Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman The colossally popular Zatoichi films make up the longest-running Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman action series in Japanese history and created one of the screen’s great heroes: an itinerant blind masseur who also happens to be a lightning-fast swordsman. As this iconic figure, the charismatic and earthy Shintaro Katsu became an instant superstar, lending a larger-than-life presence to the thrilling adventures of a man who lives staunchly by a code of honor and delivers justice in every town and village he enters. The films that feature him are variously pulse-pounding, hilarious, stirring, and completely off-the-wall. This deluxe set features the string of twenty-five Zatoichi films made between 1962 and 1973, collected in one package for the first time. 1. THE TALE OF ZATOICHI Kenji Misumi 1962 The epic saga of Zatoichi begins. 2. THE TALE OF ZATOICHI CONTINUES Kazuo Mori 1962 Zatoichi is hired to give a massage to a powerful political official who, he (Set 1) discovers, is mentally ill—a secret that the nobleman’s retinue is determined to keep at any cost. The Criterion Collection The Tale of 3. NEW TALE OF ZATOICHI Zatoichi Tokuzo Tanaka 1963 1 Zatoichi is back—and in color! Hoping to leave violence behind, the blind masseur wanders to a village, where he meets an old friend fallen on hard times. The Tale of 2 Zatoichi Continues New Tale of 3 Zatoichi Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman The colossally popular Zatoichi films make up the longest-running Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman action series in Japanese history and created one of the screen’s great heroes: an itinerant blind masseur who also happens to be a lightning-fast swordsman. As this iconic figure, the charismatic and earthy Shintaro Katsu became an instant superstar, lending a larger-than-life presence to the thrilling adventures of a man who lives staunchly by a code of honor and delivers justice in every town and village he enters. The films that feature him are variously pulse-pounding, hilarious, stirring, and completely off-the-wall. This deluxe set features the string of twenty-five Zatoichi films made between 1962 and 1973, collected in one package for the first time. 4. ZATOICHI THE FUGITIVE Tokuzo Tanaka 1963 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. (Set 2) 5. ZATOICHI ON THE ROAD Kimiyoshi Yasuda 1963 The Criterion Collection The itinerant Zatoichi comes across a dying man, who begs the masseur to Zatoichi escort a young woman back to her family in Edo. The honorable swordsman the Fugitive agrees, but in so doing, he catapults himself between two warring yakuza clans, 4 each with its own interest in kidnapping the girl. Zatoichi on 6. ZATOICHI AND THE CHEST OF GOLD the Road Kazuo Ikehiro 1964 5 After 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 Zatoichi and the official, a succession of hired blades, and a bullwhip-wielding titan. 6 Chest of Gold Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman The colossally popular Zatoichi films make up the longest-running Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman action series in Japanese history and created one of the screen’s great heroes: an itinerant blind masseur who also happens to be a lightning-fast swordsman. As this iconic figure, the charismatic and earthy Shintaro Katsu became an instant superstar, lending a larger-than-life presence to the thrilling adventures of a man who lives staunchly by a code of honor and delivers justice in every town and village he enters. The films that feature him are variously pulse-pounding, hilarious, stirring, and completely off-the-wall. This deluxe set features the string of twenty-five Zatoichi films made between 1962 and 1973, collected in one package for the first time. 7. ZATOICHI’S FLASHING SWORD Kazuo Ikehiro 1964 The 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. 8. FIGHT, ZATOICHI, FIGHT (Set 3) Kenji Misumi 1964 While on the road, Zatoichi befriends a young mother right before she is savagely The Criterion Collection murdered. Promising her that he will hand over her baby to its father, the blind Zatoichi’s masseur embarks on an adventure both sentimental and beset by perilous Flashing Sword action. 7 9. ADVENTURES OF ZATOICHI Fight, Zatoichi Kimiyoshi Yasuda 1964 Fight The blind swordsman wanders into a town to celebrate the New Year. There, he 8 befriends a young woman whose father has gone missing; as he tries to help her find him, he becomes entangled in a web of corruption and a series of tragic Adventures of twists of fate. 9 Zatoichi Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman The colossally popular Zatoichi films make up the longest-running Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman action series in Japanese history and created one of the screen’s great heroes: an itinerant blind masseur who also happens to be a lightning-fast swordsman. As this iconic figure, the charismatic and earthy Shintaro Katsu became an instant superstar, lending a larger-than-life presence to the thrilling adventures of a man who lives staunchly by a code of honor and delivers justice in every town and village he enters. The films that feature him are variously pulse-pounding, hilarious, stirring, and completely off-the-wall. This deluxe set features the string of twenty-five Zatoichi films made between 1962 and 1973, collected in one package for the first time. 10. ZATOICHI’S REVENGE Akira Inoue 1965 Nearing the village of his sensei, Zatoichi decides to pay the teacher a visit, only to learn that he has been murdered and his daughter forced into prostitution. 11. ZATOICHI AND THE DOOMED MAN Kazuo Mori 1965 (Set 4) An elderly prisoner accused of murder begs Zatoichi to find evidence of his innocence. The blind swordsman, for the first time, chooses not to help, but fate The Criterion Collection has other plans for him. Zatoichi’s Revenge 12. ZATOICHI AND THE CHESS EXPERT 10 Kenji Misumi 1965 Kenji Misumi, who directed the first installment of the Zatoichi series, returns with Zatoichi and the this tale in which the blind swordsman once again finds himself the protector Doomed Man of a child: a little girl pursued by both devious family members and bloodthirsty 11 ruffians. Zatoichi and the 12 Chess Expert Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman The colossally popular Zatoichi films make up the longest-running Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman action series in Japanese history and created one of the screen’s great heroes: an itinerant blind masseur who also happens to be a lightning-fast swordsman. As this iconic figure, the charismatic and earthy Shintaro Katsu became an instant superstar, lending a larger-than-life presence to the thrilling adventures of a man who lives staunchly by a code of honor and delivers justice in every town and village he enters. The films that feature him are variously pulse-pounding, hilarious, stirring, and completely off-the-wall. This deluxe set features the string of twenty-five Zatoichi films made between 1962 and 1973, collected in one package for the first time. 13. ZATOICHI’S VENGEANCE Tokuzo Tanaka 1966 Zatoichi encounters a dying man, who asks the itinerant masseur to deliver a bag of money to his young son; he agrees to fulfill the request, finding the boy in a village terrorized by criminals. 14. ZATOICHI’S PILGRIMAGE (Set 5) Kazuo Ikehiro 1966 Troubled by his violent past, Zatoichi begins a journey to a series of shrines for The Criterion Collection a dose of cleansing spirituality. But as always, trouble isn’t far behind, and the Zatoichi’s blind swordsman soon finds himself defending a widow from the self-interest of Vengeance ruthless thugs and despicable townsfolk. 13 15. ZATOICHI’S CANE SWORD Zatoichi’s Kimiyoshi Yasuda 1967 Pilgramage Wearying of his wandering lifestyle, Zatoichi yearns to settle down; unfortunately, 14 when he does so it’s in a town overrun by yakuza. He has an eye-opening encounter with the town’s blacksmith, who reveals himself to be the apprentice of Zatoichi’s the man who forged Zatoichi’s legendary cane sword. 15 Cane Sword Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman The colossally popular Zatoichi films make up the longest-running Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman action series in Japanese history and created one of the screen’s great heroes: an itinerant blind masseur who also happens to be a lightning-fast swordsman. As this iconic figure, the charismatic and earthy Shintaro Katsu became an instant superstar, lending a larger-than-life presence to the thrilling adventures of a man who lives staunchly by a code of honor and delivers justice in every town and village he enters. The films that feature him are variously pulse-pounding, hilarious, stirring, and completely off-the-wall. This deluxe set features the string of twenty-five Zatoichi films made between 1962 and 1973, collected in one package for the first time. 16. ZATOICHI THE OUTLAW Satsuo Yamamoto 1967 Zatoichi arrives in a town where a gambling house is kidnapping its poor, debt- ridden patrons. A rival establishment moves to pay those debts and free the peasants, but this second house’s seemingly altruistic boss is actually laying the groundwork for a ruthless money-grabbing scheme.