Shintaro Katsu
Shintaro Katsu in 1956
Born
Toshio Okumura

(1931-11-29)29 November 1931
Fukagawa, Tokyo, Japan
Died21 June 1997(1997-06-21) (aged 65)
Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
Occupation(s)Actor, singer, producer, writer and director
Years active1954–97
SpouseTamao Nakamura

Shintaro Katsu (Japanese: 勝 新太郎, Hepburn: Katsu Shintarō, 29 November 1931 – 21 June 1997) was a Japanese actor, singer, and filmmaker. He is known for starring in the Akumyo series, the Hoodlum Soldier series, and the Zatoichi series.

Life and career

Born Toshio Okumura (奥村 利夫 Okumura Toshio) on 29 November 1931. He was the son of Minoru Okumura (奥村 実), a noted kabuki performer who went by the stage name Katsutōji Kineya (杵屋 勝東治) and who was renowned for his nagauta and shamisen skills. He was the younger brother of actor Tomisaburo Wakayama.

Shintaro Katsu began his career in entertainment as a shamisen player. He switched to acting because he noticed it was better paid. In the 1960s he starred simultaneously in three long-running series of films, the Akumyo series, the Hoodlum Soldier series, and the Zatoichi series.

He played the role of blind masseur Zatoichi in a series of 25 films between 1962 and 1973, in 100 episodes across a four season television series from 1974 to 1979, and in a 26th and final film in 1989, which he also directed.[1]

In 1967, Katsu formed the company Katsu Productions.[2]

Katsu had a troubled personal life. A heavy drinker, Katsu had several brushes with the law over drug use as well, including marijuana, opium and cocaine with arrests in 1978, 1990 and 1992.[3]

He had also developed a reputation as 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.[4] Though accounts differ as to the incident, the most consistent one details Katsu's clash with Kurosawa regarding bringing his own film crew to the set (to film Kurosawa in action for later exhibition to his own acting students).[5][6] Kurosawa is reputed to have taken great offense at this, resulting in Katsu's termination (he was replaced by Tatsuya Nakadai). In her book, Waiting on the Weather, about her experiences with director Kurosawa, script supervisor Teruyo Nogami chalks the differences between Katsu and Kurosawa up to a personality clash that had unfortunate artistic results.[7]

He was the husband of actress Tamao Nakamura (married in 1962), and father of actor Ryutaro Gan (Gan Ryūtarō).[8]

Stunt actor Yukio Kato was killed on the set of the 26th Zatoichi film by Katsu's son, who was co-starring, when an actual sword was mistaken for a prop, fatally wounding Kato.

In her book, Geisha, A Life, Kyoto geisha Mineko Iwasaki claimed to have had 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.

Katsu produced the manga-based Lone Wolf and Cub (Kozure Okami) series of jidaigeki films starring his brother Tomisaburo Wakayama, two of which were later compiled into the movie Shogun Assassin, as well as co-writing, producing, and acting alongside his brother in the TV jidaigeki series Oshizamurai Kiichihōgan (Mute Samurai) and Tsūkai! Kōchiyama Sōshun.

His other television work includes the police drama Keishi-K (Superintendent K) which he starred in (as Katsutoshi Gatsu), co-wrote, directed, and produced. His daughter, Masami Okumura, co-starred.

His film work includes the Hanzo the Razor series as Detective Itami Hanzo. He was also an accomplished shamisen player, as well as a vocalist, recording several albums in both pop and Enka.

He died of pharyngeal cancer on 21 June 1997.

The character Fujitora in the manga series One Piece is based on him.

Filmography

As actor

YearTitleJapaneseRomanizationCharacter
1955A Girl Isn't Allowed to Love薔薇いくたびかBara ikutabikaAkira Takakura
1956Migratory Birds of the Flowers花の渡り鳥Hana no Wataridori
1956The Renyasai Yagyu Hidden Story
1956Sisters of the Gion祇園の姉妹Gion no shimai
1956まらそん侍Marason zamurai
1956Ghost-Cat of Gojusan-Tsugi怪猫五十三次Kaibyo Gojusan-tsugi
1956Tsukigata Hanpeita
1957An Osaka Story大阪物語Osaka monogatari
1957二十九人の喧嘩状Nijūkyū-nin no Kenka-jō
1957Ghost Cat of Yonaki Swamp怪猫夜泣き沼Kaibyo Yonaki numa
1958Nichiren and the Great Mongol Invasion日蓮と蒙古大襲来Nichiren to mōko daishūrai
1958The Gay Masquerade弁天小僧Benten kozō
1958The Loyal 47 Ronin忠臣蔵Chūshingura
1958Ghost-Cat Wall of Hatred怪猫呪いの壁Kaibyō noroi no kabe
1959Samurai Vendetta薄桜記Hakuōki
1959Seki no yatappe
1959Beni azami
1959Beauty Is GuiltyBibō ni tsumi ari
1959Hatsuharu tanuki gotten
1960Zoku Jirocho Fuji
1960The Demon of Mount Oe大江山酒呑童子Ooe-yama Shuten-dōjiWatanabe no Tsuna
1960Secrets of a Court Masseur
also titled The Blind Menace
and Agent Shiranui
Shiranui kengyō
1960Tsukinode no ketto
1961Mito komon umi o wataru
1961Kaze to kumo totoride
1961Hanakurabe tanuki dochu
1961Blind DevotionMidaregami
1961Tough Guy悪名AkumyōAsakichi
1961BuddhaShakaDevadatta
1961Tough Guy, Part 2Zoku akumyoAsakichi
1962The Tale of Zatoichi座頭市物語Zatōichi monogatariIchi
1962New Bad ReputationShin akumyoAsakichi
1962The Whale GodKujira gami
1962 The Great Wall Shin no shikōtei
1962The Tale of Zatoichi Continues続・座頭市物語Zoku Zatōichi monogatariIchi
1962New Bad Reputation ContinuesZoku shin akumyoAsakichi
1963The Money DanceDokonjo monogatari – zeni no odori
1963Daisan no akumyoAsakichi
1963An Actor's Revenge雪之丞変化Yukinojo henge
1963New Tale of Zatoichi新・座頭市物語Shin Zatōichi monogatariIchi
1963Akumyo ichibaAsakichi
1963Zatoichi The Fugitive座頭市兇状旅Zatōichi kyojo tabiIchi
1963Akumyo hatobaAsakichi
1963Zatoichi on the Road座頭市喧嘩旅Zatōichi kenka-tabiIchi
1963Akumyo ichibanAsakichi
1964Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold座頭市千両首Zatōichi senryō-kubiIchi
1964Suruga yūkyōden: Toba arashi
1964Zatoichi's Flashing Sword座頭市あばれ凧Zatōichi abare takoIchi
1964Akumyo daikoAsakichi
1964Suruga yūkyōden
1964Fight, Zatoichi, Fight座頭市血笑旅Zatōichi kesshō-tabiIchi
1964Kojiki Taishō乞食大将Kojiki taishoGotō Matabei
1964If You're Happy, Clap Your HandsShiawasa nara te o tatake
1964Adventures of Zatoichi座頭市関所破りZatōichi sekisho yaburiIchi
1964Rōnin-gai
1964Dokonjō monogatari: Zuputo iyatsu
1965Suruga yūkyōden: Dokyō garasu
1965The Hoodlum Soldier兵隊やくざHeitai yakuzaKisaburo Omiya
1965Zatoichi's Revenge座頭市二段斬りZatōichi nidan-kiriIchi
1965Akumyo noboriAsakichi
1965Life of Matsu the UntamedMuhomatsu no issho
1965Zatoichi and the Doomed Man座頭市逆手斬りZatōichi sakate giriIchi
1965Akumyo mutekiAsakichi
1965Zatoichi and the Chess Expert座頭市地獄旅Zatōichi Jigoku tabiIchi
1965Hoodlum Soldier and the C.O.続・兵隊やくざZoku heitai yakuzaIchi
1966Akumyo zakuraAsakichi
1966Zatoichi's Vengeance座頭市の歌が聞えるZatōichi no uta ga kikoeruIchi
1966Zatoichi's Pilgrimage座頭市海を渡るZatōichi umi o wataruIchi
1966Hoodlum Soldier Deserts Again新・兵隊やくざShin heitai yakuza
1966兵隊やくざ 脱獄Heitai yakuza datsugoku
1966兵隊やくざ 大脱走Heitai yakuza daidassō
1967The Hoodlum PriestYakuza bozu
1967兵隊やくざ 俺にまかせろHeitai yakuza ore ni makasero
1967Zatoichi's Cane Sword座頭市鉄火旅Zatōichi tekka tabiIchi
1967Akumyo ichidaiAsakichi
1967Zatoichi the OutlawZatōichi rōyaburiIchi
1967Hoodlum Soldier on the Attack兵隊やくざ 殴り込みHeitai yakuza nagurikomi
1967Zatoichi Challenged座頭市血煙り街道Zatōichi chikemuri kaidōIchi
1968Zoku yakuza bozu
1968Tomuraishi tachi
1968Heitai yakuza godatsu
1968Akumyo juhachi-banAsakichi
1968The Man Without a Map燃えつきた地図Moetsukita chizu
1968Zatoichi and the Fugitives座頭市果し状Zatōichi hatashi-jōIchi
1968Samaritan ZatoichiZatōichi kenka-daikoIchi
1969Devil's TempleOni no sumu yakata
1969Hitokiri人斬りHitokiriOkada Izō
1969The Magoichi SagaShirikurae MagoichiOda Nobunaga
1969Akumyo ichiban shobuAsakichi
1970Kenka ichidai: Dodekai yatsu
1970Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo座頭市と用心棒Zatōichi to YōjinbōIchi
1970Genkai yūkyōden: Yabure kabure
1970Incident at Blood PassMachibuse
1970Yakuza Zessyōやくざ絶唱Yakuza zessyō
1970Zatoichi at the Fire Festival座頭市あばれ火祭りZatōichi abare-himatsuriIchi
1970Fuji sanchō富士山頂Fuji sanchō
1971Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman新座頭市・破れ!唐人剣Shin Zatōichi: Yabure! Tojin-kenIchi
1971Inn of EvilいのちぼうにふろうInochi bō ni furō
1971Kitsune no kureta akanbō
1971Kaoyaku
1972Zatoichi at Large座頭市御用旅Zatōichi goyō-tabiIchi
1972Shin heitai yakuza: Kasen
1972Zatoichi in Desperation新座頭市物語・折れた杖Shin Zatōichi monogatari: Oreta tsue akaIchi

also director

1972Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice御用牙GoyōkibaHanzo Itami
1973Mute Samurai唖侍鬼一法眼Oshizamurai Kiichihōgan (TV series)Manji
1973Zatoichi's Conspiracy新座頭市物語・笠間の血祭りShin Zatōichi monogatari: Kasama no chimatsuriIchi
1973ŌshōSankichi Sakata
1973Hanzo the Razor: The Snare御用牙 かみそり半蔵地獄責めGoyōkiba: Kamisori Hanzō jigoku zemeHanzo Itami
1974The Homeless無宿Yadonashi
1974Hanzo the Razor: Who's Got the Gold?御用牙 鬼の半蔵やわ肌小判Goyōkiba: Oni no Hanzō yawahada kobanHanzo Itami
1974Akumyo: Notorious DragonAkumyo: shima arashiakaAsakichi
1974Zatōichi monogatari (TV series)Ichi
1975Tsūkai! Kōchiyama Sōshun (TV series)痛快!河内山宗俊Kōchiyama Sōshun
1983Meiso chizu
1987The one-eyed dragon Masamune (TV series)独眼竜政宗Dokuganryu MasamuneToyotomi Hideyoshi
1988Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis帝都物語Teito monogatariShibusawa Eiichi
1989Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally座頭市ZatōichiIchi

also director

1990Saga of the Phoenix孔雀王アシュラ伝説Kujaku ō: Ashura densetsu
1990Ronin Gai浪人街Rōnin-gai

As producer

YearTitleJapaneseRomanizationRole
1970Zatoichi Meets YojimboZatōichi to Yōjinbōproducer
1970Zatoichi at the Fire FestivalZatōichi abare-himatsuriproducer
1971Zatoichi Meets the One Armed SwordsmanShin Zatōichi: Yabure! Tojin-kenproducer
1971KaoyakuKaoyakuexecutive producer
1972Hanzo the Razor: Sword of JusticeGoyōkibaproducer
1972Zatoichi at LargeZatōichi goyō-tabiproducer
1972New Hoodlum Soldier Story: Firing LineShin heitai yakuza: Kasenproducer
1972Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of VengeanceKozure Ōkami: Kowokashi udekashi tsukamatsuruproducer
1972Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River StyxKozure Ōkami: Sanzu no kawa no ubagurumaproducer
1972Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to HadesKozure Ōkami: Shinikazeni mukau ubagurumaproducer
1972Zatoichi in DesperationShin Zatōichi monogatari: Oreta tsueproducer
1973Mute SamuraiOshizamurai Kiichihōgan (TV series)executive producer
1973Zatoichi's ConspiracyShin Zatōichi monogatari: Kasama no chimatsuri
1973Hanzo the Razor: The SnareGoyōkiba: Kamisori Hanzō jigoku zeme
1974The HomelessYadonashiproducer
1974Hanzo the Razor: Who's Got the Gold?Goyōkiba: Oni no Hanzō yawahada kobanproducer
1974Akumyo: Notorious DragonAkumyo: shima arashiaka
1980Shogun Assassinproducer
1989Shintaro Katsu's ZatoichiZatōichi

As director

YearTitleJapaneseRomanization
1971KaoyakuKaoyaku
1972Zatoichi in DesperationShin Zatōichi monogatari: Oreta tsue
1973Mute SamuraiOshi samurai (TV series)
1974ZatoichiZatōichi monogatari (TV series)
(episode "A Memorial Day and the Bell of Life")
1989Zatoichi: Darkness Is His AllyZatōichi

As writer

YearTitleJapaneseRomanization
1970Zatoichi at the Fire FestivalZatōichi abare-himatsuri
1971KaoyakuKaoyaku
1989Zatoichi: Darkness Is His AllyZatōichi

As himself

YearFilmFilm type
1978The Blind SwordsmanDocumentary

References

  1. West, David (2006). Chasing dragons: an introduction to the martial arts film. I.B.Tauris. p. 33. ISBN 978-1-85043-982-0. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
  2. Standish, Isolde (8 May 2006). A New History of Japanese Cinema: A Century Of Narrative Film. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 359. ISBN 978-0-8264-1790-9. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
  3. West, Mark D. (2006). Secrets, Sex, and Spectacle: The Rules of Scandal in Japan and the United States. University of Chicago Press. p. 201. ISBN 978-0-226-89408-9. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
  4. Galloway, Patrick (1 May 2005). Stray Dogs & Lone Wolves: The Samurai Film Handbook. Stone Bridge Press, Inc. p. 184. ISBN 978-1-880656-93-8. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
  5. Kurosawa, Akira; Cardullo, Bert (2008). Akira Kurosawa: Interviews. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-57806-997-2. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
  6. Cowie, Peter (1981). International Film Guide. Tantivy Press. p. 205. ISBN 978-0-498-02530-3. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
  7. Nogami, Teruyo (2006). Waiting on the Weather: Making Movies with Akira Kurosawa. Stone Bridge Press, Inc. pp. 251–60. ISBN 978-1-933330-09-9. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
  8. Galloway, Patrick (1 May 2005). Stray Dogs & Lone Wolves: The Samurai Film Handbook. Stone Bridge Press, Inc. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-880656-93-8. Retrieved 16 October 2010.

Bibliography

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