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The Tale of Zatoichi

Original title: Zatôichi monogatari
  • 1962
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
6.6K
YOUR RATING
The Tale of Zatoichi (1962)
JapaneseMartial ArtsPeriod DramaSamuraiSword & SandalActionAdventureDrama

The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur who also happens to be a master swordsman.The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur who also happens to be a master swordsman.The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur who also happens to be a master swordsman.

  • Director
    • Kenji Misumi
  • Writers
    • Minoru Inuzuka
    • Kan Shimozawa
  • Stars
    • Shintarō Katsu
    • Masayo Banri
    • Ryûzô Shimada
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    6.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Kenji Misumi
    • Writers
      • Minoru Inuzuka
      • Kan Shimozawa
    • Stars
      • Shintarō Katsu
      • Masayo Banri
      • Ryûzô Shimada
    • 39User reviews
    • 54Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos44

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    + 38
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    Top Cast35

    Shintarō Katsu
    Shintarō Katsu
    • Zatôichi
    • (as Shintarô Katsu)
    Masayo Banri
    Masayo Banri
    • Tane
    Ryûzô Shimada
    Ryûzô Shimada
    • Shigezô of Sasagawa
    Hajime Mitamura
    • Hanji of Matsugishi
    Shigeru Amachi
    Shigeru Amachi
    • Miki Hirate
    Michirô Minami
    Michirô Minami
    • Tatekichi
    Eijirô Yanagi
    Eijirô Yanagi
    • Sukegorô of Iioka
    Toshio Chiba
    • Masakichi
    • (as Toshirô Chiba)
    Manabu Morita
    Manabu Morita
    • Seisuke
    Yoshindo Yamaji
    • Yahei
    • (as Yoshito Yamaji)
    Yôichi Funaki
    • Yogorô
    Eigorô Onoe
    • Rihei
    Ikuko Môri
    Ikuko Môri
    • Yutaka
    Chitose Maki
    • Yoshi
    Kin'ya Ichikawa
    • Mokichi
    Jun Fujikawa
    • Iioka Yakuza Member
    Yukio Horikita
    • Kanaji
    Yûji Hamada
    • Iioka Yakuza Member
    • Director
      • Kenji Misumi
    • Writers
      • Minoru Inuzuka
      • Kan Shimozawa
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews39

    7.66.5K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'The Tale of Zatoichi' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    More like this

    The Tale of Zatoichi Continues
    7.2
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    New Tale of Zatoichi
    7.3
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    7.2
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    Zatoichi on the Road
    7.2
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    Fight, Zatoichi, Fight
    7.4
    Fight, Zatoichi, Fight
    Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold
    7.3
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    Zatoichi's Revenge
    7.3
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    Zatoichi and the Doomed Man
    6.8
    Zatoichi and the Doomed Man
    Adventures of Zatoichi
    7.1
    Adventures of Zatoichi
    Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo
    7.0
    Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo
    Zatoichi and the Chess Expert
    7.3
    Zatoichi and the Chess Expert
    Zatoichi's Vengeance
    7.2
    Zatoichi's Vengeance

    Related interests

    Hidetoshi Nishijima and Tôko Miura in Drive My Car (2021)
    Japanese
    Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon (1973)
    Martial Arts
    Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen in Little Women (2019)
    Period Drama
    Toshirō Mifune, Minoru Chiaki, Daisuke Katō, Isao Kimura, Seiji Miyaguchi, and Takashi Shimura in Seven Samurai (1954)
    Samurai
    Russell Crowe in Gladiator (2000)
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    Action
    Still frame
    Adventure
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    Drama

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      The "mon" coins used by the gamblers were made of either copper or iron and were the lowest-denomination currency in Japan until the yen system was established in 1870. The "ryo" paid to Zatoichi were gold and were worth many thousands of "mon." The Currency Museum of the Bank of Japan estimates that one "ryo" would be worth roughly $1200 to $1300 now.
    • Goofs
      In the moonlit scene by the pond, Tane tells Zatoichi that she has a facial mole exactly like his. But neither character has any such mole.
    • Quotes
      • Tane: You have a mole here. I wonder if it's a lucky mole. I have one just like it. They say it means I'll have lots of children.
      • Zatôichi: It's a lucky mole.
      • Tane: What would I do with so many children.
      • Zatôichi: Just don't raise them to be yakuza.
      • Tane: I won't. But why do you say that?
      • Zatôichi: Because to be a yakuza is a foolish way to live.
      • Tane: Then why don't you live a decent life?
      • Zatôichi: It's like being stuck in a bog. It's not easy to pull yourself out once you've fallen in.
    • Connections
      Featured in Best in Action: 1961 (2018)

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    FAQ6

    • How and when did Zatoichi become blind?
    • What is a yakuza?
    • How old is Zatoichi?

    Details

    • Release date
      • April 18, 1962 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Return of Masseur Zatoichi
    • Production company
      • Daiei
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 35m(95 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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