Original subtitles

"Better to see neither women nor ogres" -Tsutsumi Chūnagon Monogatari

By director Hikari Hayakawa

Kumi Nakamura

Masatō Ibu

Tōru Masuoka

Kohichi Makigami

Shôichirô Akaboshi

Yuki Ninagawa

Hideyo Amamoto

Eiji Okada

Agi, the Fury of Evil

Director Hikari Hayakawa

The last years of the Heian Era Ōmi Province

An era of beauty, social decay, and mountain demons

Why have you come here?

From this point, this world does not belong to the like of you

Now stand. You must not come near this place

Your life will be forfeit

What have I just witnessed?

Sorry for my tardiness

You must have been worried

No

You had an uneventful time in my absence?

So something occurred, I take it

No, nothing of the sort

I see

As for me...

I witnessed something strange

The greater part of a tree was twisted over, bent from the middle

No, surely it was a dream

Either that or a nervous breakdown

Something is wrong with me this day

I don't even remember how I came down from the mountain

Please be moderate as concerns your drinking

You have a banquet at the lord's mansion, do you not?

That's true. Maybe I should stop

That's right

I should save my sake for later.

Perhaps... and it may not be my place to say this...

What is it?

This morning...

The monk from Ishiyama held his hand out to me...

He told you to give a message to my wife?

Yes

However...

I refused him, as a matter of course

I see. Thank you

Um...

There are many who wish to approach my wife

If given such a letter again, say nothing and discard it

Understood

There goes an intriguing one

Right?

Taro no Kabohiko does seem to be missing some important qualities as a human

Maybe we should simply tell him to cross the Agi Bridge...

That's the issue at hand.

For that, why not use your conversational skill?

What are you considering?

You've been engaging in your tired rumor-mongering?

I was speaking of that old tale of Agi!

Truly, you do enjoy your boring old rumors!

Well, whatever the case, I thank you for yesterday

...Yesterday? No...

You haven't been told anything by my wife?

Nothing of the sort

Ah, I see!

I encountered your wife wandering all by her lonesome on a mountain path

So I simply escorted her to the outskirts of the village

It was nothing of import!

I see

Then I am in your debt

But I must wonder why my wife said nothing of it

No, I already spoke of it myself

You are jealous, sir, so none of my plans would come to fruition

I though it better to keep it a secret

So that's how it was!

Half of them got away!

They were attempting to avoid the work by acting all busy

Now this was quite the suspicious happening

Those that had fled towards their comrades

were hiding... and this should shock you! Snakes!

And they were trying to sell them with crickets?

That's right!

Can a snake's venom spread from such a place?

Yes, quite mysteriously

They say the taste is exceptional!

That story is mere myth

My lord, you have always been this way

I've had enough of rumours

Today's aren't too bad, but as to talk of sweetfish...

What a terrible story

About fish being mixed in with snake?

That was an amusing tale!

Speaking of such, there is another one of note

It involves a bridge in our land called Agi

In days of old, anyone could cross it,

but for whatever reason, it is now prohibited to do so

The bridge has since rusted out

I have also heard the same rumours

For, when night falls,

they say it appears...

Brigands?

No...

It would seem to be a monstrous apparition!

Who would believe such a preposterous story?

It's no make-believe

It is true that no one dares approach the bridge

Because it's broken!

No

I've passed nearby to the bridge before

It's still quite a fine bridge

It's not in the least broken

Then I know what to do

I'll show you; I'll cross that bridge!

Well said!

Now this is quite the interesting development!

Right, everyone?

So you can confirm for us whether it is mere rumor

Please allow us to observe your crossing

Wait a moment

Crossing at night could lead to easily losing one's way

What's all this?

Scared of the dark?

That's not it

I'm saying the average horse cannot cross a bridge at night

What about Kage?

Exactly!

Kage is this estate's first-rate specimen!

Kage can certainly find his way in the dark

It is true that Kage is a superb horse...

But it is no simple thing to borrow the lord's horse

In that case!

Let us request leave from our lord!

-Yes, let us! -A fine idea!

What are you all getting so excited about?

Have out with it. What is the source of this clamour?

My lord...

In truth...

Taro no Kabohiko has stated he would like to borrow Kage to cross the Agi Bridge

Why?

Has some ill befallen your family?

No, that is not it, sir

There is in fact a rumor of a monstrous apparition appearing at Agi bridge

Kabohiko wishes to dispatch it

What a silly reason for such commotion!

You wish to dispatch a monster?!

Let me first apologise for what has said!

It was merely a flight of fancy

Sir! Do not be so cowardly!

Was it not you who said such things?!

Enough.

I shall lend you the horse

It's up to you whether to go or nay

My lord

Welcome home

You were still awake?

I told you not to wait up

I did try to sleep, but...

I dreamt

A dream?

Yes.

What sort of dream?

A terrible dream...

And you've not even reached the straw []

What sort of dream was it?

I would not like to speak of it

A dream in which I appeared?

No...

I see... Then pay it no heed

How went the banquet?

Tomorrow, I go to Agi Bridge

Agi Bridge...?

I heard the bridge has long since become impassable

I'm going to that impassable bridge

Why?

An order from the lord

But why?

Do not ask me!

It's a lordly order

Even so...

There are foul rumors about that bridge...

-Do not speak of such!

I'm going to sleep

My dream from earlier...

...it concerned a horse

I dreamt of a dying horse

To think that he actually went to Agi Bridge

-He's a fool

Something is about to occur...

How tragic it would be if encountering one as yet unknown...

Please, hurry home...

Where did you enter from?

Whose child are you?

Come over here

Can you tell me where you came from?

It's an illusion...

An illusion...

A mere illusion...

Please hurry and save me!

What was that right now?

Was it a dream?

How do you feel?

Yes, I...

I do feel much better

Your health is the most important thing to me

I had a truly frightening experience...

What's important is that you take a deep rest

Even so...

It played out exactly as in your dream

Excuse me!

Excuse me!

Who might you be?

It is I, Jiro!

Jiro?

What is it?

Just open the gate! We can't stand around talking!

I cannot

We have a strict curfew tonight

Let us meet tomorrow

Rent a nearby room

Do not say such cruel things!

It's dark out! I won't be able to find an inn

I understand, but forgive me

I cannot let anyone enter today

You may say so, and yet...

The truth is, our mother has passed

What did you say?

It cannot be!

Please just let me through! I have much to speak of

Alright

I understand

That it would be about mother...

Let me open the gate

You're truly Jiro, right?

Brother!

Do not tell me you have forgotten my voice!

That you and our mother went to the land of Mutsu...

...and yet you had not a day of safety there

I feel the same

Mother was so concerned with your station

and about the end of your battles

When did mother's health take a turn?

About three months ago

...Three months?

Why did you not send word of this?

Because...

-What is it?

What happened?

Jiro?

What is it?

Try to get it out

Are you truly Jiro?

You bastard!

What is it?!

Go get my sword!

You mean to use a weapon on your own brother?

Just do it! Be quick with it!

It's not here!

Are you defying me?

My sword, quickly!

Now!

What?!

Kabohiko was devoured by an ogre?

The creature took the form of one of Kabohiko's family members

It tricked Kabohiko, and waiting for the right moment,

took his neck between its jaws

How can this be?!

It is a truly horrifying tale

How shall we react?

We must consider that beyond Kabohiko

An oni is running loose in our compound can only mean trouble

We must dispatch the creature

M'lord, you mean to kill an oni?

That is our only choice

But, sir... our opponent is an oni!

Fool!

Why do you think you bear swords on your hips?

Are you so afraid of an oni?

None of you dare to face down this creature?

Cowards

I had no concept of what cowards I had in my employ!

I shall go forth

Gobo of Ishiyama will do the deed?

I too shall go!

Well said

And the rest of you?!

I'll go...

If they go, then I too shall...

I shall go as well

I too shall go...

I will go too

I too shall go

I'll go too...

-I as well... -I too shall go...

I, as well...

May I enter?

Yes

This is truly difficult for me to say, but...

I shall tell you exactly what the lord uttered

Sir Taro's head, having been bitten off by an oni, has been defiled

It thus cannot be given a funeral

He declares it must be discarded forthwith

So he has said?

Yes...

He tells us to "discard" it?

Yes...

Whence do you go?

I shall go discard it

There's blood on your face...

A fine mess we've gotten ourselves into

This is all because of your damn plan!

How was I to know there was really an oni?

But there's no use in panicking

You damn monk

I happen to value my life

And why are you laughing?

I understand now

You're after that young widow, aren't you?

You perverted monk!

Planning on facing an oni with such ulterior motives?

Now it all makes sense.

I understand

For I held that same ulterior motive

-What? -You were unaware?

I have also long been in love with that young widow himself

You don't say

I look forward to seeing which of us takes that oni's head!

Wait... Wait, I beg of you!

-Is that Taro's lady wife? -To where are you bound?

Rejoice! An order has come down from the lord!

We go to dispatch the oni at Agi Bridge!

In all truth, the whole thing is a bother,

but one must obey one's orders

Wait for us to obtain vengeance and return with the oni's head

Please... Please take me with you!

Fool, what purpose would there be in bring a single woman?

You'd simply get in our way

I must carry out my revenge

Please, please bring me-

I'll gain my revenge by my own hand...

A human cannot kill an oni

Fools... they all go to their deaths

We dismount here!

What is it?

The horses will not continue. They seem afraid

What shall we do?

Light the torches

Have you just returned?

It would appear that the lord gave the order to face the oni at Agi Bridge

I'm aware

My dearest...?

What's wrong?

My dearest...

...Why are you here?

What are you talking about? Did you have another dream?

Is it really you?

What's all this?

You shouldn't play such pranks

I'm me. See, I'm right here

My dearest...

It really is you!

You must have had a nightmare

There have been some strange goings-on, after all

But you're safe now

My dearest... My dearest...

Fool! Get out of here!

Yes, my lord

Could that room be...

This would seem to be the lord's...

What a terrible night

I feel a great apprehension

There's no cause for worry

We are protected by the buddha of longevity!

Say, monk, what exactly is an oni?

Well, now...

I'm no virtuous monk of the mountains, so I don't really know

You fraud. You know of perversions, yet know nothing of oni?

Whatever it is, I look forward to seeing it

What exactly is there to look forward to?

There's nothing here, huh

Did we scare it away, perhaps?

-What is that shadow?-What?

You there, who are you?!

It's a woman!

Look, it's a woman!

You, who are you? Are you the creature of this bridge?

It embarrasses me to say, but...

I was cruelly abandoned here

I swear that I am worthy of no suspicion

If I were to guess, you seem to be a person of some stature

Please, grant me your pity

I cannot speak of what has befallen me

I see

What shall we do?

Shall we take her with?

No, they say the local creature can transform into a beautiful woman

Someone of such standing would never be abandoned in a place like this

But what if she...

What if she belongs to some great family?

What will we do if she transforms into her true form?

I'm willing to shoulder any responsibility by myself

An oni, you say?

What about her appears like an oni?

Has she shown her true form?

She really was just a woman of the higher classes

You said you'd take responsibility, right?

That is what you declared, sir?

I'll grant you your responsibility!

Stop this!

We came here to dispatch an oni, not to fight amongst ourselves!

Save it for later!

Apologies

I was too hasty

I wanted to get revenge

Calm down, sir

What are you doing?!

You bastard!

You've tricked us!

Hey, monk

Monk!

Run!

Die!

Save me!

Dearest...

When did we become betrothed?

It was spring of three years past, was it not?

Had you forgotten?

You cried as you bid farewell to your mother

And seeing this,

your young sister also began to cry, did she not?

So it really is you...

So it was all... It was all an illusion

Yes, an illusion

So you were alive?

But of course

You cannot be alive

What is it?

That was no illusion

You were most certainly dead!

Have you gone mad?

Remember, my beloved!

You're dead!

I?

Dead?

Remember!

That's right...

I've remembered

I'm dead

Eaten by an oni

That's right

I'd forgotten all about it

I'm no longer a human, belonging to this realm

-Dearest! -Do not approach!

You must not approach me

If you come near, you too will die

Me dearest...

So at last... I understand

It was always such a mystery

Why an oni would appear

And yet...

I at last understand

I always resented you

By birth and rank, we are the same,

and yet, how quickly you were chosen for marriage

With these lovable features

You simply became happier and happier

You're an oni?

And what would you do if I was one?

I will kill you

But I am not the only oni

It was an illusion

They were all illusions

Don't be frightened

There are no oni here

The buddha of longevity is by our side

These bizarre events, passed down in Omi Province (modern Shiga Prefecture),

mark the beginnings of the worst series of hauntings in Japanese history,

starting in August of the year 886AD in Heian-kyo

This film serves as a mere preview for that extensive story

Cast

Kumi Nakamura

Masatō Ibu

Tōru Masuoka Kohichi Makigami

Eiji Okada

Producer: Ken Urasaki

Original work: "Konjaku Monogatari - Honcho Tsuketari Reiki"

Script: Hikari Hayakawa

Photography: Kan Ito Hikari Hayakawa

Lighting: Satoshi Murakawa Hisaishi Imaizumi

Director: Hikari Hayakawa