Shintaro Katsu (勝 新太郎, Katsu Shintarō?), born Toshio
Okumura (奥村 利夫 Okumura Toshio, November 29, 1931—June 21, 1997; nicknamed Katsu-shin) was
a Japanese actor, singer,
producer, and director. He was the son of
kabuki performer Katsutoji Kineya (Kineya Katsutōji) who was renowned for his
nagauta and shamisen skills, younger brother of actor
Tomisaburo Wakayama (Wakayama Tomisaburō), husband of actress Tamao Nakamura
(married in 1962), and father of actor Ryutaro Gan (Gan Ryūtarō).
His best known role was as blind Yakuza anma (masseur)
Zatoichi in the series of films by the same name, which were very
popular in the 1960s and 1970s. Katsu played Zatoichi in 25 movies
between 1962 and 1973, starred and directed a 26th in
1989 and played the role in four seasons of a spin-off television series.
He is also known for his troubled personal life; a heavy drinker, Mr. Katsu had several skirmishes with the law regarding drug
use as well, including marijuana, opium, and cocaine with arrests in 1978, 1990, and 1992. He had also developed a reputation for
being something of a troublemaker on set. When director Akira Kurosawa cast him for the
lead role in Kagemusha (1980), Katsu left before the first day of shooting was over –
either fired, or of his own accord (stories differ). He encountered further controversy and personal disgrace when stunt actor
Yukio Kato was accidentally killed on the set of Zatoichi 26 by his son, who was co-starring, due to a prop-related mishap (an
actual sword was mistaken for a prop; Kato was fatally wounded.) His production company (Katsu Productions) was eventually
bankrupted by a combination of gambling debts, general mismanagement, and Katsu's personal monetary generosity, for which he was
well-known in Japanese entertainment circles.
In her book, Geisha, A Life, famed Kyoto geisha
Mineko Iwasaki claims a long time affair with Katsu, whom she calls by his given name,
Toshio. The affair ended in 1976, and eventually the two became good friends until his death.
He produced the manga-based Lone Wolf and Cub (Kozure Okami) series of violent jidaigeki films starring his
brother Tomisaburo Wakayama which were later compiled into the movie Shogun
Assassin, as well as co-writing, producing, and acting alongside his brother in the TV series "Oshi Samurai" ("The Mute Samurai").
His other television work includes the police drama "Keishi-K" ("Superintendant K") which he starred in (as Katsutoshi Gatsu), co-wrote, directed, and produced. His daughter,
Masami Okumura, co-starred. Other well-known film work includes the Goyokiba ("Fangs Of
The Detective", known in the US as Hanzo the Razor, as Detective Itami Hanzo) trilogy of
exploitation movies. Nonetheless, his name remains synonymous with Zatoichi, the blind swordsman.
He died of pharyngeal cancer on June 21 1997.
Partial Filmography
Katsu Shintaro in his most famous role. From Zatoichi 26 (Darkness Is His Ally), his last outing as the blind swordsman, which he
also wrote and directed.
Actor:
- Rônin-gai (1990)
- Kujaku ô: Ashura densetsu aka Saga of the Phoenix (1990)
- Zatôichi 26 aka Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally(1989)
- Teito monogatari aka Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis (1988)
- Dokugan-ryu Masamune" TV Series(1987)
- Meiso chizu (1983)
- "Zatôichi monogatari" TV Series (1974)
- Akumyo: shima arashiaka Akumyo: Notorious Dragon (1974)
- Goyôkiba: Oni no Hanzô yawahada koban aka Hanzo the Razor: Who's Got the Gold? (1974)
- Yadonashi (1974)
- Goyôkiba: Kamisori Hanzô jigoku zeme aka Hanzo the Razor: The Snare (1973)
- Ôshô (1973)
- Shin Zatôichi monogatari: Kasama no chimatsuri aka Zatoichi's Conspiracy (1973)
- Shin Zatôichi monogatari: Oreta tsue aka Zatoichi in Desperation (1972)
- Shin heitai yakuza: Kasen (1972)
- Zatôichi goyô-tabi aka Zatoichi at Large (1972)
- Goyôkiba aka Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice (1972)
- Kaoyaku (1971)
- Kitsune no kureta akanbô (1971)
- Inochi bô ni furô aka Inn of Evil (1971)
- Shin Zatôichi: Yabure! Tojin-ken aka Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman (1971)
- Zatôichi abare-himatsuri aka Zatoichi at the Fire Festival (1970)
- Yakuza zessyô (1970)
- Machibuse aka Incident at Blood Pass (1970)
- Genkai yûkyôden: Yabure kabure (1970)
- Zatôichi to Yôjinbô aka Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo (1970)
- Kenka ichidai: Dodekai yatsu (1970)
- Akumyo ichiban shobu (1969)
- Shirikurae Magoichi aka The Magoichi Saga (1969)
- Hitokiri aka Tenchu!(1969)
- Oni no sumu yakata aka Devil's Temple (1969)
- Zatôichi kenka-daiko aka Samaritan Zatoichi (1968)
- Zatôichi hatashi-jô aka Zatoichi and the Fugitives (1968)
- Moetsukita chizu aka The Man Without a Map (1968)
- Akumyo juhachi-ban (1968)
- Heitai yakuza godatsu (1968)
- Tomuraishi tachi (1968)
- Zoku yakuza bozu (1968)
- Zatoichi chikemuri kaido aka Zatoichi Challenged (1967)
- Heitai yakuza nagurikomi aka Hoodlum Soldier on the Attack (1967)
- Zatôichi rôyaburi aka Zatoichi the Outlaw (1967)
- Akumyo ichidai (1967)
- Zatoichi tekka tabi aka Zatoichi's Cane-sword (1967)
- Heitai yakuza ore ni makasero (1967)
- Yakuza bozu aka The Hoodlum Priest (1967)
- Zatôichi umi o wataru aka Zatoichi's Pilgrimage (1966)
- Zatoichi no uta ga kikoeru aka Zatoichi's Vengeance (1966)
- Akumyo zakura (1966) .... Asakichi
- Heitai yakuza daidasso (1966)
- Heitai yakuza datsugoku (1966)
- Shin heitai yakuza aka Hoodlum Soldier Deserts Again (1966)
- Zatoichi Jigoku tabi aka Zatoichi and the Chess Expert (1965)
- Akumyo muteki (1965)
- Zatoichi sakate giri aka Zatoichi and the Doomed Man (1965)
- Muhomatsu no issho aka Life of Matsu the Untamed (1965)
- Akumyo nobori (1965)
- Zatôichi nidan-kiri Zatoichi's Revenge (1965)
- Heitai yakuza aka The Hoodlum Soldier (1965)
- Suruga yûkyôden: Dokyô garasu (1965)
- Zoku heitai yakuza aka Hoodlum Soldier and the C.O. (1965)
- Zatoichi sekisho yaburi aka Adventures of Zatoichi (1964)
- Shiawasa nara te o tatake aka If You're Happy, Clap Your Hands (1964)
- Kojiki taisho (1964)
- Zatôichi kesshô-tabi (1964) aka Fight, Zatoichi, Fight
- Suruga yûkyôden (1964)
- Akumyo daiko (1964) .... Asakichi
- Zatôichi abare tako aka Zatoichi's Flashing Sword (1964)
- Suruga yûkyôden: Toba arashi (1964)
- Zatôichi senryô-kubi aka Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold (1964)
- Dokonjô monogatari: Zuputo iyatsu (1964)
- Rônin-gai (1964)
- Akumyo ichiban (1963)
- Zatôichi kenka-tabi aka Zatoichi on the Road (1963)
- Akumyo hatoba (1963)
- Zatoichi kyojo tabi aka Zatoichi The Fugitive (1963)
- Akumyo ichiba (1963)
- Shin Zatoichi monogatari aka New Tale of Zatoichi(1963)
- Yukinojo henge aka An Actor's Revenge (1963)
- Daisan no akumyo (1963)
- Dokonjo monogatari - zeni no odori aka The Money Dance (1963)
- Zoku shin akumyo aka New Bad Reputation Continues (1962)
- Shin shikôtei aka The Great Wall (1962)
- Zoku Zatoichi monogatari aka The Tale of Zatoichi Continues (1962)
- Kujira gami aka The Whale God (1962)
- Shin akumyo aka New Bad Reputation (1962)
- Zatôichi monogatari aka The Life and Opinion of Masseur Ichi (1962)
- Zoku akumyo aka Tough Guy, Part 2 (1961)
- Shaka aka Buddha (1961)
- Akumyô aka Tough Guy (1961)
- Midaregami aka Blind Devotion (1961)
- Hanakurabe tanuki dochu (1961)
- Kaze to kumo totoride (1961)
- Mito komon umi o wataru (1961)
- Tsukinode no ketto (1960)
- Shiranui kengyô aka Secrets of a Court Masseur (1960)
- Ooe-yama Shuten-dôjiaka The Ogre of Mount Oe (1960)
- Zoku Jirocho Fuji (1960)
- Hatsuharu tanuki goten aka Enchanted Princess (1959)
- Bibô ni tsumi ari aka Beauty Is Guilty (1959)
- Jirocho Fuji (1959)
- Seki no yatappe (1959)
- Hakuokiaka aka Samurai Vendetta (1959)
- Kaibyô noroi no kabe aka Ghost-Cat Wall of Hatred (1958)
- Chûshinguraaka The Loyal 47 Ronin (1958)
- Benten kozo aka The Gay Masquerade (1958)
- Nichiren to moko daishurai (1958)
- Kaibyô Yonaki numa aka Ghost-Cat of Yonaki (1957)
- Osaka monogatari aka An Osaka Story (1957)
- Tsukigata Hanpeita (1956)
- Kaibyo Gojusan-tsugi aka Ghost-Cat of Gojusan-Tsugi (1956)
- Marason zamurai (1956)
- Yagyû renyasai: hidentsuki kageshô (1956)
- Bara ikutabika aka A Girl Isn't Allowed to Love (1955)
Producer:
- Zatôichi aka Shintaro Katsu's Zatoichi (1989)
- Shogun Assassin (1980) (producer)
- Akumyo: shima arashiaka Akumyo: Notorious Dragon (1974)
- Goyôkiba: Oni no Hanzô yawahada koban aka Hanzo the Razor: Who's Got the Gold? (1974) (producer)
- Yadonashi (1974) (producer)
- Goyôkiba: Kamisori Hanzô jigoku zeme aka Hanzo the Razor: The Snare (1973)
- Shin Zatôichi monogatari: Kasama no chimatsuri aka Zatoichi's Conspiracy (1973)
- "Oshi samurai" TV Series (executive producer)(1973)
- Shin Zatôichi monogatari: Oreta tsue aka Zatoichi in Desperation (1972) (producer)
- Kozure Ôkami: Shinikazeni mukau ubaguruma aka Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades (1972) (producer)
- Kozure Ôkami: Sanzu no kawa no ubaguruma aka Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx (1972) (producer)
- Kozure Ôkami: Kowokashi udekashi tsukamatsuru aka Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance(1972) (producer)
- Shin heitai yakuza: Kasen (1972) (producer)
- Zatôichi goyô-tabi aka Zatoichi at Large(1972) (producer)
- Goyôkiba aka Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice (1972) (producer)
- Kaoyaku (1971) (executive producer)
- Shin Zatôichi: Yabure! Tojin-ken aka Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman (1971) (producer)
- Ali, the Fighter aka Ali the Man: Ali the Fighter (1971) (producer)
- Zatôichi abare-himatsuri aka Zatoichi at the Fire Festival (1970) (producer)
- Zatôichi to Yôjinbô aka Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo (1970) (producer)
Director:
- Zatôichi aka Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally (1989)
- "Zatôichi monogatari" (1974) TV Series (episode "A Memorial Day and the Bell of Life")
- "Oshi samurai" (1973) TV Series
- Shin Zatôichi monogatari: Oreta tsue aka Zatoichi in Desperation (1972)
- Kaoyaku (1971)
Writer:
- Zatôichi aka Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally (1989) (screenplay)
- Kaoyaku (1971)
- Zatôichi abare-himatsuri aka Zatoichi at the Fire Festival (1970)
Self:
- The Blind Swordsman (documentary) (1978)
External links
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