The Tale of Zatoichi (1962 film)

The Tale of Zatoichi (Japanese: 座頭市物語 Zatōichi monogatari), directed by Kenji Misumi, is the first film of a classic Japanese samurai drama saga starring Shintaro Katsu as Zatoichi.

Plot

The blind masseur Zatoichi is hired by yakuza gang-leader Sukejoro Iioka (Eijiro Yanagi) as he thinks that war is inevitable with the rival yakuza Shigezo Sasagawa (Ryuzo Shimada). Zatoichi has a distinguished reputation as a swordsman and Sukejoro thinks he is money well spent. Shigezo responds by hiring a ronin of similar repute, Miki Hirate (Shigeru Amachi). Ichi is a meek and humble man who is commonly underestimated by most men, and looked upon suspiciously. His being a masseur, which was a position of low regard in feudal Japan, merely increases the hostility that is shown towards him. They even try to take advantage of his blindness in a gambling den, but from early on it is clear that Zatoichi draws strength from his disability.

The only person who respects him is Hirate, who has a similar code of practice. Though Hirate and Ichi know they must fight when the war begins, they develop a kind of friendship. Hirate is eager to fight Zatoichi, as he is terminally ill with tuberculosis. As Hirate becomes increasingly sick, Sukejoro decides to attack Shigezo. He also tells Ichi that he is no longer needed. However, as the war begins, Hirate drags himself from his bed to fight Zatoichi, and word gets to Ichi that Hirate will be fighting and that Sukejoro intends to shoot him with his rifle. Zatoichi travels to the battle to duel with the dying samurai. After the tense final fight, Zatoichi leaves Iioka and rejects the advances of Otane (Masayo Banri), who has become disillusioned with the yakuza lifestyle, to continue as a solitary wanderer.

Cast

• Shintaro Katsu as Zatoichi
• Masayo Banri as Otane
• Ryūzō Shimada as Shigezō of the Sasagawa Yakuza
• Hajime Mitamura as Hanji of Matsugishi
• Shigeru Amachi as Miki Hirate
• Chitose Maki as Hanji's wife Yoshi
• Ikuko Mōri as Shigezō's wife Oyutaka
• Michio Minami as Tatekichi of the Iioka Yakuza
• Eijirō Yanagi as Sukegorō of Iioka
• Toshio Chiba as Masakichi of Iioka
• Manabu Morita as Seisuke of Iioka
• Yoichi Funaki as Yogorō of Sasagawa
• Kin'ya Ichikawa as Mokichi of Sasagawa
• Eigorō Onoe as Rihei of Sasagawa
• Yoshito Yamaji as Tatekichi's father Yahei
• Yukio Horikita as Kanaji of Sasagawa
• Ryūji Fukui as Daihachi of Iioka

Reception

The film received positive reviews earning 100% from review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes according to 7 reviews. The film summoned the most sequels of a samurai film and has also spawned a remake in 2003.^[2]

References

External links

• The Tale of Zatoichi at the Internet Movie Database