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Zatoichi on the Road

Original title: Zatôichi kenka-tabi
  • 19631963
  • PGPG
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Zatôichi kenka-tabi (1963)
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Drama
Zatoichi promises to deliver a maiden safely home but finds two dangerous gangs have a mysterious interest in the young girl.Zatoichi promises to deliver a maiden safely home but finds two dangerous gangs have a mysterious interest in the young girl.Zatoichi promises to deliver a maiden safely home but finds two dangerous gangs have a mysterious interest in the young girl.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Kimiyoshi Yasuda
  • Writers
    • Minoru Inuzuka
    • Kan Shimozawa(story)
  • Stars
    • Shintarô Katsu
    • Shiho Fujimura
    • Ryûzô Shimada
Top credits
  • Director
    • Kimiyoshi Yasuda
  • Writers
    • Minoru Inuzuka
    • Kan Shimozawa(story)
  • Stars
    • Shintarô Katsu
    • Shiho Fujimura
    • Ryûzô Shimada
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos89

    Zatôichi kenka-tabi (1963)
    Zatôichi kenka-tabi (1963)
    Zatôichi kenka-tabi (1963)
    Zatôichi kenka-tabi (1963)
    Zatôichi kenka-tabi (1963)
    Zatôichi kenka-tabi (1963)
    Zatôichi kenka-tabi (1963)
    Zatôichi kenka-tabi (1963)
    Zatôichi kenka-tabi (1963)
    Zatôichi kenka-tabi (1963)
    Zatôichi kenka-tabi (1963)
    Zatôichi kenka-tabi (1963)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Shintarô Katsu
    Shintarô Katsu
    • Zatôichias Zatôichi…
    Shiho Fujimura
    Shiho Fujimura
    • Mitsuas Mitsu
    Ryûzô Shimada
    Ryûzô Shimada
    • Jingorôas Jingorô
    Reiko Fujiwara
    Reiko Fujiwara
    • Hisaas Hisa
    Matasaburô Niwa
    • Yamadaas Yamada
    Yoshio Yoshida
    Yoshio Yoshida
    • Boss Tomegoro of Kagotameas Boss Tomegoro of Kagotame
    Sônosuke Sawamura
    Sônosuke Sawamura
    • Boss Tobei of Shimozumaas Boss Tobei of Shimozuma
    Shôsaku Sugiyama
    Shôsaku Sugiyama
    • Boss Hikozo of Doyamaas Boss Hikozo of Doyama
    Yutaka Nakamura
    Yutaka Nakamura
    • Matsuas Matsu
    Gen Kimura
    • Yakuza enforceras Yakuza enforcer
    Teruko Ômi
    • Palaquin receptionistas Palaquin receptionist
    • Director
      • Kimiyoshi Yasuda
    • Writers
      • Minoru Inuzuka
      • Kan Shimozawa(story)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Blind swordsman/masseuer Ichi (or "Zatoichi") is asked by a dying man to deliver the maiden Mitsu (or "Omitsu") to her family in Edo, and Zatoichi feels honor-bound to do so. But rival gangs each have an interest in kidnapping the girl for ransom. Zatoichi joins with one of the gangs when the other gang captures Mitsu, but he then finds that to rescue her, he must fight both gangs. —Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
    • opening action scene
    • action hero
    • hand to hand combat
    • showdown
    • martial arts
    • 36 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Faster than the eye can see!
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Adventure
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • PG
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Zatoichi's katana is a shikomizue. This is a sword which is concealed within a wooden cane, thus the cane itself is both handle and scabbard.
    • Goofs
      The string attached to the dragonfly is visible as it lands on a bush next to Zatoichi and Mitsu, who are being attacked, and also when it returns after the fight.
    • Quotes

      Boss Tobei of Shimozuma: [after Zatoichi lures three Yakuza bosses from two opposing sides of a gang war via a ruse] You blind bastard!

      Boss Tomegoro of Kagotame: I run an honest business.

      Zatôichi: Then why did you try to kidnap the girl?

      Boss Tomegoro of Kagotame: No, it wasn't like that. It was -...

      Zatôichi: [Zatoichi interrupts] Nobody has a worse reputation around here than you guys.

      [pauses then around to face Boss Hikozo]

      Zatôichi: You too.

      Boss Hikozo of Doyama: What?

      Zatôichi: Using an innocent woman as bait - Unscrupulous coward! None of you deserves to live.

      Boss Hikozo of Doyama: What are you talking about? Get them!

      Zatôichi: [Chuckles] No need to hurry. It only makes you time come sooner.

      Boss Hikozo of Doyama: You dare turn on me?

      [Zatoichi smiles sardonically as he turns towards Boss Tobei and Tomegoro]

    • Connections
      Featured in Best in Action: 1963 (2019)

    User reviews9

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Darkness is the ally of the blind swordman
    The following review is an extract from the book "Shintaro Katsu´s Zatoichi: Complete guide to all movies", which is now available on Amazon.

    "At the beginning of this film, as a filmic preface, we see how Ichi plays a game of dice (or something similar) with a small group of dishonest opponents. The latter, despite having lost, are not willing to accept defeat, but before they can react, Zatoichi makes them reluctant to even try any hostility against him. With a lightning fast movement of his shikomizue, he cuts a candle that illuminated the room vertically, leaving his opponents astonished, and leaving the room shortly afterwards in the dark (and therefore in relative equality of conditions with others who are able to see). "Darkness is my ally..." says Zatoichi again sheathing his sword in the reed.

    The massive duel between the two groups of yakuza recalls by its atmosphere and stylistic characteristics the great Italo-westerns, where a solitary gunman (like Clint Eastwood in Sergio Leone's "Dollar trilogy") must face several enemies at the same time. Leone and other western masters were profusely inspired by the Japanese chambara. The equivalence and parallels between samurais or ronins and solitary cowboys or outlaws are undeniable."
    helpful•1
    0
    • alucinecinefago
    • May 28, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 27, 1968 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Zatoichi, the Blind Swordsman
    • Production company
      • Daiei Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 25 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    What I Watched, What You Watched #226
    Jan 5Rope of Silicon
    Blu-ray, DVD Release: Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman Collection
    Aug 26Disc Dish

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