Shogun Assassin

Shogun Assassin is a 1980 film directed by Robert Houston. 
Shogun Assassin was edited and compiled from the first two films in the Lone Wolf and Cub series, using 12 minutes of the first film, Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance and most of Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx. It was released by New World Pictures.
== Plot ==
As the opening credits roll, a watered down version of Ogami Ittō's past as Shōgunate Decapitator and his wife's murder by ninja are seen, with Daigorō providing the narration.
Two hooded Assassins attack Ittō while he is pushing a cart with Daigorō inside. ittō fends off the attack of the first, breaking the Samurai's sword and splitting his head. The second attacker jumps over the first, with the first still clasping Ittō's blade. Ittō pulls off a handrail from the cart and a blade shoots out, transforming it into a spear that impales the second attacker. As the first is dying, he reminds Ittō that he is marked for death.
As Ittō and Daigorō sit by a roadside fire and eat their evening meal, Ittō remembers how he offered the infant Daigorō the life–death choice: either Ittō's sword (which would mean that Daigorō would join him on his mission of vengeance against the Shōgun) or Daigorō's ball (which would mean that Daigorō would be killed so that he could be with his mother in heaven). Daigorō chooses the sword. The next day, the Shōgun's officials bring Ittō the Shogun's orders: either swear eternal loyalty or commit seppuku with Daigorō. Ittō chooses to fight his way to freedom with Daigorō, only to have his path blocked by the leader of the Yagyu clan, in charge of the Shōgun's spies and assassins. The leader challenges Ittō to fight his son Kurando in a duel; if Ittō wins, he wins his freedom. ittō accepts. Despite Kurando's having the strategic advantage of having the sun behind him and Daigorō riding on Ittō's back, at the last moment, Ittō ducks his head to reveal a mirror bound on Daigorō's forehead, which reflects the sun into Kurando's eyes, blinding him long enough for Ittō to slice off Kurando's head.
Ittō and Daigorō journey on, never stopping in one place for very long as the Shogun's ninjas are always following them. As they wander, Daigorō recalls how the Shōgun's other son Lord Bizen and his men were given orders to kill him. Even though Bizen's men are wearing armor beneath their robes, Ittō's skill and blade are too powerful. Ittō lures Lord Bizen into the middle of a stream, concealing his sword underwater within his left hand while pretending it is clutched in his right, prompting Bizen to strike at his right hand, while Ittō counters with his concealed blade, killing him. Ittō sees the Yagyu daimyo watching from a distance and shouts that he'll destroy him and all of his ninjas.
The self-titled "Supreme Ninja", a female, receives orders from the Shōgun to kill Ittō and Daigorō. Lord Kurogawa does not believe the "Supreme Ninja's" women are up to the task, so she has her Kunoichi kill Kurogawa's strongest ninja, Junai. Although it was actually an unfair match, as he was forced to fight several at the same time.
Ittō and Daigorō meet secretly with a client to discuss an assassination request. Ittō is asked to kill Lord Kiru (the Shōgun's brother), and in return he will receive a thousand pieces of gold. Ogami accepts the mission and is told that Lord Kiru is being escorted by a three-brother team known as the 'Masters of Death.'
During Ittō and Daigorō's journey, they are attacked several times by The "Supreme Ninja's" women, but Ittō kills them each time. Ittō finally faces the "Supreme Ninja" herself. She attacks Ittō with a weighted net that contains fishhooks, but Ittō cuts himself free and the "Supreme Ninja" flees by running away backwards.
Ittō and Daigorō keep on traveling, but they now come face-to-face with Lord Kurogawa's entire ninja force. Pushing Daigorō in his cart to safety, Ittō uses the spear blades in the cart's handrails to attack. All but two of the ninja are cut down, but Ittō is left wounded. He manages to push Daigorō to the safety of a deserted hut before collapsing from loss of blood. Daigorō goes in search of water for his father, finally bringing it back in his mouth, then takes some food offerings from a roadside shrine, leaving his jacket in honorable exchange.
The "Supreme Ninja" meets with Lord Kurogawa to report her failure, but Lord Kurogawa has another plan: to strike at Ittō through Daigorō.
Later that night, Daigorō is lured outside the hut by the sound of a woman singing. Waking up to find Daigorō gone, Ittō searches for his son. He finds Daigorō is a prisoner of Lord Kurogawa and the "Supreme Ninja". Daigorō is tied up and suspended over a deep well; Kurogawa demands that Ittō surrender or he will drop Daigorō down the well. Ittō refuses, so Kurogawa and his men attack. Kurogawa lets go of the rope suspending Daigorō over the well, but Ittō manages to stamp his foot down on the rope, stopping the drop, and kill Kurogawa (and his two ninjas) at the same time. Ignoring the "Supreme Ninja", who has not moved throughout the fight, Ittō carefully pulls Daigorō, who has survived, up to safety. Instead of killing the "Supreme Ninja", he walks away with Daigorō.
Ittō and Daigorō board a ship which is carrying the 'Masters of Death' to their rendezvous with Lord Kiru. Also on board is the unobtrusive "Supreme Ninja". Rebels attack the 'Masters of Death', but are easily dispatched. During the night, the sole remaining rebel starts a fire onboard the ship. In the ensuing inferno, the 'Masters of Death' tell Ittō that they recognize him, but that they will not attack him. As long as he makes no move against them and Lord Kiru, and then leave him. The companionway is blocked by flames, so he cuts through the deck planking. Ittō then puts Daigorō in his cart and throws both overboard to safety, before pole-vaulting himself into the sea. The "Supreme Ninja" attacks Ittō from underwater but he overpowers her. Getting Daigorō, himself, and the "Supreme Ninja" to shore and then to the shelter of a fisherman's hut, he strips all three of them naked and gathers them close together, telling the "Supreme Ninja" that they must share their body heat or die. The "Supreme Ninja" does not understand why he would save her and then realizes she cannot kill Ittō or his son. The next day, Ittō and Daigorō leave her there, knowing that she will have to return to the Shōgun, report her failure and commit suicide.
The 'Masters of Death' escort Lord Kiru and his entourage through a desert, where they are attacked by a rebel force concealed under the sand. The 'Masters of Death' kill all of the rebels, and Lord Kiru is taken to safety. However, they have not gone far before they see Daigorō standing in their path. He points in the distance towards Ittō, who is waiting for them on a sand dune, and so move away from his son who could be a liability. The 'Masters of Death' finally face off against Ittō, but one by one they are cut down. Ittō then chases after Lord Kiru's procession, killing or driving off the guards. Lord Kiru protests that he is the Shōgun's brother, but Ittō tells Kiru that the "Shōgun means nothing" to him. Ittō then cuts Lord Kiru down.
As he and his father walk away from the carnage, Daigorō looks back one last time and says via voice-over, "I guess I wish it was different ... but a wish is only a wish". The final shot is a freeze-frame close-up of Daigorō's face looking back.
== Trivia ==
Lines from the film have been excerpted in GZA'S hip-hop 1995 album Liquid Swords.
Quentin Taratino has stated that Shogun Assassin is one of his all time favorite films. in Kill Bill Volume 2 The Bride and her daughter watch the film as a bedtime story.
Shogun Assassin has also had an influence on John Carpenter, especially in his 1986 film Big Trouble in Little China, the three villains known as the 'Three Storms' have a striking resemblance to the 'Masters of Death'.
Strangely, Retsudō Yagyū is labeled as 'The Shōgun' in the film.
Category:Films and TV