#zatoichi

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

Being a fan of "old" Samurai shows like Yojimbo, Zatoichi, Lone Wolf and Cub, Gokenin Zankuro, Abarenbo Shogun and the likes, this book is a pleasant read as it's able to capture the feeling and essence of those shows.

Story is set in Edo period during the reign of the 10th Tokugawa Shogun, Ieharu. It follows three main characters, a 60 year old retired swordsman named Kohei, his son in his 20s named Daijiro who is a practicing swordsman that runs his own dojo and Mifuyu, a female swordswoman in her 20s who is contending the other dojo masters.

Technically, they are not detectives or police officers but they investigate various cases in each chapter, from petty crimes to dangerous conspiracies. They deal with reckless criminals, hot blooded Ronin and Samurai, sinister Lords and corrupted officials. Some are connected, some are not. Each case intriguing in its own way.

For those who are not familiar with the classical Samurai trope, you may find the names of the numerous characters confusing, as they are lot of them. And not to mention the name changes and cover names. Like their birthname is different than their adult name, and their work name is different than their personal name for secrecy.

One thing I like is the weather is always rainy in this book. 😆

When I read the main characters personality and appearance, these Japanese actors and actress easily came to mind.

Kaoru Kobayashi as Kohei.

He is described as a skinny white haired man that people often mistook as a harmless old man, but once he drew his sword, his face changes and show you that he can take you down in an instant.

Issey Takahashi as Daijiro.

He is described as young and disciplined. His facial expressions seldom betrays his feelings. No one can tell what he's thinking. He doesn't talk much but he fights as swiftly as his father.

Mai Shiraishi as Mifuyu.

She is described as beautiful and fierce. She carries an air of dignified warrior wherever she goes, slender but toned. Her eyes penetrates one's soul when she readied herself for a fight.

Mifuyu is a Lord's daughter and she told her father that if he wants to arrange a political marriage, she only accepts a man who can defeat her in a sword duel as she refused to marry a weak man.

I forgot I have more stickers to post from @opstickertrove!!!

In lore, it’s stated that he was going to do a surgery that held the secrets to resurrection. Zato was dispatched to stop him, and it ended with the patient dying.

I know this implies that Zato decided to get rid of the patient to stop the surgery, but iirc, he was ordered to kill Faust? I think? So my brain decided that “Clearly this means that Zato has shitty aim and missed!”

And unfortunately I can’t take Zato seriously anymore because my brain decided he has shit aim at everything (I mean, he failed as his goals pre Millia getting his ass arrested, Venom reformed the guild better than he did, Nagoriyuki is a better Dandy than him-)