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Some Information about the Series

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WHO IS ZATOICHI?
Zatoichi is the famous, fictional, blind masseur and roving gambler who, when innocent lives are threatened, becomes the ruthless swordsman who can cut down a dozen men -- yakuza and samurai alike -- before they know what hit them.

He's as famous a film character in Japan as the Indiana Jones character is in the States. He wandered the Japanese countryside in the early 1800s during the waning years of the Tokugawa Shogunate, barely scraping a living by giving massages and gambling. Although saddled with the physical handicap of blindness and the social handicap of living at the bottom of a rigid feudal class structure, Zatoichi manages to gain the upper hand with nearly everyone he meets, including the samurai or warrior class. He achieves this by using his good-natured wit, perceptive understanding of human nature, keen sense of hearing, and the lightning fast draw of his cane sword.

Often humorous and always filled with sword-fighting action, the Zatoichi series of films has succeeded in attracting a worldwide following.

"Any fan of Kurosawa's 'Yojimbo' should snatch these up." --The New York Post

Can you provide a brief biography about Shintaro Katsu, the man who brought the Zatoichi character to life?

Actor Shintaro Katsu was born Toshio Okumura on November 29, 1931. He seemed destined for an actor's life. His father was a renowned kabuki performer and master of the Japanese singing style known as nagauta, so it was only natural for Shintaro to follow in his father's footsteps along with his older brother, Wakayama Tomisaburo (of Lone Wolf fame.) His celebrity status was not limited to just one series of samurai films. He was also a popular singer, releasing a few music CD's during his career. The Zatoichi film series was produced in the sixties but he appeared in film as late as the eighties. Nicknamed Katsu-shin, he lived in the moment, and relied upon his feelings when acting. His portrayal of the blind master swordsman in a series of movies and on television brought him tremendous popularity throughout Southeast Asia and influenced similar action films in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Shintaro Katsu was the kind of star who could only emerge from "studios". He possessed all the dreams that studios could give him and then gave them to us, and in such splendid abundance that those outside the studio could not help but confuse the dreams with reality. 'Zato-ichi Monogatari' (1962), which firmly established his stardom, was his 94th film. In Zato-ichi Monogatari, the blind protagonist fatally wounds his friend and the man leans on Ichi's shoulder. The filmmakers wanted to present this sequence so that the man's dying heartbeat was audible, and Ichi listens to the final beat. Though they tried everything, the effect was not successful and was finally cut from the final version of the film. What remains, however, is the deeply sorrowful expression on Ichi's face at the death of his old friend. The actor's sensitivity and keen observation of human nature, created powerful, precise and altogether unique performances.

Katsu died of cancer June 21, 1997 at the age of 65.

Throughout his life of struggle and happiness, this great star never ceased pursuing his dreams. Other than his marriage to a Japanese actress, there is very little information readily available on his private life. (Submitted by devoted Zatoichi fan, 'Sakura Girl')


Can you provide a listing of all the Zatoichi film titles?
Here is a chronological listing of the titles. (DVD title, followed by VHS title, if applicable.)

There are 25 titles in all. See here.

1. The Tale of Zatoichi (The Life and Opinion of Masseur Ichi) 1962
2. The Tale of Zatoichi Continues (Return of Masseur Ichi) 1962
3. New Tale of Zatoichi (Masseur Ichi Enters Again) 1963
4. The Fugitive (Masseur Ichi, The Fugitive) 1963
5. On The Road (Masseur Ichi on the Road) 1964
6. Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold (Masseur Ichi and a Chest of Gold) 1964
7. Zatoichi's Flashing Sword (Same) 1964
8. Fight, Zatoichi, Fight 1964
9. Adventures of Zatoichi (Adventures of a Blind Man) 1965

10. Zatoichi's Revenge (Blind Swordsman's Revenge) 1965
11. Zatoichi and the Doomed Man 1965
12. Zatoichi and the Chess Expert (Blind Swordsman and the Chess Expert)1965
13. Zatoichi's Vengeance (Blind Swordsman's Vengeance) 1966

14. Zatoichi's Pilgrimmage 1966
15. Zatoichi's Cane Sword (Blind Swordsman's Cane Sword) 1967
16. Zatoichi The Outlaw (a.k.a. Blind Swordsman's Rescue) 1967
17. Zatoichi Challenged! 1967
18. Zatoichi and the Fugitives (Blind Swordsman and the Fugitives) 1968
19. Samaritan Zatoichi (Blind Swordsman Samaritan) 1968
20. Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo 1970
21. Blind Swordsman's Fire Festival 1970
22. Zatoichi vs. the One-Armed Swordsman (a.k.a., Blind Swordsman Meets His Equal) 1971
23. Zatoichi At Large 1972
24. Zatoichi in Desperation 1973
25. Zatoichi's Conspiracy 1974
26. Zatoichi: Darkness Is My Ally

Click to expand...

:up All four are 2:35:1 (OAR).

My 942 will be doing double duty this evening.

All four will repeat today...

Yesterday one of these aired. I am sure others will air.