Zatoichi

Zatōichi
Publication information
Created by	Kan Shimozawa (子母澤 寛, Shimozawa Kan?).
In-story information
Abilities	swordsmanship powerful hearing spatial-location-awareness acute observation and personal insights intense concentration and self-discipline professional masseur gambler occasional freelance-yakuza shogi (chess) master hand-to-hand combat sumo wrestling thrown weapons and archery shamisen player

Zatoichi (座頭市, Zatōichi^?) is a fictional character featured in one of Japan's longest running series of films and a television series that are both set during the late Edo period (1830s and 1840s). The character, a blind masseur and blademaster, was created by novelist Kan Shimozawa.

This originally minor character was developed for the screen by Daiei Studios (now Kadokawa Pictures) and actor Shintaro Katsu, who created the screen version. A total of 26 films were made from 1962 to 1989. From 1974 to 1979, the television series Zatoichi was produced, starring Katsu and some of the same stars that appeared in the films. These were produced by Katsu Productions. One hundred episodes, with episodes 99 and 100 being a two-part story finale, were aired before the Zatoichi television series was cancelled.

Film number 17 of the original series was remade in the US in 1990 (by TriStar Pictures) as Blind Fury, an action movie starring Rutger Hauer.

A 2003 film, Zatōichi, was directed by Takeshi Kitano who also starred as Zatōichi in the film. The film was awarded the Venice Film Festival's Silver Lion for Best Direction in 2003.

A stage version of Zatoichi directed by Takashi Miike starred Show Aikawa.

...
Wikipedia