Zatôichi tekka-tabi

This is the 15th Zatoichi installment and one of the best in my opinion. The color cinematography is beautiful, especially a scene where Zatoichi approaches his adversaries at night in falling snow. Eijirô Tono (the innkeeper in Yojimbo who befriends Mifune) does a great job as Senzo the swordmaker, who it turns out was the maker of Zatoichi's sword. The plot is typical Zatoichi but the characters are better drawn than usual. The swordplay seems better than usual as well. There is also a little more humor and its very well done. Instead of the mysterious stranger who Zatoichi always has to fight after he wipes out all the evil Yakuza bosses and corrupt government officials, there is a comical gambler character who challenges Zatoichi to a dice "dual". Highly recommended for Zatoichi fans.

Master Ichi finds out from a friendly sword-smith that his legendary blade has a weak point and thus, will break upon his next attack. This inspires him to give it up and attempt to live life on the straight and narrow. Of course, with all the evil men lurking about and terrorizing the locals, somebody eventually has to do something. And you know who that somebody is. There's not too much action for the first hour but when it comes, it's classic Zatoichi, meaning some of it must be rewound just to enjoy it a second time. Zatoichi's Cane Sword (#15) is one of the best in the 27-film series (and has some of the best bits of humor from Zatoichi, like the whole "duck dance" scene) and as such, I'd recommend it to both fans and non-fans alike. And in case no one knew, Katsu Shintarô rocks.

I love the Zatoichi movies, though I have found that because they made so many and the plots tended to blend together so often, it is hard to distinguish them apart. I would give all of them about the same score of a 7 or an 8--with a few exceptions (the return of the original in 1989 was a TERRIBLE and depressing movie, while the new Zatoichi movie starring Beat Takeshi is probably the best of any Zatoichi movies).

This movie features a unique plot--something many Ichi films do not feature. His relationship with the sword maker and what happens when his old blade ultimately breaks make this one stand out from the crowd. It's also nice to see that he is indeed NOT invincible.

In this new episode of the Zatôichi'a saga, the blind hero regains some of his charisma, in an adventure of gambling, gangsters and katanas of sublime quality.

Only the use of color prevents a complete return to the brightness of the first episode. Not that the cinematography of Senkichirô Takeda, an experienced and competent technician, is bad. The problem is that this Zatôichi is a lonely hero, a gambler and an adventurer who dabbles in the underworld of the Yakuza to settle disputes and protect the underdog. He is a ronin who shines most brightly in the shadows of black and white. As if it were a hybrid of a western and a film noir, transposed to feudal Japan.

The fashion for color has changed Zatôichi. But in this film it is still possible to find traces of the surprising character of the first episode.

After a romantic break, Zatôichi returns to his natural habitat in style. As if Clint Eastwood was temporarily transported by magic to the "western" ronin universe.

The following review is an extract from the book "Shintaro Katsu´s Zatoichi: Complete guide to all movies", which is now available on Amazon. Highly recommended for all Zatoichi fans!

"Ichi tries to help a dying man named Shotaro, who dies soon after due to the seriousness of his wounds. Before he dies, he is able to say that he comes from the city of Ashikaga. A little later, the masseur is picked up in the caravan of a singer, who takes him precisely to the neighboring Ashikaga, where an event is about to take place...

Fifteenth film of the adventures of Zatoichi directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda, a habitual director of jidaigeki who has already been behind the cameras on other occasions to direct more films of the saga of the blind masseur.

Zato means "masseur" (or rather a specific class of masseurs, that class of vagabonds to which the main character belongs) and Ichi, his first name, is also equivalent to the name for "one". For this reason, throughout the films, many times the people he meets are surprised that he presents himself only as "Ichi", believing that it is the abbreviation of a longer name (such as "Senkichi" or "Tadekichi"...).

Once again we observe that Ichi is tired of leading a life full of violence, and that he must always kill his enemies in spite of himself, because he is pushed to do so by circumstances. If it were up to him, he would simply devote himself to his work as a masseur... without forgetting his passion for the dice game. In any case, belonging to the guild of blind masseurs, he is predestined to wander all over Yamato, wandering from one side to the other, never being able to settle in a fixed place. The women he meets along his journeys as well as the friendships he makes during his constant travels are always ephemeral relationships.

Although we know that Ichi wishes from the depths of his being to abandon the path of blood, it is surprising that he gives his sword so easily to the blacksmith when he tells him that "it will no longer be possible" to repair it... How then will Ichi defend himself from now on, from all the enemies waiting for him?