Hanzo the Razor

Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice
Directed by Kenji Misumi
Produced by Shintaro Katsu
Hiroyoshi Nishioka
Written by Kazuo Koike
Kazuo Koike (story)
Takeshi Kanda (story)
Starring Shintaro Katsu
Yukiji Asaoka
Mari Atsumi
Takahiro Tamura
Ko Nishimura
Music by Kunihiko Murai
Cinematography Chishi Makiura
Edited by Yoshiharu Hayashi
Distributed by Toho
Release dates
  • December 30, 1972 (1972-12-30)
Running time
108 minutes
Country Japan
Language Japanese

Hanzo the Razor (かみそり 半蔵 Kamisori Hanzō) is a fictional character featured in the trilogy of Japanese jidaigeki films of the same name. The films star Shintaro Katsu (known for his role as Zatoichi) as the title character. He also produced the trilogy through his own Katsu Productions. Lead actresses differ in each film; they include Yukiji Asaoka playing the character Omino in Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice.

The story is based on the manga Goyōkiba (御用牙) by Kazuo Koike, whose Lone Wolf and Cub manga was also adapted as a film series by Katsu, this time starring his brother, Tomisaburo Wakayama.

The trilogy

The trilogy is made up of:

Premise

Itami Hanzo (板見 半蔵) is a machikata yoriki in his early 40s who is in the Edo police, serving under the Northern Machi-bugyō. Due to the harsh methods he applies at investigations and his inflexible attitude towards both criminals and his superiors, he is known with the nickname Hanzo the Razor. Each plot details Hanzo's foiling a plot by corrupt and privileged Edo period officials and Edo Castle courtiers. Distinguishing characteristics of the films include:

Hanzo the Razor: The Snare
Directed by Yasuzo Masumura
Produced by Shintaro Katsu
Hiroyoshi Nishioka
Written by Yasuzo Masumura
Kazuo Koike (creator)
Starring Shintaro Katsu
Music by Isao Tomita
Cinematography Kazuo Miyagawa
Edited by Toshio Taniguchi
Distributed by Toho
Release dates
  • August 11, 1973 (1973-08-11)
Running time
89 minutes
Country Japan
Language Japanese
Hanzo the Razor: Who's Got the Gold?
Directed by Yoshio Inoue
Produced by Shintaro Katsu
Hiroyoshi Nishioka
Written by Yasuzo Masumura
Takeshi Kanda (story)
Kazuo Koike (creator)
Starring Shintaro Katsu
Music by Hideaki Sakurai
Cinematography Chishi Makiura
Distributed by Toho
Release dates
  • February 9, 1974 (1974-02-09)
Running time
84 minutes
Country Japan
Language Japanese

External links

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