The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi (2003)
Zatôichi (original title)Reference View | Change View
- R
- 1h 56min
- Action, Comedy
- 06 Sep 2003 (Japan)
- Movie
- 24 wins & 15 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast
Takeshi Kitano | ... |
Zatôichi / Ichi
(as Beat Takeshi)
|
|
Tadanobu Asano | ... |
Hattori Genosuke
|
|
Michiyo Yasuda | ... |
Aunt Oume
(as Michiyo Ohkusu)
|
|
Taka Guadalcanal | ... |
Shinkichi
|
|
Daigorô Tachibana | ... |
Geisha Seitaro 'Osei' Naruto
|
|
Yûko Daike | ... |
Geisha Okinu Naruto
|
|
Yui Natsukawa | ... |
O-Shino, Hattori's Wife
|
|
Ittoku Kishibe | ... |
Boss Inosuke Ginzo
|
|
Saburô Ishikura | ... |
Boss Tashichi Ogi
|
|
Akira Emoto | ... |
Tavern Owner Pops
|
|
Ben Hiura | ... |
Tavern Gramps
|
|
Kohji Miura | ... |
Lord Sakai
|
|
Hideboh | ... |
Dancing Farmer
(as The Stripes)
|
|
Ron II | ... |
Dancing Farmer
(as The Stripes)
|
|
Suji | ... |
Dancing Farmer
(as The Stripes)
|
|
Noriyasu | ... |
Dancing Farmer
(as The Stripes)
|
|
Makoto Ashikawa | ... |
Carpenter
|
|
Tsumami Edamame | ... |
Carpenter
|
|
Kosuke Ohta | ... |
Carpenter
|
|
Yoshiyuki Morishita | ... |
Carpenter
|
|
Naomasa Musaka | ... |
Yakuza Boss on the Country Road
|
|
Shôken Kunimoto | ... |
Rival Swordsman
|
|
Daigaku Sekine | ... |
Ginzo's Henchman I
|
|
Koji Koike | ... |
Boss Funahachi
|
|
Kôji Kiryû | ... |
Dice Dealer at Funahachi's Joint
(as Koji Kiryu)
|
|
Taigi Kobayashi | ... |
Funahachi's Bodyguard
|
|
Ayano Yoshida | ... |
Young Okinu
|
|
Taichi Saotome | ... |
Young O-Sei (Seitaro)
|
|
Kanji Tsuda | ... |
Playboy at Home
|
|
Ikki Goto | ... |
Kuchinawa Underling 1
|
|
Yoshio Nakamura | ... |
Kuchinawa Underling 3
|
|
Hiroaki Noguchi | ... |
Kuchinawa Underling 5
|
|
Shinichi Nakatsu | ... |
Kuchinawa Underling 2
|
|
Toru Yonezu | ... |
Kuchinawa Underling 4
|
|
P. Man | ... |
Tavern Customer 4
|
|
Al Kitago | ... |
Farmer Boy 1
|
|
Omiya no Matsu | ... |
Farmer Boy 2
|
|
Tsutomu Takeshige | ... |
Farmer Boy 4
|
|
Gambino Kobayashi | ... |
Farmer Boy 5
|
|
Sammy Moremore Jr. | ... |
Farmer Boy 6
|
|
Muhômatsu | ... |
Farmer Boy with a Spear
(as Muhomatsu)
|
|
Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
Yasushi Higuchi |
|
||
Ryûki Kitaoka |
|
||
Isao Ogura |
|
||
Masayoshi Ohzeki |
|
||
Kenji Takechi | ... |
Yakuza
|
|
Yôji Tanaka | ... |
(as Yoji Tanaka)
|
Directed by
Takeshi Kitano |
Written by
Takeshi Kitano | ... | (screenplay) |
Kan Shimozawa | ... | (novels) |
Produced by
Makoto Kakurai | ... | assistant producer |
Shinji Komiya | ... | line producer |
Jack Maeby | ... | producer |
Masayuki Mori | ... | producer: Office Kitano |
Chieko Saitô | ... | planner |
Tsunehisa Saitô | ... | producer: Saitô Entertainment |
Masanori Sanada | ... | co-producer |
Takio Yoshida | ... | co-producer |
Music by
Keiichi Suzuki |
Cinematography by
Katsumi Yanagijima |
Editing by
Takeshi Kitano | ||
Yoshinori Ohta |
Casting By
Takefumi Yoshikawa |
Production Design by
Norihiro Isoda |
Costume Design by
Yohji Yamamoto |
Makeup Department
Kakusei Fujiwara | ... | special makeup effects artist |
Production Management
Kensei Mori | ... | production manager |
Sound Department
Senji Horiuchi | ... | sound designer |
Akira Nakano | ... | sound recordist |
Kenji Shibasaki | ... | sound effects |
Stunts
Tatsumi Nikamoto | ... | stunt coordinator |
Camera and Electrical Department
Hitoshi Takaya | ... | lighting director |
Toshirô Watanabe | ... | still photographer (as Toshio Watanabe) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kazuko Kurosawa | ... | costume supervisor |
Music Department
Masahiro Matsuda | ... | music engineer |
Misako Noda | ... | music production assistance |
Koji Yamaoka | ... | computer programmer |
Keiichi Suzuki | ... | music arranger (uncredited) / music producer (uncredited) / music programmer (uncredited) / musician (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
Haru Shôbara | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
Marc Handler | ... | voice director: English version / writer: English version |
Hideboh | ... | choreographer: tap dancing (as The Stripes) |
Richard Lormand | ... | publicist: international |
Noriyasu | ... | choreographer: tap dancing (as The Stripes) |
Ron II | ... | choreographer: tap dancing (as The Stripes) |
Suji | ... | choreographer: tap dancing (as The Stripes) |
Production Companies
- Asahi National Broadcasting Company
- Bandai Visual Company
- DENTSU Music And Entertainment
- Office Kitano
- Saitô Entertainment
- TV Asahi
- Tokyo FM Broadcasting Co.
Distributors
- Shochiku (2003) (Japan)
- Office Kitano (2003) (Japan)
- Celluloid Dreams (2003) (World-wide) (sales)
- Artificial Eye (2004) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Bac Films (2003) (France) (theatrical)
- Bright Angel Distribution (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Buena Vista International (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Concorde Filmverleih (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Frenetic Films (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
- Kino Bez Granits (2004) (Russia) (theatrical)
- Lighthouse Pictures (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
- Mikado Film (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Miramax (2004) (United States) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Prooptiki (2003) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB (2004) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2004) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Shu Kei's Creative Workshop Ltd. (2004) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
- A-Film Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
- Artificial Eye (2004) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Artificial Eye (2013) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2009) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Buena Vista International (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
- Buena Vista International (2005) (Brazil) (VHS)
- Canal+ (2005) (Netherlands) (tv) (limited)
- Concorde Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
- Concorde Home Entertainment (2013) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
- Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Panorama Distributions (2004) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
- Rai 2 (2016) (Italy) (tv)
- Warner Home Video (2004) (Switzerland) (DVD)
Special Effects
- Nippon Effect Center (visual effects)
Other Companies
- Aoi Studio (post-production sound services)
- Bella Vista Sakaigahama (location cooperation)
- Continental Far East (Dolby consultant)
- Dreamusic (music production)
- Egalite Moonriders Division (music production)
- Elements (II) (extras)
- Entertainment Partners Asia (cooperation)
- Fuji Eiga (II) (cooperation)
- Fukuyama New Castle Hotel (location cooperation)
- Half H-P Studio (foley design)
- Ibaraki Film Commission (film commission)
- JFCT (extras)
- Japan Action Enterprise Co. Ltd. (extras)
- KM Cinema (extras)
- Kodak Japan (film stock supplied by)
- Miroku no Sato (location cooperation)
- Mitsuki Hachimanguu (location cooperation)
- NAC Image Technology (camera equipment supplied by)
- Nihon Shomei Co. (lighting equipment supplied by)
- Office Kitano (music production)
- Segovia Golf Club (location cooperation)
- Shonai Film Village Co. (location service)
- Shu Tokki (grip equipment supplied by)
- Spacecraft Produce (tap dance production assistance)
- Tokyo Laboratory Co. Ltd. (film processing)
- Toronto International Film Festival (festival)
- Warp Station Edo (exterior sets)
- Yoshikawa Casting Office (casting)
Storyline
Plot Summary |
Blind Zatoichi makes his living by gambling and giving massages. But behind his humble facade, Zatoichi is a master swordsman, gifted with lightning-fast draw and strokes of breathtaking precision. Zatoichi wanders into a town run by sinister gangs and a powerful samurai. He's destined for violent showdowns when he stumbles on two beautiful geishas avenging their parents' murder... Duels, wit and a touch of zen! Cult anti-hero Zatoichi is back in a sword-fighting adventure written, directed and starring Takeshi Kitano. Written by intlpress@aol.com |
Plot Keywords | |
Taglines | His Sword Made Him a Hero... His Courage Made Him a Legend. This Summer, Justice is Blind. See more » |
Genres | |
Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
Certification |
|
Additional Details
Also Known As |
|
Runtime |
|
Official Sites | |
Country | |
Language | |
Color | |
Aspect Ratio |
|
Sound Mix | |
Filming Locations |
Box Office
Opening Weekend Japan | $816,174, 12 Sep 2003 |
Did You Know?
Trivia | The blood in the film has been described by many as being "too CGI". Kitano did this intentionally, wanting to "soften the shock to the audience" due to the high body count. Kitano told the CGI artist he wanted the blood to "look like flowers blossoming across the screen." See more » |
Movie Connections | Featured in Denn sie kennen kein Erbarmen - Der Italowestern (2006). See more » |
Quotes |
Zatôichi:
Even with my eyes wide open I can't see a thing. See more » |