Down-on-his-luck veteran Tsugumo Hanshirō enters the courtyard of the prosperous House of Iyi. Unemployed, and with no family, he hopes to find a place to commit seppuku—and a worthy second to deliver the coup de grâce in his suicide ritual. The senior counselor for the Iyi clan questions the ronin’s resolve and integrity, suspecting Hanshirō of seeking charity rather than an honorable end. What follows is a pair of interlocking stories which lay bare the difference between honor and respect, and promises to examine the legendary foundations of the Samurai code.
Keywords:
Suicide
Japan
Samurai
Asia
Flashback
Revenge
Poverty
Seppuku
Ronin
Jidaigeki
17th century
Shogunate
Complex
Bushi
Tense
Excited
Movie tag line: "Who can fathom the depths of another man's heart?"