Original subtitles

Participant in the 1969 Arts Festival

A SHOCHIKU PRESENTATION

Produced by: Kindai Eiga Kyokai

HEAT WAVE ISLAND

Produced by: Hisao Itoya Kazuo Kuwahara, Setsuo Noto

Original Screenplay: Kaneto Shindo, Isao Seki

Cinematography: Kiyomi Kuroda Music: Hikaru Hayashi

Lighting: Kenichi Okamoto Art Direction: Norimichi Igawa

Sound: Tetsuya Ohashi Editing: Mutsuo Tanji

CAST

Nobuko Otowa

Rokko Toura

Juzo Itami, Taiji Tonoyama Masako Toyama

Ken Yoshizawa, Tsutomu Akashi Tetsuo Ashida, Yoshinobu Ogawa

Daigo Kusano, Ichiro Sugai Eimei Esumi, Kozo Yamamura

Tanie Kitabayashi, Hisano Yamaoka Atsuko Kawaguchi, Reiko Hatsune

Hideo Kanze, Taiyu Wakamiya Naoji Iwata, Miyoko Akaza, Kotoe Hatsuji

Kiyoto Harada, Masashi Oki Kentaro Kaji, Toru Bushu

Midori Hirono, Fumiya Ozawa Masaru Miyata

Senkichi Ueno, Kiyoshi Shima Hosui Aratani, Hiroshi Ishi

Ken Ishizawa, Mika Matsui Katsuhiko Suehiro

Jukichi Uno Eitaro Ozawa

Directed by: Kaneto Shindo

- Hey, what is that? - It's a hand... A hand!

- A human hand... - The dog is carrying a hand.

- What happened? - Look!

Oh, Mi-chan, not again. You're late.

I'm sorry.

Where did you go? Did your friend go home?

ISO CHIDORI BAR

Who would've thought a pet dog would dig up a corpse?

I thought she had just gone on a trip or something...

But she was murdered and buried.

Chief, I found the bankbook.

The address has been changed from Kyoto to here.

So, she lived in Kyoto?

What happened to Mi-chan?

- She quit, you know. - What? Why did she quit?

She just left and hasn't been back since.

That's a bit disappointing.

But you've got me, don't you, Mr. Oishi?

That's true.

Excuse me for a moment.

Chief, you're in love with Madame, right?

Idiot, she's the one who's in love with me!

Sorry, but tonight we'll be closing the bar at 8:30.

I see, someone special called, huh?

I have plenty of lovers, you know.

There are still two hours to go. Please, take your time until then.

From 8:30 that night, Iso Chidori stayed closed.

Otoyo talked on the phone and left.

So, the last ones to see Otoyo were...

- You two, huh? - That's right.

The last people to see Otoyo in the bar were me and Bando.

Hey, Oishi, you haven't told anyone about this, have you?

What? Why do you ask?

You're so careless...

Don't you think it would invite suspicion, criticism, or misunderstanding

if people knew a detective was at the center of this case?

We've got the forensic results.

The cause of death was a skull fracture from a blow to the head.

It's been 20 days to a month since her death.

The weapon was likely a stone or a blunt object like a log.

The body had a large amount of salt and marine plankton adhered to it,

suggesting it was in seawater for a long time after death.

The body was in the sea for an extended period after death...

Also, there are marks on the left ankle resembling rope bindings.

Why was she killed first and then thrown into the sea?

- Oishi, why is that? - I wonder why.

There were no signs of rape.

Is that so? That's good.

The deceased's family doesn't seem to be in Onomichi.

She opened her bar here last December.

She was well-regarded, but had many men in her life.

Didn't Otoyo have a patron?

Otoyo wasn't that kind of woman… Do you think so?

Why did you ask that, Bando?

The old key is for the back door of the bar, and the new one doesn't fit anywhere.

Isn't this an apartment key? Mine uses one like this, too.

Have you ever met Otoyo, Chief?

I don't wander at night or chase after women, so I don't know her.

A woman like her could have had any number of patrons.

Let's trace these keys.

The third floor keys are all different, too.

The third floor only has eight rooms?

- No, there are nine. - But there are only eight keys here.

The key to Room 9 is missing,

so I was going to replace it with a new one.

Why didn't you mention this earlier?

That room has been rented, but the tenant hasn't moved in.

Who rented this apartment?

Her name is Michiko Goto.

How old is Michiko Goto?

I don't know.

It was her father who came to rent the place.

- Her father? - Yes, that's what he said.

Where is Michiko Goto from? Is she from Onomichi?

Her application says she's from Onejima Island, I beileve.

I wonder what happened.

He brought in a bed for her, but she never showed up.

Has she been paying rent?

Her father put down three months' rent as a deposit,

along with the first month's rent.

Was it her father who claimed that the key was lost?

That's right. Oh, where did you get that key?

Hello.

- Do you live here? - Yes.

- Are you leaving? - Yes, I was...

- On this ship? - Yes.

Urgent business?

I'm going to Onomichi to look for work.

Sorry, but would you mind catching the next ferry?

We have some questions.

Do you know that Otoyo was murdered?

Yes, I saw it in the newspaper...

About that... Let's go over there for a moment.

- I don't have a father. - Oh?

He died last November.

My mother also passed away when I was little, so I live alone now.

- What about your apartment? - Huh? Apartment...

The apartment you rented.

What do you mean?

A man claiming to be your father rented an apartment in your name.

in Onomichi, about a month and a half ago.

How long did you work at Otoyo's bar?

About three months.

- You took an advance, right? - Yes.

- How much was it? - 70.000 yen.

- Did you pay it back when you quit? - No.

I guess there's no one to pay it back to now.

The day you left, I was at the bar.

I was disappointed that you weren't there.

Did something happen?

I received an offer to live with a man.

As a mistress? Who was he?

- His name was Nakanishi... - Nakanishi?

Of Nakanishi Real Estate on Kaigan Street?

I will pay back the money I borrowed. I promise that I'll pay it back!

When? When will you pay it back?

Very soon, I swear...

I'm saying this for your own good, you know.

If you go with Mr. Nakanishi, you won't have to worry about money.

Hello?

Ah, Mr. Nakanishi!

I'm sorry about last night. I'm truly sorry.

Please, forgive me.

I will definitely bring her this evening.

Tonight, for sure.

Everything will be fine.

I had no other choice but to run away.

That same evening, I ran away from the bar.

The night when Otoyo was killed, July 7th, the night of Tanabata...

Where were you, the night that you ran away from the bar?

- I was in Onomichi. - Where in Onomichi?

At a friend's apartment. A classmate from junior high.

She works at Kato Marine on the First Pier.

Where's her apartment?

It's the green building on Senkoji Street, Room 8.

Sorry to keep you from your work.

I'll try to help you find a job.

Thank you very much.

SEA CARGO SHIPPING

Mi-chan came to my room around 6 PM. She stayed until 7 AM the next morning.

She wouldn't get involved in something like that.

Otoyo was a horrible and filthy person.

No wonder she was killed!

NAKANISHI REAL ESTATE

Look through here.

It's a two-way mirror, he can't see us.

That's the man who claimed to be her father... It was definitely him!

May I ask, when did you become Michiko Goto's father?

You already have a family.

A daughter in her third year of high school,

and a son in his second year of junior high.

Your wife serves on the Youth Development Committee, right?

What was your purpose in renting an apartment for Michiko Goto?

Where were you on the night of Tanabata, July 7th?

You told your wife you were heading to Okayama for work.

- I was alone in that apartment. - What were you doing there?

You weren't quietly reading or studying, were you?

- I was waiting for Michiko to come. - Hey, how old are you?

You bought a double bed to sleep with Michiko,

who's your daughter's age. How much did it cost?

Tell this man to watch his language!

Japan is a democracy now, but you behave like pre-war police.

You fool! People like you give democracy a bad name.

Oishi, calm down.

If you don't confess, we'll throw you in jail!

This was all Otoyo's idea in the first place.

If you keep lying, Otoyo will haunt you!

It's true, Otoyo made me do it.

She insisted it was what Michiko wanted. She begged me to do it!

But after that, she stood me up on the night of the 6th.

So I called on the afternoon of the 7th and said I had changed my mind.

I will definitely bring her this evening.

Tonight, for sure.

After that phone call, Otoyo came to my office.

She asked for the key,

and said that Michiko would be waiting at the apartment.

But at the agreed time of 9 PM, she still hadn't showed up.

- Did you call Otoyo's place? - Twice, but no one answered.

I used the phone in the manager's office.

On July 15th,

you told the manager that you had lost the key to the apartment,

and borrowed a spare key.

After that, you didn't go there again!

Otoyo's bar was closed the next night, and it was still closed the day after.

I had a bad feeling.

Because you have a dark past...

I made a copy of the key to avoid getting involved in anything strange.

I thought it was better to stay away from that apartment.

Why didn't you inform the police about this sooner?

I had no idea she was going to be killed.

Anyway, because of her, I suffered a huge loss.

I was robbed of 200.000 yen.

Oh... 200.000 yen?

She asked me to give Michiko 200.000 yen as a preparation fee.

I gave it to Otoyo the day before.

What was your relationship with her?

Nothing much, just a customer and madam relationship.

- What?! - What are you doing?!

- I'll knock that rotten attitude out of you! - Alright, go easy on him.

I see, someone special called, huh?

I have plenty of lovers, you know.

Who called her back then?

If not Nakanishi, then who?

Michiko ran away from that bar on the 7th.

And on the night of the 7th, Otoyo also disappeared.

The murder most likely took place that night.

Who called Otoyo that day? I heard her talking to someone.

There's no record of that 200.000 yen in her bank book nor in her house.

That 200.000 yen has vanished somewhere.

Did Otoyo leave with the 200.000 yen, then?

Why did Otoyo try to make Michiko Goto become Nakanishi's mistress?

Wasn't it for money?

She wouldn't have made any money just by looking after a mistress.

Otoyo wasn't that kind of cheap woman!

KYOTO, PONTOCHO

It's been about three years since Otoyo came to our place.

She was standing exactly where you are standing.

Do you want to work here?

If you'll have me...

Where are you from?

Hakata, in Kyushu.

She said she was born in Hakata, but who knows for sure?

- When did she leave here? - About six months ago.

- Said she was getting married. - Married?

Yes, to someone named Mr. Hongo, I believe.

He came here from time to time.

He said he had separated from his wife and children.

I haven't heard anything about him since then.

For a while, he lived near the back of Daitokuji Temple.

Are you serious? Her bank book was registered to our address?

DAITOKUJI TEMPLE

People say women are like demons, and I guess that's true.

They stayed in that room for about four months,

but they only seemed happy for the first two weeks.

At first, they kept the windows shut for 2 or 3 days straight.

They slept together from morning until evening.

But then, the woman started cheating.

The man seemed quiet and respectable, though.

But then, he quit his delivery job at the company where he worked.

In the end, he became consumed by jealousy and went half-crazy.

And he had a wife and children?

Oh, I did hear something like that, but I don't know the details.

They said he was from Mikasa Island, near Onomichi.

- Mikasa? That's next to Onejima Island. - And where is the man now?

Who knows? After the woman ran away, he went completely mad.

I heard he took drugs and ran out barefoot one rainy day, never to return.

Oh, but I heard from a truck driver who worked at the same company.

He was supposedly seen recently in Kamagasaki, Osaka,

dressed like a beggar.

KAMAGASAKI

That guy is Hongo.

Hey, Hongo!

In about half a month, he'll probably be dead.

If you know him, why don't you take him with you?

Hongo, now a pitiful shadow of a man, is originally from Mikasa Island.

It must have been Otoyo who drove Hongo to ruin.

Drugs couldn't have done that!

Drugs laced with arsenic destroy the brain very quickly.

Are you implying that Otoyo did it on purpose?

But why would she do such a thing?

It doesn't seem like it was for money.

She lived with Hongo for two years before coming to Onomichi.

Mr. Oishi, I am very impressed. I didn't expect you to be a detective!

Why are you so impressed?

I thought detectives were a scary kind of people.

So, I don't look scary to you? Maybe it's because you're into me.

You may be experienced, but you've never had an affair with a detective.

If you truly love me, I wouldn't mind sleeping with you.

But I don't like affairs.

That's a shame! Affairs are easier, no commitment involved.

Should a detective promote such reckless morals?

Off duty, detectives should be treated like normal people.

Why are you single, then?

- My wife left me. - Stop lying.

It's true!

She got tired of being poor, had an affair, and left.

I'm starting to feel a bit confused. I think I might be falling for you.

Well, I'm glad to hear that.

Are you from a peasant family?

You guessed it! I'm the third son of a farmer.

A poor farmer's son who became a detective.

Rich kids don't become detectives.

I guess that's how it is.

If a poor man's son commits a crime, the poor man's son will catch him.

Let's go to Mikasa Island, where Hongo is from.

We might learn something about Otoyo.

ONEJIMA ISLAND

MIKASA ISLAND

Hongo left the island ten years ago.

His wife took their two children and went back to her family in Kagoshima.

But you say he's in Kyoto now?

Why did he leave the island?

The fishing had been bad here for quite some time.

He had a nice 150 ton boat, but he had to sell it in the end.

Farming on the island is terrible, too. Pyrethrum crops aren't doing well.

The people here have nothing to eat. Everyone is slowly leaving.

There are only a few young people left now.

Hongo is currently living in Kyoto with a woman named Toyo Matsuki.

What? With Otoyo?

Do you know Otoyo?

You do, don't you?

- Who are you people? - There's no need to be suspicious.

Otoyo is from this village, right?

It's been 10 years already.

She abandoned her son when she left. That's all I know.

Her son, you say?

If you want to know more, go to the town hall and ask.

That's Otoyo's son.

When that child was two, his father died in a shipwreck.

Otoyo left the island when he was five, and went to find work on the mainland.

She had one rice field and two vegetable plots.

She gave them to the town and arranged for her son to be fed from the land tax.

Then, she left the island.

Was there some reason she had to leave the island?

Nobody wants to stay in a poor place like this.

- I heard she went to Hiroshima. - Hiroshima?

That's just a rumor I heard. I don't know if it's true or not.

I still can't believe that she would leave behind a disabled child.

If you have a dumb son like him, you can't make a living anywhere.

Well, I showed you her son. My business is done now.

I'm going back to the town hall.

HIROSHIMA

ATOMIC BOMB DOME

I heard they were hiring an office lady at the shipyard, so I invited her.

When it comes to Michiko, you really get worked up.

I love women very much.

What would happen if there were no women in the world? It'd be terrifying.

- Why don't you get married, then? - Don't get personal with me.

Yes, sir...

- What about you? - I also love women.

Do you feel anything when you see her?

I get a good, pure feeling.

You're such a pansy! When I see a woman like her,

I'm reminded that I'm a man, and I struggle with my instincts.

Young guys like you are letting old men like Nakanishi take advantage.

Today, look at her as if she was your new bride.

Thank you for getting in touch with me.

You're welcome. This is the Mukojima shipyard.

I know the hiring manager very well.

He's a big drinker!

You have no parents?

No.

Why does she need parents? She's the one who'll be working!

- Do you have any siblings or relatives? - What is this, an interrogation?

I'll be her guarantor, if needed.

Yes, Mr. Oishi, if you could do that...

She'll be able to live in the company dormitory, right?

Well, she would need to be a full-time employee first.

She can't commute from Onejima Island!

You'll need a dormitory.

We'll get her another guarantor. Hey, you become her guarantor, too.

I must say, I didn't expect it to go this smoothly.

- I'm truly very thankful. - Ah, I'm glad it worked out.

Well, I believe she worked for us for about a year.

And, during that time, she married a man named Tsuchida?

Well, they weren't married, just living together.

Why did she quit?

What's with all the questions? What are you actually investigating?

Otoyo was murdered on the 7th of last month.

What? She was murdered?

Do you know where Tsuchida is now?

Tsuchida? I heard he's in a psychiatric hospital now.

This is Yoshizo Tsuchida.

His brain was destroyed by drugs.

Do you know where he's from?

He's from Mikasa Island, across from Onomichi.

No one ever comes to visit him.

If you truly love me, I wouldn't mind sleeping with you.

But I don't like affairs.

Otoyo left the island and went to Hiroshima, then to Kyoto.

In June of 1960, that is, 10 years ago,

she lived in a makeshift house by the river, known as the "Atomic Bomb Tenement".

Otoyo lived in these slums.

From here, she'd go to work at a bar in the Nagarekawa district.

Next door, there was a 70-year-old Korean man who kept pigs.

He said he often saw Otoyo sitting by the window,

only wearing a chemise, relaxing in the cool breeze.

Tsuchida was first seen about six months

after Otoyo started living there.

Tsuchida worked at a sawmill.

About six months after Tsuchida started coming there,

the windows were suddenly closed shut.

After that, those windows were never opened again.

Now, the hut is used as storage for a junkyard.

Tsuchida in Hiroshima, Hongo in Kyoto...

It's strange that they both come from Mikasa Island.

Yes, hello?

What do you want? He's busy now.

It's urgent?

Can you answer the phone?

Who is it? If it's for me, say I'm not here.

Oishi, you shouldn't lie about your whereabouts.

What's wrong? You haven't been around lately.

I've been busy lately. It feels like I need two of me to keep up.

I can imagine. You were in love with Otoyo, weren't you?

What do you want? I'm hanging up.

Don't be so quick to hang up.

I just called to offer my help.

After closing the bar on the night of July 7th,

I was invited by a customer to go for a drive to Mihara.

There was a nude party at the Hamano Dancing Dragon Festival.

Don't tell the police, okay?

Don't be silly! Hurry up, it's hot in here!

Where did you see Otoyo?

Don't rush me, now. I might mess my testimony up.

I got back around 2 AM.

After dropping off the customer, I came back to Kihara Beach.

Then, I really had to pee.

- What does peeing have to do with Otoyo? - Well, that's the thing...

- You're sure it was the night of the 7th? - Yes, I'm positive.

If you don't believe me, go to Mihara and ask them when the nude party was.

What kind of man was with her?

He seemed young, but I couldn't get a clear look.

At first, I thought it might've been you.

Don't be ridiculous, you idiot!

20 MINUTES LATER

Find out where Otoyo drank. Bars in Mihara and Itozaki.

Small eateries and pubs. Check them all!

5 HOURS LATER

No one has seen Otoyo.

We checked all bars, diners, food carts, and liquor stores.

Are you sure Otoyo was drunk and leaning on the man?

I was there and Otoyo passed right by me. I'm certain of it.

Let's try playing it out. Hey, Bando!

Oh, why do we need Mr. Bando? I'd rather do it with you.

This isn't the time for jokes.

- It's as if she's dead. - Dead?

Otoyo was dead!

Otoyo was buried over there.

Hey, hold on.

Are you the one bringing food to him?

I'm renting that kid's field.

In exchange for rent, I feed him three meals a day.

That's the arrangement made by the town office.

Chief!

There's a visitor.

Ah, it's you.

I moved into the dormitory yesterday.

I see, that's good.

- Please, share this with everyone. - You didn't need to do that.

Thank you for all your help.

- I'll make some tea. - No, I have to head to work now.

- I'm starting today. - Really?

- Well, take care. - Thank you.

Good luck.

Thank you.

She's starting work today, and brought this as a thank you.

Quiet down now!

I said, quiet!

Let go! What the hell are you doing?

The room is filled with a refreshing feeling.

You're starting to understand a woman's heart.

- Did you stay up late? - Yes, I stayed here.

Yesterday, just in case, I went to Itozaki and Mihara again.

But no one there had seen Otoyo.

On my way home, I stopped by the old piss spot.

I heard that a missing boat from Onejima was found washed up on that beach.

A missing boat?

The boat's owner followed the tide's flow and searched around Mihara and Itozaki.

He finally found it there.

The old man was furious!

He accused the people who live there of being thieves.

But the locals were angry and denied any involvement.

We had to step in and mediate.

When was the boat stolen?

The dispute about the boat happened on the beach below.

It was the morning of July 8th when I noticed the boat was missing.

It must've been stolen on the evening of July 7th, right?

Don't ask such obvious questions!

If I noticed it on the 8th, when else would it've been stolen?

Well, of course.

After searching for a long time, I just gave up.

Whoever did this must be a real lowlife!

Was that rope already in the boat?

Sure, it was already in there. It wouldn't have been worth stealing.

The murder took place on this island.

There were marks from a rope on her ankle.

Why the rope?

To keep the body out of sight.

So the blood gets washed away in the sea.

So there's no evidence left on the boat.

That's the best way to carry a body from the island to the mainland.

When Mari saw her, Otoyo was definitely dead.

Why go through the trouble of bringing the body all the way here?

Why not hide it on the island?

- There was a reason not to. - What reason?

To hide that he was from the island.

The criminal tried to leave the evidence as far from the crime scene as possible.

That was his reasoning.

- So, the crime happened on Onejima... - I can't say for sure...

But it is obvious that the criminal has some connection with Onejima Island.

He deliberately brought the body through this fast-moving strait.

Then, he carefully dressed it and buried it.

It wasn't a robbery or a crime of passion.

I heard that Otoyo had a relationship with Nakanishi.

People saw them entering and leaving Onomichi Hotel.

Nakanishi came to Onomichi and opened a real estate agency 7 years ago.

Before that, he was a fisherman on Mikasa Island, with three boats of his own.

Tsuchida in Hiroshima, Hongo in Kyoto...

Nakanishi and Otoyo...

They're all from Mikasa Island.

We need to put pressure on him.

Yes, that's good.

He's currently hospitalized.

I heard that he's at Seiwa Hospital in Mihara.

SEIWA HOSPITAL

I don't know if the person you're looking for is the same as our Mr. Nakanishi.

We have a Mr. Nakanishi here, but visits are not allowed.

- Why not? - He's in very poor condition.

We aren't allowing anyone to visit him.

What's his diagnosis?

I cannot disclose that information.

Why not?

Both the patient and his family have instructed us not to inform anyone.

We have a reason to investigate. Are you trying to obstruct us?

The patient needs to rest right now.

He might be on the verge of being ruined by drugs, like Tsuchida and Hongo.

That must be it. That's why the head doctor won't let anyone see him.

Let's investigate Michiko.

- Michiko Goto? - Yes, that's right.

That night, Otoyo was supposed to take Michiko to Nakanishi's place.

However, Michiko vanished.

On the night of the 7th, she had a solid alibi.

She may not be directly involved, but there could be an indirect link.

If Michiko had gone with Otoyo to Nakanishi's place,

this incident might not have happened.

Hello?

Who was on the phone?

It wasn't Nakanishi.

While waiting for Michiko at the apartment, Nakanishi called, but Otoyo was out.

It couldn't have been Michiko.

Michiko, who ran out of the bar, wouldn't have made that call.

Who was it?

You heard that phone call, too.

Is Michiko Goto's house next door?

Yes, but ever since Yasaku passed away, she's kept the storm shutters closed.

What disease did he die of?

He fainted on the beach one day and could no longer speak after that.

He was bedridden for nearly a year before he passed away.

That must have made life hard for her.

Michiko took care of him all by herself.

She even worked at the canned food factory in Yurahama Village on the nearby island.

That factory is famous for its low wages!

Women there only earn about 10.000 yen a month.

That's not enough to care for a sick person.

With a bedridden father, where could she possibly go to earn a living?

Wasn't there anyone Michiko could marry to help support her?

She didn't have time for such romantic dreams.

She was barely managing to survive.

Why are you folks here, anyway?

Look at this beautiful view of the Seto Inland Sea, Bando.

The world-famous Seto Inland Sea.

That's Otoyo's Mikasa Island, and this is Michiko's Onejima Island.

Two island women. Two poor island women.

How could a murder happen in such a beautiful setting?

Because of poverty.

The beauty of this scenery made them poor.

The islands are beautiful because they're made of granite soil.

This soil can only grow wheat and potatoes.

When it rains, the soil erodes, and the fields wash into the sea.

This beautiful white soil is a symbol of infertility.

It's a symbol of poverty.

JAPAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Islands bathed in abundant sunlight!

Let us protect our beautiful Seto Inland Sea!

She left the company at 5:10 PM, and entered the dorm at 6:05 PM.

In that time, she didn't stop anywhere.

Since she is new to the company, she doesn't talk to anyone at work.

The dorm matron also says she doesn't go out.

I see, that makes sense.

Caring for a bedridden patient for a year...

With an income of 10.000 yen a month, it just doesn't make sense.

Yes, she called the doctor from Mihara Hospital 5 or 6 times.

It must have cost money.

With a salary of around 10.000 yen, there's no way that would be possible.

I think we should watch Michiko Goto more closely.

What? She bought cigarettes?

She put them in her handbag and is now boarding the ferry.

Follow her! Make sure you see who she gives the cigarettes to.

- Are you here for work? - Yes.

What? She noticed you? You idiots!

Hiroshi Hori? I think he's 25 years old.

He's a temporary worker now.

Due to good performance, he'll likely switch to full-time next month.

- When did he start working here? - About a year ago, I guess.

He used to be a longline fisherman,

but the fishing went bad, so he switched careers.

He's a diligent young man with perfect attendance.

That being said, he did take leave in March due to an injury.

An injury?

He fell from some scaffolding and broke his ankle.

He was in the public hospital from March 2 to April 15.

That's a month and a half...

He stayed in the hospital for four days after getting his discharge clearance.

He couldn't leave without the 54.000 yen needed to pay the hospital bill.

It seems that he struggled to come up with that amount.

Did Michiko Goto visit him?

No, no one came to visit him during his stay.

- What's his reputation like? - It's good.

He doesn't drink or party.

He's a hard-working young man, rare these days.

And yet, such a hard-working man didn't have 54.000 yen in savings?

Maybe he was sending money to Michiko?

Bring them both here. Meanwhile, let's search his room.

You've been hiding something important.

I haven't hidden anything from you.

You forgot to mention one small thing, though.

- What would that be? - That you have a male friend.

- I don't have anyone like that. - I'm your guarantor!

I don't regret vouching for you.

But I don't like being deceived.

You bought cigarettes at the pier, didn't you?

I wanted to try them.

- Do you smoke regularly? - I just felt like trying one.

- And did you like it? - No, I didn't end up smoking any.

You borrowed 70.000 yen from Otoyo in April, right?

- What did you use the money for? - For living expenses.

The time you needed money the most was when your father died last November.

Yet, you never borrowed money.

Why borrow money five months later, then?

- Because I had debts to repay. - To whom did you repay them?

I intended to, but I ended up using most of it myself.

- What for? - Living expenses.

I thought that even I deserve to enjoy good food occasionally.

I want you to meet someone.

- Isn't he your friend? - I don't know him.

You bought cigarettes for him, right?

I've never seen that man before.

- Michiko Goto from Onejima? - I don't know anyone by that name.

- Where were you the night of July 7th? - In my apartment.

- Were you alone? - Yes.

- When did you go to sleep? - 10 o'clock.

- Where did you eat that evening? - In my apartment.

But don't you usually eat at Nakahama Diner by the pier?

That night, I cooked at home.

- And what was the dish? - What dish?

- For dinner! - I don't remember.

You don't remember what you had for dinner,

but you clearly recall being alone and going to bed at 10?

Why is that the only thing you remember?

It's because you prepared that answer in case we asked, right?

Where is Michiko? Who are you to Michiko?

Where did you get the 54.000 yen to pay your hospital bill?

- I already had it. - In savings?

No, I had it in cash.

You had 54.000 yen in cash? Are you that wealthy?

Michiko borrowed that money from Otoyo, for your sake,

to help you pay your hospital bill.

As I said earlier, I don't know anyone named Michiko Goto.

Hey, I can see it on your face! You're hiding something!

We searched every corner of Hori's apartment,

but there's nothing that could be used as evidence.

I see, he's not the type to leave evidence behind.

Hori had no direct motive for killing Otoyo.

It was Michiko who borrowed the money.

That money was used to pay Hori's hospital bills.

Hori tried to save Michiko, who had fallen into a difficult situation...

- They claim to know nothing… - They're lying!

They're connected! We'll investigate Hori!

Hiroshi is my son.

Has it been three years already? Since he gave up on being a fisherman.

The fishermen in the Seto Inland Sea are all out of work now.

When they shut down the salt fields, factories kept popping up.

The waste from the factories flowed into the sea.

And all the fish along the coast died because of it.

Well, just look at how things are. You can see for yourself.

Did Hiroshi do something?

No, don't worry, we're just making inquiries.

Since I'm bedridden, my wife works in my place.

She works at one of the enemy's factories.

The factory that took fish from our hands now gives us money in return.

That's how we manage to survive.

What's wrong with you, mister?

During the war, I worked on the Poison Gas Island out in the sea.

The poison affected me, and now my whole body is numb.

Poison Gas Island?

That's where the Ministry of Welfare has their National Holiday Village.

Everyone who worked on that island ends up like me when they get older.

Don't tell Hiroshi that I'm dying here.

He has a bright future ahead of him.

I don't want him to worry about me.

They say that knowing someone else's misfortune brings your own.

POISON GAS ISLAND

How rude! I didn't help anyone escape.

No, it could be considered helping.

Two hours ago, I realized Mr. Nakanishi was missing from his room.

So, I contacted you immediately.

- Have you informed his family? - Of course I did.

His wife is in the next room now.

Oh, Madam...

Madam, later... Stay there, please.

Nakanishi is a drug addict, right?

His condition is severe.

He's not in a state to go outside alone.

The police need to find him quickly!

Did Nakanishi go to Mikasa Island?

He has nowhere else to go but there.

All people die eventually.

Whether you're a fool or smart, it's the same thing.

Whether you hate or love each other, arguing doesn't change anything...

It's pointless!

Otoyo left the island, abandoning her son.

Tsuchida from Hiroshima, Hongo from Kyoto, Nakanishi from Onomichi...

Otoyo was chasing after the men from Mikasa Island.

Moreover, all those men have turned into wrecks.

The men and women from that island...

Chief!

Let me see the village chief.

Let me see the village chief.

Let me talk to him!

Hey! Did the drugs wear off?

Speak!

You know why Otoyo had to leave the island and abandon her son...

Speak!

Hey!

Otoyo was the one who taught you how to use drugs.

She taught you in bed.

Now you've realized Otoyo's plan, haven't you?

- Hey! - Otoyo...

This has nothing to do with Otoyo!

Tsuchida had his life ruined by drugs. He's in a mental hospital in Hiroshima.

Tsuchida?!

Hongo went mad and died in Osaka. He went crazy and died.

Hongo?

Both Tsuchida and Hongo were connected to Otoyo.

Did you make love to Otoyo, too?

No! I never did anything...

You were involved with Otoyo and she forced you to take drugs!

Mr. Oishi!

Tell me! What happened on this island?

Tsuchida, Hongo, and you... What happened to the three of you?

I'll strangle you!

It's over there… Over there…

What happened there?

There's a reef at the tip of that cape.

It's a place where ships often lose their way and get stranded.

What about the stranded ships?

Otoyo! Wait!

Hey... Just wait!

Yasuo is going to die. Are you trying to kill him?

No one will sail away from here tonight.

If I don't take him to a doctor in Onomichi, he'll die.

Tonight, no one can leave this island!

I won't tell anyone! Even if I'm tortured, I won't tell anyone.

This is the law of the island!

On the night of a shipwreck, no one can leave the island.

This law has been in place for a thousand years. Wait till morning!

If we wait until morning, the child will die!

- Where do you think you're going?! - I'm going to call a doctor!

The next day, Otoyo took a boat,

and went to the hospital in Onomichi, but it was too late.

By the third day, Otoyo's husband, Shinsuke,

was found washed up on the shore as a drowned corpse.

Otoyo didn't say a word.

She wouldn't let go of the child, whose brain was damaged by fever.

Every day, she went to the shore and stood there in a daze.

A baby violently bursts through their mother's vagina to get out...

The mother, while enduring an excruciating pain worse than death,

can bear it because she, too, emerges together with the child.

She bursts out through her vagina together with the baby, still alive.

Hey, Otoyo, you filthy night-crawling piss-pot!

What the hell are you doing here?

- You son of a bitch! - How dare you?!

You bastard!

Son of a bitch!

Come here, you stupid kid!

You little shit!

Son of a bitch!

- Who's there? - It's me!

Oh my, it's the village chief.

I came to talk to you.

Well, come on in.

What on earth is on your mind?

Recently, this small village has been in turmoil.

Everyone is fighting because of you.

Even cats in heat wouldn't behave like this.

What happened to you? You used to be so sensible.

It's not like I invited anyone.

The male cats just sneak around here at night, you know.

Otoyo, if you stay on this island, the unity of the village will break.

Why would it break?

Otoyo, I'm sorry, but I need you to leave the island.

- Okay? - Village chief!

What are you doing?

Village chief, come on.

- Come on in. - Stop! No, don't!

Hold on...

Then what happened to Otoyo?

She left… She left the island.

After many years, I met Otoyo again in Onomichi.

This is a stimulant.

If you take this, you'll feel really good.

I'll take it, too, so you should try it.

I swallowed the powder and lost my head over Otoyo...

From then on, every time I met Otoyo, she would offer me that powder.

That powder turned me into what I am now!

- Did Otoyo keep taking it, too? - She did, she did.

Otoyo must have taken a placebo.

No, she took it too!

Every time we were together, she always took the same powder.

Otoyo was trying to completely destroy me...

She pushed Michiko onto me.

She likely thought that Michiko could handle it when she no longer could.

She planned to tear me and my family apart completely.

It's all lies!

This man has gone completely mad.

Village chief, help me!

It's not just my fault!

You're sick. You've lost your mind!

Otoyo's ghost has possessed me!

Otoyo was promiscuous from a young age.

After her husband died, she started acting crazy and chasing after men.

Eventually, she couldn't stay on this island and had to leave.

We took care of her son because of the tradition we have on this island.

The people of this island have always helped each other, since ancient times.

If you break a tradition, you will be cursed.

And this man is proof of that.

Hongo, Tsuchida, and even Otoyo, too.

That night, your village's traditions turned a woman's life to ruin.

The people of this island caused it, when they killed the shipwreck survivors.

Detective, what are you saying?

Do you seriously believe the ramblings of a drug addict?

This fool's mind is already rotting!

Otoyo took the drugs herself, just to make this man fall apart.

Everything he just said... It's all true, Chief.

I believed every word.

But no one will believe the words of a drug addict.

You think Otoyo was ruined by the drugs, too?

I saw no signs of that...

Did Otoyo risk her life to seek revenge?

That's right. Ruined by drugs, she planned to use Michiko next.

Chief, who killed Otoyo?

That's the question. Why did Hori kill Otoyo?

Is he the one you saw carrying Otoyo?

He looks similar, but not quite the same. I just don't know!

- Going to work? - Yes.

- I need to ask you something. - I need to catch that boat, or I'll be late.

Then, let's talk on the boat.

It seems that Hori is also on this boat.

- I didn't notice. - He's on the other side.

This sea has become polluted.

What?

The town can't develop without polluting the sea, it seems.

You met Hori when you worked at the island's canning factory, didn't you?

No, I don't know him.

A child fell into the sea!

Mr. Oishi!

Hori!

If you could jump into that fast-moving sea to save a child,

then you should have been able to find a better solution than killing Otoyo.

You worked on the fishing boat Hotokumaru.

By chance, you went to the canned food factory at Yurahama on Onejima Island.

Then, you left fishing and worked at the Mukojima shipyard.

If nothing had happened, you two would have likely married happily.

However, Michiko's father had a stroke, and misfortune piled up.

You were seriously injured, and hospitalized for a month.

Caring for her sick father, she received money from you every month.

You couldn't cover the hospital fees, so Michiko borrowed from Otoyo.

However, you didn't repay it.

Otoyo tried to use the debt to make Michiko into Nakanishi's mistress.

That night, Michiko ran out of Otoyo's bar to meet you.

No, we didn't meet. I don't know her...

I'll try talking to her. I'll ask Otoyo for you.

It'll be fine. She'll let us have more time if we explain it to her.

We have to do it quickly. I'll call her right away.

What will you do now?

I'll stay at a friend's apartment tonight.

You tried to call Otoyo to settle things.

I don't know anyone named Otoyo.

Who are you?

I'm an acquaintance.

I'm her friend.

I see. So, you're Michiko's lover?

It was you who taught her to steal, right?

You must have taken Otoyo to the island. Why was that?

Michiko didn't return to the island. She stayed at her friend's apartment.

Why did you take Otoyo to the island, then?

I need to see Michiko. Take me to her.

If you don't, I'll go to the police.

I gave her 150.000 yen!

This is fraud. You two scammed me.

You conspired together to deceive me.

You stole my 150.000 yen!

The last boat to Onejima Island leaves at 8:50.

You were on that boat with Otoyo.

Otoyo pressured you to take her to Michiko's house.

Michiko was in Onomichi. Yet, you took Otoyo to Onejima Island.

What were you planning?

Wait...

Is this really the way to Michiko's house?

You deceived me again, didn't you?

Where is Michiko?

I spent the money that Michiko took from you.

I'll make sure to pay it back.

I'll pay you back from my salary, if you'll just wait a bit longer.

What are you talking about?

I didn't lend it to you.

I'll pay you back in monthly installments of 10.000 yen.

Please!

I've already given given Michiko a 70.000 yen advance on her rent,

plus the 150.000 yen from Nakanishi.

How many years would it take to pay that back at 10.000 yen a month?

I have 100.000 yen here. Michiko said to give it back.

Here's the 100.000 yen. I borrowed 50.000 yen myself.

I promise to repay the rest.

I'll repay the 70.000 and 150.000 yen. I promise to pay the 220.000 yen back.

Please, change the debt from Michiko's name to mine. I'll pay any interest.

- I beg you! - You're going to kill me...

- I beg you! - Ah, you...

- I beg you! - You murderer!

Please!

You killed Otoyo!

You couldn't hide the body on an unfamiliar island.

If you threw it into the sea, it would just wash up on shore.

You took her back to Onomichi and buried her in the tangerine grove.

I didn't give you any money!

You didn't kill her!

You never knew Otoyo!

Don't move!

Sit down!

Hey!

Are you trying to deceive me?

Are you?!

I was definitely in my apartment that night.

The sea was calm that night, wasn't it?

I didn't do it.

I didn't kill anyone. I was in my apartment.

Show me the evidence.

Show me the evidence that I did it.

- Well? - At the pier's ticket office,

they sold 11 tickets for the last boat to Onejima Island.

But they don't remember anyone's faces.

The crew from the Onemaru was all busy unloading the final shipment,

so they don't know if anyone who looked like Hori or Otoyo got off.

Unbelievable... That dog was still in the vacant Iso Chidori building!

That dog?

That dog ran away from a dog killer and took refuge. Otoyo helped it.

I didn't find it then because it was in the attic.

I crawled around, but found nothing.

While it was barking at me, this came out from under the register.

"Mikasa Island Village Office, Hatsugoro Okazaki."

This is the letter Otoyo was going to send to the village chief.

A 10.000 yen bill?

"Why can't I return to the island?"

"No matter how poor the island is,"

"even if there is no one who will welcome me,"

"I will return to the island, and live with my child."

"I want to live with my son, who has become feeble-minded,"

"because he wasn't taken to the doctor on time that night."

"I want to build a new house"

"in a place where the islanders will see it every day, whether they like it or not."

"I want to live with my child."

"I'm sending 10.000 yen."

"Just a little more, and it will be 5 million."

The 200.000 yen that Otoyo received from Nakanishi...

She hasn't saved it or hidden it anywhere in her house.

She must have given it to Michiko.

I'm not sure if it was the full 200.000 yen, but it was probably a similar amount.

Part of the money went towards Hori's hospital bill.

But they still have the rest of the money. They don't appear to have spent it.

That means that it must be hidden somewhere.

I assume that Hori was the one who hid it.

So, you're going to tell Hori that this is one of those bills?

That's right.

But some of it was used to pay his hospital bills, so we can't prove...

That's fine. They'll probably think that we're just jumping to conclusions.

But eventually they'll start to worry, and then our plan will pay off.

I see.

Hori will know that the money couldn't have turned up on its own.

He'll think that a third party must have found the location.

Then, he'll go to see if it's still there.

You think so?

- Would he really go? - Of course. He's too naive not to.

Nakanishi is a very cautious man.

When he gave that money to Otoyo,

he kept track of the serial numbers to make sure she gave it to you.

This banknote is the seventh on the list.

Nakanishi gave you 200.000 yen, using Otoyo as the messenger.

The remaining 19 bills will likely be discovered soon.

You said there's no evidence, right?

Tracing this 10.000 yen bill will lead us straight to the culprit.

Next time, I'll come to you with evidence.

That's enough. You can go home.

We police play dirty, don't we?

Hey, don't be trying to help people.

As long as you're trying to be happy, that's enough.

Anyone who tries to help others is an arrogant fool who'll get burned for it.

I'll give myself to you.

Take me.

Who could've found that money?

There's no way they could've found that money.

That's right. The detective is deceiving us.

That's right, it's all a lie.

Otoyo received 200.000 yen.

She gave you 150.000, right?

You should throw it away now. Then, there will be no evidence left.

If I go to the island now, I will be arrested.

If we stay here, we'll be arrested anyway.

I don't care what happens. Let's stay here together. It's all over.

I'll go with you.

Let's go to the island on the first ferry tomorrow morning.

If they ask me, I'll just say that I'm going home.

That's it, I can use that to distract them.

Let's go.

Okay?

Okay?

- They've boarded the ferry. - Got it. Let's follow them.

They'll notice the police boat, so let's take a fishing boat.

While it stops at Mikasa Island, we'll head to Onejima.

Hori!

Do you intend to die?

I've seen plenty of dead bodies.

But I've never actually seen someone die.

Go ahead and show me! Jump, if you've got the guts!

I will wait for you...

Don't follow him!

We'll need you later as a witness.

I don't want to put you in handcuffs.

Otoyo wasn't killed by anyone.

The island killed her. You need to leave this island.

You must not walk the same path as Otoyo.

But I...

I was born on this island.

I will not leave this island.

Mi-chan, you came back?

Did something happen?

Why are you crying?

Sit down!

THE END Subtitles by: kagetsuhisoka Revision by: Jingi Minami Subs