ZATOICHI #4
Directed by Tokuzo Tanaka • 1963 • Japan
Zatoichi triumphs at a village wrestling match, much to the chagrin of his yakuza opponents. The defeated gang members pay a hotheaded ronin to take out the masseur; unbeknownst to them, the hired assassin is married to a former flame of Zatoichi’s, further complicating matters.
Up Next in Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman
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Zatoichi on the Road
ZATOICHI #5
Directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda • 1963 • JapanThe itinerant Zatoichi comes across a dying man, who begs the masseur to escort a young woman back to her family in Edo. The honorable swordsman agrees, but in so doing, he catapults himself between two warring yakuza clans, each with its o...
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Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold
ZATOICHI #6
Directed by Kazuo Ikehiro • 1964 • JapanAfter arriving in a small village, Zatoichi finds himself accused of stealing the citizens’ hefty tax payments. To clear his name, he must face off against a corrupt official, a succession of hired blades, and a bullwhip-wielding titan, played...
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Zatoichi’s Flashing Sword
ZATOICHI #7
Directed by Kazuo Ikehiro • 1964 • JapanThe blind swordsman is shot and nursed back to health by kind strangers. He soon discovers that his saviors are caught between sparring crime lords; bound by honor, Zatoichi stays to ensure their safety. Along the way, we learn more about the ...