In 16th century Japan, peasants Genjuro and Tobei sell their earthenware pots to a group of soldiers in a nearby village, in defiance of a local sage's warning against seeking to profit from warfare. Genjuro's pursuit of both riches and the mysterious Lady Wakasa, as well as Tobei's desire to become a samurai, run the risk of destroying both themselves and their wives, Miyagi and Ohama.

Machiko Kyō
as Lady Wakasa

Mitsuko Mito
as Ohama

Kinuyo Tanaka
as Miyagi

Masayuki Mori
as Genjurô

Eitarō Ozawa
as Tôbei

Sugisaku Aoyama
as Old Priest

Mitsusaburō Ramon
as Captain of Tamba Soldiers

Ryōsuke Kagawa
as Village Master

Kichijirō Ueda
as Shop Owner

Shōzō Nanbu
as Shintô Priest