Ikiru

TOHO CO., LTD.

Toho 20th Anniversary Film

Arts Festival Selection - 1952

IKIRU:

Produced by

SOJIRO MOTOGI:

Screenplay by AKIRA KUROSAWA,

SHINOBU HASHIMOTO, HIDEO OGUNI

Cinematography by

ASAKAZU NAKAI:

Music by

FUMIO HAYASAKA:

Cast:

TAKASHI SHIMURA:

Directed by

AKIRA KUROSAWA:

This stomach belongs to

the protagonist of our story.

At this point, our protagonist

has no idea he has this cancer...

PUBLIC AFFAIRS:

SECTION CHIEF:

My child has sensitive skin,

and that water gave him an awful rash.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMEN Plus it breeds mosquitoes like crazy.

And it stinks, besides.

Can't you do something? It would make

a great playground if you filled it in.

Please wait a moment.

Sir, they've come to complain

about a sewage pond.

- Engineering Section.

- Yes.

Ah, here is our protagonist now.

But it would only be tiresome

to meet him right now.

After all,

he's simply passing time

without actually living his life.

In other words,

he's not really even alive.

Odagiri,

how dare you,

during business hours?

But it's so funny.

Funny? What is?

It's the "Liar's Club. "

Someone sent it around.

Read it to us.

"I hear you've never even

taken a vacation.

Is that because City Hall

couldn't function without you?"

"No, because everyone would realize

that City Hall doesn't need me at all. "

Oh, no, this will never do.

He might as well be a corpse.

In fact, this man has been dead

for more than 20 years now.

Before that, he did live a little.

He even actually tried

to do real work.

A PROPOSAL FOR I NCREASI NG

DEPARTMENTAL EFFICI ENCY

SUBMITTED 1930

But now, there's barely a trace of

his old passion and ambition.

He's been worn down completely by

the minutia of the bureaucratic machine

and the meaningless busyness

it breeds.

Busy, always so very busy.

But in fact, this man does

absolutely nothing at all.

Other than protecting

his own spot.

The best way to protect your place

in this world is to do nothing at all.

Is this really

what life is all about?

Is this really

what life is all about?

Before our friend will

take this question seriously,

his stomach has

to get a lot worse,

and he'll have to waste much,

much more time.

But any proposal

for creating a park

goes to the Parks Department.

This really seems to be

a question of hygiene,

so you'd better try

the Health Department.

Go to the Sanitation Department.

See Environmental Sanitation.

Department of Prevention.

Infectious Diseases.

Lots of mosquitoes?

That's a job for

the Division of Pest Control.

The problem is seeping waste,

which means

it's a problem for

the Sewage Department at City Hall.

Originally, it was a ditch

with a road running over it,

which means the Roads Department.

We're waiting on a decision

from City Planning.

Go to Ward Reorganization.

The Fire Department objected

to draining that cesspool.

There are water pressure problems

in that area.

Are you kidding?

All we need's a good water supply.

There's no reason it has to

breed mosquitoes and cause rashes.

Think what a time we'd have

getting that filth out of our hoses.

Of course, we'd love a kiddie pool

in that neighborhood.

Try the Education Department. They

should have a Child Welfare Committee.

But the problem doesn't only

affect children.

We've had enough trouble

just rebuilding all the schools.

A problem this big belongs with your

Ward Representative to the City Council.

I'll give you an introduction

to the Deputy Mayor.

Show him my card

and he'll meet with you immediately.

Please, sit down.

Thank you for all your hard work.

The truth is that we truly appreciate

folks like you,

who know to bring

such complaints directly

to our attention.

That's precisely what inspired

our new Department of Public Affairs.

Don't skimp on your complaints.

Hey, you. Show these folks

the Public Affairs desk.

You'll need to take that up

with Engineering. Desk 8.

How dare you?

Stop giving us the runaround.

What the hell's this poster mean?

To help us kill time?

We call people like you time-killers.

All we want is to get

that stinking cesspool cleaned up.

If it's Engineering, Sewage,

Health, Sanitation or the Fire Department,

Public Affairs should sort it out.

Forget it.

We won't bother you anymore.

You're just laughing at us.

What a mockery of democracy.

Let's go.

Um, excuse me.

Unfortunately, the section chief

took the day off,

and it'd be easier for us

if you'd put this in writing.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS:

SECTION CHIEF:

What do you think?

The section chief

never takes days off.

Yes, he's been

kind of listless recently.

But we really can't have him

taking extended time off.

Exactly. It's not like him to take

a day off over a little cold.

Nothing moves unless he stamps it.

Yes, you're right.

I must say,

it's a terrible shame.

One more month

and he'd have broken the record of

30 years without a single absence.

Trust me, some people are

happy to have him gone.

Only a bureaucrat schemes

to replace his boss as soon as he's out.

What's that medicine

he's been taking?

Stomach medicine. He always slurped

his noodle bowl to the bottom,

but lately, he barely touches it.

Plain noodle soup. In all these years,

I've never seen him eat anything else.

And if the worst happens,

who'll replace him?

What's the rush? Lots more guys

have to die before it's your turn.

X-RAY LAB

- Hiraoka-san...

- Yes.

Your stomach?

Yeah, my stomach's bad, too.

It's what they call "chronic. "

These days I hardly feel alive

unless my stomach hurts.

- Suzuki-san...

- Yes.

That man over there...

His doctor told him

he's got an ulcer,

but trust me, it's stomach cancer.

In a word, that very thing.

And stomach cancer

is practically a death sentence.

The doc usually says

it's just a mild ulcer,

and that there's

no real need to operate.

And that you can eat whatever you want

as long as it's easy to digest.

If that's what he tells you,

you've got a year, at most.

But if you've got these symptoms,

you won't last a year:

First, if the pain is kind of heavy.

Second, if you can't stop

burping unpleasantly.

And your tongue's always dry.

You can't get enough water and tea.

And then there's the diarrhea.

And, if it isn't diarrhea,

well, then you're constipated.

Your bowel movements go black.

And then,

that meat you used to love so,

you can hardly touch it anymore.

And whatever you eat,

you vomit half an hour later.

And when stuff you ate

last week comes up

when you vomit,

well, then you're done for.

You've hardly got three months...

Watanabe-san.

Watanabe Kanji-san.

Watanabe-san.

Yes.

Sit down.

Um... it looks like

you've got a mild ulcer.

Honestly...

please tell me...

the truth.

Tell me it's stomach cancer.

I just told you,

it's a mild ulcer.

What about an operation?

Can't you operate?

Oh, no, there's no need to operate.

It'll heal on its own.

And my diet?

Well, just use your common sense.

As long as it's easy to digest,

you can eat whatever you like.

Does that patient have a year?

No, I'd give him six months.

- Six months?

- Yeah.

What would you do if you had only

six months left to live, like him?

What about you, Aihara?

The barbiturates are over there.

Is there a blackout?

The street lights

and neighbors are lit.

How strange.

I wonder if Dad's out.

Where's the key?

In your handbag.

Did Hayashi-san forget to lock up

when she went home?

She's only a part-time maid.

Full-time would hardly break the bank,

but a thief sure would.

That's just like Dad,

the petty bureaucrat.

Man, it's freezing.

Just as cold inside as out.

I just hate Japanese houses.

Have a great time out and come home

to this dump. We need a modern home.

- Honey...

- Yeah.

A house of our own would

cost 500,000 yen, right?

Use father's retirement bonus

as collateral...

Yeah, it ought to be worth

6 or 700,000 yen by now.

Plus a monthly pension of

12 or 13,000 yen.

And another 100,000 in savings.

But you think he'd agree?

If he doesn't, we'll tell him

we're moving out. That'll clinch it.

Besides, even Pop wouldn't want to take

all that money to his grave.

What's wrong, Dad?

Oh, nothing. Nothing at all.

That was strange.

Listen, honey.

It's not fair.

What isn't?

He heard our whole conversation.

It's really not fair.

It may be his house,

but this is our room.

I can't believe he snuck in here

while we were out.

Besides, if he's got a gripe,

he should come out with it.

Not go around acting

like a crabby kid.

Stop being so moody.

Forget about your dad.

He has his life.

We have ours.

Love me.

How sad.

She was so young,

and to leave such a sweet

little boy behind.

She must have regretted dying.

Cut it out.

The same broken record.

Hurry, hurry.

Mommy's leaving.

You can't use Mitsuo

as an excuse

not to marry again.

As soon as that boy grows up,

he'll never love you

the way you loved him.

And when he gets married,

they'll squeeze you out.

You've got to think about

your own future.

I'm telling you,

find another wife now.

Besides, my wife says,

the thought of you

and your oily skin

keeping up with the laundry

is too disgusting to bear.

Dad.

Mitsuo.

Good night.

You'll lock up down there, right?

Mitsuo.

What do you say?

What a great hit.

You know, the batter is my...

Mitsuo, Mitsuo.

That idiot.

What's he thinking?

Mitsuo.

Mitsuo, be brave.

It's only your appendix.

No worse than pulling a tooth.

Can't you stay for the operation, Dad?

Well, I've got some other things

to do and...

Mitsuo, Mitsuo.

Banzai, Banzai.

Banzai, banzai.

Dad.

CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION

IN RECOGNITION OF 25 YEARS

OF DISTINGUISHED CIVIL SERVICE

Watanabe-san left for work as usual.

What?

But he hasn't been in at all.

It's been five days now,

but he hasn't called in sick either.

The sub-section chief asked me

to check up on him.

Madam. Madam.

What? Impossible.

But it's true.

The man from his office said so.

What could Father be doing?

It's incredible, but it's really true.

The people at his house

were flabbergasted.

What a bother.

When the section chief s out,

I can stamp your paperwork.

But he has to approve

any resignations, right?

Don't tell me you want to quit?

I don't belong here.

Uncle, he even withdrew

50,000 yen from his account.

That miser?

Maybe he's got a woman.

That would be quite something.

- Now, dear.

- Never.

Oh, there's no telling

when it comes to love.

The least likely ones

have the highest risk.

If you ask me, he's actually

always been a real lech.

What they call a sullen lech. But he's

stayed single these 20 years for you.

It makes sense

he'd explode sooner or later.

Oh, no. He's lost

a lot of weight recently,

and his skin's

strangely dry and flaky.

I bet there's another explanation.

You saw him recently?

Four days ago.

He turned up that morning.

I thought there was definitely

something wrong.

But you know your uncle.

He just said, "Why the glum look?

If it's a loan, forget it. "

Hey, don't tell me he had good news.

Not with that long face.

Now, honey, it's just that

my husband thinks all men

are self-indulgent, like him.

Say, Mitsuo-san.

Did something happen at home?

No... nothing in particular.

Hey.

Deliver this to my place.

My editor's waiting outside.

And get some sleeping pills

at the drugstore.

There's a prescription

in my name.

But sir, the drugstore's

already closed.

Is it that late?

Around here, they close up

shop after dinner.

What to do?

I can't get to sleep unless

I take them with my nightcap.

Um, I don't mean to be rude.

But I happen to have

some sleeping pills with me.

Well, much obliged.

May I pay you the official price?

No, no.

I was planning to throw them away.

- But...

- No, really.

Really?

Then let me pick up your tab.

Oh, no.

You can drink, right?

Please, have another.

You hardly seem tipsy.

Why, thank you.

I throw up everything anyway.

In other words, my stomach...

I have stomach cancer.

- Stomach cancer?

- Yes.

That's a shock.

But then, what you're doing is crazy.

Yes, it's embarrassing, but...

But...

It's suicide to drink

when you have stomach cancer.

But... I can't die.

I'll just up and die on them.

I want to, but...

I can't... die.

In other words,

I can't bring myself to die.

I don't know what I've been doing

with my life all these years.

No children?

Your stomach hurts?

No, it's not my stomach...

It seems you're carrying

a heavy load indeed.

No...

It's just...

I'm such a fool.

I'm just...

so furious with myself.

Until just a few days ago,

I'd never even bought a drink

with my own money.

It's only now that I don't know

how much longer I've got to live

that I finally...

I understand.

I understand.

But drinking is plain crazy.

Besides, does it even taste good?

No, it doesn't.

But...

for a little while,

I can forget my cancer,

and all the other painful things.

Drinking...

this expensive sake

is like paying myself

back with poison

for the way I lived all these years.

In other words,

I mean,

it feels awful,

but it feels good at the same...

I can understand.

Oh, why...

Actually, I...

I have 50,000 yen here with me,

which I'd like to spend all at once.

But embarrassingly enough,

the thing is, I don't even

actually know how.

So what I'm trying to say is...

You want me to show you

how to spend it?

Yes, I realize

it's terribly forward of me...

But...

No, this money...

It took me dozens of years

to set aside this money.

All the more reason now to...

What I'm trying to say...

I understand.

But please put your money away.

Tonight's on me.

But that's not... I...

Just leave things to me.

Truly fascinating...

I realize it's rude

to call you fascinating,

but you're an extremely

rare individual.

I'm a half-baked fool

who writes meaningless novels.

You've really made me think tonight.

I realize what they say about

the nobility of misfortune is true.

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