Only film in the original series directed by Zatoichi himself, Shintarô Katsu. He would go on to direct one more, La légende de Zatoïchi - L'odyssée finale (1989).
This is the first and only Zatoichi film to show a character ejaculation on-screen.
Zatoichi's katana is a shikomizue. This is a sword which is concealed within a wooden cane, thus the cane itself is both handle and scabbard.
The twenty-fourth of 26 films to star Shintaro Katsu as Zatoichi, but the first of the series to also be directed by Katsu.
Though Shintaro Katsu is sighted, he not only performs as the blind Zatoichi with his eyes closed, he also performs all swordplay with real swords and keeps his eyes closed for authenticity.