Zatoichi's Revenge
Zatoichi's Revenge | |||||
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Japanese name | |||||
Kanji | 座頭市二段斬り | ||||
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Directed by | Daiei Studios | ||||
Release date |
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Running time | 84 minutes | ||||
Country | Japan | ||||
Language | Japanese |
Zatoichi's Revenge (座頭市二段斬り, Zatōichi nidan-kiri) is a 1965 Japanese
Zatoichi's Revenge is the tenth episode in the 26-part film series devoted to the character of Zatoichi.
Plot
Zatoichi's travels have finally brought him back to the village where he was trained in the arts of the
While intentionally baiting Hikonoichi's killer by jingling the toggle, Ichi befriends the local Dice Dealer Denroku (the Weasel) and his daughter, Tsuru. The girl's cheerful and idealistic nature reminds him of Sayo. The following day, while Ichi enjoys a profitable run of
Tatsugoro is outraged at the incident and confronts Kadokura over it. The swordsman reveals Zatoichi's identity to him, theorizing that he's close to tracing Hikonoichi's murder back to them because of the medicine toggle. The arrival of Tax Inspector Jingo Odate panics Tatsugoro and Isoda, who plans to bribe him with 100 Ryō. Kadokura knows Odate—a respectable Samurai—and remarks that he cannot be bribed for any sum, then offers to kill both Odate and Zatoichi in exchange for the sum. He intercepts Odate while on horseback to confront Isoda over his fraud and waylays him. He next confronts Zatoichi while drinking sake at the inn, and offers him a drink before demanding he set the time for their battle. Ichi allows him to choose, and Kadokura declares they'll fight at dusk at Utsune Bridge—where he killed Hikonoichi. Tatsugoro uses the losses at the dice hall to extort Denroku—demanding that he steal Zatoichi's sword, or hand Tsuru over to him, to be used in the brothel (unaware that she overheard them). Isoda instructs Tatsugoro to rally their men in order to launch a mass attack on Zatoichi, further declaring that they'll frame him for the murder of Odate.
Kadokura attacks Zatoichi at the bridge, where he reveals that Intendant Isoda ordered Hikonoichi's death. When he doesn't rise to his feet, Kadokura moves to finish him off, but Zatoichi gets up and wounds him. The swordsman attempts to continue the fight, but is quickly dispatched by Zatoichi. In the village, Tsuru steals Zatoichi's sword and brings it to her father. Denroku, depressed at seeing his influence in the act, gets drunk and staggers about the village in search of Tatsugoro. He arrives at a
With his sword reclaimed, Zatoichi then moves to confront both Tatsugoro and Isoda at the Intendant's home and takes them hostage. With Denroku's help, he destroys the legal bonds used to control the people and redistributes their money to them. Tatsugoro's and Isoda's men ambush Zatoichi and a fight ensues, resulting in dozens of them slain by Ichi. During the confusion, Denroku picks up a discarded sword and—thanks to his years of perfecting his dice skills—surprises himself with his skill in fighting with a katana.
Both Tatsugoro and Isoda are killed at the entrance of the brothel, in front of the very women they'd exploited. The next morning, Sayo, Denroku, and Tsuru all meet at Hikonoichi's grave marker, where they discover that Zatoichi has already visited ...
Cast
- Shintaro Katsu as Zatoichi
- Norihei Miki as Denroku
- Mikiko Tsubouchi as Osayo
- Takeshi Katoas Koheita Kadokura
- Fujio Harumoto as Isoda
- Sachiko Kobayashi as Tsuru
- Sonosuke Sawamura as Boss Tatsugoro
- Gen Kimura as Jingo Odate[1]
Production
- Yoshinobu Nishioka - Art director
Reception
Critical response
Brian McKay, writing for
References
- ^ "Zatoichi's Revenge". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
- ^ McKay, Brian (21 April 2004). "Zatoichi nidan-kiri". eFilmCritic.com. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
External links
- Zatoichi's Revenge at IMDb
- Zatoichi's Revenge at Rotten Tomatoes
- "Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 10 - Zatoichi's Revenge", review by J. Doyle Wallis for Home Vision Entertainment(25 August 2003)
- Review: Zatoichi's Revenge (1965) Archived 2014-04-27 at the Wayback Machine" by Thomas Raven for freakengine (2011)