Sugata Sanshiro practices the Kodokan-Yano school of judo, and is its most skilled fighter behind Master Yano himself. When he comes across a young woman walking in the rain with broken clogs, he rushes to fix them without a second thought. Later, when he is chosen to represent the school in a one-on-one competition with fighter Murai Hansuke, his will is put to the test when he discovers that the girl he met the other day is none other than Murai's daughter, Otomi. Knowing that Murai cannot afford defeat and that Otomi is set to give up her life if her father loses, Sugata must choose between compassion for Otomi or protecting the name of his master and companions. Yet little does he know that lurking in the shadows are other fighters eager to put their own skills to the test...