Original subtitles

With the Cooperation of ALL-Japan Film Center's Council

A Kindai Eiga Kyokai and Jean-Jean Present

A Kindai Eiga Kyokai Production

Chikuzan Takahashi

Good evening.

My name is Chikuzan Takahashi. I was born in Tsugaru——

a district in Aomori Prefecture——

the northern tip of the Main Island of Japan.

I was born in 1910——in Kominato in that district.

I became partially blind when I was 2 or 3 years old.

There was an epidemic of measles.

Children have it now, too, of course.

In those days, it was believed that cold air was

fatal to people who contracted measles.

So they bundled us in heavy clothing

and tried to take good care of us.

In my case, I suddenly got a fever.

I stayed in bed for a few days.

There was something wrong with my eyes.

I realized my eyes were clouded. That's how it was.

I was taken to doctors. But medicine in those days

wasn't as good as it is today.

They just gave me some eye drops

and said I'd be all right in a few days.

That's how it was.

Eventually, I became partially blind,

It wasn't only me.

I had several friends who contracted measles

and became totally blind.

It was really a terrible age.

THE LIFE OF CHIKUZAN TSUGARU SHAMISEN PLAYER

19 12

Eye Hospital

I'm sorry for Sadazo.

Why must he be blind?

"I wish the dunes along Lake Tosa were rlce.. "

In those days,..

around 1913, so I heard.

There was a severe famine in the area

where I was born,

Our rice was gone.

We had no vegetables, elther.

We had to dig bracken roots and eat them.

It was terrlbly hard on us.

Some of the people ln the area even sold thelr daughters,

There was a mllllonaire

who llved ln my village. Hls name was Yamalchi.

He owned a blg house. He had many employees.

My father was one of the employees who worked for hlm,

Where I llved, they call a mother "Appa".

My Appa, too, must have worked for Yamalchl

as a cook or something.

Then, I think, my father and mother fell ln love and got marrled,

That's what I guess.

They rented rice paddies from Yamalchl

and cultlvated them together.

Nebuta Festival

Raiden Shrine Festival Eve

Open your mouths wide

and read loudly,

Read after me.

"There is a crow."

"There is a sparrow."

"There is a cow,"

"There is a horse."

"There are a cow and a horse."

Not at school?

What's wrong?

I can't read the book.

I can hardly see the blackboard.

Use your ears.

You have two good ears.

You're blind!

You!

"Because she is pretty and behaves nlcely"

"They all want her to sing for them"

My mother thought I'd be able to make a llving

if I learned to play the Shamlsen

and became a strolllng muslcian.

I guess that's what my mother thought.

A strolling musician?

Sadazo, a Shamisen for you.

Here, Touch it.

It cost 12 yen! Enough to support us for half a year!

It was when I was 15.

I became apprenticed to Tokura, a strolling muslcian.

I was 15.

My mother took me to him, In wlnter.

It was snowing.

We carrled rlce, charcoal,

bean paste and beddlng.

I followed my mother to Tokura

and became hls apprentlce.

The man who was to be my teacher was from Nanbu,

He, too, lost hls sight in childhood

and became a strolllng muslclan.

He came to Tsugaru ln the course of his travel

and decided thls was where he wanted to live.

He then started playlng Tsugaru-style Shamlsen

because he had to master the local muslc,

They're here.

They brought rice, charcoal and bean curd for Sadazo.

He'll eat a lot. We'll be out of rice soon.

Keep bringing it.

I understand. Please be kind to him.

Try your best.

Idiot! Go outside and study by yourself.

You'd better try much harder than that.

I'll have the rice cake.

What happened?

Close the door.

This isn't your home.

Your home now is where Tokura lives

I thought you wouldn't be back.

Come in.

85 sen is too much. Come down to 80 sen.

A reduction already. The usual char ge is 1 yen.

My wife and I will use one bed. Cut it by 5 sen,

Such persistence! All right, no supper then.

We're almost starved, We'll die without supper.

Only 85 sen for food and bed. An absolute bargain.

85 sen! Not one sen less! Got it?

Come on, Make it 80 sen.

I told you " no!"

5 sen isn't much.

Let's stay here. We're almost frozen.

I don't want to waste 85 sen Let's go some other place.

No. I won't budge. Sadazo, what about you?

Are you going to stay here?

Can you make it 83 sen?

You win. 83 sen. Come in.

Thank you.

We'll play for you later.

Make sure nobody else is around,

It got damp because I kept it in my pocket.

I'll dry it

I knew it. It's wet.

Don't be idle there. Tell me if someone comes.

Keep watch.

You know how hard we had to work for this money.

Sadazo, don't just stand there!

Pick them up!

Sadazo!

I'm back.

Then, are you independent now?

Yes. I'm a full-fledged beggar.

Not a beggar. A strolling musician.

"Natsudomari Peninsula"

You must work in such cold weather?

Nobody lives in this house. I'm sorry.

Thank you very much.

We have hot soup. Come in and drink it.

Thank you very much.

My son is a strolling musician, too.

May we have the soup here?

I would cross the Tsugaru Channel

to Hokkaldo, the country's northernmost island, to work.

Foot of Mt. Komagatake

It's empty.

Empty.

You aren't blind?

I'm a half-blind swordsman.

I'm a killer!

What's that? You beggar!

I'm a strolling musician,

What are you?

I happen to be a thief.

Why were you after my purse?

Are you that poor?

Business is bad because of the depression.

I'm so hungry I'm about to faint.

Oh, dear. Are you both blind?

Yes. We're blind brothers. Please pity us.

I'm sorry for you. I guess it's fate.

I'll give you some of the cake I offered to Buddha.

Eat it and something good may happen to you.

Thank you,

Merciful lady, will you make rice balls with this?

Are you hungry? Why not the cake?

It won't be enough.

You're asking too much!

Where are you going now?

Who knows? Maybe I'll travel through Hokkaido

Why not come with me?

No, thanks. I'm a musician and I'm proud of it.

I can't go with a thief like you.

Don't say that. Just come with me.

No.

I'll go.

I'm going.

Fool! Stop it!

Stop it!

You insulted me!

I didn't.

Stop crying.

Stop it.

Stupid!

You're stupid,

"Esashi"

"Shakotan"

My worn-out mantle——farewell!

"Ishikari River''

"Muroran"

I want to go back to Aomori.

Will any of you take me there?

Wil you take me to Aomori?

Are you new?

Yes. I started working only recently,

Where from?

Kominato. My name is Sadazo.

Where were you?

In Hokkaido

Are you hungry?

I certainly am.

Join me.

I'll be glad to.

You're frank. I like that.

I'm Hikoichi. I sell starch jelly.

I know your name.

Don't flatter me. Your chopsticks.

Good?

Yes. Delicious.

It should be. Dog meat,

Dog?!

It's fresh. The dog was just killed.

Eat it. Try a mouse later.

No, thanks.

Have a drink.

Can you see?

Only a little.

It is good?

Yes. Is this what you call raw sake?

Yes. I made it.

I spent money for it.

I hope you'll pay me for the food and drink.

This is all I have.

Only 5 sen?

I'm sorry. I paid as much as 35 sen for this inn, so..,

You have only 5 sen? I can't take it.

Better than nothing.

No. Drink.

No more for me.

You won't drink my sake? Drink!

Okay, thank you.

Sadazo!

Mother!

You weren't ill? I was worried,

I heard you were here, so I came to see you.

Don't worry about me.

I'm well, as you can see.

I'm relieved. I'm really glad you're all right,

My son is only a beginner. Please be kind to him.

Here's 50 sen. You can eat something good with it.

Thanks.

Nothing to worry about. There'll always be food.

Going to work?

Yes. I'll travel in Shimokita.

"Ohata"

My family is all out on the sea.

Hey, you!

It's you!

Hello. Excuse me.

"Let me banish the God of Poverty"

"and brlng the God of Fortune, "

"I've brought you charms. They work well, "

Thank you very much.

"May he God of Poverty go a way,.. "

Did you make money?

The people here are pious. My charms sold well.

They look good, don't they?

Thanks.

You're too fast.

You should be more thankful at a time like this.

We're both beggars anyway.

If you beg for 3 days, you'll never be able to quit.

Good!

The fish are fresh,

The rice is good, too.

You talk like a gourmet.

Can you tell good rice?

I'm a farmer's son.

Where will you stay?

I'm broke. I can't afford an inn.

There's no inn around.

Can't be helped. I'll sneak under some house.

How about that shrine?

Aren't you cold?

You're cute.

Goodbye! Good luck!

Goodbye!

All the best!

"Oma''

Northern Tlp of the Maln Island

Here.

Quit stealing?

Not so loud. Stealing is too dangerous and doesn't pay.

Luckily I bumped into a tinker

who wanted to become a thief. I bought his tools.

In short, we exchanged our work.

How about you? Still playing the Shamisen?

Actually I'm a little tired, but I can't live without it.

Where are you going?

This is the end of a peninsula.

All I can do is go back.

Or I'll fall into the sea. How about you?

I'll go back, too.

No sense returning by the same route.

Why don't we cross the peninsula through the mountains?

Good idea.

Hi! Nice weather, isn't it?

Sure is.

Are mailmen here required to blow a bugle?

It's to keep away the big bears around here.

What'll we do?

Don't worry.

He said bears!

If he blows a bugle, I'll play the Shamisen.

I'm a tinker! Pans and kettles to mend!

"Sacred Osorezan"

"Pile a stone and think about your father"

"Plle another one and think about your mother"

"Plle another one and thlnk about your home"

Can you see my face?

Yes, though only vaguely.

I'm crying now.

Can you see?

I can't see your tears.

Somehow I can sense them.

I'm thinking about my birthplace.

My old mother lives there. I'll return to her.

You'd better.

You'll never be a real tinker.

Farming is best for you.

Nothing to give you.

I'm too hungry to go on. Any food?

My husband went to town to work and never came home.

I'm out of money. I'm out of salt.

I'm out of bean paste, too.

You can't be out of everything.

I have a dull knife. That's all.

"Hachinohe'"

Hello? Hello?

Excuse me.

What do you want?

Is this Mr. Sakubei Matsumoto's house?

Your friend is here.

You're that musician? We met at Noheji.

You said to drop in, so I came around.

Glad you could come.

Kill a hen and make noodles for him.

He looks starved.

Have you taken a bath recently?

You smell awful.

Well, I took a bath about a month ago.

I thought you were only a poor musician.

I'm amazed to see this house of yours.

Shall we go around the Sanriku area?

Are you going again?

Sure.

Lots of people are waiting to see me dance for them.

I'm going.

Good luck, then.

I feel cooped up in that place.

But you have a steady business here.

I won't have to face my old lady for a while.

"Kamaishi"

A beautiful morning!

A nice place, too.

Stay here a few days?

Let's work and get food.

Good!

"On the sandy beach of an island in the eastern sea."

"Tho I gambol with crabs, I do so tearfully."

Rain at the end of our trip?

"Miyako"

Thank you.

Sadazo!

Mother!

It has a burnt smell.

Not easy to cook rice in a wash basin.

What are you doing here?

Why not come here?

I'm training myself.

Will you go busy something to cook soup with?

All right,

Sadazo, I've found a bride for you.

A bride?

This tastes good.

You're old enough,

Even strolling musicians should marry.

We'll build a house for you. Marry and live there.

Will she and I work together?

Yes Working together is better.

I've found a suitable girl for you.

She's 19.

Is she blind?

She can see just a little.

"Tsugaru, my beautlful homeland"

"Mt. Iwaki turnlng whlte in wlnter"

"Kanita"

That's enough.

Are you two married?

That's right, sir,

I'm impressed.

Isn't it pleasant to be traveling together?

Why, yes, it is.

I'll give you rice. Come with me.

Your wife will do.

Enter. Don't hesitate.

Yumie!

Don't stay married to a strolling musician like me.

Go home and marry somebody else.

A fresh start,

I can't take care of you well enough,

Please go home, Yumie.

"Cape Tappi"

How much is that Shakuhachi?

What's your offer?

How about 3 sen?

I don't want money. Take it.

Hey! You sound like a wildcat in heat!

How long have you played it?

Just started.

You have a Shamisen

Isn't that what a strolling musician plays?

It's raining. My Shamisen will get wet.

If it gets wet, the strings will break.

Understand?

Hey, you look pretty well off.

Why not play for us?

Sorry. I can't play for you.

What! A miserable strolling musician! You beggar!

I'll break your Shamisen!

Stop it!

"It's high time to use my sword,"

"Gripping his sword, he hurries to the scene of fighting."

"He dashes through the streets of Edo''

"and finally arrives at his destination.''

"Again and again his sword flashes to spill''

"the blood of his adversaries."

"Come and buy my starch jellyl Come and buy it!"

"Eat lt and your stomach will be in good condltlon"'

It's only water, isn't it?

Yes. Only water.

We'll be arrested for selling it.

It won't work as medicine, but at least it isn't poison.

It isn't poison. But it won't work, either.

"This eye lotion was produced in Tokyo."

"A pharmaceutical company studied and discovered"

"that an element in a snake's body helps cure eye diseases.''

"Look at him. He suffered from the measles.'

"He was totally blind."

"But the lotion cured him. He can play the Shamisen now."

Is that so?

He was blind, but now he can even play the Shamisen?

"Buy our lotion! It helps the blind!''

I have a blind child.

Give me two.

"These are all we have.''

"First come, first served."

"Buy our lotion! It works."

You're at it again, eh?

You want money?

I have no money.

Only a small audience.

You're asking too much

You aren't good enough to get money.

Where are you going?

Sing by yourself

Not going to work?

We're broke.

It's raining.

Play the Shakuhachi

Going out?

We're finished.

Leaving me?

You're a strolling musician.

Go out and do what you should to make money.

I like a decent life.

I can't loaf around with you forever,

Aren't we supposed to marry?

Silly. I was just curious about you.

You were able to have me. Be grateful.

Sadazo, how are you?

So so.

You haven't been back. I was worried.

How did you find this place?

Rumors told me where you were.

Why are you here?

I suggest you get married again.

She has a 4-year-old daughter.

Her husband was a drunkard, so she got a divorce.

She's your age.

Both of you had a previous marriage.

She was born blind. Underwent training as a medium.

I'm fed up with marriage.

Don't say that, Marry her.

Staying single at your age won't do you any good.

I'm only a strolling musician.

I can't lead an ordinary life.

Sadazo.

Let's go home anyway.

I've kept your house tidy.

You sent your wife away.

Even he isn't married yet.

Why bother about Sadazo's marriage?

Strolling musicians shouldn't marry.

"How joyous! How happyl"'

"A weddlng is being held in this house"

"A brlde and a brldegroom pledglng eternal love"

My husband and Sadazo.

How do you do?

Drinking again? The sake is for Buddha.

Yes, I'm drinking.

Your mother said you don't drink at all

when she asked me to marry you.

Buddha won't like it if we leave the sake untouched.

Remember I'm tired of drunkards,

I'll be going.

I'll stay home. I have work to do.

I know. I'll go alone.

Don't go too far. I'll be lonely.

"Owani"

This is no time for singing!

It's war! I just got my draft notice!

"Thls ls a story of an actual miracle"

"There was a faithful wlfe of a bllnd masseur"

"Come along, my darling"

"The wife took care of her husband"

"On the other hand, the husband counted on her"

"It was the mlddle of June. It was summer"

"But the couple's vlllage was ln the mountains"

"In the deep forest, the air was comfortably cool.., "

That's enough.

Why don't you stay with me for a while?

I'll teach you all I know. How about it?

Let's get started.

Aren't we supposed to stay longer?

We were scheduled to.

But the promoter wants to quit, as of today.

Can't be helped. There's almost no audience.

Let's catch the last train.

Don't stand there! Hurry up!

Can I take this strolling musician with us?

What for?

You want us to become strolling musicians too?

Strolling musicians never return

before they finish their route.

He'll be back before long. Be patient and wait.

Brace up!

What'll you do?

They're demanding their money back!

But... she's like this...

Can't somebody else play?

Who? Sadazo?

What's she saying?

"Osaka"

How is she?

Mister.

You called,..?

A telegram for your partner.

"Haruko..."

"Gravely ill. Hurry home.''

Please don't tell Sadazo right now.

But it's the second one.

If he leaves, I'll be lost. Please!

Please!

Sadazo, I'll treat you to a drink this evening,

Isn't this unusual?

You work so hard. I want to thank you.

Don't flatter me. I'll quit after this.

I must go home.

Wait. Don't say that.

"My daughter ls only 4 years old "

"May the God of Mlsfortune go away.., "

Fool!

We sent you three telegrams. Why didn't you return?

Explain!

Because Haruko wasn't your real daughter?

Where are you going?

Home.

Please don't go.

Please!

The war is becoming worse.

The men here are being drafted.

If you stay like this, they'll think you're unpatriotic.

Stop walking door-to-door.

Go to school and become a masseur.

All right,

I'll do whatever you ask me to.

A school for the blind and dumb in Hachinohe. Study there.

It has a dormitory.

Am I to go to school at my age?

And study with children?

U: Points 1 and 4.

E: Points 1, 2 and 4.

O: Points 2 and 4,

You're really no good at braille.

I'm confused. I don't understand a thing.

Even a 7-year-old girl can do better.

I'm afraid school isn't for me.

I want to talk to you,

I'm sorry, Mr. Yamagishi.

I have calluses on my fingers.

I can't feel braille.

So, I play the Shamisen when I'm supposed to study.

That's not it. I want you to do me a favor.

A favor?

You're only partially blind. I hope...

you know Michiko Segawa.

Yes. That pretty girl?

She's not too bad, I guess.

I want you to do something about her.

Actually, her stomach is expanding.

Expanding? How come?

Expanding! Don't you understand?

I've got it. I know what you mean,

She's pregnant? And a student, at that.

Who's the man?

The man is.., me.

You?!

Do as I ask, please.

I'll be fired.,.

if the principal finds out.

I can't hide it any more.

Where are you from?

The suburbs of Sendai.

Why don't you take her home and marry her?

My family is old-fashioned. I can't marry a blind girl,

It'll cause a fuss.

How irresponsible! You got her pregnant!

It's true. But it was a matter of love.

Both of us are responsible.

I never promised to marry her.

What does your family do?

They're farmers. They live at the foot of Mt. Iwaki,

They say Mt. Iwaki is beautiful,

My parents, my brother and his wife live there.

Do you love Mr. Yamagishi?

Why do you love him?

Because he's kind.

I'll take Michiko to my house. The child can be born there.

Will you do that? Thank you.

You're married. You can cover it up.

Tell them your wife had the baby.

You are really selfish. I'm surprised.

You've saved me.

I'm grateful.

Sadazo, are you sure it isn't your baby?

If it were mine, I wouldn't bring her home.

It's Mr. Yamagishi's baby. Right?

He'll come for me soon.

Michiko, he'll never come for you.

You're wrong!

He may talk selfishly, but actually he's a good man.

He's honest.

He told me everything on his own.

Michiko, stay here and have your baby.

Where have you been?

Home.

Who gave you permission?

Mr. Yamagishi. You can ask him.

He's gone.

Gone?

Yes, he's gone. He quit and left yesterday.

You went home with Michiko Segawa, didn't you?

I know all.

You made her pregnant?

Yamagishi told me so.

Did he say that?

Sure. He said that.

But I know who's really responsible.

I told Yamagishi off.

So he submitted his resignation and left.

He broke our promise.

I'll visit him and talk to him.

He's in Sendai.

No. He isn't there.

What?!

He lives in Chiba.

He said he was from an old family in Sendai.

That was a lie.

Mr. Principal!

People who can see are cruel!

Just a little more.

There's no need to worry.

He left without telling me.

His things are still here.

Mother!

May I go find my husband?

Let him alone. Leave him to die in his wandering.

Mt. Iwaki

My family is out working. I have no money.

I have no rice. Will you take some potatoes?

Isn't it cold?

Come in and warm yourself by the fireplace.

Have you seen a young strolling musician?

No, I haven't,

Hello!

Michiko! It's me. It's Sadazo's mother.

You!

Fuji is with me.

Are you well?

How's your baby? All right?

Yes, take a look

Please come in.

My father and my brother are in town.

My mother and my sister are in the paddies.

I'm staying home taking care of my baby.

We're on an ur gent trip. We can't stay long.

Will you bring your baby?

It's a nice baby.

Seen a young strolling musician?

Yes. He was playing the Shakuhachi,

When was it?

About 10 days ago.

Who are you looking for?

Stop making that awful noise!

You're spoiling my sake. Get lost!

You damned blind man!

Get lost!

"Lake Jusan"

Sadazo!

It's me. F uji is here, too.

But why?

What are you doing here?

Do you want to die here?

We were determined to go anywhere,..

even to the end of the world to find you.

You are a born musician.

Sadazo, take this Shamisen.

Sadazo, your favorite song!

"I wish the dunes along Lake Tosa were rlce"

"I could then dedicate the rlce to the Buddha of the West"

Excuse me. I'm Unchiku Narita, a folk singer.

Will you play the Shamisen for me?

"A daughter of a teahouse owner in Ajlgasa"

"She is actually an lncarnatlon of a snake... "

Ryuzo Hayashi

Nobuko Otowa

Mitsuko Baisho

Chikuzan Takahashi

Taiji Tonoyama

Hideo Kanze

Takuzo Kawatani

Kei Sato

Mutsuhiro Toura

Hosei Komatsu

Photography: Kiyomi Kuroda

Lighting: Kenichi Okamoto

Music: Hikaru Hayashi

Art Direction: Kazumasa Otani

Producers: Susumu Takashima & Sadaki Sato

Written and Directed by Kaneto Shindo

The End (SubToSrt By Mitt)