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| caption = Theatrical release poster
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Kenji Misumi]]
| director = [[Kenji Misumi]]
| producer =
| producer = Ikuo Kubodera
| writer =
| writer =
| screenplay = [[Minoru Inuzuka]]
| screenplay = [[Minoru Inuzuka]]
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*Masayo Banri
*Masayo Banri
*Ryuzo Shimada
*Ryuzo Shimada
*Hajime Mitamura
*Gen Mitamura
*[[Shigeru Amachi]]
*[[Shigeru Amachi]]
<!--- per DVD slip (link: http://www.dvdca.com/download/37244-1/1974THe_Tale_of_Zatoichi.jpg) --->
}}
}}
| narrator =
| music = [[Akira Ifukube]]
| music = [[Akira Ifukube]]
| cinematography = Chishi Makiura
| cinematography = Chikashi Makiura
| editing = Kanji Suganuma
| editing = Kanji Suganuma
| background_artist = [[Akira Naitō]]
| background_artist = [[Akira Naito]]
| studio = [[Daiei Film|Daiei Motion Picture Company]]
| studio = [[Daiei Film|Daiei Motion Picture Company]]
| distributor = [[Daiei Film|Dalei Studios]]
| distributor = [[Daiei Film|Dalei Studios]]
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}}
}}


'''''The Tale of Zatoichi''''' ({{lang-ja|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]], a character created by [[Kan Shimozawa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nfaj.go.jp/exhibition/misumi-2016-1/#ex-6272|publisher=National Film Archive of Japan|title=映画監督 三隅研次 | access-date=November 22, 2020|language=Japanese}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sp.kinenote.com/main/public/cinema/detail.aspx?cinema_id=20713&key_search=%E5%BA%A7%E9%A0%AD%E5%B8%82%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E|title=座頭市物語|publisher=[[Kinema Junpo]] |access-date=11 January 2021}}</ref>
{{Nihongo|'''''The Tale of Zatoichi'''''|座頭市物語|Zatōichi Monogatari|lead=yes}} is a 1962 Japanese ''[[chanbara]]'' film directed by [[Kenji Misumi]] and based on the 1948 essay of the same name by [[Kan Shimozawa]]. It is the first installment in a long-running ''[[jidaigeki]]'' film series starring [[Shintaro Katsu]] as the blind swordsman [[Zatoichi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nfaj.go.jp/exhibition/misumi-2016-1/#ex-6272|publisher=National Film Archive of Japan|title=映画監督 三隅研次 | access-date=November 22, 2020|language=Japanese}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sp.kinenote.com/main/public/cinema/detail.aspx?cinema_id=20713&key_search=%E5%BA%A7%E9%A0%AD%E5%B8%82%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E|title=座頭市物語|publisher=[[Kinema Junpo]] |access-date=11 January 2021}}</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==
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==Cast==
==Cast==
* [[Shintaro Katsu]] as Zatoichi
* [[Shintaro Katsu]] as [[Zatoichi]]
* [[:ja:万里昌代|Masayo Banri]] as Otane
* [[:ja:万里昌代|Masayo Banri]] as Otane
* [[Ryūzō Shimada]] as Shigezō of the Sasagawa Yakuza
* [[Ryūzō Shimada]] as Shigezo of the Sasagawa Yakuza
* [[Hajime Mitamura]] as Hanji of Matsugishi
* [[Gen Mitamura]] as Hanji of Matsugishi
* [[Shigeru Amachi]] as Miki Hirate
* [[Shigeru Amachi]] as Miki Hirate
* [[Chitose Maki]] as Hanji's wife Yoshi
* [[Chitose Maki]] as Hanji's wife Yoshi
* [[Ikuko Mōri]] as Shigezō's wife Oyutaka
* [[Ikuko Mōri]] as Shigezo's wife Oyutaka
* [[Michio Minami]] as Tatekichi of the Iioka Yakuza
* [[Michio Minami]] as Tatekichi of the Iioka Yakuza
* [[Eijirō Yanagi]] as Sukegorō of Iioka
* [[Eijirō Yanagi]] as Sukegoro of Iioka
* [[Toshio Chiba]] as Masakichi of Iioka
* [[Toshio Chiba]] as Masakichi of Iioka
* [[Manabu Morita]] as Seisuke of Iioka
* [[Manabu Morita]] as Seisuke of Iioka
* [[Yoichi Funaki]] as Yogorō of Sasagawa
* [[Yoichi Funaki]] as Yogoro of Sasagawa
* [[Kin'ya Ichikawa]] as Mokichi of Sasagawa
* [[Kin'ya Ichikawa]] as Mokichi of Sasagawa
* [[Eigorō Onoe]] as Rihei of Sasagawa
* [[Eigorō Onoe]] as Rihei of Sasagawa

Revision as of 18:52, 28 November 2022

The Tale of Zatoichi
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKenji Misumi
Screenplay byMinoru Inuzuka
Based onThe Tale of Zatoichi
by Kan Shimozawa
Produced byIkuo Kubodera
Starring
CinematographyChikashi Makiura
Edited byKanji Suganuma
Music byAkira Ifukube
Backgrounds byAkira Naito
Production
company
Distributed byDalei Studios
Release date
  • 12 April 1962 (1962-04-12)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese

The Tale of Zatoichi (Japanese: 座頭市物語, Hepburn: Zatōichi Monogatari) is a 1962 Japanese chanbara film directed by Kenji Misumi and based on the 1948 essay of the same name by Kan Shimozawa. It is the first installment in a long-running jidaigeki film series starring Shintaro Katsu as the blind swordsman Zatoichi.[1][2]

Plot

The blind masseur Zatoichi is hired by yakuza gang-leader Sukegoro (Eijiro Yanagi) as he thinks that war is inevitable with the rival yakuza Shigezo (Ryuzo Shimada). Zatoichi has a distinguished reputation as a swordsman and Sukegoro 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 and considers death at the hands of a master swordsman preferable. As Hirate becomes increasingly sick, Sukegoro decides to attack Shigezo. He also tells Ichi that he is no longer needed. However, as the war begins, Shigezo informs Hirate of his fallback plan since Hirate is ill, that he intends to shoot Ichi with his rifle. Hirate drags himself from his bed to fight Zatoichi on the condition that the rifle is left behind. Ichi learns from a boy at the temple where Hirate was staying that Hirate will be fighting after all, and also learns the reason. Zatoichi travels to the battle to duel with the dying samurai. After the tense final fight, in which Zatoichi prevails, 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

Release

The Tale of Zatoichi was released in Japan on April 12, 1962.[3][4] It was re-issued theatrically in 1976.[4] The film was followed by The Tale of Zatoichi Continues later in 1962.[4]

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.[5]

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ "映画監督 三隅研次" (in Japanese). National Film Archive of Japan. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  2. ^ "座頭市物語". Kinema Junpo. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  3. ^ Galbraith IV 1996, p. 262.
  4. ^ a b c Galbraith IV 1996, p. 263.
  5. ^ The Tale of Zatoichi at Rotten Tomatoes

Sources

  • Galbraith IV, Stuart (1996). The Japanese Filmography: 1900 through 1994. McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-0032-3.
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