SETTING: 1844 (the latter Edo period)

LOCATION: In the vicinity of the Tone River in the east of Tokyo

SYNOPSIS:
Adoring the world of gamblers, GENTA, SHINTA and MOKUTARO leave home for good and go on a starving journey. On the way, they are provided a night's lodging and meal at the BANGAME family, where GENTA runs into his father YASUKICHI who ran away from home 10 years ago. However, GENTA is put in a fix under the order of BANGAME, who compels GENTA to kill his own father who has betrayed BANGAME. It is a excuse to kick out the three vagabonds. Incidentally, OKUMI, the young wife of peasant MATASAKU whom GENTA promised to elope with, comes along with them. On their itinerant trip, SHINTA injures his leg and becomes feverish. Consequently, they decide to stop over for a night at a deserted Shrine. Next morning when HEIEMON, MATASAKU's son from his ex-wife comes to pick up OKUMI to bring back to MATASAKU. OKUMI in opposition kills him. GENTA at a pinch persuade OKUMI to bow to her fate to sell herself as a maid-servant of an inn. Meanwhile, SHINTA dies due to his aggravated injury. GENTA and MOKUTARO continue their journey to set for Boss SUKEGORO in Iioka. They drop in one of the IIOKA family, HANBEI's house where they learn that HANBEI is planning to betray Boss SUKEGORO and to take the side with Boss SASAGAWA. MOKUTARO chases HANBEI to kill him with the intention of taking HANBEI's head to SUKEGORO as a souvenir. GENTA, telling him that such act would be against gamblers' rules, tries to strike him with a award, but MOKUTARO flees. While chasing him, GENTA falls off a cliff. MOKUTARO, having lost the sight of HANBEI, retraces his way, but cannot find GENTA any where. MOKUTARO cries GENTA's

NOTES:
In the Edo period, it was not easy for the second and third sons of poor peasants to make a living. Therefore, adventurous fellows leave home with ambition to become gamblers under the umbrella of a big boss. The film is about the wandering life of such adventurous young men dressed in same outfit who are looking for a prospective big boss. It is an entertaining picture depicting humorously and sometimes ironically with a contemporary dry touch the foolishness of the gamblers' world... the obligations under which a man given one night's lodging and meal is forced to kill his own father, and the ambition to attain high reputation on "face" for which a betrayer's head is brought to a future boss as a souvenir.