IMDb >
Zatôichi monogatari (1962)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsZatôichi monogatari (1962) More at IMDbPro »
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
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:
I'll watch this kind of movie over most big studio stuff any day
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
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
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 Cinema Hong Kong: Kung Fu (2003) (TV)
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 |
|---|---|
| Zatoichi on IFC?? | jofus224 |
| Favorite Zatoichi installment... | jonnykay |
Recommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Shin Zatoichi monogatari | Zatoichi kyojo tabi | Zatôichi | Shin Zatôichi monogatari: Oreta tsue | Zatôichi to Yôjinbô |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| IMDb Action section | IMDb Japan section | Add this title to MyMovies |

A tale of warring townships and two strong characters who cant help but being pawns in a horrible game of carnage. Set in rural Japan in feudal times the setting is beautiful.
Too bad the camera works don't quite follow up. The scope is 70mm (or close to it), but I could settle with less if the cameraman (I suspect they didn't have one) didn't cut off the heads all the time. The use of zoom-lens sometimes works and sometimes don't. One time zooming in on Tane-san for instance was very dramatic. Intense was also the battle scenes. Very good.
Zatoichi is a good character and the actor playing him is fitting. The story is good and makes for an intriguing film despite some flaws. In all respects I think its inferior to Sanjuro though.
This is my first Zatoichi and I will check out other entries in the series for sure (at least the Kitano "Zatoichi" from 2003 is easy to get hold on).