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Zatoichi's Flashing Sword

Name: Zatoichi's Flashing Sword
Genre: Action, Drama, Adventure
Released: 1964-07-11
Cast: Shintarō Katsu, Tatsuo Endō, Bokuzen Hidari, Ryōsuke Kagawa, Naoko Kubo

1964 | 82 min | Action, Drama, Adventure

Weeknight Watchearly rating

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

With almost no lasting buzz, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for action fans. If you loved Spider-Man 2 or Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, start here.
The mood: Exciting.
The pace: Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 22 min.
What might put you off: It's in Japanese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
Made in 1964: an older pace and style.

Blind masseur Zatoichi is nursed back to health by a young woman after he is shot by a gang member. Zatoichi, who had come to the village to repay a debt, now feels further indebted. He commits himself to use his amazing sword skills to help the young woman's father, whose river-crossing service is under attack by the same gang responsible for Zatoichi's wounds.

How it earned its rating

CriticsNot counted
Not enough reviews on record yet
AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 2K people sought it out in the past year

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Cast & crew

Directed by Kazuo Ikehiro

Shintarō KatsuZatoichi
Tatsuo EndōBoss Yasugoro of Takeya
Bokuzen HidariKyubei
Ryōsuke KagawaBoss Bunkichi
Naoko KuboOkuni
Mayumi NagisaOshizu
Takashi EtajimaSeiroku
Ryūtarō Gomi
Jun KatsumuraYasugoro yakuza
Ikuko MōriYasugoro's sister