AnimEigo has released yet another Japanese film classic, The Blind Menace (i.e. Shiranui kengyo), a new transfer from the original 1960 Japanese classic starring Shintaro Katsu as a blind masseur who also happens to be one of the most unlikable 'heroes' you'll ever encounter.  While the original film has long been forgotten by most - apart from the true Japanese film aficionados - it earns its place in history for being the inspiration behind the classic Zatoichi series, which spanned an astonishing 26 films, a television series, and even an American remake (which bears the same name as this wholly unrelated film and was directed by Phillip Noyce).  What better time to get in on the ground level of a classic series than where it all began?

In this film he plays the role of Suga, a guy that has been blind since birth.  As a child, he is trained as a masseur at a school for the blind, and decides to become a powerful man by becoming an expert manipulator. After leaving the school when he's grown, he is now a priest working under a blind head priest who just happens to be the Secretary of Religious Affairs for the Shogun.  As Suga gets sent out on errands by the head priest, he uses any chance he can get to rob, swindle, rape and murder while making his way across Japan. Eventually, he joins a band of thieves who become his underlings of sorts, all while trying to take the position of Secretary of Religious Affairs from the head priest.

I though Shintaro Katsu did a good job as Suga, though the character he plays is so despicable, it can make the film tough to follow. I also found the film to be very well directed, with the picture quality being very well done thanks to AnimEigo's great care of handling the original black and white video transfer.  Essentially, this is where the original pieces of what would become the most popular film series in Japanese history (apart from Gojira, that is) began to assembles themselves.  Apart from Katsu's legendary start, the film also introduces director Kazuo Mori, who would follow Katsu's in several key Zatoichi films, including Zoku Zatoichi monogatari (1962) as well as several episodes of the 1970s television series, Zatoichi monogatari.

While it may not be the most memorable of the Zatoichi series, The Blind Menace (i.e. Shiranui kengyo) is a great place to start your cinematic adventures with one of the longest running and most popular Japanese film series ever.  While only loosely connected, practically all the elements of what would constitute 26 films and a long-running television series are in place, from a great performance from Shintaro Katsu to fine directing from Kazuo Mori, who despite having one of the most decrepit 'heroes' in the lead, manage to make this a thrilling ride throughout.  Give it a try and I'm sure you'll find this to be a strange, yet classic addition to your collection.