Japan, 1643, as the Kato clan of Aizu falls from power two brave samurai will settle a dispute in the time-honored tradition of their clan, by drawing their blades in a duel to the death.

The Fencing Master tells the story of a man trying to survive as the only world he knows is becoming increasingly irrelevant. Danpei Ichikawa lives for swordfighting – he was once a renowned kabuki swordfight choreographer, and as the Chairman of the New National Theatre Company, he wants nothing more than to choreograph the swordfights for the modern plays put on by the company.

民谷伊右衛門在某夜救了某武士的女兒阿梅，而被阿梅愛上後就成了壞朋友秋山們的搖錢樹。 伊右衛門的妻子阿岩對丈夫衷心侍奉，可是伊右衛門不了解她的心，反而懷疑她和家僕小平之間的關係。 秋山們將出來買藥的小平殺死，又騙阿岩服下毒藥，經過一陣激痛後，阿岩看到鏡中的自己面貌．．．．．．