The Tale of Zatoichi (1962)
Zatôichi monogatari (original title)Reference View | Change View
- Not Rated
- 1h 36min
- Action, Adventure
- 18 Apr 1962 (Japan)
- Movie
The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur who also happens to be a master swordsman.
Director:
Writers:
Award:
- 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast
| Shintarô Katsu | ... |
Zatôichi
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| Masayo Banri | ... |
Tane
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| Ryûzô Shimada | ... |
Shigezô of Sasagawa
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Hajime Mitamura | ... |
Hanji of Matsugishi
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| Shigeru Amachi | ... |
Miki Hirate
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| Michirô Minami | ... |
Tatekichi
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| Eijirô Yanagi | ... |
Sukegorô of Iioka
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Toshio Chiba | ... |
Masakichi
(as Toshirô Chiba)
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| Manabu Morita | ... |
Seisuke
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Yoshindo Yamaji | ... |
Yahei
(as Yoshito Yamaji)
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Yôichi Funaki | ... |
Yogorô
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Eigorô Onoe | ... |
Rihei
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| Ikuko Môri | ... |
Yutaka
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Chitose Maki | ... |
Yoshi
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Kin'ya Ichikawa | ... |
Mokichi
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Jun Fujikawa | ... |
Iioka Yakuza Member
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Yukio Horikita | ... |
Kanaji
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Yûji Hamada | ... |
Iioka Yakuza Member
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Bonta Maru |
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Gen Kimura | ... |
Sasagawa Gambler Spy
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Takaji Fukui | ... |
Daihachi
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Hajime Koshikawa | ... |
Farmer
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Hiroyoshi Nishioka | ... |
Iioka Yakuza Member
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| Kanae Kobayashi | ... |
Kane, Sasagawa Innkeeper
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Akira Shiga | ... |
Dice-Roller
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Kôichi Aihara |
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Noboru Taniguchi | ... |
Tomozô
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Shingo Hosoya | ... |
Iioka Yakuza Member
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Taizô Sengoku | ... |
Ishichi
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Saburô Nagaoka |
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Katsuyoshi Baba | ... |
Iioka Yakuza Member
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Kaname Yûki | ... |
Iioka Yakuza Member
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Takashi Teramura |
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Keiko Awanami | ... |
Saki
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Masayoshi Kikuno | ... |
Coolie
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Directed by
| Kenji Misumi | ||
Written by
| Minoru Inuzuka | ... | (screenplay) (as Minoru Inuduka) |
| Kan Shimozawa | ... | (short story) |
Produced by
| Ikuo Kubodera | ... | executive producer / planner |
Music by
| Akira Ifukube | ||
Cinematography by
| Chikashi Makiura | ... | (as Chishi Makiura) |
Editing by
| Kanji Suganuma | ||
Production Design by
| Akira Naitô | ||
Production Management
| Mitsuru Tanabe | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Toshiaki Kunihara | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Kazuo Kajitani | ... | set dresser |
Sound Department
| Iwao Ôtani | ... | sound recordist |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Hiroya Katô | ... | lighting technician (as Hironari Kato) |
| Yasuo Matsuura | ... | still photographer |
Music Department
| Toshio Nakamoto | ... | natural music director |
Additional Crew
| Shôhei Miyauchi | ... | martial arts director |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Chambara Entertainment (United States) (VHS)
- Criterion (2018) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray)
- Daiei Studios
- Imagic Media (2011) (Taiwan) (DVD)
- Janus Films (United States) (subtitled)
- Plaion Pictures (2022) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Plaion Pictures (2022) (Germany) (DVD)
- Siren Visual Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2013) (United States) (DVD)
- Wild Side Vidéo (2004) (France) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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. Written by David Stevens |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | The "mon" coins used by the gamblers were made of either copper or iron and were the lowest-denomination currency in Japan until the yen system was established in 1870. The "ryo" paid to Zatoichi were gold and were worth many thousands of "mon." The Currency Museum of the Bank of Japan estimates that one "ryo" would be worth roughly $1200 to $1300 now. See more » |
| Goofs | In the moonlit scene by the pond, Tane tells Zatoichi that she has a facial mole exactly like his. But neither character has any such mole. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in 1961 (2018). See more » |
| Quotes |
Tane:
You have a mole here. I wonder if it's a lucky mole. I have one just like it. They say it means I'll have lots of children. Zatôichi: It's a lucky mole. Tane: What would I do with so many children. Zatôichi: Just don't raise them to be yakuza. Tane: I won't. But why do you say that? Zatôichi: Because to be a yakuza 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. See more » |