Lone Wolf and Cub (1973): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1973, Lone Wolf and Cub is an action & adventure series.

What it’s about. 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.

Who’s in it. Lone Wolf and Cub stars Kinnosuke Nakamura as Ittô Ogami, Kōji Takahashi as Retsudo Yagyu, Taketoshi Naitō as Narrator (Voice) and Katzutaka Nishikawa as Daigoro Ogami, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 8.1/10, Lone Wolf and Cub sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.

Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Lone Wolf and Cub page.

If you liked it. Fans of Lone Wolf and Cub tend to enjoy Rick and Morty, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Attack on Titan and Attack on Titan: No Regrets.