Zatoichi the Fugitive
After arriving in the town of Shimonita, Ichi finds that a price has been put on his head by a local yakuza boss. He's drawn into a trap, but after hearing of the slaying of a former love, Ichi furiously fights his way through the entire clan to face the killer, a hired ronin.
Where to watch Zatoichi the Fugitive in United States
Criterion Channel
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Fandango At HomeClick a service to open Zatoichi the Fugitive there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is Zatoichi the Fugitive 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 | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| France | — | Sooner, Amazon Video, VIVA by videofutur |
| Japan | KADOKAWA channel Amazon Channel | Apple TV Store |
About Zatoichi the Fugitive
Zatoichi the Fugitive is a 1963 Japanese-language adventure, action and drama film directed by Tokuzō Tanaka. The cast is led by Shintarō Katsu, Miwa Takada, Masayo Banri. It has a runtime of 1h 26m. Viewers rate it 6.9/10 across 100 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.
Zatoichi the Fugitive was produced by Daiei Film and made in Japan. It was released on August 9, 1963.
- Director
- Tokuzō Tanaka
- Writers
- Seiji Hoshikawa
- Release date
- August 9, 1963
- Original language
- Japanese
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Japan
- Production
- Daiei Film
Zatoichi the Fugitive cast & crew
Zatoichi the Fugitive was directed by Tokuzō Tanaka and written by Seiji Hoshikawa.
The cast features Shintarō Katsu as Zatoichi, Miwa Takada as Onobu, Masayo Banri as Otane, Jun'ichirō Narita as Sakichi, Tōru Abe as Boss Yagiri Tokyuro, and Jun Katsumura as Wrestling yakuza.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Akira Ifukube, cinematography is by Chikashi Makiura, and it was produced by Masaichi Nagata and Ikuo Kubodera.
Is Zatoichi the Fugitive worth watching?
Zatoichi the Fugitive holds an audience score of 6.9/10 from 60 ratings, a solidly received adventure films.
At 1h 26m, it's an easy, time-light watch.
If you enjoy adventure, action, and drama, Zatoichi the Fugitive is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Zatoichi the Fugitive
In United States, you can stream Zatoichi the Fugitive 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 the Fugitive
Shintarō Katsu
Zatoichi
Miwa Takada
Onobu
Masayo Banri
Otane
Katsuhiko Kobayashi
Jun'ichirō Narita
Sakichi
Tōru Abe
Boss Yagiri Tokyuro
San'emon Arashi
Yūji Hamada
Sumao Ishihara
Jun Katsumura
Wrestling yakuza
Kōichi Mizuhara
Boss Unosuke
Yasuhiro Mizukami
Boss Tamamura
More from the Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman Collection
Zatoichi the Fugitive — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Zatoichi the Fugitive in United States?
Zatoichi the Fugitive is streaming on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸Is Zatoichi the Fugitive on Criterion Channel?
Yes — Zatoichi the Fugitive is currently available on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸What language is Zatoichi the Fugitive in?
Zatoichi the Fugitive is originally in Japanese. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Zatoichi the Fugitive?
Zatoichi the Fugitive runs 1 hours 26 minutes (86 minutes).
▸What is Zatoichi the Fugitive rated?
It holds a 6.9/10 audience score from 60 ratings.
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