ZATOICHI, EPISODE 1: THE TALE OF ZATOICHI (WIDESCREEN)

Details

• Release Year: 1962
• Genre: Action/Adventure, Drama, Foreign, Martial Arts
• Plot: This is the movie that introduced the legend of Zatoichi and its star Shintaro Katsu, ushering in a new era of the Japanese samurai film. Practicing his trade as a masseur in a small province, Zatoichi finds himself caught in a turf war between rival yakuza gangs. Aware of Zatoichi's reputation as an undefeatable swordsman, yakuza leader Sukejoro tries to hire him - unsuccessfully - as a mercenary. But it's too late. The other gang leader, Shigezo, hires a warrior with an equally fierce reputation to challenge Zatoichi. Thus the legend of Zatoichi begins with intensely choreographed battle scenes and an expertly crafted story.
• Cast: Shintarô Katsu, Masayo Banri, Ryûzô Shimada, Hajime Mitamura, Shigeru Amachi, Chitose Maki, Ikuko Môri, Michirô Minami, Eijirô Yanagi, Toshio Chiba, Manabu Morita, Yoichi Funaki, Kinya Ichikawa, Eigorô Onoe, Yoshito Yamaji, Yukio Horikita, Takaji Fukui, Masayoshi Kikuno, Hajime Koshikawa, Akira Shiga, Yûji Hamada, Hiroyoshi Nishioka, Gen Kimura, Taizô Sengoku, Noboru Taniguchi, Shingo Hosoya, Katsuyoshi Baba, Kaname Yûki, Keiko Awanami, Kanae Kobayashi, Jun Fujikawa, Kenji Misumi, Minoru Inuzuka, Kan Shimozawa
• Director: Kenji Misumi
• Runtime: 1:36
• Company: Home Vision
• Media Format: Movie