Original subtitles

Toei presents

rikio ishikawa, the hero of this film, was born on August 6th, 1924,

in the eastern section of mito city, ibaraki prefecture.

Ishikawa's birthplace

what was rikio ishikawa like as a boy?

A real crybaby, he was.

He was always bawling about something.

He'd cry for hours on end.

Maybe because he lost his mother very early on.

He was very shy back then.

I never imagined he'd end up as a yakuza godfather.

He was very smart.

He had natural intelligence.

But he used his abilities for the wrong purposes.

He was good at school. In most subjects.

- Was he a headstrong boy? - He certainly was.

He had a hard core to him.

He stood out from the others, even doing bad things.

He had a good head, he did.

He was always our leader back in school

because he was so smart.

He was so headstrong. He always wanted to be a yakuza.

- Did he say that? - Yes, ever since he was a boy.

The would-be yakuza ran away from home in 1941

and went to Tokyo, where he joined the kawada family.

In 1943, he was arrested for his first assault

and sentenced to one year in a juvenile detention center.

According to legend, a rival punk had made the mistake

of bad-mouthing kawada, now rikio's godfather.

So, in that sense, he was the sort of kid who genuinely respected his godfather?

Yes, he was paying his dues, learning his trade.

Then what turned this young man into a rabid dog?

Was it the chaos and confusion of the post-war years?

Maybe.

But he was just as crazy before and after the war!

When I was doing time with him, he once said,

"I'm just like a balloon."

A balloon?

Meaning he'd keep rising higher and higher

until he finally burst.

Graveyard of honor

planning by tatsuo yoshida original story by goro Fujita

screenplay by tatsuhiko kamoi, Hiro matsuda, fumio konami

cinematography by hanjiro nakazawa

art direction by tadayuki kuwana music by toshiaki tsushima

editing by osamu Tanaka fight choreography by takashi hio

stills photography by mitsuo kato

set decoration by kazuhiro yonezawa

make-up by yasue ishikawa

cast:

Tetsuya watari

tatsuo umemiya

yumi takigawa, meika seri, reiko ike

shingo yamashiro, hideo murota, harumi sone, kenji imai, eiji go

torahiko hamada, isao tamagawa, Akira shioji, saburo date

Akira hamada, genji kawatani, takashi hio, koji miemachi

koji takishima, tetsuo maekawa, toru hanada, masanori mori

Mikio narita, kunie Tanaka

hajime Hana

noboru Ando

directed by kinji fukasaku

shinjuku station area Tokyo, 1946

step on up! The best in shoe repair!

What are you doing?

- These sure need fixing. - No, they don't!

They'll be good as new!

- It's good leather, so they'll last. - That's dried squid!

They'll be as good as new.

- Cheap too, only 100 yen! - Cough up, asshole!

- Thanks. - Thanks!

- So, how's business? - Not bad.

- That the new boss of ikebukuro? - Yeah.

- You know the drill, right? - Yeah.

- See you later. - Right.

Who gave you permission to work here?

Who the fuck are you?

We're free to work where we please.

Like hell you're free!

Quick!

Run for it!

Name's rikio ishikawa. I'm with the kawada family!

- Fuck! - Bastards!

- What the fuck? - It's the kawada gang!

Move! Move!

What the fuck did you do that for?

What if the shinwa family starts a gang war to retaliate?

You're impossible!

The boss already knows about it. You go apologize, you hear?

Brother, our guest's leaving.

Tell him we're thrilled to have American supplies.

He will welcome that kind of deal anytime.

Oh, that's great, Mr. Yamada. Thank you very much.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thank you!

That's right.

Hurry, put those away.

Only animals wear shoes indoors!

- Boss... - Eh?

Sorry about what happened.

Kawada organization offices

You dirty animal!

Shut the fuck up, you whores!

- Hey, ishikawa! - Hey.

I heard you put on quite a show. Perfect timing. Let's talk.

Kozaburo imai, future boss of imai family

they're all "third nationals”.

They run a Chinese restaurant near nakano station.

They use it as their base to treat us Japanese like we're second-rate.

Makoto sugiura

which is why it's time we showed them what's what around here.

Taiwanese, Korean and Chinese living in Japan, known as "third nationals”,

had been liberated by the allied occupation forces.

Their hatred for Japanese oppression during the war

was now exploding into violence against the Japanese.

Did you get them?

I told you we would.

From my gi boyfriend.

- Here's another one. - Good.

Hey... this girl's my babe.

She whores out of nakano.

Hi there.

Eat up!

Takuji tamura, future leader of imai family

all ready to attack!

How dare you!

Why not?

We're like the kamikaze, we could be dead in a few hours.

- I don't want to die with any regrets. - Let me go!

Send us off with a nice fuck. Isn't that what women are for?

If it's service you want, first go beat up those "thirds".

You just watch me.

Okay, guys, time to head out.

You just watch!

I win!

That's cleaned me out!

You got any spare cash? Nice one..

Let's go!

You thieving jap bastards!

Come on! Get the hell out of there!

Don't make a sound!

- Madame, what's happening? - Just stay calm!

It's the yakuza fighting again. They're pathetic!

Chieko? Chieko!

Go on, answer her.

Yes?

- Did you lock the front door? - Yes.

- Go and check. - Okay.

It's burning! It's burning!

Here, take this.

Go on, take it.

Stop that fighting! Surrender or we'll shoot!

Cease firing immediately!

Shit!

Stash this for me. I'll be back for it someday.

Shit!

You guys are bad, you know?

Fucking thieves!

Shut the fuck up, you bastard!

Who are you calling thieves?

You fucking "thirds" suck up to the yanks.

You know what?

You guys lost the war, so that makes you "fourths", right?

Shut the fuck up!

The Japanese empire didn't lose to you bastards!

We lost to the goddamn Americans!

Who's the leader of you Japanese?

- I am. - Me, too.

Both of you, out!

- Hang those motherfuckers! - Keep your mouths shut!

Get inside!

Well, well. Sit down.

Sit.

Try one? It's good.

The thing is, those "thirds" were giving us a really hard time.

But thanks to you, we were able to arrest them.

Now they'll get four or five years for illegal gambling.

So now, what do we do about you?

Unfortunately, the police are shorthanded these days.

And prisoners are constantly escaping. What's this world coming to?

Cell no.3

What are you waiting for?

Don't let this give you any ideas, now.

Thank you!

- Hey! It's a breakout. - A breakout?

For once, we got a good cop.

- What happened? - We made our case.

Hey! If you're escaping, let us go, too!

Asshole! You'll be eating prison slop for 10 years!

We Japanese stick together!

We're taking over your territory.

We'll take your money, too.

Come on, drink up.

We served time together in that juvenile prison in hokkaido,

and here we are, taking over turf in Tokyo.

Now that's something!

- Let's dance. - Leave us alone, bitch!

Listen, brother...

Don't waste your time with that outdated kawada gang.

Come join our gang and we'll have a good time.

You'll be a boss in no time.

Back in the slammer together, you always said you were like a balloon.

You didn't want to wind up just any old punk.

You wanted to be a boss,

and wind up running the whole damned country in the end!

Now's your chance.

You don't owe that boss kawada nothing.

Start your own ishikawa gang. Be your own boss.

"Hubba-hubba, let's go!" Isn't that right?

Are you listening to me?

I'm listening, I'm listening.

Come on, dance!

Who's there?

It's me.

Hey there.

- Don't come in! - Shh! They're asleep.

Didi she yell at you?

I won't hurt you.

This is all for you. Right?

I'm not gonna hurt you!

No, don't

I said I wouldn't hurt you.

I'll be back. Loan me this till then, okay?

He's a man with spirit!

A man among men, kisaburo nozu.

He'll fight with his life to build a peaceful Japan.

Kisaburo nozu boss of the nozu family

the respected godfather of the nozu family.

In the first post-war elections, in a spirit of democracy "banzai”,

a motley crew of candidates threw their hats into the ring.

Under the slogan: “A light from shinjuku",

kisaburo nozu, boss of the shinjuku black markets,

running for a seat in parliament, was a perfect example.

Welcome, sir!

- Good work, men. - Thank you, sir!

He's worked so hard to rebuild shinjuku.

We can't let him lose.

Your popularity's fantastic. You're bound to win.

I et's drink to that!

- We toast your inevitable victory! - Cheers!

His victory's assured!

Welcome, gentlemen. This way, please!

Are those assholes still sticking around here?

I haven't seen them in a while.

Yours for the grabbing.

Hey, is she a new broad?

Yes, that man brought her here from lkebukuro.

What the hell are you doing?

Stop!

Sir, please stop!

What the fuck is this?

Take her back to ikebukuro. She doesn't fit in in shinjuku.

Step outside, you asshole!

Hey! Who the fuck are you?

Boss!

- Are you all right, boss? - Boss!

I must apologize for the behavior of our young hotheads.

How is the wounded man?

Noboru nemoto, elder of ikebukuro shinwa clan

I hope you will accept our godfather's condolences.

Any message to pass on?

- We're screwed. Round up the men. - Yes, sir.

Boss.

The thing is... I did it for the gang.

- For the gang? - Yeah

I couldn't have those ikebukuro guys strutting around

on our shinjuku territory, acting like they owned the place.

I thought I'd clean things up.

You dumb fuck!

That wasn't cleaning things up!

That was smashing the damned place to pieces!

But it's our territory.

- We can't let them muscle in. - You moron!

I'm not interested in the shoe shine business!

Leave them be. Ignore them!

Do you have any idea how much a gang war costs?

You can't even calculate the consequences. You idiot!

Now stay out of trouble!

Listen up! We don't make a move until they attack. Okay?

Let's go!

A light from shinjuku

- You keep watch here. - Right.

Both gangs have marshaled their soldiers. They're facing off near the station.

- All-out war, huh? - You bet.

What an idiot!

What are you gonna do?

A light from shinjuku

We offered them a formal apology, but they rejected it.

But we don't want to spoil your chances for election.

Isn't there some way...?

Our families are linked, so I can't mediate.

They'd never agree.

Isn't there someone else you could ask to mediate?

I very much doubt it.

It's just an excuse. They really want to muscle in on shinjuku.

Hello? Oh, yes. How have you been?

Yes yes

we appreciate your vote. Thank you.

I know.

Let's bring in the Americans.

Kawada, you have links to colonel Parker, don't you?

Throw some money his way.

I get it. Even the shinwa clan has to obey American orders.

That's a great plan.

It never occurred to me to use the Americans. I'll get on it.

By orders of the commander of the American army,

disperse immediately!

Those who disobey this order will be arrested!

Fall back.

Come on, let's go!

Ishikawa!

You've cost the gang over a million yen with this thing!

From now on, you think of the gang before you make a move! Got that?

And you, eat what's bought for you!

Sorry.

You can thank me for kicking them out of our territory.

He's got a lot of nerve!

He thinks he's pulled off some feat!

I've had enough of him!

"The light from shinjuku" kisaburo nozu

in the elections, one month later,

kisaburo nozu lost by 5,000 votes.

Place your bets.

In play.

Fivel

- you lost again. - Don't touch me, you're bad luck!

- Your luck's bound to change. - You think?

Bets, please.

In play.

One.

Beaten again!

That politician's my guest.

- Can you loan him three? - Certainly, sir.

Here you are.

Loan me three, as well, will you?

Sit this one out. Lady luck's not with you.

What? You just gave him three big ones.

But none for me?

Are you trying to pull rank in your own gang?

You're just going berserk!

Fuck you!

Rikil

boss.

I hear you've been crawling out of gambling joints these days.

What you're doing is rubbing mud in your godfather's face.

You'll never be a real man if you can't look after your own.

Take this.

Thank you.

How dare he preach to me?

What are you doing? That's boss nozu's Carl

you bastard!

You bastard! You're a disgrace to me and our family!

Don't run away! Get out here and take your fucking beating!

How dare you glare at your own boss like that, you asshole?

You fucking bastard!

Boss... that's enough. I'll talk some sense into him later.

Get the fuck out!

And don't come back without your finger cut off!

I ook after him.

Are you okay, brother?

Stop moving around like that.

Give me a knife, a blade, anything!

I've gotta cut my finger off to get respect.

Hey, hey, you can do that anytime. Just take a drink.

Didn't I tell you to leave them and come join up with me?

It's still not too late. \welll?

Come on, drink up, man!

Kawada organization offices

October 28, 1946

Open up! Open up or I'll break the door down!

- Brother! - Brother!

I wanna see the godfather!

I've got something to tell him!

He just takes all our money!

- How dare you say that, riki? - Boss, he's drunk.

- Shut the fuck up! - You dirty bastard!

Go and cool off your head, and then come back!

- Brother! - Brother!

You bastard!

I'll cut you to pieces!

You fucking ingrate!

You stabbed me, you bastard.

Get him...

Godfather!

Don't let him get away! Get him!

Get a doctor, run!

Get a pillow!

Godfather!

Open up, it's me!

Hey! Open up! Hey!

Booze... get me some booze.

Please please!

Booze!

I'm cold. I'm freezing.

I'm so fucking cold.

I'm so cold.

You have to help me!

Several days later, rikio ishikawa gave himself up to the police.

He was sentenced to 18 months in fuchu prison.

But according to the yakuza code,

attacking one's godfather is an unforgivable offense.

He had pitted himself against the entire yakuza world.

Not only members of the kawada family,

but any yakuza would gain in stature by killing him.

Every man in the yakuza world was competing to end his life.

Perhaps out of fear for his life,

rikio's behavior in prison became violent in the extreme.

What's going on!

As though adding insult to injury,

an official document banned him

from any Tokyo yakuza clan for the next 10 years.

October 1948

fuchu prison

I've got friends in Osaka.

I'm not saying spend the whole 10 years there.

Hang in there for a while and we'll try and get you back.

You're feverish. Are you sick?

I have to take off for Osaka tonight.

I need money.

My friend runs a geisha house.

Would you go work there?

What do you say?

One year later

almost no one knows of his doings during his year in Osaka.

All that remains is an old hospital chart

showing rikio ishikawa had been treated there.

Tuberculosis

six months later

what do you think you're looking at?

My bed's above yours.

Then hurry and get up there.

Does dope make you feel that good?

You don't know what it feels like?

Silly boy.

It's a whole lot better than sex

shoot me up.

You got money? It costs 200 yen.

Idiot! Including my pussy, that's 400 yen.

Right... I'll shoot it for you.

You got any shit?

- I got some. - Give me all you got.

What?

Give me all you've got!

Katsuji ozaki, unemployed

he said give him all you've got.

Right?

Imai organization offices

Place your bets.

- Hey, boss! - What is it?

Ishikawa's out there gambling.

Ishikawa?

Last chance. Place your bets.

I bet this.

I bet my dope, too.

Got a problem?

Look, pal, take your jokes elsewhere.

Take yours back, too.

The bet's been placed.

Just a minute.

Hey, brother.

What happened to you?

Come on. Come with me.

Listen, man, you're overdoing it, even by your standards.

You were banished for 10 years. It's been just over a year.

Look, we'll cover for you as best we can.

But get back to Osaka before you're spotted. Okay?

If kawada's men find you here,

they'll want more than a finger or two from you.

He's a totally different man.

He's not deaf or dumb, but he refuses to say a word.

Listen... he's obviously got himself a drug habit.

That other weirdo with him is a total junkie.

He looks like one.

You watch, they'll be back.

What if the kawada gang finds out?

You shouldn't have gotten involved.

You can't have them paying you regular visits.

Will you just shut up? He's a junkie, a lost cause!

Welcome.

- Go back inside. - Okay.

He must be out of his mind.

Don't these young punks respect the code anymore?

Maybe we let him off too easy by just banishing him.

Will you let me take care of it?

For now, have the boys keep an eye on him.

Good evening.

Hey.

What's wrong?

It's just... It's just so sudden.

I got sick of Osaka.

But is it safe for you to come back?

Come on.

To get to the point, imai...

You were about to make a laughing stock out of me.

What?

He means riki.

How long are you going to protect him?

That's not how things are.

We go way back and he just showed up. I didn't bring him back.

I understand that,

but you didn't show me respect by informing me.

Among us elders, not showing respect violates the yakuza code.

Yes.

The thing is, having banished him,

I don't really give a damn what happens to him.

But he's got to serve out all ten years of his banishment.

Then I'll let him off the hook.

Surely you understand?

I understand.

Please allow me to take care of it.

I hear the kawada gang already know that you're back in town.

Sure, I'd like to cover for you.

But now I've started my own clan, and I'm a godfather myself.

We all live by a code.

There's just no way around the rules.

Hey, enough about me, it's your welfare I'm thinking about.

Just take my advice.

Get out of Tokyo, like I've been telling you, okay?

If you don't like Osaka, we'll find someplace else.

I know, how about a hot-spring resort town, eh?

The fresh air will do you good. You're falling to pieces, man.

You wanna sell me out, go ahead.

I never said that!

Remember when we served time together, way back?

You swore you'd stand by me, come hell or high water.

That's why I'm trying to save you.

Since when did you become so merciless?

What did you say?

Right, then, listen to me!

As my sworn brother, you came begging and cheating at my tables!

Like a fucking tramp!

I fucking spoiled you!

Don't fucking mock me!

You dare cut me?

- Grab the gun! - Please don't diel

imai organization offices

despite the imai gang's desperate searches,

there was no sign anywhere of ishikawa or ozaki.

And then, one week later...

October 8, 1949

Who's there?

Where's imai?

Upstairs?

Darling!

Darling!

The day after imai's murder, the police discovered ishikawa's hideout.

Fifty officers soon surrounded the place.

Hearing the news, the imai and kawada gangs also converged on the scene.

A tense atmosphere pervaded the area.

Ishikawa!

This is chief inspector imada.

You're completely surrounded by the police.

Stop resisting and come out quietly.

Make it easy on yourself and surrender!

Throw out the gun and come outside!

That motherfucker!

He's fucking crazy!

Give me some bullets! Quick!

That's all that's left.

- We're out of dope! - Fuck that!

Throw stones at him!

Shit!

No fucking dope!

No dope! No dope!

Rikio ishikawa arrested October 9, 1949

May 9, 1950 - verdict Tokyo district court

the accused, ishikawa, is sentenced to 10 years hard labor.

Ozaki is sentenced to two years.

Their respective terms are inclusive of the 100 days already served.

The police confiscated one pistol and three bullets related to the incident.

This is my judgment this ninth day of may, 1950...

Immediately after receiving his 10-year sentence,

ishikawa filed an appeal with the Tokyo high court.

Chieko, despite her ill health, worked tirelessly

to raise bail for ishikawa.

Imai organization offices

Madam... I'd like to pay my respects.

Not a chance in hell!

You, of all people, should know that!

Thank you.

January 20, 1951

nakano district, Tokyo marriage registry

husband: Rikio ishikawa

wife: Chieko

ten days before chieko's suicide,

ishikawa had registered her as his lawful wife.

We have no way of knowing whether this was her wish or ishikawa's.

Yoshida stonemasons

Make me a gravestone and carve this on it.

A grave for three?

Please.

I'll bring the rest later, I promise.

Riki, how long are you gonna just sit there?

The boss has made a real exception for you.

Whatever you've got to say, say it!

Hey, are you trying to fuck with us?

Godfather...

I've caused you a lot of trouble.

I want to start my own clan.

Your own clan?

You've got some balls.

So... can't you give me some land?

That vacant block down in no. 2 district.

Sure, sure, it's yours.

And I'll need a building.

I'll need offices, too.

So I need 20 million yen.

I need 20 million.

Are you out of your fucking mind?

I'll be back.

Welcome.

Open it.

Are you crazy?

- Open it. - No, wait!

Stop, ishikawa!

We're all in the same gang.

There's no need to wave that thing in his face.

You want dope, right?

He's got some good shit.

Tanemura, break it out, quick!

What's so funny?

Oh, nothing really.

Be quiet, then. I can't concentrate.

Now!

Out of my way!

Enough! Enough!

Go. Get going!

Even this failed to kill him, a man seemingly destined to live.

Miraculously surviving by dint of his incredible life force,

his appeal was rejected in August, 1951,

and he was returned to fuchu prison.

Six years later...

February 2, 1956

- Stop! - Get down!

Stop! Get down now!

Get down!

Stop! Stop!

What a laugh! Thirty years of raising hell!

Kozaburo imai and rikio ishikawa

as the prototype of the post-war yakuza,

his name still lives on in legend today.

Yet what spirit drove him to carve "humanity and justice" on his grave

to this day no one knows, and no one ever will.

The end