Ichi (2008): Female Stars and Gender Representations in the Zatoichi Franchise

The Zatoichi film and TV series has typically been interpreted through its leading men – from Shintaro Katsu, to later iterations by Takeshi Kitano, Shingo Katori, and numerous other male actors. There was also the gender-flipped reboot released in 2008, Ichi. This entry in the long-running series is often discussed along the lines of gender representation, as well as the short-lived rival film series produced at Shochiku, The Crimson Bat (1969-70), and its 25 episode TV series spin-off (broadcast in 1971). However, female characters are equally prolific throughout all the other films and TV episodes. Questions arise with these representations, especially when examining a long-running franchise. Do representations of women change over time in these entries? If so, for what reasons? This chapter attempts to answer these questions, which stem from the writing of a book-length history of the Zatoichi franchise and its global influence. Examining the representations of women in these films and TV episodes provides another perspective on the series’ history, and the history of Japanese media industries.