Zatoichi: On the Road is a 1963 Japanese Chambara film directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda

Kimiyoshi Yasuda

, was a Japanese film director. He directed films from 1950s to 1970s. He directed few films sbout Zatoichi.- Filmography :* The Young Swordsman...

 starring Shintaro Katsu

Shintaro Katsu

, born Toshio Okumura was a Japanese actor, singer, producer, and director...

 as the blind masseur Zatoichi

Zatoichi

is a fictional character featured in one of Japan's longest running series of films and a television series set in the Edo period. The character, a blind masseur and swordmaster, was created by novelist . This originally minor character was developed for the screen by Daiei Studios and actor...

, originally released by the Daiei Motion Picture Company (now known as Kadokawa Pictures

Kadokawa Pictures

is a Japanese movie studio.-History:One of the most famous studios in Japan and founded in 1942 as , it is best known for having produced the giant monster Gamera film series and the Daimajin Trilogy. It also produced the Zatoichi and Nemuri Kyoshiro film series and the television series Shōnen Jet...

). Zatoichi: On the Road is the fifth episode in the 26 part film series devoted to the character of Zatoichi.

Plot

In this installment of the series, the Doyama gang is attempting to persuade Ichi to align himself with them in the coming fight with their rivals. Ichi decides to meet with the boss of the Doyama gang, but on the way he is attacked causing him to become sidetracked from the task. He comes upon a man while traversing through the woods, who in his last breath, asks that Ichi protect a girl named Mitsu. Ichi cannot refuse the request, Mitsu having recently spurred the anger of the Doyama gang, and now Ichi on constant alert from the gang's rivals, he is inevitably caught in the middle.

Cast

• Shintaro Katsu
  Shintaro Katsu
  , born Toshio Okumura was a Japanese actor, singer, producer, and director...
  
   as Ichi, The Blind Swordsman
• Shiho Fujimura
  Shiho Fujimura
  Shiho Fujimura is a Japanese actress. She was given a Special Prize for her career at the 2008 Yokohama Film Festival.-External links:** -References:...
  
   as Mitsu
• Ryuzo Shimada as Jingoro
• Reiko Fujiwara as Hisa
• Matasaburo Niwa as Yamada
• Yoshio Yoshida
  Yoshio Yoshida
  was a Japanese professional baseball player with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. His number 23, is retired with the Hanshin Tigers...
  
   as Boss Tomegoro of Kagotame
• Sonosuke Sawamura as Boss Hikozo of Doyama
• Yutaka Nakamura as Matsu

Production

• Kimiyoshi Yasuda
  Kimiyoshi Yasuda
  , was a Japanese film director. He directed films from 1950s to 1970s. He directed few films sbout Zatoichi.- Filmography :* The Young Swordsman...
  
   - Director
• Minoru Inuzuka - Writer
• Kan Shimosawa - Story

Film Festivals

Zatoichi: On the Road will be featured in the upcoming Japan Society of New York's film festival celebrating the Chambara genre during the winter 2009-2010 season.

External links

• 座頭市喧嘩旅 (1963) at the Japanese Movie Database.