The Heart

---

Nikkatsu Productions

KOKORO:

From the novel by NATS UME Soseki

Produced by TAKAGI Masayuki

Screenplay by INOMATA Katsuhito

and HASEBE Keiji

Cinematography by ITO Takeo

Art direction by KOIKE Kazumi

Music by OKI Masao

Cast

Nobuchi ("Sensei") - MORI Masayuki

Shizu, Nobuchi's wife -

ARATAMA Michiyo

Kaji - MIHASHI Tatsuya

Hioki Jiro - YAS UI Shoji

Hioki's mother - KITABAYASHI Tanie

Shizu's mother - TAMURA Akiko

Hioki's father - TS URUMARU Mutsuhiko

Hioki's brother - SHIMOMOTO Tsutomu

Employment agent - SHIMOJO Masami

Kume, the maid - NARAOKA Tomoko

Directed by ICHIKAWA Kon

April, 45th Year of the Meiji Era (1912)

Shizu?

Aren't you coming?

No, I'm not. You go by yourself.

I'll stay here.

But the maid's here.

I've still got things to do.

You're still angry, aren't you?

It was my fault.

Come on, get changed

and we'll go together.

Why don't you wear

that new obi belt you bought?

Don't mess up the drawer.

This one?

Aren't you going to change, my dear?

I'll go just as I am, I always do.

You're still hiding something from me,

I know.

That's enough! Don't be ridiculous...

You don't like being seen

with me at your side.

Shizu... stop it.

But... what else am I supposed to think?

Stop talking like this.

There is no other woman.

Then why shouldn't I accompany you

to Kaji's grave?

But I just asked you to come!

No!

You don't really want me to.

Shizu, you misunderstand me.

Please, just go alone.

Idiot! It's not what you're thinking!

KAJI:

Died - 23rd October 1897

Sensei!

Have you been following me?

Your wife said that I'd find you here.

Did my wife tell you

whose grave I was visiting?

No...

I actually wanted to borrow

some books, sir.

For my graduation thesis.

I see. You can borrow

whatever you need.

Thank you very much.

- Is your family tomb here, sir?

- No.

- Then whose grave is it? A relative's?

- No.

It's my friend's grave.

- And you visit it every month?

- That's right.

There are so many different kinds

of graves here. It's interesting...

Perhaps I could come with you

next time you visit. I like it here.

I prefer to come alone.

I don't even bring my wife.

Listen, Hioki, you've probably never

thought seriously about death.

What was my wife doing?

She was watering the plants.

I see...

Shall we go for a beer?

- Do you drink, sir?

- I haven't had one for a while.

It's just nearby.

Beer...

Two beers, please.

Sorry, sorry.

Why is it you call round

to see me so often?

There's no particular reason.

- Would you prefer I didn't?

- No, not at all.

I'm a lonely person.

So I'm always happy to see you.

I was just interested in your reasons

for visiting.

But why, sir?

- How old are you?

- Twenty-three.

Do you feel lonely at times, then?

I never feel lonely.

Then why do you come calling

at my house?

See?

But coming round to my house

won't make you feel any less lonely.

But I respect your knowledge, sir.

Why do you respect me

as your "sensei"?

I'm a wretched man.

What a day!

Did you not have a pleasant day?

I had an argument with my wife.

With your wife?

She showed no sign of it.

She misunderstands me.

How does she misunderstand you, sir?

After we argued, I shouldn't have

walked out like I did.

She's the only woman in this world

I've ever known.

I can't think of any other women

apart from my wife.

And my wife...

she thinks the same about me.

We ought to be

the happiest couple in the world.

Ought to be? That means you're not?

- Do we look it?

- Yes...

Funny, isn't it?

Well... I ought to get back home

to my wife.

I have to go, too.

No, stay, please.

I'll leave some money.

Oh... you wanted to borrow

some books, didn't you?

No... Well, it doesn't

have to be today, sir.

Very well.

Extra!

Extra!

NOBUCHI:

I'm afraid these editions

aren't that recent.

Thank you, sir.

I don't know how much that author

will help you in your thesis.

He's certainly quite eclectic,

but his own ideas

are pretty much half-conceived.

His writing is full of quotations

from other people.

Do you know him, Sensei?

Yes, I knew him when he was a student.

- You must be hungry, Hioki.

- Please don't go to any trouble.

I'm sure he'd prefer a beer.

I heard you both went for a drink

recently. You should go more often.

You should come along next time,

a drink would do you good.

Oh, not for me, I can't drink at all.

I'm just glad it makes you feel good.

Not always, it doesn't.

I'm sure the odd drink of an evening

would do you no harm.

- That wouldn't do.

- Go on. You wouldn't feel so lonely.

Drinking alcohol doesn't

necessarily lead to a good time.

Kume? Kume!

Go and buy me that news extra.

There's nothing wrong

with Sensei's health, is there?

No, he's absolutely fine.

He never gets ill.

You're always to be found here, sir,

thinking and studying,

yet you don't go out to work at all?

I'm not qualified to do anything

out there in the world of work.

Why not? You know so much.

He wasn't like that in his younger days.

- When was that?

- In his student days.

You've known him

since your student days?

We've been married for 13 years.

I would have loved to have children.

- Shall we adopt one?

- An adopted one? No!

- We'll never have children.

- Please, dear...

Sensei, why not?

Divine retribution, that's why.

MORNING NEWS DIGEST:

"Emperor Meiji Seriously lll"

Your father has kidney trouble,

doesn't he?

Yes, for a long time now.

He should look after himself.

When an illness seems to have abated,

that's the most critical time.

Sensei... why do you treat

your wife like that?

I just haven't grown up.

There's been another thief

in the neighbourhood.

And Kume has toothache.

I wondered why she had

such a face on her!

I've told her to go to the dentist

but she won't. So I'm taking her.

Nice to see you, Hioki.

She's an unhappy woman.

She has only me to depend on,

that's why.

- Dinner's almost ready.

- I'm going to visit my sensei.

Again?

Why do you go round there so often?

What about your graduation thesis?

Sensei is out.

I'll be looking after his place.

Isn't his wife there?

There've been thieves in the area,

and she's afraid on her own.

Oh, really?

She must be very beautiful, his wife.

That's not the reason!

- You must be bored.

- No.

I keep thinking about the thief,

so I'm on edge... not bored.

Help yourself to any of the books.

Does your husband often

go out in the evenings?

No, hardly ever.

Of late, he's taken a dislike

to meeting anybody.

- Apart from you, of course.

- No, myself included.

- That's not true.

- Why?

Because he loves his wife,

he hates the outside world.

You're a typical scholar,

all wrapped up in your theories.

Shall I make some tea?

You've gone all silent on me.

You'd only scold me

about my "theories".

Not at all...

- Go on.

- I'll ask you then...

How much do you love your husband?

Why do you have to ask me

such questions?

How many, one lump or two?

You know before... when I asked him

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes