)
西郷輝彦
as Tadanaga Tokugawa (Younger Prince)
大原麗子
as Okuni (Singer)
原田芳雄
as Sanza Nagoya (Flute Player)
夏八木勲
as Shozaemon Bekki
成田三樹夫
as Ayamaro Karasumasu
三船敏郎
as Yoshinao Tokugawa
真田広之
as Hayate
志穂美悦子
as Yagyu Akane
工藤堅太郎
as Yagyu Matajuro
