This was one of the final films for legendary actor Raizo Ichikawa, who died of cancer the following year at age 37.
(Japanese title: Hitori Okami ) is a 1968 Japanese jidaigeki (period drama) film that follows the life of a legendary traveling gambler. Plot Overview Lone Wolf Isazo (1968)
The film is often described as the epitome of the matatabi (traveling gambler) subgenre, blending traditional samurai elements with a "Western" sensibility reminiscent of Sergio Leone. This was one of the final films for
The story follows , a skilled swordsman and gambler known for his impeccable manners and deadly efficiency, earning him the nickname "The Ripper". While traveling, he encounters a young boy and discovers the boy’s mother is Yoshino , his former lover. Their past romance was thwarted by class differences, leading to Isazo’s life as a wanderer. As he attempts to right past wrongs, he must navigate the rigid code of the Yakuza and evade the samurai clan still hunting him. Production Credits Director: Kazuo Ikehiro Writer: Based on a novel by Genzo Murakami The story follows , a skilled swordsman and