Directed by Kinji Fukasaku, based on an earlier screenplay by Akira Kurosawa — previously filmed by director Senkichi Taniguchi in 1949 and based on the novel Nishin gyogyo by Keizo Kajino — Jakoman & Tetsu, as Kyubei (Isao Yamagata) and his son-in-law Sotaro (Shiro Osaka), borrow money to buy a herring net and hire migrant workers in the hopes of finally making money. However, a one-eyed sailor named Jakoman (Tetsuro Tamba) arrives to make life horrible for everyone…until Kyubei’s long-dead son Testu (Ken Takakura) comes to stop him.

Toshiro Mifune played the role of Tetsu in the original film. Takakura wanted to go all out, so instead of wearing rubber pants like many fishermen did and who warned him to not go in without them, he got into the water in just a loincloth. The water temperature? Three degrees Fahrenheit. He was so sick that he slept for three days.

Jakoman claims that the father left him marooned and near-death years ago. Is it true? You’ll learn the answer and whether the son can do better than the man who raised him.

Kinji Fukasaku went on to make The Threat, Battles Without Honor or Humanity, Battle Royale, and many more films.

The 88 Films Blu-ray of Jakoman & Testu has an introduction by Mark Schilling, commentary by Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp, a gallery of stills, an essay by Chris D. and original and newly commissioned artwork by Sean Longmore. You can get it from MVD.