Original subtitles

During the Edo period, ukiyo-e prints were highly popular among townspeople.

Portraits of Kabuki actors were particularly in demand, as were portraits of beauties

like town girls, geisha, and courtesans.

Then, a mysterious ukiyo-e artist named Toshusai Sharaku appeared.

His portraits of Kabuki actors made a powerful impression on viewers.

Sharaku designed a hundred prints in ten months.

and then suddenly disappeared...

The world of suffering?

That's a total misunderstanding.

I never thought of myself as pitiful.

Of course,

I didn't get my own way in everything.

But somehow it seems natural

that things turned out like this.

In the end,

I guess I'm a woman who likes "to give."

Hey, I don't like your ugly leers!

How dare you!

I don't know. How should I know?

He was a god-like figure for the likes of me. Wasn't he?

Truth be told,

he's not the kind of person you'd get to worship in a lifetime.

Even to you officers

and all the people of Edo?

He's a mystery to everyone?

I'm dumbstruck by my own ignorance.

Proof?

That I killed him?

The ukiyo-e print is proof.

The one that's stirring up such a fuss.

I had the drawing of that print.

I did.

A cheap prostitute like me shouldn't own such a thing.

Isn't that right?

It's the last portrait of a Kabuki actor by the Great Master Sharaku.

One look made me want it for myself.

That's why I took his life.

The life of Master Toshusai Sharaku.

Here, take a look.

This is proof that I killed Sharaku!

Autumn, 1794

Shibashinmei Shrine

Takenoya House in Azabu

Sharaku's Residence

Your name's Yoshino?

Arrived yesterday?

The more I hear of your story, the more pitiful you seem.

You're attractive and very young.

Don't stay in this business for long.

End up like me, and you're as good as dead.

Well, maybe that's overkill.

But you'd reach the first "d" in "dead."

I know!

You can escape tonight in secret.

There's no time like the present.

Don't be shy. I'll help you.

Miyagino! Come here, Miyagino!

COMMISSIONED PORTRAITS CAST LIST OF KABUKI ACTORS

ICHIKAWA KOMAZO III AS SHIGA DAISHICHI

What a mole's hole.

Aye, I am very sorry.

So, you're working on Komazo as Shiga Daishichi.

That's it, huh?

Has the publisher arrived?

None of your business.

Yes, sir. I'm sorry.

Kayo!

Kayo!

Where are you?

How annoying.

It grates on my nerves.

They found a corpse in the moat this morning.

When a prostitute dies, the wind always rises.

The madam at the Matsunoya House is having a rough time,

what with her top earner Umegae dying all of a sudden.

Umegae must have been betrayed by her lover.

Or else the senior prostitutes must have driven her out.

Get some other girl to listen to this drivel.

As for advice on how to escape, leave that to me.

Yoshino's not the one who's leaving.

Miyagino, you're the one.

Tomorrow is likely to be windy again.

What kind of a joke is that?

Cut it out.

You think you're being compassionate,

but Yoshino has no home to go back to.

Miyagino.

Do you know what the younger girls call you behind your back?

No idea.

A worn-out, pipe-puffing hooker.

Is it because my customers get addicted to me?

They really don't like you interfering in their lives.

That's a good one.

Take a look at Komazo's prominent nose.

Isn't that quite an artistic feat?

Even I am deeply impressed with my own work.

People may get excited about how much an ukiyo-e looks like the actor.

I don't care about such crude comments.

What I want to portray is the truth of the actor, no,

of the human being under the makeup,

the truth buried in his human nature.

Yes, I am the most taken aback.

In the beginning, my brush strokes were not fluid,

but nowadays, my brush takes over

and creates masterpieces.

You are what you are, thanks to my spirited brushes.

No, no. That fellow's portraits are no good.

His work doesn't have a drop of venom.

He paints what's black, black, and white, white.

When he asks for my critical opinion as his master, I am at a loss for words.

We're not kids playing house, you know.

Yataro, are you leaving now?

Yes, miss.

Please raise your face.

Yes, miss.

Please come again tomorrow.

Yes, miss. Thank you.

Hey.

What's the word for it?

You know, like this morning.

I always get like that when I come across you unexpectedly.

That wasn't unexpected.

I was waiting in ambush for you.

I love to see your natural face without any makeup on.

Dazzled! That's it. That's the word.

Don't shout like that!

Sorry. Whenever I see you, I'm dazzled.

That's what I wanted to say.

My heart is full of thoughts of you.

Like a boiling iron kettle,

my heart goes clink, clink, clink...

Making a clear bell-like sound, it keeps ringing.

Clink, clink, clink.

Oh sorry.

I really bow down in respect to you, Yata.

From sunrise to sunset, you study ukiyo-e.

You really have brain power, don't you?

You became the great master's disciple

because he recognized your artistic abilities.

Master Toshusai Sharaku, was that his name?

He must be very demanding, a great master like that.

I don't know.

I'm just doing exactly what the sarcastic old man says

blindly copying ukiyo-e all day long.

Still that's a big deal, you know.

True. The master's work was fabulous.

The human soul danced in them.

But now...

Yata, you've stopped drinking.

Gulp it all down.

I'm following your example and learning how to play the shamisen.

Practice is best to clear your mind, don't you think?

A shamisen. Come on, bring in a shamisen!

Wait a second!

All right, let's make a drunken deal.

If you can play this, I'll paint a portrait of you.

Yata, you're so mean.

Stop fussing and get on with it.

Come on, drink up. You're hopeless.

Come on, drink more.

What the heck are you doing so early in the morning?

If you're looking for the money, here it is.

There weren't many customers last night.

You didn't take any, did you?

These are the better ones. That's about it.

Wait a second. If you take those, I won't be able to work, you know.

I beg you, please Madam.

You paid for your customer and drank through the night.

You can treat your lover if you want.

But remember you're running up a huge debt.

I'll take lots of customers tonight.

I'll pay off the debt and make some change.

Fantastic.

You can buy yourself new kimono with the cash.

You bloodsucking monster!

It's me, Kayo.

I brought you some tea.

Is it alright if I come in?

Yes.

Please.

Come inside.

Here you are.

Oh, thank you very much.

Uh, where is the master?

He has gone out.

Could you show me?

Some of your ukiyo-e?

It's a silly sketch.

I painted that kind of ukiyo-e until I came here.

It's a beauty portrait.

I had nothing going for me.

If the master hadn't discovered me,

I would have starved to death by now.

This is the first time

you've shared anything about yourself.

So this is what your portraits are really like.

Yes, miss.

They're all of the same woman.

Just scribbles, you see.

This is harmful.

Exerting yourself in a dark place all the time.

It's bad for your health.

Hello.

Excuse me, is the head clerk here?

Shinobu...

How have you been?

You look thinner than the last time I saw you.

Sorry.

Here, take this.

There's more cash than last time.

You said you had a lot of expenses working at a fancy samurai residence.

I see, you've risen in life, just like you said.

You don't want your big sister coming by dressed like this.

Oh, right. Sounds good.

I'll ask the head clerk at Shirokiya to pass this money on to you from now on.

I stink, she says.

It's not a matter of what part.

My whole body

and my whole heart stink.

Sorry to always bother you like this.

But did Shinobu leave a message?

For me.

Oh really? Well, that's OK.

As long as she is healthy and well.

How does it look?

Oh, it suits you very well.

I'm so glad you chose it for me.

Excuse me.

Yataro, close your eyes and count to ten.

You are "it."

You have to catch me.

Yes miss.

One...

two...

three...

four...

five...

six...

seven...

eight...

nine...

ten.

Okayo?

Okayo, where are you?

Okayo? Please wait for me!

Yataro...

You be "it" now.

You look like you've seen a ghost.

Come on mister, let's go to bed now.

Kayo's gone out.

Prepare the sake.

You were covered in dust

and looked like a beggar.

When the publisher first brought you to this residence.

Yes sir.

Now look at you.

You've reached the point where you can feed yourself.

Who's to thank for that?

It is all thanks to you, my master.

Listen up, you.

Don't ever flatter yourself that you're an ukiyo-e artist.

I took you in

not because I thought you had artistic skill,

but because you were so damn pitiful without any family to help you.

Yes, Master.

The most important thing about ukiyo-e is the soul.

Yes, sir.

Your drawings have soul.

But

it's my soul.

In other words,

you, sitting there,

are a soulless shell of a man.

Master?

Enough.

Get out of here!

"You're a slut."

I remember a long time ago a man scolded me like that.

He was a young, dashing samurai.

I was thinking of giving him my body and soul.

I picked up my courage to write him a letter.

My calligraphy is terrible.

But with a letter, you don't have to face the other's feelings directly.

"On the night of the full moon

please come to the single cedar tree at the edge of the village," like so.

He came, striding along like a migrant locust.

At the single cedar on the edge of the village

if you hold both hands with someone

and circle around and around

they say your wish will come true.

"Please, please on the night of the full moon

come to the cedar tree at the edge of the village."

NAKAYAMA TOMISABURO, FEMALE IMPERSONATOR AS MIYAGINO

Let me go. I'm in a hurry.

I tried to paint a portrait of you but I couldn't.

So I drew a Kabuki actor.

I can't accept it.

Jealous?

Of whom?

You met her here yesterday.

Give me a break.

If you don't want it, throw it away.

See ya.

Yata!

Were you waiting to ambush me today, too?

Don't be so full of yourself, Miyagino.

Clink, clink...

Clink, clink, clink, clink...

NAKAYAMA TOMISABURO, FEMALE IMPERSONATOR AS MIYAGINO

That's not why I asked you for the favor.

Master...

That kid has fallen badly in love.

Aren't you going to ask who it is?

You already know. Is that it?

You really got me.

What did you say to Okayo?

She wanted me to take your portrait to the publisher.

Not my copies.

But the genuine portrait you painted.

She lost both parents when she was very young.

I took a lot of trouble raising her.

Now that she's a grown woman

she's fallen badly for the likes of you.

That's not possible.

Then are you the one who's got the passion?

Is that it? Huh?

In the middle of the night, do you imagine her face and body?

You clutch the thin bedding and roll this way and that.

Is that it?

Master...

Please do not crack such horrible jokes.

This is a good opportunity.

I'll appraise your portrait.

Not my copy work

but your very own.

With my expert eyes,

I'll judge the state of your soul.

What are you doing?

Bring it here at once.

Yes, Master.

Miyagino, someone's here to see you.

So early?

It's not a customer.

Miyagino.

Hey, Miyagino.

Sorry, I'll be back right away.

What's going on? That's your lover, right?

His face is so pale he looks like he's had his spirit sucked out.

It's horrifying.

You sound like you've seen a ghost.

What I mean is, I don't want any trouble. Got it?

What's eating you up? Don't worry.

Miyagino.

I'm sorry, Yata.

Playing hide-and-seek, are you?

Come on out.

So?

Did something happen?

I see.

You must've killed someone.

We had a customer like that before.

He was so noisy.

As soon as he came in, he'd talk non-stop.

He didn't just drink,

he poured sake into himself.

All I had to do was nod and go along with him.

Ah-ha.

Tonight, I can do the opposite.

I'll talk my heart out

and drink to the full.

I...

I haven't killed anyone.

Do you think I have enough bravado to kill?

Those who aren't daring end up killing.

Those who have real daring

are able to hold back from killing.

Miyagino.

Did you look at the portrait I drew?

You don't have to.

After some time, you can sell it as Sharaku's work.

It'll bring you so much money, your eyes'll jump out of their sockets.

But this...

This is your own work, right?

It's a lump of my vomit.

That old man could never draw

such an elegant and vibrant masterpiece.

It's a soulless masterpiece of vomit.

The irony is too much even for me.

The soul of ukiyo-e is too difficult for me to understand.

Hey, Yata. Do you remember?

That snowy day when we first met?

You remember, don't you?

Oh, I see.

Of course, you'd forget.

I won't forget.

For the whole of my life.

That's true.

Yata.

Now it's my turn to save you.

What are you trying to say?

Miyagino.

I... heard from someone...

You...

You did him in.

That Master Sharaku!

Who told you?! No one should know.

Calm down. It was in the spur of the moment, right?

Answer me, Miyagino! Who told you?

Don't worry. No one knows besides me.

Yata?

Damnit, who cares!

The authorities will hear soon enough.

If they want to arrest me, they can go ahead.

Hey, Miyagino.

I envy you so much.

What's this all of a sudden?

Even when you're trodden on,

you sashay through life shamelessly. You have a natural power like weeds.

What! You're just making fun of me.

No, I'm not!

I'm really not.

Weeds are weaklings that don't have status or talent.

So, when those weeds suffer through rough winds and grow up strong,

that's an uncommon achievement.

You've achieved that, too, you see.

What have I lived my life for?

What have I taken up a paintbrush for?

Miyagino.

Share the secret of your resilience with me.

Do me a favor.

Strip for me.

If I painted a portrait of you again, maybe I'd become a better person.

Sure, I'll strip for you.

But my body has collapsed with age.

The old man's face keeps flashing across my mind.

His decline was disturbing to say the least.

Old man Sharaku was suspicious of Okayo and me being together.

Okayo is his granddaughter.

Of course, he was sodden drunk a lot of the time.

This is a good opportunity.

I'll appraise your portrait.

Not my copy work.

but your very own.

With my expert eye,

I'll judge the state of your soul.

What are you doing?

Bring it here at once.

Yes, Master.

Well, I haven't seen how you are,

but Kayo, I saw with my own eyes.

She had a hard pillow between her legs

and was wiggling her little hips,

crying out, "Yataro!"

Okayo is

a naive young person.

You may be right about her immaturity.

Kayo doesn't have hair growing where it should.

When I realized,

all my ten fingers were digging deep into the master's neck...

Men who talk dirty like that are the scum of the earth.

You really like her,

that Okayo girl.

Not really.

You don't need to lie.

Didn't I meet her at Shibashinmei yesterday?

Don't be suspicious.

It's not the kind of relationship you suspect.

Yata, your brush has stopped.

Oh, right.

Okayo likes you, too.

You see...

I heard from Okayo about your murder incident.

Okayo came here?

This is what she said.

"Am I an evil woman?

Grandfather was killed but

I can't help feeling sorry for Yataro.

He will come here for your help.

When he does, please let him escape.

I don't care what happens to me."

You know,

I was happy – no, thrilled

because you'd told her about me.

Where is Okayo?

Don't tell me...

She's with the master's soulless corpse?

Yata, your hand has stopped.

Okayo has gone to the publisher to discuss what to do.

She intends to say that Sharaku was strangled by a robber.

For someone so young, she is very clever.

Oh, by the way, Okayo said

that if possible, I should escape with you, Yata.

She said that you belong to Miyagino.

Isn't that amazing?

So, I said to her

that this was no joke.

Of course, I like Yata. I like him so much.

But however I may seem, I have guts.

So even if Yata leaves, I will be calm and serene and live on.

I'll hum a tune, sleep with a man I dislike and still enjoy myself, in fact.

But Okayo, you're different.

So, hurry on to the publisher.

When the sun sets completely, wait at the Shibashinmei precinct.

Your dear Yata is certain to meet you there.

She's a good person Okayo is...

Yata, it's true that you liked me.

But...

But that was because

a passionate young man could have a woman without paying.

You don't have family,

so, on dreary rainy nights,

you thought of me as your mom or big sister.

Isn't that right?

What's funny?

How did I fall for you?

Such a hopeless man.

Goddamnit!

I've spent endless days in a dim storage room drawing copies!

Then to marry an old prostitute

and end my days is too miserable!

Clink, clink, clink...

Yata, your brush has stopped.

It's over!

What are you doing?

Bring it here at once.

Yes, Master.

You bastard.

You think it's beneath you to do copy work for me.

And you trick Okayo into being on your side.

You don't have the courage to go public with your own work.

What an impressive failure.

You must be aware of the truth.

Thankfully, you are not stupid.

For a soulless fellow like you,

wherever you search, either body or mind,

your own work no longer lives in you.

Hey, what are you doing?!

What are you doing? That's mine.

I can't let you keep this, in case you change your mind.

Kayo's wishes may never be fulfilled!

"Please allow me to make a statement.

A man called Yataro, for various reasons, took this portrait

and visited me, Miyagino.

He is the man who killed Sharaku."

Like that!

I'm going now.

See ya, Miyagino.

Give it back. It's mine. This portrait is mine!

You'll understand one day why I want this portrait so much!

Yata and Okayo,

don't get burnt to death.

Ah, it's ringing, ringing.

When I pay full attention to that ringing sound,

I feel nobler than any princess and become proud.

I'm sorry. Forgive me, Miyagino.

You're impossible. Why do you care about me of all people?

Don't get all cocky, Yataro.

I'm the kind of woman who's just got "to give."

"Give" what?

Shall I confess?

Hey, what are you talking about?

You can leave whenever you want.

I don't know how long my confession will be.

On top of that, it's a bit insulting to you.

What is this about? You're worrying me.

When I was sold, Dad said,

"If we stay as we are, the whole family will starve to death.

But if you go into servitude, only you will suffer.

Based on the numbers, it's better you went."

Being told like that, I found it persuasive.

I have a strange kind of mindset.

Even so, Dad is kind of strange, too.

This spring, he dropped by after visiting Ise Shrine.

I hadn't seen him in over ten years.

He must've kept drinking that whole time, his voice was so hoarse.

He said, "If you'd thought more about my happiness,

you wouldn't have become a prostitute."

In other words,

if I hadn't joined this trade,

he would have had to grit his teeth and sweat it out working.

Then he wouldn't have become the lazy, wretched good-for-nothing he is now.

Enraged and reeking of drink, he beat and kicked me.

But even then, I thought...

Even that seemed persuasive. Right?

When my sister said she didn't like farm work or barley rice,

and wanted to live the good life in a palace,

wearing beautiful kimonos and eating lots of delicious foods...

What she said seemed persuasive, too.

So that's your secret?

Even a good story falls flat when it's told by the heroine.

You are too innocent, my darling princess!

It is strange after all.

I shouldn't share this with others.

Yata.

It's night already.

See ya.

Miyagino...

Stop it. I can't stand your tearful voice...

Sorry about that.

As this is the end, I have something to confess.

I didn't kill Sharaku on impulse.

I'm not that artless.

Listen!

As long as Sharaku is out of this world,

the money from selling my ukiyo-e as his will all come to me.

Or more accurately, to me and Okayo.

How's that?

Are you disgusted?

Tell Okayo,

that she'll surely be happy.

I'll say it again.

See ya.

How far are you going to side with the hopeless?

You are a strange one after all.

Alright, I'll say it again, too.

See ya.

What the hell!

Trashing me like that!

Seriously!

What the hell.

They plotted together

from the beginning.

Yataro is mine.

You have Yataro wrapped around your finger.

So he will certainly come here.

Please tell him to come to Shibashinmei Shrine.

What a foul and indecent room.

He's gone.

Yata didn't die.

He ran off alive.

Oh no, I hate it.

That ringing sound has started again.

And again.

Yoshino!

Go run an errand for me, will you!

I am so thankful to you, Master Choki.

I can earn a little more at the end.

I am in great debt to the madam,

though mostly because of my own liking "to give."

So, it can't be helped.

Oh, Master Choki, I didn't mean "giving" like that!

Then what do I like "to give?"

When was it that I got hooked on "giving?"

It was summer when I was seven.

That day, I was catching tadpoles

at the stream by the hills behind the village.

I was alone.

All of a sudden, heavy rain started.

The heavens suddenly cloud over.

A downpour is followed by wind and thunder.

Little children run hither and thither in fear.

The ground cracks open and the woods topple over.

Lightning flashes and

before my eyes

barbs of fire

crash down.

"Bodhisattvas, Shinto gods, and the sun god,

if you will save me,

whatever hard days may come,

from now to eternity,

I will never complain.

This is my prayer now and forever.

I beg you, I beg you," I prayed.

That said, the surroundings are overtaken

by surging flames and drifting rocks.

Magically, from the depths of this hell,

"Jump into the river!" a voice says.

A spray of water rises to meet me.

The whole area was bright red like a forest fire.

My legs trembled and I couldn't move.

Help!

Dear gods and buddhas, this is my prayer of a lifetime.

At that moment...

I don't remember where the voice came from.

Maybe it was from the sky

or maybe from the ground.

Anyway, I heard it.

"Little girl, jump into the river."

At once, a black bundle crashed into me.

It pushed me into the river—splash!

When I looked at the black bundle later,

I saw it was the burnt corpse of an old wood cutter.

At that moment, I made a promise.

"From now on, I must give back.

If someone is in danger of fire,

I must give my life for them.

That's what it means to be human..."

How stupid of me.

The promise I made when I was only seven

is still stuck deep in my heart.

The rain has stopped, it seems.

Come on, Miyagino! What's going on?

The police are here.

They said you called for them.

Sorry, sir.

It's time for farewell.

What have you been up to?

I told you I don't want any trouble!

It's a sad tale to listen to, Madam,

about a pipe-puffing hooker going up in smoke...

Miyagino, did you...

With my bird brain,

this was the best scheme I could come up with.

Step right up!

Here on display,

by the famous Great Master Toshusai Sharaku,

are his remaining portraits of Kabuki actors.

The great master was murdered by an old prostitute a while ago

and has gone with the winter wind.

Even his end is a big hit like the finale of a Kabuki play.

All hail Sharaku, star of the ukiyo-e world!

Don't lament his unbefitting fate.

This is your chance to buy his prints.

Come on, step right up!

I'll take a Miyagino print!

What?

They're selling many times more than usual?

In that case, it was a good idea to kill Sharaku.

Truth be told, I thought that portrait by Sharaku would fetch a good price

so I thought I'd snitch it, but he caught me.

Then, it so happens that he turned out to be a wild lech.

He promised to let me go if I undid my robe.

Well, to perform at his age is something to celebrate.

So, we got to it and untangled and tried again when...

I guess it was his age, he suddenly passed away.

Is it time now?

Already?

I feel strangely excited.

Every part of my body is tingling.

Clink... clink...

It's ringing, ringing...

Clink, clink, clink...

It's dangerous here.

Around this time of day at this moat, dead bodies rise to the surface.

When I die, my dead body won't rise up.

Sister, are you a ghost?

As I am now, I'm just living on borrowed time.

When that time ends, I'll disappear with the snow.

Sister, do you live around here?

Your life has no home, huh?

Hey, brother...

Have a good time with me.

Just a streetwalker, huh? Get lost.

Don't say such cruel things.

Here, eat this.

Go on.

Delicious.

Don't I smell?

Doesn't bother me.

Sniff much harder.

I was told...

It's not that a part of me stinks,

but my whole body and heart, the whole of me.

I can't tell because I stink, too.

What's your name?

Yataro.

Yataro.

And yours?

If you're on borrowed time, you won't have a name.

I have a birthplace.

Where?

Shiroishi in the Oshu district.

Like the tale of Shiraishi in Oshu...

How about Miyagino?

Miyagino?

She's a character in a famed Kabuki play that's played by a female impersonator.

It doesn't cost money to have a name.

It's no problem to have a name.

Miyagino.

You don't like it?

I do.

Summer 1795

One and all.

The case that has been in the news,

concerning the murder of Toshusai Sharaku,

is merely a rumor.

Sharaku himself, with his publisher, concocted this foolish ruse.

Now, Sharaku is born anew

and will publish his works again

for the pleasure of the general public.

Please laugh off this ruse as a bad joke

and continue to show your support

by purchasing a Sharaku print today!

Toshusai Sharaku's murder is a rumor.

It was all a bad joke.

To make something black look white

is quite an accomplishment coming from you.

Don't you think, Yataro?

Or shall I say, the new-born Great Master Sharaku.

What a gamble!

It couldn't have been you that dreamed it up.

It must have been the publisher's plot.

That big trickster raccoon.

For the public, Sharaku was a mystery.

No one will notice that his face has been replaced.

The border between origin and copy

disappeared long ago.

The very existence of Sharaku has become a bad joke.

Here, I'll give you a little something.

You cannot do better than that.

That was the grandest work in your Sharaku life.

Well, Sharaku...

That woman, who gave her life for you,

what on earth did she leave you?

In Sharaku's portraits of Kabuki actors there is one called "Miyagino,"

a role performed by female impersonator Nakayama Tomisaburo.

Miyagino – Mariya Tomoko

Yataro – Kataoka Ainosuke VI

Madam - Kiki Kirin

Okayo – Satsukawa Aimi

A Man like Toshusai Sharaku – Kunimura Jun

English translation - Mari Boyd

Subtitles - Aya Ogawa

Director - Yamazaki Tatsuji