

Lone Wolf and Cub
Kozure Okami
Ogami Itto is a master swordsman who holds a position of high power in the Tokugawa Shogunate. Highly trusted by the Shogun, he serves as the official decapitator, assisting lords and samurai who have been ordered by the Shogun to commit seppuku. One day, Itto’s wife and members of his household are brutally murdered by a clan seeking to avenge their lord’s execution, which had been carried out by Itto. In the wake of the attack, two items are left in Itto’s home: his unhurt infant son, Daigoro, and a symbol meant to signify Itto’s betrayal of the Shogun. Disgraced by the false symbol, Itto is labeled a traitor and forced to forfeit his position. He becomes a ronin, wandering the country with his son, searching for the men who killed his wife, seeking to clear his name and avenge her death.
Cast
Seasons & Episodes
The original episode two 'Oyuki of the Gomune' has been removed from any re-airings or reproductions.

E1My Son and My Sword for Hire
Apr 8, 1973
A noblewoman who was forced into prostitution after her fiancé and family were murdered at their wedding, asks Itto to kill the man responsible, a spurned former suitor.

E2Birds Have Wings, Beast Have Fangs / Fangs of the Wolf
Apr 15, 1973
Ogami Itto and his young son Daigoro arrive in a town known for its hot springs, but the entire village has been taken over by a gang of murderous bounty hunters.

E3Ikkou-Bashi Bridge
Apr 22, 1973
Poisoned after a surprise attack, Ogami must face a deadly gauntlet of Yagyu assassins in order to fulfill a promise made to a dying man who saved Daigoro.

E4The Assassin’s Road / Highway of Assassins
Apr 29, 1973
A meeting on the Assassin’s Road causes Itto to remember the events leading up to his wife’s murder, and why he chose to bring his son with him on his mission of vengeance.

E5Daigoro and Omatsu / The Lowly Maid
May 6, 1973
Multiple stories interweave as Daigoro becomes lost while seeking medicine for his father and is befriended by a young woman who is being sold into service by a loan shark.

E6Deflowering / Amya and Anema
May 13, 1973
When his father is delayed for multiple days after an assassination goes awry, a desperate Daigoro wanders off and falls into the hands of a ruthless gang of criminals.

E7The Guns of Sakai / The Sakai Rifle
May 20, 1973
Itto is hired to assassinate a gunsmith who has reportedly developed a repeating rifle, a weapon that could completely destabilize the balance of power in Japan.

E8The Shield and The Castle / The Castle Wall Attack
May 27, 1973
Itto accepts an assignment to stop a shipment of gold, assassinate a government official, kill an entire team of covert agents and prevent a small clan from being framed.

E9The Endless Six Paths / Six Roads to Infinity
Jun 3, 1973
As Lord Yagyu prepares to send his last and strongest son, Gunbei, to kill Itto Ogami, the events of Gunbei and Itto's previous duel are revealed.

E10Baby Cart on The River Styx
Jun 10, 1973
A scheming magistrate's plan places Itto in the middle of a war between two Yakuza families, one of which is lead by the daughter of the leader of the other.

E11The Deer Hunters
Jun 17, 1973
While the Yagyu set a trap for Itto, a group of con artists pose as Lone Wolf and Cub and a disgraced Samurai takes on the role of Ogami.

E12Ochiyo's Boat
Jun 24, 1973
As Itto waits for an opportunity to assassinate a sadistic Lord, he and Daigoro observe the life of a young boat woman who must sell herself to support the man she loves.

E13The Mysterious Pickpocket / No Betrayal
Jul 1, 1973
While Itto tracks down the killers of a young woman's entire family, Daigoro becomes caught up in a policeman's hunt for a notorious female pickpocket.

E14North to South, West to East
Jul 8, 1973
Itto accepts a job that will protect the location of a secret gold mine, but the task is complicated when a rival swordsman takes Itto's target's son hostage.

E15The Night of The Fang
Jul 15, 1973
Itto must deal with a well-wishing doctor and a group of shadow ninja when he's tasked with killing a group of assassins who're rgeting the Shogun's lover.

E16Cloud Dragon, Wind Tiger
Jul 22, 1973
Itto returns to a spot on the banks of the Shinobu River where he once executed the lord of a Clan, and faces a samurai he defeated in a duel four years earlier.

E17Asaemon the Beheader / Executioner Asaemon
Jul 29, 1973
Government officials convince Asaemon the Beheader, one of the few swordsmen in Japan with a level of skill close to Ogami’s, to kill Itto in combat.

E18A Meager, Peaceful Life / Half Mat, One Mat, Two And A Half Go Of Rice
Aug 5, 1973
Itto meets Sakon Shino, a beggar samurai who has given up killing for a life as a street performer. Shino urges Itto to give up his assassin life, for the sake of his son.

E19The 8 Gate Attack Formation
Aug 12, 1973
The Lone Wolf and Cub have their work cut out for them when a seemingly simple job turns into a deadly game of lies and intrigue.

E20The Chrysanthemum Inn
Aug 19, 1973
The Lone Wolf and Cub rescue a woman who has sold herself into prostitution in order to stage her revenge on her murdered brother’s evil fiancé.

E21Mercenary Swordsmen / The Crossing Guard
Aug 26, 1973
Desperate to keep their clan from being dissolved, the family of a murdered Lord fake the real killer’s murder and ask Itto to verify their false claim.

E22Bekinoji's Tragedy
Sep 2, 1973
Assassins from the Kurokuwa clan stage a non-stop series of attacks that lasts for days, slowly steering an exhausted Lone Wolf and Cub into a deadly trap.

E23Thread of Tears
Sep 9, 1973
Itto is hired to kill a samurai who has allegedly turned his men against Lord Norikatsu, but the true reasons turn out to be far more complex and deceptive.

E24Concealed Letter of The Yagyu / The Yagyu Letter
Sep 16, 1973
Ogami mysteriously joins a group of “the unclothed”, men with the unusual job of carrying people and baggage across a river where bridges and ferries are forbidden.

E25Daigoro's Song
Sep 23, 1973
After being thrown off a cliff during a battle with the Yagyu assassins, Daigoro searches for his now missing father while avoiding his family’s many enemies.

E26Drifting Shadow
Sep 30, 1973
Itto tries to follow the trail left by his missing son, Daigoro, while fighting off the forces of Lord Retsudo and his Yagyu assassins.

E1The Hojiro Yagyu / Blackfaces of Death
Apr 7, 1974
With his three legitimate heirs dead, Retsudo Yagyu plots to impregnate his illegitimate daughter while sending her brother to fight Itto.

E2A Dark Southern Wind
Apr 14, 1974
In honor of a woman who saved his son’s life, Itto goes to assist a group of farmers who have been conscripted by the ruthless Lord Ichige and his brother.

E3The Yagyu Five-Pronged Technique / Yagyu Five-Prong Attack
Apr 21, 1974
With no warriors left who are capable of beating Itto physically, the Yagyu resort to coercing a ninja to use the secret five prong technique against the Lone Wolf.

E4Waiting in The Rain / The Late Autumn Rain
Apr 28, 1974
Itto is hired by a Clan Lord to kill a spy who seduced and impregnated his daughter, while Daigoro befriends the woman’s now four year old son.

E5Mid-winter Arrival
May 5, 1974
To carry out an assassination, Itto must pose as a new head clerk… and to do that he must leave Diagoro alone in a cave during the middle of winter.

E6The Camouflage Kid / The Decoy
May 12, 1974
Itto is betrayed by an employer and forced to spend many days on the run before he can return to Daigoro, forcing the three year old to fend for himself.

E7If The Wolf Comes / The Wolf Cometh
May 19, 1974
While Daigoro suffers from an illness that distracts Itto, a group of desperate villages conspire to kill the Lone Wolf and Cub in order to pay off their taxes.

E8Japanese Silver-Leaf
May 26, 1974
A dogged Police officer tries to solve the mystery of why a Samurai’s daughter became a prostitute and hired Itto to kill a loan shark and his wife.

E9A Woman's Castle
Jun 2, 1974
A prospective employer sends 5 sword masters men in search of the Lone Wolf & Cub. To learn what the actual assignment is, Itto must find and slay all five.

E10The Day To Drive Away Evil Spirits / Exorcism Day
Jun 9, 1974
Itto faces an ethical dilemma when he is asked to assassinate a beloved local doctor who many believe to be a living incarnation of the Buddah

E11Whistle of the Winter Wind
Jun 16, 1974
Against the will of her clan, a woman hires Itto to kill three legendary guardsmen who are escorting her brother to Edo for trial.

E12The Bell Ringer, Genshichi Tsuji
Jun 23, 1974
Genshichi Tsuji wishes to test the dedication of his three successors and hires Itto in secret to cut off their right arms.

E13The Red Cat Beckons
Jun 30, 1974
The authorities respond to a robbery and capture Itto. Giving a false name, he is quickly tried and sentenced. Why is he so willing to go to prison?

E14The Organization of Terror / Footman's Demise
Jul 7, 1974
The brazen criminal activities of those under a samurai’s employ can no longer be tolerated. To stop their reign of terror, Itto is hired to eliminate the gang’s leadership.

E15Breaking Heated Stones / Destroy Hot Stones
Jul 14, 1974
Itto is hired to eliminate a man’s ex-fiancee, but there’s a catch: She must take her own life in penance.

E16Seven-Ri Runner
Jul 21, 1974
Jinza carries messages of such importance he is authorized to kill those who stand in his way. If Otoshi is so desperate to end his life, why would he spare her?

E17Mamesho The Policeman / The Cop
Jul 28, 1974
Mamesho and his daughter, Chie, are on a journey. On their travels, they find themselves repeatedly crossing paths with Itto and Daigoro. Is this a sign of things to come?

E18Drifting Lanterns
Aug 4, 1974
Itto and Daigoro come across a starving Kinpachi on the road. Daigoro offers him food, but could this act set off an unforeseen chain of events?

E19The Winter Dream / Beginning of Winter
Aug 11, 1974
One does not become an assassin without making enemies. That is the reality Itto faces when a lord issued orders that his life be taken.

E20The Female Inspector
Aug 18, 1974
Conspirators hire Itto when an attempt on Lady Onami’s life fails. How will they execute their plan with her cunning wits and bodyguards in the way?

E21The Women of Sodeshi / Resolute Women
Aug 25, 1974
Itto terminates a secret agent, but before the man dies, he asks the Lone Wolf for a request that will take the assassin to a village where only women live.

E22The Zanbato of The Suio School / Suio Style Zanbato Blade
Sep 1, 1974
The Mito clan have little recourse but to hire Itto to dispose of Mondo Bessho for his political views. But what will Itto do when the clan plans on killing him as well?

E23The Funeral Before Death / The Living Dead
Sep 8, 1974
The kojunin have a ritual where they bury their best swordsmen alive. For what purpose does this serve and what does it mean for those left behind?

E24The Sick Star
Sep 15, 1974
When Itto fails to return, Daigoro goes searching for his father. When an old woman comes to his aid, will she end up taking him in as her own?

E25The Thirteen Strings
Sep 22, 1974
Itto saves the life of a young child by dismounting Lady Kanae from her stampeding horse. When he refuses to apologize for his actions, she vows not to forget the insult.

E26Sayaka
Sep 29, 1974
Sayaka burns with hatred over the death of her brother, Shobei. When Retsudo orders her to take Itto’s life, she eagerly accepts the vengeful mission.

E1The Wolf Extinguishers Seek Immortality
Apr 4, 1976
Retsudo has powerful friends, including the Shogun himself. To deal with Itto once and for all, the Shogun places the Guards of the Black Gate under Retsudo’s command.

E2Wet Nurse Parasol
Apr 11, 1976
The magistrate increases the reward for the Lone Wolf’s head when bounty hunters demand a higher price for such a dangerous target.

E3A Tomorrow That Shall Never Come / No Tomorrow
Apr 18, 1976
A failed ambush plays right into Ryuza’s hands. Can Itto survive the bounty hunter’s “genuine hell”? Meanwhile, Torizo cross paths with Itto once again.

E4Silken Cloud
Apr 25, 1976
Itto regularly accepts assassination requests, but rarely does he receive a cancelation. What does the Yagyu have to do with it and what is the extent of their influence?

E5A Mother's Taste
May 2, 1976
Osen is determined to escape a Yakuza-run brothel. Will an encounter with the Lone Wolf finally give her the chance she seeks?

E6Your Life is Mine
May 9, 1976
Believing that the Daijoji clan is acting under the orders of the Yagyu, Itto attempts to avoid needless bloodshed. But is that a luxury an assassin can afford?

E7The Five Ninja Flowers / Five Sisters of Death
May 16, 1976
The Lone Wolf wanders, cutting down any bounty hunter in his path. Now, it is Akane’s turn. If she fails, her sisters must succeed in her place.

E8Season of Death
May 23, 1976
An old woman finds a small boy trying to catch fish by the shore. She teaches him how only to discover the boy wanted to feed his sick father, who is known as the Lone Wolf.

E9The Coarse Man and The Adulteress / Unfortunate Pair
May 30, 1976
People always have a reason for their actions. Some desire to save others. Others desire to save themselves. As for Itto? There is only the grudge.

E10Guide Along The Line Between Life and Death / Ominous Path
Jun 6, 1976
The latest plan to ensnare the Lone Wolf involves restricting the number of bounty hunters sent after him.

E11Daigoro and The Flower of Happiness
Jun 13, 1976
Legend tells of a flower that would bring happiness to any who picked it. However, can there be any happiness for Miyo?

E12Buei School of Gunnery / The Hand Canon
Jun 20, 1976
Sakai would rather sacrifice his lands than have his men senselessly cut down by the Lone Wolf in someone else’s crusade. It is precisely for that reason he must now die.

E13The Moon in The Depths of The Heart / The Moon of Desire
Jun 27, 1976
Itto’s inevitable journey to Edo is nearing its end, but there are only a few routes left that he can take. His enemies know this and prepare...

E14Omens Good and Bad
Jul 4, 1976
An intentional snub signals that The Shogun’s patience towards Retsudo is wearing thin. With only 10 days to kill Itto, Retsudo hatches a plan with an unlikely ally.

E15The Monstrous Abe
Jul 11, 1976
Oshun and Abe prepare to snare Itto and Daigoro in their trap. They don’t care how far they have to go or whom they have to hurt!

E16Wildfire
Jul 18, 1976
Abe learns the truth and takes matters into his own hands as Retsudo schemes. Meanwhile, Itto runs into a lordless samurai.

E17Cloaked in a Scent
Jul 25, 1976
Cornered and desperate, Abe flees from Retsudo’s wrath. The poisoner’s only hope? Assassinating Itto before his pursuer catches up.

E18The Father, The Son, and The Grenade / The Roaring Thunder
Aug 1, 1976
Itto and Retsudo’s paths will cross at the Haccho river. Will that be where their fates are finally decided?

E19Light on The River of Blood
Aug 8, 1976
The floodgates are opened, and the city of Edo is in danger. In the face of such a catastrophic threat, two mortal enemies are forced to work together.

E20The Day of The Awaited Duel / The Showdown
Aug 15, 1976
Abe watches as Itto and Retsudo resume their duel, hoping the poison he applied to their swords will finish them off. What will the two do when they realize this treachery?

E21Impending Death
Aug 22, 1976
Retsudo is summoned to face the shogun. Meanwhile, the bounty on Itto’s head may have been rescinded, but that doesn’t mean everyone will tolerate his presence.

E22Fathers and Sons
Aug 29, 1976
Itto waits while Retsudo is on trial. Meanwhile, the Grass starts mobilizing...

E23Battle in The Shadows
Sep 5, 1976
No matter what Abe does, Retsudo somehow finds a way to foil his assassination attempts. Abe may have the upper hand for now, but Retsudo is a patient man…

E24The Guardian
Sep 12, 1976
Itto and Daigoro’s paths cross with a man known as Bunshichi. What’s his reason for stealing all that money?

E25The Waves and The Flutes
Sep 19, 1976
The fate of the Yagyu and the Grass are intertwined; One cannot exist without the other. It is for that reason the Grass launches one, final attempt on Itto’s life.

E26Swordsmanship
Sep 26, 1976
Itto has long straddled the line between life and death, but it is not a path one can follow forever. In the end, on which side of the line will Itto finally find himself?
Storyline
Ogami Itto is a master swordsman who holds a position of high power in the Tokugawa Shogunate. Highly trusted by the Shogun, he serves as the official decapitator, assisting lords and samurai who have been ordered by the Shogun to commit seppuku. One day, Itto’s wife and members of his household are brutally murdered by a clan seeking to avenge their lord’s execution, which had been carried out by Itto. In the wake of the attack, two items are left in Itto’s home: his unhurt infant son, Daigoro, and a symbol meant to signify Itto’s betrayal of the Shogun. Disgraced by the false symbol, Itto is labeled a traitor and forced to forfeit his position. He becomes a ronin, wandering the country with his son, searching for the men who killed his wife, seeking to clear his name and avenge her death.
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