Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman
Zatoichi is a blind massage therapist and swordsman who finds out that something troubling is taking place on the outskirts of town. After discovering who the guilty parties are -- an accomplished Chinese martial artist named Wang Kang and his youthful attendant -- Zatoichi finds them and discovers that the pair's mixed up with a dangerous bunch of terrorist samurai who murdered the boy's parents. Now, Zatoichi must step in to save the day.
Where to watch Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman in United States
Criterion Channel
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Fandango At HomeClick a service to open Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman 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 | — | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store |
About Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman
Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman is a 1971 Japanese-language adventure, action and drama film directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda and Hsu Tseng-Hung. The cast is led by Shintarō Katsu, Jimmy Wang Yu, Yuko Hama. It has a runtime of 1h 34m. In United States, it is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.
Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman was produced by Katsu Production, Orange Sky Golden Harvest, and Dainichi-Eihai and made in Hong Kong and Japan. It was released on January 13, 1971.
- Director
- Kimiyoshi Yasuda, Hsu Tseng-Hung
- Writers
- Yamada Takayuki, Kimiyoshi Yasuda
- Release date
- January 13, 1971
- Original language
- Japanese
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Hong Kong, Japan
- Production
- Katsu Production, Orange Sky Golden Harvest, Dainichi-Eihai
Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman cast & crew
Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman was directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda and Hsu Tseng-Hung and written by Yamada Takayuki and Kimiyoshi Yasuda.
The cast features Shintarō Katsu as Zatoichi, Jimmy Wang Yu as Wang Kang, Yuko Hama as Osen, Michie Terada as Oyone, Kōji Nanbara as Kakuzen, and Tōru Abe as Boss Toubei.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Isao Tomita, cinematography is by Chikashi Makiura, and it was produced by Shintarō Katsu.
Is Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman worth watching?
At 1h 34m, it's an easy, time-light watch.
If you enjoy adventure, action, and drama, Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman
In United States, you can stream Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman 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 Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman
Shintarō Katsu
Zatoichi
Jimmy Wang Yu
Wang Kang
Yuko Hama
Osen
Michie Terada
Oyone
Kōji Nanbara
Kakuzen
Tōru Abe
Boss Toubei
Shinsuke Minami
Hanoichi
Goro Kumon
Watako Hamaki
Sen
Katsutoshi Akiyama
Yutaro Ban
Yūji Hamada
More from the Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman Collection
Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman in United States?
Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman is streaming on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸Is Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman on Criterion Channel?
Yes — Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman is currently available on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸What language is Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman in?
Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman is originally in Japanese, with audio tracks including Mandarin, Japanese. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman?
Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman runs 1 hours 34 minutes (94 minutes).
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