Kazuo Ikehiro

Zatoichi’s Pilgrimage

Zatoichi’s Pilgrimage

Troubled by his violent past, Zatoichi begins a journey to a series of shrines for a dose of cleansing spirituality. But as always, trouble isn’t far behind, and the blind swordsman soon finds himself defending a widow from the self-interest of ruthless thugs and despicable townsfolk. Written by Kaneto Shindo (Onibaba), this fourteenth Zatoichi is a scathing attack on the upper classes and those who wield power, both in the criminal underworld and everyday society.

Film Info

  • Japan
  • 1966
  • 82 minutes
  • Color
  • 2.35:1
  • Japanese

Available In

Collector's Set

Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman

Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman

Blu-ray Box Set

9 Discs

$159.96

Zatoichi’s Pilgrimage
Cast
Shintaro Katsu
Zatoichi
Michiyo Okusu
Okichi
Isao Yamagata
Boss Tohachi
Hisashi Igawa
Eigoro
Masao Mishima
Gonbei
Kunie Tanaka
Storyteller
Credits
Director
Kazuo Ikehiro
Produced by
Ikuo Kubodera
Original story by
Kan Shimozawa
Screenplay
Kaneto Shindo
Cinematography
Senkichiro Takeda
Edited by
Toshio Taniguchi
Original music
Ichiro Saito
Art direction
Yoshinobu Nishioka

Current

Tony Rayns on the Meaning of Zatoichi
Tony Rayns on the Meaning of Zatoichi

Asian-cinema expert Tony Rayns unpacks the significance of Zatoichi’s name and the strict social hierarchy that the character so gleefully upends.

On the Road with Zatoichi
On the Road with Zatoichi

He massages, he gambles, and he’s great with a blade. Who is this blind swordsman, anyway?

By Geoffrey O’Brien