The Tale of Zatoichi 1962 An impoverished blind masseur becomes a mercenary swordsman, to gain basic respect The first of novelist Kan Shimozawas Zatoichi series 26 films, a TV series and a play, all but two starring controversial singerproducerdirector Shintaro Katsu First of six Zatoichi films directed by Kenji Misumi The shrewd Zatoichi targets a yakuza controlled village, because war with a neighboring towns smaller gang is brewing The broke ex masseur Ichi immediately wins big, by taking advantage of local bakutos cheating, after they scoff at his asking to join a dice game The larger horde, who have been given carte blanche by the local governor, summoned Zatoichi Zatoichi hates the fact that hes become an outlaw, so he strikes up a friendship with the other gangs honorable hired samurai, who has TB