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10th Mar '13 11:34:22 AM TiggersAreGreat

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9th Mar '13 5:53:44 PM TiggersAreGreat

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[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/blind_swordsman_zatoichi_still_8556.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Shintaro Katsu as Zatoichi]]

->"''Even with my eyes wide open, I can't see a thing.''"
->-- ''Zatoichi'' (2003)

The Zatoichi series is one of Japan's [[LongRunner longest running media franchises]], with a total of 29 films and a 100-episode television series. The series centers around Ichi, an [[WalkingTheEarth itinerant]] [[DisabilitySuperpower blind]] masseur who happens to be one of the most fearsome and dangerous swordsmen around, amassing a mind bogglingly high body count mostly consisting of {{yakuza}}, corrupt government flunkies and mountains of {{Mooks}}. In between bouts of derring-do, the blind ''anma'' can be found gambling, meeting quirky sidekicks, or unearthing vast tracts of mysterious past.

The first 26 films (1962-1973, 1989) and the television series (1974-1979) all starred the same actor, Shintaro Katsu, whose portrayal endeared the character to many fans until the actor's death in 1997.

In 2003, TakeshiKitano played Zatoichi in a ContinuityReboot[=/=]AlternateContinuity film which he also directed. A loose sequel film to Katsu's Zatoichi with a female protagonist, ''Ichi'', was released in 2008. Another reboot called ''Zatoichi: The Last'' was released in 2010. Also, an American re-imagining called ''BlindFury'' was made in 1989, starring RutgerHauer, based off of the 17th Zatoichi film, Zatoichi Challenged.

The influence of this series is hard to overestimate, at least, in terms of blind badassery, which, while certainly not the first example of a HandicappedBadass , is certainly one of the {{Trope Codifier}}s.

----
!!This series contains examples of:
* AbsurdlySharpBlade: Ichi's cane sword can cut diagonally through statues, easily cut katanas in half, and of course, kill people in a single swipe.
* BadAss: Just about all the heroes. Ichi specifically is of the HandicappedBadass variety.
* BlindWeaponmaster: Ichi.
* CatchPhrase: ''Darkness is my advantage (Kurayami nara kocchi no mon da)''. Usually uttered after he cuts down the nearest lanterns and candles to put opponents on an equal footing.
* ConservationOfNinjutsu: In the 2003 film, Ichi kills 5 ninjas with the usual lack of effort.
* {{Crossover}}: ''Zatoichi Meets the [[{{Wuxia}} One Armed Swordsman]]'' and ''Zatoichi Meets Film/{{Yojimbo}}''.
* CulturedBadass: Ichi can not only swordfight, he's a successful masseur. Sometimes he also shows off his musical ability and knowledge of acupuncture.
* DistaffCounterpart: [[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1060256/ She even has the same name.]]
** [[spoiler: It's because she's his daughter.]] 
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: The first movie, ''The Tale of Zatoichi'', ends with Ichi's only friend in town dead at his hand, the opposing mafia slaughtered along with many of the innocents of their half of the village, and Ichi misses the woman that loves him by virtue of walking the wrong way.]]
* EndOfAnAge: The 2003 film seems to take place towards the end of the Edo period, if the presence of a roughly Civil War-era revolver is any indication.
* FateWorseThanDeath: In the 2003 Movie, Ichi slashes the BigBad right in the eyes. Sentencing him to live his last remaining years struggling in darkness.
* HandicappedBadass: One of the most famous.
* HighPressureBlood: Probably one of the oldest examples.
** Given the fact that the 2003 Film was directed by "Beat" Takeshi Kitano (a Comedian), every cut is intentionally BloodyHilarious.
* IAmNotLeftHanded: [[spoiler: Takeshi Kitano's Zatoichi isn't actually blind, but chooses to close his eyes as a SelfImposedChallenge.]]
** [[spoiler:Or is he? The final line of the film is that he can't even see with his eyes open, having tripped over an small stone. This appears to be some sort of double bluff, and makes sense since he looks like he has cataracts.]]
* [[ImplausibleFencingPowers Implausible Swordfighting Powers]] Most of Ichi's enemies never even hit Ichi's sword, he simply cuts them down without effort in a single slash, including highly touted samurai.
* {{Jidaigeki}}
* KatanasAreJustBetter: ''Averted'', Ichi instead carries a ''shikomi-zue'', or {{sword cane}}. Justified since blades are supposed to be outlawed in the Edo period. 
* KnightErrant
* LoveTriangle: Ichi becomes involved in one in ''Zatoichi The Fugitive'' (1963)
* MeaningfulName: Ichi
* MysteriousPast: Ichi
* ObfuscatingDisability: The Kitano version
* ObfuscatingStupidity: Ichi, sometimes.
* ReverseGrip: How Ichi holds his sword. Since he uses his sword as a cane as well, this is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] so Ichi does not need to change his grip.
* {{Revival}}: The 1989 movie ''Zatoichi'' (subtitled ''Darkness Is His Ally'' for the US) is Katsu's swan-song for the character. It's BloodierAndGorier and HotterAndSexier than any before it, and since Katsu is pushing 60 Ichi is now a CoolOldGuy.
* {{Samurai}} and {{Ronin}} (Ichi himself technically does not qualify as either of them, as he's in the blind men's guild)
* SuperSenses: Ichi's hearing.
* SwordCane: Ichi
* UnderestimatingBadassery: Most of the villains in the series do this in regards to Ichi.
* VictorianNovelDisease: Hirate (from the first film) is dying of consumption. 
* WalkingTheEarth
* WorthyOpponent: The {{ronin}} Hirate in the first film. He and Ichi held great respect for each other. 
* WholesomeCrossdresser:In the Kitano film, one of the geisha is a little... different under the kimono. 
* {{Yakuza}}: Ichi's enemies are often gangsters.

<<|LongRunners|>>

8th Mar '13 10:17:15 AM TropeEater

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8th Mar '13 10:17:10 AM TropeEater

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5th Feb '13 8:39:21 AM creepingdeath

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