"Shoji Kaneko, the star of Ryuji, died before dawn on November 6, 1983." "His character Ryuji will live forever." "All characters appearing in this work are fictitious." "Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental." "Hey, are you awake?" "Who are you?" "What?" "You don't remember?" "You were hitting on me at the club." "You got a lot of nerve." "I'm sorry." "Here, take this." "What's that for?" "No questions." "Aren't you Ryuji, of the Santokai gang?" "I don't need your money." "I'll take this instead." "Thanks, bye." "RYUJI" "Directed by Tôru Kawashima" "How late do you fuckin' sleep?" "You're a total fuck-up!" "I don't want to hear any of that shit." "Find Nao and bring him over." "Don't you think you've gotten a little carried away recently?" "No, I don't think so." "You got a thing for blondes?" "No." "I heard you go bar-hopping with her, speaking your shitty English." "No." "Are you fucking retarded?" "Is she yours?" "I'm sorry, she's the gang's." "Motherfucker!" "I'm sorry." "You know Kazu is watching very closely!" "Me and him are like brothers." "Or didn't you know?" "That's why you're such a ballsy motherfucker!" " What do you think my relationship is with Kazu?" " I'm sorry." "You think he's someone you can fuck with?" "He may not be the man he used to be... but he still carries a lot more weight than trash like you." "We hit the bottom of the barrel together, and I even cried on his shoulder... you asshole!" "Miserable piece of shit, you can't control yourself!" "Nao!" "I'm sorry!" "Nao, stop!" "You're so dumb, you're going to end up with no fingers at all." "I can't take this, how fucking old are you?" "Yeah, yeah, I got it already, how old?" "You're 30, aren't you, Nao?" " You turned 30." " Yes!" "I'm going to tell you something, so listen up..." "Only fools chop off their fingers after 30." "Got it?" "You're a dodo!" "So don't go blabbing all over Shinjuku that you chopped your finger off." "Hiroshi, take him to Aoyama Hospital." "If you say he's one of my boys, they'll reattach his finger." "Understood!" "Nao, let's go to the hospital." "I'll take you." " You OK?" " I'm fine." "What the fuck were you thinking?" "!" "I thought you were really cool..." "in your own way." "Really?" "Don't encourage him." "He'll just fuck up again!" "I don't need that." "Take it." "Under ordinary circumstances, I would have handed you his nuts in a paper sack." "He even tried to cut off his finger... but I felt bad, because he wouldn't be able to pick his nose anymore." "Forget about it, OK?" "How's business?" "Slow..." "With knuckleheads like this on my crew, nothing goes right." "Maybe I'll come over and visit some time." "Anytime." " Good afternoon!" " Good to see you." " Oh, he's early?" " Yes." "Nitta, what's up?" "Oh, Ryuji." "Same old bullshit - the Sakae Building." "That was the Yamato Club, right?" "It wasn't popular, so they shut it down." "Now the property owner says the lease guarantee of ¥20 million is for a 3-year contract, and we'll lose that money if we pull out early." "They've got a bank backing them." "It's pathetic, really; yakuza being bullied by a bank." "Listen up..." "Make this problem go away." "If you don't, you're out of the gang." "You'll be eating out of garbage cans!" "What's the matter?" "There ain't shit I can do about it." "These guys are used to yakuza strong-arm tactics." "You shake your fist at them and they ignore you." "It's getting so I don't know who the real mafia is!" "You worry too much." "I'm home!" "Cool, huh?" "It's a little dorky, but yeah, it's fine." "It was really cheap, too." "They were having a sale." "What the fuck!" "A sale?" "Yakuza do not shop for fucking discounts!" "That's for punk students and scrimping housewives!" "If you can't have a little fucking pride, quit the gang!" "Work at a fucking desk!" "Excuse me." "I'm sorry." "Well, anyway, that's what Ryuji told me once." "But if you have to learn it from him, you'll go home limping." "I'll take it back." "No, keep it." "It's nice." "I won't tell." "It looks good on you..." "For real!" " Forget about the goddamn jacket and get back to work." " Yes." " Who's here?" " Sakomaru and Shibata came over." " Kazu Shibata?" "That piece of shit?" " He's here." " Good evening." " Hey, Ryu." "How's the wheel treating you?" " Hey, Sakomaru, good to see you." " Hello." "Thanks." "Sako, how's it going?" "This ain't my day, Ryu." "Nao is cleaning up big time." " I'm just hanging back today." " Don't give me that." "You gotta show these guys who's boss." "See you later." "How's it going in there?" "Sakomaru is down." "By how much?" " About 500 G's." " And Kazu?" "It was about the same until around one o' clock." "I mean after about an hour." "Just keep it simple." "Sorry." "He's down 300 G's." "Keep lending to Sakomaru, but don't give Kazu any money." "If he complains, call me." "Also, Kazu's woman shoots junk, so be careful of her." "Word is she's going to be pinched next week, so don't buy from her." "Just give her water." "Dealer change..." "Go easy on me." "You ready to play again, Mr. Sakomaru?" "Everyone step right up." "New dealer spins." "Ease up a little." "Sakomaru is likely to get spooked and hold back." "Understood." "Thanks." "Don't get too hot." "Excuse me..." "I turned him down, but Kazu asked for drugs." "That bald bastard!" "Don't get carried away, hophead..." "If you lose more money than you can afford, I'll crush you." "She's coming!" "She's coming!" "When Sakomaru's in, it's a whole different game." "Come in." " Is he here?" " Yes." "What are you having?" "Coffee." "Get it yourself, cunt." "I'm sorry." "Forget it, Hiroshi, I'll make it myself." "Ryu, you're never without a pretty girl." "The two-bit slut, she stinks like piss." "She shakes her ass fine, but she can't even boil rice." "A baby?" "I went to the hospital - it's definite." " Congratulations!" " A boy or a girl?" "It's too early to tell." "Mr. Hanashiro?" "Congratulations." "Is it OK?" "Yeah, up to a magnitude of around 6!" "What happens if it's a 7, asshole?" "!" "Come here a second." "Aya, honey." "I'm Ryuji of the Santokai." "Do you think for a fucking minute I'm going to let you operate, just because you have a gang's crest?" "When will he get out?" "Probably about the beginning of next month." "Provided you can post bail." "The plaintiff is a driver unconnected to the gangs." "Your husband is a yakuza." "It isn't going to be easy." "Thank you for your co-operation." "What about me?" "I'm not ignoring the problem, but I can't climb out from under a ¥3 million debt." "If you feel responsible, maybe you could talk to the gang for me." "Talk to the gang?" "Get lost for a minute." "What the fuck are you talking about?" "How am I supposed to negotiate with the gang?" "With Ryuji's connections, the pieces will fall into place." "You mean Nitta." "Even I could talk to him... but that would mean opening Ryuji's books to everyone." "Are you going to be able to take care of yourself?" "I'm sorry we couldn't take the rap for him." "We have to do something." "He never could stand cramped places." "There he is." "Hey, Mariko, come here!" "Hey, guard." "Remember this face, and watch your back when you're in the city." "See you later, honey." "I'm out, you meatheads!" "That son of a bitch!" "Aya is my fucking daughter... and I want her back." "You two get your asses to Kyushu right now." "Ryu, listen:" "I had to pull a lot of strings to come up with the money to get you out." " What's that got to do with Aya?" " I left her with my dad." "How the fuck is that going to help?" "It did, just listen..." "I'm trying to tell you." "Dad said he wouldn't pay to get a yakuza out of prison." "But he was willing to give me money to divorce you." "What the fuck?" "!" "Money to divorce me?" "Un-fucking-believable!" "Will you just listen?" "You know I married you against their wishes." "So, I couldn't just hit them up for money." "That's why I was willing to do anything, just to get you out." "You were willing to do anything?" "You really wanted to go back to that filthy old prick, asshole, motherfucker!" "That's a good one - money to divorce me!" "I'll pay him back, and he can have you, too!" "Aya is my daughter!" "And you two cocksuckers knew about it and you didn't say a goddamn thing!" "Who do you think pays your fucking salaries?" "!" "Motherfuckers!" "I'm sorry!" "Dogs show more gratitude than you two shitheels!" "Who do you think feeds you?" "!" "Sorry sack of shit!" "You fucking losers kill people and you still can't turn a buck." "When are you going to fucking learn?" "!" "Listen up: the old man isn't getting away with this." "And the truth is that you started this problem." "I'm the one who's going to blow his fucking brains out, and you two shitheads are going to chop him into little pieces!" "Do you fucking understand me?" "!" "FUCK!" "I'm sorry!" "Forgive me, Ryu." "I guess it wasn't the right thing to do." "I'll go to Kyushu tomorrow..." "But, Ryu... my father actually wants to talk honestly with you." "He wanted to come when Aya was born." "As far as the money goes, that was the only way he could justify giving it to me, with my brother getting married and everything." "Plus, he is my father..." "I can't let you talk about killing him." "Ryu..." "let's go to Kyushu tomorrow." "OK?" "Together." "Mariko... you're not cut out to be a... yakuza's wife." "You couldn't go to bed with men for me." "I see that now." "I guess a yakuza has to have money." "You go back to Kyushu." "I give up." "You can have Aya... what am I gonna do with a rugrat?" "!" "Ryu!" "Hello?" "Hiroshi?" "It's you, isn't it?" "It's good to hear from you." "Is Ryu there?" "No." "Oh, well, is he all right?" "He's fine... where are you?" "At my parents' house." "I have to ask you something..." "Recently, Ryu has been sending us quite a bit of money." "I think you know about it." "In fact, you're probably taking care of it for him." "What are you guys doing?" "It's nothing to worry about." "Ryuji is doing really well now." "He's running his own casino." " What's up?" " Hey, Ryu." "How's business?" "Well, actually it stinks, but thanks for asking." "Naturally." "For a single ¥10,000 note, you can buy the real thing." "Why would anyone settle for a porno mag?" "You got that right." "Shinjuku's a whole new ball game these days." "I gotta keep up with the times." "You'll never change, old man." " Ryu..." " What?" " You seem different." " Me?" "Something about you." "Your face seems more serene." "I'm sorry, I'm just babbling." "Before I forget, here's for this month." " Nah, keep it." " What?" "!" "I won't be collecting from you anymore." "Wait a minute now... thanks to you, we can operate in peace." "That ain't right." "The way it is even now, any punk who wants to can saunter in and set up shop here." "The only people still paying are you and that old lady over in Yanagi." "Ryu, you really have changed." "Please have a seat... oh, Ryu!" "Good evening." "Hey." "All done for tonight." "Allow me." "Delicious!" "What's up with you, not too busy now?" "Yeah." "What's with the long face?" "Enough work, take off." "You've got an early day tomorrow." "I'm going." "OK, Ryu, you enjoy your drink." "Her daughter's got a school trip tomorrow." "And I still have to get ready." "Good night." "See you." "What's up?" "Business not good?" "No, operations are smooth." "Recently..." "I've been a little confused... worried even." "I can't keep calm." "Being a yakuza, having death breathing down your neck is the price of doing business." "I've lost my nerve." "The violence wears you down." "I don't need money that badly." "Ryuji... you're not the first person to feel that way." "When I was your age, I was unsure of myself for a long time." "I didn't know what I was doing here." "I had to hold myself back from jumping out of the window a dozen times." "We're not strong, we're weak." "But when I saw my daughter's sleeping face, I knew I couldn't give up." "In the end, my wife and daughter saved me." "That's why I gave up the life, completely and utterly." "You miss them, don't you?" "Like crazy." "I want to see them again." "I dream... about my daughter, walking alone... with tears in her eyes." "Then I jerk myself awake." "It makes me want to give it all up and run to her." "Get out of the gang, Ryu." "Like I did." "Everyone will be better off." "Even the gang." "I don't think they'll be too happy." "They will." "They'll get to take over all your operations." "You were all smiles when I dropped out." "Coming!" "Here's your dinner." "Thanks, I'll take it." " How much is it?" " ¥4,500." " Hey!" " What?" " Not you!" "Hey, mister, doesn't that job wear you out?" " Sure does." " Keep the change." " Thank you." "What's the matter with you?" "You're acting like a pussy!" "It ain't like you." "The thing I asked you to do for Yamato - it's too late to back out." "I'm counting on you." "Even if I do go..." "Don't talk like that." "It's not that I ain't gonna go, but with what I'm up against..." "I'm so happy that you're willing to try, Ryuji." "If it doesn't work out, so be it." "It won't look good, but I'll explain everything to the gang." " There he is." " Good afternoon." "Go ahead." " Give me a business card." " A business card?" "Not that one, the one with the yakuza crest on it." "Are you Toyama?" "Yes, I am." " I..." " Listen..." "I don't know who you are, but nothing is going to change, no matter who they send." "Wait!" "Hold on a second..." "I got it." "I'll give it to you." "Just a second..." "Is a cheque all right?" "Ryuji Hanashiro Santokai" "When you're a yakuza, if you got balls, money rolls in till you choke on it." "I'm sick of money!" "He's right." "A yakuza's gotta have grit." "That's the long and the short of success in this business." "That's it" " I'm out." "You don't mean it." "There's no particular problem here, I'm just sick of it." "Don't you understand" " Ryu is sick of money." "Can you believe it?" "The yakuza have their lives... and the squares have theirs." "I just ask... that you look out for Nao and Hiroshi." "You got that?" "You two play nice." "If you don't..." "I'll come looking for you!" "What's the matter?" "Cheer up, you're not the one who's quitting." "Drink." "Is your pinky better?" "Don't leave us!" "I was drawn to the splendor of the big city." "But my dreams turned to dust." "In this great city of Tokyo, under the gold and silver neon signs, the men weren't all yakuza..." "and the women weren't all honeys." "And I was one of them - not a six footer, just a runt." "I hadn't done much to make a name for myself." "But I had a single child, a kid that I was callously distancing myself from." "I was lonely, living by myself in my drab apartment, amid the constant threat of death." "I stab someone, I go to prison..." "I get stabbed, I go to hell." "I retire from the life, spent emotionally and physically, but... the gang crest will live forever." "I quit the yakuza." "I hope you'll..." "come back to the family." "Ryu!" "Daddy!" "You sure were up a creek without a paddle!" "So that's what happened?" "I can't believe it." "Do you like it?" "Do you want one?" "Drink up." "Thanks." "Don't give him too much;" "he gets drunk easily." "That's not a problem." "Go ahead." "He seems like a really good guy." "He's handsome, too." "I don't know how you'll feel about it, Ryu, but dad's getting up there in years, and I'd like it if he didn't have to work anymore." "It's just a cod sausage factory, but it would give you something to do." "I don't know if you like fish sausage?" "No, I love it." "I'm flattered by your kind offer, but an old friend found me a job." "I'd like to see if I can stand on my own two feet first." "I see." "Well, if it doesn't work out for you, this offer will always be on the table." "Thank you." "Mr. Hanashiro, please take care of Mariko." "I understand." " Hey, Mr. Sekiya." " Hey." " Good to see you." " How are things?" "I'm satisfied here." "Outstanding!" "You look good." "Stand up straight!" " Sorry." " Let's go." " Did you stock this at your store?" " No." "We've got some surplus at the store." "It's sesame-based." "Let's have a drink." "You'll have some too, won't you, Mr. Hanashiro?" "Just a little." "It goes down smooth and it's supposed to lower your cholesterol." "But, hell, who cares?" "It's booze!" "Go ahead." "Thanks." "How was it?" "Good, yeah?" "Very nice." "Have a nice day, honey." "Ryu, stand up straight!" "Bye-bye, daddy!" "How are you?" "Worn out, I bet." "You'll get used to it." "Then it won't be a big deal." " Mariko?" " Yes?" "Give me a hand here." "Aya, daddy can't sing at all." "True enough." "Let's eat." "Time to take it easy." "That hits the spot!" "He suddenly came down with a fever last night." "No, it's me who should apologize." "I see." "He should be fine by tomorrow." "Thank you for your understanding." "Ryu, are you OK?" "Don't try to move, just lay down." "Does it hurt?" "The store is all right." "Your boss was very nice; he said you should just take it easy." "You can't just ignore me because you have a fever." "Ryu!" "Mariko..." "I'm glad I went straight." "Ryu, stop." "Aya's right there." "She's fast asleep." "That's daddy." "Look here, and here." "Let's go again sometime." "That was really fun, wasn't it?" "They turned out well." "Not bad." "Ryu... thank you." "Beer delivery!" "Here's your invoice." "I'll leave the case here." "Thanks for the business." "Good work." "I'm sorry: a bottle was stolen in Shinjuku." "If it was Nakano, it wouldn't be a problem, but Shinjuku is different." "Try to be careful." "You'll find your salary a bit higher this month." "Thank you." "Come over for a drink every once in a while." "That's very kind of you, but I can't today." "My wife is waiting." "Have it your way." "Thanks for the hard work." " Have a seat!" " Good evening." "Hey, Ryu, have a seat..." "Beer?" " Yes, please." " OK." " Anything wrong today?" " No." "You're really late today." "I'm still learning the ropes at work." "It's already been around three months." "To the day." "Then it's payday." "Shouldn't you be at home, with Mariko?" "I'm not staying long, I'm just a little thirsty." "How's Aya?" "She's got an attitude these days." "She's three already." "That's a tough age." "I don't know when Aya picked it up, but she's got this scowl she does." "I asked Mariko, and she said Aya is imitating me... my scowl." "Ryu, that's what you look like when you get all no-nonsense." "Really?" "I never thought about it." "Still, it's cute." "Ryu!" "Kazu..." "You ever run into Nao or Hiroshi?" "Nao has done a lot for me." "He's a good guy." "Quit the junk." "I'm going to." "I want to quit." "But I need money." "Ryu, help me out here." "There's no one else." "You gotta help me!" "Stupid motherfucker!" "What the hell is the matter with you?" "Pull yourself together!" "What the fuck?" "Kazu, talk!" "Help me, Ryu." "I need money!" "I'm not doing anything for you." "I spent a little at Sekiya's place." " Really?" "Is he doing well?" " Yeah." "Ryu!" "Your salary's gone up a little." "This is going to help." "It's a minor miracle that we're scraping by on that." "Before, that wouldn't have lasted me three days." "You're a square, through and through!" "It's the same for everyone." "That's how people get by." "It's a hard life." "Aya and I are happy." "You can't see a damn thing from this window." "Take your money with you!" "It's no good, now that he's dead." "Ryu?" "Oh, it's you." " Vegetables are really expensive..." " Shut the fuck up, bitch!" "Welcome back, honey." "Do you want a bath first?" " Hello, daddy." " Sure." "Oh, I almost forgot:" "Hiroshi called this afternoon." "Hiroshi?" "He said it wasn't anything urgent." "He just wanted to come over and see you sometime." "I figured it was OK, so I told him you'd be home around six." "Sorry I haven't kept in touch." "Hiroshi, relax and enjoy yourself." "I know the present is late, but I hope you like it." "Thank you." "This is for Aya." "Wow, that was thoughtful!" "Ryu, Hiroshi has really gone up in the world." "I shouldn't be so informal now." "Not at all - it reminds me of old times." " Here you go." " Thanks." " It looks good." " Eat up." " Thanks." "Was it all right for you to take tonight off?" "Yeah, Nao's handling things." "What's this?" "You speak English now, Aya?" "Great!" "Aya, do you remember your Uncle Hiroshi?" "You know..." "OK, that's enough!" "Time to go to mama." "Are you getting along all right with Nao?" "Yes... although it's only the two of us." "Nao should have come, too." "What a shame!" "I've changed, haven't I?" "You'll always be Ryuji." "Are you staying away from drugs?" "Drugs are something you sell, not something you use, Ryu." "I saw Nao..." "Aren't you going to do anything to help him?" "She's sleeping like a baby." "Just a second!" "Excuse me..." "I'm sorry to bother you." "Motherfucker!" "I told you to wait outside till I came down!" "I apologize, but it's getting to closing time." "Excuse me, Ryuji." "Mrs. Hanashiro, thank you for the delightful meal." "Hiroshi was really cool tonight, wasn't he?" "You think so?" "It's been... a long time... since I've seen you that carefree." "Maybe so." "Ryu..." "Ryu." "Ryu!" "Ryu!" "The road's really fucking congested." "What in the hell is going on?" "Hey, Hanashiro, I heard you were a real hellcat back in the day." "Back in Nagoya, I made quite a stir myself." "Went to the reformatory when I was 18 - those were some bad times." "Do you know the Kurata gang, in Nagoya?" "There was a guy called Osamu, who was the number one son to the 'oyabun'." "I got on his good side." "Why are you telling me this shit?" "Aya, let's go back to grandma's place." "Can we ride on the ANA again?" "Sure." "Translation by scannon  Kozue Timed by lordretsudo" "Cast:" "Shôji Kaneko" " Ryuji" "Eiko Nagashima" " Mariko Koji Kita" " Hiroshi" "Kinzoh Sakura" " Nao Masataka Iwao" " Sekiya" "Screenplay by Shôji Kaneko" "Production Manager:" "Hiroshi Kobayashi" "Assistant Director:" "Junji Sakamoto" "Written by Shôji Kaneko Directed by Tôru Kawashima"