Best Zatoichi
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Shintaro Katsu stars as Zatoichi, a one-armed, blind masseur and former samurai who travels Japan offering his services. The series, beginning with 1962’s *The Tale of Zatoichi*, is notable for its extended swordplay sequences and the character's consistent encounters with injustice. It appeals to v...
"The Tale of Zatoichi Continues" is a 1962 Japanese chambara film directed by Kenji Misumi. Serving as the direct sequel to the original 1962 film, it is the second entry in the long-running cinematic franchise featuring the blind masseur and master swordsman Zatoichi, portrayed by Shintaro Katsu. T...
Zatoichi (1989) is a Japanese chambara film directed by and starring Shintaro Katsu, who reprises his role as the blind masseur and master swordsman Zatoichi. This film is the 27th and final entry in the original cinematic series based on the stories of Kan Shimozawa. Decades after the character's i...
Zatoichi is a 2003 Japanese samurai film directed by, written by, and starring Takeshi Kitano, who also appears under his stage name Beat Takeshi in the title role. The film reimagines the long-running Zatoichi franchise centered on a blind masseur and master swordsman, originally portrayed by Shint...
"Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo" is a 1970 Japanese chanbara film directed by Kihachi Okamoto. It serves as a crossover event between two iconic characters of Japanese cinema: Shintaro Katsu's blind masseur and swordsman, Zatoichi, and Toshiro Mifune's unnamed wandering ronin, famously known as Yojimbo. The...
Zatoichi's Pilgrimage is a 1966 Japanese chambara film directed by Kazuo Ikehiro and produced by Daiei. It is the fourteenth entry in the original Zatoichi film series, with Shintaro Katsu returning as the blind masseur and highly skilled swordsman. The story sends Zatoichi on a pilgrimage motivated...
"Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival" is a 1970 Japanese action film directed by Kenji Misumi. It serves as the twenty-first feature film in the popular Zatoichi series, which follows the adventures of a blind, wandering masseur and swordsman. The film is notable for co-starring Tatsuya Nakadai, who...
Zatoichi and the Chess Expert is a 1965 Japanese chambara film directed by Kenji Misumi and produced by Daiei. It is the twelfth entry in the original Zatoichi film series and stars Shintaro Katsu as the blind masseur and swordsman. The story pairs Zatoichi with a skilled chess player during a journ...
Zatoichi and the Fugitives is a 1968 Japanese chanbara film directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda and produced by Daiei. Shintaro Katsu returns as Zatoichi, the blind masseur and swordsman, who becomes involved with a group of violent fugitives and a physician connected to their activities. It is the eightee...
*Samaritan Zatoichi* is a 1968 Japanese chambara film directed by Kenji Misumi and starring Shintaro Katsu. It is the eighteenth entry in the long-running Zatoichi cinematic series, which follows the adventures of a blind traveling masseur and master swordfighter. In this installment, the protagonis...
This 1964 Japanese chambara film, directed by Kenji Misumi, is the eighth entry in the Zatoichi franchise and features the blind swordsman protecting an infant.
Directed by Tokuzo Tanaka, this 1966 Japanese film is the thirteenth entry in the Zatoichi franchise and explores the blind swordsman's internal moral conflicts.
Directed by Kenji Misumi, this 1967 Japanese chambara film is the seventeenth installment in the Zatoichi franchise, featuring a memorable final showdown.
Directed by Kinuyo Tanaka, this 1963 Japanese film is the fourth installment in the popular Zatoichi series starring Shintaro Katsu as the blind swordsman.
This 1971 Japanese crossover film directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda features the iconic blind swordsman encountering the famous One-Armed Swordsman from Hong Kong cinema.
Directed by Daisuke Ito, this 1964 Japanese chambara film is the sixth entry in the Zatoichi series, focusing on a missing cache of peasants' tax money.
Released in 1967 and directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda, this Japanese chambara film is the fifteenth installment in the long-running Zatoichi cinematic franchise.
Directed by Tokuzo Tanaka, this 1963 Japanese film is the third entry in the Zatoichi series and notable as the first to be filmed in color.
Directed by Akira Inoue, this 1965 Japanese chambara film is the tenth installment in the long-running Zatoichi series starring Shintaro Katsu as the blind masseur.
Directed by Kazuo Mori, this 1972 Japanese action film is the twenty-third installment in the classic Zatoichi franchise starring Shintaro Katsu.
Released in 1964, this Japanese action film directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda is the ninth installment in the Zatoichi franchise, featuring Shintaro Katsu.
Directed by Kenji Misumi, this 1964 Japanese film is the seventh installment in the classic Zatoichi series featuring Shintaro Katsu's iconic blind swordsman.
Released in 1963, this Japanese chanbara film directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda is the fifth installment in the long-running Zatoichi cinematic franchise.
Directed by Satsuo Yamamoto, this 1967 Japanese film is the sixteenth Zatoichi movie and the first entry produced by Shintaro Katsu's own production company.
Directed by Kazuo Mori, this 1965 Japanese film is the eleventh entry in the Zatoichi series, featuring the blind swordsman attempting to clear a prisoner's name.
Zatoichi: The Last is a 2010 Japanese film directed by Junji Sakamoto, with Shingo Katori playing the blind swordsman in a late revival.
Released in 1973 and directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda, this Japanese chambara film is the twenty-fifth installment in the Showa-era Zatoichi cinematic series.
Directed by franchise star Shintaro Katsu, this 1972 Japanese chambara film is the twenty-fourth Zatoichi entry and is known for its notably darker tone.
