Yataro Tanigawa, a one-eyed hired assassin, impresses yakuza boss Gomyo Kiyoemon with his skill. Gomyo hires Tanigawa as his bodyguard, or yojimbo, to protect him during an inter-clan conflict. Tanigawa quickly rises in stature in the clan, but finds his boss's enemies almost overwhelming.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Tatsuya NakadaiGomyo Kiyoemon | Gomyo Kiyoemon |
 Keiko KishiOmon | Omon |
 Ayumi IshidaOriwa | Oriwa |
 Makoto FujitaKasuke | Kasuke |
 Isao NatsuyagiSharaku | Sharaku |
 Kayo MatsuoOren | Oren |
 Ai KanzakiOsaki | Osaki |
 Tatsuo UmemiyaKawazu | Kawazu |
 Hajime HanaHanba | Hanba |
 Yoshio HaradaYataro Tanigawa | Yataro Tanigawa |
 Tetsuro TambaOkitsugu Tanuma | Okitsugu Tanuma |
 Koji YakushoKuwano | Kuwano |
 Mikio NaritaGosun | Gosun |
 Hideji ŌtakiShiba | Shiba |
 Yoshi KatōZenzaemon | Zenzaemon |
 Eijirō TōnoShogen | Shogen |
 Sonny ChibaSamon Shimoguni | Samon Shimoguni |
 Hideo MurotaNot listed | Not listed |
 Fujiko NaraNot listed | Not listed |
 Daisuke RyūNot listed | Not listed |
 Hachiro AzumaNot listed | Not listed |
 Smiley OharaNot listed | Not listed |
 Sen YanoNot listed | Not listed |
 Toshiyuki HosokawaNarrator | Narrator |