[01] The Tale of Zatoichi DVDRip OmU 1962 Uncut - Shintaro Katsu

THX a lot to 2184 for ripping & uploading this whole Zatoichi-Epos (26 movies)

Zatoichi 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 character, a blind masseur and swordmaster, was created by novelist Kan Shimozawa (????, Shimozawa Kan). This originally minor character was developed for the screen by Daiei Studios and actor Shintaro Katsu, who created the screen version. A total of 26 films were made from 1962 to 1974, with the 26th film being released in 1989. From 1972 to 1974, a television series of the same name was made. 112 episodes were aired before the "Zatoichi" tv series was cancelled.[1]

The iconic popularity of the character has been responsible for much that is good in Western cinema and television-- post-1962. The character had direct influences on all Chinese martial arts film directors, inspired a number of Western characters such as Lieutenant Columbo or the "Kung Fu" series, and was remade in America in 1990 (by TriStar Pictures) as "Blind Fury", an action-comedy starring Rutger Hauer in the title role. This was a remake of film number 17 of the series. Zatoichi has always been synonymous with only Katsu. The only other actor to portray Zatoichi in Japan, in a 2003 remake, is Takeshi Kitano.

Character
Zatoichi at first appears to be a harmless blind anma ("masseur") who wanders around the country. Making his living by gambling as well as giving massasges, performing acupuncture, singing and playing music; however, he is also highly-skilled in swordsmanship, specifically iaido and is equally skilled in the general sword skills of Japan, as well as Sumo wrestling.

He does not carry a traditional katana, instead using a well-made shikomi-zue (cane sword). It would have been foolish and attention-getting to attempt to carry even a short blade, which at all events were outlawed. Shikomi-tzue were generally straight-edge, lower-quality blades which could not compare with regular katana; but as revealed in Zatoichi's Cane Sword, his weapon is superior since he discovers in this film that his sword blade was forged by a master bladesmith.

A recurring theme of the films and television series is Zatoichi protecting the innocent from oppressive and/or warring yakuza gangs, and investigating/stopping general injustice. His fighting skill is incredible, with his sword-grip in inverse manner; this, combined with his keen ear and sense of smell proprioception, renders him a frightening opponent. He is quite capable with a traditional katana, as seen in Zatoichi's Vengeance.

The character's name is actually Ichi. Zato is a title, the lowest of the four official ranks within the Todoza, the historical guild for blind men. (Thus zato is also Japanese slang for a blind person.) Ichi is therefore properly called Zato-no-Ichi ("Low-Ranking Blind Person Ichi", approximately), or Zatoichi for short. It is also a play on words: "Sa" or "za" is a combinative word for "master"; "to" is likewise for "sword"; and "ichi" means "one"; therefore, an alternate translation might read "First Sword Master", or perhaps "Master of the Unique Sword Style". Giving massages was a traditional occupation for the blind, since blind persons and masseurs were on the lowest societal level, no better than beggars because in Japan it was common to think of the blind as being also retarded or perverted. -Wikipedia-


[01] The Tale of Zatoichi DVDRip OmU 1962 Uncut - Shintaro Katsu

IMDB-rating 7.6


Length: 1h 36Min.
Format: XviD Black/White
Size: 696 MB
Language: Japanese
Subtitle: German, English (*.srt)
Uploader: 2184
Genre: Action, Adventure, Eastern

Download: Rapidshare.com

Pass: asia-stuff.org

25 Zatoichis are to follow.......