Zatoichi

Zatoichi (座頭市 Zatōichi) is a fictional character featured in one of Japan's longest running series of films and a television series set in the Edo period. The enduring popularity of the character has been likened to that of James Bond in Western countries. However, Zatoichi has become almost synonymous with one actor: Shintaro Katsu. The only other actor to portray Zatoichi on film is Takeshi Kitano, after a hiatus of almost 15 years.

The original series of films

The original series of 26 films featured Shintaro Katsu as Zatoichi. The first film was made in 1962 in black and white. The third film, in 1963, was the first to be filmed in color. The twenty-fifth film was made in 1973, and there was a pause of some 16 years before Katsu's last film, in 1989, which he directed himself.

Related Topics:
1962 - Black and white - 1963 - Color - 1973 - 1989

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The original series of movies features other popular fictional characters of the genre on two occasions: Zatoichi and the One Armed Swordsman (1971) connects with the Shaw Brothers series of Hong Kong produced movies directed by prolific director Chang Cheh. Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo (1970) features Toshiro Mifune reprising his role from the Akira Kurosawa films Yojimbo and Sanjuro.

Related Topics:
1971 - Shaw Brothers - Hong Kong - Chang Cheh - 1970 - Toshiro Mifune - Akira Kurosawa - Yojimbo - Sanjuro

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The series has also had wide spread influences on non-Japanese films. The 1989 film Blind Fury featuring Rutger Hauer as a blind swordsman in contemporary America is based on the screenplay of Zatoichi Challenged (1967) with elements of other films of the series.

Related Topics:
1989 - Blind Fury - Rutger Hauer - America - Screenplay

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nevertheless, Zatoichi is but one of a surprising number of blind heroes with superhuman fighting skills that have emerged throughout history, and while predated by such characters as the pulp fiction and comic book heroes Black Bat and Doctor Mid-Nite respectively, is followed by the likes of Daredevil. The 1970s television series Kung Fu features a blind Shaolin priest also possessing amazing martial arts skills.

Related Topics:
Pulp fiction - Comic book - Doctor Mid-Nite - Daredevil - 1970s - Kung Fu - Shaolin - Martial arts

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

List of original films

Note: The English title is not necessarily a direct translation of the Japanese title.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~