The film adheres to the conventional social frameworks of Edo-period Japan. It contains no characters or storylines addressing non-heteronormative identities or queer dynamics.

Narrative power dynamics center on masculine combat and authority. Female characters remain on the periphery, acting as bystanders or figures needing protection rather than driving the plot.

The cast is culturally homogeneous, maintaining historical authenticity for its setting. It avoids whitewashing but does not use intersectional casting to disrupt established historical norms.

The story explores friction between marginalized travelers and the samurai class. It critiques systemic corruption through traditional genre tropes rather than modern ideological deconstructions.

Zatoichi provides a significant study in disability agency. His blindness is a source of competence and survival rather than a device for pity or mockery.