Three Outlaw Samurai

A wandering ronin who aligns with the peasants’ cause and challenges the magistrate’s authority. He persuades Sakura to switch sides, endures brutal punishment without breaking, and vows revenge when the samurai code is betrayed. His steadfast sense of duty anchors the conflict and drives the dramatic reversals.

The magistrate’s daughter kidnapped by the peasants, whose fate becomes a focal point of the standoff. She witnesses Shiba’s punishment and grows to believe in his integrity and the peasants’ virtue. She ultimately hides Shiba, aligning with the outlaws in the name of mercy and justice.

A vagabond samurai who initially sides with the magistrate but later switches allegiances to support Shiba and the peasants. He plays a key role in the rescue efforts and acts driven by loyalty and honor, meeting a tragic end during the climactic confrontations.

One of the peasants who becomes entangled in the escalating conflict. His fate is sealed by the magistrate’s orders to kill the peasant group, underscoring the brutal cost of rebellion against corrupt authority.

A peasant leader and father of Yasu, whose family becomes a bargaining chip in the standoff. His death is ordered by the magistrate, highlighting the merciless nature of political expediency.

Gosaku’s daughter, kept as a hostage during the magistrate’s maneuvering. Her position as a pawn in the power struggle underscores the human cost of political games.

Kikyo’s lover who becomes a casualty in the cascade of violence surrounding the mill siege. His death accentuates the personal losses that accompany the pursuit of justice and honor.

The premier swordsman leading a major assault to reclaim the mill and crush the outlaw alliance. He is a formidable foe whose defeat by Shiba marks a turning point in the battle between law and honor.

One of the peasants drawn into the conflict over tax relief and survival; his fate is tied to the broader struggle of the villagers against oppression.