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Zatoichi's Flashing Sword poster

Zatoichi's Flashing Sword

1964·Movie·82 min·6.9(56)

Blind masseur Zatoichi is nursed back to health by a young woman after he is shot by a gang member. Zatoichi, who had come to the village to repay a debt, now feels further indebted. He commits himself to use his amazing sword skills to help the young woman's father, whose river-crossing service is under attack by the same gang responsible for Zatoichi's wounds.

Where to watch Zatoichi's Flashing Sword in United States

Click a service to open Zatoichi's Flashing Sword there. Availability last verified on June 21, 2026.

Where is Zatoichi's Flashing Sword streaming around the world?

CountryStreaming onRent / Buy
United StatesCriterion ChannelAmazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
United KingdomApple TV Store
CanadaCriterion ChannelApple TV Store
JapanKADOKAWA channel Amazon ChannelApple TV Store, Google Play Movies

About Zatoichi's Flashing Sword

Zatoichi's Flashing Sword is a 1964 Japanese-language action, drama and adventure film directed by Kazuo Ikehiro. The cast is led by Shintarō Katsu, Tatsuo Endō, Bokuzen Hidari. It has a runtime of 1h 22m. Viewers rate it 6.9/10 across 100 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.

Zatoichi's Flashing Sword was produced by Daiei Film and made in Japan. It was released on July 11, 1964.

Director
Kazuo Ikehiro
Writers
Shozaburo Asai, Minoru Inuzuka
Release date
July 11, 1964
Original language
Japanese
Status
Released
Country
Japan
Production
Daiei Film
#samurai#sequel#zatoichi

Zatoichi's Flashing Sword cast & crew

Zatoichi's Flashing Sword was directed by Kazuo Ikehiro and written by Shozaburo Asai and Minoru Inuzuka.

The cast features Shintarō Katsu as Zatoichi, Tatsuo Endō as Boss Yasugoro of Takeya, Bokuzen Hidari as Kyubei, Ryōsuke Kagawa as Boss Bunkichi, Naoko Kubo as Okuni, and Mayumi Nagisa as Oshizu.

Behind the camera, the score was composed by Sei Ikeno, cinematography is by Yasukazu Takemura, and it was produced by Masaichi Nagata.

Is Zatoichi's Flashing Sword worth watching?

Zatoichi's Flashing Sword holds an audience score of 6.9/10 from 56 ratings, a solidly received action films.

At 1h 22m, it's an easy, time-light watch.

If you enjoy action, drama, and adventure, Zatoichi's Flashing Sword is worth a place on your watchlist.

How and where to watch Zatoichi's Flashing Sword

In United States, you can stream Zatoichi's Flashing Sword 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's Flashing Sword

Shintarō Katsu

Shintarō Katsu

Zatoichi

Tatsuo Endō

Tatsuo Endō

Boss Yasugoro of Takeya

Bokuzen Hidari

Bokuzen Hidari

Kyubei

Ryōsuke Kagawa

Ryōsuke Kagawa

Boss Bunkichi

Naoko Kubo

Naoko Kubo

Okuni

Mayumi Nagisa

Mayumi Nagisa

Oshizu

No photo

Takashi Etajima

Seiroku

Ryūtarō Gomi

Ryūtarō Gomi

Jun Katsumura

Jun Katsumura

Yasugoro yakuza

Ikuko Mōri

Ikuko Mōri

Yasugoro's sister

Yutaka Nakamura

Yutaka Nakamura

Mekichi

No photo

Kô Sugita

More from the Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman Collection

Zatoichi's Flashing Sword — FAQs

Where can I watch Zatoichi's Flashing Sword in United States?

Zatoichi's Flashing Sword is streaming on Criterion Channel in United States.

Is Zatoichi's Flashing Sword on Criterion Channel?

Yes — Zatoichi's Flashing Sword is currently available on Criterion Channel in United States.

What language is Zatoichi's Flashing Sword in?

Zatoichi's Flashing Sword is originally in Japanese. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.

How long is Zatoichi's Flashing Sword?

Zatoichi's Flashing Sword runs 1 hours 22 minutes (82 minutes).

What is Zatoichi's Flashing Sword rated?

It holds a 6.9/10 audience score from 56 ratings.

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