Hanzo the Razor

Hanzo the Razor (かみそり半蔵, Kamisori Hanzō^?) is a fictional character featured in the trilogy of Japanese jidaigeki films of the same name. The films star Shintaro Katsu (best known for his role as Zatoichi) as the title character. He also produced the trilogy through his own Katsu Productions. Lead actresses differ in each film; they include Yukiji Asaoka playing the character Omino in Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice.

The trilogy

The trilogy is made up of Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice (御用牙, Goyōkiba^?) (1972), Hanzo the Razor: The Snare (御用牙　かみそり半蔵地獄責め, Goyōkiba: Kamisori Hanzō jigoku zeme^?) (1973) and Hanzo the Razor: Who's Got the Gold? (御用牙　鬼の半蔵やわ肌小判, Goyōkiba: Oni no Hanzō yawahada koban^?) (1974).

Premise

The story is based on the manga Goyōkiba (御用牙) by Kazuo Koike, whose Lone Wolf and Cub manga was also adapted as a film series by Katsu, this time starring his brother, Tomisaburo Wakayama.

Each plot details Hanzo Itami's foiling a plot by corrupt officials in Edo period Japan. Distinguishing characteristics of these films include:

• Hanzo vilifies elitism and corruption, consistently railing against the powers-that-be who continue to threaten Hanzo with hara-kiri for his insolence.
• Hanzo continuously mocks his superior officer, Magobei Onishi, whom Hanzo dubs "Hebi no Magobei" ("Snake Magobei") due to Onishi's penchant for bribes and beautiful women.
• Hanzo is a constable who normally carries a short 2-pronged dagger (jutte) rather than a sword; this jutte has a hidden, weighted chain within it, which Hanzo uses to block against sword attacks or ensnare fleeing criminals.
• Hanzo consistently utilizes torture (both on himself and on others) as a means of interrogation and self-purification;.
• Hanzo ritualistically flagellates his huge penis so as to make it stronger; this exercise is always followed up by Hanzo's practicing sexual intercourse with a bale of rice.
• Hanzo's home is filled with exotic traps and weapons to defeat assassins, such as a hidden wall of weapons near his o-furo (Japanese bath) and spears that descend from the ceiling.
• Hanzo interrogates female suspects by raping them; later, he drinks sake with them in his o-furo and they immediately become infatuated with him, primarily due to his sexual dexterity.

Influence on Popular Culture

• The 2004-2005 anime series Samurai Champloo includes occasional appearances by Manzo the Saw, a police inspector who is a parody of Hanzo.

External links

• Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice at the Internet Movie Database
• Hanzo the Razor: The Snare at the Internet Movie Database
• Hanzo the Razor: Who's Got the Gold? at the Internet Movie Database