The Tale of Zatoichi
The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur and master swordsman. Zatoichi targets a yakuza-controlled village, because war with a neighbouring town's smaller gang is brewing.
Where to watch The Tale of Zatoichi in United States
Criterion Channel
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Fandango At HomeClick a service to open The Tale of Zatoichi there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is The Tale of 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 |
| Germany | Joyn, Netzkino | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| France | Cine+ OCS Amazon Channel | — |
| Spain | Acontra Plus, Acontra Plus Amazon Channel | Acontra Plus |
| Japan | KADOKAWA channel Amazon Channel | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, FOD |
About The Tale of Zatoichi
The Tale of Zatoichi is a 1962 Japanese-language adventure, action and drama film directed by Kenji Misumi. The cast is led by Shintarō Katsu, Masayo Banri, Ryūzō Shimada. It has a runtime of 1h 36m. Viewers rate it 7.3/10 across 200 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.
The Tale of Zatoichi was produced by Daiei Film and made in Japan. It was released on April 18, 1962.
- Director
- Kenji Misumi
- Writers
- Minoru Inuzuka
- Release date
- April 18, 1962
- Original language
- Japanese
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Japan
- Production
- Daiei Film
The Tale of Zatoichi cast & crew
The Tale of Zatoichi was directed by Kenji Misumi and written by Minoru Inuzuka.
The cast features Shintarō Katsu as Zatôichi, Masayo Banri as Otane, Ryūzō Shimada as Shigezô, Hajime Mitamura as Hanji, Shigeru Amachi as Miki Hirate, and Michirō Minami as Tatekichi.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Akira Ifukube, cinematography is by Chikashi Makiura, and it was produced by Ikuo Kubodera.
Is The Tale of Zatoichi worth watching?
The Tale of Zatoichi holds an audience score of 7.3/10 from 155 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed adventure films.
At 1h 36m, it's an easy, time-light watch.
If you enjoy adventure, action, and drama, The Tale of Zatoichi is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Tale of Zatoichi
In United States, you can stream The Tale of 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 The Tale of Zatoichi
Shintarō Katsu
Zatôichi
Masayo Banri
Otane
Ryūzō Shimada
Shigezô
Hajime Mitamura
Hanji
Shigeru Amachi
Miki Hirate
Michirō Minami
Tatekichi
Eijirō Yanagi
Sukegorô
Toshio Chiba
Masakichi
Manabu Morita
Seisuke
Yoshito Yamaji
Yahei
Yoichi Funaki
Yogoro
Eigorō Onoe
Rihei
More from the Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman Collection
The Tale of Zatoichi — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Tale of Zatoichi in United States?
The Tale of Zatoichi is streaming on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸Is The Tale of Zatoichi on Criterion Channel?
Yes — The Tale of Zatoichi is currently available on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸What language is The Tale of Zatoichi in?
The Tale of Zatoichi is originally in Japanese. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Tale of Zatoichi?
The Tale of Zatoichi runs 1 hours 36 minutes (96 minutes).
▸What is The Tale of Zatoichi rated?
It holds a 7.3/10 audience score from 155 ratings.
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