The
newest and supposedly final Zatoichi film, appropriately titled
"Zatoichi The Last," had its main cast revealed earlier this week. When
the film was first announced in March, it was known that SMAP's Shingo
Katori would star as Zatoichi, but it was not yet public that Takashi
Sorimachi and Satomi Ishihara are part of the supporting cast. Sorimachi
will be playing a key role as a close friend of the blind swordsman,
while Ishihara takes on the part of Zatoichi's wife. Other cast members
include Chieko Baisho, Youki Kudoh, Koichi Iwaki, Yoshio Harada,
Kanzaburo Nakamura, and child actor Seishiro Kato. Directed by Junji Sakamoto, "Zatoichi The Last" is planned for a 2010 release.

Sorimachi