Kenji Misumi directs Shintaro Katsu, Masayo Banri and Shigeru Amachi in this samurai drama about a blind masseuse turned reluctant hired sword. 

A perfectly pleasant actioner, with a plot not a million miles away from A Fistful of Dollars (or Yojimbo… or Red Harvest). Katsu is equal parts charismatic and enigmatic as the eponymous lead, you definitely want to watch him in further adventures. The plot of this one is a little overcrowded but the quieter moments have power. Zatoichi outfoxes some gambling cheats, befriends his potential enemy and frustrates a hopeful local beauty. If it was a western it would be merely average, but the exotic feudal Japanese setting punts it just over the bar.

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