Zatoichi and the Chess Expert (1965)

In the blind swordsman’s 12th film Ichi’s usual gambling antics get him into real trouble, which incidentally puts more than his own life in danger. The arrival of the titular Chess expert (it’s really Shogi) adds an extra level of danger to an already difficult, heartbreaking situation.
The film rewards fans that have been with the series from the beginning. It can still be enjoyed as a standalone adventure like most of the others, but if you've travelled with the masseur and shared his pain in the early days then the emotional aspect of the story will take on extra weight.

3½ tactical parallels out of 5