S1 E1 • A Challenge Of Chance

Ichi wanders into a small mining town where a family that has for generations been labor bosses of the copper miners is displaced by a cruel boss, Yamagen, who has bought off a corrupt government official.

Première diffusion : 3 octobre 1974

S1 E2 • The Flower That Bloomed With The Lullaby

Ichi is charged with protecting a little boy & getting him safely to his father, who had already begun to look for the child for want of an heir. Soon gangsters realize there's a reward for finding the wealthy merchant's heir, so Ichi has to defend Taro from kidnappers who would ransom him.

Première diffusion : 10 octobre 1974

S1 E3 • A Memorial Day And The Bell Of Life

On the anniversary of his mothers death, Zatoichi's oath prohibits him from drawing his sword from dawn till dusk. But when a Ronin and two yakuza kill a kind old woman, Zatoichi breaks his oath and must suffer the consequences.

Première diffusion : 17 octobre 1974

S1 E4 • The Kannon Statue that was Bound

Ichi end up in a town where a corrupt officer decides which yakuza gang gets to have the periodically moved Jizo statue & an hold the festival in their gambling territory, taking bribes from both sides while plotting their collective downfall.

Première diffusion : 24 octobre 1974

S1 E5 • The Heartless Man, Touched By Compassion

A ronin named Murakami has found out about a medical procedure that might restore his sisters sight, but it is costly.To raise the funds, he takes assassination commissions from yakuza gangs who want Zatoichi killed.

Première diffusion : 31 octobre 1974

S1 E6 • Pouring Rain

A former whore and now drunk pickpocket, Osei, meets Ichi and believes that he is the killer of her yakuza brother. Having killed so many yakuza in the past, Ichi is unsure that he is the one. He makes a arrangement with her to throw away his cane sword if she will stop drinking. Osei agrees, seeing this as an opportunity to have her revenge and hires a swordsman to kill the unarmed blind masseur.

Première diffusion : 7 novembre 1974

S1 E7 • A Bird Lands On Ichi

Ichi has managed to get himself stuck with "obligation for a night's lodging" & is going along with a small band of annoying gangsters to help their oyabun (boss) against a rival gang. With Ichi at their side, it's pretty much guaranteed that the rivals will soon be dead, unless they run away. Ichi hates to be used in this manner, but he is a stickler for the yakuza code, & he did accept food & lodging, so he has no choice.

Première diffusion : 14 novembre 1974

S1 E8 • An Unforgettable Flower

Ichi stops the young prostitute Okiku from committing suicide by hanging herself with her obi belt from a tree's branch. But Okiku is indentured to the bordello, & to free her, Ichi wants to buy her papers to burn them. He gives the gangster boss a choice between accepting a bag of rocks as payment, or experiencing more of blind swordsman quick-draw action.

Première diffusion : 21 novembre 1974

S1 E9 • The Second Zatoichi

A woman dicer is traveling with a blind masseur who is posing as the famous Zatoichi with her instruction. The actual Zatoichi is passing by the same post town & is befriended by the very fraud, a man actually named Kobuichi, who Ichi had known during their mutual youth. The fraud has no idea his friend from his youth has grown up to be a famous swordsman, but he enjoys the chance to be a big shot in front of Ichi who was the cooler dude when they were young.

Première diffusion : 28 novembre 1974

S1 E10 • The Sumo Wrestler That Found His Home

A sumo wrestler is impressed with the skills of the blind masseur Zatoichi. Not for his surprising swordsmanship but for his gambling skills. He begs Ichi to teach him to be a champion gambler, but Ichi tries to convince him to return home & not become part of the gamblers' world. As the lad has been depressed and cannot take care of himself, Ichi takes him on very reluctantly as an apprentice, & they adventure along the country roads together.

Première diffusion : 5 décembre 1974

S1 E11 • The Whirlwind Of Kisoji

Ichi once again has a rural yakuza gang ticked off with him. He is caught between evading, being attacked, or killing multiple attackers. A marksman, Yashichi, is hired by the local gambler boss, Sahejii Ontake to take out Ichi from a safe distance. Ichi with a gunshot wound takes refuge with a physician, Geria, who had been collecting herbs in the region, assisted by Omiya, his daughter.

Première diffusion : 12 décembre 1974

S1 E12 • Humanity And Justice

Osei is the only daughter of a gambling boss from Tamioka. When her father was killed by Boss Gonzo she pretends to be a young man & sets out with her sword on the road to vengeance.She meets the blind swordsman Zatoichi along the way. He assesses her situation pretty clearly, & warns her that among yakuza, a fair fight isn't likely. He seems to imply she won't be able to achieve her aim, but so far as Osei is concerned, until she either kills Gonzo or dies trying, she won't live a normal life.

Première diffusion : 19 décembre 1974

S1 E13 • The 1,000 Ryo Raffle

Shinsuke of Kitsuura, a fishing village hararssed by the yakuza, has been released from prison after three years. Now a drunk, Ichi finds him and sobers him up and as he hates to incur a debt, he gives ichi a lottery ticket as payment for his assistance. When the ticket pays off, Ichi feels he did nothing to deserve a thousand ryo, so sets out to find Shinsuke at Kitsuura, & return the valuable ticket.

Première diffusion : 16 janvier 1975

S1 E14 • Fighting Journey With Baby In Tow

A woman is killed leaving Zatoichi to tend to her child. While journeying to town, Zatoichi and child run afoul of Yakuzas.

Première diffusion : 23 janvier 1975

S1 E15 • Festival Song Of The Raven

An act of mercy backfires on Zatoichi. After Zatoichi spares a man's life, the man is later killed by Yakuzas who pin the blame on Zatoichi.

Première diffusion : 30 janvier 1975

S1 E16 • The Wind From Mt. Akagi

After stealing rice from the government, Chuji hides from officials on Akagi mountain. Since he owes Chuju a favor, Zatoichi tries to help

Première diffusion : 6 février 1975

S1 E17 • Burning Sunset on the Bridal Pass

Zatoichi visits a house in which a young woman is about to get married. But the local administrator causes suffering by putting her groom in jail.

Première diffusion : 13 février 1975

S1 E18 • A Rush Trip

ZatoIchi takes in an injured stray dog

Première diffusion : 20 février 1975

S1 E19 • A Rainbow In His Hometown

Première diffusion : 27 février 1975

S1 E20 • The Female Yakuza Boss

Première diffusion : 6 mars 1975

S1 E21 • The Fallen Flower That Bloomed By A Lake

Première diffusion : 13 mars 1975

S1 E22 • A Father And Son's Song

Première diffusion : 20 mars 1975

S1 E23 • A Lover's Suicide Song

Première diffusion : 27 mars 1975

S1 E24 • The Coming Of Spring

Première diffusion : 3 avril 1975

S1 E25 • The Yakuza Ways

Première diffusion : 10 avril 1975

S1 E26 • Traveling Alone

Première diffusion : 17 avril 1975