Ninja in the Dragon’s Den 1982

Genbu, Hiroyuki Sanada, moves through Japan during the Tokugawa Ieyasu period as a young ninja who brutalizes samurai and other government officials, casting his clan into the crossfire of blame. When his pursuers close in, Genbu and his wife Akane Kaname Tsushima flee across the sea to China, not only to escape the wrathful kin but to pursue a hidden revenge by locating the final man he holds responsible for his father’s death.

That man is Fukusa (Uncle Fu) Hiroshi Tanaka, who has laid down his dark past to live as a serene mirror maker. His unlikely protégé is Sun Jing Conan Lee, a cocky young martial artist who loves to prove himself by grabbing every chance to fight. Jing also tacklessly taunts his lecherous servant Chee Tai Bo. When Jing witnesses his surrogate father attacked, he rushes to defend him, only to discover that he and the ninja are evenly matched in skill and resolve.

A pivotal truth reshapes the tale: Genbu’s father was not killed by his clan in a righteous purge but died a hero during a rebellion years earlier. Overcome with shame for fleeing to China after that failed uprising, Fu seeks reconciliation with Genbu and the two form a fragile peace. Yet before their final confrontation, Fu takes poison to restore his honor through his own death, asking Genbu to kill him to spare him the last agony. This act seeds a dangerous misunderstanding between Genbu and Jing, fueling doubt and tension as their paths converge.

The pair rise to the challenge atop Jing’s family temple, their clash turning toward a truer fellowship as they put aside their differences to confront The Magician Hwang Jang-Lee, a spiritual boxer whose son Jing has insulted along the way. The fight against this formidable foe tests both ninjutsu and pride, drawing in Akane and Chee in unintended ways.

In the end, Jing and Genbu prevail over The Magician, aided unintentionally by Akane and Chee. Yet Chee’s loud claim to credit for the victory sparks a sharp counterlesson from Genbu and Jing, reminding him that true honor and teamwork outshine bragging. The journey blends themes of vengeance, respect, and cultural tension as two unlikely allies navigate loyalties, personal histories, and the ultimate test of their wills.