KANTO MATSUBARA-GUMI
- Hey, how are things? - Good.
- Making quite a profit, huh? - Yes, thank you.
Wherever there's money, the yakuza will always be around.
That has never changed.
The weak are simply there to be taken from.
Ever since I was a kid, I've refused to live like that.
A MAJOR SHOCHIKU FILM THE BALL AT THE ANJO HOUSE
270 DAYS UNTIL THE TOKYO OLYMPIC GAMES
- Thanks. - Of course.
- Keep the change. - Thank you.
Happy New Year.
There are five extra bills here.
It's interest.
There's no need for that.
It's only been a week.
Well, I don't want you to think I'm a con man.
I'm really sorry for that.
Please, take it.
Then I'll gladly accept it.
Is there anything else that I may be of assistance with?
Your occasional visits are more than enough.
No, that's not enough for me.
The money really helped me out.
You can ask for anything you'd like.
Why don't you ask him to find you a house? He's a pro.
Oh, right.
A house?
My apartment is getting a bit cramped.
In that case, I have the perfect listing right now.
Come in.
- Good afternoon. - Hello.
I've been expecting you.
Is something wrong?
No, we've just never met in the daytime before.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I was in such a rush, I didn't do my makeup properly.
No, I prefer the way you are now.
Oh, that was rude of me.
Well, let's go straight to the property.
Okay.
Um, he said
the house would be happy to have someone as beautiful as you living in it.
He's an American diplomat.
He's selling because he's going back to the U.S.
I see.
Let's go take a look.
What a lovely estate.
I think this house is perfect for you.
Would you be living with your family?
I got divorced last year, so it's just me now.
I see.
I'd love to live in a house like this,
but it might be too big to live here alone.
Maybe you'll find a nice man soon.
That would be nice.
If you keep this up, I'll show you a thing or two!
Don't blame me for what happens next! Get ready for it.
I...
don't just handle regular real estate.
I'm involved with illegal business too.
I trick people. Threaten them.
I take their land by force
and resell it for a profit.
I...
was a war orphan.
To survive the chaos after the war,
I got involved with crime.
And that is how I ended up like this.
You can't trust a guy like me, can you?
Thank you for telling me the truth.
I'm the same.
I was desperate to survive after the war too.
I did things I'm not proud of.
But now you're a successful entrepreneur
with three clubs in Ginza.
Entrepreneur is a stretch.
I want to rid myself of this shady work
and make my dreams come true one day.
I apologize.
And after you came all this way...
Please forget we ever had this conversation.
I'll buy that house.
Then I'll have a proper realtor handle the paperwork.
No.
I'll buy it from you.
Thank you.
Hey.
How about we go on a date right now?
It's beautiful.
Thanks.
What is your dream, Mr. Sudo?
What?
You said you wanted to make your dreams come true one day.
Oh, right.
I want to open a nightclub one day.
With first-rate food and first-rate shows.
You know,
one that surpasses the Latin Quarter.
Wow, I didn't expect that.
When I was a kid,
hunger often kept me awake at night.
I went through that a lot too.
On nights like those, I'd picture it.
Gazing at beautiful women as they danced on stage
and eating delicious food to my heart's content.
That helped distract me a bit.
My dream was to become an actress.
I'd imagine wearing a beautiful dress like the ones in those American movies
and dancing with a handsome man.
Oh, really?
May I have this dance?
Sorry, I got carried away.
Right now, I'm still not a man worthy of you.
But please give me time.
I promise
I'll cut ties with my illicit business.
And...
when that happens...
I understand.
I'll wait for you.
- Oh, thank you. - I got it.
Oh, ma'am, we'll handle it.
I can handle this much.
- Thank you. - Sorry about that.
- That goes by the wall. - Okay.
This chair goes in the back room.
- Yes, ma'am. - Thank you.
- Looking okay? - Oh, Kazuko.
Yes?
A "Mr. Nakazono" sent housewarming flowers.
Jeez, he didn't have to do that...
- Careful. - Thanks.
Who is this Mr. Nakazono?
My investor and business partner. I'm truly grateful for him.
Oh, a business partner.
In name only.
He has pull in all sorts of industries, and he gives me advice sometimes.
Should we put this here, ma'am?
Oh, I'll be right there.
1964.
If someone asked me what the best year of my life was,
I’d probably say 1964.
It was a great year.
I bought a wonderful estate, and my clubs made a healthy profit.
Tokyo was buzzing with activity,
and I was still young.
My dreams grew bigger.
"Tomorrow will be even better."
That's what I truly believed.
What is this?
- This is safe, right? - Yes.
Are you sure--
No, what is this?!
- Hey! - You're fine.
Two.
Three.
Now turn left.
- Left? - Yeah.
Straight ahead.
Slowly.
You're fine.
- It's safe. - It is?
Okay.
We're here.
Huh?
Where are we?
I cut ties with that illicit business.
What?
This place
is where my dreams come true.
The nightclub?
Ginza's no longer leading this generation.
It's Akasaka now.
But a place this big must cost quite a bit of money.
With opening and operational costs,
it'll cost 200 million yen.
That much, huh?
I can scrounge up 100 million.
I still need the rest, but I'll figure it out.
If this goes according to plan...
Huh? What is it?
No, now's not the time.
What? Just say it.
I promise I'll say it one day.
Come on...
You're so stubborn.
Will you be my business partner?
What?
Well, I'm not used to the service industry.
I need your help.
I'd be happy to, if you're okay with it.
Really?
Then I'll pay the remaining 100 million.
No, no.
No way, I can't put that on you.
I can manage 100 million yen if I use my house and the clubs as collateral.
Are you really
sure about this?
I'm your business partner, right?
Thank you.
The stage will go there.
And the bar counter will go here.
Then, we'll leave a lot of space for table seating, and...
Oh.
That's right.
If your show's the main attraction, you'll need a big backstage.
- Hey. - Yeah?
What kind of person is Mr. Nakazono?
Huh? I told you before.
He's my investor and business partner.
No, that's not what I meant.
Are you romantically involved?
Huh?
Of course not! How silly.
Wait, are you jealous?
No.
If possible,
I don't want you to be involved with him anymore.
This place...
I want it to be just the two of us.
Okay.
I understand.
I'll do as you say.
Hey.
I'll handle things on my own from now on.
Thank you so much
for everything all these years.
You've made me quite a lot of profit.
I should be the one thanking you.
I heard from Hisao.
You found yourself a guy.
Is that why?
Yutaka Sudo.
Sorry, but I looked into him.
He's involved in some nasty business.
He's not involved with that anymore.
He told me everything about his past.
He's an honest man.
Here's some advice.
You should break up with him.
Kazuko.
You don't know anything about him.
This is the last time we'll see each other.
Wait. Listen to what I have to say.
FINANCIAL CONSUMER LOAN AGREEMENT KAZUKO HOSOKI
AMOUNT: 100 MILLION YEN DUE: APRIL 25, 1968
Here.
- The loan paperwork is complete. - Thank you.
Ms. Hosoki, please confirm.
I'm heading home.
Good work today.
Don't overwork yourself.
Have a good night.
The staircase from the entrance has to be perfect.
I want guests to feel luxurious as they walk to their seats.
It will be like the show already began.
It has to represent our nightclub.
I see.
Kazuko.
Oh, thank you.
Here's a sketch I drew.
Money is no object.
The staircase absolutely has to match this concept.
Nice. Let's give it a shot.
Thank you!
Are you enjoying the show?
We will now take a moment
for the club owners Kazuko Hosoki and Yutaka Sudo
to greet you, our audience.
Wow, it's like she's a Hollywood actress.
Ladies and gentlemen,
we would like to thank you for joining us tonight
at our nightclub, Enka.
This nightclub was a dream shared by Sudo and me.
Even now, after its opening,
it still...
feels like I'm dreaming.
You can do it!
We will do our very best
so that this may be a stage of dreams
where you can enjoy a moment of luxury.
So we graciously look forward
to receiving your guidance and encouragement.
DAUGHTER'S KITCHEN
It seems her business is booming.
I hope my concerns were for nothing.
I wonder if Kazuko is too far out of my reach now.
That's all my mom says nowadays.
Actually, Mr. Nakazono,
I asked a fortune teller to read into Kazuko's future.
She'll find success with her work...
What's wrong?
- Mine! - Mom, are you okay?!
Mom?
I'm okay now.
I just need some rest and I'll be fine.
Mom...
Are you okay?
Huh? What's that?
Here, please.
Okay.
- Here. - Thank you.
I know you're in there!
Pay up, you bastard!
- We're waiting! - Excuse me.
Sorry. Excuse me.
I know you're here!
Do you have business with my club?
Are you the owner here?
Yes.
Pay for the plumbing work now!
- Hey, I was here first! - No, I was!
Wait a second.
I don't understand.
Playing dumb, huh?
I really don't understand. What is going on?
We didn't get a single yen for the electrical work we did.
Neither did they.
- Yeah! - Yeah!
That can't be. Sudo took care of all of that.
All we got from that Sudo was a bunch of promissory notes!
The deadline's tomorrow! You're gonna default at this rate!
You're no help! Get Sudo out here!
I'll check right away.
Could you please go home for today?
- You're joking! - I'm not leaving empty-handed!
What is going on here?
Where's Mr. Sudo?
Karuizawa. He's supposed to come back tomorrow.
Kazuko, I called the bank earlier, and the account's been sucked dry.
They said Mr. Sudo withdrew it all.
We've been played! He really was a con man!
What are we gonna do?!
IIJIMA DETECTIVE AGENCY
TO: SUDO REAL ESTATE INC. INVESTIGATION REPORT
I became a regular because I wanted to meet you.
CREATE A SENSE OF INTIMACY, BE A WAR ORPHAN?
I was a war orphan.
DROPOUT, INFERIORITY COMPLEX
INEXPERIENCED IN LOVE, SEDUCE HER
ACT HONEST
I promise I'll cut ties with my illicit business.
ASSETS: 100 MILLION NEW BUSINESS: NIGHTCLUB?
Then I'll pay the remaining 100 million.
EIICHI NAKAZONO
What kind of person is Mr. Nakazono?
MUST ELIMINATE
If possible,
I don't want you to be involved with him anymore.
That was the day my hell began.
FOR SALE
NOTICE OF CLOSURE
PROPERTY FOR SALE
TEMPORARY CLOSURE
Who's there?
Hisao.
Are the debt collectors still out front?
What's wrong?
Mom...
She collapsed at the stall.
They said it was a heart attack.
She was worried about you until the very end.
The fortune teller apparently told her
that you would see hell.
You had no idea the collectors came to us too, did you?
Mom...
She lowered her head
and handed over what little money she had.
You always do whatever you want.
You killed Mom.
Don't even bother coming to the wake or the funeral.
You'll just bring the debt collectors with you!
Mr. Nakazono.
Sorry for your loss.
Mr. Takiguchi.
Don't do anything stupid.
Please let me die.
Put that dangerous thing away.
Okay?
I'll take care of all of your debt.
You'll get the deed back for this club
and resume business.
You just need to slowly pay me back from the profits.
Thank you.
However,
on one condition.
Starting today,
you're my plaything.
You did a good job.
Took you a bit too long though.
Well, it's not as easy as you think.
After all, I was up against the Queen of Ginza.
You picked a good woman.
From now on, she's a slave who serves the king.
That woman has a knack for making money.
She's a money tree
and a mistress with whom you can do as you wish.
You got both in one go.
Well, I'll keep her in limbo
and have some fun with her.
A slave, huh?
My condolences.
Stop! Stay back! No!
Hell is like a bottomless swamp.
The more you struggle, the deeper you sink.
It's impossible to escape on your own.
All I could do was wait
for someone
to save me from this hell.
Subtitle translation by: Chul Woong Kim