Zoku Zatoichi monogatari (1962)

Director:

Kazuo Mori

Writers:

Minoru Inuzuka (writer)
Kan Shimosawa (story)

Release Date:

16 October 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure

Plot:

Blind swordsman/masseur Zatoichi is pursued by the retainers of a lord who fear that he will reveal a secret weakness of their master...

Plot Keywords:

Zatoichi | Blind | Martial Arts | Samurai | Sword Cane

Cast

Shintarô Katsu	...	Zatoichi
Yaeko Mizutani	...	Setsu (as Yoshie Mizutani)
Masayo Banri	...	Tane (as Masayo Mari)
Tomisaburo Wakayama	...	Nagisa no Yoshiro (as Jo Kenzaburo)
Yutaka Nakamura	...	Kagami no Sanzo
Sonosuke Sawamura	...	Seki no Kanbei
Shôsaku Sugiyama	...	Tamigoro
Tamiemon Arashi	...	Kai Yoshida
Yoshito Yamaji	...	Yahei
Eijirô Yanagi	...	Sukegoro Hanoka
Fujio Harumoto	...	Lord Kuroda of Echizen
Koichi Mizuhara	...	Kanzo
Saburo Date	...	Mirosuke
Shintarô Nanjô	...	Samon Shiraishi
Shozo Nanbu	...	Gouemon Kashiya

Also Known As:

The Return of Masseur Ichi
The Tale of Zatoichi Continues (USA) (cable TV title)
Zatoichi 2 (Japan) (alternative title)

Runtime:

72 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M

Company:

Daiei Motion Picture Company

Trivia:

It is revealed that Yoshiro is Zatoichi's brother. The character was played by Tomisaburo Wakayama (credited as "Kenzaburo Jo") who was Shintaro Katsu's brother in real life.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Zatôichi abare-himatsuri (1970)

A very worthy addition to the series

In the 1960s and 70s, the Japanese made about 500000 Zatoichi films (or so it seems) and I have thoroughly enjoyed them all, even though after a while they all seem to blend together in my mind. Some viewers, like me, will like the familiarity of the character and story, while I am sure others will feel like "if you've seen one you've seen them all". Regardless of your opinion, they are all well-constructed and fun to watch even if the basic premise of the greatest swordsman being totally blind is ridiculous--you just need to suspend disbelief and enjoy.

This is an early installment of the series and it's better than average because it actually has some continuity--making reference to the prior film in the series. Here, in a follow-up, you see Zatoichi pining for a long lost love and having an ultimate showdown with his main rival. Along the way, he falls afoul of a clan who is trying to kill him to keep their secret (their leader "has issues"). And, as usual, the film is filled with amazing sword fights as well as tender moments. This one won't disappoint and is one of the better Zatoichi films.