1970·Adventure·1h 36m
7.1
★
The blind masseuse is targeted by the leader of a powerful yakuza group while also fending off a jealous husband bent on revenge. Zatoichi tours Edo's underground via a rousing onsen fight scene, gambling houses and the gender-bending character of Umeji, before a final, flame-filled conflagration.
Directed by Kenji Misumi
samurai
katana
zatoichi
ronin
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Shintarō Katsu
Zatoichi
Tatsuya Nakadai
Ronin
Reiko Ōhara
Okiyo
Masayuki Mori
Boss Yamikubo
Shinnosuke Ikehata
Umeji
Kazuko Yoshiyuki
Wife
Kō Nishimura
Migi
Ryūnosuke Kaneda
Boss Kuroko
Kunie Tanaka
Osami Nabe
Yōsuke Kondō
Kenzō Tabu
(uncredited)
Crew
Kenji Misumi
Director
Shintarō Katsu
Screenplay
Kazuo Miyagawa
Director of Photography
Shintarō Katsu
Producer
Yoshinobu Nishioka
Production Design
Yoshinobu Nishioka
Art Direction
Kan Shimozawa
Original Story
Popular Reviews
6 reviews
Gabriel Silva
9.8★ · 03/25/25
This is the culmination of everything that the Zatoichi series has been building without the series even actually having a set goal that it was building towards.
Before here we had seen Zatoichi establish himself as a character, set the groundwork for what would be the hallmarks of a Zatoichi film, deconstructed the character, reconstructed the character, examined class and sex and disability, and even had departures so far from what a Zatoichi film is that it is arguable that the character is entirely different. Everything good and bad about a Zatoichi film is taken and blended together to create something new yet familiar, with this film now being the best one in the entire goddamn series.
The film starts off with a comedy, Zatoichi being chased by a dog. It’s a silly image and yet it is presented in such a stylish way with the full image split down the middle by a black box containing the film’s credits, Zatoichi running right to left. It’s such a strong image that you could replace the dog with the cuckhold that is chasing down Zatoichi and set a completely new tone for it while still retaining that style. The comedy of Zatoichi works as the basis for the tragedy of Zatoichi here, especially with the villain of this film being our hero’s mirror opposite. Zatoichi could have operated like this larger than life shogun-esque king of yakuza. He’s definitely as skilled and as influential in the same circles if not moreso. With these two foils - the cuckhold and the boss - we are reminded again of the lives Zatoichi could have had, this time both warped to a perversion of those ideals of stability. Stability is not something Zatoichi can have while still retaining his morals. The society he lives within would not allow it, built upon strict hierarchy as it is.
There is so much to love about this film. The story, the pacing, the fights, the aesthetics. It is difficult to pinpoint a specific moment as a favorite, it is all just so damn good.
Before here we had seen Zatoichi establish himself as a character, set the groundwork for what would be the hallmarks of a Zatoichi film, deconstructed the character, reconstructed the character, examined class and sex and disability, and even had departures so far from what a Zatoichi film is that it is arguable that the character is entirely different. Everything good and bad about a Zatoichi film is taken and blended together to create something new yet familiar, with this film now being the best one in the entire goddamn series.
The film starts off with a comedy, Zatoichi being chased by a dog. It’s a silly image and yet it is presented in such a stylish way with the full image split down the middle by a black box containing the film’s credits, Zatoichi running right to left. It’s such a strong image that you could replace the dog with the cuckhold that is chasing down Zatoichi and set a completely new tone for it while still retaining that style. The comedy of Zatoichi works as the basis for the tragedy of Zatoichi here, especially with the villain of this film being our hero’s mirror opposite. Zatoichi could have operated like this larger than life shogun-esque king of yakuza. He’s definitely as skilled and as influential in the same circles if not moreso. With these two foils - the cuckhold and the boss - we are reminded again of the lives Zatoichi could have had, this time both warped to a perversion of those ideals of stability. Stability is not something Zatoichi can have while still retaining his morals. The society he lives within would not allow it, built upon strict hierarchy as it is.
There is so much to love about this film. The story, the pacing, the fights, the aesthetics. It is difficult to pinpoint a specific moment as a favorite, it is all just so damn good.
This is the culmination of everything that the Zatoichi series has been building without the series even actually having a set goal that it was building towards.
Before here we had seen Zatoichi establish himself as a character, set the groundwork for what would be the hallmarks of a Zatoichi film, deconstructed the character, reconstructed the character, examined class and sex and disability, and even had departures so far from what a Zatoichi film is that it is arguable that the character is entirely different. Everything good and bad about a Zatoichi film is taken and blended together to create something new yet familiar, with this film now being the best one in the entire goddamn series.
The film starts off with a comedy, Zatoichi being chased by a dog. It’s a silly image and yet it is presented in such a stylish way with the full image split down the middle by a black box containing the film’s credits, Zatoichi running right to left. It’s such a strong image that you could replace the dog with the cuckhold that is chasing down Zatoichi and set a completely new tone for it while still retaining that style. The comedy of Zatoichi works as the basis for the tragedy of Zatoichi here, especially with the villain of this film being our hero’s mirror opposite. Zatoichi could have operated like this larger than life shogun-esque king of yakuza. He’s definitely as skilled and as influential in the same circles if not moreso. With these two foils - the cuckhold and the boss - we are reminded again of the lives Zatoichi could have had, this time both warped to a perversion of those ideals of stability. Stability is not something Zatoichi can have while still retaining his morals. The society he lives within would not allow it, built upon strict hierarchy as it is.
There is so much to love about this film. The story, the pacing, the fights, the aesthetics. It is difficult to pinpoint a specific moment as a favorite, it is all just so damn good.
Before here we had seen Zatoichi establish himself as a character, set the groundwork for what would be the hallmarks of a Zatoichi film, deconstructed the character, reconstructed the character, examined class and sex and disability, and even had departures so far from what a Zatoichi film is that it is arguable that the character is entirely different. Everything good and bad about a Zatoichi film is taken and blended together to create something new yet familiar, with this film now being the best one in the entire goddamn series.
The film starts off with a comedy, Zatoichi being chased by a dog. It’s a silly image and yet it is presented in such a stylish way with the full image split down the middle by a black box containing the film’s credits, Zatoichi running right to left. It’s such a strong image that you could replace the dog with the cuckhold that is chasing down Zatoichi and set a completely new tone for it while still retaining that style. The comedy of Zatoichi works as the basis for the tragedy of Zatoichi here, especially with the villain of this film being our hero’s mirror opposite. Zatoichi could have operated like this larger than life shogun-esque king of yakuza. He’s definitely as skilled and as influential in the same circles if not moreso. With these two foils - the cuckhold and the boss - we are reminded again of the lives Zatoichi could have had, this time both warped to a perversion of those ideals of stability. Stability is not something Zatoichi can have while still retaining his morals. The society he lives within would not allow it, built upon strict hierarchy as it is.
There is so much to love about this film. The story, the pacing, the fights, the aesthetics. It is difficult to pinpoint a specific moment as a favorite, it is all just so damn good.
Eclectic Sorcerer
7.0★ · 06/17/24
Following the previous film's footsteps we get Tatsuya Nakadai another legendary actor like Toshiro Mifune. He is good and everything else is fine, it seems like with the TV show and the turn of the decade they just want more and more Zatoichi and don't care too much about anything substantial. Great action though.
Following the previous film's footsteps we get Tatsuya Nakadai another legendary actor like Toshiro Mifune. He is good and everything else is fine, it seems like with the TV show and the turn of the decade they just want more and more Zatoichi and don't care too much about anything substantial. Great action though.
Eclectic Sorcerer
7.0★ · 06/17/24
Following the previous film's footsteps we get Tatsuya Nakadai another legendary actor like Toshiro Mifune. He is good and everything else is fine, it seems like with the TV show and the turn of the decade they just want more and more Zatoichi and don't care too much about anything substantial. Great action though.
Following the previous film's footsteps we get Tatsuya Nakadai another legendary actor like Toshiro Mifune. He is good and everything else is fine, it seems like with the TV show and the turn of the decade they just want more and more Zatoichi and don't care too much about anything substantial. Great action though.
alex glifford
8.0★ · 06/11/24
NAKADAI DOES NO WRONG
Nakadai storms into the series, and accomplishes a few things:
- One of the best fights
- One of the best side characters/ antagonists
- One of the funniest lines of the whole series
- One of the strangest sequences in the series
- The best of everything as well
He’s so good
He’s so so good
He proved that this series could reach insane heights with the right choices
Aside from Nakadai’s greatness, this film was excelling on its own
Some of the best direction so far, rarely a wasted shot
Insane set design
Brilliant big boss yakuza villain
Fabulous set up
Such strong momentum built up over the course of the film, I didn’t find myself dozing off at all or even just getting bored
The music inclusion was very advanced
Ichi was making such intricate decisions I don’t know how to describe it
He was just operating on some different gravy, he was so kind and then vengeful and it was really nice to see
The bathhouse fight was a work of art
So so good
But unfortunately, I still want to love this more than I actually do
A rubbish inclusion of some poorly executed side story, confusing and bizarrely unfocussed as it was, it was just straight up unnecessary
It’s an inclusion that could be on its way to something really special for the series, but falls flat and succeeds in nothing - at least for me
Some weird moments went on much longer than expected, which isn’t the end of the world but is something that holds these films back for me
Overall, INSANELY good at points, but ultimately held back by some pretty frustrating baggage
Diving in a bit deeper tho…
I was introduced to this series by scrolling through Nakadai’s films on Letterboxd
I saw this film and noticed the 21 in the poster
Shocked, I tried to uncover what the HELL film series could possibly have at LEAST 21 films in it, and what do you know it’s the Zatoichi saga
I then placed it deep in a corner of my chanbara watchlist, realising the overwhelming possibility I’d never make a start with the series at all
By a twist of fate, here I am, 21 films in and so so happy to be here
After doing some research, I was aware people said this film was one of the best in the series, and having my favourite actor in, I had pretty high hopes
The last 20 films, I’ve had such hope that this could break through and produce something brilliant, stand-alone and like nothing else
I’m realising now that maybe the way this series is, that might just not be possible
At least not for me and what I look for in my personal favourites
But these are like nothing else, and they are all so fun
So it already doesn’t feel like too much to ask to see if this could excel to a different level
But if it did then this would be something else
Which is also so fine
To see it come this close is so bittersweet lmao
Because this comes close close with some of these scenes
But it just can’t stick it for me
That’s it really, Im so fine with these sort of reaching some ceiling with these incredibly well done moments
A weird feeling
Thank you Nakadai for being the best to ever do it 🙏
Nakadai storms into the series, and accomplishes a few things:
- One of the best fights
- One of the best side characters/ antagonists
- One of the funniest lines of the whole series
- One of the strangest sequences in the series
- The best of everything as well
He’s so good
He’s so so good
He proved that this series could reach insane heights with the right choices
Aside from Nakadai’s greatness, this film was excelling on its own
Some of the best direction so far, rarely a wasted shot
Insane set design
Brilliant big boss yakuza villain
Fabulous set up
Such strong momentum built up over the course of the film, I didn’t find myself dozing off at all or even just getting bored
The music inclusion was very advanced
Ichi was making such intricate decisions I don’t know how to describe it
He was just operating on some different gravy, he was so kind and then vengeful and it was really nice to see
The bathhouse fight was a work of art
So so good
But unfortunately, I still want to love this more than I actually do
A rubbish inclusion of some poorly executed side story, confusing and bizarrely unfocussed as it was, it was just straight up unnecessary
It’s an inclusion that could be on its way to something really special for the series, but falls flat and succeeds in nothing - at least for me
Some weird moments went on much longer than expected, which isn’t the end of the world but is something that holds these films back for me
Overall, INSANELY good at points, but ultimately held back by some pretty frustrating baggage
Diving in a bit deeper tho…
I was introduced to this series by scrolling through Nakadai’s films on Letterboxd
I saw this film and noticed the 21 in the poster
Shocked, I tried to uncover what the HELL film series could possibly have at LEAST 21 films in it, and what do you know it’s the Zatoichi saga
I then placed it deep in a corner of my chanbara watchlist, realising the overwhelming possibility I’d never make a start with the series at all
By a twist of fate, here I am, 21 films in and so so happy to be here
After doing some research, I was aware people said this film was one of the best in the series, and having my favourite actor in, I had pretty high hopes
The last 20 films, I’ve had such hope that this could break through and produce something brilliant, stand-alone and like nothing else
I’m realising now that maybe the way this series is, that might just not be possible
At least not for me and what I look for in my personal favourites
But these are like nothing else, and they are all so fun
So it already doesn’t feel like too much to ask to see if this could excel to a different level
But if it did then this would be something else
Which is also so fine
To see it come this close is so bittersweet lmao
Because this comes close close with some of these scenes
But it just can’t stick it for me
That’s it really, Im so fine with these sort of reaching some ceiling with these incredibly well done moments
A weird feeling
Thank you Nakadai for being the best to ever do it 🙏
NAKADAI DOES NO WRONG
Nakadai storms into the series, and accomplishes a few things:
- One of the best fights
- One of the best side characters/ antagonists
- One of the funniest lines of the whole series
- One of the strangest sequences in the series
- The best of everything as well
He’s so good
He’s so so good
He proved that this series could reach insane heights with the right choices
Aside from Nakadai’s greatness, this film was excelling on its own
Some of the best direction so far, rarely a wasted shot
Insane set design
Brilliant big boss yakuza villain
Fabulous set up
Such strong momentum built up over the course of the film, I didn’t find myself dozing off at all or even just getting bored
The music inclusion was very advanced
Ichi was making such intricate decisions I don’t know how to describe it
He was just operating on some different gravy, he was so kind and then vengeful and it was really nice to see
The bathhouse fight was a work of art
So so good
But unfortunately, I still want to love this more than I actually do
A rubbish inclusion of some poorly executed side story, confusing and bizarrely unfocussed as it was, it was just straight up unnecessary
It’s an inclusion that could be on its way to something really special for the series, but falls flat and succeeds in nothing - at least for me
Some weird moments went on much longer than expected, which isn’t the end of the world but is something that holds these films back for me
Overall, INSANELY good at points, but ultimately held back by some pretty frustrating baggage
Diving in a bit deeper tho…
I was introduced to this series by scrolling through Nakadai’s films on Letterboxd
I saw this film and noticed the 21 in the poster
Shocked, I tried to uncover what the HELL film series could possibly have at LEAST 21 films in it, and what do you know it’s the Zatoichi saga
I then placed it deep in a corner of my chanbara watchlist, realising the overwhelming possibility I’d never make a start with the series at all
By a twist of fate, here I am, 21 films in and so so happy to be here
After doing some research, I was aware people said this film was one of the best in the series, and having my favourite actor in, I had pretty high hopes
The last 20 films, I’ve had such hope that this could break through and produce something brilliant, stand-alone and like nothing else
I’m realising now that maybe the way this series is, that might just not be possible
At least not for me and what I look for in my personal favourites
But these are like nothing else, and they are all so fun
So it already doesn’t feel like too much to ask to see if this could excel to a different level
But if it did then this would be something else
Which is also so fine
To see it come this close is so bittersweet lmao
Because this comes close close with some of these scenes
But it just can’t stick it for me
That’s it really, Im so fine with these sort of reaching some ceiling with these incredibly well done moments
A weird feeling
Thank you Nakadai for being the best to ever do it 🙏
Nakadai storms into the series, and accomplishes a few things:
- One of the best fights
- One of the best side characters/ antagonists
- One of the funniest lines of the whole series
- One of the strangest sequences in the series
- The best of everything as well
He’s so good
He’s so so good
He proved that this series could reach insane heights with the right choices
Aside from Nakadai’s greatness, this film was excelling on its own
Some of the best direction so far, rarely a wasted shot
Insane set design
Brilliant big boss yakuza villain
Fabulous set up
Such strong momentum built up over the course of the film, I didn’t find myself dozing off at all or even just getting bored
The music inclusion was very advanced
Ichi was making such intricate decisions I don’t know how to describe it
He was just operating on some different gravy, he was so kind and then vengeful and it was really nice to see
The bathhouse fight was a work of art
So so good
But unfortunately, I still want to love this more than I actually do
A rubbish inclusion of some poorly executed side story, confusing and bizarrely unfocussed as it was, it was just straight up unnecessary
It’s an inclusion that could be on its way to something really special for the series, but falls flat and succeeds in nothing - at least for me
Some weird moments went on much longer than expected, which isn’t the end of the world but is something that holds these films back for me
Overall, INSANELY good at points, but ultimately held back by some pretty frustrating baggage
Diving in a bit deeper tho…
I was introduced to this series by scrolling through Nakadai’s films on Letterboxd
I saw this film and noticed the 21 in the poster
Shocked, I tried to uncover what the HELL film series could possibly have at LEAST 21 films in it, and what do you know it’s the Zatoichi saga
I then placed it deep in a corner of my chanbara watchlist, realising the overwhelming possibility I’d never make a start with the series at all
By a twist of fate, here I am, 21 films in and so so happy to be here
After doing some research, I was aware people said this film was one of the best in the series, and having my favourite actor in, I had pretty high hopes
The last 20 films, I’ve had such hope that this could break through and produce something brilliant, stand-alone and like nothing else
I’m realising now that maybe the way this series is, that might just not be possible
At least not for me and what I look for in my personal favourites
But these are like nothing else, and they are all so fun
So it already doesn’t feel like too much to ask to see if this could excel to a different level
But if it did then this would be something else
Which is also so fine
To see it come this close is so bittersweet lmao
Because this comes close close with some of these scenes
But it just can’t stick it for me
That’s it really, Im so fine with these sort of reaching some ceiling with these incredibly well done moments
A weird feeling
Thank you Nakadai for being the best to ever do it 🙏
Timothy Kandra
No Ja Rule so who cares?
No Ja Rule so who cares?