Samaritan Zatoichi
Zatoichi is forced to kill a young man who owes a debt to a yakuza boss. Moments later, his sister Osode arrives with the money she earned (prostituting herself) to pay his debts. The bosses true motives are revealed and he attempts to steal Osode even though the debt is paid. Zatoichi realizes his grievous error and protects the girl from the gang. Osode and Zatoichi are caught in a dilemma as she must rely on her brother's killer for protection and Zatoichi wrestles with the injustice he has caused.
Where to watch Samaritan Zatoichi in United States
Criterion Channel
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Fandango At HomeClick a service to open Samaritan Zatoichi there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is Samaritan Zatoichi streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Criterion Channel | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home |
| United Kingdom | — | Apple TV Store |
| Canada | Criterion Channel | Apple TV Store |
| Japan | KADOKAWA channel Amazon Channel | Apple TV Store |
About Samaritan Zatoichi
Samaritan Zatoichi is a 1968 Japanese-language adventure, action and drama film directed by Kenji Misumi. The cast is led by Shintarō Katsu, Yoshiko Mita, Makoto Satō. It has a runtime of 1h 24m. In United States, it is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.
Samaritan Zatoichi was produced by Daiei Film and made in Japan. It was released on December 28, 1968.
- Director
- Kenji Misumi
- Writers
- Hisashi Sugiura, Kiyokata Saruwaka, Tetsurō Yoshida
- Release date
- December 28, 1968
- Original language
- Japanese
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Japan
- Production
- Daiei Film
Samaritan Zatoichi cast & crew
Samaritan Zatoichi was directed by Kenji Misumi and written by Hisashi Sugiura, Kiyokata Saruwaka, and Tetsurō Yoshida.
The cast features Shintarō Katsu as Zatoichi, Yoshiko Mita as Osode, Makoto Satō as Yasaburo Kashiwazaki, Kō Nishimura as Sosuke Saruya, Takuya Fujioka as Shinkichi, and Chōchō Miyako as Ohaya.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Sei Ikeno, cinematography is by Fujio Morita, and it was produced by Hisakazu Tsuji and Masaichi Nagata.
Is Samaritan Zatoichi worth watching?
At 1h 24m, it's an easy, time-light watch.
If you enjoy adventure, action, and drama, Samaritan Zatoichi is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Samaritan Zatoichi
In United States, you can stream Samaritan Zatoichi on Criterion Channel, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of Samaritan Zatoichi
Shintarō Katsu
Zatoichi
Yoshiko Mita
Osode
Makoto Satō
Yasaburo Kashiwazaki
Kō Nishimura
Sosuke Saruya
Takuya Fujioka
Shinkichi
Chōchō Miyako
Ohaya
Akira Shimizu
Kumakichi
Ryoichi Tamagawa
Chohachi
Machiko Soga
Osen
Ryūtarō Gomi
Sashichi
Osamu Ōkawa
Tokuji
Rokkō Toura
Choji
More from the Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman Collection
Samaritan Zatoichi — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Samaritan Zatoichi in United States?
Samaritan Zatoichi is streaming on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸Is Samaritan Zatoichi on Criterion Channel?
Yes — Samaritan Zatoichi is currently available on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸What language is Samaritan Zatoichi in?
Samaritan Zatoichi is originally in Japanese. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Samaritan Zatoichi?
Samaritan Zatoichi runs 1 hours 24 minutes (84 minutes).
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