Zatoichi 01 - The Tale of Zatoichi (座頭市物語)

A DAIEI CO. LTD. PRODUCTION

THE TALE OF ZATOICHI

Produced by IKUO KUBODERA

Original Story by KAN SHIMOZAWA Screenplay by MINORU INUZUKA

Cinematography by CHIKASHI MAKIURA

Art Direction by AKIRA NAITO

Original Music by AKIRA IFUKUBE

Starring:

SHINTARO KATSU, MASAYO BANRI

RYUZO SHIMADA GEN MITAMURA, SHIGERU AMACHI

MICHIRO MINAMI EIJIRO YANAGI, TOSHIO CHIBA

MANABU MORITA YOICHI FUNAKI, EIGORO ONOE

IKUKO MORI, CHITOSE MAKI KANAE KOBAYASHI

Directed by KENJI MISUMI

Here you are.

Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Who are you?

Could you tell Sukegoro that Ichi the blind man is here?

He's not in right now.

- When will he be back? - In about an hour.

May I wait for him here?

Come this way.

Watch your step.

You're very kind.

This way.

Wait here.

That must be plum blossoms.

It stinks in here.

- What did you say? - What stinks?

It smells like sweat and filth.

You must all share this room.

Hold your nose if it stinks.

Excuse me, may I join the game?

May I deal?

You're blind. Sure you can manage?

I've had some experience.

All right, then.

Here's the cup.

Forgive me if my blindness makes me a little clumsy.

Place your bets.

He knows how to deal. Look at this.

I'm betting on even.

- So am I. - Me too.

Is nobody betting on odd?

Anybody for odd?

How much are the bets?

300, 425, 200, 250 and 150, all on even.

A total of 1,325 mon.

Not too shabby.

Five and one makes even!

- Even? - Five and one.

Even.

Dealer pays 170 mon.

I have more money, see?

I have more here.

Go ahead, make your bets.

Ready?

Here we go.

Place your bets.

I'm betting big on odd.

Me too.

Everyone's betting on odd this time?

No one's betting on even?

No one.

No more bets then?

No.

How careless of me. They must have slipped from my sleeve.

Hey, what are you -

What is it?

It's even, isn't it?

Looks like I got lucky. Thank you very much.

Something's fishy here.

Why? It was even, wasn't it?

What about the dice in your sleeve?

Here they are.

- You cheated! - Who, me?

He's a cheat.

You put the real dice in your sleeve!

Yeah, you put the real ones in your sleeve.

You blind cheater!

You mean you placed your bets

on the dice that weren't in the cup?

Don't you know the rules of the game?

You bet on the dice in the cup.

Isn't that right? - You tricked us!

Idiots!

Don't take me for a fool

just because I'm blind.

Is lioka full of filthy money-grubbers like you?

No wonder it stinks here.

I don't think your boss is worth waiting for.

I don't care to see him anymore. So long.

Damn that blind bastard!

- He took all our money. - That son of a bitch!

What do we do?

We better shut him up before he blabbers about this.

- I'll go after him. - Me too.

Let Tame and Tate go alone. He's just a blind guy, after all.

- Let's go out the back. - Right.

- Where are you going? - Nowhere, Boss.

Boss, you're back.

Welcome home, Boss.

Hey, you're Ichi!

Sukegoro, hello.

Welcome to -

Bring a basin to wash this man's feet!

Right away.

Tate, take off his sandals.

Sit over here.

Traveling alone must be hard when you're blind.

It's good to see you. Make yourself comfortable.

Masa, this is Zatoichi.

When I went to the temple at Nikko last year,

I stopped by my comrade's place and that's where I first met Ichi.

Is that right?

You told me to stop in if I passed this way.

That's right,

and I'm glad you did.

Ichi may be blind,

but he's such a skilled swordsman

that his opponents shake just when he draws his sword.

Please don't exaggerate.

I've witnessed his skill.

There was just a flash

and a bottle was sliced in two.

You couldn't even see his sword.

All you heard was the sound of it returning to its sheath.

Please stop.

It's the truth.

- We'd like to see that demonstrated. - You should.

Please.

You can stay for a while, right?

Thank you very much.

Is there a way for me to make a little money around here?

Let me think about it.

Thank you.

Tate.

- Boss, Hanji is coming tonight. - Tonight?

He's bringing his wife, so I'll arrange dinner for her too.

Tate, you'll take care of this man during his stay here.

Prepare his bedding and meals

and wash his loincloth as well.

This is Tate. Use him as you will.

He's an honest man. You can trust him.

Thank you. A trustworthy man is a good man.

Nice to meet you, Tate.

Pleased to meet you.

You're pretty good at this.

Good to see you. I've been waiting for you.

Thank you.

Hanji is still young, and yet he's your boss's sworn brother?

His wife was the governor's mistress.

The governor let him marry his mistress?

Yes, he's a lucky man.

He actually married the governor's mistress?

That's right.

You have a beautiful wife, Hanji.

The governor was very good to you.

Yes, very good.

Now you have a strong connection with the governor.

You have nothing to fear anymore.

I wish I were so lucky.

What are you saying?

He'll protect you just as well.

- Isn't that so? - Yes.

The governor knows you're like brothers.

That's reassuring. I feel a lot better.

Did you know a renowned samurai is staying in Sasagawa?

- No. - He's from Edo.

Shigezo must be planning something to have such a samurai around.

He's preparing to make a move against me.

The sooner the better.

I have an odd fellow staying with me too.

Have Ichi come in.

He can entertain us with his sword tricks.

Who is this fellow?

A blind man who used to be a masseur.

He handles a sword better than most men who can see.

Once you witness his skill, you'd never go against him.

He's amazing.

Sorry.

I'm not in the mood tonight. Please excuse me.

Just come introduce yourself, then.

You'll have to excuse me from that too.

I'm just getting relaxed. It feels so good.

Forgive me for being so selfish.

If you say so.

My skill is not for entertainment.

Especially not for a guy like Hanji.

Right, Tate?

He's not in the mood?

That ungrateful blind wretch!

What's he doing?

Tate is giving him a massage.

A blind masseur getting a massage from a seeing man?

That's funny!

Tate, is someone here?

It's my sister.

- What do you want? - I have something to tell you.