Original subtitles

An earthquake devastated Tokyo and its vicinity on September 1, 1923. It disrupted the lives of 1.9 million and killed 105 thousand. In ensuing chaos and paranoia, vigilante groups, police and soldiers massacred Koreans and the socialists.

On September 16, Amakasu, a military police lieutenant, brutally murdered Sakae Osugi, his wife and their 6-year-old nephew. Osugi was a leading anarchist.

To the voice I hear from the north

I yell.

Tell me where a wonderful country is.

For guilty and weak people to live.

Where is it?

Ready?

And...fight!

Break up!

Immediately!

Sir, it was an accident...

You heard me. Break up right now!

The Great Kanto Earthquake was felt 50 km away from Tokyo.

Don't panic!

Quit fooling around and...

do your chores!

Very good.

Kiku!

Yes.

Here I go!

- Lower! - OK.

"Tamaiwa Women's Sumo"

Don't rest!

Go in harder!

Once again!

Roll

or you'll die!

Yes!

You left your life behind for this!

Go home and plow!

- I'll stay! - Come on!

Next!

Out of my way!

Kiku (Chrysanthemum)

Women's sumo originated in the mid-18th century.

It's mostly forgotten that

women's sumo was popular in rural areas up until the 1960s.

In the 1920s there were over 20 women's sumo stables.

Some were small while the big ones had 30 wrestlers.

Most stables came from Yamagata

and toured all over Japan.

1923

Let me through!

Osaka, September 20

We're not just socialists!

We're anarchists! We oppose and deconstruct everything.

Anarchism

It deems the establishment harmful and

upholds free association.

"Tetsu Nakahama, The Empty Party Leader"

Who would be able to spare 20,000 yen?

We're not here to borrow money.

Your chairman is a duke.

I'm here to collect what his family owes us from way back.

You might have forgotten that debt.

Sin the duke's ancestor started the Onin War 600 years ago

his family has ripped us off billions of yen.

Repay us. I represent all proletariats.

Come on, pay us back now!

Are you mocking our cause?

Great.

You are hilarious.

I love the bluffs you try to pull off.

For making me laugh.

I can't afford 20,000 yen so

I'll give you an IOU.

Mr. Morimoto, are you trying to trick us?

Don't be silly.

I'm a man of my word.

Alright.

I'll honor a man's promise.

Guillotine.

Guillotine.

Championing a free society?

Sure they will!

They were known as "robbers"

because they robbed capitalists to finance their activism.

The Guillotine Society

Excuse me!

Most of the money they robbed went on drinks and women.

- Hurry up and cum! - Don't rush me.

Tetsu!

Damn it!

Don't just barge in!

I was almost there. You ruined it!

Dai, I thought you...

quit womanizing.

Mr. Osugi was killed!

What?

What's up?

What is it?

"Osugi was killed in prison by Military Police Lieutenant Amakasu."

It's their scheme.

The authorities use the recent disaster to control people.

That way they can mobilize citizens for their own use!

While the fearful citizen are paralyzed.

He's right!

It's time for a riot! An assassination! Anything!

Get out of my way!

What are the merits of a world run by terrorists?

It's not about merits!

It's about retribution.

We rob rich people every day.

Does that make it a revolution?

Enough!

Let's eat.

It's too hot for a hot pot!

Tofu was on sale.

Naka, no more poisonous mushrooms, please.

Shut up, coward!

8 days ago, Osaka Textiles LLC

Hurry up!

- Oh no! - What?

It's not him!

Kiichi Naka shot a wrong man.

At an Osaka Textiles union meeting

Naka was beaten up and fired.

He meant to shoot and rob one of the executives, Ichiji Iio.

But he mistakenly shot an executive named Otokichi Shoji.

Ogawa?

Ogawa is back!

Tokyo is hell!

Yoshio Ogawa, ex-monk

Have some water.

Come and eat, monk.

I've made up my mind.

I'll sacrifice myself for people and the world!

Thank you.

As Shusui Kotoku said.

"Where water flows there's a conduit. Ask for no reward, just act!"

Yes, we'll kill bad politicians who bully citizens!

Yes!

You keep saying the same thing!

You do nothing! You're our enemies!

Yunoshin, stop!

Let's act.

How?

Avenge the bug-eyed man.

We'll kill Amakasu?

He's detained.

He has a brother in Matsuzaka.

Matsuzaka? It's not far.

What? You want to kill a boy?

Yes, he's a substitute.

What do you say, Yunoshin?

He's innocent...!

He's from the Amakasu family.

If you insist, go.

I'll kill someone more important.

You big shot.

We have no choice.

Who'll go?

Come on!

It's hell in here!

You're right.

It is hell.

Who wants more?

You know, the weak won't survive this time.

Goro Amakasu!

The assassination failed

Let go of me!

Yunoshin Tanaka was arrested

Are you okay?

Mmm. This is my plan.

We need to do this to keep Guillotine Society alive.

I won't run anymore.

They're here.

Give us your money for the revolution!

The Kosaka Murder Case October 16

Furuta!

Hurry up, Furuta!

Daijiro Furuta, wanted for murder

Tetsu Nakahama has a bladder infection from syphilis

You guys!

The 4 of you only stole this much!

He was supposed to have 10,000 yen!

- He did. - Where?

Where is it?

The man who Furuta chased, had it.

Sorry.

You killed a man and got no money!

What's done is done. Sorry I couldn't join you.

Where's Kurachi?

I bet he ran as usual.

- Again! - He's all talk!

Tetsu!

It stinks!

- Don't wash your testicles here! - Lay off, it hurts!

The police!

Run!

Stop!

Stop right there!

Go now!

Are you OK?

But Tetsu...

I know what I'll do!

What?

Something even Shusui Kotoku couldn't do!

- Kill the Emperor? - No.

That wouldn't be worth risking my life for.

The Regent Prince.

Killing him will unnerve the Emperor.

Come on, our enemy is in Tokyo!

The Chrysanthemum and The Guillotine

Kiku.

What's that smell?

Oh, no...!

Add water and no one will know.

Tokachi River! You could have taken care of it!

A recession followed the earthquake. Refugees left Tokyo to survive.

Navy Funabashi Radio Station (10 km east of Tokyo)

Opportunists sold pig feed and even compost to the refugees.

They were known as "Food scrappers".

Go away!

l know you can't pay!

Come and get it.

Only 2 sen a bowl.

It has fish, it's nutritious.

The authorities are busy with the disaster now...

Let some male spectators wrestle your girls!

Or get the girls to show their tits.

Right.

I agreed to sponsor you in these hard times.

We should work together to make money.

Sir, we'll do our best to make it worth your while.

Leave it to me.

Well, I guess you know best.

Don Sakata has a point, Boss.

- Shut up. - Right.

It's tasteless.

Sorry.

You burned it?

You obviously added water.

Go cook some more!

You ate it up like a pig.

Who said that?

Give her a break.

She learned a lesson.

She's right. Get along, girls.

Says he.

In hard times like this we have to suck it up.

What's that smirk? You have an attitude!

You fucking with me!

- You hit me! - Stop it!

Lay off!

Stop them!

Do something.

Yeah.

By the way, we're not showing our tits.

Sumo is our thing, Boss.

I know!

Sanji, hey!

Sanji!

Damn it...

Break it up!

Stop it!

Yona lsland from Ryukyu

I'll make a new pot, Plum Country.

Teach me, please.

How to be strong like you.

Please teach me, I promise I'll do my best.

Attention everyone, from the east to the west.

We're Tamaiwa Troupe, Imperial Japan's women's sumo!

We're evergreen pine trees as seasons change.

We appreciate your support over the generations...

We will remain unchanged!

They wrestle and their tits wobble around!

Don't their tits get in the way?

You look like a spook!

Were you a sideshow freak?

His Majesty Emperor issued the Proclamation to Lift National Morale.

His Majesty disapproves of excess and harmful ideologies!

The socialists corrupt urban culture and demand freedom.

It caused heavenly imbalance and the earthquake!

Farmers make the best soldiers.

Imperial Japan will surpass the West.

We must educate Asia's barbarians! The Chinese, Koreans and the Taiwanese.

We'll make them His Majesty Emperor's subjects!

We don't have enough enlisted soldiers to win an inevitable war.

So us veterans will be called to the battlefield!

You!

What's going on?

What's this?

No more vigilantes!

Veterans must raise funds and help with disaster relief.

You know about the order!

What about the riots that the Koreans and socialists caused?

Who's giving these orders?

The higher-ups.

We have foreign pressure.

Our national integrity is at stake.

Break up!

- You have no right! - Control yourself.

You sold out!

What are you saying?

You're a disgrace to the Emperor.

What?

Wait a minute!

Wait!

They're dressed.

Not when they wrestle, I hope.

I hope they'll be naked.

Hey!

They won't be naked, fools!

Absolutely not.

I, Officer Maruman, won't allow such a perverse show!

Go on.

Move on!

You missed your breakfast, right?

But...

Before someone sees you.

Is your period regular?

No, but...

Abort it.

You don't need the trouble.

What's that for...?

Did my husband send you?

What?

Kiku, the Boss is looking for you!

It's all muddy

but you can eat it.

Kiku!

Wait!

Hey, who is that man?

Osugi, the man with the stare!

I'm in front of your skeleton calling out to you.

We demand that a fixed minimum wage is set.

Labor Union Meeting

Anarchism!

Long live, anarchism!

He remains silent.

He watches me and smirks disapprovingly.

We're taking over this meeting!

Sakae Osugi's famous meeting takeover.

Workers! You're not slaves to capitalists.

Follow us and find a new way to work!

The wide white of his eyes

is wet with passionate black tears

sparkling like waves in the sun.

And he stares at me.

You should t-t-take advantage of this!

Practice a new way of living.

That's not all.

You should also think for yourself!

"Look at his face, he won't live long," I thought.

"So you say," he told me.

"You won't live long either."

"That's fine with me."

"I want to die before I'm 30."

"You know what that means?" he asks.

"It means I've already outlived you."

Listen to me! We're not their slaves!

Act directly!

Direct action by laborers

is the most effective activism!

Watch me!

This is the power we have!

Observe the power that we have!

Take him away.

Watch me! This is the power we have!

With that daring smirk, he stares with eyes of deep white.

Tetsu! I couldn't catch anything for breakfast.

That's how it is sometimes.

Kyu?

Genjiro Muraki

Kyutaro Wada

Kyu.

You sloth!

Sorry to wake you, Gen.

To avenge Osugi, we'll target

the martial law commander Fukuda.

Tanaka, the Minister of Army

and Shoriki, the National Police Agency's director.

This just wasn't on my mind.

You're too impulsive.

Come on, Old man.

Good morning, Furuta.

Hello.

Did you two sleep well?

Yes.

Wada.

Yes?

Osugi shouldn't have taken part in the rice riot in Osaka.

He was targeted because he was in the papers.

"That's what riots are for!"

"The Bolshevists did nothing b-b-but watch Osugi in action!"

"Then we ignited it!"

"T-t-t-the nation found us too menacing to handle!"

Right?

The Bolshevists were arrested. The time for activism is over.

- That's negative... - Listen!

The Guillotine Association plan to kill the Regent Prince.

Are you serious?

Seeing Tokyo's devastation, I thought...

Nature can be destructive but it didn't destroy civilization.

Only people can upturn it.

Kyu and Gen. I know you want to avenge Osugi's murder.

Help us achieve our objective.

- Do you realize what's at stake? - At stake?

- Terrorists kill! - I know!

I'm not finished.

You never decide, it's boring.

The women's sumo troupe is in town...

Let's go.

- You can t! - Why not?

Because...it's sumo and they'll be naked.

That's why we'll go, genius!

You ask me to quit sumo But how could I?

Sumo is like the most dashing man in the world

Look at this!

Dai, come on!

Imperial Japan's Women's sumo! How's that?

Go, Plum Country!

Amazing!

Strip off!

Attention please!

Imperial Japan Certified! Women's sumo!

Let's hear it for our wrestlers, ladies and gentlemen!

Out of the East corner is Mogami River!

Out of the West corner is Little Cherry!

They'll strip off...

They're both tiny...

What! They're not getting naked?

Go, Cherry!

Destroy all enemies!

Go!

That's good!

Cherry, hold on!

Amazing!

Cherry won!

Tokachi River!

Go, Tokachi!

Tokachi!

Look at me!

Look at me.

You're the best, Tokachi.

So good!

Beat her!

Go, Brocade Waka!

Go, Mount Hideri!

My girl won!

Waka, Japan's best!

You did well, Mount Hideri!

Brocade Waka won!

Fun spoilers...

Out of the East corner, Tiger Katsu!

Kyu and Gen, you might have been tailed.

Maybe so...

but we lost them.

Yona the spook!

Did you go to Ryukyu?

Yes, it was a propaganda tour to recruit activists. It was fun.

You planned to kill Hara

so Kyu went to Ryukyu and Osugi to an entomology lab in Gifu.

To avoid being named as suspects.

Nakaoka killed the Prime Minister, not us.

Tiger Katsu!

Wonderful!

Go back to Ryukyu!

The Emperor's Tokyo is in ruins

and you shamelessly watch women's sumo!

Shame on you!

We came to offer solace to the refugees.

We have the legitimate patronage of Mr. Kantaro Sakata.

Sir.

With his encouragement

we decided to hold a 10-day tournament here.

You beard him, Chairman.

He's a veteran. Stay low.

Sanji.

Out of the East corner, Kiku!

Out of the West corner, Camellia Tama!

Beat her!

Go, Kiku!

Give us an upset!

Tama won!

Out of the East corner, Plum Country!

Out of the West corner, Haguro Cherry!

Listen up!

One sign of anything immoral, I'll shut down this promotion!

Mark my words.

Understood?

- Plum Country won! - Number one!

I had a great time.

Too bad no one was naked.

Somewhere, friends we've never met are fighting.

It's good to know.

That's slick.

We've decided on a target.

General Fukuda, the martial law commander.

- We'll join you. - Now you're talking!

Then...

What?

Ready money.

Are you robbing us, Tetsu?

Certainly not!

You're the man!

...With little money.

That's all I have.

We'll wait for our chance.

You know your way back.

Take care of yourself, Gen.

I'm not that frail.

Listen, Furuta.

Whatever you do, don't waste your life.

Long live anarchy!

Hurrah!

Hurrah!

Wanna help us?

Hey, wait!

She's so stuck-up!

Sorry about lunch...

Was the Boss upset?

No. It tasted good.

One day you'll have a gingko-leaf knot.

Like a champion? I hope so.

What did you two talk about?

Watch out for Cherry.

That's right. She has a thing for women.

Huh?

Watch out.

What's this?

Tokachi. Oh, Tokachi...

If you want, you can move into my place.

Come on, why not?

Look.

Look.

OK?

Tokachi.

Who are you?

Help!

Siberian Intervention veterans got a medal of honor and pensions.

Within a year many of them had committed crimes

and the honor was revoked.

Where have you been?

How about working for a change?

Hatsu.

See if Mom's OK.

Hello!

The sumo wrestlers.

- But sirs... - Are they here?

- Tetsu! - Don't worry.

Sorry, wrong room!

Sorry.

Wrestlers!

The wrestlers are here but...

- Thanks. - Wait!

Hi, there!

Who are you?

- They let themselves in... - I'm Suzuki, a novelist.

I'm working on a novel at my second house.

He's my assistant.

The sumo wrestlers impressed me so much today.

They are a symbol of today's women!

I want to write about them.

I'd love to interview them.

I see.

In particular Tokachi River and Kiku.

So we'll join you tonight if you don't mind.

We don't even allow fans to meet our girls.

How about them?

They're sponsors.

Oh, come on! I'll sit here.

No you won't, sir.

I'm not moving.

I'm gone!

Forget about them, Chairman.

Have a drink.

Pardon me.

My fellas worked with you veterans as vigilantes, remember?

But my boys are all idiots so

they harassed anyone they thought was Korean.

I guess some were Koreans but many were just country folk.

They killed them anyway and were jailed.

None of you got jailed?

Tetsu.

You hear that?

Imperial Army soldiers aren't so foolish!

Hey, come on!

Wait!

Why are you so upset?

Drink up and forget it!

It was a miserable show today.

It was just a bunch of guys out to seduce you.

Really.

Your pussy is your attraction, not sumo.

Say that again!

Sure!

Stop acting like a hooker.

Stop it!

Let go!

Everyone knows

that you turn tricks wherever we go.

You don't know what it's like!

Katsu!

Lay off, you two!

Katsu!

You thief!

It's mine!

It's mine!

What's wrong with me making use of my body?

Sumo is the same thing!

You think you're special?

This money...

Come on, everybody pick it up!

Pick it up!

We share profits.

That's enough!

Katsu!

You're my niece but this is too much.

We all have our troubles!

Don't take your frustration out on others!

It's mine!

It's mine!

No one can have it except me!

It's mine!

Stop acting like a dad.

Katsu?

What happened?

Get off me!

Tokachi must be Korean...

The Korean miners in my neighborhood spoke like her.

You heard her, Cherry?

I don't care

if she's Korean or not.

You don't?

Tetsu.

Huh?

We need bombs.

With explosives, we can't fail.

Guns are no good. We need bombs.

I guess so...

Are you thinking about those sumo women?

We were tailed.

Ouch!

That's not the welcome I hoped for!

Tokachi?

- Are you OK? - Tokachi!

Did it hurt?

I'm fine.

So this is the second house of a novelist!

You said you wanted to interview me.

I was bored with my slow-witted assistant.

The moon's beautiful. We could drink outside.

Great idea! Very stylish.

It's cold.

- Stay here. - What?

All men like Tokachi.

It's invigorating...

What is?

I'm from a fishing village so the ocean affects me...

It's by Genkai Sea.

Heard of it?

I crossed it from Korea.

Sorry.

I came to Japan on my own.

The Japanese back home treated us bad.

I thought that I'd be better off here.

I was wrong.

I was a hooker in the red-light district in Asakusa.

I feel dirty.

You aren't dirty.

The earthquake hit

and I managed to survive but then I was mobbed.

They made me sing the national anthem and say difficult words

like 15 yen and 50 sen.

They thought Koreans would revolt.

They gathered us up on the other side of Ara river.

At around 10 at night

vigilantes, fire brigade members and schoolkids body searched us.

After the body search

they made us line up.

They tied us up so we couldn't move.

They said to wait.

"Move an inch and you're dead."

Around midnight...

I heard gunshots from the other side of the river.

I heard a boy scream, "Mom!"

And then...

At daybreak...

The vigilantes started to...

chop off the Koreans' heads.

I was so scared...

I wasn't ready to die.

I broke free and ran.

When I got to the foot of the bridge I noticed

I was treading on bodies.

The Koreans' bodies were strewn all over.

Damn it!

Why...?

I didn't do it but I apologize!

I'm sincerely sorry!

Goddamn it!

Damn you!

Damn you!

Damn... One more bout.

You won!

When I first saw women wrestle I couldn't believe it!

How could women be so strong?

I thought maybe I could be strong, too.

Why did you want that?

Farmers aren't happy when their babies are girls.

Some girls were sent to work at a textile mill.

They might die from tuberculosis at the mill

or leave the mill to be saloon girls.

My sister died, leaving behind a husband and a baby.

I had to replace her.

I thought it wouldn't be so bad but I was wrong.

So you ran away.

Things change when you're strong.

The poor can get rich.

And the weak could become healthy.

The dead might have lived if they were strong.

We could live instead of being resigned to misery.

That's what it means for women to be as strong as men.

The weak can't change anything.

I want to win.

Against who?

Let me see...

Those who've looked down on me.

That's silly.

Tussle me one more time.

What was that?

Show me that technique!

It wasn't intentional...

It's uchimuso!

It's cold!

You won't become Champion!

- Women can only be Ozeki. - Not the Champion?

We leave that to men.

Tell Ichiko Kamichika. She'll yell "Liberate women!"

You'll catch a cold!

Go, beat him!

Me?

Look at Mount Fuji

We're women's sumo.

Covered with white snow

Come see women's sumo.

Melting in the morning light

Like a man's passion melts the heart of a maiden

The women's sumo is here.

Say it louder!

Women's sumo for the proletariats! Come see women's sumo!

More cheerfully!

We fight with the working class!

Please come.

We have a full house every day. Don't miss us!

"Come to Tamaiwa Women's Sumo!"

We fight with the working class!

Come see us!

Come on! Pick up these fliers!

Hold on!

- Thanks. - Keep it up.

Come to women's sumo.

Women's sumo fights with proletariats!

Women's sumo for the working class!

Come and see women's sumo!

Come eat my fish!

I caught them!

Beneath Paris, City of Lights

Blood-red flowers bloom in a dark corner

In the murk of crime and punishment

Evil flowers bloom

The dark and cold sewer is their home

Where the Apaches grew up is always wet

So deep underground that no light would reach

Where the rogue Apaches were born and lived

I have a dream.

I have a dream!

I'll build a new country in Manchuria.

Everyone's equal.

Everyone has a job. No one's rich or poor.

An equal paradise!

Is it possible?

Yes.

I'll go!

Tetsu Nakahama and Tokachi River

You can love anyone you want.

Be selfish.

Be crazy!

Dance!

Dance, Katsu!

Go, Katsu!

Never been in the sea?

It's my first time.

Which one's Little Cherry?

Haru Oishi from Honjo, Tokyo. Is that you?

Take her away.

What's going on?

Her husband reported her as missing.

I need to ask you questions, too.

Sanji.

Take care of the afternoon show.

OK.

Cherry!

Has it been a year that she's been with us?

You owe your husband an apology.

Are you listening?

I will not apologize to anyone.

- I should've burned down the house! - What?

You traitor!

Let her get up!

Get up, traitor!

I'm happy to be one!

Since I have no hope, I'll do what I please!

Come on! Shut up!

Cherry!

Don't let them beat you!

Get up!

Cherry! Don't let them beat you!

Cherry, stay strong!

The men with the sumo women are socialists!

There was a Korean wrestler.

The riot never happened!

Listen, Maruman!

Don't be pushy, veteran!

The killing of the Koreans...

You just followed the orders, OK? Remember that!

I have an issue with the sumo women...

What's that?

None of your business.

I'm busy!

Give me water.

Give me more.

I remember him.

You made me jump.

What is it?

Remember the man with the police chief at the inn?

The bald man?

He's Matsutaro Shoriki.

From the Police Agency?

He started the rumor about the Koreans' and socialists' riots.

I heard the Army Cavalry killed many Koreans at the internment camp.

I guess Shoriki was reassigned as part of a cover up.

Tetsu, leave that.

Watch this. Let's go!

- Where to? - Come on!

Wait!

Come on, Dai.

Dai.

Shoriki is insignificant!

- I'll kill him by myself. - Gen said to get Fukuda!

You don't really care.

You're aimless.

Guillotine? It's a game for you!

Because I'm a poet!

Were you really going to learn how to fly and go to Manchuria?

Regular folks won't understand me!

Hey, wait a minute.

Come on, listen to me.

Yunoshin would be free if you hadn't made him do it!

He volunteered. You were there.

He operates as a free agent.

You're all talk and that won't change.

I killed a man.

I'll go to hell by myself.

Bastard!

You cocky virgin.

I fed you all these years!

Go screw a girl.

For once, give your testicles some relief.

Kiku will be happy to break you in.

Your brain's addled with syphilis!

Hey, you're letting him get away.

Damn...

I'll deal with you later.

How will you do it?

I won't need you.

Hey!

Stay away.

Conductor!

Tomorrow may never come.

It has to be now.

There's no other way!

OK. I'll cover for you.

Go for it!

Come on! Hurry up!

What's going on?

What do you want with me?

Stop!

You go around!

Get them!

Hold it there!

Let go!

Wait!

- The show's starting. - I can't wait.

Please.

Let me go!

You were with the socialist.

I'll interrogate you.

You're not the police!

They approve.

The police left her alone though!

Don't interfere!

Let's stay out of it.

Sanji!

The Boss left you in charge!

It's showtime.

The audience is waiting.

I want to get you girls back next year.

Despite these hard times, I invited you here.

You're so kind to us, Mr. Sakata.

He'll soon release you.

You've done nothing.

OK, then.

Tokachi.

Come back soon.

Let's work!

Okay?

Guys!

Speak!

What horrible schemes do you Koreans have?

I know you Koreans are arsonists!

You wish we all burned to death

so you start fires and poison our wells.

You did!

No...

Then prove it.

Say "Long live the Emperor."

Japan belongs to the Emperor, the Living God and even you're his child.

Say it!

Long live His Majesty!

Long live His Majesty!

Do it.

Let me go!

Why didn't you let me kill him?

Tetsu! Dai! You have to come with me!

What's wrong?

Some military men took Tokachi away.

- What? - She was tied up and beaten...

Calm down. Show us where they are.

That way.

Come on!

I'm useless...

A man like me will never achieve anything in his life...

Idiot!

The revolution is second to saving a woman!

Speak!

You should go back.

Won't you call the police?

No police.

It's up to us.

- But... - Listen!

Become strong and change the world, Kiku.

Go now.

The veterans are torturing a woman!

To the old battery!

Stop, you bastards!

Are you okay?

They're socialists! Arrest them!

Come on!

You bastard.

You fought in Russia?

You wasted 4 years in Siberia.

You fought the Russian revolutionary army for nothing.

We wanted to teach barbarians, like those Westerners.

God sent us on a mission.

You were shameless bandits.

You were busy giving VD to the Siberian women!

Hold him down.

You think you're smart.

You have no idea

what it's like to march through a blizzard, starving.

The hunger stops you questioning orders.

But even that

is better than the life of a starving peasant!

You socialists

understand nothing!

The first time I met Dai...

It was at the Peasants Association in rural Saitama.

We tried to get the farmers involved

but for the duration of our stay

no farmers came.

But even now, I strongly believe that

it isn't the guy next to you...

who's the enemy.

We should fight together!

Hold him up.

I'll behead him.

No, don't!

Don't do it!

Aigo!

Why did you...?

I can still hear it...

Those Koreans crying "Aigo!"

They begged to be shot.

There was a couple together and we killed the man...

The woman screamed out, "Aigo!"

Get off me!

The Cavalry camped nearby

and left the villagers to deal with the Koreans.

In some villages, 3 Koreans were burned to death.

We killed 4 with swords and buried the bodies.

- Shut up! - Let me speak!

The vigilantes made us do it!

They were too scared to do it themselves.

They just watched.

Remember what the socialists said about us!

They said that we'd drawn the short straw.

For a meaningless war!

They're wrong...

They're wrong!

Take this.

Swing this sword and chop off the socialist's head!

They don't do anything productive. They just bark.

Come on, do it!

His Majesty...

His Majesty...

May he live long!

Long live, His Majesty!

Long live, His Majesty!

Long live, His Majesty!

Long live, His Majesty!

Long live, His Majesty!

Long live, His Majesty!

Long live, His Majesty!

Out of the West corner, Tiny Dragon!

Out of the East...

Kiku!

I'm here!

There's Kiku!

It's time.

Ready...fight!

East wins!

She won by uchimuso!

It's uchimuso!

The technique?

- Kiku! - Way to go!

Great!

Kiku won!

That was amazing!

That was good.

Where's Tokachi?

And where are the others?

We can't find them.

You almost became murderers!

Hey! Over here!

I won!

I finally won!

Long live Kiku!

Long live Japan's working class!

Long live revolutionaries!

Why?

Why did you leave me out?

Ouch...

It hurts.

1924

The vigilantes were charged for the Koreans' massacre

but pardoned a year later when the Regent Prince married.

The Government nullified their crimes.

Ready, fight!

Tumen River, Korea

What?

OK, show her the money.

You understand bombs? You sure the guerrillas will sell us some?

That's the 1,000 yen they asked for.

Oh no, she conned us!

What?

She said the Heroic Corps were allies!

For Koreans...

all Japanese are bad.

I don't believe that!

We can only get explosives here in Korea.

How? We're broke now.

I'll get some money. I'll talk to some people in Japan.

Osaka Entrepreneurs Association

Remember your promise.

Mr. Morimoto, I insist that you pay what you owe us.

I can get you 3,000 yen tomorrow but

this is all I have now.

You're the man. I'll pick up the rest tomorrow.

You've come all this way, I should offer you some tea.

Hey!

How about some noodles?

Great!

Or maybe sushi?

Sushi! That sounds good, too.

Don't resist!

It hurts! Take it easy, will you?

I'm not just any old robber!

I'm Tetsu of the Guillotine Association!

Stop talking, you criminal!

Speak later.

Keiji Kurauchi

Behave!

Tetsu Nakahama, arrested

Long live revolutionaries, damn it!

The US Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1924 on July 1.

With this the world began excluding the Japanese.

Thrust!

Thrust!

Focus! Again!

Ready!

Thrust!

This is when Japan began its military expansionism.

A year after the earthquake there was a record-breaking drought.

The concerned farmers asked the women's sumo to visit.

They hoped it would anger the Gods and bring on the rain.

Welcome!

Mr. Tanaka.

You must be tired. I'm your sponsor.

I'm Iwaki, the Boss.

Come inside when you're done.

Shut up and eat!

They certainly eat with gusto.

Their bodies need it.

I'm in awe of them!

More!

Give me more!

More!

Hold on.

Wait.

I said more!

- Wait! - What's wrong?

Everyone, we're very sorry.

What? I'm far from being full!

That's all for today.

I'll make sure you have plenty tomorrow.

I'm sorry.

The sponsor is penny-pinching.

I'm hungry...

There's a wise saying about that.

What's that mean?

Any food on a empty stomach tastes good.

Right, if there's food...

At least we get to wrestle.

Isn't the sponsor a landlord?

Not like us peasants.

I don't know. Ask the Boss.

He's a bit of a buffoon, isn't he?

You say strange things, like your predecessor.

You mean, the first Cherry?

That's right. Cherry the First was a strange woman.

This should be enough.

Tokachi River...

I wonder what happened to her.

She was a bit of a wanderer.

Right. She disappeared when we were last here.

Did Kiku join us a year ago? No wonder I feel old.

You'll soon have wrinkles and white hair.

You don't!

I don't know. Like my mother used to say

when you're at school your life has stages.

In real life, you work your ass off

and there are no stages.

10 years pass. And before you even realize 20 years pass!

Time sure flies.

That saying is painful to hear at my age.

Everyone ages and that includes you lot!

Sanji...

Boss.

The police!

Hello.

This is not sleazy, its not even entertainment really...

The drought has impacted rice production

so it's like a rain dance.

You were promoted? Congratulations!

After the Captain resigned.

Most promoters left town because of the recession.

No one has time for sumo.

If you do anything immoral to promote your show

we'll shut you down.

I hate police bastards.

Tiger Katsu and Sanji

If any socialist outlaws turn up, let us know

immediately.

Ready.

Not yet.

Go, Plum!

Kiku, beat her!

Ready.

And fight!

Go, Kiku!

Plum Country wins!

You're much stronger now.

I'm not.

You are.

Not enough to change.

Where is Tokachi?

We parted at Shimonoseki.

We asked her to come with us to Korea.

But she declined.

That was it.

She must be waiting in Manchuria.

Huh?

Tokachi loved Tetsu's stories.

About his new country in Manchuria.

Where everyone's equal and has a job and food.

No one's rich or poor.

Tokachi often said she wanted to live there.

Tetsu said it'd be possible in 100 years.

Tokachi would wait in Manchuria for thousands of years for that.

Thousands of years...

But Tetsu can't go anywhere for years.

Why?

He's in prison!

Dai.

The day's almost over.

I'm going.

I may never see you again...

Take care.

How arrogant! Is that all you've got?

After all those months and that's it?

Forget stupid Manchuria!

Of course Tokachi isn't waiting.

I bet she's screwing men for money.

- You don't mean... - I do!

I know now.

We can't change anything.

The weak remain weak.

I'll be back.

I won't wait thousands of years for you!

The son of a bitch told me I was useless.

So I dared him to be straight with me.

You know what he told me?

No.

He said, "Do you think we were equal?"

What kind of bullshit is that?

Tetsu never makes any sense!

Around here?

OK.

Put it down.

No good.

What are you looking at?

Don't look at me like that.

You're always so aloof.

- You act superior... - I don't!

You think I'm a coward because I ran.

No, I don't.

I came back!

I'm all you have.

You and your stuck-up face!

You look down on me.

You always have.

When there were more of us, not just us two

did you ever talk to me?

Did you come over and talk to me?

I talked to you but you just nodded and gave a phony smile.

Did you care about any of us back then?

Tell you what.

I don't give a shit what you think of me.

You'll never understand what a great person l am.

Don't act like we're friends!

I knew it.

The tougher the shell the greater the explosion.

Damn it.

I don't know...

Cigarette tins don't hold up...

I'll make one.

I don't know what to do since Tetsu left me alone!

Did you say "alone"?

Hey.

Did you say "alone"?

You said you don't know what to do alone?

Did you say "alone"?

You ignore me!

I don't ignore anyone!

I never ignore anyone.

I often think

of that son of a bitch, Tetsu.

What if he was executed? What if he's dead?

I think about that. Sometimes all night long.

Then what happens?

How would I feel?

I'm so sad.

To lose that son of a bitch.

I'd feel so sad

if the son of a bitch

was executed.

What about me then?

I killed a man.

I deserve to be executed!

Don't be silly.

I'd hate it, Dai.

I'd hate it if you died.

Get the police to stake him out.

Kiku, you have to talk.

Sanji is right. We have to protect our troupe.

I don't know...

Why?

The authorities are stronger now. Do what they ask.

No way.

Times have changed and so should we, Boss.

We go against the tide!

Wrestling is popular in American circuses now.

Sumo is so old fashioned...

You punk!

That hurt!

Sure it hurts!

Break up!

Let him go!

- Come on! - I'll get you!

Stop!

Ugh, damn it!

That's enough, you two!

Katsu here is like a daughter to me.

If you want to be with her, say it!

I want her!

This has nothing to do with you!

- Stay out of it! - Sanji.

You can leave if you want to.

Hello! Excuse me.

Yes?

I heard you've been taking care of my wife.

Kiku!

Are you sure?

Come back any time!

Take care, Kiku!

Thank God for his rage.

What?

Katsu!

Our sumo troupe is history!

I have an idea for a new sumo group.

We won't focus on the win but on the wrestlers.

We'll give the spectators stories of the wrestlers.

And you'll be the star!

I don't know what you're saying...

I'll tell the police about the socialists. The troupe is over.

What did you say? I can't hear you!

Don't! Stop that!

What happened to the baby?

It died in my stomach.

Kiku, where are you going?

She didn't care about the kid when she went, she's so selfish...

Do women have to live for children?

Get over here! I bet you learned to drink by now.

I tell you, her sumo is impressive.

I hope you see my point. Right, Kiku?

Weren't you ashamed to expose yourself in public?

Women's sumo is for horny men.

Even if you were right, so what?

- Where are you going? - To piss.

You got a little tougher?

Help!

That hurt, Tomoyo.

Dear, Dai, I'm still active though I'm in prison.

I'll publish a poem collection from here

and call it, "My Nation and Freedom, Special prison issue."

"Black Bread" written by Tetsu Nakahama

I'm sure you know what Black Bread means.

Number 136, lights out!

By the way, about Tokachi River.

If you ever learned her whereabouts let me know.

Those who trace my footsteps. Those who follow me!

Go beyond international borders!

The time will come! It will all happen in autumn!

Then what would happen?

How silly!

Whatever it will be!

Whatever it will be!

What did you...?

What did you do to her?

It's none of your business.

It is my business.

Speak up!

I do what I want to my wife.

You're horrible... You animal!

I want to be strong!

I want to wrestle!

Is it an inevitable fact? Is it a fact?

Is it servile behavior?

Is it a fact? Or reality?

Social justice! Idealism! Freedom!

We should all be eaten by the devil!

Know that desperation does not equal extinction!

In the face of desperation

there is but hope, nothing but hope!

Give Kiku back.

That's enough. Go away!

Let her go back to sumo.

You're book smart but what use is it?

You can't have her.

I love you!

The revolution is second to saving a woman!

It's "Thank you, Master" or

"Damn you, you won't get away with this!"

One or the other.

Nothing else is worthwhile.

Who cares how humans came to be?

It's too much!

Come on.

I don't know...

what got into me.

What?

I'm...

going back.

Katsu!

Wait!

Let me go.

It's obvious I'm not going to be happy with you.

Katsu, wait just a minute.

I've never liked weak men like you!

Katsu!

You have a mean crotch!

You can't get to her. Tomoyo is my woman.

No one owns Kiku, except herself.

It's a bomb.

Die with me.

After all

we just wanted to live like humans.

Can't humans survive without fighting?

Maybe we can't survive without fighting because we are humans!

Tiger Katsu, you're the star though...

It's just...

something got into me.

You say such a thing...

You shouldn't have.

It's not my fault.

You're to blame, not me.

I've done nothing wrong.

Damn you!

Where do you think you're going?

I can't hear you! My hearing's gone.

Where are you going?

I'll take him to the doctor.

But they'll find out who you are!

What?

They'll find you!

You're strong, Kiku. Be the best Ozeki in Japan.

So you have nothing to fear! Kiku is fearless.

I don't know what you're talking about!

A truly strong person never has to take lives.

Kiku, you're different to me. You'll be stronger.

No! No!

Don't be a baby.

You have to take care of yourself. Who knows when we'll meet.

Maybe never.

But I'll think of you when I'm dying.

No!

That's not what I want!

The Chrysanthemum and Guillotine

Let go of Kiku.

Then I'll take you to the doctor so you can live.

Or I'll leave you here to die.

Go! Go back to the sumo troupe.

Tell them he changed his mind.

Go before we are seen.

Sir.

Hey, stop!

Stop!

Katsu!

Katsu!

She collapsed!

Tiger Katsu!

What happened to you?

Katsu, why?

Boss!

Whatever happened to her?

She's too stiff to fit in.

Put her down.

What the hell are you doing? Stop it!

Don't!

Let go! I have to because she doesn't fit in.

Remember how she used to be so stiff?

She could hardly open her legs.

I'll do the other leg.

I knew you'd come back.

All wrestlers want to die in the ring.

But it never happens. We die on the side of the road.

It's always miserable.

Put her in.

Don't we all wish to die on the road?

Dump it at a temple.

Before the sumo god punishes us.

It's raining again.

The Sun God has been upset lately.

We're shutting you down.

Sanji testified. We're doing a search.

Go away! This is no place for the likes of you!

Our ring is sacred!

Stay out!

Go away!

Go away!

You ask me to quit sumo But how could I?

Sumo is like the most dashing man in the world

You get thrown doing sumo You get dumped by a man for sumo

Kiku!

Your parents disowned you You have no home to go to

Even if you lost your voice or got skinny

You'd endure it, it's all for the glory of sumo

Arrest them all!

Arrest them!

Don't resist!

You bitch!

Keiji Kurachi, Lumpenproletariat

Arrested in 1924. Released from prison in 1935. Continued to be an anarchist / activist post WWII. Died in 1960.

Kozo Kawai, Philosopher

Arrested and sentenced to life in 1923. Died in prison in 1943.

Yunoshin Tanaka, Poet / postal worker

Arrested in 1923. Junk peddler / poet post WWII. Died in 1966.

Jiro Konishi, Ex-banker

Sentenced to life in 1923. Released on parole in 1940. Owned a small diner post WWII. Year of death unknown.

Gentaro Uchida, Shop clerk

Sentenced to life in 1923. Released from prison in 1938. Year of death unknown.

Eikichi Shigeno, Shop clerk

Sentenced to life in 1923 but released in 1938 and owned a bookshop. Year of death unknown.

Kiichi Naka, Textile mill laborer

Arrested in 1923. Released and owned a bookshop in 1934. Rearrested in 1935 but not convicted. Died in 1975.

Yoshio Ogawa, Ex-monk

Sentenced to life in 1923. Died from an illness in Kofu Penitentiary in 1936.

Kyutaro Wada

Arrested with Furuta and Muraki for the failed General Fukuda assassination attempt in 1924. He committed suicide in prison in 1928.

Genjiro Muraki

Arrested in 1924 for serial bombings in a failed attempt to assassinate General Fukuda. Died of pneumonia in jail in 1925.

Daijiro Furuta

Arrested together with Muraki in 1924 for serial bombings. Sentenced to death in 1925, and unappealed. Executed a month later. He was 25.

Tetsu Nakahama

Sentenced to death together with Daijiro Furuta in 1925. Published "Black Bread" his only poem collection, in prison. Executed in 1926 at Osaka Penitentiary at the age 29.

There's a record of a women's sumo stable touring in Hawaii, Colonial Gyeongseong, Busan, Saipan, Palau and Manchuria in the 1930s. Women's sumo came to an end in around 1955.

Directed by Takahisa Zeze

English subtitles by Dean Shimauchi