Two films starring Okawa Hashizo

Okay, after a holiday pause, let's get down to some reviews. I was looking for background information regarding the actor Okawa Hashizo -- I was surprised not to find a thing! Despite being a huge film star in Japan from the 50's on up, and being a cult favorite among the samurai fans here in the States, there is little if anything online that would be revealing. He starred in the longest running tv series, Zenigata Heiji, and starring in the popular Shingo's Challenge movies. Hashizo was a rising star in the 50's, for Toei, and became a popular actor. In the 60's he became the featured actor, and in two early 60's films, The Paper Crane and Pirates, we see examples of his role as an action star, as well as the period films typical of that time. Neither are cinematic classics, but are entertaining and watchable. The Paper Crane has Hashizo starring as Hantaro, a wandering yakuza who comes to the aid of a blind woman and her father, who were being accosted by bandits. They in turn pay for his ride across the river, as he has no money, and the blind woman , impressed by his manners, thinks him to be a nobleman. She is going to the city to get an operation which may restore her vision. She gets the operation, and the family runs into trouble with some con artists. Hashizo, staying in the same town, finds out about their situation and comes in to save the day, rescuing the woman from abduction. She recovers her sight, and discovers that her assumptions were all wrong. Hashizo leaves without her seeing him, because he realizes that romance could never happen between them -- she is of a noble family, he a vagrant. The movie ends with him walking out of town, to begin another adventure. It is a typical paint-by-numbers plot that is done dutifully by all involved. Nothing special.

Pirates is a rip roaring sea adventure. This time Hashizo plays a shipwreck survivor who is rescued by a group of sailors on a bahansen (pirate) ship. Not all pirate ships were evil; this was during a period in Japan's history where the mainland was being torn apart by wars. There were those who lived on the coast or islands who chose to separate themselves from all that, and did trade or other activities under a different banner, the Hachiman. The men who saved him were from Sakai, and one of the men knew Hashizo's father, who was a great sea captain. Hashizo is not overwhelmed by their warm reception or hospitality that they receive when they return to Sakai -- his concern is for his sister, who was kidnapped by the pirates who wrecked their ship. They agree to help him, as well as train him to follow in his father's footsteps. Intrigue is supplied by a female shipmate who at first hates then falls in love with Hashizo; she is a tomboy who has skills equal to any of the men, and the exception to the rule that no women can be on the ships. They set out to sea, and during their travels they come across remnants of the renegade pirates' actions -- a pillage seaport, an island of inhabitants who were decimated by them, and even being attacked by them in the high seas. Revenge is served as Hashizo and his fellow Sakai men confront them in a terrific sea battle, with lots of swordplay and cannon fire. His sister is rescued, and he wins the hand of the tomboy. A fine pulp fiction swashbuckler that while thin on plot, makes up for it with a fast pace and lots of action. Recommended!