The Tale of Zatoichi proved to be so popular that this sequel went into production the same year, 1962.
This is the second of 26 films to star Shintaro Katsu as Zatoichi.
While Zatoichi is repeatedly referred to as a masseur in the English subtitles, the Japanese term Anma would be more correct. Anma was both the term used for the practice and the generally nomadic practitioner of Japanese massage. In fact, edicts were passed so that massage was solely a vocation of the blind, forbidden to be learned by any with sight.
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
This film is an example of a chanbara (sword-fighting) film and is part of the jidaigeki (period drama) genre.