Original subtitles

A Descendant of Urashima Taro

Yasutaro Yagi...writer

Cast

Susumu Fujita...Goro Urashima

Hideko Takamine...Akako Tatsuta

Nobuo Nakamura

Haruko Sugimura

Ken Mitsuda

Ichirô Sugai

Seiji Miyaguchi

Nobuyoshi Morita....producer

Original Music by Toshio Yamada

Cinematography by Kazuo Yamasaki

Production Design by Teruaki Abe

Michio Okazaki....sound recordist

Eiji Tsuburaya....special photographic effects

Ko Fujibayashi.... lighting technician

Directed by Mikio Naruse

Announcer Now, as part of our broadcasts of the voices of the people,

Urashima Goro, who has recently been repatriated from a

South Seas Island.

Mr. Urashima, please.

I'm Urashima Goro.

I won't say much,

but this is my cry: "Ha ha oh".

This is my yell. "Ha ha oh".

This is not verse. It's words. In my own words this means "I'm unhappy."

During the war, I was washed up on an uncharted isle.

I spent 16 months on that island. What I saw there was this.

I saw the islanders have a meeting.

Around sunset, the islanders gathered in a certain spot and yelled.

When they were happy, they cried like this:

When they were unhappy, they did it like this:

That really says it all in a nutshell.

You think he's for real?

It makes my heart grieve to say this, but Japanese reality is grim.

It's so grim, I can't be happy. That's why I yell like this.

That isn't only my cry, it's a cry for the people of Japan.

Isn't he interesting?

Yes.

A democratic Japan. A happy Japan.

Until we build a Japan that's like that, I'll continue to yell.

Hello.

Hello.

Anything worth big headlines today?

Newspaper reporters have to use their heads more.

Pretty face, empty head. Listen to this.

What is that?

The sound of a guy with worries. You should meet him.

He's worth big headlines. I can guarantee you that.

The voice of those islanders became my shout.

When it becomes the cry of 100, of a 1,000, of 10,000, of 100,000,

of a million, when Japan becomes a true democracy,

then this cry will become a cry of happiness.

To achieve this happiness,

and so Japan can become a true democracy,

I'll continue my yelling. All of you listening can give a yell, too.

All of you listening can give a yell, too.

For the democratic rebirth of Japan!

Where does he live? Homeless? Address unknown?

Thank you.

Good looks, empty head. Well, I'm going to find him.

Are you Mr. Urashima?

Yes.

How do you do?

How do you do?

Who are you?

I'm a reporter for the Daiken Shinpo. My name is Takaki Akako.

Would you let us write about you and your experiences in faraway lands?

That was all lies. Stuff I made up. Just daydreams.

What? !

Looking at the state of Japan these days, I couldn't help but yell like that.

So was that yell fake, too?

Yes.

I was there in the studio with him.

He was crying when he was yelling. Crying.

I don't want to think of that as just a fraud.

Are you a descendant of Urashima Taro

You must be joking.

For one thing, I don't think that Urashima had any children.

Remember, as soon as he opened the box he brought back

from under the sea he turned into an old man.

What do you think of Japanese politics these days?

That's why I yelled like that "Ha Ha oh."

What is politics anyway? Can it turn rocks into bread?

Don't you want to yell some more? You could yell from on high.

What do you mean? Where?

From the top of the Diet building?

The Diet?

Are you telling me to become a member of the Diet?

A member of the Diet?

Forget it.

It'd be better to line up a bunch of pumpkins and yell at them

than to try to get something across to a bunch of corrupt politicians.

You could yell above their heads.

Above them?

Somewhere where you could yell directly to the people,

over the heads of the politicians.

Where's that?

From the top of the tower of the Diet building.

The top of the tower of the Diet Building...

For two or three days.

Give it your best. Ha ha oh.

Ha ha oh with all my heart.

I'll be cheering you on. I'm a newspaper reporter..

Do it Urashima.

Fight today's wrongs and give us down here a taste of heaven.

Burn those blackbird's wings. Try it.

Give it a try.

That's right Mr. Urashima. Your yell will be the yell of a million people.

Hey cut it out!

Get down!

Leave me alone. Go away!

"Descendant of Urashima Taro Yells from Diet Roof "

"What Sort of Person is Urashima?"

"Urashima Begins Third Day on Tower"

"Urashima the Focus of All Japan

"Listen!"

This Urashima guy seems important. Do you have a rapport with him?

Yes, I do.

I thought so. I didn't think it could be otherwise.

Who's behind all this? I don't think it's some political party.

I am. I'm pulling the strings.

What? You? You put him up there?

Shouldn't I have?

So you did? What's between you and him. Are you his lover?

No.

Why did you put Urashima up on that tower?

Because I'm a newspaper reporter.

That's good. I didn't think you had that much talent.

Do you think you can keep you can keep pulling him along?

I think I can - at least for now.

Now we'll broadcast Urashima's yell from the top of the Diet Building.

Looks like the radio is following our lead. Here, this is a special bonus.

Don't tell the others, though.

Urashima! We want you to yell more for the people. "Ha ha oh".

Let's go.

That's good. He's a big hero. He's a democratic hero.

I'm going to keep covering him. Do you think your party could use him?

I think he'd be very useful to you. What do you think?

My price is 500,000 yen.

"Man on Diet Building"

"Begins 5th Day"

"Urashima's Yells Stir Nation"

Boys, it's our newspaper that made Urashima a hero.

We made him, and now I'm trying to sell Urashima to you as a commodity.

But is he worth 500,000 yen?

Definitely.

What do you think GM
ta?

Hmmm.

500,000 yen would be nothing for the GM
ta conglomerate.

But there aren't any zaibatsu any more.

There aren't supposed to be.

But since there are definitely still zaibatsu around, you have to be realistic.

I think that 500,000 yen would be nothing

for the Japan Happiness Party to spend on advertising.

For example, the backer of the Party is GM
ta GM
taro.

He's known as a particularly influential person among the zaibatsu.

And the party president here, Mr. Kurohara, was the former Minister of Education

and runs a coal mine owned by one of the Gota zaibatsu s subsidiaries.

This guy here s the former president of Greater East Asian Development

and a lieutenant general in the Imperial Army. But quite frankly, even if....

What I want to say is that it's hard to make a war criminal look like a democrat.

I'd like to get rid of the war criminal bit at least.

By investing a mere half a million yen, you can completely remake

the image of your party and give off the image of a democratic party.

You put things so directly. Ha ha.

But are certain that Urashima will join our party?

Yes. Ah - it's after three. Time for Urashima to give his yell.

The people must break up the monopolies, and keeping a watch over the

remnants of the former establishment, create a real democracy.

This guy is clearly one of our enemies.

Are you sure we should have him in our party?

Don't worry.

You're full of confidence.

Militarists - ah-choo!

Looks like Urashima's got a cold.

Make sure he's OK. If we're not careful,

all this to come to nothing.

Once we finish the deal, he's important to us.

Urashima has collapsed in his sixth day.

Urashima, are you OK?

Urashima has just collapsed.

We're calling an ambulance.

Where am I?

One thing for sure, it's not the top of the Diet.

Oh. so I collapsed up there?

That's right. And it was a bit iffy after that, too.

It looked like you were going to end up in a flop-house, but the owner of my paper

and the leader of a certain political party got you in here.

A leader of a certain political party? Who's that?

from the Japan Happiness Party.

You owe your life to him. Not only that, he's the biggest supporter of your ideas.

He saved my life? He's my biggest supporter?

They want to make something of your yell and make your ideas into realities.

They're going to do what they can for you.

They're your biggest and most committed supporters.

They're going to organize my yell. Realize my ideals?

These are the articles that I wrote about you.

These are editorials and here are some pamphlets about you.

You're a hero. A people's hero.

A hero? Me?

That's right. Read them. You mustn't fall behind.

You're going to stand in front and yell for everyone.

You should join the Japan Happiness Party

- so you can make your yell into the yell of a million.

"Urashima Joins Japan Happiness Party"

Here's some money. It's a special bonus

Thank you.

Be more confident! You created a modern hero.

You created a new era. You spread the word about Urashima.

Behind the hero is a woman. Your job now is too take Urashima to the top.

That's an interesting job, don't you think?

"Japan Happiness Party Headquarters"

"Japan Happiness Party"

We can yell freely. We yell to ring in a new Japan,

to get rid of today's evils. That's why we must become a major social force.

Our yell is a chorus to the world.

Let's give a yell for the people's true happiness.

My heart is still racing.

The cries of that crowd are still ringing in my ears.

Heroes don't say things like that.

Stop calling me a hero. I just yell.

I just want to fight the causes of the people's unhappiness.

But you have to be a hero to do that.

The people want a new hero. You're the person they want.

I'm just a repatriated soldier.

I lost all my relatives in the war. I'm an unhappy person.

But I don't yell just for myself. All the Japanese people

were victims of militarism and despotism. That's why they're unhappy.

Why did we have to go through all that? The answer is easy:

because there was no real democracy in Japan.

I'll keep fighting until a truly democratic Japan can be born anew,

a Japan where all Japanese can express themselves politically.

Will you? Something new, you say.

Japan. A new Japan. The Japan that ought to be.

Now I understand. When I start to go slack, will you whip me back into line?

Yes, I will.

When I stumble, will you pick me up again?

I will, but you must never stumble.

You have to stand at the vanguard and press forward.

You're a friend of the people, a hero!

It's better for humans to be human.

When people grow wings, that's the end of them.

Taguchi-san, could you give me Ito's manuscript about farming villages?

Thank you.

Come on in.

You're busy as usual, Auntie.

That's right.

Auntie, why don't you stand for office?

I'm not going to. Takeda is going to stand for our little group.

Well I made one person into a big hero. I could do it again.

It's pretty easy to make a hero these days.

You have a talent I never thought was there.

Not really.

How much did you get from the Japan Happiness Party?

I didn't get a cent. I don't care at all about the Japan Happiness Party.

I just think it's interesting to see Urashima become a bigger and bigger hero.

You think you're just promoting Urashima,

but you have to take responsibility for what happens politically

because of what you do. If you help him,

you help the Japan Happiness Party

and the jury's still out on whether they're real democrats.

Do you think they're fake?

I think that if they were for real,

they wouldn't be doing what they're doing with Urashima.

At any rate, Urashima is for real. That's for sure.

Don't you think he's worthy of being made a hero?

Look, it's true I suggested that you make something out of that guy.

But I didn't tell you to stick him on top of the Diet building

and have him start a political movement.

But because I did that, I made some big news happen.

The other papers all followed my lead.

I don't care about the Japan Happiness Party.

All I care about is whether I can write interesting articles.

Nothing else matters.

Pretty face, empty head.

Excuse me!

"Urashima on Nation-wide Speaking Tour"

"Birth of New Hero"

You guys are, first of all,

official candidates of the Japan Happiness Party.

That's the image you have to present to the people.

You have to use your voices to the best of your ability.

For that purpose,

we've brought Mr. Urashima here directly to help you with that.

Once more.

You're a little off there.

That's right, that's the spirit.

Good, all together now.

You can go to the people with that now.

Candidates for the 3rd District. Come in.

Whether you yell or not is up to you,

but no matter what methods you use,

you have to use them effectively to get votes.

We want you to give it your best.

As for campaign expenses, talk things over with party headquarters.

Well, give it a try.

Hey Dad.

What do you want? I told you this wasn't a place for you.

I want to be Urashima's assistant...

I think that yell is great.

When I hear it, my body feels so good it hurts.

His eyes have a mysterious sparkle.

And I love that beard! Come on, Dad.

Well, it's your life.

Really? So it's OK, then? I'm his assistant!

That's good.

You have to do this in a way that makes you feel like

you're going to cry. For the people!

When I'm yelling, I feel younger.

Me too. This is something that comes from the spirit.

It can't be about you guys as individuals.

It has to be the yell for the whole of nation.

OK everyone, you can go next door now.

Introduce him to me, please.

Mr. Urashima, this is Mr. GM
ta's daughter Otoko.

I'm Otoko. I'm going to be your assistant from now on.

I worship you.

Please line up here.

Now we'll practice that wonderful and mysterious yell with Mr. Urashima.

Mr. Urashima, please go ahead.

Now everyone together.

More from your stomach! With enthusiasm!

With spirit!

That's right. Like that.

I thank the heavens for sending Urashima to Japan.

I'm just a stupid farmer.

You represent the unhappiness of the masses.

That's why I couldn't help but cry when I heard you.

I buried my son with a cry just like yours.

There are many people like myself who have found

happiness after losing children in the war.

That's why I'm not just yelling for myself,

I really do believe that if I yell like you say

I'll find happiness. I'm going to put that political platform into my yell.

That cry will eventually be heard in Heaven.

When that happens, the people up there will start crying, too.

Even heaven will be cleansed of unhappiness by our yells.

Oh, Mr. Urashima!

Urashima!

I shouldn't have heard this.

I need to stay away from old friends, from human friends.

These worn out boots and this worn out hat.

Farewell Urashima.

You have wings now. You've flown up to someplace I can't reach.

Urashima! You're a hero. Come fly with me.

But I don't have wings. I can't fly.

You do. You just can't see them.

It's not only you who can't see them either. No human can.

Is that right? Can I fly like you?

Fly above the people?

I love the people.

I'm going to drop my tears on them.

That's right. And because you will,

the people will learn more about you.

And they'll see you're shining form.

Urashima, look at me.

You look sad. Why?

You don't have wings, Urashima. You're no hero.

Do you remember your mother's face. You're human.

You shouldn't try to be anything more than that.

My mother?

A hero doesn't look back to the past. Fly like me!

You can't fly.

Fly! You're hope. You're a morning wind.

You're a golden bird that opens the gates of light. You're a hero!

Don't!

Go home!

He's gone.

Spirit He's gone, now jump!

His beard is his life. Be careful with it.

Barber I understand.

I think this one smells best.

Barber I see.

Hello. Are you trimming his beard.

Looks great.

That's quite a beard. It's a shining beard.

It almost blinds me.

Who are you?

What about you?

I'm Urashima's assistant.

I'm a newspaper reporter.

Oh, excuse me, I didn't realize that it's your first meeting?

This is GM
ta's daughter Otoko, and she's a reporter for the Daiken Shinpo.

I've heard about you.

You're the person who made Urashima into the voice of millions.

I don't think so. I don't have that much power.

He could have done it all by himself.

I think so too. So we agree on that.

I do want to set one thing straight, Akako.

Who does Urashima belong to?

To the people!

Really?

But of course.

I want to make him my own. All my own.

Well go ahead.

Thanks.

I belong to everyone.

That's a cold thing to say to a woman.

You're my happiness. You're my hope.

But he's everyone's happiness and everyone's hope!

You're my dream, my wings, my song, my soul, my hero.

You're my gentle shining hero!

You're voice caresses me like the clouds.

You tower above me. I'm just a little woman who climbs you.

You're not the hero of millions, you're my own personal hero.

Urashima, what do you think about this? Is all this OK with you?

Everyone has the right to a happy ending.

Even you. You're the one who asked me to be a hero.

But I didn't ask for you to be my own personal hero.

That's what I'm going to do.

I'm going to make him my own personal hero.

Akako-san.

Torimaru-san

Were you thinking about Urashima?

I was.

Who made him lose his humanity?

Who blew him up all out of proportion?

Who made him grow wings? Who did that?

It was you.

You. Thanks to you, he lost his humanity.

Who was it that took that hermit without a proper home into what he is today?

What is a hero? I don't like them.

They're mistakes. Heroes must go.

Akako, bring back the old Urashima. He was a good guy.

That day he yelled in the radio studio, he cried.

Where did that Urashima go?

Urashima himself might have no intention of betraying the people.

But in so far as he's being used by the Japan Happiness Party,

he's a reactionary.

That yell is a yell to make the people into slaves.

Me too. I think we can run critiques of Urashima in next month's issue.

That's right. Someone needs to go interview him. Who'll do it?

Good afternoon.

Here's the very person who turned Urashima into a hero.

What's wrong?

I came to cry, Aunt.

Woman Oh my! This isn't you.

There's nothing in my head today.

But it's always empty. Even if you say there's something in it.

Tell me!

About what?

About Urashima.

I thought you'd come for that sometime. That guys a soap bubble.

Soap bubble?

Do you understand what the Japan Happiness party is really about?

A little.

That's not enough! You can't be that vague now.

We now know where their funding comes from. It's the GM
ta zaibatsu.

These days, no matter how reactionary the party,

they have to make themselves look like they're democrats.

Urashima is their poster boy, their symbol, their puppet.

Puppet?

That's right. Akako, the people no longer separate their lives from politics.

The people are becoming acutely aware that good politics is a part of a good life.

What politics are real politics? What sort of politics are really good for the people?

The people are beginning to understand these things.

It's a mistake to take the people for the ignorant mass they used to be.

It won't be so easy to fool the people just by putting up

Urashima as a front for the Japan Happiness Party.

Urashima himself might think he's a friend of the people,

but these days, the people won't go along with it.

When that happens, it'll be too late to say that it wasn't your intention to do that.

What should I do?

You put him up there. It's your job - your responsibility

- to tear him down.

Responsibility?

What? Do you like him?

I didn't at first.

I just wanted to make him into something big.

But when I saw who he really was, it woke something new in me.

I guess I finally saw the person behind the beard.

Get him to think.

What do you mean?

I mean that if he realizes the position he's in-

no - if he understands who is using him - no

- if Urashima really loves politics, he's yours.

Go ask him. One more thing: Stuff some courage into that head of yours.

Good evening. We're all gathered here to celebrate

the Japan Happiness Party's success.

We gratefully acknowledge our debt to GM
ta GM
taro, and thank him warmly.

I'd like to say that the Japan Happiness Party would like to make

this gathering honour Urashima GorM
who has made our party a big success.

You're Urashima. I'm Otohime. May I move closer to you, Urashima?

You may.

May I lean my head on you?

You may.

May I put my hand on yours?

You may.

May I keep staring into your eyes?

Yes.

Urashima, Otohime is happy,

Are you?

Why such a cold response? Why don't you say more?

Did you forget how to be happy after all that time

yelling about how unhappy you are.

Tomorrow is the party congress.

We can expect that there will be more than a few hecklers there.

The only way to avoid that is to have Urashima continue his yelling.

That's right. Nothing else matters.

That means we can't let him drink too much tonight.

His voice has to be in peak condition.

I've told Otoko to take care of that.

Now it's time to hear from Urashima-san.

Please give him a listen. Mr. Urashima, please.

The worries of the people are increasing today.

That's why we yell from the bottom of our hearts.

Is that really an honest voice? Urashima! Urashima!

Thank you Mr. Urashima, that will be all.

That was great. You're mine.

You're my hero. Your heartbeat is...

Your heartbeat is...

Oh, Akako.

You're a soap bubble. One that's gotten too big.

You're a puppet. The puppet of a party of fake democrats.

Fake democrats?

Are you saying our Japan Happiness Party is not really democratic?

Akako, I want you to take that back.

I wouldn't have said it if I were going to take it back.

Urashima, during your first talk on the radio,

there were tears flowing from your eyes.

You said that Japan needed to be reborn.

I saw your tears, but they didn't move me at all.

That's because my heart was impure then,

but now I remember that time with great regret.

You were human then.

Human?

When I first saw you in the woods in Ueno Park,

your eyes were different. They were burning.

They looked they were glowing with the sunset's colours.

But now the fire is going out. Like a lake at twilight.

They're getting darker and darker.

Your beard grows, but you're losing yourself bit by bit.

You asked me to lift you up when you stumbled.

Well, you've stumbled, and here I am.

Are you saying this from the bottom of your heart?

I am. From the bottom of my heart.

Look at me. Look at this sad face.

You mustn't be a hero.

Do you remember your mother's face?

Be quiet! Go away!

You're the hope of the people.

It's a sin to disappoint the people's hopes.

Think it over. Your beard and voice are being exploited.

No one values the person you really are.

My yell and my beard are just being exploited.

That means I'm nothing, then.

No, the human part of you is still there. Be human!

You mustn't throw out what you've gained,

the part of you that's a hero.

I'm going to see if I can walk on my own power.

I guess you are a hero.

It's not anyone's fault but my own.

Farewell. I wish you happiness.

You're my hero. Don't be so glum. Cheer up.

It's getting late. What shall we do?

Should we start without Urashima?

We have to have him yell first.

It won't work otherwise. Why didn't you bring him?

But I had to change my clothes.

Hurry up!

What happened to Urashima? Someone get out there.

Hey everyone, I was fooled!

Fooled by the Japan Happiness Party!

They fooled me. They're not my friends. I was a fool.

They had all sorts of lavish parties behind the backs of the suffering people.

They fooled me. They're not my friends.

I was a fool. By the Japan Happiness Party!

This is bad. If that guy's up there, no one will listen anymore.

This hasn't turned out so well.

Hurry and get Urashima out here!

Hey you!

Your beard -

As you can plainly see, I shaved it off.

I wanted to see if I could do things on my own strength.

Why did you do such a stupid thing? And why now of all times?

Why? What are you without a beard?

Why did you do such a stupid thing?

You're not Urashima without your beard.

You! Go out and buy a fake beard. Quick! Run!

You could stick a fake beard on me, but I'd still be Urashima.

I suppose that's right.

You still have your yell after all.

Give it your all. We need you to settle the crowd.

You're not the real Urashima! Get the real one out here!

Urashima!

That's him.

That's right.

You fake! We don't want you.

Get the real one out here!

He doesn't have a beard and if he doesn't have his yell.

He's no hero, just an ordinary guy. That's no fun.

Get Urashima out here! Urashima!

What are you doing? Yell!

Urashima, I'm asking you. Yell.

Do it a few times and they'll know it's you.

Urashima seems to have finally understood his position.

It must be tough on you. But it's better that he understand now.

If this meeting fails,

the Japan Happiness Party is finished as a major party.

It's you that made us big. Don't waste all that hard work.

Please yell. Please. That yell. We'll give you 100,000 yen.

Make that 200,000 for a yell. 200,000 yen. 200,000 for a yell.

How about 300,000? We'll give you 500,000 yen!

That's how much your yell is worth.

Gentlemen, that yell was my last.

I want to confess in front of you that

I was a puppet of the Japan Happiness Party.

My beard and my yell wouldn't have been necessary if the

Japan Happiness Party were a true democratic party.

That's right! That's right!

I've finally realized that tonight.

Real democracy would have no need for someone like me.

Free and democratic politics cannot permit heroes to rise above the people.

Hey what are you saying! ?

Without realizing what I was doing,

I made a mistake that hurt all of you.

No, I was betraying you.

I was taking your perfectly justified political demands in the wrong direction.

Just now, they asked me to fool you once more with that yell for 500,000 yen.

The Japan Happiness Party was trying

to become a big party by fooling you..

Why? They were wearing a democratic mask,

but they were trying to preserve the old political system.

They were a minority that wanted to rule over the majority.

Until now, I was being used by that minority.

I'm asking you to forgive my mistakes.

Join me now.

Hang the Japan Happiness Party!

As a voter, I'm going to vote to hang the Japan Happiness Party!

What are you saying? !

Urashima, you finally came around.

You used your voice really well tonight.

You had a lot of courage to say what you did.

You saved yourself.

Urashima finally understood what he was doing.

It wasn't Urashima who was betraying you, but the Japan Happiness Party.

That's right!

He was being used by them.

They took his soul away.

Of course, Urashima was not blameless,

but if he as one citizen, and if he is to build a truly

democratic party, we should forgive his mistakes.

Urashima will you swear that you will regain your soul.

Thank you. I do.

If you forgive me,

- I'll happily swear that I'll fight to make up for my mistakes

and fight against the enemies of the people for all of Japan.

Well said!

Will you believe him?

OK, we'll believe him.

I don't have anything to do with that beard

or with that weird animal yell. I feel like I've been reborn.

That's right. Me too.

I don't want dreams.

I want to experience reality's happiness and bitterness as a human being.

Japan is being reborn. And you, too.

The new moon rises, even over things that are worn out and old.

Goodbye yesterday's sadness. Goodbye.

People should walk on the earth, just like they should.

Hope should be as big as the sun. Oh hope!

There it is. That yell!

You created it.

You have to change it into a yell of happiness as soon as you can.

That's your responsibility.

I know. Ah, a happy Japan.

I'm going to fight for a truly democratic Japan.

Urashima-san!

translated by Guy YASKO