1989·Action·1h 56m
7.1
★
Older, wiser but still a wandering loner, the blind, peace-loving masseur Ichi seeks a peaceful life in a rural village. When he's caught in the middle of a power struggle between two rival Yakuza clans, his reputation as a deadly defender of the innocent is put to the ultimate test in a series of sword-slashing showdowns.
Directed by Shintarō Katsu
samurai
swordsman
zatoichi
blind
jidaigeki
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Shintarō Katsu
Zatoichi
Kanako Higuchi
Boss Han Bosatsu
Takanori Jinnai
Inspector Hanshu
Yuya Uchida
Boss Akabei
Tsurutaro Kataoka
Tsuru
Miho Nakayama
Ken Ogata
Ronin
Norihei Miki
Zatôichi's Friend
Joe Yamanaka
Kuruma Sukezaemon
Rikiya Yasuoka
Gō Awazu
Daisuke Ban
Crew
Shintarō Katsu
Director
Shintarō Katsu
Screenplay
Shintarō Katsu
Producer
Kan Shimozawa
Story
Johnny Yoshinaga
Theme Song Performance
Popular Reviews
6 reviews
Gabriel Silva
8.2★ · 05/29/25
Katsu with several years between this film and the last is so much fun. He's drawing from so many other sources and his own style has improved immensely. The changes in filmic language between the last film and this one has changed a lot and that really shows in the edit. It's a lot sharper and snappier all while retaining the way the older films led the eye. It's essentially a Zatoichi: Greatest Hits film, recycling a lot of material and finding a way to combine several older storylines in new ways, ramping things up and up and up. A lot of it does feel excessive, but it's all just fun fun fun
Katsu with several years between this film and the last is so much fun. He's drawing from so many other sources and his own style has improved immensely. The changes in filmic language between the last film and this one has changed a lot and that really shows in the edit. It's a lot sharper and snappier all while retaining the way the older films led the eye. It's essentially a Zatoichi: Greatest Hits film, recycling a lot of material and finding a way to combine several older storylines in new ways, ramping things up and up and up. A lot of it does feel excessive, but it's all just fun fun fun
alex glifford
6.0★ · 08/23/24
Duuuuude
Honestly this just felt like a fever dream
I’m grateful for the Zatoichi and 80s synth collab but at the same time what the fuck
Some of this just felt so cursed
Lowk didn’t watch half of it bc my wall become more interesting at times
Really cool action of course but mainly due to the sound effects carrying some divine purpose
Sound design was insane
Uhhhhhhhhh bye bye Ichi forever
sad to see him go after spending so much time with the character
Will 1000% revisit my favs from the series
Would’ve much rather ended on Zatoichi’s Conspiracy lowk
I did really like that one (ignoring the trash side story)
This felt like half of an ending and no way to send off such a myth
But it’s done
Some dangerously boring bits
Actually just filming speaking people
It was that uninspired at points
Can’t say I expected much more unfortunately
Now I can see what Kitano does with this character
Honestly this just felt like a fever dream
I’m grateful for the Zatoichi and 80s synth collab but at the same time what the fuck
Some of this just felt so cursed
Lowk didn’t watch half of it bc my wall become more interesting at times
Really cool action of course but mainly due to the sound effects carrying some divine purpose
Sound design was insane
Uhhhhhhhhh bye bye Ichi forever
sad to see him go after spending so much time with the character
Will 1000% revisit my favs from the series
Would’ve much rather ended on Zatoichi’s Conspiracy lowk
I did really like that one (ignoring the trash side story)
This felt like half of an ending and no way to send off such a myth
But it’s done
Some dangerously boring bits
Actually just filming speaking people
It was that uninspired at points
Can’t say I expected much more unfortunately
Now I can see what Kitano does with this character
Duuuuude
Honestly this just felt like a fever dream
I’m grateful for the Zatoichi and 80s synth collab but at the same time what the fuck
Some of this just felt so cursed
Lowk didn’t watch half of it bc my wall become more interesting at times
Really cool action of course but mainly due to the sound effects carrying some divine purpose
Sound design was insane
Uhhhhhhhhh bye bye Ichi forever
sad to see him go after spending so much time with the character
Will 1000% revisit my favs from the series
Would’ve much rather ended on Zatoichi’s Conspiracy lowk
I did really like that one (ignoring the trash side story)
This felt like half of an ending and no way to send off such a myth
But it’s done
Some dangerously boring bits
Actually just filming speaking people
It was that uninspired at points
Can’t say I expected much more unfortunately
Now I can see what Kitano does with this character
Honestly this just felt like a fever dream
I’m grateful for the Zatoichi and 80s synth collab but at the same time what the fuck
Some of this just felt so cursed
Lowk didn’t watch half of it bc my wall become more interesting at times
Really cool action of course but mainly due to the sound effects carrying some divine purpose
Sound design was insane
Uhhhhhhhhh bye bye Ichi forever
sad to see him go after spending so much time with the character
Will 1000% revisit my favs from the series
Would’ve much rather ended on Zatoichi’s Conspiracy lowk
I did really like that one (ignoring the trash side story)
This felt like half of an ending and no way to send off such a myth
But it’s done
Some dangerously boring bits
Actually just filming speaking people
It was that uninspired at points
Can’t say I expected much more unfortunately
Now I can see what Kitano does with this character
Eclectic Sorcerer
8.0★ · 06/22/24
Ichi-san is just my goat and although the story isn't the most special or captivating, I was entertained and Ichi is really HIM.
Ichi-san is just my goat and although the story isn't the most special or captivating, I was entertained and Ichi is really HIM.
Eclectic Sorcerer
8.0★ · 06/22/24
Ichi-san is just my goat and although the story isn't the most special or captivating, I was entertained and Ichi is really HIM.
Ichi-san is just my goat and although the story isn't the most special or captivating, I was entertained and Ichi is really HIM.
Timothy Kandra
I'll give it credit that since it isn't tied to the previous 25 films, the film is allowed to have its own identity. A lot more creative uses of cinematography and action. But the story feels all too familiar, and they don't give Shintarô the proper ending his character deserves. One of the better films in the series.
I'll give it credit that since it isn't tied to the previous 25 films, the film is allowed to have its own identity. A lot more creative uses of cinematography and action. But the story feels all too familiar, and they don't give Shintarô the proper ending his character deserves. One of the better films in the series.