Toshirô Mifune stars in this double bill of Japanese historical action dramas directed by Akira Kurosawa. In 'Yojimbo' (1961) wandering samurai Sanjuro Kuwabatake (Mifune) arrives in a rural town in 19th century Japan which is overrun with criminals and is being fought over by two rival gangs. Determined to free the townsfolk from the oppressive grip of the gangsters, Sanjuro sparks open war between the two sides in the hope that they will destroy each other.

However, his plans are complicated by the arrival of Unosuke (Tatsuya Nakadai), the younger brother of one of the gang leaders who prefers guns to swords and upsets the balance of power in the town. In the sequel 'Sanjuro' (1962) Sanjuro Tsubaki encounters a clan of samurai who have been betrayed by the local superintendent. They had intended to present a formal accusation of corruption within their clan but would have been crushed by the superintendent's men had Sanjuro not defended them.

Sanjuro soon finds himself embroiled in a plot to kidnap the local chamberlain and facilitate a power grab by the superintendent, but jaded as he is, Sanjuro feels he must also object to the behaviour of his fellow samurai.