

"Kill one or a hundred... you only hang once"
A nameless ronin, or samurai with no master, enters a small village in feudal Japan where two rival businessmen are struggling for control of the local gambling trade. Taking the name Sanjuro Kuwabatake, the ronin convinces both silk merchant Tazaemon and sake merchant Tokuemon to hire him as a personal bodyguard, then artfully sets in motion a full-scale gang war between the two ambitious and unscrupulous men.
Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai

Unosuke, gunfighter

Nui

Orin

Inokichi

Seibê - brothel operator

Tokuemon, sake brewer

Yoichiro
Kohei's Son

Gonji, Tavern Keeper

Tazaemon

Hansuke

The Cooper (Coffin-Maker)

Homma, Instructor Who Skips Town

Ushitora

Kuma

Ronin Kobuhachi

First Samurai

First Foot Soldier

Kame
Kannuki the Giant
Kohei

Magotaro

Roku - Samurai Whose Arm is Cut

Matsukichi

Kumosuke

Ushitora Follower

Yahachi

Sukeju
Second Samurai

Farmer
Traveler

Farmer's Ex-wife

Seibei Follower
Seibei Follower

Seibei Follower

Unknown Role
Ushitora Follower

Seibei Follower

Ushitora Follower

Ushitora Follower
Ushitora Follower
Seibei Follower
Unknown Role

Second Foot Soldier
Ushitora Follower
Seibei Follower

Ushitora Follower
Woman at Seibei's House
Woman at Seibei's House
Woman at Seibei's House
