Coup d'Etat (Kaigenrei / 戒厳令) (戒厳令)

COUP D'ÉTAT

A film directed by Kijû Yoshida

One... two...

Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Seven.

Eight.

Nine.

Ten.

Produced by Kinshiro Kuzui & Kijû Yoshida Screenplay by Minoru Betsuyaku

Cinematography by Motokichi Hasegawa

Starring:

Rentaro Mikuni

Yasuo Miyake, Akiko Kurano

Tadahiko Sugano, Masako Yagi, Yasuyo Matsumura

Kei Iinuma, Masao Imafuku, Kazunaga Tsuji, Taketoshi Naito

Are you sure he's your brother?

He checked his victim was dead by putting a hand under his nose.

And then he committed suicide.

He had a knife, but cut his throat with a razor.

The murdered man is Zenjiro Yasuda, head of the Yasuda financial cartel.

He was 84 years old.

He was stabbed in the right chest and twice in the face with a 24-cm knife.

He tried to escape but was stabbed in the throat.

That was the death blow.

He said nothing to you?

Actually...

...he spoke of counting to ten before acting...

He said something of the sort.

What did he mean by that?

"Before acting, count to ten."

Count to ten?

"One, two, three, four..."

It calms your nerves.

Our father often said this to him before he passed away.

Can't you tell me exactly how he said it?

"Before acting, count to ten."

They were his words.

May I go now?

Well, just wait a moment.

Hail to the Mystical Lotus Sutra and the Buddha of Compassion...

There's someone here to see you.

From the Imperial Household Agency?

You have sent seven copies of the Lotus Sutra to the Crown Prince.

You are Ikki Kita, am I correct?

We would like you to accept this receipt on behalf of His Highness.

There's someone here to see you.

It's his wife.

Heigo Asahi?

This way, please.

Heigo Asahi is the one who stabbed Zenjiro Yasuda.

Yes, sir.

Why have you come to see me?

Because it was written in his will.

What was written?

To deliver this to Ikki Kita.

Is that all?

Yes, sir.

I've spoken to the police about the matter.

They advised me to deliver it.

That's what the police told you, to deliver it?

Yes.

And your parents...?

I don't have any. There's just me and my younger brother.

And what did your brother say about this current matter?

Nothing. He didn't say anything to me.

My brother and I, we live separately.

But...

What?

The last time I saw him, he said to me,

"Before acting, count to ten."

"Before acting, count to ten"?

Was that before the stabbing?

"Finally, to my faithful friends:

"Always guard my principles,

"without words, without clamour, without denunciations.

"In silence, stab, slash, cut, shoot.

"Between friends, there's no need for pacts.

"It is enough to kill one person. Do your best.

"The time for the revolution is ripe.

"If we can foment revolution in many places,

"it will not be difficult to obtain support."

Even if his testament is different, it's obvious that he'd read your book,

Outline Plan for the Reorganisation of Japan.

It's not my book, Nishida.

I wrote it for you.

I realise that.

One can feel...

...that, before acting, he counted to ten.

Counted to ten?

Exactly.

They are many ways to calm oneself.

Many?

That's not true. This method he invented.

Exactly.

This is the method that he invented.

His actions will result in the imposition of martial law.

Martial law?

In order to dignify their actions, he wants to increase the danger.

And that is martial law.

Not again, surely?

Why don't you just drop the case?

- Why? - It stinks.

Get him up.

Bring him to the house and look after him.

- May I help you? - I'd like to see your master.

The master?

The gentleman who's director of the Mitsui financial cartel.

And who shall I say is calling?

- Tell him Kita is here. - Mr. Kita, I understand.

One moment, please.

Thank you.

It's a very useful machine.

But sometimes it's ineffective.

This machine can whisper,

but it cannot scream.

A few days ago, the head of the Yasuda cartel, Zenjiro Yasuda, was killed.

This is what the assassin, Heigo Asahi, sent me.

It has come into my possession.

I thought your father, the director, would also like to see it.

I see...

The director isn't here, I take it?

That doesn't matter. Please take a closer look.

After killing Yasuda, Heigo Asahi killed himself by cutting his throat.

Therefore, that is the blood of Yasuda

mingled with the blood of Heigo Asahi.

You can smell it.

Try a whiff.

I see...

It's the smell of Heigo Asahi's life.

He detested the financial cartels.

And not just him.

It seems the number of people who hate the cartels is growing.

I think it would wise for you to be mindful of this.

Has Iwasa of the Secret Police arrived?

No.

I've been wondering why Heigo Asahi contacted me.

I did not know the man. Not once have I met him.

It seems that he had read my book and become very passionate.

But that's another matter entirely.

Nevertheless, he had this sent to me.

Why was that?

Well... I understand Heigo Asahi.

I must share responsibility for what happened.

In this world,

there are many unsophisticated yet sincere persons like Heigo Asahi.

And I must understand that people, even in good faith, will make mistakes.

I've said too much.

If you don't mind, I'll take that back, thanks.

Wait a moment, please.

I understand what a difficult situation you have found yourself in.

There isn't much, but please accept it.

I understand. Thank you.

I'll leave you this as a receipt.

Master?

You must be careful.

They're mobilising.

Who are?

The Secret Police have men everywhere.

I know that.

They've all read your book, Outline Plan for Reorganisation...,

and they've begun to plot.

Please be very careful.

This situation is dangerous for you, master.

Dangerous?

Of course it's dangerous.

It's more dangerous for me than you can imagine.

I know who my enemies are.

When I returned from Shanghai in 1920,

I dedicated a set of Lotus Sutras to the Emperor.

I accepted a receipt,

and it was then that I noticed nothing was written on it.

Do you follow me?

It represented a taciturn acceptance of my challenge to the government.

Daiki!

- It's so dark in here. - Yes, I've closed the shutters.

Why?

The shade calms my nerves.

Why is Daiki killing insects?

He's full of hatred, that boy.

Hatred?

Why is that?

Stop that!

What's wrong?

Do it later.

He expresses dislike well, but it's out of fear.

Perhaps it's because Daiki fears something.

- You're to blame. - Me?

Last night, you had a nightmare again.

Is that so?

Last night, I dreamt about the Emperor.

The Emperor?

I was the Emperor.

What are you doing?

It's retribution.

Whenever I was afraid as a child, I would be punished.

On the island where I was born,

that's how they made their children strong.