This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(April 2023) |
Zatoichi(Japanese:Tọa đầu thị,Hepburn:Zatōichi)is a fictional character created by Japanese novelistKan Shimozawa.He is an itinerant blindmasseurandswordsmanof Japan's lateEdo period(1830s and 1840s). He first appeared in the 1948essayZatoichi Monogatari(Tọa đầu thị vật ngữ),part of Shimozawa'sFutokoro Techōseries that was serialized in the magazineShōsetsu to Yomimono.
Zatoichi | |
---|---|
Zatoichicharacter | |
![]() North American Home Vision Entertainment DVD cover ofThe Tale of Zatoichi | |
First appearance | Zatoichi Monogatari(1948) |
Created by | Kan Shimozawa |
Portrayed by | Shintaro Katsu(1962–1989) Takeshi Kitano(2003 film) Show Aikawa(2007 play) Tetta Sugimoto (2008 film) Shingo Katori(2010 film) |
In-universe information | |
Occupation | Masseur Swordsman Gambler |
This originally minor character was drastically altered and developed for the screen byDaiei Filmand actorShintaro 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 theZatoichitelevision series was cancelled.[1]
Theseventeenth filmof theZatoichiseries was remade in the US in 1989 byTriStar PicturesasBlind Fury,starringRutger Hauer.A2003 filmwas directed byTakeshi Kitano,who also starred as the title character. It was awarded theVenice Film Festival'sSilver Lion for Best Direction.A stage adaptation ofZatoichidirected byTakashi Miikeand starringShow Aikawawas filmed in 2007 and later releasedon home video.Zatoichi: The Lastis a 2010 film directed byJunji Sakamotoand starringShingo Katori.
Character
editZatoichi at first comes across as a harmlessblindanma(masseur) andbakuto(gambler) who wanders the land, making his living bychō-han(playing dice) as well as giving massages, performingacupunctureand even, on occasion, singing and playing music. Secretly, however, he is very highly skilled inswordsmanship,specifically Muraku-schoolkenjutsuandiaidoalong with the more general sword skills of Japan, as well assumo wrestlingandkyujutsu.
Little of his past is revealed, other than that he lost his sight as a child through illness. His father disappeared for undisclosed reasons when Zatoichi was about five years old. He is described by his swordsmanship instructor as having practiced constantly and with extreme devotion when he was a pupil in order to develop his incredible skills. Zatoichi says of himself that he became ayakuza(gangster) during those three years he spent training (which immediately precede the originalThe Tale of Zatoichi) and killed many people, something he later came to deeply regret. This is reflected in his willingness to involve himself in the affairs of others—chiefly, those suffering from oppression and exploitation, or some form of corruption. Despite that moral re-assessment and his new perspective and remorse (and most often because of them), he usually has a bounty (sometimes quite large) on his head from one source or another throughout the movies and series. However, because of his earnestness, wit, and natural sense of empathy, many people who encounter him during his travels grow to respect and even care for him.
Unlike abushi,he does not carry a traditionalkatana.Instead, he uses a well-madeshikomi-zue( sĩ 込み trượng, lit. "prepared cane" orcane sword), as the use or possession of true fighting blades was formally outlawed for non-samuraiduring the Edo period.[citation needed]The decree was virtually impossible to enforce, however, as evidenced by the yakuza enforcers being shown wielding katanas throughout the films. The blades ofShikomi-zuewere generally straight-edged, of lower-quality, unfolded steel, which could not compare with even a low-endkatana.As a result, the blade in Ichi's cane sword is broken during the climactic battle inZatoichi the Fugitive(the fourth film). The sword has a new blade by the next film, which he wields until the fifteenth filmZatoichi's Cane Sword.The blade (which breaks during the film) and the blade that replaces it were specially forged at great expense and with far more than the usual care by masterbladesmithsand were both of exceptional quality, superior to the swords of even mostsamurai.At the beginning ofZatoichi Meets Yojimbo,his swordblade (presumably the same) inexplicably breaks and is sold to a blacksmith along with its hilt and scabbard. Its replacement is not ashikomi-zue,but ajotō( trượng đao lit. a "staff sword" ) of unrevealed origin that resembles a short, thickbo staff,which also soon breaks. In the next film,Zatoichi: The Festival of Fire,he is once again using his trademark cane sword, outfitted with a new blade of unknown origin and quality.
The principal recurring thematic formula of these films and the television series is that of the ever-wandering and sentimental drifter who protects the innocent and the helpless from oppressive or warringyakuzagangs, stops the worst of general injustice or predation and aids the unfortunate, and often, through no fault of his own, is set upon by ruffians or stumbles into harm's way.[citation needed]Zatoichi's saga is essentially one of an earthy but basically good and wise man almost always trying to do the decent thing, to somehow redeem himself and perhaps atone for past failings. Nevertheless, he believes himself instead to be a stained, corrupted and evil man, irredeemable and undeserving of the love and respect that some show and rightly have for him. This self-described "god of calamities" is routinely a magnet for troubles of one sort or another. Death is his only constant companion, as he pragmatically does not allow other people, especially those he loves or thinks highly of, to get close and stay there for long; such would lead to eventual tragedy. Death does seem, like a shadow, actually to follow an often reluctant Zatoichi almost everywhere he goes, and despite his mostly compassionate nature, killing appears to come entirely naturally to him.
His lightning-fast fighting skill is incredible, with his sword held in a reverse grip; this, combined with his unflappable steel-nerved wits in a fight, his keen ears, sense of smell andproprioception,all render him a formidable adversary. He is also quite capable with a traditionalkatana,as seen inZatoichi's Vengeanceand the bathhouse scene inZatoichi and the Festival of Fire.Similarly, he displays considerable skill using two swords simultaneously, in Musashi-likeNitō Ichistyle inZatoichi and the Doomed Man.Almost preternaturally dangerous with blades, he is fully capable (whether standing, sitting or lying down) of fighting and swiftly defeating multiple skilled opponents simultaneously. Some, however, have come close to besting him in combat, in particular during the final duel inZatoichi Challenged,where extenuating circumstances played a role.
A number of other standard scenarios are also repeated through the series: Zatoichi's winning of large amounts at gambling via his ability to hear whether the dice have fallen on even or odd is a common theme, as is his catching loaded or substituted dice by the difference in their sound. This frequently culminates in another set piece, Zatoichi's cutting the candles lighting the room and reducing it to pitch blackness, commonly accompanied by his tagline "Kurayami nara kotchi no mon da" ( ám ám ならこっちのもんだ; roughly meaning "Darkness is my ally" or "Now we are all blind" ).
The character's name is actuallyIchi.Zatōis a title, the lowest of the four official ranks within theTōdōza,the historical guild for blind men (thus,zatoalso designates a blind person in Japanese slang).[citation needed]Ichi is therefore properly calledZatō-no-Ichi( "Low-Ranking Blind Person Ichi", approximately), orZatōichifor short. Massage was a traditional occupation for the blind (as their lack of sight removed the issue of gender), as was playing thebiwaor, for blind women (goze), theshamisen.[citation needed]Being lesserhinin(lit. "non-people"), blind people and masseurs were regarded as among the very lowest of the low in social class, other thanetaor outright criminals; they were generally considered wretches, beneath notice, no better than beggars or even the insane—especially during the Edo period—and it was also commonly thought that the blind were accursed, despicable, severely mentally disabled, deaf and sexually dangerous.
Original film series
editThe original series of 26 films featuredShintaro Katsuas Zatoichi. The first film was made in 1962 inblack and white.The third film, in 1963, was the first to be filmed in color. The 25th film was made in 1973, followed by a hiatus of 16 years until Katsu's last film, which he wrote and directed himself in 1989.
The original series of movies features other popular fictional characters of the genre on two occasions.Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman(1971) connects with theShaw Brothersseries ofHong Kong-produced movies directed by prolific directorChang Cheh;andZatoichi Meets Yojimbo(1970) featuresToshiro Mifuneas Imperial Shogunate Secret Agent Daisaku Sasa. This character resembles the title character ofAkira Kurosawa's filmsYojimboandSanjuro.The earlier films, in which Mifune's character used the pseudonym Sanjuro (30-year-old), are alluded to when Sassa is jokingly called Shijuro (40-year-old).
List of films
editNo. | English Title | Year | Japanese | Romanization | Director | Production | Distribution |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The Tale of Zatoichi | 1962 | Tọa đầu thị vật ngữ | Zatōichi monogatari | Kenji Misumi | Daiei | Daiei |
2 | The Tale of Zatoichi Continues | 続・ tọa đầu thị vật ngữ | Zoku Zatōichi monogatari | Kazuo Mori | |||
3 | The New Tale of Zatoichi | 1963 | Tân ・ tọa đầu thị vật ngữ | Shin Zatōichi monogatari | Tokuzō Tanaka | ||
4 | Zatoichi the Fugitive | Tọa đầu thị hung trạng lữ | Zatōichi kyōjō-tabi | ||||
5 | Zatoichi on the Road | Tọa đầu thị huyên hoa lữ | Zatōichi kenka-tabi | Kimiyoshi Yasuda | |||
6 | Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold | 1964 | Tọa đầu thị thiên lạng thủ | Zatōichi senryō-kubi | Kazuo Ikehiro | ||
7 | Zatoichi's Flashing Sword | Tọa đầu thị あばれ凧 | Zatōichi abare tako | ||||
8 | Fight, Zatoichi, Fight | Tọa đầu thị huyết tiếu lữ | Zatōichi kesshō-tabi | Kenji Misumi | |||
9 | Adventures of Zatoichi | Tọa đầu thị quan sở phá り | Zatōichi sekisho-yaburi | Kimiyoshi Yasuda | |||
10 | Zatoichi's Revenge | 1965 | Tọa đầu thị nhị đoạn trảm り | Zatōichi nidan-giri | Akira Inoue | ||
11 | Zatoichi and the Doomed Man | Tọa đầu thị nghịch thủ trảm り | Zatōichi sakate-giri | Kazuo Mori | |||
12 | Zatoichi and the Chess Expert | Tọa đầu thị địa ngục lữ | Zatōichi jigoku-tabi | Kenji Misumi | |||
13 | Zatoichi's Vengeance | 1966 | Tọa đầu thị の ca が văn える | Zatōichi no uta ga kikoeru | Tokuzō Tanaka | ||
14 | Zatoichi's Pilgrimage | Tọa đầu thị hải を độ る | Zatōichi umi o wataru | Kazuo Ikehiro | |||
15 | Zatoichi's Cane Sword | 1967 | Tọa đầu thị thiết hỏa lữ | Zatōichi tekka-tabi | Kimiyoshi Yasuda | ||
16 | Zatoichi the Outlaw | Tọa đầu thị lao phá り | Zatōichi rōyaburi | Satsuo Yamamoto | Katsu Productions | ||
17 | Zatoichi Challenged | Tọa đầu thị huyết yên り nhai đạo | Zatōichi chikemurikaidō | Kenji Misumi | Daiei | ||
18 | Zatoichi and the Fugitives | 1968 | Tọa đầu thị quả し trạng | Zatōichi hatashijō | Kimiyoshi Yasuda | ||
19 | Samaritan Zatoichi | Tọa đầu thị huyên hoa thái cổ | Zatōichi kenka-daiko | Kenji Misumi | |||
20 | Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo | 1970 | Tọa đầu thị と dụng tâm bổng | Zatōichi to Yōjinbō | Kihachi Okamoto | Katsu Productions | |
21 | Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival | Tọa đầu thị あばれ hỏa tế り | Zatōichi abare-himatsuri | Kenji Misumi | Dainichi Eihai | ||
22 | Zatoichi and the One-Armed Swordsman | 1971 | Tân tọa đầu thị ・ phá れ! Đường nhân kiếm | Shin Zatōichi: Yabure! Tōjin-ken | Kimiyoshi Yasuda | ||
23 | Zatoichi at Large | 1972 | Tọa đầu thị ngự dụng lữ | Zatōichi goyō-tabi | Kazuo Mori | Toho/ Katsu Productions | Toho |
24 | Zatoichi in Desperation | Tân tọa đầu thị vật ngữ ・ chiết れた trượng | Shin Zatōichi monogatari: Oreta tsue | Shintaro Katsu | Katsu Productions | ||
25 | Zatoichi's Conspiracy | 1973 | Tân tọa đầu thị vật ngữ ・ lạp gian の huyết tế り | Shin Zatōichi monogatari: Kasama no chimatsuri | Kimiyoshi Yasuda | ||
26 | Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally | 1989 | Tọa đầu thị | Zatōichi | Shintaro Katsu | Katsu Promotion | Shochiku |
- Note:The English titles shown are the common commercially used titles, thus they are not direct translations of the original Japanese titles.
Directors
editMany directors directed multiple Zatoichi movies. The directors are (in order of number of movies they directed):
- Kenji Misumi: 6
- Kimiyoshi Yasuda: 6
- Kazuo Mori: 3
- Tokuzō Tanaka: 3
- Kazuo Ikehiro: 3
- Shintaro Katsu: 2
- Akira Inoue: 1
- Satsuo Yamamoto: 1
- Kihachi Okamoto: 1
Television series
editThe television seriesZatoichiran for four seasons—a total of 100 episodes—with Shintaro Katsu in the lead role:
- 26 episodes, in 1974
- 29 episodes, in 1976
- 19 episodes, in 1978
- 26 episodes, in 1979
Most of the stories in the television series are original dramas, but some are essentially redacted remakes of the full-length Zatoichi films of the previous decade such as Season One, Episode 14, "Fighting Journey with Baby in Tow" (corresponds to the 8th film "Fight, Zatoichi, Fight" tọa đầu thị huyết tiếu lữ Zatōichi kesshō-tabi); Season One, Episode 16, "The Winds From Mt. Akagi".
The first season of television shows has been released with English subtitles fromMedia Blasters/ Tokyo Shock.
Production companies
editThe first 20 films were produced and distributed byDaiei Film(except for the 16th filmZatoichi the Outlawand the 20th filmZatoichi Meets Yojimbowhich were produced by Shintaro Katsu's own company, Katsu Productions, and distributed theatrically by Daiei).
The last 6 films (and the TV series) were also produced by Katsu Productions. Distribution of these films was done by Dainichi Eihai (Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival,Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman), Toho (Zatoichi at Largewhich Toho also co-produced with Katsu Productions,Zatoichi in Desperation,andZatoichi at the Blood Fest), andShochikuwhich released Katsu's last Zatoichi film in 1989. It was re-released (and retitledDarkness Is His Ally) in 2004, occasioned by the new 2003 Zatoichi film,Zatoichi,starringTakeshi Kitano,which Shochiku also released.
Chambara Entertainment/Video Action of Honolulu held the original VHS release rights to the Zatoichi film series numbers 1-20, though it only released some of them. Chambara eventually expired its North American release license. AnimEigo held the remainder of the VHS rights.[2]
Home Vision Entertainment was granted United States distribution rights to the original Daiei films (except for the 14th and the 16th (the second of which was still in possession of AnimEigo)), and released them on DVD: the films were numbered 1–13, 15, and 17–19.AnimEigoreleased seven of the films:Zatoichi the Outlaw(1967),Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo(1970),Zatoichi at the Fire Festival(1970, asZatoichi: The Festival of Fire),Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman(1971),Zatoichi at Large(1972),Zatoichi in Desperation(1972), andZatoichi at the Blood Fest(1973, asZatoichi's Conspiracy).
Media Blasters(under their Tokyo Shock label) have released both the 1989 film and the first season (26 episodes) of the TV series.
TheCriterion Collectionreleased the first 25 films as a dual-format Blu-ray and DVD boxed set on November 26, 2013.[3][4]
Remakes and spin-offs
editBlind Fury
editIn 1989,TriStar Picturesreleased a remake calledBlind Fury,starringRutger Haueras aVietnam Warvet who is blinded, then taught to use a cane sword by a local tribe before returning home to America. This film is based onZatoichi Challenged(1967), the 17th film in the original series.
2003 film
editIn 2003,Takeshi Kitanowrote, directed and appeared in a new high-budget film featuring the character,Zatoichi.It premiered on September 3, 2003, at theVenice Film Festival,where it won the prestigiousSilver Lionaward, and went on to numerous other awards both at home and abroad. The soundtrack was composed byKeiichi Suzukiand the Japanese tap dance troupeThe Stripes.Zatoichi discovers a small, remote mountain town that has been overtaken by a bullying gang that is extorting money from the townspeople. As Zatoichi seeks to liberate the town, he encounters arōninseeking employment to pay for his ailing wife's needs, and twogeishawho are seeking to avenge the murder of their parents, but he soon discovers that they are not what they seem to be.
Stage adaptation
editA stage version ofZatoichidirected byTakashi MiikestarredShow Aikawa.[5]It was filmed in 2007 and later releasedon home video.
Ichi
editIn 2008'sIchi,a blind female musician who is rescued (and later trained) by Zatoichi travels through Japan to find her mentor.[6][7]
Zatoichi: The Last
editTohoreleased a new Zatoichi film starringShingo KatorititledZatoichi: The Laston May 29, 2010.[8][9]
In other works
edit- In 1969, Teruo Sakamaki (Tửu quyển huy nam), a Japanese restaurant owner fromShinjukuturned Shintaro Katsu/Zatoichi impersonator, starred in apink filmentitledLewd Priest: Forty-Eight Positions Cutting( hảo sắc phường chủ tứ thập bát thủ trảm り). The film was directed by Kaoru Umezawa and produced by Uematsu Productions, which was reportedly sued by Daiei for copyright infringement. Under various aliases including "Shintaro Katsu look-alike ( thắng tân thái lang ソックリショー)", "Rintaro Katsu ( thắng lợi thái lang )", and "Sing Lung ( thắng long )", Sakamaki continued to imitate Shintaro Katsu as Zatoichi in numerous films in Taiwan including:The Blind Swordsman's RevengeorThe Blind Swordsman vs. The Flying Guillotine( manh kiếm ・ huyết tích tử ) (1972),The Blind Swordsman vs White Wolf( manh hiệp đấu bạch lang ) (1972),Trust and Brotherhood( nghĩa khí truyện nghĩa khí ) (1972),The Hunchback( hán đà ) (1972),Inspector Karate( đầu hào thiết nhân ) (1973), andThe Devil's Owl( ma quỷ quái ưng ) (1977).[10]
- The 1969–70Crimson Batfilm series and its subsequent 1971 TV series were unauthorized variations, with a blind woman named O-Ichi, played byYoko Matsuyama,as the sword-wielding hero.
- Blindmanis a 1971Spaghetti Westernvariation on the Zatoichi formula starringTony Anthonyas a blind gunman.
- InHou Hsiao-hsien’s debut featureCute Girl(1980), the main character Daigang performs a brief Zatoichi impression.
- The second season of the 1985 animated seriesThundercatsfeatures a character named Lynx-O, who shares many similarities to Zatoichi. Having been blinded by volcanic gasses during his escape from his dying homeworld of Thundera, Lynx-O develops his other senses to "see" the world around him. He is a formidable fighter, and can use pressure points to disable and defeat his foes.
- The character of Zatoichi finds homage in the character ofZato-Ino(also known as "the Blind Swordspig" ) inStan Sakai's long-running anthropomorphic comic seriesUsagi Yojimbo(1984). This iteration of the character uses his keen sense of smell to find his way and to combat his enemies. Zato-Ino first appeared inCritters#7 (Jan 1987), published byFantagraphics Books.
- A Western TV movie titledBlind Justicewas released in 1994 from HBO. A blindedCivil Warveteran protects a baby he is transporting to family beyond a border town besieged by bandits.
- In the 1998 video game seriesGuilty Gear,one of the original characters is named Zato-1, who also happens to be a blind assassin. Although his name is pronounced Zato-one, the Japanese word for one is ichi, hence Zato-ichi.
- In the 2005 episode ofThe Boondockstitled "Grandad's Fight",Huey has a dream in which he fights Col. Stinkmeaner – a blind and cruel elderly man who had beaten his grandfather earlier in the episode – as a samurai. Later in the episode, Huey shows his grandfather footage of the animated Zatoichi in action, comparing Stinkmeaner to the blind swordsman.
- In the 2006 filmDevil's Den,the main characters, while being trapped in the strip club by female ghouls, have a fantasy scenario of how Zatoichi would deal with the ghouls himself.
- In the Shogun Pack update of the 2007 multiplayer first-person shooterTeam Fortress 2,a katana called "The Half-Zatoichi" was introduced for use by both the Soldier and Demoman, alluding to the fact that the Demoman is missing an eye and is half-blind, while the Soldier's helmet covers his eyes and restricts his vision.
- In the 2007 Americanexploitationhorror filmDeath Proof,Jungle Julia sarcastically calls Stuntman Mike "Zatoichi" when he fails to notice a billboard. Mike responds with a wide grin similar to Zatoichi's.
- Italianheavy metal bandHoly Martyr released a song titled "Zatoichi" on their 2011 albumInvincible,based on the character. The album's cover art depicts Zatoichi in combat against two rival warriors.
- In the 2013 online co-op gameWarframe,there is a katana stance called "Blind Justice", which causes the katana to be held in reverse grip. Its first attack combination is called "Zatos' Creed", all of them being references to Zatoichi. As well as this, there is a skin for the "Excalibur" Warframe named "Excalibur Zato".
- In the long-running manga seriesOne Piece,the minor character andmarine Admiral Fujitorais based upon Zatoichi.
- In the music video for Wednesday Campanella's song Inca, singer KOM_I plays a Zatoichi inspired character.
- The character of Zatoichi also finds homage in 2016'sRogue One: A Star Wars Story,where Chinese actorDonnie Yenappears as Chirrut Îmwe, a blind transient wanderer who is secretly a highly skilled warrior who believes in, and has a connection with,the Force.[11]Jedi characters Rahm Kota andKanan Jarrusalso draw inspiration from the character.[12]
- In 2017, a short eight-minute fictitious sci-fi film trailer entitledZVP - Zatoichi vs Predator,produced, written and directed by Junya Okabe as a nonprofit fan film starringShun Sugataas Zatoichi was released by Blast Inc. and made available onYouTube.[13]A very special team of villains attack and kill a group of samurai comic book style, until a mysterious samurai appears to defeat them. He is revealed to be a Predator and Zatoichi will face him with aStar Wars-style Jedi Knight lightsaber. A making-of video was also available.
- Denzel Curry's albumMelt My Eyez See Your Futurefeatures a track titled "Zatoichi", and its accompanying music video includes Curry training under a blind martial artist.[14]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Frequently Asked Questions about 'Zatoichi'".The Momii Company.Retrieved15 December2010.
- ^"The Momii Company. Lingerie, Zatoichi samurai action videos, self-improvement books, and West Coast Blues CDs".Momii.com. 2015-08-19.Retrieved2022-06-26.
- ^"Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman Blu-ray (Blu-ray + DVD)".
- ^"Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman".
- ^"Sho Aikawa gets first starring stage role in Miike's 'Zatoichi'".Tokyograph. 26 July 2007.Retrieved15 December2010.
- ^"Ichi Movie Review (2008) from Channel 4 Film".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-07-13.Retrieved2009-07-21.
- ^"Ichi (2008) - IMDb".IMDb.
- ^""THE LAST" の danh も quái しい!? Hương thủ thận ngô chủ diễn の ánh họa 『 tọa đầu thị 』が đại コケ|サイゾーウーマン ".サイゾーウーマン(in Japanese). June 14, 2010.RetrievedOctober 19,2017.
- ^Schilling, Mark (14 May 2010)."'Zatoichi: The Last'".The Japan Times.Archived fromthe originalon 3 December 2013.
- ^"Sing Lung (2)".
- ^"How Rogue One's Plot Ties Directly into The Force Awakens".TheWrap.2016-12-16.Retrieved2016-12-20.
- ^@pablohidalgo (2016-03-30)."See Ya Next Year! on Twitter:" Is Kanan now a reference to Rahm Kota? No, but they both owe a debt to Zatoichi, a character everySWfan should know about. #StarWarsRebels "".Twitter.Retrieved2016-12-19.
- ^"Zatoichi vs Predator".hypebeast.com. 12 December 2017.Retrieved28 January2020.
- ^Darville, Jordan (February 24, 2022)."Denzel Curry trains hard in the video for" Zatoichi "featuring slowthai".The Fader.Archivedfrom the original on March 18, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 18,2023.
Bibliography
edit- Silver, Alain (1983) [1977]. "5. The Alien Hero I. The Blind Swordfighters: Zato Ichi and the Crimson Bat".The Samurai Film.Woodstock, New York: The Overlook Press. pp.76–83.ISBN978-0-87951-175-3.
External links
edit- Official Forum for the UK Arrowdrome DVD Release
- History of Zatoichi by Rev. Antonio Hernandez
- The Digital Bits' DVD Review ofZatoichi: The Blind Swordsman
- Review of the Artsmagic box set
- Zatoichi's Musical Journey
- CD soundtrack compilation of Zatoichi film music from La-La Land Records, with comprehensive album notes by Randall D. Larson
- The Momii Company's Zatoichi fan site