Zatoichi 4: The Fugitive (1963)

Director: Tokuzu Tanaka

Zatoichi seeks bloody vengeance on a ruthless gang and a powerful ronin in episode four of the Blind Swordsman series. Arriving in the village of Shim... Read more

Zatoichi 3: New Tale of Zatoichi (1963)

Director: Tokuzu Tanaka

Starring: Shintaro Katsu, Mikikoo Tsubouchi, Seizaburo Kawazu

With more killer swordsmanship, romance, and action-packed drama, the Blind Swordsman is back in the first colour episode of the Zatoichi series. Mass... Read more

Zatoichi 2: The Tale of Zatoichi Continues (1962)

Director: Kazuo Mori

Starring: Shintaro Katsu, Masayo Banri, Yoshie Mizutani

Non-stop action, a deadly love triangle, and a mysterious one-armed samurai round out the second installment in the legendary Zatoichi series. When Za... Read more

Zatoichi 26: Darkness Is His Ally (1989)

Director: Shintaro Katsu

Starring: Shintaro Katsu, Kanako Higuchi, Takanori Jinnai, Yudai Okumura

This 26th instalment capped one of Japan's most loved and enduring movie franchises. With a gap of more than 15 years between this and number 25, Ich... Read more

Zatoichi 25: Zatoichi's Conspiracy (1973)

Director: Kimiyoshi Yasuda

Starring: Shintaro Katsu, Yukiyo Toake, Takashi Shimura

After a long absence, Zatoichi returns to his home village, expecting to be greeted as a hero, only to find few actually remember him. Ostensibly the... Read more

Zatoichi 24: In Desperation (1972)

Director: Shintaro Katsu

Starring: Shintaro Katsu, Kiwako Taichi, Kyoko Toshizawa, Yasuhiro Koume, Fujio Morita

Directed by the actor who plays Zatoichi, this is possibly the darkest and most sombre of the series; the yakuza are meaner and the body count is high... Read more

Zatoichi 23: At Large (1972)

Director: Kazuo Mori

Starring: Shintaro Katsu, Rentaro Mikuni, Hisaya Morishige, Etsushi Takahashi, Fujio Morit...

One of the best of the original series of 25, this sees our blind hero deliver the baby of a dying mother (and breastfeed it!), then set off to find t... Read more

Zatoichi 22: Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman (1971)

Director: Kimiyoshi Yasuda

Starring: Shintaro Katsu, Jimmy Wang Yu

On the outskirts of the town of Furukawa, Zatoichi meets a young boy whose parents have been murdered by a corrupt local samurai. Accompanying the boy... Read more

Zatoichi 21: The Festival of Fire (1970)

Director: Kenji Misumi

Starring: Shintaro Katsu, Tatsuya Nakadai, Reiko Ohara, Masayuki Mori

In a town where women are bought and sold, Zatoichi stumbles upon a secret organisation headed by the Dark Lord Yamikubo. Also blind, Yamikubo befrien... Read more

Zatoichi 20: Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo (1970)

Director: Kihachi Okamoto

Starring: Shintaro Katsu, Toshiro Mifune

Two of Japan's legendary actors star in this classic tale of greed and misfortune. Zatoichi the Blind Masseur (Shintaro Katsu) revisits a village he h... Read more