#goze

The lovely Haruka Ayase as Ichi (2008), a goze (blind woman) who searches Japan for the man who mentored her, the original Zatoichi.

NITABOH (2004)

“I’ll find the strength to live and to walk my own road.”

Nitaroh is stricken with an illness that leaves him blind as a child. He inherits his late mother’s shamisen guitar and learns its basics with a blind travelling shamisen player. In time with the help of his friends, he walks the paths that leads to his ultimate fate - that of founder of the Tsugaru style of shamisen play.

Taking the road less traveled has always been the most difficult journey of all, especially when you are doing it alone. I love everything about this anime, the artwork depicting the beautiful scenery, the weather, the atmosphere and the facial expressions capturing the emotions and feelings of the characters, the songs and music being played that catches your heart and soul, the inspiring story of a boy who grew up with life tragedies but still pushes on through hardship to chase his dream despite the failures and rejections. Adapting to changes, improving his art and restarting all over again to be better. 

Haruka Ayase as Ichi (2008), the blind swordswoman who was trained by Zatoichi (whom she believed was her father).