Ken

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DAIEl presents

KEN:

From a novel by

MISHIMA Yukio

Script:
FUNABASHI Kazuro

Photography:
MAKIURA Chikashi

Music:
IKENO Sei

Film set:
NAITO Akira

Starring

ICHIKAWA Raizo

FUJI Yukiko

KAWAZU Yusuke, HASEGAWA Akio

Directed by MISUMI Kenji

At this moment,

I saw the essence of the sun.

It is absolute Justice.

Its brightness is unbearable.

I wanted to absorb this light

to gain the strength.

Strength and honor!

I was convinced that with kendo,

I'd be able to seize

this spark of pure life

I had discovered.

Helmet hit!

Point to Kokubu!

Kagawa, your turn.

Kokubu versus Kagawa

Start!

- Be brave, Kagawa!

- Kagawa!

- Go, Kokubu!

- Kokubu!

Side hit!

Point to Kokubu!

Towa's University

Kendo Club

Salute.

Thank you!

Turn.

Salute!

We're hesitating between Kokubu and Kagawa

for the captain position.

They have the same skill level.

According to our evaluation criteria

Kokubu is better than Kagawa.

But the kendo national federation

doesn't have the same judgement.

They only take matches results

into consideration.

In our case, we also consider

personality and behavior.

Kagawa's sword shows

sentimentality and psychology.

He has a very high skill level,

but sometimes he draws his strength

from arrogance.

That's true. He doesn't

have Kokubu's level.

He's far from having

Kokubu's purity and subtlety.

So, let's choose Kokubu.

We won't regret it.

Let's appoint Kagawa to assistant captain.

But it may make Kokubu feel unconfortable.

New leaders of the kendo club

Captain:
Kokubu.

Assistant:
Murata.

The former pupils and our master

appointed me to new captain of the club.

Our goal is

to win the kendo national championship.

It is not a personal victory

but a team effort.

It requires training.

No victory without it.

I'll do my job as a captain.

I'll put all my energy into it.

With me there will be no mistake.

Those who believe in me can follow me.

May the others leave.

Mibu!

We're treated like beginners.

- I don't agree.

- Don't worry.

It's true, we reached a decent

level since high school.

But Kokubu is right.

We must get rid of our bad habits.

It's for our own good.

Do you think so? Kendo at university

isn't a piece of cake.

Towa's University

Fall in!

Sit down!

Concentrate!

OVer!

M. Kagawa!

Here.

Foreign cigarettes

I stole from my dad.

- Is it for me?

- It's a gift.

Thank you.

M. Kagawa...

I'm bored with the newbies.

I want to wear the helmet.

So that's it...

- Do you want to buy me?

- Not at all.

I like your style.

It's brilliant and fluid.

Train me, please.

I'll talk to Kokubu.

Let's encourage the beginners

by letting them use the helmets.

I was thinking about it too.

They will put them on today.

Tada and Mibu!

Go get your helmets.

Prepare yourselves!

Mibu.

Put your helmet on.

Captain, what about me?

You're not ready.

Work your stances first.

Keep practicing your basis.

Helmets!

You're lucky.

We can't use helmets

for another three months.

Kokubu is the regional champion.

Great!

We can trust him.

His blows still resonate within me.

With a real sword

I'd be dead a hundred times.

Each time he beats me,

I understand kendo better.

Do you never win?

That's impossible.

When I face him,

he totally dazzles me.

A real sun!

You're kidding.

Not at all.

He's a real block of energy.

It's unstoppable.

- What is it?

- Medlars.

He killed himself while eating?

He was scared to fail the exam.

He killed himself for that?

Why did he have a raging hunger

with medlars before dying?

Death scared him.

He didn't have to commit suicide.

He got scared when he felt

the effects of the drug.

He wanted to cheat his fear.

Was he in your class?

He had weak body and mind.

Do men commit suicide so easily?

No, only the very weak

or the very strong.

Even the strong?

Of course. It happens.

I don't understand.

Is it possible to have a

raging hunger while dying?

That's pitiful.

Mibu, we must move away

from those empty desires.

And your training, how does it go?

Yesterday, I won one match out of

three against Kagawa.

He's strong, but sometimes

his mind goes blank.

Machinist!

Take a sit.

Thank you.

You're very nice.

We need more

nice students like you.

I lost.

About time.

I could have fleeced you.

You're rich enough as it is, aren't you?

It looks like our dear gentleman isn't too happy.

Jiro!

Did you have a nice day?

Order whatever you want for your dinner.

Ask the maid.

Does he ever play mah-jong?

Of course not.

My son is well-mannered.

Don't lead him into it.

Is mom trusting you?

Trust me, mom.

I'm a good boy, mom.

My turn to play.

I lost again.

Is Kokubu really like that?

Yes, an odd bod

not interested in anything.

No bowling, no base-ball...

He never reads either.

A Ioner...

But what is he doing?

He's training.

All day long?

Ask him about music,

you'll see...

He never watched television.

Unbelievable! Do people

like that exist?

They're rare enough.

I'm interested in him.

- But he won't be interested in you.

- Thanks for the compliment!

I saw him talk to some girls.

But he doesn't understand them.

It's a trick to chat up girls.

I wouldn't be able to bear it.

Of course. With your sexual appetite...

Thanks for the compliment!

She's right.

He thinks he's a hero.

He plays the stoical hero.

"He plays", you're saying?

Don't you believe in Kokubu?

No, not a long as he won't be more human.

You don't understand him.

He's nuts.

Say it again!

Stop it!

Mibu, stop it!

What are you doing?

That's enough!

I'm listening.

Mibu!

Speak.

Tada, speak!

He jumped me with no reason.

Mibu!

You probably had a reason.

Explain yourself.

And you?

Say something.

- Are you all mute?

- Have a little more guts!

If you have nothing to say...

Mibu!

Tada!

Get up!

You're both responsible.

Face the wall!

Face the wall!

Sit and face the wall!

The cadets never witnessed

a reprimand in kendo.

Watch carefully!

It was harder during the first year.

My elders gathered in a circle

around me to beat me.

I had bruises everywhere.

Sitting for 40 minutes is a piece of cake.

So? You're weakening?

This is bullshit!

What?

I enrolled to practice some sport.

Not to be subjected to

feudal age punishment.

I quit.

Enough kendo.

Let's explain man to man!

Are you out of your mind?

Stop it.

I'll tell you why me and Mibu fought.

- Shut up!

- Let him talk.

You think everybody respects you.

But only Mibu does.

Even Kagawa is talking sh*t about you.

He can't stand it anymore to see you

play the heroic upholder of the law.

Everybody's fed up!

Kagawa!

I don't talk sh*t about you. I'm criticizing.

Liar! The other day when

we were playing mah-jong...

You're wrong.

We have a right to criticize.

Do you have anything else to say?

I quit.

Wait.

Let's thrash him.

No, no violence!

Give me back my game.

A Towa's pigeon.

Are you the one who shot it?

Yep. That's why it's mine.

Hand it over!

No, it belongs to the university.

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