5 Movies Directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda

Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman

Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1971-01-13

Languages:

Japanese, Mandarin

Countries:

Japan, Hong Kong

Runtime:

94 min

Rated:

NOT RATED

IMDB Ratings:

7.3 (859 Reviews)

Cast:

Writer:

Kan Shimozawa (story)

Takayuki Yamada

Kimiyoshi Yasuda

Fullplot:

While traveling the Japanese countryside the blind masseur Zatoichi comes across the One Armed Swordsman, Wang Kang, who is in hiding and protecting a child from a corrupt Japanese priest and a group of yakuza. Zatoichi and Wang Kang, each from very different worlds yet heroic swordsman in their own right, at first seem to get along but a language barrier and a series of misunderstanding leads Kang to distrust Ichi. Soon the two heroes are at each other throats while each attempts to stop the true villains from taking the child.

Zatoichi's Conspiracy

Zatoichi's Conspiracy

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1974-04-15

Languages:

Japanese

Countries:

Japan

Runtime:

88 min

Rated:

NOT RATED

IMDB Ratings:

7.3 (482 Reviews)

Genres:

ActionDrama

Cast:

Writer:

Yoshi Hattori (screenplay)

Kan Shimozawa (story)

Fullplot:

Zatoichi, the famed blind swordsman, returns to his home village for the first time in many years. He is befriended by Omiyo, who had the same wet-nurse as Zatoichi. He also encounters a boyhood friend, Shinbei, who now is wealthy and appears not to remember Zatoichi. Shinbei seems to be interested in repaying the villagers' debts, but is in reality manipulating the ownership of a now-valuable rock quarry. Zatoichi learns of the subterfuge and confronts his old friend, who has a score of yakuza swordsmen backing his play.

Zatoichi's Conspiracy

Zatoichi's Conspiracy

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1974-04-15

Languages:

Japanese

Countries:

Japan

Runtime:

88 min

Rated:

NOT RATED

IMDB Ratings:

7.3 (487 Reviews)

Genres:

ActionDrama

Cast:

Writer:

Yoshi Hattori (screenplay)

Kan Shimozawa (story)

Fullplot:

Zatoichi, the famed blind swordsman, returns to his home village for the first time in many years. He is befriended by Omiyo, who had the same wet-nurse as Zatoichi. He also encounters a boyhood friend, Shinbei, who now is wealthy and appears not to remember Zatoichi. Shinbei seems to be interested in repaying the villagers' debts, but is in reality manipulating the ownership of a now-valuable rock quarry. Zatoichi learns of the subterfuge and confronts his old friend, who has a score of yakuza swordsmen backing his play.

Adventures of Zatoichi

Adventures of Zatoichi

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1964-12-30

Languages:

Japanese

Countries:

Japan

Runtime:

86 min

Rated:

NOT RATED

IMDB Ratings:

7.4 (650 Reviews)

Cast:

Writer:

Shèzaburè Asai

Kan Shimozawa (story)

Fullplot:

Blind swordsman/masseuse Zatoichi befriends a young woman looking for her father, a village leader who has disappeared. As he helps her investigate the disappearance, Zatoichi also becomes involved with another young woman who is trying to help her brother, who has murdered someone at about the same time and place as the missing man was last seen.

Zatoichi's Cane-sword

Zatoichi's Cane-sword

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1967-01-03

Languages:

Japanese

Countries:

Japan

Runtime:

93 min

Rated:

NOT RATED

IMDB Ratings:

7.7 (607 Reviews)

Cast:

Writer:

Ryèzè Kasahara

Kan Shimozawa (story)

Fullplot:

Zatoichi comes upon the town of Tonda, overrun by gangsters. Using one of his favorite techniques, Zatoichi proceeds to win 8 ryo in a rigged gambling game. Of course, the local gangsters attempt to kill him, and the adventure begins. It turns out a blacksmith named Senzo examines Zatoichi's cane sword, and discovers it to be forged by his old mentor. Senzo discovers the sword is at the end of its usefulness and will break when it is used next....

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