Hanzo the Razor

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Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice

Directed by	Misumi Kenji
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
Editing by	Yoshiharu Hayashi
Distributed by	Toho
Release date(s)	December 30, 1972
Running time	108 min
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese
Followed by	Hanzo the Razor: The Snare
IMDb profile

Hanzo the Razor is a fictional character featured in the trilogy of Japanese jidaigeki films of the same name. The films star Shintaro Katsu (best known for his role as Zatoichi) as the title character. He also produced the trilogy through his own Katsu Productions. The story is based on a manga 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. Lead actresses differ in each film; they include Yukiji Asaoka.

Hanzo the Razor trilogy, titles in English:

1972: Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice (御用牙 Goyōkiba)

1973: Hanzo the Razor: The Snare (御用牙　かみそり半蔵地獄責め Goyōkiba: Kamisori Hanzō jigoku zeme)

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)

Each plot details Hanzo Itami's foiling a plot by corrupt officials in medieval (Edo) Japan. Distinguishing characteristics of these films include:

Hanzo vilifies elitism and corruption, consistently railing against the powers-that-be who continue to threaten Hanzo with hara-kiri for his insolence;
Hanzo continuously mocks his superior officer, Magobei Onishi, whom Hanzo dubs "Hebi no Magobei" ("Snake Magobei") due to Onishi's penchant for bribes and beautiful women;
Hanzo is a constable who normally carries a short 2-pronged dagger (jitte) rather than a sword; this jitte has a hidden, weighted chain within it, which Hanzo uses to block against sword attacks or ensnare fleeing criminals;
Hanzo consistently utilizes torture (both on himself and on others) as a means of interrogation and self-purification;
Hanzo ritualistically flagellates his penis so as to make it stronger; this exercise is always followed up by Hanzo's having intercourse with a bale of rice;
Hanzo's home is filled with exotic traps and weapons to defeat assassins, such as a hidden wall of weapons near his o-furo (Japanese bath) and spears that descend from the ceiling;
Hanzo interrogates female suspects by raping them; later, he drinks sake with them in his o-furo and they immediately become infatuated with him, but primarily due to his sexual prowess;

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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
Editing by	Toshio Taniguchi
Distributed by	Toho
Release date(s)	August 11, 1973
Running time	89 min
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese
Preceded by	Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice
Followed by	Hanzo the Razor: Who's Got the Gold?
IMDb profile

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 date(s)	February 9, 1974
Running time	84 min
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese
Preceded by	Hanzo the Razor: The Snare
IMDb profile