Zatoichi's Conspiracy (AKA Zatoichi at the Blood Fest)
Dir: Kimiyoshi Yasuda
1973
****
Zatoichi comes full circle and returns to his hometown after 20 years of wandering the land. This isn't technically the last film but as Shintaro Katsu returned for one last film 17 years later in 1989 but it is the last (and 25th) of the incredible series that produced 2, and on a couple of occasions 3 films a year and that lasted 11 years. It's a pretty good finale too, it really is a blood fest too as the action comes thick and fast towards the end and Zatoichi puts the humor to one side and really kicks some series backside. Takashi Shimura has a great supporting role too which was a nice surprise (although there is something weird about watching Ikuru getting his bottom kicked). A brilliant addition to the franchise.

Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman
Dir: Kimiyoshi Yasuda
1971
****
Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman, the 22nd Zatoichi film of the series, is a crossover film that sees Zatoichi fight the One-Armed Swordsman (who also had a popular series at the time) and also mixes the martial arts genres of Chambara and Wuxia. Jimmy Wang Yu is cool as the One-Armed Swordsman. Truth be known, he should have defeated Zatoichi with one hand behind his back and indeed two versions of the ending were made, one with Zatoichi winning and one with the One-Armed Swordsman winning. This felt almost like a Babykart vs. Babykart film, with the two men trying to protect the boy, alas as they say in the final scene, 'We could have been friends, but we spoke a different language". Someone has got to be top dog and we all love a 'versus' film, personally my loyalties are with Zatoichi.