Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder
1970, Japanese. Directed by Takashi Harada.
Ryotatsu, the wayward Priest blinded by Shinkai, the Wicked Priest, has his own story in this ultra-violent tale from the era of the Meiji Reconstruction. When a woman leaves her blind son at the Monastery, Ryotatsu is forced to teach the boy how to cope as a blind person in old Japan. When he takes the child with him on the road to find the boy's mother, they run afoul of not only yakuza gangsters, but some corrupt army officers have been trying to sway public opinion against the Satsuma rebels by posing as members of Saigo Takamori's group. It's a bloody mistake for them to underestimate the strength of the Blind Priest, and he'll make them pay with their lives!
- Runtime
- 1h 28m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- Japanese
- Rated
- Check local
Start now and it ends at ….
Too new to call
Not enough people have rated it yet for a verdict.
Seen it? Give your verdict.
Saved privately on this device.
Where to watch Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder
Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 11 November 1970.
No streaming listings yet. Search JustWatch.
Part of a series
Wicked Priest: watch order
Cast & crew
Details
- Released
- 11 November 1970
- Original title
- 人斬り観音唄
- Country
- Japan
- Written by
- Kōji Takada
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
Watch before Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder
In release order. The films it follows, and anything it builds on.
After Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder
What comes next in the series.
If you liked Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder
ICHI
2008 · 6.8/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
Harakiri
1962 · 8.5/10
Absolute CinemaRecommended by TMDB viewers
Kagemusha
1980 · 7.8/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
Samurai Marathon
2019 · 6.0/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally
1989 · 6.4/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
Zatoichi
2003 · 7.2/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
Fight, Zatoichi, Fight
1964 · 6.8/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
The Tale of Zatoichi
1962 · 7.3/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins
2012 · 7.5/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto
1954 · 7.2/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder: quick answers
What should I watch before Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder?
Watch Wicked Priest (1968), Wicked Priest 2: Ballad of Murder (1968), Wicked Priest 3: A Killer's Pilgrimage (1969), and Wicked Priest 4: The Killer Priest Comes Back (1970) first.
What comes after Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder?
Next in the series: Wicked Priest 5: Breaking the Commandments (1971).
Is Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder worth watching?
Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder?
Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder runs 88 minutes (1h 28m).
Does Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder yet.
Which OTT platform is Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder on?
Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 11 November 1970. (Checked 13 November 2026.)
What movies are like Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder?
If you liked Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder, try ICHI, Harakiri, Kagemusha.
Who directed Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder?
Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder (1970) was directed by Takashi Harada and stars Bunta Sugawara, Akiko Kudō, Minoru Ōki.