Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- witty
- melodramatic
- energetic
- classic action night
- samurai movie marathon
What critics said
Critics found the film an entertaining, briskly melodramatic Zatoichi adventure distinguished by attractive color photography, natural scenery, and strong performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Zatoichi moves through a succession of dangerous encounters, using his blindness and swordsmanship to navigate yakuza hostility and revenge plots.
Contemporary criticism specifically praised the lovely color, natural panoramas, and fetching costumes.
The plot repeatedly places Zatoichi between angry yakuza, bloodthirsty relatives, and a vulnerable sick child, with the narrative organized around his defense of the innocent.
Zatoichi befriends Tadasu Jumonji, an expert shogi player who is also a formidable swordsman, making the chess-game premise part of the film's tension.
Films like Zatoichi and the Chess Expert, and why
Zatoichi
wandering swordsman adventure, melodramatic storytelling, and stylized swordplay in historical Japan
Harakiri
period samurai action, moral heroism, and expressive color cinematography
The Sword of Doom
classic Japanese swordplay, revenge drama, and charismatic wandering protagonist
Movie Details
- Director
- Kenji Misumi
- Release Date
- 1965-12-24
- Runtime
- 87 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (45)
Cast
- Shintarō Katsu
- Mikio Narita
- Kaneko Iwasaki
- Gaku Yamamoto
- Saburo Date
- Tatsuo Endō
- Takuya Fujioka
- Ryo Horikawa
- Rokkō Toura
- Kanae Kobayashi
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Criterion Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Zatoichi and the Chess Expert about?
- A wandering blind swordsman faces yakuza vendettas and a lethal game-playing rival while fighting to protect a sick child.
- What is Zatoichi and the Chess Expert like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Zatoichi and the Chess Expert as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Zatoichi and the Chess Expert violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Zatoichi and the Chess Expert as graphic.
- What did critics think of Zatoichi and the Chess Expert?
- Critics found the film an entertaining, briskly melodramatic Zatoichi adventure distinguished by attractive color photography, natural scenery, and strong performances.
- Which films are like Zatoichi and the Chess Expert?
- Films with a similar feel include Zatoichi, Harakiri, and The Sword of Doom.
- How long is Zatoichi and the Chess Expert?
- Zatoichi and the Chess Expert runs 87 minutes.
- Where can I watch Zatoichi and the Chess Expert?
- In United States, Zatoichi and the Chess Expert streams on Criterion Channel.
