Zatoichi Challenged (1967)
"Zatôichi chikemuri kaidô" (original title)

After an artist is threatened by the yakuza into creating valuable but highly illegal pornography, the law aims to execute him. Zatoichi, having been honor bound to protect the man and his family, must now run against the law.

Director:

Kenji Misumi

Writers:

Ryôzô Kasahara, Kan Shimosawa (story)

Stars:

Shintarô Katsu, Jûshirô Konoe, Miwa Takada

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Shintarô Katsu	...	Zatoichi
Jûshirô Konoe	...	Tajuro Akazuka
Miwa Takada	...	Omitsu
Yukiji Asaoka	...	Tomoe
Mikiko Tsubouchi	...	Osen
Mie Nakao	...	Miyuki
Takao Ito	...	Shokichi
Asao Koike	...	Maebara of Gonzo
Midori Isomura	...	Omine
Tatsuo Matsumura	...	Tahe
Eitarô Ozawa	...	Torikoshi
Jotaro Chinami	...	Chokichi
Kôjirô Kusanagi	...	Kurisu
Kenzô Tabu	...	Kanai of Manzo
Osami Nabe	...	Dice Player Hanzo (as Osamu Nabei)

Storyline

Ichi is staying at an inn when a woman dies. Her dying wish is that Ichi take her son to his father, an artist living in a nearby town. After arriving in the town, Ichi finds out that the father has been forced by a local boss to create illegal pornography to pay off his gambling debts. Ichi makes it his mission to save tha man and reunite the family, even though it brings him into conflict with a samurai he sort of befriended on his way to the town

---

Plot Keywords:

pornography | samurai | pottery | zatoichi | katana sword | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Adventure | Action

---

Details

Official Sites:

Home Vision Entertainment (DVD Distributor)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

April 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Zatoichi Challenged

Company Credits

Production Co:

Daiei Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Follows Zatoichi's Cane-sword (1967)

User Reviews

Once past the singing, one of the best in the series

Zatoichi fans will find this one of the most enjoyable in the series. I was put off by a musical number near the beginning--very 1960s. However, the movie quickly settles into an engaging plot. The iconic "mysterious stranger" that always appears at the start and end of Zatoichi films has a larger role here and is an interesting character. One of the best endings in the series.