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Zatoichi
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 , 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. 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 a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shintaro Katsu
was a Japanese actor, singer, and filmmaker. He is known for starring in the ''Akumyo'' series, the ''Hoodlum Soldier'' series, and the ''Zatoichi'' series. Life and career Born Toshio Okumura (奥村 利夫 ''Okumura Toshio'') on 29 November 1931. He was the son of Minoru Okumura (奥村 実), a noted kabuki performer who went by the stage name Katsutōji Kineya (杵屋 勝東治) and who was renowned for his nagauta and shamisen skills, and younger brother of actor Tomisaburo Wakayama. Shintaro Katsu began his career in entertainment as a shamisen player. He switched to acting because he noticed it was better paid. In the 1960s he starred simultaneously in three long-running series of films, the Akumyo series, the Hoodlum Soldier series, and the Zatoichi series. He played the role of blind masseur Zatoichi in a series of 25 films between 1962 and 1973, in 100 episodes across a four season television series from 1974 to 1979, and in a 26th and final film in 1989, which h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zatoichi (2008 Film)
, also known as ''Zatoichi Live'', is a filmed stage production of ''Zatoichi'', a play co-written by Takashi Miike and Masa Nakamura based on the character created by Kan Shimozawa. It was Miike's second filmed stage production, following '' Demon Pond'' in 2005. The stage production was performed and filmed on December 12, 2007, and the DVD was released on May 30, 2008. Plot A reward is offered for Zatoichi, who has killed some Kappo officials. He causes a disturbance at a gambling house when he discovers that the dice are being switched by a man hidden under the table. This arouses the notice of the "Twin Snakes" Cho ("Red Viper") and Ryo ("Black Viper"), who seek to obtain the reward for Zatoichi, but Zatoichi escapes with the deaf biwa player Kanbachi no Hachi. Cho and Ryo are killed by Ryunosuke. Zatoichi and Hachi collect Japanese brown frogs to sell in town as a source of medicine in exchange for money to use for eating and drinking. They encounter the Ake-Tayu Company, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zatōichi (2003 Film)
(released in the US as ''The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi'') is a 2003 Japanese Jidaigeki action film, directed, written, co-edited by and starring Takeshi Kitano ("Beat" Takeshi) in his 11th directorial venture. Kitano plays the role of the blind swordsman. The film is a revival of the classic ''Zatoichi'' series of samurai film and television dramas. It premiered on 2 September 2003 at the Venice International Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Silver Lion for Best Director award, and went on to numerous other awards both at home and abroad. It also stars Tadanobu Asano, Michiyo Okusu, Yui Natsukawa, Guadalcanal Taka, Daigoro Tachibana, Yuko Daike, Ittoku Kishibe, Saburo Ishikura and Akira Emoto. Plot The film's plot follows a traditional theme, with Zatoichi (a blind swordsman) coming to the defense of townspeople caught up in a local yakuza gang war and being forced to pay excessive amounts of protection money. Meanwhile, Zatoichi befriends a local farmer and her gam ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zatoichi Challenged
is a 1967 Japanese ''chambara'' film directed by Kenji Misumi and starring Shintaro Katsu as the blind masseur Zatoichi. It was originally released by the Daiei Motion Picture Company (later acquired by Kadokawa Pictures). ''Zatoichi Challenged'' is the seventeenth episode in the 26-part film series devoted to the character of Zatoichi. Synopsis Zatoichi (Katsu) checks into an inn where he shares a room with an ill woman and her young son named Ryota. Before the woman dies, she requests that Zatoichi take her son to his father, an artist living in the nearby town of Maebara. As they travel together, they hitch a ride with a traveling performance troupe. The final scene of the movie features Ichi fighting his old samurai friend during snowfall in order to protect the young boy. Although having won the fight fairly by seriously wounding his friend Ichi sacrifices himself by throwing his sword at an approaching servant that is given orders to kill the boy's father thus becomin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Tale Of Zatoichi
is a 1962 Japanese ''chanbara'' film directed by Kenji Misumi and based on the 1948 essay of the same name by Kan Shimozawa. It is the first installment in a long-running ''jidaigeki'' film series starring Shintaro Katsu as the blind swordsman Zatoichi. Plot The blind masseur Zatoichi is hired as muscle for the ''yakuza'' Sukegoro (Eijiro Yanagi) as he thinks that war is inevitable with his rival Shigezo (Ryuzo Shimada). Zatoichi has a distinguished reputation as a swordsman and Sukegoro thinks that purchasing his services is money well spent. Shigezo responds by hiring a '' ronin'' of similar repute, Miki Hirate (Shigeru Amachi). Ichi presents himself as a meek, humble man and is commonly underestimated and looked upon suspiciously. His being a masseur, which was a position of low regard in feudal Japan, merely increases the hostility that is shown towards him. One notable scene has Ichi playing dice in a gambling den where the dealer attempts to con him with loaded pieces. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kan Shimozawa
was a Japanese novelist and historical writer. He was born February 1, 1892, in Atsuta, Hokkaido, and died July 19, 1968. Sometimes his name is spelled ''Kan Shimosawa'' (in ''New Tale of Zatoichi'', ''Zatoichi the Fugitive''). His real name was Umetani Matsutaro. Works He is the creator of several fictional works. Many of which have been adapted into movies. These include: * Shinsengumi Monogatari *1962's Zatoichi TV series and films *1962: ''The Tale of Zatoichi'' *1962: ''The Tale of Zatoichi Continues'' *1963: ''New Tale of Zatoichi'' *1963: '' Zatoichi: The Fugitive'' *1963: '' Zatoichi: On the Road'' *1970: ''Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo'' *1971: ''Zatoichi and the One-Armed Swordsman'' *2003: '' Zatōichi'' *2008: ''Ichi'' Historical figures He has written several historical figures into his works, including: *Takeda Kanryūsai *Yamazaki Susumu was a Shinsengumi officer and spy, otherwise known as a . He was a ''rōnin'' (masterless samurai) from Osaka and an expert in ''Kat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Blind Fury
''Blind Fury'' is a 1989 American action comedy film directed by Phillip Noyce and starring Rutger Hauer, Brandon Call, Terry O'Quinn, Lisa Blount, Randall "Tex" Cobb, and Noble Willingham. The screenplay by Charles Robert 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), a blind, sword-wielding Vietnam War veteran, who returns to the United States and befriends the son of an old friend. Parker decides to help the boy find his father, who has been kidnapped by a major crime syndicate. Plot While serving in Vietnam, American soldier Nick Parker was blinded by a mortar explosion. Rescued by local villagers, he recovered his health and, though he remains blind, was trained to master his other senses and be an expert swordsman. 20 years later, having returned to the United States, he visits old army buddy Frank Deveraux, only to find that Deveraux is missing. Parker ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Takeshi Kitano
is a Japanese comedian, television presenter, actor, filmmaker, and author. While he is known primarily as a comedian and TV host in his native Japan, he is better known abroad for his work as a filmmaker and actor as well as TV host. With the exception of his works as a film director, he is commonly known by the stage name . Kitano rose to prominence in the 1970s as one half of the comedy duo ''Two Beat'', before going solo and becoming one of the three biggest comedians in the country. After several small acting roles, he made his directorial debut with 1989's '' Violent Cop'' and garnered international acclaim for '' Sonatine'' (1993). He was not widely accepted as an accomplished director in Japan until ''Hana-bi'' won the Golden Lion in 1997. In October 2017, Kitano completed his ''Outrage'' crime trilogy with the release of ''Outrage Coda''. He is also known internationally for hosting the game show ''Takeshi's Castle'' (1986–1990) and starring in the film '' Battle Ro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Junji Sakamoto
is a Japanese film director. Career After working as a set assistant or assistant director under such filmmakers as Sogo Ishii and Kazuyuki Izutsu, he made his directorial debut in 1989 with '' Dotsuitarunen'' (earning the Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award) and followed it up with another boxing film, ''Tekken'', in 1990. Sakamoto became known for action films focusing on the conflicts between male characters, such as '' Tokarefu'' and '' New Battles Without Honor and Humanity'', but has also made films centered on female characters such as ''Face'' and ''Awakening''. He won the award for Best Director at the 24th Japan Academy Prize and at the 22nd Yokohama Film Festival for ''Face''. He won the Special Jury prize for '' My House'' at the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival in 2003. ''Chameleon'', an action film starring Tatsuya Fujiwara and Asami Mizukawa, screened at the Busan International Film Festival in 2008. '' Children of the Dark'', a thr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Denzel Curry
Denzel Rae Don Curry (born February 16, 1995) is an American rapper and singer. Born and raised in Carol City, Florida, Curry started rapping while in the sixth grade and began working on his first mixtape in 2011. Influenced by underground Florida rapper SpaceGhostPurrp, the mixtape was later featured on Purrp's social media, giving Curry attention in the local music scene and resulting in him joining Purrp's hip-hop collective Raider Klan. Curry left Raider Klan in 2013, releasing his debut studio album, ''Nostalgic 64'', in September of that year, while still in high school. He has since released three extended plays: ''32 Zel/Planet Shrooms'' in 2015, ''13'' in 2017, and ''Unlocked'' (a collaboration with Kenny Beats) in 2020, and four studio albums: ''Imperial'' in 2016, ''Ta13oo'' in 2018, ''Zuu'' in 2019, and ''Melt My Eyez See Your Future'' in 2022. ''Ta13oo'', ''Zuu'', and ''Melt My Eyez'' debuted at numbers 28, 32, and 51 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart, respectively ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bakuto
''Bakuto'' (博徒) were itinerant gamblers active in Japan from the 18th century to the mid-20th century. They were one of two forerunners (the other being ''tekiya'', or peddlers) to modern Japanese organized crime syndicates called ''yakuza''. History Beginning around the 17th century, ''bakuto'' plied their trade in towns and highways in feudal Japan, playing traditional games such as hanafuda and dice. During the Tokugawa shogunate, violent ''bakuto'' ''ikka'' (families) rose to power with the gambling spaces they ran, occasionally hired by local governments to gamble with laborers, winning back worker's earnings in exchange for a percentage. They had varying qualities of relationships with the villages in which they lived, often as well with the government, despite their connection. In the 18th century, the tradition of elaborate tattooing was introduced into ''bakuto'' culture. Dealers of card or dice games often displayed these full-body tattoos shirtless while playing. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Takashi Miike
is a Japanese film director, film producer and screenwriter. He has directed over one hundred theatrical, video, and television productions since his debut in 1991. His films run through a variety of different genres, and range from violent and surrealism, bizarre to dramatic and family-friendly movies. He is a controversial figure in the contemporary Japanese cinema industry, with several of his films being criticised for their extreme graphic violence. Some of his best known films are Audition (1999 film), ''Audition'', Ichi the Killer (film), ''Ichi the Killer'', ''Gozu'', One Missed Call (2003 film), ''One Missed Call'', the ''Dead or Alive (1999 film), Dead or Alive'' trilogy, and various remakes: Graveyard of Honor (2002 film), ''Graveyard of Honor'', ''Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai, Hara-kiri'' and 13 Assassins (2010 film), ''13 Assassins''. Early life Miike was born in Yao, Osaka, Yao, Osaka Prefecture, to a ''Japanese diaspora#Asia, Nikkei'' family originally from th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
