Footage from the first two Lone Wolf and Cub films (Sword of Vengeance and Baby Cart on the River Styx) from 1972 (Japan) would years later be re-edited into an American film called Shogun Assassin (1980). This merger of the two films would go on to earn its place in American pop culture as one of the most notorious exploitation films of the early 80s.
Akihiro Tomikawa, who portrays Ogami Itto's son, Daigoro, only ever played this one character for his on-screen acting career. He appears as Daigoro in all six 'Lone Wolf & Cub' feature films, and then in 1980's 'Shogun Assassin', which is recut footage from the first two films in the series.
Ogami Itto is seen beheading those who wish to die by seppuku. Itto's role here is as a second, but the Japanese term for this is kaishakunin, and the act of beheading someone thus is known as kaishaku.
This is the first of six films in the 'Lone Wolf & Cub' film series. All of which star Tomisaburô Wakayama as protagonist, Ogami Itto.
This film and its sequels are based off the manga series 'Lone Wolf & Cub', created by author, Kazuo Koike, and artist, Goseki Kojima.