Fate begins to smile upon young Chonosuke Tokugawa, son of eleventh Tokugawa Shogun, after some twenty years of life as a dependent at his step-brother's castle, when the ruler of the Takatori Clan suddenly dies leaving no heir and despite the protest from Minister Horio, it is decided that young Chonosuke is to succeed as ruler of the clan. Horio determines to murder Chonosuke on his way to Edo so that his own grandchild may rule the Takatori Clan. "Odd" Han, a travelling gambler happens to stop at the inn where Chonosuke's party is staying in secret. The assassins come to attack Chonosuke on the riverbank where he is viewing the fireworks alone but are driven off by Han. Now Chonosuke travels with Han disguised as a gambler during which he begins to learn the hardships of the peasants and is struck with the contrast between the life of a feudal and those whose labour provides his luxurious living.
八代目 市川雷蔵
as
本郷功次郎
as Chonosuke
淡路恵子
as
中村玉緒
as Osaki
楠トシエ
as Otoshi
中田ダイマル
as Kitahachi
Racket Nakata
as Yajirobei
千葉敏郎
as
伊沢一郎
as
水原浩一
as Matsudaira Izu-no-kami
本郷秀雄
as Tokugawa Ienari
小川虎之助
as Kubodera Heizaemon
