The Tale of Zatoichi (1962)

The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur who also happens to be a master swordsman.

Director:

Kenji Misumi

Writers:

Minoru Inuzuka (screenplay) (as Minoru Inuduka), Kan Shimozawa (short story)

Stars:

Shintarô Katsu, Masayo Banri, Ryûzô Shimada

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Shintarô Katsu	...	Zatôichi / Blind Man Ichi / Masseur Ichi
Masayo Banri	...	Tane / Tatekichi's sister / Seisuke's ex-lover
Ryûzô Shimada	...	Shigezô of Sasagawa / Sasagawa yakuza boss
Hajime Mitamura	...	Hanji of Matsugishi
Shigeru Amachi	...	Hirate, Miki
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
Yoshindo Yamaji	...	Yahei / Father of Tane and Tatekichi (as Yoshito Yamaji)
Yôichi Funaki	...	Yogorô / Sasagawa yakuza member
Eigorô Onoe	...	Rihei / Sasagawa yakuza member
Ikuko Môri	...	Yutaka / Shigezô's wife
Chitose Maki	...	Yoshi / Hanji's wife
Kin'ya Ichikawa	...	Mokichi / Sasagawa yakuza member

Storyline

An impoverished blind masseur becomes a mercenary swordsman, to gain basic respect. The first of novelist Kan Shimozawa's Zatoichi series: 26 films, a TV series and a play, all but two starring controversial singer/producer/director Shintaro Katsu. First of six Zatoichi films directed by Kenji Misumi. The shrewd Zatoichi targets a yakuza-controlled village, because war with a neighboring town's smaller gang is brewing. The broke ex-masseur "Ichi" immediately wins big, by taking advantage of local bakuto's cheating, after they scoff at his asking to join a dice game. The larger horde, who have been given carte blanche by the local governor, summoned Zatoichi. Zatoichi hates the fact that he's become an outlaw, so he strikes up a friendship with the other gang's honorable hired samurai, who has TB.

---

Plot Keywords:

zatoichi | samurai | cult film | violence | sword duel | 

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

18 April 1962 (Japan)

Also Known As:

The Tale of Zatoichi

Company Credits

Production Co:

Daiei Motion Picture Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The weapon that Zatoichi used called the cane sword is usually made from a low quality steel and often considered inferior when matched even to a low end katana.

---

Goofs

When Hirate and Zatoichi are about to fight near the end, the horn of a modern ship can be heard in the background.

---

Quotes

Zatôichi: [after asking Zatoichi what she would do with having so many 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 out once you've fallen in.

---

Connections

Referenced in Blindman (1971)

User Reviews

Action Adventure before it was cool!

I normally wouldn't dare rate a movie a 10. However for the first Zatoichi film (and maybe the second) I make an exception. An incredible tale of a flawed man at peace with the fact that he is a gangster. Zatoichi is forced into situation after situation where honor and compassion make us side with this blind man, not because of his handicap, but because he is doing the right thing. Filmed in black and white the action is superbly choreographed to convey the intensity of each situation without one bright red spray of blood across the screen. If you only watch one Samurai movie, make it this one. If you love it, then the first 25 of these masterpieces are coming to Blu Ray courtesy of Criterion this November.