Synopsis: Shigurui

Japan's first martial arts competition featuring actual swords has been ordered by the sadistic daimyo Tadanaga Tokugawa. Even the most loyal followers are appalled by this decree. However, when the spectators discover that the first match is between the one-armed Gennosuke Fujiki and the blind and lame Seigen Irako, even those with the most forceful objections consider the event to be a farce, as the combatants' deformities are seen as an affront to their status. Despite their deep-seated animosity towards each other, which has been festering ever since their struggle to become Kogan Iwamoto's heir to the Kogan-ryuu dojo, Gennosuke and Seigen's hatred goes unnoticed by most of the attendees. Their once-cordial rivalry for Kogan-ryuu and Kogan's daughter Mie takes a violent turn when one of the young warriors angers the master. This results in a chain of events that leads to their severe injuries. Shigurui is a story about the decisions that brought Gennosuke and Seigen to this critical juncture, as well as the many lives that were ruined by Japan's brutal samurai culture.