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.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Goyokin yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Goyokin (1969)

Trace every key event in Goyokin (1969) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Gold ship sinks near Sado; fishermen salvage the gold

The gold-laden ship sinks off Sado Island, triggering a desperate salvage by local fishermen. They gather portions of the treasure and plan to return it to the Tokugawa authorities to do the right thing. The incident marks the spark that begins Rokugo Tatewaki's quest for greed and the future crimes it will fuel.

Sado Island
2

Rokugo massacres fishermen to hide the theft

Rokugo slaughters the fishermen to prevent any report of the theft from reaching authorities. Magobei Wakizaka is appalled by the massacre and vows to stand against his master’s brutality. In a grim bargain, Rokugo promises not to report again, tying Magobei to his secret ruin.

Sabai
3

Assassins reach Edo; Magobei learns Rokugo's plan to steal again

Three years pass and assassins sent by Rokugo's retainer Kunai converge on Magobei in Edo, threatening him and hinting at deeper schemes. He realizes Rokugo intends to seize more gold and slaughter more innocents if left unchecked. Magobei resolves to return to Sabai to confront his former master.

Three years later Edo
4

Magobei returns to Sabai to confront Rokugo

Magobei makes his way back toward Sabai, determined to end Rokugo’s reign of greed in the place where it began. He understands that the people of Sabai could suffer again if Rokugo’s plans proceed unchecked.

Sabai
5

Rokugo hires Samon Fujimaki to kill Magobei

Back in Sabai, Rokugo enlists another ronin, Samon Fujimaki, to terminate Magobei and crush any resistance to his schemes. The hiring signals a new, more dangerous phase in the feud between master and former pupil.

Sabai
6

Samon, a Shogun spy, joins Magobei

Unknown to Rokugo, Samon is a spy for the Shogun and secretly switches allegiance to Magobei. This unlikely alliance gives Magobei a trusted ally as they face Rokugo’s threat together. Their partnership shifts the balance of power in the clan's conflict.

On the road from Edo toward Sabai
7

Magobei meets Oriha and Rokuzo; they join the quest

During the journey, Magobei encounters Oriha, a young woman who survived the original slaughter, and her brother Rokuzo. They decide to accompany Magobei, seeking safety and a chance to stop Rokugo’s greed-driven violence. The group grows not just in numbers but in resolve.

Along the road to Sabai
8

Sabai learns Rokugo's bonfire deception plan

Upon reaching Sabai, the group uncovers Rokugo’s plan to move a bonfire that would warn ships away from dangerous rocks, ensuring a gold ship would crash. The scheme reveals Rokugo’s willingness to sacrifice strangers for wealth. The discovery tightens the alliance against him.

Sabai
9

Countering the deception: light true bonfire, extinguish fake

Together, Magobei, Samon, Oriha, and Rokuzo counter Rokugo’s plan by lighting the true bonfire and extinguishing the fake one. The act not only safeguards the ships but also exposes Rokugo’s broader scheme in the eyes of the villagers. Their coordinated effort strengthens their resolve to stop him.

that night Sabai
10

Gold ship evades the rocks; peasants are saved

With the bonfire deception foiled, the gold-bearing ship avoids the rocks and reaches safer waters. The peasants who aided Rokugo tread a narrow line between survival and ruin, but the immediate danger to them is averted. The town breathes a fragile sigh of relief.

that night Sea near Sabai
11

Final duel: Magobei defeats Rokugo; he is wounded

In a snow-filled confrontation, Magobei finally faces Rokugo and slays him, though he is wounded by Rokugo’s throwing knife. The tyrant falls, and the threat that haunted Sabai is brought to a close. Magobei’s victory comes with a heavy cost.

final showdown Sabai
12

Magobei honors Rokugo and walks into the snow

As villagers and Oriha celebrate their survival, Magobei lays his sword on Rokugo’s grave and walks away into the falling snow. He chooses solitude over vengeance, leaving the world of memory behind. The community resumes its life, tempered by the cost of greed’s violence.

aftermath Rokugo's grave

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:21

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