Zatôichi kesshô-tabi

'Fight, Zatoichi, Fight!' (1964) marks the eighth film in Shintaro Katsu's Zatoichi film franchise, the second of which to be directed by Kenji Misumi, but too, it marks the first time that the audience is presented with a more layered and innately conflicted portrayal of the blind swordsman.

Kenji Misumi is no stranger to directing Shintaro Katsu's famous protagonist. Zatoichi's screen debut was in Misumi's 'Tale of Zatoichi' in 1962. Just two years later and Katsu and Misumi are collaborating again for the film series' eighth instalment. However, 'Fight, Zatoichi, Fight''s script; by Seiji Hoshikawa, Kan Shimozawa and Tesuro Yoshido, offers audiences a much richer story than its seven predecessors.

While the Zatoichi film series instalments are invariably defined by Zatoichi having to rid a town of Yakuza, the eighth instalment offers an entirely more nuanced approach to the chanbara formula that fans have become so accustomed to, and fond of. 'Fight, Zatoichi, Fight' sees Japan's most notorious anma become embroiled in ensuring that a small child is safely reunited with its kin. Although this may seem a simple premise on the surface, the rich visuals Misumi brings to the screen through a surprisingly powerful script; in conjunction with Katsu's compelling performance, and augmented by a masterful score from Akira Ifukube, marinates together to create a delicious feast for the senses, and ostensibly the most memorable Zatoichi exploit.

Audiences have revelled in seeing Zatoichi single-handedly decimate entire Yakuza clans, and while such martial feats are entertaining and utterly expected of a chanbara jidaigeki (sword-fighting Japanese period drama), the repeated feats of Zatoichi can sometimes lack what 'Fight, Zatoichi, Fight' brings to the screen - vulnerability. The inner conflict conveyed by each: the story, the score and Shintaro Katsu, is what sets this film apart. Ifukube's master stroke of echoing a diegetic lullaby in the film's score, thrusts the audience into the emotion of the very heart and soul of what drives our protagonist in his quest to nurse and protect his newfound charge; a small child - inner conflict.

Zatoichi's questioning of his use of violence brought about by his evolving relationship with the child, sets a very different tone to the film in both style and theme. So profound a theme that one can see this echoed in later titles from Japan to Hollywood, such as 'Zatoichi Challenged' (1967), the 'Lone Wolf & Cub' film series (1972-1974), 'Leon: The Professional' (1994), 'Star Wars: Rebels' television series (2014-2018), 'The Mandalorian' television series (2020-2021), and 'Star Wars: The Bad Batch' (2021) to name but a few.

It is through creating vulnerability in the seemingly unstoppable protagonist that this film creates catharsis between audience and subject. While Zatoichi himself is nigh invincible due to his skill with a blade and his honed senses, those which he cares about are not only defenceless, but so too are they impressionable. In the same way that Zatoichi must protect the child from the perils of a dangerous and Yakuza infested land, he too is forced to consider what danger his way of life brings upon the head of the child which he has vowed to protect. Such is the double-edged blade of Zatoichi's shikomizue.

If you can not commit yourself to watch all 26 of Shintaro Katsu's film outings as Zatoichi, do yourself a favour, and try this one. It's as surprisingly tender as one of Ichi's massages, but it cuts as deep as a katana.

Shintaro at his best. He's a mother, a husband and a reluctant killer all rolled into one. I can't imagine anyone else pulling off the role of Zatoichi. His interaction with the infant is truly heartwarming. There is pathos and humor as well. What else is there? Swordfighting, swordfighting, swordfighting...

Not that he doesn't try to talk reason to his assailants. He deters an angry samurai without blood or violence in a scene I felt was so unusual, I played it back three times in a row. I LOVE martial arts sequences, but, the reason that I watch this one again and again is the acting and the natural building of his relationship with the infant that he has decided to help.

If you want to sample the Zatoichi series, I would certainly recommend this one to be your first...

I usually don't watch martial arts films too often, but when I heard the premise for this movie, I figured I should give it a chance. Boy, was I glad I saw this film. This had an excellent plot all through the film. Shintaro Katsu was excellent as Zatoichi in the original series. I only saw a few of the movies in the series, but this had a very emotional element. He was very good acting with an infant on screen. I admit I did shed a tear towards the end, but the whole movie just moved me. The way he changed the baby's diapers, holding the baby, singing to the baby, playing with the baby. This film broke the mold when back in the early 60's, most films would never use a real baby in the movies. Even the scenery was lovely. It's a shame that Shintaro's no longer with us. But during his 5-decade film career, out of all his 105 films that he's done, Fight, Zatoichi, Fight is definitely his best film ever.

I've been working my way through the Zatoichi films and reviewing as I go, and I've noticed I have a habit of claiming many to be the best in the series as soon as I've watched them, knowing full well I'll probably watch one soon I like even more. Having said that, so far this film is far and away my favourite, and I'm only a little over halfway through. Despite the title (fight Zatoichi fight) that would lead you to believe it is more of an action entry, this is the most humanising film for Zatoichi so far.

Zatoichi finds himself responsible for a mothers death, so he takes the woman's baby to deliver it to her husband some 60 miles away. Along the way he grows attached to the child, and turns into a bit of a mother hen, all the while being pursued by a group of hired killers. The bulk of the film (so far) is made up of scenes of Zatoichi with the child - my favourite of which (and possibly my favourite scene in the series so far) has Zatoichi buy the services of a whore to care for the child for a night, so he can finally get some much needed sleep. But he can't stop worrying about the child. Time and time again he rises, irritating the whore to no end, and the scene finally cross fades to the next morning, and the whore is out cold while Ichi nurses the baby. It also has a great gambling scene.

All the films have had something to offer so far. The third (new tale of Zatoichi) was the most visually pleasing; every shot was masterful. The film directly following it topped the third film in most other regards (such a great ending, with Zatoichi dancing off down a road with a grin on his face, which soured as soon as it was out of sight of the people the grin was intended for). But "Fight Zatoichi Fight" is the most satisfying film in the series so far. I love heartfelt sh-t like this.

This entry in the series is highly recommended. I often recommend this as the first film in the series that friends and family view. Katsu Shintaro is fantastic in this film. At one point in the film, Zatoichi tells someone that he has never been happier, and the audience already knows that because of Katsu's fine acting. This is not the only film where Katsu shares the camera lens with a child. Katsu obviously loves children and their presence lightens the mood of these films.

The emphasis in this film is drama. There is less sword fighting, so if your interest in the series is purely for the fighting sequences, move on to another entry. For all others who enjoy a mixture of drama and action, this is a fantastic film that is sure to bring some moisture to your eyes.

Just as an aside, I don't know how the international English title became Fight, Zatoichi, Fight. The Japanese Kanji literally mean Zatoichi Blood Smile Travel, giving the feeling of both violence and happiness.