[3] Set during the late Tokugawa period, the story follows a reclusive rōnin who is trying to atone for past transgressions.

As the villagers and Oriha celebrate surviving their brush with death, Magobei leaves his sword at Rokugo's grave and wordlessly walks off into the snow, with Shino following.

[1] Initially, Toshiro Mifune was cast in Kinnosuke Nakamura's role, but was replaced several weeks into filming.

[1] It was reissued in the United States with an English-language dub and a running time of 85 minutes under the title The Steel Edge of Revenge in September 1974.

[1] Goyokin won the awards for Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction (Motoji Kojima) at the Mainichi Film Concours.