Shintaro Katsu
Shintarō Katsu ( Japanese 勝 新 太郎 , Katsu Shintarō ; nickname: Katsu-shin ; born November 29, 1931 in Fukagawa, Kōtō , Tokyo , Japan as Toshio Okumura ( 奥 村 利夫 , Okumura Toshio ); † June 21, 1997 in Kashiwa , Japan ) was a Japanese actor , singer , film producer, and director .
biography
Shintarō Katsu was the son of the kabuki actor Katsutōji Kineya and the younger brother of the actor Tomisaburō Wakayama . Since 1962 he was married to the actress Tamao Nakamura and father of the future actor Ryūtarō Gan ( Gan Ryūtarō ).
His best known role was that of the blind masseur Zatoichi , whose films were very successful in the 1960s and 1970s. He played this role in 25 films between 1962 and 1973. In a 26th film from 1989, he also took over the direction. In this film, the stuntman Yukio Kato was killed when Katsu's son accidentally picked up a real sword during a rehearsal and mortally wounded him. He also embodied this role in a television series over four seasons. Zatoichi accompanied Katsu in his career for more than 30 years. He was instrumental in shaping the Jidai-geki genre.
In his private life his problems in dealing with alcohol were known, and he repeatedly came into conflict with the law. Among other things, he was imprisoned for drug possession in 1978, 1990 and 1992. Due to the associated negative attention, he lost an important advertising contract for the Japanese Kirin beer, as well as an important role in Black Rain , a film by Ridley Scott . The role was then re-cast with Ken Takakura .
In her book The True Story of the Geisha Mineko Iwasaki claims to have a long-term affair with Katsu, whom she calls Toshio by his maiden name , which only ended in 1976.
Katsu later produced the manga adaptation Kozure Okami , in which his older brother Tomisaburō Wakayama played the lead role, and which was later cut together to form the film Shogun Assassin . With him he made several films as a co-author, producer or actor, for example in Oshi Samurai and Zatōichi .
In Japan he was also famous as a singer for pop music and enka , Japanese hits, and made several records .
He died on June 21, 1997 of esophageal cancer .
Filmography (selection)
actor
- 1956 Tsukigata Hanpeita
- 1956 Kaibyo Gojusan-tsugi, engl. Ghost-Cat of Gojusan-Tsugi
- 1956 Marason zamurai
- 1956 Yagyū renyasai: hidentsuki kageshō
- 1956 Bara ikutabika, engl. A Girl Isn't Allowed to Love
- 1957 Osaka monogatari, engl. To Osaka Story
- 1958 Kaibyō noroi no kabe, engl. Ghost-Cat Wall of Hatred
- 1958 Chūshingura, engl. The Loyal 47 Ronin
- 1958 Benten kozo, engl. The Gay Masquerade
- 1958 Nichiren to moko daishurai
- 1958 Kaibyō Yonaki numa, engl. Ghost Cat of Yonaki
- 1959 Hatsuharu tanuki goten, engl. Enchanted Princess
- 1959 Bibō ni tsumi ari, engl. Beauty is guilty
- 1959 Jirocho Fuji
- 1959 Seki no yatappe
- 1959 Hakuokiaka, engl. Samurai Vendetta
- 1960 Tsukinode no ketto
- 1960 Shiranui kengyō, engl. Secrets of a Court Masseur
- 1960 Ooe-yama Shuten-dōji, engl. The Ogre of Mount Oe
- 1960 Zoku Jirocho Fuji
- 1961 Zoku akumyo, engl. Tough Guy, Part 2
- 1961 Shaka, engl. Buddha
- 1961 Akumyō, engl. Tough guy
- 1961 Midaregami, engl. Blind devotion
- 1961 Hanakurabe tanuki nochu
- 1961 Kaze to kumo totoride
- 1961 Mito komon umi o wataru
- 1962 Zoku shin akumyo, engl. New Bad Reputation Continues
- 1962 Shin shikōtei, engl. The Great Wall
- 1962 Zoku Zatoichi monogatari, engl. The Tale of Zatoichi Continues
- 1962 Kujira gami, engl. The Whale God
- 1962 Shin akumyo, engl. New Bad Reputation
- 1962 Zatōichi monogatari, engl. The Life and Opinion of Masseur Ichi
- 1963 Akumyo ichiban
- 1963 Zatōichi kenka-tabi, engl. Zatoichi on the Road
- 1963 Akumyo hatoba
- 1963 Zatoichi kyoj tabi, engl. Zatoichi The Fugitive
- 1963 Akumyo ichiba
- 1963 Shin Zatoichi monogatari, engl. New Tale of Zatoichi
- 1963 Yukinojo henge, engl. To Actor's Revenge
- 1963 Daisan no akumyo
- 1963 Dokonjo monogatari - zeni no odori, engl. The Money Dance
- 1964 Zatoichi sekisho yaburi, engl. Adventures of Zatoichi
- 1964 Shiawasa nara te o tatake, engl. If you're happy, clap your hands
- 1964 Kojiki taisho
- 1964 Zatōichi kesshō-tabi, engl. Fight, Zatoichi, Fight
- 1964 Suruga yūkyōden
- 1964 Akumyo daiko .... Asakichi
- 1964 Zatōichi abare tako, engl. Zatoichi's Flashing Sword
- 1964 Suruga yūkyōden: Toba arashi
- 1964 Zatōichi senryō-kubi, engl. Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold
- 1964 Dokonjō monogatari: Zuputo iyatsu
- 1964 Rōnin-gai
- 1965 Zatoichi Jigoku tabi, engl. Zatoichi and the Chess Expert
- 1965 Akumyo muteki
- 1965 Zatoichi sakate giri, engl. Zatoichi and the Doomed Man
- 1965 Muhomatsu no issho, engl. Life of Matsu the Untamed
- 1965 Akumyo nobori
- 1965 Zatōichi nidan-kiri, engl. Zatoichi's Revenge
- 1965 Heitai yakuza, engl. The Hoodlum Soldier
- 1965 Suruga yūkyōden: Dokyō garasu
- 1965 Zoku heitai yakuza, engl. Hoodlum Soldier and the CO
- 1966 Zatōichi umi o wataru, engl. Zatoichi's pilgrimage
- 1966 Zatoichi no uta ga kikoeru, engl. Zatoichi's Vengeance
- 1966 Akumyo zakura .... Asakichi
- 1966 Heitai yakuza daidasso
- 1966 Heitai yakuza datsugoku
- 1966 Shin heitai yakuza, engl. Hoodlum Soldier Deserts Again
- 1967 Zatoichi chikemuri kaido, engl. Zatoichi Challenged
- 1967 Heitai yakuza nagurikomi, engl. Hoodlum Soldier on the Attack
- 1967 Zatōichi rōyaburi, engl. Zatoichi the Outlaw
- 1967 Akumyo ichidai
- 1967 Zatoichi tekka tabi, engl. Zatoichi's cane sword
- 1967 Heitai yakuza ore ni makasero
- 1967 Yakuza bozu, engl. The Hoodlum Priest
- 1968 Zatōichi kenka-daiko, engl. Samaritan Zatoichi
- 1968 Zatōichi hatashi-jō, engl. Zatoichi and the Fugitives
- 1968 Moetsukita chizu, engl. The Man Without a Map
- 1968 Akumyo juhachi-ban
- 1968 Heitai yakuza godatsu
- 1968 Tomuraishi tachi
- 1968 Zoku yakuza bozu
- 1969 Akumyo ichiban shobu
- 1969 Shirikurae Magoichi, engl. The Magoichi Saga
- 1969 Hitokiri, engl. Tenchu!
- 1969 Oni no sumu yakata, engl. Devil's Temple
- 1970 Zatōichi abare-himatsuri, engl. Zatoichi at the Fire Festival
- 1970 Yakuza zessyō
- 1970 Machibuse, engl. Incident at Blood Pass
- 1970 Genkai yūkyōden: Yabure kabure
- 1970 Zatōichi to Yōjinbō, engl. Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo
- 1970 Kenka ichidai: Dodekai yatsu
- 1971 Kaoyaku
- 1971 Kitsune no kureta akanbō
- 1971 Inochi bō ni furō, engl. Inn of Evil
- 1971 Shin Zatōichi: Yabure! Tojin-ken, engl. Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman
- 1972 Shin Zatōichi monogatari: Oreta tsue, engl. Zatoichi in desperation
- 1972 Shin heitai yakuza: Kasen
- 1972 Zatōichi goyō-tabi, engl. Zatoichi at Large
- 1972 Goyōkiba, engl. Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice
- 1973 Goyōkiba: Kamisori Hanzō jigoku zeme, engl. Hanzo the Razor: The Snare
- 1973 ōshō
- 1973 Shin Zatōichi monogatari: Kasama no chimatsuri, engl. Zatoichi's Conspiracy
- 1974 Zatōichi monogatari (TV series)
- 1974 Akumyo: shima arashiaka Akumyo: Notorious Dragon
- 1974 Goyōkiba: Oni no Hanzō yawahada koban, engl. Hanzo the Razor: Who's Got the Gold?
- 1974 Yadonashi
- 1983 Meiso chizu
- 1987 Dokugan-ryu Masamune (TV series)
- 1988 Teito monogatari, engl. Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis
- 1989 Zatōichi 26, engl. Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally
- 1990 Rōnin-gai
- 1990 Kujaku ō: Ashura densetsu, engl. Saga of the Phoenix
producer
- 1970 Zatōichi abare-himatsuri, engl. Zatoichi at the Fire Festival
- 1970 Zatōichi to Yōjinbō, engl. Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo
- 1971 Kaoyaku
- 1971 Shin Zatōichi: Yabure! Tojin-ken, engl. Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman
- 1971 Ali, the Fighter, engl. Ali the Man: Ali the Fighter
- 1972 Shin Zatōichi monogatari: Oreta tsue, engl. Zatoichi in desperation
- 1972 Okami - The Sword of Vengeance ( Kozure Ōkami : Kowokashi udekashi tsukamatsuru )
- 1972 Kozure Ōkami: Sanzu no kawa no ubaguruma, engl. Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx
- 1972 Shin heitai yakuza: Kasen
- 1972 Zatōichi goyō-tabi, engl. Zatoichi at Large
- 1972 Goyōkiba, engl. Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice
- 1973 Goyōkiba: Kamisori Hanzō jigoku zeme, engl. Hanzo the Razor: The Snare
- 1973 Shin Zatōichi monogatari: Kasama no chimatsuri, engl. Zatoichi's Conspiracy
- 1973 "Oshi samurai" TV Series
- 1974 Akumyo: shima arashiaka Akumyo: Notorious Dragon
- 1974 Goyōkiba: Oni no Hanzō yawahada koban, engl. Hanzo the Razor: Who's Got the Gold?
- 1974 Yadonashi
- 1980 Shogun Assassin
- 1989 Zatōichi, engl. Shintaro Katsu's Zatoichi
Director
- 1971 Kaoyaku
- 1972 Shin Zatōichi monogatari: Oreta tsue, engl. Zatoichi in desperation
- 1973 Oshi samurai (TV series)
- 1974 Zatōichi monogatari (TV series, Episode A Memorial Day and the Bell of Life )
- 1989 Zatōichi, engl. Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally
author
- 1970 Zatōichi abare-himatsuri, engl. Zatoichi at the Fire Festival
- 1971 Kaoyaku
- 1989 Zatōichi, engl. Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally
Awards
- 1964 Blue Ribbon Award:
- 1964 Kinema Jumpō Prize : Best Actor
- 1972 Mainichi Eiga Concours : Best Actor
- 1998 Mainichi Eiga Concours : Special prize for his life's work
- 1998 Award of the Japanese Academy: Special award for his life's work
literature
- Shintaro Katsu illustrated, Kawakatsu Masayuki, PIE Books, ISBN 4-89444-303-1
- Outlaw Masters Of Japanese Film, Chris Desjardins , IBTauris, ISBN 1-84511-086-2
- Geisha: A Life, Mineko Iwasaki / Contributor Rande Brown, Atria Books, ISBN 0-7434-4432-9
- Public People, Private People: Portraits of Some Japanese, Donald Richie , Kodansha International, ISBN 4-7700-2104-6
- Tokyo Underworld: The Fast Times and Hard Life of an American Gangster in Japan, Robert Whiting, Vintage, ISBN 0-375-72489-3
- Kyoto: A Cultural History, John Dougill, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-530138-2
- The Japan Journals: 1947-2004, Donald Richie, Stone Bridge Press, ISBN 1-880656-97-3
- A Japanese Advertising Agency: An Anthropology of Media and Markets, Brian Moeran, University of Hawaii Press, ISBN 0-8248-1873-3
Web links
- Shintarō Katsu in the Internet Movie Database (English)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Katsu, Shintaro |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | 勝 新 太郎 (Japanese, stage name); 奥 村 利夫 (Japanese, maiden name); Okumura Toshio (maiden name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Japanese actor, singer, film producer and director |
| DATE OF BIRTH | November 29, 1931 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Fukagawa, Kōtō , Tokyo , Japan |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 21, 1997 |
| Place of death | Kashiwa , Japan |