Original subtitles

The Criterion Collection

Toho Company, Ltd.

Katsu Productions present

Produced by Tomisaburo Wakayama & Masanori Sanada

Original story by Kazuo Koike & Goseki Kojima

Director of photography Chishi Makiura

Music by Kunihiko Murai

Fight choreography by Eiichi Kusumoto

Special effects by Daizen Shishido

Starring:

Tomisaburo Wakayama as Itto Ogami

Akihiro Tomikawa as the Child Junko Hitomi as Kaori Yagyu

Goro Mutsumi as Ozunu

Minoru Oki as Lord Retsudo

Isao Kimura as Hyoei

Directed by Yoshiyuki Kuroda

"Kozure Ōkami" Lone Wolf and Cub

"Jigoku e ikuzo! Daigoro" White Heaven in Hell

According to rumours,

Itto is now an assassin with a child, living by the "crossroads to hell".

If I might enquire,

why does such a thing concern you, my lord?

You old fool! What's wrong with the Yagyu clan?

Why have you still not dealt with Ogami?

Old man, the Yagyu clan are besmirching the office of Official Executioner!

I'm told that officials of the Shogunate have discussed a sanctioned manhunt.

A sanctioned manhunt?

If Itto Ogami is declared a wanted criminal,

all domain lords and their deputies will be ordered to pursue him.

When that happens, the reputation of the Yagyu clan

and the office of Executioner will be in ruins.

My lord, I beg you not to authorise such an action.

I still have a daughter remaining, my lord.

She is my youngest daughter, Kaori.

She is stronger than any of her brothers,

she can destroy Itto for certain.

She will destroy him.

You have my word, my lord!

Still too slow.

How can you expect to defeat Ogami's Sui-O style techniques like that?

Next.

If you want to avoid the falling blade,

you must first deal with the others.

If you want to avoid the other blades,

then beware of the falling one.

Next.

Impressive, Uzuki.

You've deduced the secret of my falling blade technique.

Match both blades to the enemy's movements.

React and adjust accordingly.

Visualise the thrown blade as being directly above your head.

Then simply lure the opponent into the space you occupy.

Your deaths will not be without significance.

Forgive me.

Kaori.

Yes, sir.

The only remaining survivors of the Shadow Yagyu clan are you and l.

You are the Yagyu family's last hope.

You must avenge your brothers.

Slay Itto Ogami and his only son Daigoro!

I understand, sir.

Farewell, then.

You may go.

Ozunu, the leader of the Kurokuwa Group,

will escort you to Itto's location.

I've been informed by my men

that Itto Ogami is heading to the capital along the Sanyo Road.

I see. You are dismissed.

Lady Kaori, allow me to escort you.

I will go alone.

But my informants have already ascertained Itto's whereabouts.

But can your men kill Itto?

"The wolves headed west."

"The wolves are crossing eastwards."

Well, if it isn't Lord Ogami! Welcome.

You are most kind.

This way, please.

Azami...

...I am about to take Daigoro with me to the very heart of Edo.

Once there, I must slay Retsudo Yagyu to restore our name.

"The cub is here."

-Daigoro? -Over here!

Daigoro?

Let's go home!

Bye!

One and two. Two and three...

Three and four

And bloom like the flower of the cherry tree...

Beanbags filled with iron filings.

You are?

I am Kaori Yagyu!

You killed my three brothers.

Now I'm the only child left in the family!

I will take the lives of both you and your son, Itto Ogami!

Three brothers? Then you must be...

I'm Retsudo's daughter!

Fight!

With that mirror. my brother Kurando was defeated.

Any closer, and I'll be within the effective range of her technique.

How...

...could you keep your son on your shoulders...

...after you'd seen through my falling blade technique?

How dare you use your own son to save yourself!

As a father...you are a coward!

We, father and son, both live at the crossroads to hell.

We exist at the gateway to the netherworld.

Lady Kaori is dead!

Kaori?

Hyoei!

Hyoei, are you there?

It is I, Retsudo.

Answer me, if you are there.

Your three brothers...

...and your sister...

...were all defeated by Itto Ogami.

Now you are the only one that remains alive.

If Itto Ogami is not destroyed,

not only the Shogunate but also the Shadow Yagyu clan...

...will become the laughing stock of the nation.

All that's left for me now...

...is Hyoei...

You are all I have!

Hyoei, the time has come,

as the new heir of the Shadow Yagyu clan,

for you to destroy Itto Ogami!

The time has come for you to make yourself known to the world as my son.

So my siblings, the legitimate heirs of the Shadow Yagyu clan, are dead.

And now you expect me to call you my father?

And out of desperation to slay Itto, you have come to my mountain lair!

How considerate of you!

Hyogo, Kurando, Gunbei and Kaori.

All were highly-skilled swordsmen, yet all were defeated.

And now you say I am the only one you can rely on?

You must destroy Itto, for the sake of the Yagyu clan.

Simply because I was the child of your concubine,

you abandoned me in the mountains when I was only five.

Can you imagine how much that innocent five-year-old child

yearned for a mother and father?

It's remarkable that I'm still alive.

-Hyoei... -Listen!

The only ones I regard as my parents

are the Spider Demons of the Kiso-Ontake Mountains!

Hyoei, have you lost your sense of reason?

I refuse to be called a Yagyu.

The Yagyu clan shall taste the bitter ashes of ignominy!

Wait!

Hyoei! Won't you wait?

I call upon thee, all the gods who reside in tranquillity in the heavens.

I pray to thee, almighty gods who watch over this land.

Three chosen souls were sent to the afterlife to be purified.

I now beseech you for the return of their souls.

I pray to thee, almighty gods, and humbly send you my request.

Reveal yourselves, brave warriors!

Mujo.

Muga.

Mumon.

The three of you were buried for 42 days.

Through the 42 Days Rite of the Spider Demon Tribe,

you have been reborn as divine spirits.

Though alive, you are not mere mortals.

Though dead, you are not mere corpses.

Our time has come!

As Spider Demon clan members, we must live to our fullest,

and as samurai, honouring our Spider Demon principles,

we shall usurp the Yagyu clan and make our mark on the world.

Destroy Itto Ogami!

The Yagyu clan means nothing to us!

We shall destroy the Lone Wolf and Cub!

Oh, what an adorable little boy!

Here. See, it's a whistle.

Here you go.

It stretches. it shrinks. it stretches again!

And it melts in your mouth so softly!

-Yes, please! -Certainly!

You, too?

How about a sweet for your son, sir?

I'll take one.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, sir.

Here, they taste good.

Thanks.

Won't you come and buy some?

Daigoro!

Wherever the two of you venture, father and son.

innocent people will die.

Who are you?

The lady troubadour and the sweet seller.

neither had anything to do with you, and yet they are dead.

How tragic!

Everywhere the two of you venture,

innocent people such as they will lose their lives.

Sorry to bother you this late, but I'd like a room for the night.

Just coming, sir!

Welcome, sir! You must be tired, I'm sure.

Thank you.

Omatsu, put the cart away.

How adorable!

I'll light the lamp for you.

Come on inside.

There you go.

I'll bring you some food right away.

It won't be much but please be patient.

Thank you for waiting.

Who's there?

If the two ofyou request a room for the night,

or food, or ifyou request anything from anyone,

those innocents that you talk to will die.

How tragic!

No matter where the two of you go,

there will be a bloodbath of carnage and a tempest of death!

The Spider Demon "Five Wheels " technique will strip you

of happiness, anger, sadness, joy and fear.

The five human emotions and the five senses will be erased.

A Spider Demon?

We'll take from the two of you all your happiness and sadness,

all your anger and joy,

Ieaving you immersed in nothing but fear.

That is the Spider Demon "Five Wheels " technique.

The two of you are nothing but harbingers of death to begin with.

Step by step,

you will walk the path of bloody carnage.

Lord Retsudo, I have a report for you.

Proceed.

I'm afraid that Lord Hyoei is using unprecedented techniques

to pursue Itto Ogami and his son.

Hyoei is doing what?

It seems that Itto Ogami is finally starting to show signs of fear.

That dishonest bastard!

-Lord Retsudo... -Quiet, Ozunu!

What's the matter with the Kurokuwa clan?

Are you holding back, scared of Hyoei?

Hyoei is a Spider Demon.

I'm afraid that is not his true affiliation.

The fact is, as surely as your blood runs through his veins,

he is a true Yagyu heir.

True...

but he rejected my sincere request.

He grew up in the mountains amidst the birds and beasts,

he grew up in total isolation.

Because of this, the only one who can influence him is...

-Who? -Lord Hyoei's younger sister.

Lady Azusa. Nobody else can possibly do it.

Azusa?

Ozunu, go and find her at once.

Lady Azusa...

...please listen to what I have to say.

This message is on behalf of your father Lord Retsudo.

You must try to convince Hyoei, as he will listen only to you.

What is he burying?

Daigoro.

He's a very cautious fellow...

I am a chief advisor of the Zeze clan, Kyudayu Kenmochi.

I am the assassin "Lone Wolf and Cub".

It is way past the time we arranged in the signs by the road.

I'd like to know the reason for your tardiness.

I have no excuse for being late, sir,

but due to unforeseen circumstances, I wish to withdraw my request.

I humbly ask you to accept 50 gold pieces as a cancellation fee.

I know how selfish it is of me to do this,

but I ask for your understanding.

May I ask the reason?

I believe that it is best for both of us if I do not reveal that.

Then why did you come?

If the supplicant does not show up, naturally the request is voided.

As you are the former Official Shogunate Executioner, Itto Ogami,

an ordinary assassination isn't worth your time.

Tell me the reason why you wish to cancel the assignment.

It seems that you would consider it dutiful to do so.

If you put it like that, I have no choice.

I wished to keep silent for your own benefit.

It's the Yagyu clan.

I am aware of the bad blood between you and the Yagyu clan.

To wrest the position of Official Executioner from you,

the Shadow Yagyu arranged to entrap you.

After you fell victim to their ruse,

they say you chose to become an assassin to get revenge.

But that was until yesterday.

The situation has now changed.

How so?

I'm told that the Yagyu, with many allies, will soon begin a manhunt.

A manhunt?

In other words, you'll be declared a wanted criminal,

and the domain lords and deputies will be ordered to pursue you.

Lord Ogami, you may take my boat.

You can then head north across the lake and escape beyond the mountains.

When I receive the Yagyu's order,

I'll be forced to go after you as well.

I hope you can see that what I'm telling you is the truth.

I thank you.

Daigoro...

-What are you doing? -You have no respect!

No samurai disrespects his sword by standing on it! It is a part of his soul!

When you arrived, you sat down wearing your sword.

How do you explain that?

And you've covered your face.

You may be a Zeze clan advisor, but you do not behave like a samurai!

You're no samurai.

It's obvious that you're a Spider Demon!

Well done, Itto Ogami. You saw through my deception.

I lied about being an advisor to the Zeze clan.

I am Hyoei of the Spider Demon clan!

Itto Ogami,

you're about to die a warrior's death by our Spider Demon swords.

What do you have to say to that?

Is silence your answer?

When a samurai dies, his name is not forgotten.

That being so, before brandishing your sword at another,

you should announce your name and request a duel.

I told you, I'm Hyoei of the Spider Demons.

Hyoei, a Spider Demon? That's ridiculous!

To begin with, why would the Spider Demon clan want me dead?

-You're following Retsudo's orders! -I know no such Retsudo.

I heard that Retsudo had an illegitimate son...

...and that he was named Hyoei...

Silence, Itto!

All this talk of fathers and sons is nonsense!

I, Hyoei, shall destroy you,

and I will force Retsudo to taste the bitter ashes of ignominy.

Our name shall become renowned and replace the Yagyu!

He who makes his true name known when making a challenge

exhibits good manners in the face of death.

Will you fight honourably like a samurai

or dishonourably like a ruffian?

Perhaps you'll resort to your magic tricks to attack me.

Are you that afraid of my Sui-O techniques?

Speak, Hyoei!

Of course, Spider Demon swordsmen are nothing but cowards!

What?

How amusing for me to abide by the code of the samurai,

in order to slay you, the demon of the crossroads to hell!

If you wish for us to duel as samurai,

then let us fight honourably.

Be gone! All of you!

Now fight, Itto Ogami!

Very well.

Hyoei Tsuchigumo of the Spider Demon style.

Itto Ogami of the Sui-O style.

The Spider Demons must replace the Yagyu clan at all cost,

so the world shall know us to be true samurai.

You must understand

that every day that I live at the crossroads of hell...

...is another day of suffering for me.

I am aware of that.

Like you, there is one matter that I must settle before I die.

My request is that we part ways for the time being...

...for we will meet again, if we both survive.

Very well.

Before I die, I must...

Brother!

What are you doing, brother?

-Bear my child... -Brother!

Let my child - our child - lead the Spider Demon clan!

Azusa!

We cannot let Retsudo and the Yagyu clan have their way!

Our tribe cannot hide in the mountains forever.

Azusa! Bear my child. Bear my child for me!

Bear me a son to lead the Spider Demons!

Brother!

This is my way of showing Retsudo

that I have opposed him to the very end!

You shall cultivate my seed, Azusa.

Hyoei, have you gone insane?

We two have stepped into the netherworld of beasts.

Please kill us both.

Father!

What a fool you've been... Hyoei.

You could have finished off Itto Ogami!

However...

...you were a fool!

You requested an honourable duel as a samurai and lost!

Spider Demon tribesmen, prepare yourselves!

You're now under my command!

-We refuse. -What?

Allow us to carry out our leader Hyoei's command

and slay Itto Ogami on our own.

We never imagined that he'd lure us into the snow.

If we remain here for much longer, our techniques will be useless.

It's no use.

We'll freeze to death.

Now!

Indeed...you are terrifying, Itto Ogami,

for you have defeated the Spider Demon Five Wheels technique.

How I wish I did not have to wear this face...

...at least as I lie dying.

How tragic...

What's tragic is your Spider Demon Five Wheels technique.

I've been waiting for you, Retsudo!

Itto Ogami, I've lost my six children, six Yagyu heirs, because of you.

I am all that remains.

You're the one who caused it all!

Yet your only son Daigoro is still alive.

I hope you go insane with loneliness!

This shall be the final reckoning to avenge all our dead.

I wish the same!

Attack!

Daigoro!

Daigoro!

Lord Retsudo!

Attack!

Take that!

You fool!

Now!

Lord Retsudo, it is best if we leave now. Please hurry!

Itto...

He may be the "Lone Wolf and Cub"...

...but one day I will slay him!

Pa!

Daigoro...

The End