[2] The plot follows a down-on-his-luck boxer (Glenn) who is hired to transport a valuable katana to Japan, where he becomes embroiled in a blood feud between two martial artist brothers.

Hoping to return the katana to its rightful owner, their father Toru, Toshio hires down-on-his luck prize fighter Rick Murphy to smuggle the sword back to Japan.

Hideo's thugs, led by his interpreter and bodyguard Ando, find Murphy and give him two choices: infiltrate Yoshida's martial arts school and obtain the sword, or be beheaded.

He takes the infiltration option, yet finds himself being drawn into the ways of Japanese etiquette and tradition to the point where he returns the sword to Toru after having the perfect opportunity to escape with it.

[4] Mifune's Shōgun co-star Yoko Shimada was the first choice to play Akiko, but she was rejected by director John Frankenheimer because he wanted an actress fluent in English.

The actress they eventually cast, Donna Kei Benz, did not speak Japanese and took a four-month crash course in language, etiquette, and martial arts.

The sword fight sequences were choreographed by Ryû Kuze, a veteran Japanese swordmaster who had previously worked with Toshiro Mifune on Yojimbo and Sanjuro.

[2] According to lead actor Scott Glenn, the script initially focused on the surrogate father-son relationship that developed between his character and Toshiro Mifune's.

[9] Critic Dennis Schwartz gave the film a C+ grade, calling it a "pointless", "low-level Chuck Norris flick".