Fictional character (blind swordsman) created by Kan Shimozawa
For other uses, see Zatoichi (disambiguation).
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Fictional character
Zatoichi
Zatoichi character
North American Home Vision Entertainment DVD cover of The Tale of Zatoichi
Zatoichi (Japanese: 座頭市, Hepburn: Zatōichi) is a fictional character created by Japanese novelist Kan Shimozawa. He is an itinerant blind masseur and swordsman of Japan's late Edo period (1830s and 1840s). He first appeared in the 1948 essay Zatoichi Monogatari (座頭市物語), part of Shimozawa's Futokoro Techō series that was serialized in the magazine Shōsetsu to Yomimono.
This originally minor character was drastically altered and developed for the screen by Daiei Film and actor Shintaro Katsu, becoming the subject of one of Japan's longest-running film series. A total of 26 films were made between 1962 and 1989. From 1974 to 1979, a television series was produced, starring Katsu and some of the same actors that appear in the films. Produced by Katsu Productions, 100 episodes were aired before the Zatoichi television series was cancelled.[1]
The seventeenth film of the Zatoichi series was remade in the US in 1989 by TriStar Pictures as Blind Fury, starring Rutger Hauer. A 2003 film was directed by Takeshi Kitano, who also starred as the title character. It was awarded the Venice Film Festival's Silver Lion for Best Direction. A stage adaptation of Zatoichi directed by Takashi Miike and starring Show Aikawa was filmed in 2007 and later released on home video. Zatoichi: The Last is a 2010 film directed by Junji Sakamoto and starring Shingo Katori.
^"Frequently Asked Questions about 'Zatoichi'". The Momii Company. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
Zatoichi (Japanese: 座頭市, Hepburn: Zatōichi) is a fictional character created by Japanese novelist Kan Shimozawa. He is an itinerant blind masseur and swordsman...
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...
for starring in the Akumyo series, the Hoodlum Soldier series, and the Zatoichi series. Born Toshio Okumura (奥村 利夫 Okumura Toshio) on 29 November 1931...
Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival (座頭市あばれ火祭り) is a 1970 Japanese Chambara film directed by Kenji Misumi and starring Shintaro Katsu, who also produced...
Arita in Bright Future, Hyozo Tashiro in Gohatto, Hattori Genosuke in Zatoichi, Kenji in Last Life in the Universe, A man in Survive Style 5+, Ayano in...
Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo (座頭市と用心棒) is a 1970 Japanese drama film directed by Kihachi Okamoto. It is the 20th of a series of films featuring the blind swordsman...
Zatoichi Challenged (座頭市血煙り街道, Zatōichi chikemurikaidō) is a 1967 Japanese chambara film directed by Kenji Misumi and starring Shintaro Katsu as the blind...
genre, including some the Lone Wolf and Cub films, and a number in the Zatoichi and Sleepy Eyes of Death series. An excellent example of the kind of immediacy...
Carner is a loosely based, modernized remake of Zatoichi Challenged, the 17th film in the Japanese Zatoichi film series. The film follows Nick Parker (Hauer)...
of Zatoichi Continues (続・座頭市物語, Zoku Zatōichi Monogatari) is a 1962 Japanese film directed by Kazuo Mori and starring Shintaro Katsu as Zatōichi the...
Zatoichi: The Fugitive (座頭市兇状旅, Zatōichi Kyōjō tabi) is a 1963 Japanese Chambara film directed by Tokuzō Tanaka starring Shintaro Katsu as the blind masseur...
New Tale of Zatoichi (Japanese: 新・座頭市物語 Shin Zatoichi monogatari) is a 1963 Japanese film and the third entry from the popular Zatoichi series completing...
series such as Lone Wolf and Cub and the initial film in the long-running Zatoichi series, and also directed Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice, starring Shintaro...
and Kenny Beats, among others. It was preceded by the singles "Walkin", "Zatoichi", and "Troubles". The album received widespread acclaim from critics, with...
Zatoichi and the Chess Expert (座頭市地獄旅, Zatōichi jigoku-tabi) is a 1965 Japanese chambara film directed by Kenji Misumi and starring Shintaro Katsu as...
Vengeance (座頭市の歌が聞える, Zatōichi no uta ga kikoeru, 1966) Zatoichi the Outlaw (座頭市牢破り, Zatōichi rōyaburi, 1967) A Certain Killer (1967) Zatoichi and the Fugitives...
Adventures of Zatoichi (座頭市関所破り, Zatōichi sekisho-yaburi) is a 1964 Japanese chambara film directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda and starring Shintaro Katsu as...
novelist and historical writer best known for originating the character Zatoichi. He was awarded the Kikuchi Kan Prize in 1962 for a series of works set...
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