# Shintaro Katsu

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.
In 1967, Katsu formed the company Katsu Productions.
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.
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. 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). 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.
He was the husband of actress Tamao Nakamura (married in 1962), and father of actor Ryutaro Gan (Gan Ryūtarō).
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 [Wikidata] (Superintendent K) which he starred in (as Katsutoshi Gatsu), co-wrote, directed, and produced. His daughter, Masami Okumura [Wikidata], 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

| Year | Title | Japanese | Romanization | Character |
| 1955 | A Girl Isn't Allowed to Love | 薔薇いくたびか | Bara ikutabika | Akira Takakura |
| 1956 | Migratory Birds of the Flowers | 花の渡り鳥 | Hana no Wataridori | |
| 1956 | The Renyasai Yagyu Hidden Story | 柳生連也斎 秘伝月影抄 | Yagyū Ren'yasai Hidentsuki Kageshō | |
| 1956 | Sisters of the Gion | 祇園の姉妹 | Gion no shimai | |
| 1956 | | まらそん侍 | Marason zamurai | |
| 1956 | Ghost-Cat of Gojusan-Tsugi | 怪猫五十三次 | Kaibyo Gojusan-tsugi | |
| 1956 | | 月形半平太 | Tsukigata Hanpeita | |
| 1957 | An Osaka Story | 大阪物語 | Osaka monogatari | |
| 1957 | | 二十九人の喧嘩状 | Nijūkyū-nin no Kenka-jō | |
| 1957 | Ghost Cat of Yonaki Swamp | 怪猫夜泣き沼 | Kaibyo Yonaki numa | |
| 1958 | Nichiren and the Great Mongol Invasion | 日蓮と蒙古大襲来 | Nichiren to mōko daishūrai | |
| 1958 | The Gay Masquerade | 弁天小僧 | Benten kozō | |
| 1958 | The Loyal 47 Ronin | 忠臣蔵 | Chūshingura | |
| 1958 | Ghost-Cat Wall of Hatred | 怪猫呪いの壁 | Kaibyō noroi no kabe | |
| 1959 | Samurai Vendetta | 薄桜記 | Hakuōki | |
| 1959 | | 関の弥太っぺ | Seki no yatappe | |
| 1959 | | 紅あざみ | Beni azami | |
| 1959 | Beauty Is Guilty | 美貌に罪あり | Bibō ni tsumi ari | |
| 1959 | | 初春狸御殿 | Hatsuharu tanuki gotten | |
| 1960 | | 続次郎長富士 | Zoku Jirocho Fuji | |
| 1960 | The Demon of Mount Oe | 大江山酒呑童子 | Ooe-yama Shuten-dōji | Watanabe no Tsuna |
| 1960 | Secrets of a Court Masseur also titled The Blind Menace and Agent Shiranui | 不知火檢校 | Shiranui kengyō | |
| 1960 | | 月の出の決闘 | Tsukinode no ketto | |
| 1961 | | 水戸黄門海を渡る | Mito komon umi o wataru | |
| 1961 | | 風と雲と砦 | Kaze to kumo to toride | |
| 1961 | | 花くらべ狸道中 | Hanakurabe tanuki dochu | |
| 1961 | Blind Devotion | みだれ髪 | Midaregami | |
| 1961 | Tough Guy | 悪名 | Akumyō | Asakichi |
| 1961 | Buddha | 釈迦 | Shaka | Devadatta |
| 1961 | Tough Guy, Part 2 | 続悪名 | Zoku akumyo | Asakichi |
| 1962 | Killer Whale | 鯨神 | Kujira gami | |
| 1962 | The Tale of Zatoichi | 座頭市物語 | Zatōichi monogatari | Ichi |
| 1962 | New Bad Reputation | 新悪名 | Shin akumyo | Asakichi |
| 1962 | The Great Wall | 秦・始皇帝 | Shin no shikōtei | |
| 1962 | The Tale of Zatoichi Continues | 続・座頭市物語 | Zoku Zatōichi monogatari | Ichi |
| 1962 | New Bad Reputation Continues | 続・新悪名 | Zoku shin akumyo | Asakichi |
| 1963 | The Money Dance | ど根性物語 銭の踊り | Dokonjo monogatari – zeni no odori | |
| 1963 | | 第三の悪名 | Daisan no akumyo | Asakichi |
| 1963 | An Actor's Revenge | 雪之丞変化 | Yukinojo henge | |
| 1963 | New Tale of Zatoichi | 新・座頭市物語 | Shin Zatōichi monogatari | Ichi |
| 1963 | | 悪名市場 | Akumyo ichiba | Asakichi |
| 1963 | Zatoichi The Fugitive | 座頭市兇状旅 | Zatōichi kyojo tabi | Ichi |
| 1963 | | 悪名波止場 | Akumyo hatoba | Asakichi |
| 1963 | Zatoichi on the Road | 座頭市喧嘩旅 | Zatōichi kenka-tabi | Ichi |
| 1963 | | 悪名一番 | Akumyo ichiban | Asakichi |
| 1964 | Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold | 座頭市千両首 | Zatōichi senryō-kubi | Ichi |
| 1964 | | 駿河遊侠伝 賭場荒し | Suruga yūkyōden: Toba arashi | |
| 1964 | Zatoichi's Flashing Sword | 座頭市あばれ凧 | Zatōichi abare tako | Ichi |
| 1964 | | 悪名太鼓 | Akumyo daiko | Asakichi |
| 1964 | | 駿河遊侠伝 破れ鉄火 | Suruga yūkyōden yabure tekka | |
| 1964 | Fight, Zatoichi, Fight | 座頭市血笑旅 | Zatōichi kesshō-tabi | Ichi |
| 1964 | Kojiki Taishō | 乞食大将 | Kojiki taisho | Gotō Matabei |
| 1964 | If You're Happy, Clap Your Hands | 幸せなら手をたたこう | Shiawasa nara te wo tatakou | |
| 1964 | Adventures of Zatoichi | 座頭市関所破り | Zatōichi sekisho yaburi | Ichi |
| 1964 | | | Rōnin-gai | |
| 1964 | | ど根性物語 図太い奴 | Dokonjō monogatari: Zubutoiyatsu | |
| 1965 | | 駿河遊侠伝 度胸がらす | Suruga yūkyōden: Dokyō garasu | |
| 1965 | The Hoodlum Soldier | 兵隊やくざ | Heitai yakuza | Kisaburo Omiya |
| 1965 | Zatoichi's Revenge | 座頭市二段斬り | Zatōichi nidan-kiri | Ichi |
| 1965 | | | Akumyo nobori | Asakichi |
| 1965 | Life of Matsu the Untamed | 無法松の一生 | Muhomatsu no issho | |
| 1965 | Zatoichi and the Doomed Man | 座頭市逆手斬り | Zatōichi sakate giri | Ichi |
| 1965 | | 悪名無敵 | Akumyo muteki | Asakichi |
| 1965 | Zatoichi and the Chess Expert | 座頭市地獄旅 | Zatōichi Jigoku tabi | Ichi |
| 1965 | Hoodlum Soldier and the C.O. | 続・兵隊やくざ | Zoku heitai yakuza | Ichi |
| 1966 | | 悪名桜 | Akumyo zakura | Asakichi |
| 1966 | Zatoichi's Vengeance | 座頭市の歌が聞える | Zatōichi no uta ga kikoeru | Ichi |
| 1966 | Zatoichi's Pilgrimage | 座頭市海を渡る | Zatōichi umi o wataru | Ichi |
| 1966 | Hoodlum 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 | |
| 1967 | The Hoodlum Priest | やくざ坊主 | Yakuza bozu | |
| 1967 | | 兵隊やくざ 俺にまかせろ | Heitai yakuza ore ni makasero | |
| 1967 | Zatoichi's Cane Sword | 座頭市鉄火旅 | Zatōichi tekka tabi | Ichi |
| 1967 | | 悪名一代 | Akumyo ichidai | Asakichi |
| 1967 | Zatoichi the Outlaw | 座頭市牢破り | Zatōichi rōyaburi | Ichi |
| 1967 | Hoodlum Soldier on the Attack | 兵隊やくざ 殴り込み | Heitai yakuza nagurikomi | |
| 1967 | Zatoichi Challenged | 座頭市血煙り街道 | Zatōichi chikemuri kaidō | Ichi |
| 1968 | | 続やくざ坊主 | Zoku yakuza bozu | |
| 1968 | | とむらい師たち | Tomuraishi tachi | |
| 1968 | | 兵隊やくざ 強奪 | Heitai yakuza godatsu | |
| 1968 | | 悪名十八番 | Akumyo juhachi-ban | Asakichi |
| 1968 | The Man Without a Map | 燃えつきた地図 | Moetsukita chizu | |
| 1968 | Zatoichi and the Fugitives | 座頭市果し状 | Zatōichi hatashi-jō | Ichi |
| 1968 | Samaritan Zatoichi | 座頭市喧嘩太鼓 | Zatōichi kenka-daiko | Ichi |
| 1969 | Devil's Temple | 鬼の棲む館 | Oni no sumu yakata | |
| 1969 | Hitokiri | 人斬り | Hitokiri | Okada Izō |
| 1969 | The Magoichi Saga | 尻啖え孫市 | Shirikurae Magoichi | Oda Nobunaga |
| 1969 | | 悪名一番勝負 | Akumyo ichiban shobu | Asakichi |
| 1970 | | 喧嘩屋一代 どでかい奴 | Kenka ichidai: Dodekai yatsu | |
| 1970 | Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo | 座頭市と用心棒 | Zatōichi to Yōjinbō | Ichi |
| 1970 | | 玄海遊侠伝 破れかぶれ | Genkai yūkyōden: Yabure kabure | |
| 1970 | Incident at Blood Pass | 待ち伏せ | Machibuse | |
| 1970 | Yakuza Zessyō | やくざ絶唱 | Yakuza zessyō | |
| 1970 | Zatoichi at the Fire Festival | 座頭市あばれ火祭り | Zatōichi abare-himatsuri | Ichi |
| 1970 | Fuji sanchō | 富士山頂 | Fuji sanchō | |
| 1971 | Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman | 新座頭市・破れ！唐人剣 | Shin Zatōichi: Yabure! Tojin-ken | Ichi |
| 1971 | Inn of Evil | いのちぼうにふろう | Inochi bō ni furō | |
| 1971 | The Gift of the Fox | 狐のくれた赤ん坊 | Kitsune no kureta akanbō | |
| 1971 | Kaoyaku | 顔役 | Kaoyaku | |
| 1972 | Zatoichi at Large | 座頭市御用旅 | Zatōichi goyō-tabi | Ichi |
| 1972 | | 新・兵隊やくざ 火線 | Shin heitai yakuza: Kasen | |
| 1972 | Zatoichi in Desperation | 新座頭市物語・折れた杖 | Shin Zatōichi monogatari: Oreta tsue aka | Ichi also director |
| 1972 | Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice | 御用牙 | Goyōkiba | Hanzo Itami |
| 1973 | Mute Samurai | 唖侍鬼一法眼 | Oshizamurai Kiichihōgan (TV series) | Manji |
| 1973 | Zatoichi's Conspiracy | 新座頭市物語・笠間の血祭り | Shin Zatōichi monogatari: Kasama no chimatsuri | Ichi |
| 1973 | | 王将 | Ōshō | Sankichi Sakata |
| 1973 | Hanzo the Razor: The Snare | 御用牙　かみそり半蔵地獄責め | Goyōkiba: Kamisori Hanzō jigoku zeme | Hanzo Itami |
| 1974 | The Homeless | 無宿 | Yadonashi | |
| 1974 | Hanzo the Razor: Who's Got the Gold? | 御用牙 鬼の半蔵やわ肌小判 | Goyōkiba: Oni no Hanzō yawahada koban | Hanzo Itami |
| 1974 | Akumyo: Notorious Dragon | 悪名 縄張荒らし | Akumyo: shima arashiaka | Asakichi |
| 1974 | Zatōichi monogatari (TV series) | 座頭市物語 | Zatōichi monogatari | Ichi |
| 1975 | Tsūkai! Kōchiyama Sōshun (TV series) | 痛快!河内山宗俊 | Tsūkai! Kōchiyama Sōshun | Kōchiyama Sōshun |
| 1983 | | 迷走地図 | Meiso chizu | |
| 1987 | The one-eyed dragon Masamune (TV series) | 独眼竜政宗 | Dokuganryu Masamune | Toyotomi Hideyoshi |
| 1988 | Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis | 帝都物語 | Teito Monogatari | Shibusawa Eiichi |
| 1989 | Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally | 座頭市 | Zatōichi | Ichi also director |
| 1990 | Saga of the Phoenix | 孔雀王アシュラ伝説 | Kujaku ō: Ashura densetsu | |
| 1990 | Ronin Gai | 浪人街 | Rōnin-gai | |

### As producer

| Year | Title | Romanization | Role |
| 1970 | Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo | Zatōichi to Yōjinbō | producer |
| 1970 | Zatoichi at the Fire Festival | Zatōichi abare-himatsuri | producer |
| 1971 | Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman | Shin Zatōichi: Yabure! Tojin-ken | producer |
| 1971 | Kaoyaku | Kaoyaku | executive producer |
| 1972 | Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice | Goyōkiba | producer |
| 1972 | Zatoichi at Large | Zatōichi goyō-tabi | producer |
| 1972 | New Hoodlum Soldier Story: Firing Line | Shin heitai yakuza: Kasen | producer |
| 1972 | Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance | Kozure Ōkami: Kowokashi udekashi tsukamatsuru | producer |
| 1972 | Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx | Kozure Ōkami: Sanzu no kawa no ubaguruma | producer |
| 1972 | Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades | Kozure Ōkami: Shinikazeni mukau ubaguruma | producer |
| 1972 | Zatoichi in Desperation | Shin Zatōichi monogatari: Oreta tsue | producer |
| 1973 | Mute Samurai | Oshizamurai Kiichihōgan (TV series) | executive producer |
| 1973 | Zatoichi's Conspiracy | Shin Zatōichi monogatari: Kasama no chimatsuri | |
| 1973 | Hanzo the Razor: The Snare | Goyōkiba: Kamisori Hanzō jigoku zeme | |
| 1974 | The Homeless | Yadonashi | producer |
| 1974 | Hanzo the Razor: Who's Got the Gold? | Goyōkiba: Oni no Hanzō yawahada koban | producer |
| 1974 | Akumyo: Notorious Dragon | Akumyo: shima arashiaka | |
| 1980 | Shogun Assassin | | producer |
| 1989 | Shintaro Katsu's Zatoichi | Zatōichi | |

### As director

| Year | Title | Romanization |
| 1971 | Kaoyaku | Kaoyaku |
| 1972 | Zatoichi in Desperation | Shin Zatōichi monogatari: Oreta tsue |
| 1973 | Mute Samurai | Oshi samurai (TV series) |
| 1974 | Zatoichi | Zatōichi monogatari (TV series) (episode "A Memorial Day and the Bell of Life") |
| 1989 | Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally | Zatōichi |

### As writer

| Year | Title | Romanization |
| 1970 | Zatoichi at the Fire Festival | Zatōichi abare-himatsuri |
| 1971 | Kaoyaku | Kaoyaku |
| 1989 | Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally | Zatōichi |

### As himself

| Year | Film | Film type |
| 1978 | The Blind Swordsman | Documentary |