"In 1185 the Heike clan perished in the Western Sea." "The victorious Yoshitsune should have been parading through Kyoto but the suspicious Shogun Yoritomo distrusted even his own brother and was advised by retainer Kagetoki Kajiwara to try to kill Yoshitsune." "With no place to hide in Japan, Yoshitsune took six retainers dressed as monks and went to seek the aid of Hidehira Fujiwara." "They are now about to pass a new barrier..." "like stepping on a tiger's tail." "A Toho Production" "Men Who Step on the Tiger's Tail Produced September, 1945" "Written by Akira Kurosawa Produced by Motohiko Ito" "Photography by Takeo Ito Art Direction by Kazuo Kubo Edited by Toshio Goto Music by Tadshi Hattori" "Cast" "Denjiro Okochi as Benkei Suho Nishina as Yoshitsune Susumu Fujita as Togashi" "Masayuki Mori Takashi Shimura Akitake Kono Yoshio Kosugi Dekao Yoku Suho Nishima" "Directed by Akira Kurosawa" "Bells on traveling clothes Over the mountain pass" "Bells on traveling clothes Over the mountain pass" "Wringing out dew From the sleeves" "Where are you from, sir?" "It seems like your first time around here." "Where are you headed?" "It's nice that the weather's good." "This weather's rare." "Look..." "There is the whole province of Kaga." "It's there." "What's in this?" "It's very heavy." "Silence!" "Follow me quietly." "The song of the nightingale, eh?" "Around here there are so many..." "you could eat them." "How much further to the barrier?" "Another mile, sir." "Let's rest a while." "You have a good pair of legs." "I've always been proud of mine... ..but I can't keep up with you." "He looks tired enough, though." "He's not at all like you other gentlemen." "He looks like a girl." "The path certainly is difficult Is there another route?" "There is, but we'll all be killed if the barrier officers see us." "Two men were killed just the other day." "It's such a problem." "All because Lord Yoritomo listened to that Kaga something-or other and began fighting with Lord Yoshitsune, his own brother." "The barriers were set up to catch the poor man." "I guess when you're a Shogun, fighting with your brother is a big deal." "We as ordinary people can't stand it" "The General may not be satisfied" "Can they just have a fair fight" "Brothers should be honest to each other" "It's up to you to say I am a busy body" "Hunting his brother like a beast!" "Poor Lord Yoshitsune the famous leader of the Genji army is now a fugitive." "There's no need to worry, though." "They say he's got an amazingly strong bodyguard:" "Benkei." "He's safe." "Benkei is seven feet tall; a giant priest." "He swings a one-ton iron rod." "He annihilates armies of thousands single-handedly." "Unbelievable!" "It makes others laugh" "He can pull off a man's headed like you'd pull up a daikon." "I hear he's not very smart." "They're traveling in disguise." "But everybody knows it, even the barrier officers." "Stupid, eh?" "How are they disguised?" "Er..." "let me see..." "What was it?" "I heard one of the officers say they were dressed as..." "Not peddlers..." "Not pilgrims..." "Now I remember!" "Traveling monks!" "Isn't that funny?" "They may suspect that you're the party of Yoshitsune and Benkei." "Very funny, eh?" "Very funny." "It can't be, can it?" "Can it?" "Don't try to scare me by looking at me like that." "They know how many there are." "A seven-man party headed by Yoshitsune...seven." "One." "Two." "Three." "Four." "Five..." "Exactly." "Benkei!" "My Lord." "Did you hear what this porter said?" "Now it will be impossible to pass the barrier in this disguise." "Why?" "There is only one small barrier, Manned by a few guards." "We can overpower them easily." "It will be fun." "It will be good exercise after all this time." "It would be easy to break through the barrier." "But then, what will we do about the others?" "The road ahead is more important." "We must try to pass this barrier as peacefully as possible." "Moreover no decision will have to be made unless they discover our real identities." "In the first place, you are a real monk." "You are not in disguise." "The others can pass as monks, too." "You don't look like monks." "If ascetic training in rugged mountains... would make one a real monk, then..." "All of us indeed become real monks." "We have a complete set of monkish faces here." "We may be able to pass safely." "But..." "Benkei!" "They may be all right." "But our Lord is visible even to the eyes of this stupid porter." "We have to do something about that." "Porter!" "Porter!" "Come here." "I don't know a thing." "Spare my life..." "I won't say a word." "Bring that box here." "Stand up." "Rise." "He's frightened." "How do you calm a frightened man?" "Shut up" "He will recover if you frighten him even more." "Get to your feet." "Get up, or I'll pull your head off." "You're so troublesome." ""The startling beauty of a crimson blossom..." ""...is seen even in a garden laden with flowers." ""Yet lesser blooms are overlooked, and weeds unnoticed." ""And so, he removed his brocade coat..." ""...putting on the porter's coarser weave." ""And over it here bore the load that had been the least of his servants." ""He hid his face beneath a hat of common cloth..." ""...and leaned his burdened weight upon a porter's staff." ""The sight of this spent bending lord, who never carried a load before..." ""...is painful to look upon and we must sigh with grief." "His want of money outweighs his fear." "You're not careful about what you say, you'll suffer for it." "It's not that." "I came because I couldn't stand to watch." "What did you say?" "He doesn't look like a porter at all." "Anyone can see he's not." "First, that's no way to carry a load." "You're no greedy old woman running off into the night." "Silence." "Why is it you again?" "I was worried and I can't leave knowing who you are." "I ought to see you over the barrier." "I am a man of honor." "What hunter would hurt a bird seeking refuge in his very bosom?" "You talk big." "We are not enemies, after all." "Let me help." "You're all right...in spite of your looks." "What shall we do?" "We cannot ask a commoner for favors." "So, I'm not good enough, eh?" "Pest!" "Go away if you value your life." "But I found out something out at the barrier." "What?" "You wait." "What's this about the barrier?" "It's worse than I thought." "All their troops are there." "What?" "All are their troops" "They have known that Yoshitsune's party must have taken this very road." "So the barrier keeper is expecting you." "Benkei!" "What to do?" "Advance or retreat?" "Now that our enemies have come this far we are trapped whatever we choose to do." "We are trapped, so we must break through." "We won't spare anybody, not even the general himself." "We will attack and kill them all." "Good idea." "We will destroy everyone and everything before we kill ourselves." "You fools!" "I might overlook young warriors talking like this." "But what's this all about?" "If bravery was the only factor, we'd have died several times already." "As I told you just now this barrier isn't the last." "It's the most important thing is our Lord's life." "Bravery comes after that." "Let us use this tactic." "We'll say we are traveling to solicit contributions for the building of the Todai Temple in Nara." "I am the Magistrate of the Kaga Province." "Can you tell me about your visit" "We are traveling to solicit contributions for the building of the Todai Temple." "We are to cover the northern district and we wish to pass here." "I respect pious deeds." "However, the order is that no monks will pass this barrier." "This is ridiculous indeed." "May I ask you the reason why?" "Seven men, headed by Lord Yoshitsune are traveling disguised as monks." "The General of Kamakura commanded me to keep this barrier after he became enemies with Yoshitsune." "This is indeed a nuisance." "I gather you were only told to stop those disguised as monks." "It cannot be an order to stop all real monks who may pass here." "How insolent!" "Especially coming from a seven-man party." "Please be reasonable." "Count us, please." "We are six traveling monks." "And two porters." "What a clown!" "So long as I am here to exercise my Lord's command..." "Not even one shall ever pass." "They look suspicious." "Togashi, arrest them!" "Togashi!" "Togashi" "Why do you not act?" "This is the General's orders!" "It's all right to kill one or two of these "monks"" "I order you to arrest them..." "why do you hesitate?" "What kind of place is this?" "It is preposterous to command for no reason the killing of disciples of Buddha" "However...quarreling is no good." "Very well, we have no alternative but to obey." "Everybody" "Let us offer our last prayer." "I call Aryacalantha, the God of Fire, to witness our sincerity." "In the name of the Avatar of Kumano may heavenly punishment visit us at once should our pledge be false." "Let me be the first to be bound." "I admire your resolution." "No one but a priest would have such resignation." "However you said that you're soliciting for rebuilding of Todai Temple." "Then you must have the prospectus." "Let me hear you read it." "You want me to read the prospectus?" "I do." "Porter!" "Bring that box here." "Ye pious followers we deem that the autumnal moon of the Enlightened has eternally been hidden in the cloud of Nirvana." "Mortals are indulging in the transient pleasures of this life with no one to surprise them into awakening." "There lived an Emperor around the middle of our history whose faith in the doctrine of Buddha made him very benevolent to his subjects." "He happened to have an inspired dream." "And in order to pray for the peace and welfare of his people he fashioned a great image of Buddha and built a temple to shelter it." "Unfortunately, this temple was destroyed during the turbulent era of Jisho." "Our reigning Emperor deeply regrets its destruction." "By the Imperial Command, we are recreating this Temple of temples by soliciting contributions from all parts of this Empire." "Those who participate, however small the amount may be thus will enjoy virtuous pleasures in this life not to mention the privilege of finding a seat among the thousands of sacred lotus flowers." "Buddha help all sinners!" "We reverently beseech you, ye pious." "That was indeed genuine." "However, let me ask you a few questions." "Orders wear various robes... but none so peculiar as you traveling monks." "What is the reason?" "I'm amazed at your ignorance." "All the manners of training differ, so do the guises of all sects." "Our aim is both the attainment of both Wisdom and Rigidity." "So we cross steep mountains and passes destroying snakes and evil animal to help humanity." "We attend to morals and ethics, praying for the peace and welfare of our land." "Therefore ...inwardly we are forgiving and merciful but outwardly we militarily combat evil." "Why do you wear the peaking cap on your heads?" "They are our helmets as soldiers." "The robe we wear corresponds to a suit of armor." "What about the metal rod?" "It is based on the staff of Arada Kelema, a hermit of Dantaloka in Sindhu." "It helps us clear the wilderness in our austerities in attaining Truth and to punish sinners." "Your sword?" "Amidabha'a" "Now..." "You may cut material things but what about immaterial evils?" "We break them by the Spell of the Nine Words." "What is it?" "What we call the Spell of the Nine Words consists of these nine words:" "Ron, Pyo, To, Sha, Kai, Jin, Zai, Retsu, Zen." "When one makes this Spell he reverently stands and clenches his teeth thirty-six times." "Then, with the thumb of his right hand he draws five vertical lines, four horizontal ones and then shouts:" "Obey Promptly!" "All kinds of devils, apparitions, and heathens will immediately be delivered from evil." "If you desire to know more about our sect I'll be happy to inform you." "Oh, I have nothing else to ask you." "Judging from the way you have replied, you must be a distinguished teacher." "My suspicion of you is the greatest error of my life." "As a gesture of apology, I will make a contribution to your campaign." "How commendable." "I assure you of pleasure in both existences." "Prepare the offering!" "Wait!" "We are on our way to the northern districts but we'll be back by mid April." "Please keep your offering until then." "I see." "We have wasted too much time." "We will be on our way." "Gentlemen..." ""Leave as swiftly as you are able..." ""...but not so swiftly that you would appear less innocent." ""...rather as though walking from the viper's den..." ""...rather as though you tread upon the tail of the tiger."" "Stop that porter!" "Not that one, the one with the hat." "Wait!" "What's wrong?" "He looks like someone." "A man looking like someone- that's not unusual." "I mean, he looks like Yoshitsune." "What?" "This porter looks like Yoshitsune?" "Weakling!" "You're staggering along under this light load." "No wonder people think it looks strange." "We're always held up by your lagging behind." "You're always getting us in trouble." "I will tolerate you no longer." "This isn't right." "Don't be so unreasonable." "You deserve this." "Get up and move." "Wait!" "He resembles Yoshitsune very closely." "So you've been eying his load." "Are you a thief?" "What!" "No I see why you've been so..." "unreasonable." "Barrier-keeper, huh?" "Shut up" "This is wicked audacity." "On guard!" "If this had been Yoshitsune none of them would dare strike him." "But, Togashi..." "There is no vassal who would strike his own master." "You may pass." "Togashi..." "It is I who am in charge here!" "We are safe now, gentlemen..." "Let's rest." "I must say I was surprised when Benkei raised his stick." "Only Benkei could think of such a plan." "Now I see!" "I though he suddenly lost his mind." "Pumpkin head!" "An unforgivable sin even if it was a desperate measure." "Benkei do not apologize." "What I have done will make my arm rot." "It is not this hand that struck me." "It was heavenly protection." "The holy hand of the God of War guarded me." "I am thankful." "May they all go to the devil." "I've brought gifts to you from the Magistrate Togashi." "He apologizes for being rude to you." "How considerate of him." "First, please accept this drink." ""After danger is averted, then is kindness savored..." ""...sympathy gratefully accepted, and gratefully received..." ""...though one had not expected in regions wild as these..." ""...the cup of friendship, the taste of kindness, the very grail of humanity."" "Another drink?" "I thank you." "Who will dance?" "You there, porter!" "Dance to celebrate our drinking!" "A turtle lives on top of a rock..." "I, too, will dance before I bid farewell." ""Though the cascades sound..." ""...inviting us to stay..." ""...though the sun shines brightly asking us to linger..." ""...still, we must move onward..." ""...else we may not arrive.""