Zatoichi the Fugitive (Zatôichi kyôjô-tabi)
Directed by Tokuzo Tanaka
Written by Seiji Hoshikawa, story by Kan Shimozawa
1963/Japan
Daiei Studios
First viewing/FilmStruck
[box] Man at inn: [about Zatoichi] His sword is shiny and ice-cold. The only thing it won’t cut in this whole wide world is oil and the bond of lovers.[/box]
This series is the perfect popcorn viewing!
Our hero Ichi, the blind yakuza/masseur/swordsman, tries his hand at wrestling at which he naturally also excels. Because he has defeated the champion of a syndicate of yakuza bosses, he is now their number one target for execution. He also has drawn the attention of a sinister samurai who is now the lover of his old sweetheart Otone. Ichi finds time to unite a couple of star-crossed young lovers while slaying all who dare to challenge him.
This series not only goes well with popcorn but acts like potato chips – you can’t watch just one! There are three released in 1963 and I am kind of spacing them out to prolong the enjoyment.
