Zatoichi’s Revenge

Zatoichi returns to the village where he was trained, drawn by memories of Master Hikonoichi. He learns Hikonoichi was killed while traveling, and that his daughter Sayo has been sold into prostitution to repay Hikonoichi's debt to Tatsugoro. Sayo hands him the toggle of Hikonoichi's medicine pouch, a clue in the killer's trail.

Zatoichi befriends Denroku, a dice dealer, and his daughter Tsuru, whose cheerful nature reminds him of Sayo. He uses the medicine pouch toggle to bait Hikonoichi's killer and observes Denroku's honesty and skill. He also contemplates the village's suffering and how he might help Sayo.

During a profitable run of dice, Tatsugoro's enforcer Kadokura watches from the shadows. Denroku tries to cheat, but Zatoichi exposes the sleight of hand and wins 100 Ryō. Five of Tatsugoro's men are killed in the confrontation, and Denroku explains Kadokura's identity as the Rōnin orchestrating the village's woes.

Tatsugoro confronts Kadokura after the dice incident, and Kadokura reveals Zatoichi's identity to him. Tax Inspector Jingo Odate arrives, and Tatsugoro and Isoda panic, plotting to bribe him with 100 Ryō. Kadokura warns that he cannot be bought and hints at a lethal showdown.

Kadokura calls out Zatoichi and sets the terms of their duel for dusk. He designates Utsune Bridge—the very place Hikonoichi was slain—as the battleground. The looming confrontation raises the stakes as Odate's investigation closes in.

Kadokura and Zatoichi exchange blows in a tense duel. Kadokura wounds Zatoichi, but the blind swordsman rises, wounds Kadokura, and defeats him. The killer is swiftly vanquished, ending Kadokura's threat to the village.

Denroku returns to the village, despondent over the loss of his daughter and the chaos around him. He drunkenly laments his fate at a noodle stand, where Zatoichi reveals himself and urges Denroku to lead an honest life for Tsuru's sake.

With his sword reclaimed, Zatoichi and Denroku descend on Tatsugoro and Isoda at the Intendant's home, taking them hostage. Together, they dismantle the corrupt bonds that tied the villagers and redistribute their money, loosening the grip of exploitation.

Tatsugoro's and Isoda's men ambush Zatoichi during the confrontation, triggering a brutal fight in which dozens fall. Denroku, inspired by Zatoichi's example, discovers a discarded sword and, relying on his years of dice-hlicing, fights with surprising skill using a katana.

Amid the chaos, Tatsugoro and Isoda are killed at the entrance of the brothel, face-to-face with the exploited women they've preyed upon. Their downfall marks the end of their tyrannical scheme over the village.

The next morning, Sayo, Denroku, and Tsuru gather at Hikonoichi's grave marker. They discover that Zatoichi has already visited the site, leaving a quiet mark of his presence and the villagers' salvation.

With the village freed and the villains defeated, Zatoichi fades back into his wandering path. The women honor Hikonoichi's memory, and the villagers feel a lingering sense of protection from the unseen guardian who helped them survive.