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
Zatoichi's Revenge
1965
Zatoichi and the Doomed Man
1965
Zatoichi and the Chess Expert
1965
Zatoichi's Vengeance
1966
Zatoichi's Pilgrimage
1966
Watching
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
Kimiyoshi Yasuda (Director) · Ryōzō Kasahara (Screenplay)
Shintarō Katsu
Zatoichi
Shiho Fujimura
Oshizu
Yoshihiko Aoyama
Seikichi
Makoto Fujita
Umazo
Kiyoko Suizenji
Oharu
Eijirō Tōno
Senzo
Masumi Harukawa
Oryu
Masako Akeboshi
Omatsu the maid
Junichiro Yamashita
Shinnosuke
Ryūtarō Gomi
Ronin
Fujio Suga
Seisuke Kuwayama
Tatsuo Endō
Iwagoro
Eigorō Onoe
Zato
Yūsaku Terashima
Noodle Shop Owner
Gen Kimura
Hanzo the dice player
Sachio Horikita
Mosuke
Kimiko Tachibana
Otane
Masako Akeboshi
Matsu
Ryuji Kita
Genbei Shimotsukeya
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Zatoichi comes upon the town of Tonda, overrun by gangsters. Using one of his favorite techniques, Zatoichi proceeds to win 8 ryo in a rigged gambling game. Of course, the local gangsters attempt to kill him, and the adventure begins. It turns out a blacksmith named Senzo examines Zatoichi's cane sword, and discovers it to be forged by his old mentor. Senzo discovers the sword is at the end of its usefulness and will break when it is used next.
