Original subtitles

[suspenseful music]

[♪ ♪]

These things will stop a bullet?

No.

They will not shoot you in a public place.

What a relief.

These are for knives.

Great.

In Japanese...

This is your table.

Get there first.

Sit with your backs to the wall.

That's your waiter.

We know him.

Anyone else serves you, don't touch it.

In English... When we sit down with them,

you're gonna order a black coffee.

What's this guy's rank?

In Japanese...

Yakuza... he's the number 2.

In English... Speak as little as possible.

Let them do the talking.

In Japanese...

I'm Jake Adelstein.

Jake Adelstein, correct?

Yes.

We're a little early, but...

we'd like to be seated before our hosts arrive.

Your hosts have already arrived.

...and your meeting has been moved.

It's now upstairs, in their private lounge.

[indistinct chatter]

[♪ ♪]

In Japanese...

We know...

what you're investigating.

We want you to stop.

I'll keep that in mind.

Tozawa-san...

is a father to everyone in our organization.

This story...

is not good for him.

Understand?

[♪ ♪]

Walk away.

It will be like it never happened.

Publish it?

There's nowhere you can hide.

But before we deal with you,

we'll "visit" your whole family.

Do you mind if I smoke while I consider your offer?

[tense music]

[♪ ♪]

[lighter snaps shut]

[dramatic music]

[♪ ♪]

[brakes hissing]

[♪ ♪]

[whistle blows]

[♪ ♪]

In English... Um, okay, did everyone practice

- their assignment? - [all] Yes.

Uh, Mrs. Morimoto, how about you go first?

- Hello. - Hello.

- Is this Mr. Adelstein? - Speaking.

- This is Mrs. Morimoto. - I was won...

Wondering.

Wondering if you come to dinner tonight.

- We would love to. - Okay.

- Thank you very much. - Okay, that's it for today.

I'll see you guys next week.

A rig a to gozaimashita.

[♪ ♪]

[shouting]

[♪ ♪]

[speaking Japanese]

[♪ ♪]

[indistinct chatter]

[♪ ♪]

In Japanese...

Good evening.

Welcome!

Can I get liver, leek, and...

chicken thigh?

Hai.

All right!

[♪ ♪]

"WEATHER SYSTEMS"

[♪ ♪]

[indistinct chatter]

[♪ ♪]

[laughter]

[♪ ♪]

[speaking Japanese]

[indistinct chatter]

[groans]

[thumping electronic music playing]

[♪ ♪]

[crowd cheering]

In English... Hey, Jake!

- Oh! - Hey!

What's up? I thought you were going home.

I am. Just got done packing.

Hey, if this don't work out,

come to Austin and say hi.

- I will. - All right.

[♪ ♪]

[indistinct chatter]

[suspenseful music]

[♪ ♪]

[people speaking Japanese over TV]

In Japanese...

Hi, Takada-san.

Hi, Jake.

How are you? Were you busy today?

Slow.

In English... ♪ Oh ♪

[Pearl Jam's "Release"]

♪ Oh ♪

[♪ ♪]

♪ Oh ♪

[♪ ♪]

♪ Oh, dear Dad ♪

♪ Can you see me now? ♪

[♪ ♪]

♪ I am myself ♪

♪ Like you somehow ♪

♪ I'll ride the wave ♪

♪ Where it takes me ♪

♪ I'll hold the pain ♪

[♪ ♪]

♪ Release me ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Oh, I ♪

[♪ ♪]

In Japanese...

Excuse me, but...

...this test is in Japanese.

Yes, I know.

Please start!

[papers rustling]

[tense music]

[♪ ♪]

[groans]

[♪ ♪]

[exhales heavily]

[♪ ♪]

[sighs]

[clock ticking]

[clock ticking]

[speaking Japanese]

[papers rustling]

[foreboding music]

[♪ ♪]

[people speaking Japanese over TV]

[phone ringing]

Yeah?

It's Takada.

Huh? Oh.

Wait a minute.

[banging on ceiling]

Hello?

Yeah.

Yes?

Hai.

Hai.

[pen clicking]

You transferred from...

University...

...Mis-sou-ri...

...to Sophia University.

Yes.

To study Japanese literature

for three years.

Hai.

In English... You wish to be

a crime reporter in Japan.

Why?

My father is a coroner,

and he took me to crime scenes,

showed me bodies, murder files.

I found trying to reason what actually happened

from forensic evidence fascinating.

Your written Japanese is excellent.

Thank you.

So how do you explain this?

I did not pay close enough attention.

Even with what you missed, your score was high.

The Tokyo "Meicho Shimbun" has 12 million readers a day,

the greatest newspaper in Japan,

the best newspaper in the world.

No foreigner has worked here ever.

I understand.

In Japanese...

Do you believe in corporate loyalty?

Absolutely.

You're Jewish.

Yes.

Do Jews eat sushi?

Every day.

Many here believe Jews control the world economy.

What do you think?

If we did, do you think I'd be happy with what you'd pay me?

Good evening.

Jake-san. You look like you had a good day.

Best day of my life.

[dramatic music]

[indistinct chatter, phones ringing]

[♪ ♪]

I'm Emi Maruyama. I'm the Sub-Cap.

You will report to me.

From here on out, you will start

at the Police Press Club.

These are examples of articles. Memorize their format.

This is the only format you will use.

This is the Meicho manual.

There is a lede paragraph.

Then...

who.

Who. Where.

Who. Where. When.

Who. Where. When. And What.

Then, three more paragraphs of detail.

And... "Why?"

Only at the end.

If there's room.

How often is there room?

Probably never.

Take a copy and head to the conference room.

Thanks, Emi-san.

In English... I'm not your friend,

so you're about a thousand hours too early

in this relationship to call me Emi.

As your superior and your senpai,

you will pay me the courtesy of using Maruyama-san.

Are we clear?

Yes, totally.

You think because you're a foreigner,

the rules are different?

Not in this company and not with me.

In Japanese...

Why are you starting on the police beat?

Because everyone starts on the police beat.

Purse snatching, traffic accidents...

...a man choked to death on a rice cake.

This is the exciting material you will be covering.

Sounds fun, no?

Listen closely because I am only going to say this once.

Your Sub-Cap will assign you a story.

After you are assigned your story...

Who the hell are you?

Who let the gaijin in here?

I'm a new reporter, sir.

Huh?

I'm a new reporter, sir.

Someone throw him out of here...

This isn't a tourist destination.

Baku.

After today, your lives belong to this newspaper.

So tonight...

we're going to give you an evening to remember.

- Kanpai! - [all] Kanpai!

[indistinct chatter]

[upbeat music playing]

[♪ ♪]

Eh-eh-eh-eh-eh.

[pan sizzling]

In English... Hey, Jake!

In Japanese...

They're all calling you Mossad!

In English... What?

Mos-sad.

Everyone here thinks you're a spy for the Israelis.

[laughs]

Mos-sad.

I'm from Mos-souri.

Okay, James Bond.

[indistinct chatter]

These guys are all in.

Super hard-core.

She's gotta pour drinks all night?

Yeah, that's fucked up.

How much did you study for the test?

For the entrance exam, how much did you study?

- Who studied? - You had to study?

[laughter]

[dramatic music]

[♪ ♪]

In Japanese...

ID'd him already?

Yes, sir. He's Mr. Aoki.

Multiple stab wounds.

[camera shutter clicks]

Slashes on his hands.

[camera shutter clicks]

...defensive wounds.

[camera shutter clicks]

[♪ ♪]

[indistinct chatter]

[phone ringing]

Hey!

What the hell is this guy doing back here?!

Hey!

What are you doing?!

He's one of the new reporters.

[indistinct chatter]

What we know about the victim:

Name,

age, occupation,

...his home address and

date and time he was found dead.

The cause of death:

Hemorrhagic shock due to a knife wound.

Was he robbed?

Does it say he was robbed?

Does he have criminal affiliations?

All you need to know

is what's on this release.

I'm going to go through this, but...

...that's all you get.

Is that clear?

[all] Yes.

Let's start from the beginning.

The date and time of discovery:

April 6th, 1999 around 5:45am.

Confirmed his death at 5:47am.

The place of incident...

in English... Who's that guy?

Miyamoto.

Prostitution, weapons.

Bad ass.

They say he loves chickens.

Chicks.

Chicks?

Yeah.

Not chickens?

Trust me.

[Wada continues speaking Japanese]

[indistinct chatter]

The dead body by the bridge.

The home address is in the number one report.

Write it up, 500 characters, end of day.

In Japanese...

There you go!

Good luck.

Later.

[phones ringing]

[siren wailing]

[suspenseful music]

[♪ ♪]

FINAL NOTICE

[indistinct chatter, phones ringing]

"...THE STABBED MAN, MR. AOKI (42 YO)..."

"...FROM SHINJUKU NORTHERN WARD."

"...FOUND AROUND 6 AM..."

"THE CAUSE OF DEATH..."

"...WAS HEMORRHAGE. KNIFE PLANTED IN VICTIM'S CHEST..."

"MAY HAVE BEEN IN DEBT TO A LOAN COMPANY..."

"...STRANGELY, THEIR OFFICE IS VACATED."

[♪ ♪]

[printer whirring]

[♪ ♪]

Gaijin! Come here.

Yes.

- Sit. - Yes.

What is this you wrote?

Uh. I was at the crime scene and...

You write that this man was "murdered."

I was at the scene. He was murdered.

Did the cops tell you he was murdered?

He was not "murdered" until they say so.

He didn't fall on a knife

sticking up out of the sidewalk!

...and stab himself 8 more times.

Your job was to call the officer in charge!

Find out what they say the charge is.

And. Write. That. Down.

Word for word.

Hai. Hai.

Get out.

[sighs]

What the hell are you doing? - Hai.

You knew about this?

That was my mistake.

Why did you let that man submit that?

- Hai. - Think about it.

Sorry.

In English... I'm sorry, I... I don't mean to get you in trouble.

I can take care of myself, thank you.

- I just think... - You don't get to think.

You will follow the rules and write what you are told to write,

like everyone else, or you will be gone.

[tense music]

[♪ ♪]

No, I'm not gonna regurgitate the police report word for word.

- Regurgitate? - Yeah, that's not reporting.

So what did you do?

Oh, I went to the stabbed guy's house,

and, uh, I went through his mail.

What are you gonna do, call the mail police?

- Maybe. - Did you find anything?

There were bunch of overdue bills from a loan company.

So the guy was clearly in debt to this company.

I copied down the logo, the address.

You recognize this logo?

[both] Nope.

I went to the address, and there was nothing there.

Like, the loan company was gone.

- So no story? - After all.

Not a complete story but a beginning of a story,

so I wrote it up, handed it in...

Got wrung out for not copying down

word for word a fucking...

[bag thuds]

[suspenseful music]

[♪ ♪]

[dog barking]

[♪ ♪]

[indistinct chatter]

Miyamoto-san. Jake.

I'm a crime reporter for the "Meicho," and, uh...

No, no, I... can I buy you a drink?

Why?

I'm trying to figure out how reporters work with police,

and maybe you could show me the ropes.

Ropes?

Yeah. [Speaking Japanese]

- It's a... - Show you the ropes?

Yeah. In Japanese...

Hey!

This guy wants me to tie him down and do weird shit.

[laughter]

In English... Miyamoto-san

Uh, I like gaijin but only with tits.

Oi, oi!

Tell me, do you know how to pick up gaijin girls?

Absolutely.

I have to say,

I find your dress, uh, extra flattering?

No, no, no. Extraordinarily flattering.

Extraordinarily.

And it's got to be sophisticated, smooth. Just roll it out.

I have to say, I find your dress extraordinarily flattering.

In Japanese...

Miyamoto-san! Miyamoto-san! Miyamoto-san!

What the hell do you want?

I sent five people to Onyx.

They spent $5,000. Onyx won't pay me my commission.

You introduced us!

- Okay. - Do something!

Fine. Follow us.

Later!

In English... And this shit works?

Yes.

Western girls, they like a guy

who's flirtatious, debonair.

- Trust me, I know what I'm talking about. - Okay.

In Japanese...

First... we have to stop at this hostess club...

for that guy.

Then we'll see if you do.

[smooth lounge music playing]

In English... ♪ I show you ♪

In Japanese...

They didn't spend that much.

They spent $5,000 here. They told me.

Pay me what you promised.

Baldy... you're being loud.

All right, all right.

Give me five percent.

I'll handle it.

[urinal flushes]

You got that done the old way?

[urinal flushes]

[door clicks open and shut]

In English... ♪ You ♪

♪ Are my ♪

♪ Lucky ♪

♪ Star ♪

[applause]

[indistinct chatter]

[men arguing indistinctly in Japanese]

In Japanese...

Who do you think you're talking to?

What did you say?

Stand up!

You trying to start something? Start it!

Stop!

Sit down.

[singing "Sweet Child O' Mine" in Japanese]

♪ ♪

in English... ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Sweet child o' mine ♪

[♪ ♪]

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, sweet love of mine ♪

[♪ ♪]

[singing in Japanese]

♪ ♪

♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪

♪ Sweet child o' mine ♪

[♪ ♪]

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, sweet love of mine ♪

[applause]

[♪ ♪]

That was really great.

You were really good up there.

Thanks, I try.

Do you wanna have a drink?

Sure.

In Japanese...

Sir...

Anything else?

Yeah.

We're all set. Thank you.

In English... Your Japanese is very good.

Thank you.

Why are you hanging out with cops?

Because I'm a reporter for the "Meicho."

- No. Really? - Mm-hmm.

An American.

Well, what do you report on?

Uh, I'm on the police beat.

Hmm.

So stories about guys like that?

You never know.

Really, what do you report on?

You know, you never know who you're gonna talk to,

where you're gonna go, what you're gonna see.

Every day is different.

Is this what you wear to work every day?

No, I... the paper's got

these strict regulations on what you have to wear,

so I wear a suit and tie and, uh, so...

I'm trying really hard to get it right,

you know, to fit into their system, which...

is mentally tyrannical,

which is not what I expected from a newspaper, you know?

Yeah.

Yeah, I know how rigid corporate life can be.

So why are you doing this?

Well, I wanna report on what really happens.

That's it.

That's...

I mean, you know,

maybe someday make a small piece of history.

So is it gonna work?

So far, it seems like

everything I've touched, I've...

screwed up.

But giving up and going home is not an option.

You know what I mean?

I know exactly what you mean.

Where are you from?

Saitama, originally,

but I've been in Tokyo for the past few years.

Well, but before that, where are you from?

Well, that's a second bottle question, honey.

See, how this works is,

the more you buy, the more we talk.

And the better you buy, the better I talk.

But if there's no more buying...

[man singing in Japanese]

I don't have enough for a whole another bottle.

Well, that's a shame.

See you another time.

[soft lounge music playing]

In Japanese...

He's not a liar. Pay him.

Cognac, two please.

- Good evening. - Good evening.

- Miyamoto-san... - Piss off.

What's your name?

I'm Polina.

But I'm already at a table.

Why don't you reserve me next time.

In English... Another drink.

In Japanese...

See you around.

[♪ ♪]

In Japanese...

Time to test your debonair bullshit.

Kelly Rowland's "Motivation" playing...

in English... ♪ Oh, lover ♪

♪ Don't you dare slow down ♪

[♪ ♪]

♪ Go longer ♪

♪ You can last more rounds ♪

[♪ ♪]

♪ Push harder ♪

♪ Go, go, go ♪

♪ Oh, lover ♪

So, Miyamoto-san...

Tell me, how do reporters and police work, huh?

In Japanese...

What can I get you?

Champagne.

He's paying.

In English... Here's what you need to understand.

There's no murder in Japan.

[chuckles] Wait, what? How is that...

In Japanese...

Hey!

Excuse me!

In English... How is that a...

[speaking Japanese]

In Japanese...

Tell Kristina...

Her. Kristina...

I wanna buy her a drink.

Huh?

But...

There are murder cases, right?

Hmm?

There are murder cases.

Are there?

The Raveonettes' "Aly, Walk With Me" playing...

[♪ ♪]

In English... ♪ Aly, walk with me ♪

♪ In the summer ♪

♪ Aly, walk with me ♪

[♪ ♪]

Hi. This is my friend Tatiana.

Hi. How are you?

♪ Aly, walk with me ♪

In Japanese...

Give me more glasses.

In English... ♪ Aly walks with me ♪

♪ In my dreams ♪

I have to say,

I find your dress extraordinarily flattering.

Thank you.

What do you mean there's no murder in Japan?

That doesn't make any sense.

I forgot, your English is not so good.

[stilted] There is no murder in Japan.

So then what was that stabbing,

that guy in the street?

Could be manslaughter.

Could be accidental death.

But the key is, unless you have to deal with a witness,

it's never a murder.

Since when do you need a witness

to tell you a murder is a murder?

'Cause you report it and we can't solve it,

our clearance rate goes down.

How does that get me a story to write?

♪ Aly walk with me in the summer ♪

[pager beeping]

In Japanese...

Work. Gotta go!

[sirens wailing]

Good evening.

Good evening, Pops.

Can we talk, Pops?

Can we talk?

Let's talk.

What's wrong? Pops?

Pops?

Let's talk.

What are you doing?

Pops, talk to me...

Pops! Look at me!

[breathing rapidly]

[shouting in Japanese]

[crowd screaming]

[suspenseful music]

[♪ ♪]

[indistinct chatter]

[♪ ♪]

In English... Two dead men, two logos.

The same logo.

You already have a story to write.

But there's linkage. This story is bigger.

The guy who set himself on fire in Kabukicho.

We covered that. It's already in print.

There's more to that story.

You do the story you're assigned.

- Okay. - No. Is that clear?

And only that story. Understood?

Totally. Yes, understood.

[tense music]

[♪ ♪]

In Japanese...

I have to do a human interest story.

From the incident the other day.

There was no home address on the press release.

May I ask for a copy of the No. 1 report.

Oi!

Bring me the file.

[♪ ♪]

Thank you for seeing me.

May I record this?

How can you stand to be alive?

Isn't your family ashamed by you?

Why aren't you dead?

My husband tried to...

...protect me from Yakuza.

They told him...

"A real man..."

"...pays his debts."

But with the crazy interest,

a little debt

became so much money.

Bad men called every day, every night...

...and shouted at him.

He took his life because he owed so much money?

No. To avoid living in shame.

Now... what do you do with the calls?

After he died, they stopped calling for money.

"Stopped"?

Why?

I don't know why.

I'm only grateful that they did.

[suspenseful music]

[♪ ♪]

[intense music]

[♪ ♪]

Family members in attendance will commence

a sake ritual of celebration

celebrating the bond of brotherhood.

Accepting this bond is:

The leader of "Is hid a" clan,

Hitoshi Is hid a.

Those to be elevated are...

Kume, Yoshihiro.

[♪ ♪]

[shouts]

[♪ ♪]

Oyabun.

Accept our pledge and loyalty.

[♪ ♪]

Let us seal this pact.

Raise your hands.

[shouts]

[rhythmic clapping]

[applause]

[♪ ♪]