Harakiri (Seppuku) (切腹)

A SHOCHIKU PRODUCTION

A 1962 JAPAN ART FESTIVAL ENTRY

1630.

13th day of May. Fair skies.

Extremely hot from early in the day.

IYI CLAN JOURNAL

10h00: Master Bennosuke...

pays a visit to the Kandabashi mansion of the Honorable Lord Doi

to present fresh river trout from the Shirakawa River,

which arrived from our domain.

No other official business to record.

However,

at about 4:00 in the afternoon,

a samurai claiming to be a former retainer of the Fukushima Clan in Hiroshima

appeared at our gate.

HARAKIRI

Produced by TATSUO HOSOYA

Original Story by YASUHIKO TAKIGUCHI

Screenplay by SHINOBU HASHIMOTO

Cinematography by YOSHIO MIYAJIMA

Music by TORU TAKEMITSU

TATSUYA NAKADAI

AKIRA ISHIHAMA

SHIMA IWASHITA

TETSURO TAMBA

MASAO MISHIMA, ICHIRO NAKAYA

KEI SATO

YOSHIO INABA YOSHIRO AOKI

RENTARO MIKUNI

Directed by MASAKI KOBAYASHI

SOTO SAKURADA-MACHI EDO

OFFICIAL RESIDENCE OF THE IYI CLAN

You were a retainer of the former Fukushima Clan in Hiroshima?

That is correct.

My name is Hanshiro Tsugumo.

Written with the charactera tsu, as in "harbor",

and gumo, as in "cloud."

What is the nature of your visit?

My master's house fell in 1619.

I subsequently left the domain and moved here to Edo,

where I found shelter in a back-alley tenement.

While eking out a meager living,

I sought connections for employment with a new master.

But try as I might, we live in times of peace,

and my every effort has been in vain.

Failing to find employment and with little to do,

he finds himself in dire straits

and believes he can endure it no further.

Rather than live on in such poverty and disgrace,

he wishes to die honorably by harakiri

and asks for permission to use our forecourt.

Such is his request.

Not again.

Will they never stop?

How shall I respond?

Fine. Show him in.

This is the room, sir.

Please go in.

Thank you.

I am a former retainer

of Lord Masanori Fukushima of Hiroshima,

Hanshiro Tsugumo by name.

I respectfully beg your favor.

I am senior counselor of the House Of Iyi, Kageyu Saito.

I am much obliged for this immediate interview.

The purpose of my visit...

I've already been told of your request.

Rather than live on in endless poverty,

idly waiting for death,

you wish to end your life in a manner befitting a samurai, by harakiri.

I believe that was the gist of it?

That is correct.

In these times, it is a truly admirable resolve.

I can only express the highest esteem.

You mentioned

that you served the former Lord Fukushima.

Did you happen to know a man named Motome Chijiiwa?

Chijiiwa?

Yes.

Hmmm...

You don't recognize the name?

I'm quite certain he said he'd served the former Lord Fukushima.

In its prosperous days, the clan's retainers

numbered some twelve thousand men.

One could hardly know them all.

I see.

But never mind that.

Earlier this year, perhaps around the end of January,

this ronin named Motome Chijiiwa came calling,

and the purpose of his visit was the same as yours.

He requested the use of our forecourt to dispatch himself with honor.

Is that right?

Would you like me to tell you what happened in that case?

I would indeed.

You say you were a retainer of the former Fukushima Clan in Hiroshima?

That is correct.

I served the former Lord Masanori Fukushima of Hiroshima.

My name is Motome Chijiiwa.

What is the nature of your visit?

After the fall of my master's house,

I moved here to Edo and found shelter in a back-alley tenement.

While eking out a meager living,

I sought connections for employment with a new master.

But try as I might, we live in times of peace,

and my every effort has been in vain.

So now it seems it's our turn.

How shall we respond?

Let me think.

It's amazing how such foolishness can take hold.

Blame it on what the Sengoku Clan did.

- Say what you will, that was a mistake. - I disagree, Yazaki.

- That's not necessarily true. - Why not?

The fellow who went to the Sengoku House was serious about disemboweling himself.

There was nothing dishonorable about his intent.

Precisely because they were touched by his sincerity,

the Sengoku House decided to take him in as a back room retainer.

That was good. They made the right decision in that case.

The problem,

is the shameless imitators who have followed.

They have no intention whatsoever of performing harakiri,

and just because they're hurting a little for food and clothing,

they show up at our gate to practice their thinly disguised extortion.

We can't very well allow him to disembowel himself in our gateway.

Our only choice is to follow the example of other clans:

give him a little something and ask him to leave.

No.

That will not do.

If we give him money and send him away,

he'll soon be followed by others.

One after the other,

like ants drawn to a mound of sugar.

Ever since the Battle Of Sekigahara,

Edo has been teeming with ronin, masterless samurai.

They're like wild dogs roving about in search of prey.

Think what people will say.

"The House Of Iyi has gone soft like the others."

Everybody thought they had backbone, so until now, the ronin avoided their gate.

But look what they've done now.

They boast of their martial valor,

but this is a time of peace,

"so they're just living in yesterday's dreams."

Would you have such laughable chatter

spreading all over Edo?

Especially when His Lordship is away in his domain.

Under no circumstances can we allow

a stain to come upon our lord's name while he's away.

Giving him money and asking him to leave,

such lily-livered nonsense is out of the question.

He hasn't the slightest intention of killing himself,

yet he speaks of honorable harakiri.

Counselor!

If I may.

My apologies for keeping you waiting.

I am Umenosuke Kawabe, a member of Lord Iyi's mounted guard.

My name is Motome Chijiiwa, a ronin from Hiroshima.

Kindly come with me.

Excuse me?

I am to show you to the bath.

Since Lord Iyi is at present away in his domain,

Senior Counselor Saito conveyed your request to His Lordship's son, Bennosuke.

He finds your resolve most admirable,

and wishes you to be brought forward for an immediate audience.

I am to have an audience with Master Bennosuke?

That is correct.

I must beg your pardon, but your present attire will not do.

While you refresh yourself in the bath,

we'll see to some new robes for you.

I place myself in your hands.

Your kindness overwhelms me.

I must be dreaming.

This is so...

completely unexpected.

Almost...

Pardon me.

My apologies for keeping you waiting so long.

I must ask you to change again.

Your robes.

Is something wrong?

What about my audience with Master Bennosuke?

I was told I'd be granted an audience.

I don't believe so.

- You must have misunderstood. - No, I'm quite certain.

That was the word I received from Umenosuke Kawabe of the mounted guard.

Kawabe?

Now that you mention it...

Yes, that must be it.

So I'm not mistaken?

I believe I understand.

When Senior Counselor Saito personally conveyed your desire to Master Bennosuke,

he noted how rare it is these days to find men with such a great sense of honor.

"I would like to add this man to the ranks of our retainers," he said.

"But when a man declares that he wishes to tear his belly open,"

"it can only come from a most profound resolve."

"I am sure it would be no use trying to dissuade him."

"Grant him his final wish."

"Although I would like to meet this man of such uncommon valor,"

"and tell him how much I admire his purpose,"

"I am unfortunately scheduled to go to Lord Doi's residence at this hour."

"Extend to him every courtesy of this house,"

"and have all our retainers witness his final act,"