Original subtitles

My name is Yuji Nishimoto.

I was killed out of revenge.

The body was found at 6:45 this morning.

It was called in by an elderly man in the neighborhood.

He discovered it while on his morning walk.

Have you identified the body yet?

Not yet.

Anything else?

He had no possessions on him, so we haven't been able to look him up yet.

He was found in such a busy area, yet no family or friends have identified him.

From out of town perhaps?

Or they have a specific reason for not coming out.

His clothes don't seem to be the right size.

You're right.

-Thanks for waiting. -Sure.

Who's that?

The man who first discovered the body.

-You're the one who called this in? -Yes, I'm Fujisaki.

Can you give me a detailed account of what you saw?

Certainly.

I was out taking a walk when I discovered it here in this plaza.

The time was 6:44 a.m.

You seem to recall the time very clearly.

Yes, I verified the time.

At 6:45, I contacted the police.

That's not much time between discovering it and contacting the police.

-Did you immediately realize he was dead? -Yes.

I could tell by the color of his face.

Did you touch the body?

No, I did not.

Soon after I contacted you guys, I gathered the neighborhood council

to make sure people didn't come near the body.

I figured it would be best to try to keep the crime scene clear.

It would be best if people didn't see that horrific sight.

Oh, by the way.

I'm the president of the neighborhood council.

As such, I'll do whatever I can to help for the sake of the neighborhood.

The criminal may still be here,

so I will ask the residents if they've seen anything.

Anything I can help with?

The medical examination is complete.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Based on my findings, he was murdered.

It seems likely he was killed anywhere from 9 to 12 hours ago.

He died due to severe blood loss from multiple stab wounds.

The most severe wound is to a main artery in the chest. In other words...

he was stabbed in the heart.

In that case, there should have been a lot of blood.

Yes, and it would have all come out at once.

Did you find any blood around here?

No, not yet.

So he may have been killed somewhere else, put in new clothes and brought here.

It seems he was also hit by a blunt object as he has internal bleeding.

So my guess is that the killer hit him, knocked him out and then killed him.

They went to a lot of trouble to kill him. Someone had a serious grudge.

Any questions?

-Can I ask you to check his face? -What?

His face.

There's something else.

He's had reconstructive surgery.

Where do people go when they die?

I got involved in a case and ended up being shot in the head.

The bullet traveled halfway through my skull

and I miraculously survived with it lodged against my basilar artery.

But...

the operation to extract the bullet would be high risk.

So for now, I'm stuck with this bullet in my head.

As a result...

I...

can talk with dead people.

How did you know to check?

Something about his face

seemed off to me.

That was a really advanced procedure.

Most people wouldn't have noticed.

You're just mad you didn't notice it first.

You don't get to be violent just cause you're a girl.

What are you two, school children?

Since we know he's had work done, it'll be easier to find out his identity.

Yeah, think about that!

Don't be obnoxious.

-Let's get back to the station. -Okay.

Who are you?

What's your name?

Why did you change your face?

Please find a man named Yasuo Shimamura.

That's the man who killed me.

MURDER IN THE TOWN OF YUMENOOKA

What can I do for you?

I'd like some information on one of your residents.

Is it related to the incident this morning?

No, I just wanted to check something.

Who would you like to know about?

Oh, but couldn't I get in trouble for releasing personal information?

No, you're not breaking any laws, so it's fine.

Oh, is that right?

-Who would you like to know about? -Mr. Yasuo Shimamura.

Mr. Shimamura doesn't live here any longer.

Is that right?

So this has something to do with Mr. Shimamura's incident, doesn't it?

What do you mean by "Mr. Shimamura's incident"?

Are you able to tell me?

Five years ago, there was an incident in this apartment complex.

Mr. Shimamura's wife and child were murdered.

The murderer was their next-door neighbor, a high school student.

So then...

it was that incident with the minor who was taking drugs.

That's right.

He claimed it was because of the drugs and got off with a slap on the wrist.

Mr. Shimamura couldn't stand to live here after that and moved shortly after.

I see.

Thank you for your cooperation.

It would be good if the one who was killed was that kid.

I mean, isn't it odd he never got in trouble for it?

Could you ever forgive the killer?

I can't think about any of that right now.

I am merely existing.

The emptiness and loneliness I am facing from the loss of my family...

is overwhelming.

YUMENOOKA MOTHER-CHILD MURDER

Why didn't you tell me about this?

I thought if I told you, I wouldn't get a fair investigation.

You also probably think I deserved to die, right?

It's true that I...

did something unforgivable.

Even though I only did drugs that one time,

I ended up killing people.

And the punishment I received...

probably wasn't enough.

But society ended up punishing me equally.

My face and address were posted all over the internet.

I was constantly receiving death threats and having to move.

So you changed your appearance.

But...

it was all for nothing.

He still managed to track me down and kill me.

If he killed me,

then it means we've both committed the same crime.

So it's not fair if he doesn't get punished for it either.

Do you know where you were killed?

No, I don't.

Oh, I didn't realize you were in here.

-Are you looking for something? -Yes, there's been a development.

We got a hit on the victim's fingerprints, and we've confirmed his identity.

-Do we have the address of the husband? -Yes.

-Then let's move quickly. Ishikawa, come. -Yes, sir.

We've had some witnesses come in.

They say they saw someone suspicious around the plaza this morning.

I believe it was around 6:20 a.m.

From my window I could see a man whose face was hidden behind a baseball cap.

The man wandered around the plaza a bit

and then got into a dark-colored van parked nearby.

Can you remember what he looked like or what he was wearing?

He must have been around 5'9".

He couldn't have been shorter than 5'9".

He looked athletic and was wearing a khaki jacket.

He wore a khaki jacket

and black pants.

...a khaki jacket and black pants.

May I have a moment?

I'd like to speak with Mr. Fujisaki for a minute.

Please go on without me.

What is it?

Did you already know the victim was the killer from the incident five years ago?

Is that right?

But he looked different.

He changed his appearance with cosmetic surgery.

Even if you change your appearance, you can't wash away your sins.

Did you know Mr. Shimamura and his family?

Yes.

We lived in the same apartment complex.

They truly seemed like a happy family.

And the killer?

I had seen him around.

Even before the incident,

people were saying it was just a matter of time until he snapped.

He had a really bad family life

and we occasionally saw erratic outbursts.

But...

everyone turned a blind eye to it.

Probably they were all afraid of getting too involved with him.

It's a little pathetic, actually.

If only we, as adults, had put our foot down a bit more with him,

perhaps that incident could have been avoided.

One of the guys from earlier,

was one of his teachers.

After the incident,

he retired from teaching all together.

Anyway, what I'm saying is many people in the town were hurt from that incident.

Now that the killer has been properly punished,

I think everyone's hearts will be a bit more at ease.

You think someone did this as a sort of punishment?

Although we may be wrong, that's how all of us see it.

Thank you for your time.

Everyone in that place hated me.

I don't know what they told you,

but don't believe a word of it.

He doesn't exactly fit the description of a 5'9" athletic-type.

Excuse me.

What do you want from me?

I wasn't happy to hear he was murdered.

There was a time I hated him and wanted to kill him.

So I don't blame you for suspecting me.

But, please trust me at least when I say this.

Ever since that day and up until now,

no matter what bad things happen, I've tried my best to move forward.

Every single day, no matter what.

I would not want to undo all that hard work.

Absolutely not.

Is the investigation not going well?

It's not that.

We've identified the victim

and witnesses have come forward with a description of the suspect.

It's amazing how quickly everything has fallen into place.

So why the long face?

I don't like cases like this.

Even when it's resolved, no one is happy.

Don't you think you're getting too emotionally involved?

Maybe it's because of the bullet in your head.

Maybe you're right.

Up until a little while ago, things just seemed so straightforward.

There were criminals and we brought them in.

And that was fine as it was.

But things are different now.

The more I see, the more complicated things become.

At times...

I don't even know which is the way forward.

It says here

that there is evidence of abuse from childhood on his body.

Traces of cigarette burns on him and of sexual abuse.

And cuts all over his back.

I suppose it's not surprising he'd turn to drugs.

That's still no excuse to kill people.

I realize that.

But you know, violence is like a never-ending chain.

People who have been hurt

turn to hurting others in order to forget their own pain.

And then those people will find others to hurt.

And the chain continues on endlessly.

Don't you find it sad?

But breaking that chain of sorrow,

that's your job, isn't it?

So, it's simple.

Do your best.

Yes, next?

Well, although we searched the victim's residence,

we couldn't find anything directly related to the incident.

And one more thing,

we found something which may have been related to the murder.

The victim was compiling a book.

He seemed ready to publish, as the manuscript was undergoing final edits.

Tomorrow, we will visit the publishing company

and speak with whoever was in charge of this project.

That's all.

Before coming to us, he went to a lot of big-name publishers,

but he was turned away.

He said they wouldn't even look at it.

When were you planning on publishing this?

The end of next month.

If you read it, you'd see nothing in it is too scandalous.

It was more about him looking back on and self-reflecting on his crime.

Was the crime scene revisited or were people related to the incident contacted?

There was nothing like that.

But Nishimoto was a bit worried publishing a book wouldn't sit well with the victims.

He said that before publishing the book,

he wanted to write Mr. Shimamura a letter.

-Did he send it? -No, of course not.

He asked me to help track down Mr. Shimamura's new address,

but I nixed that.

After talking it through, I convinced him to give up on that idea.

No matter what he said,

everyone would have assumed he was just publishing it for the money.

What is it?

Go on ahead, I need to use the bathroom.

Well, hurry it up.

Did you send that letter to Shimamura?

I did find it strange how all this came about five years after the incident.

But if you sent him a letter, that would explain it.

I was scared.

If you were scared, then why do it?

Do you have any idea how many jobs I was fired from?

No matter how hard I worked, about three months into the job

someone would eventually recognize me.

They'd turn me in and I had to start all over again.

I didn't look all that different, even after the surgery.

The only available option left to me

was to find a job I could do all on my own.

Didn't you think sending that letter might rekindle everything?

I just wanted to be forgiven.

I didn't want to live the rest of my life in fear.

So, what do you need us to look up?

-Family register. -Which bureau?

Midorikawa.

Are you the one heading the Yumenooka investigation?

Yeah.

Everyone online is having a field day over it.

The words everyone is throwing around are "revenge" and "justice".

The killer is being hailed as a hero.

What do you think?

Real heroes don't take the lives of others.

Found it.

Who are you looking for?

Please look up the file for Kaori and Yasuo Shimamura.

Okay.

FAMILY REGISTER SEARCH SHIMAMURA

I can go back even further if you like.

That's enough.

Thank you.

This town is still young, the history doesn't even go back 50 years.

And in that time, I've seen everything that's happened to it.

I love this town.

Whatever bad things happen to it,

I can never bring myself to leave.

How do you feel about this incident?

It's like I said before,

no matter who did it, or what their motive,

justice has been served.

Perhaps I shouldn't ask you this, but...

if you knew who the killer was would you turn them in?

No, I don't think I would.

Is that right?

Do you have something you wish to ask me?

No.

It's nothing.

I see.

Well then, good night.

Good night.

You're working late tonight.

It never ceases to amaze me how dedicated officers of the law are.

You're not being very accommodating.

Here you are.

How's that for accommodating?

We can skip the small talk.

I need someone who's keeping an eye and an ear on things.

I'm not an employment agency, you know.

But you specialize in information, so you must have someone.

That seems logical.

Are you just playing around or do you really not know anyone?

That's my least favorite phrase.

"Not knowing."

Eyes and ears, huh? So you need me to find you a mole?

He's quite well-known around these parts.

He goes by the name of "Handyman Suzuki".

Oh, yeah.

Go ahead and give it to him.

Do you think it's a good idea to get involved with him?

He doesn't seem like a normal police officer.

My, aren't you foolish.

That's exactly why I will work with him.

Thank you for your cooperation the other day.

Just one last thing I wanted to confirm, may I have a moment of your time?

Yes, what is it?

We received another report from a resident

but it's quite different from your rendition.

The report states that the suspect is slim with glasses and around 5'5" in height.

Are you sure you don't wish to revise your testimony?

No.

I told you everything I saw.

Is that right?

I see.

Sorry to have disturbed you.

Hello?

It's me.

The police officer just came here.

He said they received a different testimony.

Yes.

Yes.

Hi, this is Suzuki.

We caught them hook, line and sinker.

They will meet tonight so I'll make the preparations.

I did a little digging and everyone is a part of the neighborhood council.

He's the youth councilor, he's head of welfare,

he works in child services, and he leads the fire department.

They are the city elites.

And the boss has arrived.

There's nothing to worry about.

The police don't suspect a thing.

Do you really think so?

The young officer is just following a hunch.

Everything is going as planned.

The only problem I see

is us gathering here tonight over unfounded worries.

You went along with the plan because you trusted me, right?

So then...

please trust in me till the end.

None of us were forced into going along with your plan.

So we are all prepared for whatever happens.

Thank you.

But put your minds at ease.

What you're worried about won't happen.

With that said, let's not linger here. Let's get back home.

It's in God's hands now.

Looks like our battle is with that old guy.

What do you want to do?

Want me to tap their houses and give them another warning?

No.

We have enough.

What is it?

That night...

the night I was murdered, I feel like I saw red flowers.

It's just now coming back to me.

What is this about?

You killed Yuji Nishimoto, didn't you?

What grounds do you have to make that claim?

The woman, Kaori, who was killed, I researched her maiden name.

It's the same as yours. Fujisaki.

No relation?

My niece.

She was such a cute child.

I never imagined I would lose her so early.

Why did you keep that quiet?

I didn't think it was related to this incident.

And it's difficult for me to recall the past.

Is that your only basis for accusing me?

In that case, I'm finished talking. I'm leaving.

Please wait a moment.

The curtains in this room...

they seem quite new.

And what of it?

Do you know when they were replaced?

I wouldn't know something like that.

The chemical Luminol...

Perhaps you've heard of it before?

When you spray it on something, a chemical reaction occurs.

Excuse me, but...

would you please turn off the light?

I'd appreciate your cooperation.

I thought I had cleaned it all up afterwards.

What was your reason for killing him?

After he had left this town, occasionally I would get in touch with Shimamura.

As time went on,

Shimamura slowly started to sound happier.

I was happy for him.

But...

one month ago,

Shimamura called me up, crying.

It was about a book set to be published.

It was as if all the sadness he had worked to suppress was going to burst out.

That's what he told me.

I couldn't take it anymore.

What he did was unforgivable.

And I knew that book should never be published.

And that's when

I came up with a plan to murder him.

I swear upon it...

Shimamura never knew of my plan.

How did you kill Nishimoto?

I searched online and figured out where he was living.

He was easy to find.

That guy... he was trying to run from his past,

using any means necessary, including changing his appearance.

He's the worst kind of coward.

Did you do it alone?

Yes.

None of us were forced into going along with your plan.

So we are all prepared for whatever happens.

I had no intention of getting them involved.

They noticed I was acting strange and asked me about it.

And I ended up telling them about the plan.

All of them...

they somehow felt responsible for what happened five years ago.

Once they found out about the plan they wanted to help.

They didn't want me to commit the crime all on my own

and they offered to help.

Looking back on it now,

I'm not even sure myself how I was able to commit such a heartless act.

But...

no matter what, I had to do it.

Why didn't you move the body to another location?

If you had done that...

perhaps neither you nor Shimamura would have been seen as suspects.

I wanted to show everyone in that apartment complex,

everyone in that town,

that in the end, everyone will pay for their sins.

I wanted his death to signify

that the last five years of fear brought on from the incident was over.

That's why it had to happen, regardless of the threat it posed to me.

You're right, the fear brought on by it five years ago had probably faded.

But...

you reignited that fear again in everyone's hearts.

Children probably will not run or play in that plaza any longer.

And when night falls,

residents will look to the shadows in the plaza with fear.

You shouldn't have stayed in this town.

You should have moved somewhere far away

where you wouldn't reignite hatred and anger in people.

You...

always suspected me from the start.

Why is that?

From the moment I first spoke with you in the plaza,

when you spoke about the corpse,

you called it a "horrific sight."

But from the outside, there was nothing horrific about the corpse.

The only person

who would know that Nishimoto was horrifically stabbed through the heart

would be the killer himself.

It's funny, isn't it.

I tried to hide how hideous it was by changing his clothes

but ended up revealing my crime instead.

I was hoping you...

would confess to it on your own.

I have one request.

I will admit to the crime without a fuss

but in exchange,

can you please say that I acted alone?

After all, that guy deserved to die.

I had to take a stand.

Can't you understand the way we felt?

Please!

Don't ever say that...

someone deserves to die.

Hey.

Fujisaki is saying you wire tapped him.

Is that true?

No, it isn't.

Is that so?

In my time here,

I've seen officers resort to illegal means in order to solve a case.

People like that don't last.

One day, they go too far over the line

and they can't come back from that.

Don't end up like that.

Right. I'll keep that in mind.

I don't see the point in doing this.

No matter how many times you push them down, they'll keep coming back.

So how long do we have to keep doing this?

Forever.

Until all the bloodstains in this world

are wiped clean.

Subtitle translation by Emily Johnson

-We found a body with a warning on it. -Don't move the body!

They may be targeting the police.

Another body with a tag on it was found!

Better hurry, it'll go off soon.

You have to think about this.

What's so amazing about killing people?