Itinerant masseur and master swordsman, the blind Zatoichi, is near the village of his teacher, Hikonoichi, so he decides to visit. He learns of Hikonoichi's recent robbery and murder and the imprisonment of his virginal daughter, Osayo, in a brothel. Through friendship with Denroku, a local dice thrower and devoted father, Ichi uncovers an unholy alliance between the governor and the area strongman: among their scams is falsifying tax records to put farmers in debt, then forcing their daughters into prostitution at the boss's brothel. With help from Denroku's daughter, Otsuru, Ichi comforts Osayo until he can provoke showdowns with the villains and their henchmen.
The Tale of Zatoichi
1962
The Tale of Zatoichi Continues
1962
New Tale of Zatoichi
1963
Zatoichi the Fugitive
1963
Zatoichi on the Road
1963
Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold
1964
Zatoichi's Flashing Sword
1964
Fight, Zatoichi, Fight
1964
Adventures of Zatoichi
1964
Zatoichi's Revenge
1965
Zatoichi and the Doomed Man
1965
Zatoichi and the Chess Expert
1965
Zatoichi's Vengeance
1966
Zatoichi's Pilgrimage
1966
Zatoichi's Cane Sword
1967
Zatoichi the Outlaw
1967
Zatoichi Challenged
1967
Zatoichi and the Fugitives
1968
Samaritan Zatoichi
1968
Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo
1970
Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival
1970
Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman
1971
Zatoichi at Large
1972
Zatoichi in Desperation
1972
Zatoichi's Conspiracy
1973
Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally
1989