The Lost Alibi (黒い画集　あるサラリーマンの証言)

TOHO Co, Ltd.

THE BLACK BOOK

THE BLACK BOOK AN EMPLOYEES CONFESSION

Produced by Reiji Miwa

Written by Shinobu Hashimoto Based on the story by Seicho Matsumoto

Cinematography by Asakazu Nakai Production Design by Shinobu Muraki

Sound Effects by Masao Fujiyoshi Light Effects by Hiromichi Mori

Music by Sei lkeno

Assistant Director Hideo Onchi

Cast:

Keiju Kobayashi

Chisako Hara, Akihiko Hirata, Tatsuyoshi Ehara

Ko Nishimura, Chieko Nakakita, Ken Mitsuda

Nobuo Nakamura, Maser: Ode

Takamaru Sasaki, Kensuke '(awe

Kazuya Oguri, Tadao Nakamaru

Kin Sugai, Atsuko lchinomiya

Asao Koike, Kiyoshi Kotama

Directed by Hiromichi Horikawa

Tokyo is like an endless sea.

With a population of 9 million people, it is the largest city in the world.

I live in a residential area in the north-west part of the city.

I lead a quiet life with my wife and two kids.

On weekends and holidays, we take a train to Shibuya.

It is Tokyo's business area. One can call it the heart of Japan.

This is where I work.

Please, don't get me wrong.

My enterprise doesn't occupy the whole building.

Ours is only a part of the fourth floor.

My company was founded in 1922 and has a turnover of 1 billion yen.

Although it's not Japan's first, it consistently holds the second line.

TOWA-KEORI WOOLEN FABRIC

My monthly income, including rewards and bonuses, is 75 thousand yen.

After deducing taxes and payments, it amounts to 57,740 yen.

However, twice a year I also get a 400 thousand bonus.

So I'm a high-ranking executive.

I'm Procurement Manager.

Managing a procurement department might seem like an easy job.

But I'm 42 and I have 13 years left till retirement.

I can't afford to lose my job.

lshino-kun, in my office.

Coming.

It was Mr Takeda. Recently he became the Company Director.

A decision has been finalized concerning upgrading fire safety equipment...

at Hamamatsu, Hikone, Kurashiki and Tokuyama plants.

I see... And what about the Takigawa plant?

Warehouse expansion?

It depends on the budget, so it's postponed till next year.

I see.

I'm on good terms with Director Takeda.

Since I'm not seeking to get his position...

there's a chance I can keep my job even after! reach retirement age.

- Ku rata-kun! - Yes?

- Send this document out to all the factories. - Yes.

- Umetani-kun! - Yes'?

Print it out and send three copies to the Hikone plant.

Yes.

Boss!

All these people have to discuss each discount and each commission with me.

Ifs not something to be taken lightly

Even a small commission can play a huge pan' later on.

The working day is over and employees are hurrying home.

If one observes from up here, they look like ants.

We been working in the company for 20 years, ever since I graduated...

but the end of the working day still brings me a lot of joy

- Goodbye. - See you.

lshino-kun!

Tanabe-kun is Warehouse Manager.

He's an important person for me. He's the keeper of my stuff.

Since Toyo-Kaizo aren't meeting the deadline, vve turned to Kyokuto-Pulp.

Kyokuto-Pulp? Why not.

Would you like to go for a drink'?

No, I'm going straight home today

- Bye. - See you.

Well... my private time starts now.

Coming!

To Tosa...

I like machine number 34.

You can play three times with a total stake of 50 yen.

To Tosa...

Boss, you said you were going straight home.

That's right.

And before that,

you said you were at a meeting, or at negotiations with a subcontractor.

You also said you were at the cinema...

- Give me a cloth, quick! - Don't worry like that.

Here you go.

You have to be careful when you do the laundry

many?

Someone might notice. This place is for women only

Don't worry When I take things to the cleaner's, I check everything.

- I see you're experienced in stuff like this. - I'll show you!

- Bye. - I'll accompany you to the road.

- Don't. - Just once?

I'll keep my distance.

Do you know him?

Yes, it's my neighbor.

That's nothing. He's not going to tell anyone.

I don't know him that well.

We only exchange greetings.

We don't even have anything to talk about.

Did that man see you'?

No. He was walking straighten, without looking around.

Alright. I hope he didn't see you.

I look the same as usual.

I just greeted him, that's all.

And here's Sugiyama's house, the man I bumped into.

But why was he there at such an hour'?

Although, he goes from door to door He's some son' of insurance agent.

So ifs no wonder.

Onishi attempts a left hook, but hits a block.

The end of the fourth round.

The break is only 5 minutes.

I know.

Love is suffering, love is pain...

- You're late today - I went to the cinema in Shibuya.

- Are you hungry'? - I had dinner.

Okay)'-

- Welcome home! - Welcome home!

Why aren't you sleeping yet?

I've told them a thousand times.

Dad, did you go to the cinema?

- What'? Make me some tea. - Okay

In the Seibu-no-Arashi cinema,

they showed an Italian film called Bread, Love...

and Dreams. Bread, Love and Dreams.

Yes, exactly

Did you like it'?

It was okay

Bread, Love and Dreams, then...

What bread?

It's the name of the film.

I see...

Left... left... and a crushing blow!

Onishi, come on! Again!

Like that. Right! Right!

Hit him in the guts! Come on, Onishi!

To the body! Higher!

Yes! He won!

- He's good! - That's what I like.

- He's strong... - He's the strongest!

Thank you! Thank you!

"Elections in the USA are about to start."

"No significant changes this time."

"Yesterday evening, a young woman was strangled in her home in Mukojima."

There have been a lot of cases recently

First a flight attendant, then a businesswoman,

and then a girl in Asakusa.

And now it's this one in Mukojima.

We live in a dangerous time.

You're at work, kids are at school, and I'm at home alone all clay

I'm a bit scared.

Maybe vve should get a dog'?

Exactly

Chieko is also alone all the time over there.

She needs to be careful.

- Good morning. - Good morning.

This is Sugiyama's wife. ..

That neighbor of mine from yesterday...

No, no, there's no reason to worry...

- Listen... - What'?

Are you sure that man didn't say anything?

There's nothing to worry about.

Alright.

Why did you ask?

I imagined what your wife would do if she learnt about me.

She would show up at work, furious.

What a scandal that would be!

I can't afford for that to happen.

All my years of hard work would go down the drain.

DETECTIVE TAMEO OKUDAIRA

- Take them to the reception room. - Yes.

Kozo Sugiyama'?

Yes, it's your neighbor, an insurance agent.

I know him.

Hovv well do you know each other'?

Well, vve exchange greetings when vve see each other.

If you saw Sugiyama-san, would you recognize him?

Yes, I would.

So, did you see this...

Sugiyama-san from Shinjuku Nishiokubo, 821...

in one of the alleys...

on June '16, at about 9:30 PM...

five days ago?

Why are you asking me about this? I don't understand.

You have nothing to worry about.

It's just that Sugiyama-san claims he saw you.

You don't recall?

Did you see him or not'?

Why would I go to that neighborhood...

- So you didn't see him? - No.

YOUNG WOMAN MURDERED IN MUKOJIMA

SUSPECT ARRESTED

So that's what the investigator came about...

ifs so disagreeable...

Welcome home! Darling, it's terrible.

Sugiyama-san was the one vvho murdered that woman from Mukojima.

Yes, I read about it in the paper.

We couldn't have even suspected.

Two days ago the police took him to the precinct.