Cinematheque: Samurai Swordplay and Beyond

The blind masseur Zatoichi is continuously faced with the challenges of other men and answers with a dazzling, ruthless display of swordsmanship. Based on the novella by Kan Shimozawa, Misumi’s black and white ‘Scope Samurai classic film was the first of 26 Zatoichi movies made between 1962 and 1989, an enormously popular series starring the charismatic Katsu. (35mm, 96min., subtitled; with Shintarô Katsu. Directed by Kenji Misumi)