The Crimson Bat is a series of four movies based around the character of the same name. The character was a blind swordswoman. It was made by Shochiku

Shochiku

is a Japanese movie studio and production company for kabuki. It also produces and distributes anime films. Its best remembered directors include Yasujirō Ozu, Kenji Mizoguchi, Mikio Naruse, Keisuke Kinoshita and Yōji Yamada...

 studios, as a response to the hugely successful Zatoichi

Zatoichi

is a fictional character featured in one of Japan's longest running series of films and a television series set in the Edo period. The character, a blind masseur and swordmaster, was created by novelist . This originally minor character was developed for the screen by Daiei Studios and actor...

 series. The character, Ochi, was very similar to the Zatoichi character, that is she was a blind sword fighter who roamed and did odd jobs for money. The main difference, apart from being a female, was that her weakness was a stereotyped female tendency to be emotional. Ironically, an official female variation of Zatoichi was released decades later, and entitled Ichi

Ichi

Ichi may refer to;*Ichi , Japanese film* Ichi , facial scarring traditionally used by the Igbo people of West Africa* Lady Oichi , a Japanese woman, sister-in-law of Nohime...

.

The character was played by Yoko Matsuyama

Yoko Matsuyama

is a Japanese actress best known for her work in the Crimson Bat series.-Filmography:#Crimson Bat #明治の風雪　柔旋風 #続・柔旋風　四天王誕生...

.

List of films

1. Crimson Bat (紅蝙蝠; Kurenai Kawahori) (1958)
2. Crimson Bat: The Blind Swordsman (めくらのお市物語　真っ赤な流れ鳥; Mekura no oichi monogatari: Makkana nagaradori) (1969) (IMDB link)
3. Trapped, the Crimson Bat/The Blind Swordswoman: Hellish Skin (めくらのお市　地獄肌; Mekurano no Oichi jigokuhada) (1969) (IMDB link)
4. Watch Out, Crimson Bat! (めくらのお市　みだれ笠; Mekurano no Oichi midaregasa) (1969) (IMDB link)
5. Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive (めくらのお市　命貰います; Mekurano no Oichi inochi moraimasu) (1970) (IMDB link)