The Lone Wolf and Cub series.

Kozure kami: Kowokashi udekashi tsukamatsuru (1972) Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance

Directed by Kenji Misumi

Starring Tomisaburo Wakayama

Based on a manga from 1970 this Jidaigeki series tells the story of Ogami Itto and his baby son as he hacks his way across Japan.

Volume 1: Sword of Vengeance shows how he was the official executioner to the Shogunate but was set up and accused of treason by the treachorous Yagyu clan. Instead of taking the noble way out and commiting seppuku, he takes his son and hits the road as an assassin for hire vowing revenge on the Yagyu.

This is definitely not Kurosawa, the fights are inventive but its not long before limbs are being severed and streams of blood are spurting everywhere. Because it is adapted from a manga, the weaponry and blood spillage can be more than a little over the top but it does have a fairly strong storyline as well.

Kozure kami: Sanzu no kawa no ubaguruma (1972) Lone Wolf and Cub: Perambulator of the River of Sanzu aka Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx 

Volume 2. Ogami Itto and his son clash with two ninja clans, one of which, the Akashi is an all female clan, both have been ordered by the head of the Yagyu to destroy Itto. Neither clan is successful and within a short space of time only the leader of the Akashi is left alive.

Also Ogami Itto has taken a contract as an assassin but his intended hit will be protected by the Bentenrai brothers, each a highly skilled close quarters fighter employed by the Shogunate, the two parties have great respect for each other but know they will inevitably clash. When it eventually happens its a bloody affair and the brothers and the hit are left for dead. Itto and son continue on their journey and their quest for vengeance.

The River of Sanzu - Japanese Buddhists believe the dead will cross it to pass into the afterlife. The change in title to the River Styx was obviously for a Western audience to relate to.

Kozure kami: Shinikazeni mukau ubaguruma (1972) Lone Wolf and Cub: Perambulator Against the Winds of Death aka Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades

Volume 3. There are three strands to this episode:

1. Itto saves a woman who has been sold from a life of prostitution.
2. A samurai who seems to have lost his way seeks a duel and advice from him.
3. As part of the payment for saving the womans life, Itto accepts an assassination job.

Although Itto generally just slaughters his somewhat lacklustre opposition, when he has a duel with a skilled Samurai it adds a touch of class to the proceedings and there is a real show of skill and of the way of the warrior (Bushido). 

Kozure kami: Oya no kokoro ko no kokoro (1972) Baby Cart in Peril

Directed by Buichi Saito

Volume4. Itto takes a contract on a highly trained and beautifully tatooed Besshikki-me (swordswoman) which is fulfllled but with honour to the hit.

We see some of the back story as to how Itto became the executioner for the Shogunate, this is because of a chance meeting with his opponent for the job, because of this there is a duel and Itto cuts of his opponents left arm but leaves him alive.
A point thats good, we get to see a lot of the ceremony and normal life from that period in Japans history. 

Kozure kami: Meifumando (1973) Baby Cart in the Land of Demons

Volume 5. Quite complex assassination plot in this one, 5 clan vassals test Ittos abilities and once beaten give him part of the details of the hit, the Yagyu clan are again involved as they are obviously trying to become the most powerful clan in Japan.

Daigoro again gets his own little adventure, ending in him getting a public beating because he has made a promise and wont go back on it.

Kozure kami: Jigoku e ikuzo! Daigoro (1974) Lone Wolf and Cub: White Heaven in Hell aka Baby Cart 6: Go to Hell, Daigoro!

Directed by Yoshiyuki Kuroda

Volume 6. The clan leader of the Yagyu has already seen three of his sons die at the hands of Ogami Itto so he sends his last heir to kill him, unfortunately she (yes his daughter!) doesnt last very long.

More innocent people die in this episode than all the others put together and this is down to three bizarre characters on the hunt for Itto, they know the only way they can hurt him is by killing every innocent person he comes into contact with. Annoyingly theres no resolution to the series.

Cheers Trev.

BBFC rated 18.

Interesting points:

The films were produced by Katsu Production Co. Ltd who produced all the later Zatoichi films as well.

Katsu Production Co. Ltd were owned by Shintar Katsu who of coarse played the role of Zatoichi in 26 films and a TV series.

Tomisaburo Wakayama and Shintar Katsu were brothers, I wonder if it ever crossed their minds to make a Zatoichi meets Lone Wolf & Cub film?