Zatoichi

Zatoichi (座頭市 Zatōichi) is a fictional character featured in one of Japan's longest running series of films and a television series, set in the Edo period. The popularity of Zatoichi has been likened to that of James Bond in Western countries. However, Zatoichi has become almost synonymous with one actor: Shintaro Katsu. The only other actor to portray Zatoichi on film is Takeshi Kitano.

Zatoichi is a seemingly harmless blind masseur who wanders around the country making his living by gambling. However, he is also highly skilled swordsman, in the art of iaijutsu (Iaido). His trademark is a sword concealed within his cane. Cane swords, or shikomizue, were generally straight, lower-quality blades, which could not compare with regular curved katanas. But as revealed in Zatoichi's Cane Sword, his weapon is nearly superior to a katana and was created by a master swordsmith just before his prime.

A recurring theme of both the original film series and television series concerns Zatoichi protecting the innocent from oppressive warring clans and general injustice.

The character's name is actually Ichi. Zatō is a title, the lowest of the four official ranks within the Todoza (Tōdōza), the historical guild for blind men. Ichi is therefore properly called Zatō-no-Ichi (approximately, "Low-Ranking Blind Person Ichi"), or Zatōichi for short. Giving massages was a traditional occupation for the blind.