A threat is uttered, a blade is drawn, a flash of cold steel and then... a dozen attackers now lie silent, dispatched by the lightning sword of Zatoichi. A humble masseur and gambler, Zatoichi wanders the countryside of Japan, going from town to town plying his trade and rolling the dice. With kind heart and lethal sword skills, he is protector of the innocent and the ruin of wicked men.

A pop culture icon since his screen debut in 1962, Zatoichi (played by Shintaro Katsu) was a matinee favorite throughout the 1960s. After a dozen years and 25 films, the blind swordsman transitioned to the small screen in 1974 in the series "Zatoichi Monogatari." The first 13 episodes have been compiled in this three-volume, six-disc set.

Spoken Languages: Japanese, English subtitles.