Two lovers lost in the mountains. In what direction do not go, they find themselves in a mysterious forest pond, as if some kind of force does not want to let them go. Once upon a time, over a century ago, there had been a crime, whose shadow still hovers over these places.

On September 1, 1923, an unprecedented earthquake hit the Kanto region. The streets are filled with victims, and rumors are circulating around. The military seized the opportunity to round up and kill many socialists, anarchists, and Koreans, culminating in the arrest and murder of Sakae Osugi. His comrades and students are outraged by this atrocity. The young man Furukawa also becomes stronger in his determination to overthrow the military...

落魄武士安次郎（伊達正三郎 饰）和父亲安兵卫（武村新 饰）四处流浪，落魄之际幸得江岛屋吴服商人治右兵卫（林寛 饰）的收留。安次郎敦厚勤劳，与善良的女孩阿菊（北沢典子 饰）衷情互许。治右兵卫对这他们颇为满意，打算安排二人成婚并收为养子。江岛屋的年轻掌柜金兵卫（大原譲二 饰）偶然得知这个消息，心存嫉恨的他与小妾阿仲（浜野佳子 饰）商议，谋划将安次郎赶出江岛屋。金兵卫先是设计陷害阿菊的朋友阿里（瀬戸麗子 饰），令其在新婚之夜饱受耻辱；继而逐步夺取治右兵卫对安次郎父子的信任；随后利用治右兵卫好色的弱点实施计划。为达到夺取江岛屋的目的，他不惜残害数条性命。与此同时，亡灵的怨恨也如影随形……
本片根据落语家三遊亭円朝原著改编，是三遊亭円朝去世60周年纪念作品。

1957 film by Nobuo Nakagawa

This horror tale relates the consequences of a Japanese legend which tells of a man who has to betray his wife in order to achieve power.