New Tale of Zatoichi

New Tale of Zatoichi, directed by Tokuzō Tanaka, is the third film in the series starring Shintaro Katsu as the blind swordsman Zatoichi; it opened on March 15, 1963. The film is notable as the first Zatoichi film shot in color, after the first two entries were shot in black and white. Zatoichi, having resolved to leave violence behind, returns to his old village, finds that his former master Banno (Seizaburō Kawazu) has become a corrupt clan leader exploiting the villagers, and grows close to Banno's sister Yayoi (Mikiko Tsubouchi), but an old enemy's return forces him to take up his sword once more. Who it's for: anyone curious about a blind swordsman's resolve to leave violence behind being tested, in the first Zatoichi film shot in color. Who it's not for: viewers wanting to start without having seen the first two entries, since the film assumes familiarity with the character's earlier story.