Zatoichi the Outlaw
Zatoichi the Outlaw is a 1967 Japanese samurai film directed by Satsuo Yamamoto, starring Shintaro Katsu as Zatoichi, a blind masseur who travels and helps people. It was released by Daiei Studios and was the first film produced by Katsu Productions. This is the sixteenth movie in the 26-film Zatoichi series.
Plot: In a rural village, Zatoichi meets Shushi Ohara, a swordless ronin who can defend himself without killing. Ohara leads a peasant movement against gambling, drinking, and prostitution.
Reception: Contemporary reviews noted that having a famous director and actor made the film feel inflated and not as entertaining as the earlier entries. A later DVD Talk review praised the strong plot about an ex-samurai teaching villagers but criticized some storytelling, especially the quick setup of side characters.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 15:06 (CET).