The Samurai (1962)

Lure of Edo (4x1)

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A masked ninja called Yami Hōshi (lit. Black Priest) has been killing rice merchants in Edo much to the glee of the local populace as these merchants were widely believed to have been involved in the black market rice trade. This bandit leaves behind notes taunting the authorities that he has stolen the merchants’ gold to return it to whom it belongs. There is much unrest as all Edo is talking about the thefts and murders, the authorities look like fools and there is a rumour that the previous chief minister, Tanuma Okitsugu was poisoned (suggesting this story is set in 1788 as indeed there were riots and belief that merchants were profiteering from the famine). In the meantime a young samurai spy, Ōtsuki Gorōta, has been sent to Owari (curiously called Ohari in the English dub of this story) and has been missing a year. The shogun is concerned that the murders are politically motivated and Matsudaira Sadanobu, the new chief minister, summons Tonbei for a report. Shintarō is returning from Hakone and is attacked by a deranged Gorōta. Once Gorōta realises that Shintarō is also a spy samurai he manages to warn him about 13 Black ninja and the ‘Owari secret", then dies. Shintarō kills one of them, Yumesuke the Weasel, unaware he and Tonbei have been followed by Gensai in disguise as an old man. Shūsaku comes to Edo to find Shintarō as instructed by his dying father so he can be brought up as a samurai.