Original subtitles

TOEI FILMS

KENKA KARATE KYOKUSHINKEN (KARATE BULLFIGHTER)

SCREENPLAY BY NORIFUMI SUZUKI AND NOBUAKI NAKAJIMA

MUSIC COMPOSED BY SHUNSUKE KIKUCHI

STARRING...

SHINICHI "SONNY" CHIBA...

YUMI TAKIGAWA MIKIO NARITA

BAITATSU OYAMA

DIRECTED BY KAZUHIKO YAMAGUCHI

KYOTO, 1949

No. 27, No. 29...

The ancient city close to the Japanese heart had survived the Pacific War.

It was here at Maruyama Public Hall...

that Japan's first karate championship tournament was held since the war.

Chairman Nakasone, head of Senbukan Gymnasium, sponsored it.

Though the Occupation Army has banned martial arts,

48 karate experts were chosen.

They came from as far as Hokkaido in the north and Kyushu in the south.

They had hidden their ambitions to gain the coveted championship.

Next.

Gondo, 2nd grade.

Iwaki, 3rd grade.

Nanba, 5th grade.

Hayashida, 3rd grade.

Get ready!

Start!

No. 23 left three layers unbroken.

The other three broke all layers. Pass.

Who are you?

Oyama, 2nd grade.

How many?

This high is good.

17 layers.

He broke 17 layers.

Who is he?

Do you know?

He came to us early this morning.

There was room for one more so we let him participate.

2nd phase: As a rule, one must directly attack opponent's body...

...but must stop short of opponent's hands and feet.

Direct injury to hands or feet is a foul and leads to disqualification.

Start.

One point.

He's good, and incredible speed!

But his karate has no dignity.

One point.

The finals.

Start!

- Senior! - Senior!

Senior!

Are you okay?

Chairman...

Oyama fouled, didn't he? So, he's disqualified.

No. Nanba fouled.

You must not let that man win. Re-match.

Re-match. Start!

One point!

NATIONAL JAPAN KARATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Nanba's time is over. Now, it's your turn.

You can improve your skill in my gym.

But you must improve your mind and your dignity as well.

Modern karate is not a weapon, but a decent sport.

Do you understand?

Oyama, it's good for you. Come to our gym.

Will you listen to my opinion on karate training?

Go on.

Modern karate has lost its strength.

The reason lies in its training method...

as breaking tiles and boards is a different animal than real men.

You want to have a death-match?

That's not it.

To hit and kick with all one's strength,

I want you to allow us to wear protection.

That is the way to save karate from being a dance.

Karate... a dance?!

As like today's match, we are distanced from the opponent...

...by just a few inches, and if we keep away,

how can we tell if our opponents will not shift to win?

You, you criticize today's game!?

I was too kind to think I could tame a beast.

I was wrong.

Get out of here!

Master!

Master Oyama!

Master! My name is Shogo Ariake.

I love karate...

and I want to learn real karate.

Please let me be your disciple.

There is no master other than you.

Stand up!

Please!

I am not good enough to have disciples.

No! As your trophy proves it, you are the best in Japan.

The best in Japan?

This trophy?!

This trophy proves nothing but a dance.

I'm not the best at karate for a dance.

This...

...this was the only the answer to three years of training?!

KIYOSUMI MOUNTAIN IN CHIBA

Karate needs nothing but fists

And neither money nor honor is sought

The only dream is that

His fists can plow his way

From the time of harvest

His justice is decided

OYAMA CRITICIZES MODERN KARATE AS A DANCE

OYAMA IS KARATE FIGHTING, ARGUES CHAIRMAN NAKASONE

WAS OYAMA ISOLATED?

What were those three years for?

Rickshaw Driver! Please wait!

Yes.

Good evening, Mr. Rickshaw Driver.

- Good Evening. - Good Evening.

Yeah, thank you very much...

A Yankee!

- Thank you very much. - Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Who are you?!

Get out of our way, you young punk.

Hey, it is better if you don't get in the way.

Or you'll have to die before us and go to heaven.

What do you want? You jerk!

Fuck off!

Come on!

What are you doing?!

What are you doing?

It's you!

What are you going to do?

My buddies didn't die in the war to make you a prostitute!

You're wrong!

No! I trained alone for three years!

No!

I was a virgin.

I'm an interpreter. Girls who speak English aren't always prostitutes.

Your buddies were killed in action.

But you're alive, aren't you?

My father also died in the war.

He was an English literature scholar.

And speaking two languages was enough to suspect him as a spy.

He died in prison.

I studied the English that killed my father.

And gratefully worked for the Americans.

But what is so wrong about that?

I am so sorry!

Oyama, you will be put to death.

But you're the karate champion.

Fight with him.

If you win, you'll go free.

He's a boxer. He's even killed three men.

His nickname is "The Executioner." You understand?

"The Executioner" versus you, the one sentenced to death.

You may not live, huh?

It's ready. Please eat something.

Thank you. You're very kind.

So, I now know not that you're not made of rock.

The answer is that I beat him because I hadn't eaten anything.

But you fought well.

That's why I won.

Hunger makes men strong.

An empty stomach?

And it's the biggest enemy.

Oyama!

You have a visitor.

- A visitor? - Yes.

I could not get even a cat to visit you before. And now, so many visitors.

I'll be going.

Chiyako, I want to talk.

Well, as for me...

Get out of here!

What is it?

Well...

I want to marry you.

Please wait!

I did not do that because I hate America.

Then, why?

Because I wanted you.

I cannot forgive those who trample on my heart.

I'm sorry.

Trample?

Master! Master Oyama!

We met in Kyoto...

I'm Shogo Ariake.

I want to be your disciple, so I came here.

Don't be stupid.

As you see, I'm poor.

I'll never leave you.

Please!

Not like that.

Don't keep your fist away from me.

Yes!

Hit me hard!

Come on!

Come on, come on...

What was that?

- Wow! - What?! What was that?

A jumping kick.

Fool! It's ten years early for that!

That's all for today.

I'm so glad.

What are you talking about?

I thought you might have fallen for that woman.

I love her, but I love karate more.

I will train you hard.

Only real men can follow me.

Can you follow me?

Speak up.

Just grunting is not an answer. Say yes or no.

Are you mute?

Thank you!

Chiyako!

Oyama!

Chiyako!

Master? We haven't finished yet.

Hello, Oyama.

Please wait a minute. Let's begin.

Danger! A bull is running wild!

Danger!

A bull!

A bull?

- Let's run! - Master!

It's dangerous!

Hey! Hey! Where's the bull?

Over there!

My child! My child!

Oh no!

Master...

Stop it! Make him stop!

Oh, my God!

You're okay!

OYAMA KILLS MAD BULL WITH BARE HANDS

OYAMA BATTLES WITH MAD BULL

Oyama uses karate to battle with a mad bull, huh?

It was a trick.

What do you mean?

He must have weakened the bull beforehand.

For example, he gave it some anesthetic? Or gave it no food?

I see. It was staged then.

That's so cheap.

Oyama karate doesn't mean a thing!

Wait!

Hey, Ariake!

You're a disciple of evil karate.

Shut up!

You insulted my teacher! Apologize!

Knock it off!

I'll show you what real karate is about.

Come on!

Ariake, stop! Cut it out!

Ouch!

You jerk! You jerk!

POLICE STATION

I came to take Ariake home.

Oyama...

...you can't take him home.

He's a serious criminal.

What?

He broke out of jail.

He escaped?

Come with me.

You've given a sword to a madman. Look!

MASTER, WE'RE THROUGH

He wrote it in his own blood.

Oyama, you taught karate to such a violent person,

and your responsibility is very serious.

You gave birth to one who imitates whatever you do.

What happened to his opponents?

The Senbu men aren't to blame, but the victims.

Chairman Nakasone is a great man. He trains policemen.

He teaches them dignity.

Chairman Nakasone, I came to apologize.

I take responsibility for everything that Ariake did.

Please forgive me.

It is not only in your case that

there are men learning karate who are so violent.

How are the men who were injured?

They've all been hospitalized!

They weren't weak, but...

we had strictly forbidden them to fight in the streets.

I know.

You will pay the hospital expenses, won't you?

I wish I could, but...

You've got no money, huh?

We'll have to settle this matter somehow.

You won't ever come to this gym again.

Why the look?

A violent pupil and a poor teacher!

Could he really kill a bull?

Get ready!

Wait!

What do you want?

I want a fight!

What?

A fight?

Your teacher just came to apologize.

You, too?

I'm through with him.

He kicked you out?

I waked out on him.

He's too good-natured to survive in this world.

You want to join us again?

I'll see if you're good enough for me.

I'll test you to see if you're good enough.

How impudent!

Okay, we'll start your test.

But the police want you first.

Damn it!

- Ariake, don't run! - Halt!

Ariake!

Ariake!

Give up!

You jerk!

I did it! I did it!

Ariake!

Ariake, stop it! No!

Master! I did it... I did it!

Ariake!

Hey, Ariake!

Master!

Was my jump kick okay?

Oyama, he couldn't be helped.

His hands and feet were dangerous weapons.

Weapons?!

These hands?!

Then aren't your guns weapons?

Aren't they?

Welcome, sir.

Welcome.

You're always so charming.

Master's here.

Master, thanks for coming.

This is my valued guest. Please take care of him well.

Yes, boss.

Look, I'm a rich man now.

I entirely own this eight-story building.

You are welcome to join me anytime as an executive.

What are you doing?

- Bring me a beer. - Yes, sir.

Master, please let me get it.

What the heck is going on?

Everyone shut up!

Where's Gen?

You're Nishina of the Chizakura, huh?

Are you Gen?

I was just released from prison today.

You seem to be doing all right.

I'll take over your business from here.

What?! You jerk!

Master, help!

It's your cabaret or your life!

You fools!

What'd you say?

Who are you? You punk?

Can't you let me drink in peace?

You fool!

Don't fool me!

I slipped.

Wait!

- Big brother! - Big brother!

He's dead!

I killed a man... with my hands.

Did I train to kill?

Can't karate be anything else besides a weapon?

Did I cause Ariake to die miserably?

Oyama, it was self-defense...

You killed an evil man.

He was a notorious killer.

Murderer!

- What are you doing? - Let go...

Damn you! Give me back my husband!

It was self-defense.

Self-defense!

Maybe he was a no-good mafia crook,

but he was the only father to my child!

When he was released,

I thought we'd finally be together, the three of us.

Give me back my daddy!

Forgive me!

Forgive me!

Cut off my hands!

Nonsense! How would that bring back this boy's father?

Forgive me!

I'll never practice karate again.

You're going to start a new life.

Me, too.

I'm leaving home tomorrow.

I'll bring my things and live with you. Okay?

Good night!

Good morning, old guy.

Old guy? And who are you?

Is Oyama still asleep?

- He already went out. - That's okay.

Hey, you're acting like his wife. Hey, wait...

Hello?

FORGIVE ME

Oyama!

Are you all right?

Please forgive me.

What did you come here for?

I came to help you.

Please let me help you.

No! You can't cheat me!

Go home!

Go home! Go home!

Please...

Go home!

The lonely shadow of a man

Goes the way of karate

The world may laugh at me

Still I have a dream to cherish

Someday like the beautiful flower That tries to bloom

That one bright morning

When I win against myself

Suffering from solitude

The road I travel as a man

The bitter tears wet my hands

Still I have no regrets

Some day a peaceful time will come

When I win against myself On that one bright morning

Who is it?

Nanba!

I came to challenge you.

He's serious...

He's different from the dance he danced before...

Oyama! Don't lose! Beat him!

Use your hands! Use karate!

What's the matter, Oyama?!

Oyama! Use karate!

I don't know what happened, but if you don't use karate, there is no meaning.

I'll wait until you're ready to fight again.

Oyama!

Oyama, why didn't you use karate?

NISHINA FAMILY

Oyama, you still want to use karate, don't you?

It's in your eyes.

No, Yuichi.

Oyama, you have a visitor.

- This way. - Thank you.

I've been waiting a year for you.

You had written: "Forgive me."

I have been living in your apartment.

And you're compensated in full.

No, I don't think I'll ever be forgiven.

Did you really quit karate?

KARATE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT: IS OYAMA HIDING?

The tournament's the day after tomorrow.

Please, let me be alone for a little while.

Please...

- This is for you. - Thank you.

Oyama...

...the young lady who came this afternoon was crying.

We've been compensated enough.

Please go back to Tokyo.

We can live off the field you cultivated.

You kept your word, so...

...please accept our request.

You must keep on practicing karate.

Mrs. Nishina...

We don't want Yuichi to miss you too much.

Now, please go back before the rain gets worse.

Mrs. Nishina...

thank you so much for taking care of me.

Oyama! Oyama!

Oyama... you must win!

- I'll see you again, Yuichi? - Yes.

Goodbye.

- Oyama! - Yuichi!

Who are you?

They call me Kenki, a messenger from hell!

You're good!

Now I know why Nakasone hired me.

Nakasone!

I want to see Nakasone!

You!

I have come back from hell.

He's not in. Go home!

There is no place for you here!

I'll be waiting at the river today at three o'clock.

If he doesn't come,

I will challenge him in the championship tournament.

CHALLENGE

Sixty men are standing guard.

He's late.

He is way late past the promised time.

He challenged us, but maybe he has suddenly grown timid.

No. He will come.

Today is our last chance to kill him.

Nakasone!

It's Chinese T'ai Chi Chuan...

Well done, Oyama.

But you I can't let you live.

My eyes, legs and arms cry out to kill you.

Oyama...

I tried hard to deny it...

...but I realized that you embody true karate.

Oyama!

Oyama!

Oyama!

THE END