The colossally popular Zatoichi films make up the longest-running action series in Japanese history and created one of the screen’s great heroes: an itinerant blind masseur who also happens to be a lightning-fast swordsman. As this iconic figure, the charismatic and earthy Shintaro Katsu became an instant superstar, lending a larger-than-life presence to the thrilling adventures of a man who lives staunchly by a code of honor and delivers justice in every town and village he enters.
26 films
The Tale of Zatoichi
1962
The Tale of Zatoichi Continues
1962
New Tale of Zatoichi
1963
Zatoichi the Fugitive
1963
Zatoichi on the Road
1963
Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold
1964
Zatoichi's Flashing Sword
1964
Fight, Zatoichi, Fight
1964
Adventures of Zatoichi
1964
Watching
Zatoichi's Revenge
1965
Zatoichi and the Doomed Man
1965
Zatoichi and the Chess Expert
1965
Zatoichi's Vengeance
1966
Zatoichi's Pilgrimage
1966
Zatoichi's Cane Sword
1967
Zatoichi the Outlaw
1967
Zatoichi Challenged
1967
Zatoichi and the Fugitives
1968
Samaritan Zatoichi
1968
Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo
1970
Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival
1970
Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman
1971
Zatoichi at Large
1972
Zatoichi in Desperation
1972
Zatoichi's Conspiracy
1973
Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally
1989
Akira Inoue (Director) · Minoru Inuzuka (Screenplay)
Shintarō Katsu
Zatoichi
Norihei Miki
Denroku the Weasel
Mikiko Tsubouchi
Osayo
Takeshi Katō
Koheita Kadokura
Fujio Harumoto
Intendant Isoda
San'emon Arashi
Hikonoichi
Saburo Date
Jun Katsumura
Tatsugoro yakuza
Gen Kimura
Inspector Jingo Odate
Sachiko Kobayashi
Tsuru
Sonosuke Sawamura
Boss Tatsugoro
Yūsaku Terashima
Yasaku
Kōji Fujiyama
Ronin
Mayumi Kurata
Fujio Harumoto
Sanpei Taira
Yukio Horikita
Taizô Sengoku
Kazuo Mortuchi
Kayo Mikimoto
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Itinerant masseur and master swordsman, the blind Zatoichi, is near the village of his teacher, Hikonoichi, so he decides to visit. He learns of Hikonoichi's recent robbery and murder and the imprisonment of his virginal daughter, Osayo, in a brothel. Through friendship with Denroku, a local dice thrower and devoted father, Ichi uncovers an unholy alliance between the governor and the area strongman: among their scams is falsifying tax records to put farmers in debt, then forcing their daughters into prostitution at the boss's brothel. With help from Denroku's daughter, Otsuru, Ichi comforts Osayo until he can provoke showdowns with the villains and their henchmen.
