Zatoichi's 1st Showdown
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
- This scene is from "The Tale of Zatoichi", the first film in the series. Ichi's opponent is also his friend, a tubercular samurai who wants to check out with style but needs a little help from The Blind Swordsman. I added in some traditional Japanese music by Agatsuma. Enjoy!
The actor is the perfect combination of strength and vulnerability. He was the best. However, I do not see why a dying man forces a friend to live with the guilt of killing him.. The dying man should die with grace. This is similar to a western movie (Badland , 2019) where a government bounty hunter is sent to bring in (or kill) confederate war criminal (Bruce Dern). When he arrives, Bruce Dern is dying of a respiratory disease. The bounty hunter cannot just execute a dying man in his bed, and waits for the man to die (like a man) of his disease. This was a very good movie.
The dying samurai was the youngest son from a disgraced family. He had immense pride in his swordsmanship and knew his illness would end with a shameful death. Ichi recognized the Samurai's decent character and tortured honor for being a gangster's Ronin, betrayed by fate and bad luck. The Samurai recognized Ichi as a man of honor, a unique eccentric, a master swordsman, fellow gangster, and both liked to fish for relaxation. They became fast friends.
Japan during the Edo period still embraced the "beautiful death" culture identical to the Spartans & Vikings, believing it was better to die bravely in battle than suffer a humiliating death in a sick bed. The samurai truly desired to experience Ichi's amazing skill and die at the hands of a master warrior, and if that happened to be a respected friend then all the better. It was both understandable and a very selfish act because Ichi felt immense sorrow and guilt over his death, but humans have always been a selfish species. It's this kind of dramatic human tragedy that make Zatoichi movies so wonderfully compelling.
Ichi was a low level Yakuza gangster that hired out as a mercenary soldier and strong arm debt collector, while never passing up an opportunity to swindle or betray employers he began to dislike. Ichi was prideful, spiteful, lazy, a glutton, boozer, degenerate gambler, cheated at dice and would would shamelessly use his blindness as a sympathy grift. However, Zatoichi was the fearless embodiment of Bushido, protecting the weak in desperate need and would willingly risk his life to defend even the lowest persecuted peasant.
Ichi once rejected the love of a good woman by telling her "the man you're looking at is dirt." The best heroes are flawed humans, being both selfish & brave at the best & worst of times.
@@maxbrazil3712 Damn that was extremely well said. You obviously have watched all the times. Zatoichis honor was tattered and ragged. But it was very much still there, especially when the vulnerable were at risk.
"I Dont see why a dying man forces a friend to live with the guilt of killing him.... the dying man should die with grace."
That is because you are not Samurai.
To die in battle or commit seppuku with ones honor intact is how a Samurai dies with grace.
This man had only two options, die by his own hand (in which case he likely would have named Ichi as his second anyway)
Or challenge a skilled swordsman to a duel and lose fairly.
This fight is an honor for both warriors.
@@maxbrazil3712 you I like , you get it , you understand
@@stinkyfungus Exactly , you get it too
The way he catches his friend gets me every time.
He didn't fall to Ichi's blade, he was laid to rest by a friend.
You put it so beautifully....
I also experience the same emotions every time I see this duel......
I can't believe this is 1962 Japanese cinematography, it's exceptional and man I couldn't take my eyes off for even a sec, most of today's movies lack this kind of engagement and quality.
The quality is so good
Japanese Perfection....
I was surprised to see the guy survive the first pass. But I have to believe this is the genius of the scene. The guy knew he was doomed but for honor had to keep fighting. The subtlety and the detail is incredible, even you watch again you still can't grasp all that is laid before your eyes.
On the second pass, however, look at Hirate’s body posture again.
No swordsman would intentionally go unbalanced like that.
Swords raised way up, sticking your own chest & belly way out in front of your sword plane, no protection.
Overall the camera angle, etc were great.
But the choice of choreography on the 2nd pass was... well, not realistic.
One of the saddest scences in film history. So much going on: friendship, honor, death, loss. Zatoichi's palpable grief compared with Hirate's victory, dying the way he wanted to - intense and powerful. The way Zatoichi cares for Hirate throughout this film makes this particular scene even more devastating. Thanks for posting. Exquisite cinema.
5 minutes of tension and atmosphere, 15 seconds of action.
You have to admit the cinematography was top notch even back then.
Yep, try to remake this in 2019. CGI, green screen and slow mo with cgi blood. Oh and I forgot : Keany Reeves, Tom Cruise or Will Smith in the main role.
@@nicolasnikopol7946 always been facinated with Chinese/Japanese culture. There's a reason their theology and way of living has lasted so long. Respect and Honor.
Work of art!
@@nicolasnikopol7946 v
EVEN?! Dude, there are but a few directors now like Kurosawa. Who can tell so much thru movement and camera work only. You can feel the moment even if actors keep their faces like stone in his movies.
All the CGI and lousy computer tricks are just a bullshit. It's all like too much sugar in your food nowadays.
This scene is really touching. The samurai suffering from illness challenged the powerful swordsman. For a warrior, it is a great honor to die against an opponent stronger than himself. It is so sad to see the back 😞🥲
Magnificent, every part of the scene tells a story, great actors and equally great director.
The grimace of grief and pursed lips at 4:33. Wonderful acting. So real. Who among us has not made that face during a time of emotional pain? The grim reality of loss.
There is a dignity and respect in the old films that need a comeback today. The gore has replaced the beauty of the art of the swordsman and woman, for bloody special effects. The quiet tone of the fighters knowing one will lose his life is one of the reasons why I enjoy watching these films today. For someone to wait for you to fight to the death as oppose to being abused for getting old and sick is quite the honor is a swordsman film. These films keep it simple.
What gore? Tarantino? I agree with you there. But if you mean the gore of war, war is not clean. Thats where the older movies fall short in that they depict historical war battles like what u might find in a staged Shakespearean play.
zatoichi is such a tragic character.
he lost his love, never found out what was really going on in with her because everyone lied to him.
He's blind, people ask him for help but never gets anything in return. he just traverses the land helping people out and in the end he's still just a lonely blind man with nothing to show for. just him and his sword.
Tragic character indeed. And one of film's best.
No friends or family, the people he helped don't even send Zatoichi a Christmas card! Plus, could you imagine trying to read Japanese in braille? Man, when it rains it pours!
Zatoichi is my favorite underdog of all time. I have never heard anyone describe him more perfectly. Thank you for that. I just subscribed. He was the original.
This is amazing acting, just amazing. Everything about this is great. The music, camera work, everything. I know what movie rabbit hole I'm going down now.
I wish I could watch the Zatoichi movies for the first time all over again. My favorite is "Zatoichi & the Chess Expert."
They didn't even show the final blow! the sword entering the body was not important to see. It's understood that the end of the blade will end it... they focused on the fluidity of the duel. They conveyed the poetry of death. incredible scene. I need to see this film.
@@atrocious_pr0xy The early Zatoichi films were very subtle. When they hit the 70's the blood spewed forth.
Holy shite .... the camera work is fantastic.. no soundtracks playing just dialogue and the way of the sword
My dad use to take myself and my brother and sister to the theatre in the 60's to watch Zatoichi films. I was born in '58 so I was quite young at the time. This was in Hilo Hawaii and I think he did it because he enjoyed it and wanted to give my mom a break. Can't remember any specific film but I do remember Zatoichi as the spectacular swordsman of Japan.
I watch this movie when i was a young boy in primary school today I’m an old man but the memories of the blind Satochi still in my mind , the movies , the music .... wish they still produce this kind of movies today . Most Samurai movies today are so violent and lack of soul all are for action swords play .
勝さんも天地さんも、モノクロ撮影時代の若い時なのに、演技がとても素晴らしい！
Powerful, and deeply moving scene. Zatoichi is a Great Heart.
The first time I watched Zatoichi, I am hooked forever....
1lolofred I want to know more about this guy...
This is amazing. This is an old scene but it's so clear. Beautiful acting. I never knew Japanese old movies are this magnificent.
Most definitely. No quick cuts or unclear close-shots when they are fighting, just a series of steady long-shot with little to no quick cuts... almost as if we are actually there, spectating/watching their fight from afar... such immersion.
On behalf of the all Japanese music fans, I would like to express my deep appreciation to you, Max Brazil! It's an awesome concerto grosso with the masterpiece!
I'm not the crying type but this scene always has me crying my eyes out. He gives his friend an honorable death, perhaps the greatest gift apart from his mother giving him life. And the way Zatoichi catches his friend before he falls.. So many emotions. Such a manly movie.
I watched these old black and whites when I was a child in the 90s. Absolutely wonderful, moving.
This kind of movie is not for kids. Only those who have lived enough can appreciated it fully. So much depth involved.
Especially the line
"the rest of you don't interfear"
If you know you know.
Brings back fond memories behind the bike sheds after school.
Seems like a different life
But still the same
I guess there will always be element present now of what we were then.
A fantastic film entire......
Now I NEED to view the whole film.....
Thank you for posting this segment.....
Priceless .....
Hai !
Such a beautifully filmed fight sequence, the duel was as poetic as their honourable words. Sadly nothing of this calibre exists today, God knows what happened!
May Master Katsu Shintaro never be forgotten. Thank u Zatoichi. You helped me a lot in life.
You see Katsu playing a blind man and, he does it so well, you cannot imagine him in any other role; but, he can surprise you. A very versatile actor...
This is very impressive. The reaction of him killing a brother warrior that is, not the fight. His reaction speaks a thousand words & I love Japanese culture for allowing men to weep. Very powerful. Moving. Heartrending. Beautiful.
The best series about Zatoichi. Brilliant and unique!
This whole series explores tragedy so beautifully. The tragic life of Zatoichi
That profile shot of Z with the wind in the trees, just perfect cinema. You can feel the air on the day.
Man & the silence just the wind & movement. Excellent!
Never in my whole life have I have found an actor or actress who can act as a blind person better than this guy. Let alone a blind swordsman...
@Trista Fravel wait what
..Stevie Wonder?
excellent picture quality... thank you.
Always love me some Zatoichi. Think my favorite was Zatoichi and the One Armed Swordsman. Like that even back then they were promoting the idea that the handicapped were just as capable as anyone else, in some cases even more so
Zatoichi, Mifuni… anything Kirasawa, was the Saturday routine for most of my childhood and youth… still love it.
** mifune, kurasawa damn try to write them properly
@@tizcoloko : Very well said, but dinnae forget block letters if thou do feel respect fer 'em.
Great scene! There’s a quiet dignity about two fighters who respect each other’s skills and face possible death at each other’s hands.
A mutual kind of honor as well.
I’m learning to appreciate Japanese culture and ways. It’s fascinating to see that respect and honor are highly valued. The Warriors Code. They lived by it! If you violated it or were deceitful then you became a bandit and not a warrior. And a true warrior prefers to die in battle fighting standing up. That is the only dignified death for a fighter or Samurai.
Few years ago I watched all Zatoichi movies and boy I still love it. His character is so profound (how I hate this word) he is gentle but can be cruel just to save the gentleness and he has that undescribable aura of the archaic eastern philosophers( which they were not, because they really lived in the golden age) so he has something of that aura albeit in a corrupted way of course.
But these are just words, never mind. I am very fond of this character.
Zatoichi is a noble man beset by human flaws. He's lazy, a criminal, a glutton, a drunkard, a gambler, a dice cheat and has a touchy ego that emerges at the most unexpected times. However, he is the chivalrous embodiment of Bushido when it comes to protecting the weak at the risk of his own life.
5:15 Even after he defeated master Hirate, you can see the sadness in Zatoichi's face. He truly did not want to fight someone he considered a friend, but knew there was no other outcome.
This shows how tender this super hero is. He does not enjoy killing--he does only when necessary.
A beautiful display of what a warrior wants.
To die with honor by a skilled fighter if it is to be their last moments.
Zatoichi gave him what mercy he felt in his heart and had to accept it as no other alternative
Manly honour. A shining example facing death. Why be lowly killed by cowards rather than by a master?
The series Zatoichi is a master piece of cinematography no doubt.
Ichi was helping Master Hirate move to the next life with dignity/honour since there is no other choice. A fight not by hatred but something which needs to be done. Melancholic, beautiful but deadly.
I like how after the finished blow, when Ichi new there's no need in a sword anymore, Samurai just hang on his shoulder and just watched the sight over his shoulder no tense no nothing: they both experienced themselves as a swordsman. Ichi stood to keep that moment for as long as it could've been uninterrupted. And when he start falling he turn around and helped him. So beautiful.
i watched over 100 of the original Zatoichi movies and episodes including all the new remakes and I consider them to be some of the best if not the best directed films ever made. If you are new to Zatoichi, PURSUE it.
I remember seeing a film about a blind samurai when I was a kid that wasn’t Zatoichi and I haven’t been able to figure out what it was. It was an older blind man with long white hair and beard. If you know of it, let me know.
Black and white is beautifully shot.
Music selection and timing was ON POINT! I thought it was original until I read otherwise. Well done!
I am an admitted Zato Ichi junkie, binged the movies and the series, and this scene made me leak. The first two movies of the Zato series were done B&W, and I agree with those who say it adds another element to such stark and emotional cinematography, often profoundly dark and surreal, it is almost like it puts you more easily into the time frame.
Katsu San was the epitome of the tragic hero, and played it masterfully, I think no others will ever play the part so well, RIP Katsu.
I don't know if there has ever been a final Zatoichi where we learn what happens to him in old age. But, I humbly suggest this: He searches high and low for a Zen Monastery that will accept him. Because he has lived the life of a Yakuza, he is turned away from all of them.
Eventually he wanders far up into the northern mountains where he finds a small monastic order living in a collection of huts on a mountain top, and they allow him to join the order and live peacefully in quiet contemplation.
One day he transcends quietly into the next world.
I think Ichi would have preferred a massive coronary after a night of drinking, dice & women. He had a big heart and a lion's courage, but in the end was a shiftless gangster and degenerate gambler that gorged on vice. A monastery? Nah.
@@maxbrazil3712 I agree, if we (any of us) have a choice, then keeling over drunk, into the soft tatami of an elegant, perfumed, geisha is the way we'd all like to go.
But I see him as a wandering monk of sorts anyway. The original character had many more flaws and was ruthless and even cruel. Still, the one Shintaro provides us with is intelligent, thoughtful, sensitive and even a poet: "The falling leaf does not hate the wind." -One of his lines in the series.
If he was cursed with old age, then the life of Taoist hermit, or Zen monk is the one I would pick for him. One where he would spend time in meditation, and now and again get good and drunk with the other monks on plumb brandy.
A genuinely touching battle......in a few movements Hirate got what he wanted. That's true economy which makes this clip brilliant
that was awesome. i loved it, thank you!
Their Japanese is very beautiful...with old vocabularies and expressions... it's just like the upper class accent of English. I'm Japanese and was born in Tokyo but I'm sure that i definitely cannot speak like them...
That’s so good of you to highlight that, details like that bring the human family closer together.
Death has never been more poetic.
Oh that was a bloody fantastic scene. GREAT swordplay, and even greater acting. That was sublime.
Still remember "Samurai Saturday" on IFC. Love Zatoichi movies. 👍👍👍
He feels bad about this kill for the next two movies, at least. Ichi is the ultimate tragic hero character. Katsu was a legend who totally inhabited the character perfectly, R.I.P.
Did bought the full set of movies... Never regret it!
Rest easy, Shintaro-sama, as the wind carries your spirit around us.
The pain and compassion shown for his fallen adversary, speaks volumes about the Samurai’s moral values. It was the duty of a Samurai to weigh the costs of taking another’s life. How would it affect not only his own spirit but the lives and spirits of everyone his adversary knew… or even would come to know in the future. They believed that the taking of one life caused a change in the world forever… something not taking lightly by one of the Nobel Samurai class and also a heavy burden of which they believe rested firmly and souls upon them for their actions.
A reminder that Zatoichi is not a samurai and his values aren't particularly aligned with Bushido, or the Samurai caste and at times he's markedly against the Bushi. The western ideation of Samurai isn't particularly accurate either as they weren't all honorable, or held in an honorable light outside of their service.
@@CasimirMaumau Ichi was a masseur and low level yojimbo/gangster. His fight against injustice and protecting the weak are two core aspects of Bushido. Ichi would not be mocked or cheated, which displays honor. He was fearless in battle, displaying courage. He was merciful, not killing unless absolutely necessary and quick to spare a life. He was absolutely loyal to his friends. As for honesty? Well, he was a gangster but was honest with friends. Character? Uhhh. He had a lot of bad habits but could be relied upon when danger was afoot. So, out of the eight core aspects of Bushido he embodies six and is sniffing close to the others. That's better than most and he was a really cool Kat.
No unnecessary stupid music, dizzying camera work, CGI fakery great storylines. I’m not sure we really made progress with movies from Hollywood.
Idk, plenty of stupid music.
@@randymagnum143 If I'm not mistaken, the music was edited in by the poster. But to call that style of music stupid is a bit... melodramatic.
@@ezakustam to call me calling it stupid "melodramatic" is, well.....kind of stupid?
The best acting in any film I’ve seen in any genre.
Dude made me tear up.
Scoundrels indeed.
so much depth here. on so many levels. maybe one of the finest moments in world cinema. and yet -an ethos fundamentally incomprehensible by any modern person. we can understand Zatoichi's acceptance of Hirate's plea. but imagine being Hirate? wanting to die at the hands of an admirable adversary is understandable. but truly engaging in mortal combat with a friend? few could do that and actually attack with vigor. but Hirate had to use all of his skill so as not to disrespect Zatoichi.
He's the one Eiichiro Oda used as reference for Admiral Fujitora I'm pretty sure. Beautiful movie.
I was thinking of Fujitora this whole time 😲
zatoichi is just a normal dude exposed to the insane world of warriors, where living and dying are defined through battle, where friends are made mere moments during death. a world that is both beautiful and horrifying. and zatoichi is just a guy who wants to go through his life peacefully, to do the right thing, but he has to always live on the edge of this hell that other, far, far worse men have all but thrown themselves into. a world of the samurai where fighting to the death is considered an act of goodwill, where pride must be defended through violence.
Zatoichi has to experience this world all the time, even though he really never asked for it. as he himself once said "zatoichi was just a normal man, but then someone taught that fool to fight, and he's been fighting ever since." he's swept up in a life where he becomes the grim reaper for men just looking to die gloriously. it's wrong to his sensibilities, but he can't do anything about it save be the blade that sends them off. it's complicated, tragic, and damned horrifying. it's never as simple as "good vs evil" sometimes a samurai just wants to die to a worthy opponent. this duel is one such example of that. zatoichi can't escape this life now that he has his reputation. bad men will fear him and send others to kill him, good samurai will want to test themselves and die gloriously against him.
all zatoichi wants, has ever wanted, is a peaceful life where he can eat rice balls and enjoy the spring.
Love the music and atmosphere!
Guy fighting Zatochi had tuberculosis. He wanted to die to a real swordsman of that time before the illness got him. Hell they even became friends even though they where hired by two rival yakuza clans.
This 5 minutes is more powerful than the entire new Zatoichi movie.
Новый фильм это с Такеши Китано который? Очень не плохой фильм.
Such beautiful pieces…acting camera…everything.
Black and white! fantastic the wind gently blowing such atmosphere.
Simple is ruthless
Yeah you notice things with b&w that you dont normally see with color.
This show aged like wine,
This is the first memorable work of the Zatoichi series.
Every time I see it, I am impressed by the performance of Shigeru Amachi (1931-1985) as Miki Hirate.
HIrate is a terminal setting for lung disease, and Amachi may have lost weight before shooting.
(Google Translation)
Once saw an old blind bloke crack a guy in the bollocks full force with his walking stick in Carlisle Market. Shortest fight I've ever seen.
Real life Zatoichi haha
They have to give Zatoichi's actor a trophy for acting in a entire movie with his eyes closed.
He certainly has swallowing down to a fine art.
My favorite duel of the series.
Hirate: "Don't you want to see my skill?"
Zatoichi: ...
Wtf.. Iam blind.. Zzz
I've seen some of the Zatoichi vids and clips on YT and enjoyed them very much. This clip is amazing: Katsu's performance was outstanding and very touching. A fine actor.
I didn't expect to cry at this film.
These timeless Japanese classics. Virtually faultless .
Beautiful character
Such a terrible burden to put on your friend. Even if they understand the reasoning, they will still have to bear the guilt of being your killer.
GamerKat'71 you both make excellent points
Katsu Shitaru....absolutely brilliant! R.I.P.!
Steven Antony
Shintaro Katsu
is right👍
He is one and only!!
"I won't let you win easily" is slightly different as a translation; "Ato niwa hikemasen yo" means "escape is not allowed" or "it is not over until one of us is dead"
I won't back down. That's what it is.
Either way it still shows strength
Thanks for the insight, makes better sense now.
The acting is on another level...
Tell me about it looked like an old black and white no acting real
Give and take with noble feeling... A true lesson.
So bealtifull thoose japanese fight scenes.
These classic Japanese movies are really the best
I'm glad that these weren't ruined by English dub I appreciate subtitles
A 5:52 clip is better than any Avenger movie. This is frickin' genius. Definitely Kurusawa influence here.
not really, there were already films made like the Sazen Tange series when Kurosawa was still learning his craft at Toho. Humanity and Paper Balloons by Yamanaka Sadao was made in the 30s and is one of the most influencial movies in the genre.
Kurosawa's influence in japan wasn´t as big as people in the west think. I love his movies but jidageki was already a old genre during the 60s.
@@carlosluismendez7392 The arrogant presumptions (read: arrogant ignorance) of many in the West, but overwhelmingly by hakujin in the U.S., is readily apparent -- especially when it comes to anything Japanese. Indeed, jidaigeki goes way back. (And the best being a far cut above mere chambara.) Humility, dignity, grace, class... my fellow countrymen/women are irreparably beyond shame, perpetual adolescents now. As hideous as it is disheartening. An ongoing embarrassment. Decimating to any notion of culture and a healthy society.
@@carlosluismendez7392 Humanity and Paper Balloons, yes! Tragic, Yamanaka's death in Manchuria. Horrible. Imagine what someone such as he suffered there. The psychopathic brutality of the imperial army -- demonic sadism on the Chinese as well as on their own soldiers. Thank you for remembering his work. One of Japan's greatest filmmakers, cut from life far too soon. His style was distinct. As was each of Japan's best -- and the output of nearly every one of them highly subversive in their own way. True artists, among the elite in all of cinema. Whereas, comparatively, as great as some of his films indisputably are, Kurosawa remains, to the West, the most 'digestible' of Japan's filmmakers. A western, materially-privileged world which, to this day, exalts Kurosawa at the expense of the creations of his peers and predecessors alike. But I would say that that is fine. Their work is not meant for as persistently, impenetrably glib an audience as that which prevails in the U.S. Let them keep their appropriating hands off. Off my soapbox now.
Old school no nonsense quality.
The pain of the killing always belongs to the one who took it. That is eternal.
You got that right. You live with it EVERYDAY. HAUNTING
Yup, one of the best honorable request battle scenes of the whole series. I got into watching them but now they aren't posted any more. All there is now are just video clips. Wanted to watch them all over again.
You are right we want to watch /see the movies of Zatoichi proper , not some silly fellow talking , showing their face on the screen. How many times must one spell it in words ,that we DONT NEED YOUR REVIEWS .WE WANT TO WATCH FULL ZATOICHI MOVIES. RUclips ADMIN . PLEASE CUT OUT THIS CRAP 'SO CALLED REVIEWS'. WE ARE NOT INTERESTED , PERIOD !!!!
Awesome. Especially the music. Akira Kurosawa couldn't have done better.
Gorgeous photography!
I love that movie, no matter what era it was made. The old black and white especially. This is something lost to this younger generation, very few appreciate this kind of film.
Great , i love this actor !
This is some convincing blind acting
The original blind fury. Amazing. Love movies like this. So much better than. Today's bs.