Shintaro Katsu

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Shintarō Katsu
Born November 29, 1931(1931-11-29)
Fukagawa, Tokyo, Japan
Died June 21, 1997 (aged 65)
Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
Occupation Actor, singer, producer,
writer and director
Spouse(s) Tamao Nakamura

Shintarō Katsu (勝 新太郎 Shintarō Katsu?), 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, the role comprising almost 30 years of his career.

Katsu became a force to be reckoned with within the Japanese entertainment industry during his long and varied career, not the least of which was the company Katsu Productions, which was formed after the closing of Daiei Studios. By all appearances Katsu Productions' focus was on producing film and television that challenged the established values of its industry, presenting many films that pushed the limits of their time. Though not always initially artistically appreciated, many of these films have gone on to be considered classics (The Goyokiba and Kozure Okami series, etc.). Introducing more intense themes of sex and violence, the influence of many of these films can still be found in contemporary Japanese cinema.

He is also known for his troubled personal life[opinion needs balancing]; a heavy drinker, Katsu had several skirmishes with the law regarding drug use as well, including marijuana, opium, and cocaine with arrests in 1978, 1990, and 1992.[citation needed] These incidents resulted in his being removed from consideration for several parts both in Japan and abroad, amongst them an ad campaign for Kirin Beer in Japan (the campaign was pulled as it had already been in progress) and the lead role in Ridley Scott's 1989 film "Black Rain" (he was replaced by Ken Takakura).[citation needed]

He had also developed a reputation for being something of a troublemaker on set.[opinion needs balancing] When director Akira Kurosawa cast him for the lead role in Kagemusha (1980), Katsu left before the first day of shooting was over. Though accounts differ as to the incident, the most consistent[clarification needed] 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).[citation needed] Kurosawa is reputed to have taken great offense at this, resulting in Katsu's termination (he was replaced by Tatsuya Nakadai). In her recent 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.

Katsu 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).[opinion needs balancing] Katsu Productions was eventually bankrupted by a combination of gambling debts, and general mismanagement[opinion needs balancing].

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.

Katsu had a "blood brother" in Australia, Queensland entrepreneur Brian King. King teamed up with Katsu in 1979/1980 in Japan and Australia. King and Katsu collaborated in an effort to produce a movie based on a Japanese P.O.W break-out in the small Australian town of Cowra on 5 August 1944. Over 1100 Japanese POWs took part; 231 of them died, many taking their own lives. Plans were for Katsu to both star in and direct the film.

Katsu 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" ("Superintendent 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. He was also an accomplished shamisen player, as well as a vocalist, recording several albums in both pop and Enka. Nonetheless, his name remains synonymous with Zatoichi, the blind swordsman.

He died of pharyngeal cancer on June 21, 1997.

Contents

[edit] Partial filmography

[edit] Actor

[edit] 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)

[edit] 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)

[edit] Writer

  • Zatôichi aka Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally (1989) (screenplay)
  • Kaoyaku (1971)
  • Zatôichi abare-himatsuri aka Zatoichi at the Fire Festival (1970)

[edit] Self

  • The Blind Swordsman (documentary) (1978)

[edit] Television

  • Zatoichi Monogatari (actor, writer, director)
  • Shin Zatoichi Monogatari (actor, writer, director)
  • Shin Zatoichi (actor, writer, director)
  • Oshi Samurai (The Mute Samurai) (actor, writer, director)
  • Keishi-K (Superintendent K) (actor, writer, director)

[edit] References

Text document with red question mark.svg
 This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (September 2008)
  • Shintaro Katsu illustrated, Kawakatsu Masayuki, PIE Books, ISBN 489443031
  • Outlaw Masters Of Japanese Film, Chris Desjardins, I.B.Tauris, ISBN 1845110862
  • Geisha: A Life, Mineko Iwasaki/Contributor Rande Brown, Atria Books, ISBN 0743444329
  • Public People, Private People: Portraits of Some Japanese, Donald Richie, Kodansha International, ISBN 4770021046
  • Tokyo Underworld: The Fast Times and Hard Life of an American Gangster in Japan, Robert Whiting, Vintage, ISBN 0375724893
  • Kyoto: A Cultural History, John Dougill, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0195301382
  • The Japan Journals: 1947-2004, Donald Richie, Stone Bridge Press, ISBN 1880656973
  • A Japanese Advertising Agency: An Anthropology of Media and Markets, Brian Moeran, University of Hawaii Press, ISBN 0824818733
  • Waiting on the Weather: Making Movies with Akira Kurosawa by Teruyo Nogami, Foreword by Donald Richie, Stone Bridge Press ISBN 978-1-933330-09-9

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shintaro_Katsu"