Kuroneko (藪の中の黒猫)

Toho Co., Ltd.

A Kindai Eiga-Nihon Eiga Shinsha Production

BLACK CAT

Produced by Nobuyo Horiba, Setsuo Noto and Kazuo Kuwabara

Screenplay by Kaneto Shindo

Cinematography by Kiyomi Kuroda Music by Hikaru Hayashi

Production Design by Takashi Marumo and Norimichi Ikawa

Starring

Kichiemon Nakamura

Nobuko Otowa

Kel Sato, Rokko Toura

Kiwako Taichi

Taiji Tonoyama, Hideo Kanze

Hideaki Esumi Shoji Oki, Kentaro Kaji

Directed by Kaneto Shindo

Rajomon Gate

Who are you?

You must be a ghost to be wandering alone so late at night.

No, I am no such thing.

I was at Lord Fujiwara's mansion on some business,

but I'm afraid of that grove ahead.

My legs are trembling.

The capital is indeed pandemonium these days,

filled at night with bandits and thieves.

Please help me.

Will you see me to the far side of the grove?

And what if I'm a bandit myself?

Such a fine samurai could not be a bandit.

I assumed you were one of the renowned vassals

of the illustrious warrior Raiko.

Please help me.

Very well. It's out of my way,

but I'm already late, so the delay won't matter.

Thank you.

Woman.

You walk so quickly.

It is a familiar road.

Was that a cat?

Is...

anything wrong?

There you are. I wondered where you'd gone.

I heard a cat cry.

A cat's nothing to be afraid of.

My heart started pounding.

Even cats are starving these days.

Flocks of black crows along the bed of the Kamo River

peck at the corpses of those who've starved.

Thank you.

You live in a very secluded spot. It seems very peaceful.

We have nothing to offer you,

but you're welcome to come in for a while.

Well, let me see...

There's nobody here but Mother and I.

Perhaps I'll accept your kind offer.

Please do.

This way, please.

Quite a splendid residence.

Far better than my own.

It's like the home of a court noble.

Is anything wrong?

I felt a slight chill.

We only use this room when we have guests.

It must feel cold from being so empty.

I think your being here

will soon fill the room with warmth.

Strange things happen in a war-torn land.

Hail fell this summer.

Then it suddenly grew so hot that birds fell from the sky.

Allow me to present my mother.

Thank you for being so kind to my daughter.

Not at all.

I enjoyed the night breeze along the way.

I feel like I've met you two somewhere before.

What an amusing thought.

Isn't it, Mother?

I'm certain I have. I just can't recall where.

Serve our guest some sake.

Wasn't that a cat?

It must be a stray.

Please have some more.

Excuse me...

but may I ask your age?

What?

I also have a son.

You look to be almost the same age.

I am 22.

My husband is 21.

Where is your son? Serving at court?

He went off to war.

Off to war?

Yes, three years ago. He has not returned.

Under whom is he serving?

We do not know.

He left just as we finished planting a spring crop.

You? Planting?

Yes.

In this age of war, we must sow crops ourselves

to keep from starving.

Suddenly a group of soldiers came by.

My son was taken away, plow still in his hands.

No need to worry, then.

I'm sure he's a fine samurai somewhere by now.

Somewhere, you say?

He may be far to the north in Ezo, or to the south in Tsukushi.

The entire land is torn by warfare.

His absence means he's too busy and successful to return home.

Don't worry.

He was lucky to be taken off to war.

It's a samurai's world now.

The court nobles are incapable of warfare,

so samurai are poised to rule the land.

Even the emperor will answer to our master Raiko one day.

I used to be a farmer in the mountains of Kawachi,

but the war has allowed me to rise to what I am today.

Don't worry.

Fighting allows us to eat our fill and have whatever we desire.

We samurai can take whatever we want!

Where'd your mother go?

Perhaps she thought it best to leave us alone.

I'm drunk.

The sake's very good.

Please make yourself at home.

I am glad you have come.

That's good sake!

Please make yourself at home.

Excuse me.

RAJOMON GATE

The chief of the imperial police is coming!

Move aside!

Raiko Minamoto, you are the leader of the samurai.

This is a disgrace.

Are you simply going to sit back and watch

as this ghost appears night after night at Rajomon Gate?

Only one who takes pride in his martial prowess

may be called "leader of the samurai. "

As things stand,

this ghost could appear in the imperial palace at any moment.

I cannot sleep peacefully at night.

He says to me in that exalted voice,

"I cannot sleep peacefully at night. "

Shit!

Who's running all over the country fighting his wars?

Me, Raiko Minamoto!

The courtiers kick balls around and play board games.

They write songs and fool around with women.

Don't tell anyone I said this.

It's maddening.

I assure you, this "ghost" is no supernatural being.

It's surely an animal or night prowler.

Summon Kintoki Sakata!

He just deployed to the west.

Summon Tsuna Watanabe!

He's fighting in the east.

Fool! I know that!

I'm just trying to rouse you cowards to action!

Isn't there anyone willing to kill this monster?

EZO - NORTHERN JAPAN

You took Sunehiko the Bear's head? Let me see it.

You sure it was him?

He identified himself.

He also wore fine armor and carried an iron club!

Good.

Then it really is his head. You've accomplished a great feat.

What happened to General Takemaro Fujiwara?

He died in battle!

And my 2,000 men?

They all died. And all the enemy too.

Give me a detailed account.

It was muddy as a rice paddy, and thick with reeds.

The enemy lured us into the reeds.

The battle began at dawn and ended at dusk.

By then, only he and I were left.

He really was as hairy as a bear. I couldn't believe it.

It had to be him. He confirmed it by stating his name.

He told me to identify myself,

but I don't have a battle name yet.

I remembered Kintoki Sakata, so I decided on "Gintoki"

but couldn't think of a last name.

I was born in a house in a grove, so I said "Gintoki of the Grove. "

He said my name sounded courageous.

He assumed I was a famous general and challenged me to fight.

The son of a bitch was strong as hell!

Like a demon with an iron club!

I was sure I'd wind up as rust on that club.

I didn't want to die there in the mud, so I summoned my courage.

After a long battle, I finally took his head!

From now on, you will be Gintoki of the Grove.

I have four trusted retainers. You will be the fifth.

Jimbei, it's me!

I'm Hachi, Yone's son. From the other end of the grove.

You're -

What happened to my house?

It's burned down. There's nothing left.

Yes, you're Hachi all right.

But why are you dressed like that?

Never mind that.

What happened to my house? Where are my mother and wife?

It was last summer.

Kyoto burned for three days and nights.

Conqueror and conquered alike set homes on fire.