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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Minoru Inuzuka (screenplay)
Kan Shimosawa (short story)
Release Date:
18 April 1962 (Japan) more
Plot:
The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur who also happens to be a master swordsman. | full synopsis
User Comments:
Thug Out...Sticks Man more (12 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Shintarô Katsu | ... | Zatôichi / Blind Man Ichi / Masseur Ichi | |
| Masayo Banri | ... | Tane / Tatekichi's sister / Seisuke's ex-lover | |
| Ryuzo Shimada | ... | Shigezô of Sasagawa / Sasagawa yakuza boss | |
| Hajime Mitamura | ... | Hanji of Matsugishi | |
| Shigeru Amachi | ... | Hirate, Miki | |
| Chitose Maki | ... | Yoshi / Hanji's wife | |
| Ikuko Môri | ... | Yutaka / Shigezô's wife | |
| Michirô Minami | ... | Tatekichi / Tane's brother / Saki's lover / Iioka yakuza member | |
| Eijirô Yanagi | ... | Sukegorô of Iioka / Iioka yakuza boss | |
| Toshio Chiba | ... | Masakichi / Iioka yakuza member (as Toshirô Chiba) | |
| Manabu Morita | ... | Seisuke / Tane's ex-lover / Iioka yakuza member | |
| Yoichi Funaki | ... | Yogorô / Sasagawa yakuza member | |
| Kinya Ichikawa | ... | Mokichi / Sasagawa yakuza member | |
| Eigoro Onoe | ... | Rihei / Sasagawa yakuza member | |
| Yoshito Yamaji | ... | Yahei / Father of Tane and Tatekichi |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
The Tale of Zatoichi (USA) (video title)
Zatôichi 1 (Japan) (informal title)
Zatoichi: The Life and Opinion of Masseur Ichi
more
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
96 min | USA:95 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Quotes:
Zatôichi:
[after asking Zatoichi what she would do with having so much children] Just don't raise them to be gangsters.
Tane:
I won't... But why do you say that?
Zatôichi:
Because to be a gangster is a foolish way to live.
Tane:
Then why don't you live a decent life?
Zatôichi:
It's like being stuck in a bog; it's not easy to pull yourself you once you've fallen in.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "The Boondocks: Granddad's Fight (#1.4)" (2005) more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (12 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Zatôichi monogatari (1962)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
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| Zatoichi on IFC?? | jofus224 |
| Favorite Zatoichi installment... | jonnykay |
Recommendations
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| Shin Zatoichi monogatari | Zatoichi kyojo tabi | Zatôichi | Shin Zatôichi monogatari: Oreta tsue | Zatôichi to Yôjinbô |
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Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| IMDb Action section | IMDb Japan section | Add this title to MyMovies |

Here's to you Howard! cheers! Action 'Kung Fu' move of pops generation. Early 60's when movies were in Black and White like everything else in those days. So no, it's not the action skills we all grew to lurrve in the 70's latenight big screens on 42nd Street but for posterity you must check it.
On one level it's very very true to Caribbean Shanty stock like you and me. My man, Ichi is just like the Sticksman old folk would tell me about. He is not lowlife, just normal country boy planting corn or massage or just getting by. But he has a gift of kicking ass, just like the Sticksman.
Now imagine you just getting by day to day with your little handicap (you blind or have a limp) and other people see you have a gift, with weapons. Everyone is going to want you to fight for them, conquer and consolidate. Do you become Gun/Sword/Stick for hire? Do you walk away? Do you go 'Yanky on them' and set YOURSELF up as the Man in the Village?
watch the movie then let's sit down and chat these question out....it's a real Historical drama to many of us from the Caribbean. - hey you can guess which option and route my dad took.
Stcy