Zatoichi
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Zatoichi (座頭市 Zatōichi) is a fictional character featured in one of Japan's longest running series of films and a television series set in the Edo period. The enduring popularity of the character has been likened to that of James Bond in Western countries. Unlike Bond, however, whose character has been portrayed by a long list of actors, Zatoichi has become almost synonymous with only one actor: Shintaro Katsu. The only other actor to portray Zatoichi on film is Takeshi Kitano, after a hiatus of almost 15 years.
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[edit] Character
Zatoichi is seemingly only a harmless blind bone setter who wanders around the country making his living by gambling; however, he is also highly-skilled in swordsmanship, specifically iaidō. He does not carry a traditional katana, instead using a well-made shikomizue (cane sword). Shikomizue were generally straight lower-quality blades which could not compare with regular katanas, but as revealed in Zatoichi's Cane Sword, his weapon is nearly superior to one as it was forged by a master bladesmith just before his prime. A recurring theme of both the films and television series is Zatoichi protecting the innocent from oppressive warring yakuza gangs, and general injustice. His fighting skill is incredible, even more so considering he grips the sword in an inverse manner; this combined with his sometimes inexplicably keen ear, nose and proprioception renders him a capable surprise attacker. He is also most likely ambidextrous. However, as pictured for example in the 2003 movie, he can resume the traditional normal grip when necessary.
The character's name is actually Ichi. Zatō is a title, the lowest of the four official ranks within the Tōdōza, the historical guild for blind men. Ichi is therefore properly called Zatō-no-Ichi ("Low-Ranking Blind Person Ichi", approximately), or Zatōichi for short. Giving massages was a traditional occupation for the blind, probably because it can be done on the basis of touch.
[edit] The original series of films
The original series of 26 films featured Shintaro Katsu as Zatoichi. The first film was made in 1962 in black and white. The third film, in 1963, was the first to be filmed in color. The twenty-fifth film was made in 1973, and there was a pause of some 16 years before Katsu's last film, in 1989, which he directed himself.
The original series of movies features other popular fictional characters of the genre on two occasions: Zatoichi and the One Armed Swordsman (1971) connects with the Shaw Brothers series of Hong Kong produced movies directed by prolific director Chang Cheh. Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo (1970) features Toshiro Mifune playing a character named Sassa who bears a striking resemblance to his role as Sanjuro from the Akira Kurosawa films Yojimbo (lit. "bodyguard") and its sequel Sanjuro.
The series has also had wide spread influences on non-Japanese films. The 1989 film Blind Fury featuring Rutger Hauer as a blind swordsman in contemporary America is based on the screenplay of Zatoichi Challenged (1967) with elements of other films of the series.
Nevertheless, Zatoichi is but one of a surprising number of blind heroes with superhuman fighting skills that have emerged throughout history, and while predated by such characters as the pulp fiction and comic book heroes The Black Bat and Doctor Mid-Nite respectively, is followed by the likes of Daredevil. The 1970s television series Kung Fu features a blind Shaolin priest also possessing amazing martial arts skills.
[edit] List of original films
| No. | Title | Year | Japanese | Romanization | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Tale of Zatoichi | 1962 | 座頭市物語 | Zatōichi monogatari | Kenji Misumi |
| 2 | The Tale of Zatoichi Continues | 1962 | 続・座頭市物語 | Zoku Zatōichi monogatari | Kazuo Mori |
| 3 | New Tale of Zatoichi | 1963 | 新・座頭市物語 | Shin Zatōichi monogatari | Tokuzo Tanaka |
| 4 | The Fugitive | 1963 | 座頭市兇状旅 | Zatōichi kyōjō-tabi | Tokuzo Tanaka |
| 5 | On The Road | 1963 | 座頭市喧嘩旅 | Zatōichi kenka-tabi | Kimiyoshi Yasuda |
| 6 | Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold | 1964 | 座頭市千両首 | Zatōichi senryō-kubi | Kazuo Ikehiro |
| 7 | Zatoichi's Flashing Sword | 1964 | 座頭市あばれ凧 | Zatōichi abare tako | Kazuo Ikehiro |
| 8 | Fight, Zatoichi, Fight | 1964 | 座頭市血笑旅 | Zatōichi kesshō-tabi | Kenji Misumi |
| 9 | Adventures of Zatoichi | 1964 | 座頭市関所破り | Zatōichi sekisho-yaburi | Kimiyoshi Yasuda |
| 10 | Zatoichi's Revenge | 1965 | 座頭市二段斬り | Zatōichi nidan-giri | Akira Inoue |
| 11 | Zatoichi and the Doomed Man | 1965 | 座頭市逆手斬り | Zatōichi sakate-giri | Kazuo Mori |
| 12 | Zatoichi and the Chess Expert | 1965 | 座頭市地獄旅 | Zatōichi jigoku-tabi | Kenji Misumi |
| 13 | Zatoichi's Vengeance | 1966 | 座頭市の歌が聞える | Zatōichi no uta ga kikoeru | Tokuzo Tanaka |
| 14 | Zatoichi's Pilgrimage | 1966 | 座頭市海を渡る | Zatōichi umi o wataru | Kazuo Ikehiro |
| 15 | Zatoichi's Cane Sword | 1967 | 座頭市鉄火旅 | Zatōichi tekka-tabi | Kimiyoshi Yasuda |
| 16 | Zatoichi the Outlaw | 1967 | 座頭市牢破り | Zatōichi rōyaburi | Satsuo Yamamoto |
| 17 | Zatoichi Challenged | 1967 | 座頭市血煙り街道 | Zatōichi chikemuri-kaidō | Kenji Misumi |
| 18 | Zatoichi and the Fugitives | 1968 | 座頭市果し状 | Zatōichi hatashijō | Kimiyoshi Yasuda |
| 19 | Samaritan Zatoichi | 1968 | 座頭市喧嘩太鼓 | Zatōichi kenka-daiko | Kenji Misumi |
| 20 | Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo | 1970 | 座頭市と用心棒 | Zatōichi to Yōjinbō | Kihachi Okamoto |
| 21 | Zatoichi at the Fire Festival | 1970 | 座頭市あばれ火祭り | Zatōichi abare-himatsuri | Kenji Misumi |
| 22 | Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman | 1971 | 新座頭市・破れ！唐人剣 | Shin Zatōichi: Yabure! Tōjin-ken | Kimiyoshi Yasuda |
| 23 | Zatoichi at Large | 1972 | 座頭市御用旅 | Zatōichi goyō-tabi | Kazuo Mori |
| 24 | Zatoichi in Desperation | 1972 | 新座頭市物語・折れた杖 | Shin Zatōichi monogatari: Oreta tsue | Shintarō Katsu |
| 25 | Zatoichi at the Blood Fest aka Zatoichi's Conspiracy | 1973 | 新座頭市物語・笠間の血祭り | Shin Zatōichi monogatari: Kasama no chimatsuri | Kimiyoshi Yasuda |
| 26 | Shintaro Katsu's Zatoichi | 1989 | 座頭市 | Zatōichi | Shintarō Katsu |
Note: The English title is not necessarily a direct translation of the Japanese title. Note: The 14th film in the series is impossible to find as a legal Region 1 DVD with English subtitles, as Miramax bought the rights to it several years ago and production of it has ceased. However, it can be obtained as a legal Region 2 DVD, without English subtitles, in Japan.
[edit] The television series
The television series of Zatoichi ran for four seasons, with Shintaro Katsu in the lead role:
See also: List of Zatoichi episodes
Interestingly, in the final episode Zatoichi regains his eyesight but his hands are damaged, destroying his ability to fight with a sword. Yet, in the final movie, 1989's Zatoichi, his eyesight is gone and his swordsmanship is as good as ever.
[edit] Production companies
The majority of the films were produced by Daiei Motion Picture Company: from the first film, The Tale of Zatoichi, to the 22nd film, Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman, released in 1971 when Daiei went bankrupt. However, starting with Zatoichi the Outlaw in 1967, Shintaro Katsu's own company, Katsu Productions, coproduced the films (as well as producing the TV series and his last Zatoichi film). After Daiei was out of commission, Toho Company took over the films in 1972 starting with Zatoichi at Large, the 23rd film, until Zatoichi at the Blood Fest in 1973, the 25th (and the last "old school") film. Shochiku distributed Katsu's last Zatoichi film in 1989, as well as the new 2003 Zatoichi film starring Takeshi Kitano.
Home Vision Entertainment was granted United States distribution rights to the original Daiei films (except for the 14th—see above), and has released them on DVD. AnimEigo has released seven of the films on DVD: Zatoichi the Outlaw (1967), Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo (1970, incorrectly listed by AnimEigo as © 1965), Zatoichi at the Fire Festival (1970, as Zatoichi: The Festival of Fire), Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman (1971), Zatoichi at Large (1972), Zatoichi in Desperation (1972), and Zatoichi at the Blood Fest (1973, as Zatoichi's Conspiracy). Media Blasters (under their Tokyo Shock label) has released the 1989 film and (as of March 14, 2006) the first twelve episodes of the TV series.
[edit] The parody
- For more details on the parody directed by Takeshi Kitano, see Getting Any?.
Takeshi Kitano's Getting Any? 1995 comedy features a parody of Zatoichi, with Asao (played by Minoru Iizuka aka Dankan) replacing injured Shintaro Katsu. In the second take of the main fighting scene, he mistakes his cane with a dipper for feces and uses it as a weapon.
[edit] In Other Works
The character of Zatoichi is paid homage to in the character of Zato-Ino (also known as "the Blind Swordspig") in Stan Sakai's long running anthropomorphic comic series Usagi Yojimbo.
This iteration of the character uses his keen sense of smell to find his way and to combat his enemies.
The 1989 movie Blind Fury starring Rutger Hauer was inspired by the Zatoichi films and television series. In this movie Hauer plays a blind Vietnam War veteran trained to use a sword cane in battle.
[edit] The 2003 film
- For more details on the movie directed by Takeshi Kitano, see Zatoichi (Kitano).
In 2003, Takeshi Kitano produced a new high-budget Zatoichi film, called simply Zatoichi (座頭市 Zatōichi).
In this remake, Zatoichi discovers a small, remote mountain town that has been overtaken by a bullying gang who are extorting money out of them. As Zatoichi seeks to liberate the town, he encounters two geisha who are seeking to avenge the murder of their parents, but he soon discovers they are not what they seem to be. The film also showcases an unexpected tap-dancing finale.
The soundtrack features contributions from Keiichi Suzuki (formerly of the Moon Riders) and The Stripes.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Zatoichi (2003) at the Internet Movie Database
- Official UK website for Kitano's Zatoichi
- Zatoichi's Musical Journey (CDs of the original film music) - Volumes 1 2 and 3
- The Momii Company's Zatoichi site—a commercial site selling Zatoichi on VHS and DVD, with good information on the series
- The Digital Bits' DVD Review Index - Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman on DVD
- Zatoichi No Eigamono—synopses of the first sixteen Zatoichi films
