Shintaro Katsu
| Shintaro Katsu | |
|---|---|
 The Badger Palace: Happy New Year (初春狸御殿 Hatsu Haru, Tanuki-goten) | |
| Born |
Toshio Okumura November 29, 1931 Fukagawa, Tokyo, Japan |
| Died |
June 21, 1997 (aged 65) Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan |
| Occupation |
Actor, singer, producer, writer and director |
| Spouse(s) | Tamao Nakamura |
Shintaro Katsu (勝 新太郎 Katsu Shintarō), November 29, 1931 – June 21, 1997, was a Japanese actor, singer, producer, and director.
Life and career
He was born Toshio Okumura (奥村 利夫 Okumura Toshio) on November 29, 1931. He was the son of kabuki performer Katsutoji Kineya (Kineya Katsutōji) who was renowned for his nagauta and shamisen skills, and younger brother of actor Tomisaburo Wakayama (Wakayama Tomisaburō).
Shintaro Katsu began his career in entertainment as a shamisen player. He switched to acting because he noticed it was better paid. In the 1960s he starred simultaneously in three long-running series of films, the Akumyo series, the Hoodlum Soldier series, and the Zatoichi series.
He played the role of blind masseur Zatoichi in a series of films in 25 movies between 1962 and 1973, starred and directed a 26th in 1989 and played the role in four seasons of a spin-off television series.[1]
After the closing of Daiei Studios, Katsu formed the company Katsu Productions.[2]
Katsu had a troubled personal life. A heavy drinker, Katsu had several skirmishes with the law regarding drug use as well, including marijuana, opium, and cocaine with arrests in 1978, 1990, and 1992.[1]
He had also developed a reputation for being something of a troublemaker on set. When director Akira Kurosawa cast him for the lead role in Kagemusha (1980), Katsu left before the first day of shooting was over.[3] Though accounts differ as to the incident, the most consistent one details Katsu's clash with Kurosawa regarding bringing his own film crew to the set (to film Kurosawa in action for later exhibition to his own acting students).[4][5] Kurosawa is reputed to have taken great offense at this, resulting in Katsu's termination (he was replaced by Tatsuya Nakadai). In her recent book, Waiting On The Weather, about her experiences with director Kurosawa, script supervisor Teruyo Nogami chalks the differences between Katsu and Kurosawa up to a personality clash that had unfortunate artistic results.[6]
He was the husband of actress Tamao Nakamura (married in 1962), and father of actor Ryutaro Gan (Gan Ryūtarō).[7]
Stunt actor Yukio Kato was killed on the set of Zatoichi 26 by Katsu's son, who was co-starring, when an actual sword was mistaken for a prop, fatally wounding Kato.
In her book, Geisha, A Life, famed Kyoto geisha Mineko Iwasaki claims a long time affair with Katsu, whom she calls by his given name, Toshio. The affair ended in 1976, and eventually the two became good friends until his death.[citation needed]
Katsu produced the manga-based Lone Wolf and Cub (Kozure Okami) series of jidaigeki films starring his brother Tomisaburo Wakayama which were later compiled into the movie Shogun Assassin, as well as co-writing, producing, and acting alongside his brother in the TV series "Oshi Samurai" ("The Mute Samurai").
His other television work includes the police drama "Keishi-K" ("Superintendent K") which he starred in (as Katsutoshi Gatsu), co-wrote, directed, and produced. His daughter, Masami Okumura, co-starred.
His film work includes the Hanzo the Razor series, as Detective Itami Hanzo. He was also an accomplished shamisen player, as well as a vocalist, recording several albums in both pop and Enka.
He died of Pharyngeal cancer on June 21, 1997.
Actor
- A Girl Isn't Allowed to Love (Bara ikutabika) (1955)
- Migratory Birds of the Flowers (1956)
- The Renyasai Yagyu Hidden Story (1956)
- Sisters of the Gion (祇園の姉妹 Gion no shimai) (1956)
- Marason zamurai (1956)
- Ghost-Cat of Gojusan-Tsugi (Kaibyo Gojusan-tsugi) (1956)
- Tsukigata Hanpeita (1956)
- An Osaka Story (Osaka monogatari) (1957)
- Nijūkyū-nin no Kenka-jō (1957)
- Ghost-Cat of Yonaki (Kaibyo Yonaki numa) (1957)
- Nichiren to mōko daishūrai (1958)
- The Gay Masquerade (Benten kozō) (1958)
- The Loyal 47 Ronin (忠臣蔵 Chūshingura) (1958)
- Ghost-Cat Wall of Hatred (Kaibyō noroi no kabe) (1958)
- Samurai Vendetta (Hakuōki) (1959)
- Seki no yatappe (1959?)
- Beni azami (1959)
- Beauty Is Guilty (Bibō ni tsumi ari) (1959)
- Enchanted Princess (Hatsuharu tanuki gotten) (1959)
- Zoku Jirocho Fuji (1960)
- The Ogre of Mount Oe (Ooe-yama Shuten-dōji) (1960)
- Secrets of a Court Masseur (Shiranui kengyō) (1960) also titled The Blind Menace and Agent Shiranui
- Tsukinode no ketto (1960)
- Mito komon umi o wataru (1961)
- Kaze to kumo totoride (1961)
- Hanakurabe tanuki dochu (1961)
- Blind Devotion (Midaregami) (1961)
- Tough Guy (Akumyō) (1961)
- Shaka aka Buddha (1961)
- Zoku akumyo aka Tough Guy, Part 2 (1961)
- Zatōichi monogatari aka The Life and Opinion of Masseur Ichi (1962)
- Shin akumyo aka New Bad Reputation (1962)
- Kujira gami aka The Whale God (1962)
- Zoku Zatoichi monogatari aka The Tale of Zatoichi Continues (1962)
- Shin shikōtei aka The Great Wall (1962)
- Zoku shin akumyo aka New Bad Reputation Continues (1962)
- Dokonjo monogatari - zeni no odori aka The Money Dance (1963)
- Daisan no akumyo (1963)
- Yukinojo henge aka An Actor's Revenge (1963)
- Shin Zatoichi monogatari aka New Tale of Zatoichi(1963)
- Akumyo ichiba (1963)
- Zatoichi kyojo tabi aka Zatoichi The Fugitive (1963)
- Akumyo hatoba (1963)
- Zatōichi kenka-tabi aka Zatoichi on the Road (1963)
- Akumyo ichiban (1963)
- Rōnin-gai (1964)
- Dokonjō monogatari: Zuputo iyatsu (1964)
- Zatōichi senryō-kubi aka Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold (1964)
- Suruga yūkyōden: Toba arashi (1964)
- Zatōichi abare tako aka Zatoichi's Flashing Sword (1964)
- Akumyo daiko (1964) .... Asakichi
- Suruga yūkyōden (1964)
- Zatōichi kesshō-tabi (1964) aka Fight, Zatoichi, Fight
- Kojiki taisho (1964)
- Shiawasa nara te o tatake aka If You're Happy, Clap Your Hands (1964)
- Zatoichi sekisho yaburi aka Adventures of Zatoichi (1964)
- Zoku heitai yakuza aka Hoodlum Soldier and the C.O. (1965)
- Suruga yūkyōden: Dokyō garasu (1965)
- Heitai yakuza aka The Hoodlum Soldier (1965)
- Zatōichi nidan-kiri Zatoichi's Revenge (1965)
- Akumyo nobori (1965)
- Muhomatsu no issho aka Life of Matsu the Untamed (1965)
- Zatoichi sakate giri aka Zatoichi and the Doomed Man (1965)
- Akumyo muteki (1965)
- Zatoichi Jigoku tabi aka Zatoichi and the Chess Expert (1965)
- Shin heitai yakuza aka Hoodlum Soldier Deserts Again (1966)
- Heitai yakuza datsugoku (1966)
- Heitai yakuza daidasso (1966)
- Akumyo zakura (1966) .... Asakichi
- Zatoichi no uta ga kikoeru aka Zatoichi's Vengeance (1966)
- Zatōichi umi o wataru aka Zatoichi's Pilgrimage (1966)
- Yakuza bozu aka The Hoodlum Priest (1967)
- Heitai yakuza ore ni makasero (1967)
- Zatoichi tekka tabi aka Zatoichi's Cane-sword (1967)
- Akumyo ichidai (1967)
- Zatōichi rōyaburi aka Zatoichi the Outlaw (1967)
- Heitai yakuza nagurikomi aka Hoodlum Soldier on the Attack (1967)
- Zatoichi chikemuri kaido aka Zatoichi Challenged (1967)
- Zoku yakuza bozu (1968)
- Tomuraishi tachi (1968)
- Heitai yakuza godatsu (1968)
- Akumyo juhachi-ban (1968)
- Moetsukita chizu aka The Man Without a Map (1968)
- Zatōichi hatashi-jō aka Zatoichi and the Fugitives (1968)
- Zatōichi kenka-daiko aka Samaritan Zatoichi (1968)
- Oni no sumu yakata aka Devil's Temple (1969)
- Hitokiri aka Tenchu!(1969)
- Shirikurae Magoichi aka The Magoichi Saga (1969)
- Akumyo ichiban shobu (1969)
- Kenka ichidai: Dodekai yatsu (1970)
- Zatōichi to Yōjinbō aka Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo (1970)
- Genkai yūkyōden: Yabure kabure (1970)
- Machibuse aka Incident at Blood Pass (1970)
- Yakuza zessyō (1970)
- Zatōichi abare-himatsuri aka Zatoichi at the Fire Festival (1970)
- Shin Zatōichi: Yabure! Tojin-ken aka Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman (1971)
- Inochi bō ni furō aka Inn of Evil (1971)
- Kitsune no kureta akanbō (1971)
- Kaoyaku (1971)
- Goyōkiba aka Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice (1972)
- Zatōichi goyō-tabi aka Zatoichi at Large (1972)
- Shin heitai yakuza: Kasen (1972)
- Shin Zatōichi monogatari: Oreta tsue aka Zatoichi in Desperation (1972)
- Shin Zatōichi monogatari: Kasama no chimatsuri aka Zatoichi's Conspiracy (1973)
- Ōshō (1973)
- Goyōkiba: Kamisori Hanzō jigoku zeme aka Hanzo the Razor: The Snare (1973)
- Yadonashi (1974)
- Goyōkiba: Oni no Hanzō yawahada koban aka Hanzo the Razor: Who's Got the Gold? (1974)
- Akumyo: shima arashiaka Akumyo: Notorious Dragon (1974)
- "Zatōichi monogatari" TV Series (1974)
- Meiso chizu (1983)
- Dokugan-ryu Masamune" TV Series (1987)
- Teito monogatari aka Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis (1988)
- Zatōichi 26 aka Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally (1989)
- Kujaku ō: Ashura densetsu aka Saga of the Phoenix (1990)
- Rōnin-gai (1990)
Producer
- Zatôichi to Yôjinbô aka Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo (1970) (producer)
- Zatôichi abare-himatsuri aka Zatoichi at the Fire Festival (1970) (producer)
- Ali, the Fighter aka Ali the Man: Ali the Fighter (1971) (producer)
- Shin Zatôichi: Yabure! Tojin-ken aka Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman (1971) (producer)
- Kaoyaku (1971) (executive producer)
- Goyôkiba aka Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice (1972) (producer)
- Zatôichi goyô-tabi aka Zatoichi at Large(1972) (producer)
- Shin heitai yakuza: Kasen (1972) (producer)
- Kozure Ôkami: Kowokashi udekashi tsukamatsuru aka Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance(1972) (producer)
- Kozure Ôkami: Sanzu no kawa no ubaguruma aka Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx (1972) (producer)
- Kozure Ôkami: Shinikazeni mukau ubaguruma aka Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades (1972) (producer)
- Shin Zatôichi monogatari: Oreta tsue aka Zatoichi in Desperation (1972) (producer)
- "Oshi samurai" TV Series (executive producer)(1973)
- Shin Zatôichi monogatari: Kasama no chimatsuri aka Zatoichi's Conspiracy (1973)
- Goyôkiba: Kamisori Hanzô jigoku zeme aka Hanzo the Razor: The Snare (1973)
- Yadonashi (1974) (producer)
- Goyôkiba: Oni no Hanzô yawahada koban aka Hanzo the Razor: Who's Got the Gold? (1974) (producer)
- Akumyo: shima arashiaka Akumyo: Notorious Dragon (1974)
- Shogun Assassin (1980) (producer)
- Zatôichi aka Shintaro Katsu's Zatoichi (1989)
Director
- Kaoyaku (1971)
- Shin Zatôichi monogatari: Oreta tsue aka Zatoichi in Desperation (1972)
- "Oshi samurai" (1973) TV Series
- "Zatôichi monogatari" (1974) TV Series (episode "A Memorial Day and the Bell of Life")
- Zatôichi aka Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally (1989)
Writer
- Zatôichi abare-himatsuri aka Zatoichi at the Fire Festival (1970)
- Kaoyaku (1971)
- Zatôichi aka Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally (1989) (screenplay)
Self
- The Blind Swordsman (documentary) (1978)
Television
- Zatoichi Monogatari (actor, writer, director)
- Shin Zatoichi Monogatari (actor, writer, director)
- Shin Zatoichi (actor, writer, director)
- Oshi Samurai (The Mute Samurai) (actor, writer, director)
- Keishi-K (Superintendent K) (actor, writer, director)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 West, David (2006). Chasing dragons: an introduction to the martial arts film. I.B.Tauris. p. 33. ISBN 978-1-85043-982-0. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
- ↑ Standish, Isolde (8 May 2006). A New History of Japanese Cinema: A Century Of Narrative Film. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 359. ISBN 978-0-8264-1790-9. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
- ↑ Galloway, Patrick (1 May 2005). Stray dogs & lone wolves: the samurai film handbook. Stone Bridge Press, Inc. p. 184. ISBN 978-1-880656-93-8. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
- ↑ Kurosawa, Akira; Cardullo, Bert (2008). Akira Kurosawa: interviews. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-57806-997-2. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
- ↑ Cowie, Peter (1981). International film guide. Tantivy Press. p. 205. ISBN 978-0-498-02530-3. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
- ↑ Nogami, Teruyo (2006). Waiting on the weather: making movies with Akira Kurosawa. Stone Bridge Press, Inc. pp. 251–60. ISBN 978-1-933330-09-9. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
- ↑ Galloway, Patrick (1 May 2005). Stray dogs & lone wolves: the samurai film handbook. Stone Bridge Press, Inc. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-880656-93-8. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
- Shintaro Katsu Illustrated. Pie-Books. 24 June 2005. ISBN 978-4-89444-303-7. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
- Desjardins, Chris (22 July 2005). Outlaw masters of Japanese film. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84511-090-1. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
- Dougill, John (2006). Kyoto: a cultural history. Oxford University Press US. ISBN 978-0-19-530137-3. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
- Iwasaki, Mineko; Brown, Rande (October 2002). Geisha: A Life. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7434-5304-2. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
- Moeran, Brian (August 1996). A Japanese advertising agency: an anthropology of media and markets. University of Hawai ̕i Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-1872-2. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
- Richie, Donald (1996). Public people, private people: portraits of some Japanese. Kodansha International. ISBN 978-4-7700-2104-5. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
- Richie, Donald (2005). The Japan Journals: 1947-2004. Stone Bridge Press, Inc. ISBN 978-1-880656-97-6. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
- Whiting, Robert (30 March 1999). Tokyo underworld: the fast times and hard life of an American gangster in Japan. Pantheon Books. ISBN 978-0-679-41976-1. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
- Nogami, Teruyo (2006). Waiting on the weather: making movies with Akira Kurosawa. Stone Bridge Press, Inc. ISBN 978-1-933330-09-9. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
External links
- Shintaro Katsu at the Internet Movie Database
- Shintaro Katsu at the Japanese Movie Database (Japanese)
|