Kenji Misumi is one of the greatest Samurai directors of all time (after Akira Kurosawa, off course). Not only did he direct such Zatoichi pictures as FIGHT, ZATOICHI, FIGHT (1964), ZATOICHI’S TRIP TO HELL (1965), and ZATOICHI CHALLENGED (1967), but he was the main creative force behind the Lone Wolf and Cub series. He directed LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH (1972), LONE WOLF AND CUB: BABY CART AT THE RIVER STYX (1972), LONE WOLF AND CUB: SWORD OF VENGEANCE (1973), and LONE WOLF AND CUB: BABY CART IN THE LAND OF DEMONS (1972). If that’s not enough of an impressive track record, he also directed a couple of the Sleepy Eyes of Death films like SLEEPY EYES OF DEATH: SWORD OF ADVENTURE (1964), and SLEEPY EYES OF DEATH: SWORD OF FIRE (1965). Misumi also directed such notable genre efforts as RETURN OF THE GIANT MAJIN (1966), SWORD DEVIL (1963), THE DEVIL’S TEMPLE (1969). But the massive success of these films around the world can be attributed to the first Zatoichi film, ZATOICHI MONOGATARI (1962), known in English speaking territories as ZATOICHI: THE LIFE AND OPINION OF MASSEUR ICHI. When this film first came out in Japan, it sparked massive success for everyone involved, including Kenji Misumi and star Shintaro Katsu. The Samurai (or Chambara) film had arrived in a big way, appealing to both critics and exploitation/action fans. How big of a success was it? Well, 28 feature films and an 100 episode TV show (more movies than either Godzilla or James Bond). Shintaro Katsu went to being a bit player in Yakuza films to becoming a worldwide action icon like no other. As the series progressed, Shintaro Katsu became more of a powerful influence in the Japanese movie industry like no other actor before him (except for Toshiro Mifune). Home Vision, a company known for releasing independent and foreign films on DVD, finally snapped up the video rights to this series. Their deal allows them to release seventeen of these pictures (!) on Region 1 DVD. For some reason, they have chosen to rename this first Zatoichi film to ZATOICHI 1: THE TALE OF ZATOICHI. This is a big mistake if they keep renaming all seventeen films; as it will likely confuse long-time fans; never mind newcomers to the series.

The wandering Samurai masseur Ichi (Shintaro Katsu) arrives in a small town of Iioka, which is caught in a struggle between two Yakuza gangs. One side is led by Shigezo (Ryuzo Shimada), who hires Ichi for the eventual turf war. Both gangs are ruthless mobsters, yet neither side possesses truly worthy warriors. The other gang leader, Sukegoro (Eijiro Yanagi), hires an opposing Samurai to send against Ichi. While fishing by a lake outside the village, Ichi meets up with a fellow Ronin, Hirate (Raizu Ichiwaka, the sword-wielding antihero of THE SLEEPY EYES OF DEATH), who also seeks to fish from the lake. Both men are very similar, and they quickly strike up a friendship, even though they know they’ll be facing off against one another on opposite sides. Ichi respects his new found friend because he is a truly formidable Samurai opponent with a similar code of ethics. However, Hirate has one major Achilles heel; a debilitating disease that could mean the death of him at any time. Ichi’s new boss, Shigezo puts him up at the home of his right hand man, Tatekitchi (Michio Minami) who lives with his sister Otane (Masayo Banri). Tatekitchi is a cold blooded murderer who disposes of his mistress and throws her body into a river. His sister Otane hates the Yakuza and how bloodthirsty her brother has become in their employ. She welcomes the influence of Ichi and soon falls in love with him. But, like a true hero, he accepts none of her advances and instead prepares for the upcoming confrontation between the two parties. Both Shigezo and Sukegoro recruit more soldiers for the showdown. The day the battle begins, Hirate is consumed by his sickness and unable to fight. Sukegoro prepares for the worst and informs him that they will fight against all odds without him. But Hirate is anxious to die at the hands of his fellow swordsman instead of the un-honorable slow death from his fatal disease. As the Yakuza soldiers fight to the death in the streets of Iioka, Ichi and Hirate prepare for their own massacre…

This original outing sets the tone for the Zatoichi legend to follow. The character of Ichi gets a rather long build-up, and things are implied rather than shown. The movie is successful in it’s storytelling mainly because of the performance of Shintaro Katsu, who simply oozes charisma with every line of dialog. Even though he is an outlaw, Ichi lives by a code of honor, and Katsu brings a certain nobility to the role. Katsu’s banter is also the source of some sarcastic humor. Like in most of the Zatoichi films, there is a love interest for Ichi that allows Katsu to show his tender side. But these relationships never seem to work out, do they? A terrific direction job by Kenji Misumi (one of his best ever), yet ZATOICHI 1: THE TALE OF ZATOICHI is not without it’s flaws. On the technical side, the movie is perfect and filmed with an artistic style that Misumi abandoned by the time he directed the Lone Wolf and Cub films. The major problem (for people with short attention spans) is the pacing and (lack of) action. The story, characters, and presentation is enough to keep me glued to the screen, though I’ll be the first to admit that this type of movie is not for everyone. There is no constant action like in a classic Kung Fu picture. Yet, Kenji Misumi wrings every ounce of tension and characterization from this first movie. The build-up between Shintaro Katsu and Raizu Ichiwaka is excellent, and would have made for a classic match-up had Ichiwaka’s character not been mortally ill. Both men become close friends and yet their destiny is to fight to the death. Raizu Ichiwaka’s death scene is truly memorable and one of the highlights of the picture. The action sequences really pick up in the last half-hour with an epic battle surging through the streets of the small town, with Zatoichi and Hirate hacking away at their Yakuza aggressors.