How can anyone not love this series?
Zatoichi is a blind masseur and a wandering Yakuza member. Everywhere he goes he is pursued by lawmen and bounty hunters. He helps the underdogs at his own expense with his lightning fast swordsmanship and moral code.
Some very touching tales with humour, sadness and plenty of heart. Shintaro Katsu is as popular as the character he portrays.
3 Reviews
Totally engrossing!
paul-ayres-6078414 January 2021
I enjoy watching these productions so much. So far I have only watched the first 2 series but I intend to watch them all. It's the best TV series ever! I have watched all of the movies of Zatoichi tales and it's good to see that Shintaro Katsu is also in the TV episodes as Zatoichi. Takeshi Kitano did an excellent job of portraying Zatoichi but Sintaru Katsu was the perfect actor for the role.
He was a fine actor and I have seen him in many different roles.
I defy anyone to watch this and not enjoy watching the lovable character of Zatoichi!
I defy anyone to watch this and not enjoy watching the lovable character of Zatoichi!
101 Variations of Zatoichi
jgarber444413 May 2016
Warning: Spoilers
You know what to expect of these stories in this series. Zatoichi travels to a new town. Zatoichi encounters thugs and criminals and acknowledging the harm these characters are causing they are eliminated. Occasionally, Zatoichi performs some other kind of service for the townsfolk, family or an individual. Zatoichi's acts are more than mere routine action. The samurai genre is great at producing anti-heroes and Zatoichi is one of the most sympathetic and very human despite his mythical powerful swordplay. The performance given by Shintaro Katsu is as always understated and simply fantastic - an ordinary individual who is adept at fighting, gambling,drinking and enjoying the finer the things in life, including an appreciation of the fairer sex. Importantly, Katsu is always surrounded by an excellent supporting cast in each episode, it is not his show alone.
Zatoichi is a killing machine and his opponents usually die. Sometimes sadly, Zatoichi kills other honourable men that he encounters due to unfortunate circumstances, often avoidable circumstances. It is impossible to avoid ones fate.
In 'The Heartless Man, Touched By Compassion' there is a particularly sad outcome, it is very difficult to watch Zatoichi observing the blind woman leaving town alone without her brother, and without the hope of a cure for her blindness. However, on further reflection the blind woman's tragic departure highlights exactly the harsh moral of the story.
Zatoichi is a killing machine and his opponents usually die. Sometimes sadly, Zatoichi kills other honourable men that he encounters due to unfortunate circumstances, often avoidable circumstances. It is impossible to avoid ones fate.
In 'The Heartless Man, Touched By Compassion' there is a particularly sad outcome, it is very difficult to watch Zatoichi observing the blind woman leaving town alone without her brother, and without the hope of a cure for her blindness. However, on further reflection the blind woman's tragic departure highlights exactly the harsh moral of the story.
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