Goyokin

Goyokin

Year: 1969

Runtime: 124 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Hideo Gosha

ActionDrama

A guilt-haunted samurai warrior attempts to stop a massacre taking place.

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Timeline & Setting – Goyokin (1969)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Goyokin (1969). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Edo period

The events unfold under the Tokugawa shogunate, a rigid feudal system that controls society and trade. Samurai codes, loyalty, and state power shape every decision, from the initial theft to the final confrontation in the snow.

Location

Sado Island, Sabai, Edo

A remote island in the Sea of Japan houses a rich gold mine that powers the Tokugawa regime. The story also pivots through Edo, the shogunate's capital, where Magobei hides and makes difficult choices. The rural village of Sabai is the scene of sacrifice and treachery that drives the plot.

🏝️ Island setting 🏯 Feudal Japan 🌊 Maritime

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:43

Main Characters – Goyokin (1969)

Meet the key characters of Goyokin (1969), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Magobei Wakizaka (Tatsuya Nakadai)

A principled samurai who refuses to let Rokugo escape punishment. He embodies a quiet, moral resilience, choosing to return to Sabai and confront his former master even at great personal risk. Magobei's steady code drives the group and ultimately leads to the saving of the villagers.

🗡️ Samurai 🧭 Honor 🧩 Moral dilemma

Rokugo Tatewaki (Tetsuro Tamba)

A calculating former master who uses his position to plunder wealth and crush dissent. His plan to move a bonfire to lure ships shows a ruthless willingness to sacrifice others for profit. Rokugo remains Magobei's primary antagonist until the final confrontation.

🗡️ Power 🧭 Ruthless 🧩 Mastermind

Oriha (Ruriko Asaoka)

A survivor who has endured Rokugo's brutality and joins Magobei's quest. She embodies resilience and compassion, helping to guide the group and ensuring that the price of violence is not forgotten by the living. Oriha's presence offers emotional grounding amid the action.

🌸 Survivor 💫 Compassion

Rokuzo (Ben Hiura)

Oriha's brother who becomes a partner in the journey to Sabai. He brings a pragmatic, loyal perspective and a desire to see the right outcome for his sister and the villagers. Rokuzo's involvement helps balance the group with a grounded, humane viewpoint.

👣 Heir to resilience 🧭 Loyalty

Samon Fujimaki (Kinnosuke Nakamura)

A ronin hired to kill Magobei who reveals his own alignment shifts due to his status as a Shogun spy. His evolving loyalties add complexity to the mission and emphasize that trust is earned, not assumed. Samon becomes a crucial ally in the final plan.

🗡️ Ronin 🧭 Loyalties

Kunai (Isao Natsuyagi)

A retainer of Rokugo who orchestrates the initial hit on Magobei. He is a foil to Magobei's honor, representing the dangers of ruthless ambition within the ruling class. Kunai's role accelerates the timeline toward the climactic confrontation.

🗡️ Assassin 🧭 Ambition

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:43

Major Themes – Goyokin (1969)

Explore the central themes of Goyokin (1969), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚔️ Honor & Duty

Magobei's commitment to justice pits personal loyalty against the orders of his former master. The film explores how a samurai's code can compel him to risk life and reputation to protect the vulnerable.

⚖️ Justice & Corruption

Rokugo's plan to steal wealth and manipulate the bonfire warning reveals how power can corrupt leadership. The protagonists struggle to expose wrongdoing and save the innocent, even at great personal cost.

🤝 Solidarity

Magobei, Samon, Oriha, and Rokuzo form an unlikely alliance to thwart the master’s schemes. Their cooperation demonstrates that shared humanity can overcome political intrigue and violence.

❄️ Nature & Fate

The snow-clad finale underscores the harsh, indifferent environment in which the characters fight. Nature acts as a stark counterpoint to human schemes, deciding who survives and who pays the price.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:43

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Goyokin Summary

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Goyokin Timeline

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Goyokin Timeline

More About Goyokin

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