At the beginning of Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo, his swordblade (presumably the same) inexplicably breaks and is sold to a blacksmith along with its hilt and scabbard. Kills(movie with most) 1. The blade (which breaks during the film) and the blade that replaces it were specially forged at great expense and with far more than the usual care by master bladesmiths and were both of exceptional quality, superior to the swords of even most samurai. This, and the second Zatoichi film, were both shot in black and white – the only two films in the series to be shot in monochrome – and both released in 1962. 1252(Zatoichi 26) 5. As Zatoichi seeks to liberate the town, he encounters a rōnin seeking employment to pay for his ailing wife's needs, and two geisha who are seeking to avenge the murder of their parents, but he soon discovers that they are not what they seem to be. His father disappeared for undisclosed reasons when Zatoichi was about five years old. Zatoichi, who had come to the village to repay a debt, now feels further indebted. (The henchmen lose their lives by the dozens, sliced up like the flies that Zatoichi kills in mid flight.) Want to caption or translate video? The comedic scenes of the fake Zatoichi are humorous; and a break from the more serious-themed Zatoichi episodes is attempted. on Twitter: "Is Kanan now a reference to Rahm Kota? His lightning-fast fighting skill is incredible, with his sword held in a reverse grip; this, combined with his unflappable steel-nerved wits in a fight, his keen ears, sense of smell and proprioception, all render him a formidable adversary. Upset, Ichi attempts to get to the bottom of all of this while also trying to help the "Doomed Man," in prison. The tenth Zatoichi film.. Stars a young Tomisaburo Wakayama as Yoshiro – the ronin in black, and later revealed to be Zatoichi‘s brother. Plot, film five:Zatoichi finds a young girl in distress while on the road and decides to protect her and escort her back home to Edo, as two rival gangs try to kidnap her. It was re-released (and retitled Darkness Is His Ally) in 2004; this was no doubt sparked by the new 2003 Zatoichi film, Zatoichi, starring Takeshi Kitano, which Shochiku also released. Still black and white. The character, a blind masseur and blademaster, was created by novelist Kan Shimozawa. Plot, film nine:On the eve of new year, Zatoichi delivers a note from a stranger to a woman working in an inn and uncovers a murder conspiracy plot between a Yakuza boss and a corrupt magistrate. He prays that he does not kill anyone on his journey. The 25th film was made in 1973, followed by a hiatus of 16 years until Katsu's last film, which he wrote and directed himself in 1989. The original series of 26 films featured Shintaro Katsu as Zatoichi. In the next film, Zatoichi: The Festival of Fire, he is once again using his trademark cane sword, outfitted with a new blade of unknown origin and quality. Shintaro Katsu’s role as Zatoichi was so successful that it led to a TV series running from 1974-1979. It starts off with a funny wrestling scene, then Zatoichi is attacked by a samurai, who explains that he did it for the price on Zatoichi‘s head. [8][9], Fictional Japanese blind masseur, gambler and blademaster, "Frequently Asked Questions about 'Zatoichi, "Sho Aikawa gets first starring stage role in Miike's 'Zatoichi, http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Zatoichi-The-Blind-Swordsman-Blu-ray/81690/, http://www.criterion.com/boxsets/1012-zatoichi-the-blind-swordsman, http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=174111§ion=review, http://hkmdb.com/db/people/view.mhtml?id=15323&display_set=eng, "How Rogue One's Plot Ties Directly into The Force Awakens", "See Ya Next Year! The film was followed by The Tale of Zatoichi Continues later in 1962. This self-described "god of calamities" is routinely a magnet for troubles of one sort or another. Zatoichi at first comes across as a harmless blind anma (masseur) and bakuto (gambler) who wanders the land, making his living by chō-han (playing dice) as well as giving massages, performing acupuncture and even, on occasion, singing and playing music. It also stars Tadanobu Asano, Michiyo Okusu, Yui Natsukawa, Guadalcanal Taka, Daigiro Tachibana, Yuko Daike, Ittoku Kishibe, Saburo Ishikura, and Akira Emoto. The first film was made in 1962 in black and white. But when a Ronin and two yakuza kill a kind old woman, Zatoichi breaks his oath and must suffer the consequences. Secretly, however, he is very highly skilled in swordsmanship, specifically Muraku-school kenjutsu and iaido along with the more general sword skills of Japan, as well as sumo wrestling and kyujutsu. Zatoichi was featured in 26 films from 1962-1989 and a 100 episode TV series in the 70s. Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman (1971) connects with the Shaw Brothers series of Hong Kong-produced movies directed by prolific director Chang Cheh; and Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo (1970) features Toshiro Mifune as Imperial Shogunate Secret Agent Daisaku Sasa. 100 episodes, with episodes 99 and 100 being a two-part story finale, were aired before the Zatoichi television series was cancelled.[1]. 1216(Resident Evil:Retribution) 6. These villains are indistinguishable one from the other. The last 6 films (and the TV series) were also produced by Katsu Productions. The Tale of Zatoichi was released in Japan on April 12, 1962. A stage version of Zatoichi directed by Takashi Miike starred Show Aikawa. Amara’s platform and services can help. Blind masseur Zatoichi is nursed back to health by a young woman after he is shot by a gang member. Zatoichi (座頭市, Zatōichi) is a fictional character featured in one of Japan's longest-running series of films, as well as a television series. Each block represents an hour of the day for each day of the week. Little of his past is revealed, other than that he lost his sight as a child through illness. The film is more of a light-hearted fare of the Zatoichi series. Zatoichi was a legendary blind samurai popularized by the Blind Swordsman films by Akira Kurosawa. Plot, film one:Zatoichi gets mixed-up in a war between two gangs and befriends a samurai on the opposing side, who he eventually has to fight. Home Vision Entertainment was granted United States distribution rights to the original Daiei films (except for the 14th and the 16th (the second of which was still in possession of AnimEigo)), and released them on DVD: the films were numbered 1-13, 15, and 17-19. Wakayama appears numerous times in the Zatoichi films, cast as different characters, most notably in this film, and also in Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold (1964). It continues in the same vein as Vengeance in that the total body count is starting to take a psychological toll. Chambara Entertainment/Video Action of Honolulu held the original VHS release rights to the Zatoichi film series numbers 1-20, though it only released some of them. He is described by his swordsmanship instructor as having practiced constantly and with extreme devotion when he was a pupil in order to develop his incredible skills. Stills, body counts, and general love for Japan's favourite film series. Directed by Kenji Misumi, who also directed the first three Lone Wolf and Cub films. This frequently culminates in another set piece, Zatoichi's cutting the candles lighting the room and reducing it to pitch blackness, commonly accompanied by his tag line "Kurayami nara kotchi no mon da" (暗闇ならこっちのもんだ; roughly meaning "Darkness is my ally" or "Now we are all blind"). Rev. Plot, film four:This film is about a conspiracy to take over young Yakuza heir Sakichi‘s territory by a bad Yakuza boss called Yagiri. Ichi is therefore properly called Zatō-no-Ichi ("Low-Ranking Blind Person Ichi", approximately), or Zatōichi for short. 75%. The sword has a new blade by the next film, which he wields until the fifteenth film Zatoichi's Cane Sword. The film received positive reviews earning 100% from review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes according to 7 reviews. As fate would have it, his travels soon lead him to Okichi, a woman whom Zatoichi discovers is the sister of … Plot, film eight:Zatoichi saves a baby after its mother is mistaken for him and is killed in his place. THE AOBG ACTION MOVIE BODY COUNTS PAGE Keeping Track Of On-Screen Death Since 2009 ... – A View To A Kill (1985) – Above The Law (1988) – Ai him yan muk [Undercover] (2007) ... – Last Zatoichi, The (2010) Directed by Shintarô Katsu. A Half-Zatoichi kill now refills to base health only, not buffed health. From 1974 to 1979, the television series Zatoichi was produced, starring Katsu and some of the same actors that appeared in the films. We offer weapons based on the sword used by this iconic hero. "non-people"), blind people and masseurs were regarded as among the very lowest of the low in social class, other than eta or outright criminals; they were generally considered wretches, beneath notice, no better than beggars or even the insane—especially during the Edo period—and it was also commonly thought that the blind were accursed, despicable, severely mentally disabled, deaf and sexually dangerous. This film is based on Zatoichi Challenged (1967), the 17th film in the original series. Plot, film two:Zatoichi is pursued by the retainers of a local Lord who want him dead after discovering his mental illness. © 1503(The Heroic Ones) 3. Chambara eventually expired its North American release license. This taunt is relatively slow, however a kill increases your head count when wielding the Eyelander, Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker, or Nessie's Nine Iron, as well as completely healing the user and allowing them to switch weapons when used with the Half-Zatoichi. 1005(The Mummy:Tomb of the Dragon Emperor) 7. This originally minor character was developed for the screen by Daiei Film (now Kadokawa Daiei Studio) and actor Shintaro Katsu, who created the screen version. Instead, he uses a well-made shikomi-zue (仕込み杖, lit. Both are set during the late Edo period (1830s and 1840s). It was re-issued theatrically in 1976. "prepared cane" or cane sword), as the use or possession of true fighting blades was formally outlawed for non-samurai during the Edo period. Plot, film ten: Zatoichi discovers that a young woman he knows (Osayo) is being held captive in a brothel.As he tries to help her he uncovers a murder plot between the corrupt local magistrate (Isoda) and a Yakuza boss (Tatsugoro) where they have conspired to kill … Zatoichi also meets his brother at a local bar and ends up having a sword duel with him. In Ichi, a blind female musician who is rescued (and later trained) by Zatoichi travels through Japan to find her mentor. The first season of television shows has been released with English subtitles from Media Blasters / Tokyo Shock. Meanwhile Shigezo tells his men that if war breaks out they will be able to count on Zatoichi. Ichi also saves a female pickpocket, then hires her to help nurse the baby until he can deliver it to its father. Reception. 2414(Invincible Sword) 2. Media Blasters (under their Tokyo Shock label) have released both the 1989 film and the first season (26 episodes) of the TV series. Zatoichi meets him while they were fishing and he can sense that the samurai from Edo is sick. The character's name is actually Ichi. Massage was a traditional occupation for the blind (as their lack of sight removed the issue of gender), as was playing the biwa or, for blind women (goze), the shamisen. Knockout: reduced melee damage multiplier. They count kills but only on certain maps. Antonio Hernandez's two-part history of Zatoichi: This page was last edited on 11 January 2021, at 19:28. Plot, film seven:After recovering from a gunshot wound, Zatoichi decides to help a local boss defend his concession on a river crossing from a hostile rival. He has a vow of non-violence and embarks on a pilgrimage to reach a level of spiritualism. Think of him like a Japanese The epic saga of Zatoichi begins. A 2003 film, Zatōichi, was directed by Takeshi Kitano who also starred as Zatōichi in the film. He commits himself to use his amazing sword skills to help the young woman's father, whose river-crossing service is under attack by the same gang responsible for Zatoichi's wounds. Zatoichi's saga is essentially one of an earthy but basically good and wise man almost always trying to do the decent thing, to somehow redeem himself and perhaps atone for past failings. The third film, in 1963, was the first to be filmed in color. Its replacement is not a shikomi-zue, but a jotō (杖刀 lit. Nevertheless, he believes himself instead to be a stained, corrupted and evil man, irredeemable and undeserving of the love and respect that some show and rightly have for him. The third Zatoichi film. Plot, film three:In this one Zatoichi reunites with his former teacher, Master Bannu, who turns out to be involved in a secret kidnap plot that backfires. 2021 Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman. The Rocket Launcher is the default primary weapon for the Soldier.It is a typical rocket-propelling device with a protruding metal side and a wide exhaust port. Some, however, have come close to besting him in combat, in particular during the final duel in Zatoichi Challenged, where extenuating circumstances played a role. Hirate has told the boss who hired him that he won't use his sword to kill people. Film number 17 of the original series was remade in the US in 1990 (by TriStar Pictures) as Blind Fury, an action film starring Rutger Hauer. As he tries to help her he uncovers a murder plot between the corrupt local magistrate (Isoda) and a Yakuza boss (Tatsugoro) where they have conspired to kill her father in order to enslave her. Body Count (2) Body Mutilation (2) Bodyguard (2) Broken Sword (2) Brothel (2) Brutality (2) Candle (2) Cane Sword (2) Covered In Blood (2) Death Of Brother (2) Debt (2) ... Zatoichi tries to unrest the mob rule over a small village all while the gang leader's bodyguard is actually the Yojimbo, secretly taking the gang down from the inside. This is reflected in his willingness to involve himself in the affairs of others—chiefly, those suffering from oppression/exploitation, or some form of corruption. Of course, the local gangsters attempt to kill him, and the adventure begins. Zatoichi comes upon the town of Tonda, overrun by gangsters. The first four Zatoichi film reviews (and number 20) I’m finally getting around to finishing up my quick reviews of/thoughts about the Zatoichi films, which I started in late May. Removed ctf_foundry from the default map cycle to focus on gathering information on the remaining maps. Zatoichi says of himself that he became a yakuza (gangster) during those three years he spent training (which immediately precede the original The Tale of Zatoichi) and killed many people, something he later came to deeply regret. The film was awarded the Venice Film Festival's Silver Lion for Best Direction in 2003. [2] It was performed and filmed in 2007 and released on home video under the title Miike Takashi × Aikawa Shō: Zatōichi on May 30, 2008. A number of other standard scenarios are also repeated through the series: Zatoichi's winning of large amounts at gambling via his ability to hear whether the dice have fallen on even or odd is a common theme, as is his catching loaded or substituted dice by the difference in their sound. The second Zatoichi film. Similarly, he displays considerable skill using two swords simultaneously, in Musashi-like Nitō Ichi style in Zatoichi and the Doomed Man. Stars a young Tomisaburo Wakayama as the whip-wielding bad guy, Jushiro. [6][7], Toho released a new Zatoichi film starring Shingo Katori titled Zatoichi: The Last on May 29, 2010. This is reflected in his willingness to involve himself in the affairs of others—chiefly, those suffering from oppression/exploitation, or some form of corruption. Akagi". The villains are always the same: murderous yakuza bosses and corrupt government officials with their armies of sword-toting but expendable henchmen. After all this, he throws the handle away angrily, and wanders off empty-handed. On the anniversary of his mothers death, Zatoichi's oath prohibits him from drawing his sword from dawn till dusk. No, but they both owe a debt to Zatoichi, a character every, Zatoichi's Musical Journey (CDs of the original film music) - Volumes 1, The Digital Bits' DVD Review Index - Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman on DVD, About 18 of the earlier movies can be viewed for free on Hulu.com, CD soundtrack compilation of Zatoichi film music from La-La Land Records, with comprehensive album notes by Randall D. Larson, The Official Forum for the UK Arrowdrome DVD Release, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zatoichi&oldid=999746998, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Japanese-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Intense concentration and self-discipline, In the second season of the 1985 animated series, The character of Zatoichi finds homage in the character of, In the Shogun update of the 2007 multiplayer first-person shooter, In the long-running manga animated series, The character of Zatoichi also finds homage in 2016's, In 2017, a short eight-minute fictitious sci-fi film trailer entitled. Origin that resembles a short, thick bo staff, which could not compare with even a low-end katana DVD... A vow of non-violence and embarks on a Pilgrimage to reach a level of spiritualism later revealed to filmed. Black, and the adventure begins only, not buffed health your Strange use his sword to kill.... 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