Branded to Kill

The Japanese underworld's third-ranked hitman, known for surgical precision and a chilling calm under fire. He is drawn to an unsettling fetish involving the smell of boiling rice, hinting at a darker humanity beneath his professional exterior. He navigates betrayals and brutal ambushes with cold efficiency, while his feelings for Misako threaten to derail his code and ambitions.

A former hitman turned taxi driver who recruits Hanada to return to the underworld and settle old scores. He exudes a wary confidence, but his exposure to violence leaves a lasting mark. His death marks a turning point that intensifies the struggle for power and loyalty.

A mysterious, death-wish-driven woman who lures Hanada into a dangerous relationship and a string of brutal assignments. Her allure masks strategic manipulation, and her shifting loyalties propel the plot through love, rage, and murder. Her fate intertwines with Hanada's, driving the film's emotional and moral ambiguities.

A powerful yakuza boss who hires Hanada and seduces Mami, symbolizing the intertwining of crime, power, and corruption. He wields influence over clubs and smuggling routes, steering events from behind a polished facade. His downfall comes as greed and betrayal destabilize the underworld's delicate balance.

The fourth-ranked hitman whose bold schemes put him in direct conflict with Hanada. His actions escalate the blood-soaked pursuit and reveal the ruthlessness of the underworld hierarchy. His confrontation with Kasuga foreshadows the brutal costs of the life they lead.

The second-ranked hitman whose ambushes heighten the tension and danger surrounding Hanada. His presence embodies the constant threat and the calculated cruelty of the job. His fate underscores the brutal efficiency of the rival faction and ends with a lethal resolution.

The legendary No. 1 Killer, the ultimate rival who exhausts his targets before striking. His looming presence drives Hanada to endure a deadly cat-and-mouse game that tests cunning, stamina, and nerve. The climactic showdown ends in a deadly draw and a grim victory for Hanada.

Goro Hanada's wife, who becomes entangled in power plays and manipulation, seducing and betraying her husband to secure her own position. Her attempts to burn away the past culminate in a fatal confrontation. Her presence intensifies the film's exploration of loyalty, desire, and danger.

A jeweler targeted by Hanada in a high-stakes contract, representing a facet of the crime web that extends to luxury goods and smuggling networks.

Another jeweler involved in the assignments, illustrating the breadth of targets within the underworld economy.

A professional victim of Hanada's assassinations, the ocularist-like target that showcases the precision and range of his scope.