Ichi travels to the village of Itakura to pay his respects at the grave of Kichizo, a man he killed two years ago. When some tax money is stolen while in transit to the governor he is accused and sets out to find the money and clear his name.
Shintarō Katsu
Zatoichi
Shōgo Shimada
Chuji Kunisada
Mikiko Tsubouchi
Ochiyo
Machiko Hasegawa
Ogin
Tomisaburō Wakayama
Jushiro (as Jo Kenzaburo)
Tatsuya Ishiguro
Enzo
Matasaburô Niwa
Asataro
Hikosaburo Kataoka
Iwajiro
Shinjirō Asano
Ichi travels to the village of Itakura to pay his respects at the grave of Kichizo, a man he killed two years ago. When some tax money is stolen while in transit to the governor he is accused and sets out to find the money and clear his name.
"The fool. Sees the glint of money and throws all caution to the wind. That's the problem with men who can see." Ichi goes full vigilante superhero and it's excellent. Cinematography on a new level for this series. I mean there's no way this is 1964. A vibrant, grainy color palette elevates this series visually to a level we haven't seen yet. This film looks amazing and like it could've came out in the 80's. My favorite opening sequence in the entire series. Ichi alone in that pitch black backdrop, poetically mowing down hoards of enemies. Straight up CINEMA. It looks like something out of a James Bond film. It's our familiar story of greed; government corruption and oppression of the marginalized folks. But also an interesting side quest for Ichi to overcome as well. Whether it's doing something honorable for people who don't deserve it or offering to transport a kid safely across the countryside, Ichi always follows his moral compass. It's a banger film with some gorgeous cinematography accompanied by a welcomed element of suspense and a dramatic score. One of the most memorable scenes for me; which turned out to inspire the Lone Wolf and Cub films; Ichi carries a child through the mountains and draws an army to his location to ensure safe passage for a group of old yakuza buddies. There's the lighting which is singularly carried by the lanterns as the setting moves from evening to the dark of night. Which is gorgeous. But then there's Ichi fighting off his attackers while carrying a toddler. Absolute banger of a scene. Then there's one of the dopest final bosses; Jushiro, played by one of my favorites, Tomisaburo Wakayama, making his second appearance as an adversary for Shintaro Katsu in the series. The ronin character archetype who's signature weapon is a whip, while also being the best swordsman Ichi has crossed paths with at this point in the series. The gambling house scene between the two of them, when Ichi cuts the coin in half is also incredible. After running through the entire Lone Wolf and Cub series, I have revisited this one with newfound appreciation and it's moved way up my list. It's a story of Ichi trying his hardest to redeem himself to some ungrateful villagers and in the process he finds redemption through someone he didn't know was watching his every move. An exciting closing one on one duel with a twist delivers a satisfying conclusion. Classic. One of my favorite films of all time and the one that cemented Ichi as my favorite film character ever.
Blind swordsman Zatoichi, jailed briefly, is implored by another prisoner to aid him in proving his innocence of a crime for which he is sentenced to death. Zatoichi is reluctant to get involved, because he knows how often such involvement has led to trouble in the past. But events conspire to thrust him repeatedly into involvement, and gradually he comes to believe in the man's innocence and determines to free him.
Zatoichi comes upon the town of Tonda, overrun by gangsters. Using one of his favorite techniques, Zatoichi proceeds to win 8 ryo in a rigged gambling game. Of course, the local gangsters attempt to kill him, and the adventure begins. It turns out a blacksmith named Senzo examines Zatoichi's cane sword, and discovers it to be forged by his old mentor. Senzo discovers the sword is at the end of its usefulness and will break when it is used next.
Returning to the village where a year before he had killed Hirate, a much-admired opponent, Zatoichi encounters another swordsman and former rival in love.
Ichi is staying at an inn when a woman dies. Her dying wish is that Ichi take her son to his father, an artist living in a nearby town. After arriving in the town, Ichi finds out that the father has been forced by a local boss to create illegal pornography to pay off his gambling debts. Ichi makes it his mission to save the man and reunite the family, even though it brings him into conflict with a samurai he sort of befriended on his way to the town.
Wishing to find peace, Zatoichi travels to his old village but only finds trouble when he ends up in a love triangle and finds old scores have followed him home.
Zatoichi is forced to kill a young man who owes a debt to a yakuza boss. Moments later, his sister Osode arrives with the money she earned (prostituting herself) to pay his debts. The bosses true motives are revealed and he attempts to steal Osode even though the debt is paid. Zatoichi realizes his grievous error and protects the girl from the gang. Osode and Zatoichi are caught in a dilemma as she must rely on her brother's killer for protection and Zatoichi wrestles with the injustice he has caused.
Older, wiser but still a wandering loner, the blind, peace-loving masseur Ichi seeks a peaceful life in a rural village. When he's caught in the middle of a power struggle between two rival Yakuza clans, his reputation as a deadly defender of the innocent is put to the ultimate test in a series of sword-slashing showdowns.
Zatoichi's trek through 88 temples to atone for his violent past is interrupted as he stumbles into a village terrorized by a violent yakuza boss.
Blind masseur Zatoichi is nursed back to health by a young woman after he is shot by a gang member. Zatoichi, who had come to the village to repay a debt, now feels further indebted. He commits himself to use his amazing sword skills to help the young woman's father, whose river-crossing service is under attack by the same gang responsible for Zatoichi's wounds.
Zatoichi treks to a village that has always been a favorite spot of his, only to discover that it’s become a living hell, plagued by feuding father and son yakuza as well as the younger crime boss’s bodyguard, scruffy, smart-mouthed, cash-hungry Yojimbo of legend.