The story begins in the year 1696, about 160 miles northeast of Edo at Ina Village in the Province of Iida. A man is brutally murdered and his famed 'Shamisen' (three-stringed musical instrument) called the "YAMABIKO" stolen. During the reign of 5th Shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (who was, in fact, quite young) and leadership of the nation was really in the hands of Yanagisawa Mino-no-kami Yoshiyasu. Samurai were forced to give up archery, and the merchants gave up the abacus. In addition, the cruel and powerful Lord Yanagisawa had long coveted the "YAMABIKO" Shamisen and hatched a plot to take it. Upon getting married to the daughter of the murdered man, Prince Kogenta swears to avenge his father-in-law's death and retrieve the family heirloom. This is an action-packed, exciting motion picture from the golden age of Toei Films. (TV Broadcast quality)
