My Back Page (マイ・バック・ページ)

An all-out attack was launched in the morning

on the Yasuda Auditorium, the last stronghold.

The students hurled rocks desperately.

After the overwhelming attack by the riot police ceased,

the students fought back stubbornly,

fort Yasuda held out for days.

Ignoring the persuasion by acting president Mr. Kato,

the students cried out against the oppression.

"Remember, you too will die shivering, but not like straws"

"We do not fear solitude in our search for solidarity"

"we are willing to fall if we are not equal to the task"

"but we refuse to be daunted before trying our utmost"

Come on, pretty lady. Take a look.

Isn't it cute?

This rabbit won't grow any bigger.

You don't even need special food.

Just feed it vegetable scraps.

See, even its poop is tiny...

Poor thing.

If you think so, then buy it and save it.

Come on, Miss Sludge!

What the...

She should buy it if she feels sorry for it.

San, stop laughing and start selling.

Go on.

It's cute. 1,000 yen each...

Rabbits from New Zealand.

You're too self-conscious.

You have to be assertive and quick.

1,000 yen each...

Why do you want to work for our company?

Because everybody has sex.

They're a condom company,

but that's a bit much, isn't it?

Tell them, "you have a promising future".

That's good.

By the way, "Christ" tell me.

Are you going to the job interview dressed like that?

I'll shave.

That's not the point...

How do you write "promising future"?

Give me.

Hey, watch out.

You're smart,

as might be expected of a college graduate.

That word's taught in junior high.

Hey!

Welcome.

Those rabbits are yours, right?

Don't dump them over there.

They're in the way.

Huh?

Don't act dumb.

You're the only ones selling rabbits.

They're not ours, scumbag.

It was so hot.

I didn't want to leave them in the car...

How many did you kill?

I'm sorry.

Will this fit?

Good luck with your interview.

Thanks.

San, help me bury the rabbits before you go.

You've seen what it's like here,

but come back again when you're broke.

I think the pay here is better than other places.

Tamotsu.

Here.

You don't get it, do you?

See you.

"MY BACK PAGE"

"The Touto Newspapers"

I always wanted to be a journalist.

Good morning.

Overseas, the Vietnam War raged.

Here, it was the student movement.

I hated being just an onlooker.

I joined the Touto Newspaper the year the Yasuda Auditorium fell.

The company published the Touto Journal

which covered the Zenkyoto movement.

It was strongly supported by the young readership.

I wanted to be assigned to that magazine,

but ended up being assigned

to the Weekly Touto magazine instead.

Morning, sir.

Been away for a month, right?

Your section's so uneventful.

Good morning...

"University of Tokyo", you're back.

Long time no see, sir.

Hey Chief, Sawada's finally returned.

I'm back, sir.

Welcome back.

Who's that?

She's a new face

who'll be our cover girl from now on.

So this guilty feeling, you might say.

Even though I experienced it,

all I did was just pretend.

They were real vagabonds and laborers,

and I tricked them into becoming friends with me.

So this guilty feeling...

Sawada.

Is that what you want to convey?

You were gone for a month

and sentimentality is all you've got?

Sentimentality? ljust said how I felt.

We're the "eyes" of society.

Do you understand?

The details are important.

What's happening there is the key.

Did you see it, Mr. Tokuyama?

Did you see it?

Hey!

I actually spent time with them.

Stop it, that's enough.

Sawada, just do it, all right?

Write a great article to justify your month.

Tokuyama, it's not often everyone's here, so...

Mr. Nakahira is still at Sanrizuka.

He should just let the Touto Journal cover the New Left.

We have to swim with the tide too, you know.

Yes, swim with the tide.

The Apollo mission has our hands full.

Everyone is working on it.

We know that.

Chief, could I have a word?

Hello, Mr. Nakahira.

Get me a coffee.

But I have to keep track of this.

You were asleep.

Yes, sir.

I still can't believe that humans have gone to the Moon.

I would choose Vietnam over the Moon anytime.

You lack that kind of determination.

Feel guilty? Then go.

Bring a club like the protesters.

But...

from the standpoint of a journalist...

Stop trying to be cool. Just go.

Believe what you want to believe.

You're human before you're a journalist.

Yes.

What's this?

She's our new cover girl.

Using a girl on the cover like that,

that's why we're considered too frivolous or too bourgeois.

She's cute.

Mr. Nakahira! How could you say that?

What? Women are different.

You're contradicting yourself.

No, I'm not. I'm a man before I'm a journalist.

Let's drink whiskey.

I have to do this.

You'll have some, right?

No, thank you, really.

Mr. Nakahira, I'll do it.

I thought Yoshiro Karatani was wanted by the police.

We're participating in the next Zenkyoto rally.

Give him a ride to Hibiya.

What? But that's...

Journalism shouldn't be a party to the movement.

I'll teach you what real journalism is all about.

Yoshiro Karatani, the chairman of the University of Tokyo Zenkyoto.

The hero and commander of the movement

who had been hiding since a warrant

for his arrest had been issued.

If I fail, I'll be arrested for assisting his escape.

Mr. Karatani, I'm a few years your junior in university.

I'm a University of Tokyo graduate, too.

I saw the Yasuda Auditorium when it fell.

I wasn't there when that happened.

I wish that...

I could have been there with everyone.

It would have been better than this.

Now, as we attempt to overcome oppression

and join in solidarity, the riot police,

that is, state powers are inflicting violence upon us!

That's right!

The Establishment is attempting

to shut down the All-Japan Zenkyoto student movement,

baring its violence and madness against us

who are gathered here today!

That's right!

This is the forefront of the fascist

and oppressive Japanese society headed by PM Sato!

But hear me, students of this nation,

the riot police try to wield power over us

and resort to violence...

Sawada.

The rear's too risky. The front?

The front's no good.

Somewhere in between?

I didn't notice.

You're Yoshiro Karatani.

Go...

Some journalist you are helping the students.

I'll break your other leg.

Give mejust 10 more minutes.

Run, Karatani!