Lone Wolf Isazo (1968) Apr 2026

This was one of the final films for legendary actor Raizo Ichikawa, who died of cancer the following year at age 37.

Raizo Ichikawa (as Isazo), Isamu Nagato, and Mayumi Ogawa Runtime: 83 minutes Notable Features Lone Wolf Isazo (1968)

The story follows , a skilled swordsman and gambler known for his impeccable manners and deadly efficiency, earning him the nickname "The Ripper". While traveling, he encounters a young boy and discovers the boy’s mother is Yoshino , his former lover. Their past romance was thwarted by class differences, leading to Isazo’s life as a wanderer. As he attempts to right past wrongs, he must navigate the rigid code of the Yakuza and evade the samurai clan still hunting him. Production Credits Director: Kazuo Ikehiro Writer: Based on a novel by Genzo Murakami This was one of the final films for

(Japanese title: Hitori Okami ) is a 1968 Japanese jidaigeki (period drama) film that follows the life of a legendary traveling gambler. Plot Overview Their past romance was thwarted by class differences,

The film is often described as the epitome of the matatabi (traveling gambler) subgenre, blending traditional samurai elements with a "Western" sensibility reminiscent of Sergio Leone.

Director Kazuo Ikehiro utilizes complex flashback structures and a brooding, romantic aesthetic to chronicle the protagonist's descent from a chivalrous youth to a cynical wanderer. Hitori okami (1968) - IMDb