I've seen more than one commentary saying Samurai 2 is the Empire Strikes Back of Inagaki's trilogy. I'm not so sure... maybe after I watch the 3rd installment... then watch them all again, I'll have a different opinion. There are more swords, that's for sure. And for those Tishiro Mifune sceptics out there, we learn that Tishiro is so manly that his chest hairs have chest hairs.
Look, you don't need a plot summary. This is the continuing story of a man's emotional and spiritual growth. Flippin watch it already. Gosh!