Takezo (Toshiro Mifune), now known by his samurai name 'Musashi Miyamoto', continues on his 'musha shugyo' (warrior's quest) in early Edo-era Japan. The complicated story finds the 'shugyosha' in Kyoto planning to challenge Seijuro Yoshioka (Akihiko Hirata, familiar to kaiju fans as the doomed Dr. Serizawa in 'Gojira' (1954)), master of the 'Yoshioka School' to a duel, only to be repeatedly threatened by Yoshioka's less than honourable students. Mifune is as great as always as the iconic swordsman looking to perfect his martial skills, as are Mariko Okada (Akemi) and Kaoru Yachigusa (Otsu) as the two disparate young women who are in love with him. Kuroemon Onoe is back as the Buddhist monk Takuan who first pushed the quick-tempered Takezo to be more than a simple brawler, as is Sachio Sakai as Takezo's buddy Matahachi who is trying (pathetically) to pass himself off as a master swordsman and ends up reunited with his scheming wife Oko and her disreputable lover Togi. New to the story is Kojiro Sasaki, a young, slightly foppish 'shugyosha' from the 'Chujo School' with a keen interest in Musashi's martial skills (and in Matahachi's claimed identity). Inagaki's trilogy is more of a historical drama/romance with some action sequences than a pure adventure (compared to, for example, Kurosawa's contemporaneous 'The Seven Samurai') and the director takes numerous liberties with what is known about the historical character for dramatic effect, often conflating several events into one big event (such as the titular duel). Although not a history lesson, the film remains great entertainment and a classic in the popular chambara genre, with great acting, outstanding sets and colour cinematography, and a stirring score. The fight scenes are well choreographed and exciting although a bit bloodless and stylised (compared to the blood-geysers of the 1970s such as 'Lady Snowblood' (1973)). Great 'bridge' episode in an epic triptych.