Movies Like Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally

If you liked Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally (1989), a action and drama movie directed by Shintarō Katsu, here are 20 movies with a similar feel, based on TMDB's recommendations. Each one links to its cast, trailer and where it's streaming.

1
Zatoichi (2003)
★ 7.2/10Also adventure and drama
Blind traveler Zatoichi is a master swordsman and a masseur with a fondness for gambling on dice games. When he arrives in a village torn apart by warring gangs, he sets out to protect the townspeople.
2
ICHI (2008)
★ 6.8/10Also action and adventure
Ichi is a blind entertainer that travels the countryside with her traditional Japanese guitar and walking stick. She’s in search for the kind man that brought her up as a child, but because of her beauty she encounters…
3
Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo (1970)
★ 6.8/10Also adventure and action
Zatoichi treks to a village that has always been a favorite spot of his, only to discover that it’s become a living hell, plagued by feuding father and son yakuza as well as the younger crime boss’s bodyguard, scruffy…
4
The Tale of Zatoichi (1962)
★ 7.3/10Also adventure and action
The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur and master swordsman. Zatoichi targets a yakuza-controlled village, because war with a neighbouring town's smaller gang is brewing.
5
Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman (1971)
★ 6.8/10Also adventure and action
Zatoichi is a blind massage therapist and swordsman who finds out that something troubling is taking place on the outskirts of town. After discovering who the guilty parties are -- an accomplished Chinese martial…
6
Zatoichi's Revenge (1965)
★ 6.6/10Also adventure and action
Itinerant masseur and master swordsman, the blind Zatoichi, is near the village of his teacher, Hikonoichi, so he decides to visit. He learns of Hikonoichi's recent robbery and murder and the imprisonment of his…
7
Zatoichi Challenged (1967)
★ 7/10Also adventure and action
Ichi is staying at an inn when a woman dies. Her dying wish is that Ichi take her son to his father, an artist living in a nearby town. After arriving in the town, Ichi finds out that the father has been forced by a…
8
Zatoichi's Flashing Sword (1964)
★ 6.9/10Also action and drama
Blind masseur Zatoichi is nursed back to health by a young woman after he is shot by a gang member. Zatoichi, who had come to the village to repay a debt, now feels further indebted. He commits himself to use his…
9
Zatoichi's Pilgrimage (1966)
★ 7.1/10Also drama and action
Zatoichi's trek through 88 temples to atone for his violent past is interrupted as he stumbles into a village terrorized by a violent yakuza boss.
10
The Tale of Zatoichi Continues (1962)
★ 7.1/10Also adventure and action
Returning to the village where a year before he had killed Hirate, a much-admired opponent, Zatoichi encounters another swordsman and former rival in love.
11
New Tale of Zatoichi (1963)
★ 7/10Also action and drama
Wishing to find peace, Zatoichi travels to his old village but only finds trouble when he ends up in a love triangle and finds old scores have followed him home.
12
Kamui (2009)
★ 6.1/10Also drama and action
A rebellious ninja in 17th century Japan takes refuge with a fisherman and his family.
13
Zatoichi's Vengeance (1966)
★ 6.9/10Also action and drama
Zatoichi comes upon a dying man who asks him to give a bag of money to "Taichi". Zatoichi has no idea who this is but when he comes upon a small town harassed by gangsters, he finds that "Taichi" was the man's young…
14
Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons (1973)
★ 7.2/10Also action and adventure
Ogami Itto is challenged by a quintet of warriors, each armed with one fifth of Ogami's assassin fee and one fifth of the information he needs to complete his assignment.
15
Zatoichi the Fugitive (1963)
★ 6.9/10Also adventure and action
After arriving in the town of Shimonita, Ichi finds that a price has been put on his head by a local yakuza boss. He's drawn into a trap, but after hearing of the slaying of a former love, Ichi furiously fights his way…
16
Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival (1970)
★ 6.8/10Also adventure and action
The blind masseuse is targeted by the leader of a powerful yakuza group while also fending off a jealous husband bent on revenge. Zatoichi tours Edo's underground via a rousing onsen fight scene, gambling houses and…
17
Rurouni Kenshin: The Final (2021)
★ 7.7/10Also action and adventure
In 1879, Kenshin and his allies face their strongest enemy yet: his former brother-in-law Enishi Yukishiro and his minions, who've vowed their revenge.
18
Adventures of Zatoichi (1964)
★ 6.7/10Also adventure and action
Blind swordsman/masseuse Zatoichi befriends a young woman looking for her father, a village leader who has disappeared. As he helps her investigate the disappearance, Zatoichi also becomes involved with another young…
19
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954)
★ 7.2/10Also drama and action
Struggling to elevate himself from his low caste in 17th century Japan, Miyamoto trains to become a mighty samurai warrior.
20
Zatoichi's Cane Sword (1967)
★ 7.3/10Also adventure and action
Zatoichi comes upon the town of Tonda, overrun by gangsters. Using one of his favorite techniques, Zatoichi proceeds to win 8 ryo in a rigged gambling game. Of course, the local gangsters attempt to kill him, and the…