After being wounded in a fight, Zatoichi is nursed to health by a young woman and her father. Now indebted to the family, he works to protect their ferry business from local thugs.

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 amazing sword skills to help the young woman's father, whose river-crossing service is under attack by the same gang responsible for Zatoichi's wounds.—Jim Beaver <[email protected]>

When the "notorious" Zato-ichi was shot in the back by a gangster, he was somehow helped by the assassin's sister. She even gave him food and shelter when their paths crossed again. Naturally, the meddling swordsman tried to return the favor, in the only way he knows how, when the lady's family got into trouble with a rival gangster family.—Eceltiu