1967 Japanese chambara film directed by Kenji Misumi and starring Shintaro Katsu as the blind masseur Zatoichi. Edited by Toshio Taniguchi.
Masterpiece of action and drama.
The mystique of the Japanese culture, their unique style & designs, the elegance of their language, the falling snow, the fading light & two honor bound friends forced to fight. The ending is pure Bushido.
After an artist is threatened by the yakuza into creating valuable but highly illegal pornography, the law aims to execute him. Zatoichi, having been honor bound to protect the man and his family, must now run against the law.