"A SHOCHIKU FILM" "KAMI-KUMAMOTO TO TOKYO" "KAMI-KUMAMOTO STATION" "FLAG IN THE MIST" "From the Novel by SEICHO MATSUMOTO" "Screenplay by SHINOBU HASHIMOTO" "CHIEKO BAISHO" "OSAMU TAKISAWA MICHIYO ARATAMA (Toho)" "HAKATA STATION" "YUSUKE KAWATSU YOSUKE KONDO" "TAKETOSHI NAITO SHIGERU TSUYUGUCHI" "ETSUKO ICHIKAWA KOJI KIYOMURA" "SHOICHI KUWAYAMA TORASHIKO HAMADA" "Cinematography by TETSUO TAKAHA" "Music by HIKARU HAYASHI" "Asst. Director JIRO SUGIOKA" "Produced by HIROSHI YOSHIOKA" "Directed by YOJI YAMADA" "I've already got more cases than I can handle these days." "Yes." "Please excuse me." "Please give Mr. Tachibana my regards." "I think I'd better be going." "Sorry I can't help you." "This case is high profile, especially as it involves the Americans." "It's rather "delicate."" "The Director was adamant that I get you for this case." "He won't be happy." "What'll I tell him?" " Are you going out?" " No." "Not just yet." "A client case..." " Whose recommendation?" " There is none." "Give it to someone else." "But sir, they specifically asked for you." " What's it about?" " It's a murder." "The client is the defendant's sister." " Where'd it happen?" " In Kumamoto." "Kumamoto... a long way." "Sir, she's come so far." "She really wants you to defend the case." "What'll you do?" " What should I do?" "She says she's short on money." "The client's name is Kiriko Yanagida." "She's a typist for a company in Kumamoto." "Her parents are dead." "She stays with the defendant, her brother, an elementary school teacher there." "I told her your standard defense fees, no?" "The fees will include costs for return air-fare to Kyushu... first class hotel, investigator's fees, and incidental costs." "Defense fees in the local criminal court alone... will be more than 500,000 yen." "The investigator's fee is about 8,000 yen per day." "There is also a completion fee if the defense is successful." "So... for the whole case..." "how much would it cost me?" "That depends on how the case goes." "The first judgment on cause of death could cost as much as 800,000 yen." "let alone 2nd and 3rd judgment." "Then she sat thinking for a long time." "Finally she said she's OK with the daily fees... but she asked if you could reduce your fee by a third." "One-third, eh?" "Even though it's a very interesting case... all considered, you should pass..." "it doesn't require your hand." "Long ago I'd have packed my lunch running and fought like a bull." "Okay, I'll send her away." "Yes." "Ah, just a minute..." "Yes...?" "Since she came all the way from Kyushu, I'll at least see her once." "Call her in." "Come." "So... you're from Kumamoto?" "I'm YANAGIDA Kiriko, Sir." "Please come in." "Thank you, sir." "I'll get straight to the point." "You took a lot of trouble to come to me..." "I heard you're the best in Japan, Sir." "There are good lawyers in Kyushu too." "You didn't need to take all the trouble to come to Tokyo." "No." "You're the only one who can save my brother." "They charged my brother with murder and robbery." "The victim was a 65 year old woman." "When the police arrested my brother..." "Hold on..." "I only need the details, if I take the case." "However, my clerk must have told you..." "No sir, whatever it takes, we need you." "Please..." "listen to the details first." "Well... you see I'd rather not hear the details." "Why, sir?" "I must make it very clear, my services are very expensive." "You need to understand this clearly." "To do the case properly, my system requires adequate funding." "Sir, is there no way?" "I'm sorry for all your trouble..." "I... traveled from Kyushu counting on you." "That was a mistake." "What...?" "Actually it's my reputation that's made my fees so high." "In reality I'm not that much better than most lawyers." "If you really want a good lawyer..." "I'm sure, if you look, you can find one in Kyushu." "Then Sir, what you're saying is..." "I'm too poor to afford your services?" "That's right." "However, there's more to it than that..." "my problem is time." "Just now I have a lot of complicated cases." "I don't have time to travel." "I only take a case, if I can do what it takes to win." "But regretfully..." "I don't have that kind of time." "Money's a problem..." "but time's the killer." "I understand." "I give up." "I'm sorry to have taken up so much of your time." "Sir... my brother could receive the death penalty." "Should I call the car now?" "Yes, I'm going... but..." "Cancel my appointment with Mr. Hidaka." "Refuse him with your usual tact." "And Mr. Yoshida from Shin Nihon Koujiogyou... postpone our meeting until tomorrow afternoon." "Okay?" "Attention please..." "the 2:35 train to Nishikagoshima... is now boarding." "Passengers please proceed to Platform 2." "Ah... you're the lady from Kyushu." "I'm sorry, but Sir's refused your case." "I'm aware of that, but..." "I can't just give up." "I want to see him again." "I don't care, I have to see him." "What time can I come?" "Sir has left already." "What...?" "He left just after you." "He won't be back today." "But I absolutely have to see him today." "I have to catch the last train tonight." "Please tell me where I can find him." "I'll go straight there." "What the...?" "He's in Kawara." "Kawara...?" "Not in Tokyo... it's in Shizuoka." "It's past Ito." "Nice shot." "You play well, Sir." "No..." "luck, luck." "Today... are you free?" "I have to call the office at 5:00." "Oh, I see." "It's nothing much." "Then I'm free until 10 tomorrow morning." "What about your work?" "My manager's covering for me." "Actually, I didn't expect you to show up today." "In fact I was too busy to come." "But then I came anyway." "Something happen?" "No, nothing." "Ah... feels good!" "Line busy?" "Yes." "If it's important, go ahead." "Thank you." "Hello." "Hello." "Otsuka Law Office?" "Sorry to keep calling." "It's Yanagida." "Has Sir contacted you?" "Yes, he called at 5:00." "I mentioned you'd called." "Unfortunately, he won't take the case." "No change from this morning..." "he won't take it." "So, Sir... there's no way he'll take it?" "Ah... you already know why." "An innocent person is facing the prospect of a death sentence." "Because we're poor, Sir refuses to help us?" "How can you say such a thing to me?" "I'm poor." "I know I can't afford that much." "I also know it's unreasonable." "But, I came all the way from Kyushu at considerable expense, counting on him." "I had to beg to get leave." "Calling endlessly won't help." "You should give up now." "There's good lawyers in Kyushu..." "Nothing at all... nothing I can do?" "Sorry, nothing... bye." "Hello... hello?" "No..." "I understand very well." "I have to return by tonight's train." "Otherwise I'll lose my job." "They don't really want me since my brother was charged." "If I lived in Tokyo..." "I'd bother Sir in his office every day." "However, that's not possible." "When he called you earlier, I was hoping for a positive answer." "Tell Mr. Otsuka... my brother's life is in the balance." "If I had 800,000 yen it'd be different." "But poor people have no hope..." "even justice is out of reach for us." "I'll never bother you again." "Excuse me?" "Oh, excuse me." "Could I talk to you?" "I'm very sorry..." "I heard you on the phone..." "I couldn't help but overhear." "Pardon me, but your brother's in a very bad situation." "How's the case coming?" ""Rinsou News Company" " Editor" "ABE Kouichi" If you don't mind, could you tell me?" "No, no... it's not just curiosity." "When I overheard, I was struck by the unfairness of the situation." "Today, justice requires a strong lawyer and the money to pay him." "A top lawyer charges top fees." "Poor people just can't afford justice." "I believe you were speaking with Mr. Otsuka." "That would be Mr. OTSUKA Kinzo, no?" "OTSUKA Kinzo is one of Japan's best lawyers." "No doubt he's very expensive." "Did you ask how much he charges?" "What part of Kyushu are you from?" "Kumamoto." "You still planning to go back on the night train?" "I have to go back to work." "I can't stay here any longer." "Could you tell me something about the case?" "Perhaps I could help you." "I don't think so." "Please excuse me." "Just.... your name?" "Oh, hi Abe." "What?" "A Kumamoto one?" "What's a good local paper around Kumamoto?" "Local paper?" "But Kyushu's your hometown." ""ELDERLY FEMALE LOAN SHARK" "BEATEN TO DEATH!"" ""OAK CLUB" " MURDER WEAPON FOUND!"" ""MURDER SUSPECT NAMED" "ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER CHARGED"" "Kumamoto city, Shirakawa school teacher..." "YANAGIDA Masao, age 28..." "No. 35 Terrabara..." "1st floor rental... no parents." "Living with younger sister, Kiriko... company typist... age 20." ""YANAGIDA PARTIAL CONFESSION"" ""YANAGIDA CONFESSES ALL"" ""YANAGIDA RECANTS CONFESSION TO PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, TSUTSUI"" ""I'M NOT THE KILLER"" "A good 'news story' for our weekly...?" "Briefly, it's like this, no...?" "an elementary school teacher, staying with his younger sister... loses the money he had collected from his students for a school trip..." "He borrows 80,000 yen from the old woman loan shark to make the trip." "But then he can't pay it back." "The greedy old woman presses him for the money more every day." "Finally it becomes too much for him and he kills the old bag." "To destroy the evidence he steals the receipt and burns it." "That's about right, no?" "Well, that's what he told the arresting officers... but when he got to the station... he denied killing her." "He said, "I didn't kill her." "When I got there she was already dead."" "Still, it's not really the magazine's kind of story." "There's no social interest..." "just a brutal theft and murder." "Why not take a different angle, the inequality of justice in today's society." "Say he's innocent, the sister comes all the way from Kyushu... but she's refused counsel by Otsuka for lack of money." "Poor people don't get the same justice as rich people." "But even if Otsuka took the case, there's no guarantee he'd win." "A lawyer's got to make a living too... why should he run around for free." "I'm not blaming Mr. Otsuka personally." "And on the other hand... what if turns out the teacher's guilty..." "then what happens?" "Telephone for you, Sir." "That's why..." "I should visit the site, and dig deeper into this one." "Kyushu would take both time and money..." "for a case that isn't all that interesting." "Well Abe..." "I think you should let this one go." "Hello, hello..." "Oh, thanks." "Damn it..." "Like I told you..." "it's hopeless trying to convince him." "If I were the editor, I wouldn't take it either." "However..." "I think it's the girl you're really interested in." "You don't usually get this involved..." "she must be really something." "ONE YEAR LATER" "Good morning." "Good morning." "This morning's a bit chilly." ""To:" "Mr. OTSUKA Kinzo" "From:" "YANAGIDA Kiriko"" "Mr. Otsuka Sir, At the first judgment my brother was sentenced to death." "We appealed, but during the 2nd judgment... on December 10th, he died." "He fell ill while in the Kumamoto jail and died." "The court appointed lawyer facing the Chief Judge... only pleaded mitigating circumstances." "My brother..." "being convicted of murder, died." "My brother..." "being convicted of murder, died." "What's this?" "Oh... that." "Don't you remember?" "This time last year..." "the woman client who came from Kyushu." "From Kyushu...?" "YANAGIDA Kiriko was her name." "You spoke to her here." "A young woman, 19 or 20 years old." "Her brother was accused of murder." "She wanted you to defend him." "Oh... that one." "A strong willed woman." "Yes, a very tenacious woman." "Found guilty in the first judgment..." "died in jail during the 2nd." "Yes, looks that way." "She implies that because I refused the case... her brother died." "It's clearly upset her." "She can't see straight." "I guess it takes all kinds." "Just a second..." "In other words... this girl..." "As I remember she called again after I left." "That's right." "After you went to Ito to play golf." "I told you about it over the phone." "She was absolutely adamant you take the case." "When I refused, she said it was because she had no money." "She said that a lawyer should work for justice, not just for money." "She kept pestering me about it for a long time." "My God, such people are a real pain." "They're so self-absorbed, they can't see the real world." "Oh... that's all." "In Kumamoto we use Hota, right?" "That's right." "Get a hold of him right away." "Have him send me the court transcript for the Yanagida case." "Do it today." "But Sir... didn't the defendant..." "isn't he dead?" "It doesn't matter." "Just do it." "Your guest seems to be very late." "What?" "..... yes." "In your report as expert witness, you state there were two fatal blows, right?" "Yes." "So, your testimony about the weapon and the severity of the injuries... prove that they caused the death of the victim, WATANABE Kikuko." "You can show that?" "Yes, I can." "OK... describe it for me." "First, the assailant approached the victim from behind... and struck like so." "By reflex, the victim turned to see her attacker." "Immediately... he struck again... so." "Defendant..." "that's what you did isn't?" "I did not." "Look at these pants..." "do you recognize them?" "Yes." "They're mine." "On the evening of July 25th after 11..." "you were wearing these... when you went to WATANABE Kikuko's,no?" "Yes." "So why did you hide them in the attic of your house?" "I noticed later that there was blood on the cuffs." "I was afraid it would incriminate me." "Your guest still hasn't come?" "What?" "..." "Yeah." "Shall I start serving the food?" "No... they'll come." "So then..." "oh, regarding Mr. Otsuka's bill..." "I'll take care of it myself." "Right." "Where will I find a waitress to replace you." "As I recall that's your job." "I'll leave that up to you." "Mr. Otsuka's bill." "So you're going out." "Yes, for a bit." "When'll you be back?" "Sir...?" "Excuse me..." "Is something wrong?" "Oh, it's nothing really." "It seems you're very busy tonight." "Witness... you weren't aware of the fact that the defendant... had borrowed money from the victim Mrs. Watanabe." "Is that right?" "That's right." "I wasn't aware." "The victim was insisting vehemently that he return her money..." "The defendant had to be suffering considerably under all that pressure... and you didn't notice anything?" "That's right." "Well no." "I felt something wasn't quite right." "Something wasn't right?" "But nothing that really worried me." "What do you mean?" "My brother's normally a very quiet person." "And.. he's often sits quietly, off in his own thoughts." "So... that day you didn't notice anything... out of the ordinary?" "Yes." "So what you mean is... the defendant had already planned how to murder her... and had resigned himself to do it." "Objection, your honor." "The prosecutor is using leading questions and forcing his opinion on the witness." "Strike them from the record." "That's all." "With respect to the prosecutor's question... the defendant's behavior that day wasn't out of the ordinary... that's your testimony, correct?" "Yes." "Witness... what time did you get home from the office?" "A little before 7 o'clock." "What about the defendant?" "Yes." "He had already prepared dinner and was waiting for me." "Mr. Yanagida...?" "The bath will be ready after you've eaten." "Sorry, but I'm going out this evening." "Will you be late?" "Yes, maybe." "Where are you going, brother?" "To Mr. Tanaka's... we're meeting Mr. Yoshida and Mr. Hatanaka." "So when will you be back?" "We're preparing a presentation..." "so maybe a bit late." "Yanagida... can I come up for a minute." "Please do." "Heh..." "It's so hot!" "Please... don't bother Kirichan." "Actually Mr. Yanagida... about that matter..." "I said you rejected their offer." "Thanks." "I'm sorry for all your trouble." "The party was so discouraged." "What's the problem?" "..." "He said it like he was angry with me." "Here." "Miss Kiri, hurry up and find a good man yourself." "If you don't, your brother will never be able to get married." "Our marriages aren't tied together." "Brother... if you find a good woman, marry her right away." "But you should marry first...!" "Mr. Yanagida's stuck..." "he feels responsible for you." "He's all you have for a parent, no?" "Oh... you have to go now, brother?" "Wear a clean shirt." "No, it's okay." "No it's not... it's dirty." "It's evening." "Take this one." "You're off." "Take care." "You have such a nice brother, eh..." "Siblings often grow apart with time." "Not fated to get married yet, but... but you've got each other." "Really... really lucky." "In fact the landlady was saying just the other day... my brother helped me to graduate..." "He's tried to find me a good marriage..." "He's always been like a parent to me." "Always thinking of me..." "a good brother like that... why...?" "How could he do such a thing, knowing he'd become a criminal... that I'd be shamed in the community." "He wouldn't do such a foolish thing." "My brother's not a murderer." "No." "I never even thought of murder." "So, for what reason did you go to Kikuko Watanabe's house?" "Okay..." "I couldn't raise the money no how..." "so I had to stall her." "Good evening." "Anyone home?" "I called, but no one answered." "I thought, being so old..." "she'd probably fallen asleep." "Mrs. Watanabe..." "Granny?" "Gra..." "Granny..." "Defendant... why didn't you call the police right away?" "I was afraid they'd think I'd done it." "I was in debt to Mrs. Watanabe..." "She'd been threatening me, but I couldn't pay her." "And there was a witness." "Why didn't you go straight home?" "You went back into the house..." "to get your loan receipt." "Once a police investigation started... the loan receipt would come to light." "The PTA and school board would learn about my loan." "It's unacceptable for a school teacher." "It was a split second decision." "So why when the police first questioned you... did you confess to the murder?" "Sir..." "I'll get down at the usual place." "It's so late." "Let me drop you." "Stop near his house." "No." "It's okay." "It's okay." "Taxi's are still running." "Even if I told them I didn't do it, they wouldn't believe me." "There was one policeman facing me... and two detectives behind me." "You did it..." "You can't deny it." "Our investigation proves it." "Day after day they said the same things." "I was exhausted..." "My brain was spinning..." "I couldn't think straight anymore." "I gave up telling the truth." "I thought if I told the truth in court, they'd believe me." "I just gave up under questioning." "No." "There's no way." "Even with strong questioning..." "he wasn't that exhausted." "Yah... actually... he himself... his guilt and bad conscience... hah, in fact... that's what was wearing him down." "He was agonizing..." "That's what it was... just that." "Well Sir..." "I hope you finish your current case as soon as possible." "You see... by occupation he's a school teacher." "Here... he looks back on his guilt with a cool mind." "Then he was different..." "really worried... agonizing... full of guilt." "Of course he denies his guilt." "But... in spite of that..." "the proof of things... the circumstances of the case... as revealed during our investigation... bit by bit..." "his story began to crumble." "Now he's in court... of course he's calm." "I'd be surprised if he wasn't." "Yanagida's confession... aah... it was in the 6th interrogation that he confessed." "That's right." "At first he strongly denied the murder." "then... slowly but surely..." "he began to weaken." "During the 5th interrogation he made a partial admission to the crime." "During the 6th interrogation... he admitted doing it... all of it." "You did it..." "Didn't you." "It was you who did it." "WATANABE Kikuko's pressure was too much... wasn't it?" "Pushed you over the edge." "You couldn't take it anymore." "You lost it." "And then...?" "On the 19th of July..." "Kikuko accosted me on my way to school." "She badgered me vehemently..." "abusing loudly." "I told her I'd get paid on the 25th." "A bit late... but I would pay." "And then...?" "So you kept your promise." "You went to Kikuko's house after 11." "What was she doing at that time?" "Doing what...?" "What...?" "Granny..." "Oh..." "Mr. Yanagida." "Yes." "Come... come in then." "I've been waiting." "So you brought..." "what you promised?" "Oh yes..!" "good, you brought it." "Of course... you're a teacher, no." "Just as promised..." "you wouldn't cheat me." "So... come in then." "It's true what he did was very bad... but we have to consider his agitated mental state." "He had lost the funds collected from his students." "He borrowed the money from Kikuko Watanabe and didn't tell anyone." "Thus the trip came off without any problems." "On the other hand the victim, was notorious as a merciless loan shark." "She was known..." "as greedy and hard-hearted." "She harassed the defendant with every kind of abuse." "On his way to school she slandered him in public." "Sometime she would accost him on his way home and threaten him... if he didn't pay up." "She upset him so much that sometimes he couldn't teach his class." "Anyone in Yanagida's situation... would be driven to the point of murder." "Seeing his torment, we feel great sympathy for him." "It's imperative to consider the mitigating circumstances." "If I'd taken this case, the result might have been the same." "What?" "The case was unwinnable." "Sir, you're a strange one." "Really you sound very curious." "More over-confident than curious." "What?" "I thought it I'd taken this case..." "I would have won it." "Whoever took this case... would have faced the same result." "Sir, how's your work going?" "It's over..." "I wasted both my time and effort." "Oh, what a shame." "but it's a good thing." "What...?" "Sir, you were so preoccupied." "The only real satisfaction I have... is the time I spend with you." "I also... think a lot about you too... but it'll take time, no?" "Of course..." "I understand." "I realize..." "I will have to go on waiting." "Tonight every dish is delicious!" "You've brightened up, Sir?" "!" "Food tastes good depending on one's mood." "This restaurant too..." "it's very clean and luxurious... like a 5-star foreign hotel." "The ambiance of a luxury hotel..." "makes the food taste better than it is." "And happens to make money disappear faster too." "Isn't that true." "Look... those foreigners... the man's attending to the children more than the mother, no?" "It's true." "Just the opposite of Japanese norms." "See... the child is left handed." "So the father's constantly correcting her." "She's having trouble holding the fork with her right hand." "Each time she goes back to her left hand." "Even foreigners don't like left handedness." "Is something wrong?" "What is it?" "Sir, what on earth's the problem?" "No... nothing really." "Opening the drawers evenly is the action of a calm person." "But in a panic, a person pulls with his dominant side more." "Either way, the dominant hand pulls that side out more." "Left handed... definitely left handed." "In fact the case falls apart if the defendant's right handed." "So in the end, Yanagida..." "No... if he's not left handed, then..." "However, it's too late now." "The milk's been spilt." "Sir, what on earth has changed since dinner." "No, no nothing..." "Come." "Driver, go past Shibuya." " No, no..." "Ginza." "So what is it..." "Ginza or Shibuya?" "Shibuya." "Ginza." "I haven't slept in two days." "Let me go home to sleep." "Excuse me..." "Okay, okay..." "I'm known at this place." "All the police can see is the closed up front door... so we can hang out past midnight." "Driver, Ginza it is." "Ginza." "Let's just go home." "No, no... come on, come on." "But... please..." "let's come back tomorrow." "Oh, oh... here, here it is." "(sign says "Bonsoir")" "Hey... hey..." " There... down at the end." "It's ages since we saw you...." "Welcome, please come in." "Come to the back." "Oh... this is rare." "Forgot me did you?" "Where've you been?" "I've been so busy." "I been meaning to come." "So you're a Kyushu girl too." "This club... the manager and staff keep it only for real Kyushu people..." "like me." "Please come." "We're not all Kyushu people here." "At first 3 Kyushu people came with me." "They told friends... so naturally it grew." "Ah, I see." "So if Hisago-san gets the chop... be sure to give him work as an assistant bartender." "Oh, Hisago-san, we recently got a new Kyushu girl." "Rie... come" "Miss Rie." "Hisaoka-san, you want the usual?" "And for you over here...?" "You'll have the same?" "Roger roger..." " Ah roger roger!" "(Kyushu slang.)" "Miss Rie... sit here." "Are you Miss Rie...?" "Yes." "Ahh..." "Where in Kyushu?" "Kumamoto." "Please be nice to her." "She just started, so she's still learning." "So... first time doing this?" "What do you mean by... 'this'?" "You can go now." "Look after the other customers." "Excuse me." "Please enjoy yourselves." "Hey..." "Not bad looking in a kind of innocent way." "So she's staying with you now?" "Yah, she's sharing a room with me." "What... with you?" "Why shouldn't she?" "Ah... the poor thing." "What do you mean?" "She'll learn everything from you..." "and become one of those women." "Oh you hateful man!" "Is this Kaisou Bar?" "(Seaweed Bar)" "Is Miss Rie there?" "For a second." "Miss Rie...?" "It's Abe speaking." "I came last night with Hisaoka-san." "He said he was from Kyushu like Madam, remember?" "I was the one with him." "Yes." "I met you some time back in Tokyo, remember?" "You don't remember." "I do." "What...?" "Oh!" "So you recognized me?" "Yes." "When did you realize?" "When you first entered the bar." "Really... you knew then." "Can you talk?" "After we first met, I wrote to you in Kyushu." "Did you get it?" "Yes." "I read it." "I want to talk about that." "The bar's not the best place." "Is there a coffee shop nearby." "It's difficult." "Just for 10 minutes." "I'd like to hear about your brother." "I can't." "If today's a problem..." "tomorrow or the day after?" "I have to go." "I'm going." " Good bye." "Hurry up." "Hey..." "Heading home?" "Oh..." "Thanks so much for yesterday evening." "Just get off work?" "Yah... that's right." "I was just too late." "Come tomorrow then." "Wouldn't you like some tea?" "The tea shop's open." "What d'you think, Miss Riye?" "Come on..." "Let's go." "Welcome..." "Sorry, I forgot." "There's something I have to do." "Is there a problem?" "No, no problem." "Miss Riye, you'll have some tea, won't you?" "He works with Hisaoka-san." "He's OK." "You wouldn't do anything bad." "You don't sound too sure?" "No, no.... not at all." "I'm off then." "Take care of miss Riye, please." "So... is that Nobu-chan's lover?" "Well..." "I don't know for sure." "A customer...?" "No... he's madam's brother." "It's about the case?" "I felt it was imperative I speak to you in person." "My secretary told me you're not here for your magazine." "No, not at all." "So, it's a personal matter then?" "No, actually..." "it's for someone I know." "Oh, I see." "Whatever it's about, I'll hear you out." "The case... was about the murder of an elderly woman, a loan shark." "The case happened in Kyushu..." "in Kumamoto..." "July 25th last year." "The victim, an old woman living alone, supported herself by loansharking." "The isn't really your worry." "I thought I made that clear the other night." "So you don't mind that your brother will always be remembered as a murderer?" "Don't ever say that again." "I've done all I can to wipe it from my memory." "My brother is already dead." "It's too late now..." "even for Mr. Otsuka's legal efforts." "Yes." "What you say is correct." "He's too busy..." "he's not interested in the case." "He was quite brusque." "There's no money to be made... so why be interested." "Actually that's not the case." "It's not that he wasn't interested." "Mr. Otsuka researched the case thoroughly." "What?" "I thought it was worth getting a copy of the transcript." "Before I called you, I sent an express post to your brother's lawyer, Mr. Tawara." "I asked him to send the entire transcript." "Last night, when I returned from Mr. Otsuka's..." "I found Mr. Tawara's reply." ""The transcript is no longer in my hands."" ""A famous lawyer from Tokyo, Mr. OTSUKA Kinzo, requested it."" "Otsuka has the whole transcript." "Why would Mr. Otsuka be investigating the transcript?" "Why indeed..." "When you went to see him..." "why would he hide that from you?" "That's just it..." "I've been racking my brain since last night." "Why hide that he'd obtained it?" "No... that he was investigating it?" "Could it be he's discovered the truth... realized that your brother's actually innocent... and that's why." "What are you looking at?" "The mist." "You'll catch cold." "Did you know that mist makes a sound?" "I didn't know." "Does mist make a sound?" "I'm not sure..." "but that's what they say." "Tomorrow..." "when d'you leave for Tokyo?" "Well, I have to be back by noon." "So you can take your time." "I'm glad." "Excuse me, are you Miss Kouno." "Yes." "Someone's asking for you." "What is it?" "Someone from the restaurant." "From Tokyo?" "Yes." "He shouldn't just show up like this." "It could be urgent." "You'd better see." "Yes." "Welcome" "Welcome... welcome." "Oh!" "You're so late." "Oh, you've been drinking!" "I'm fine..." "..high-ball." "Ah, you... wanna call." "You want a phone?" "2.1.1... 2.1..1.0" "2.1.1... 2.1... 1.0!" "2.1.1...2.1.1.0!" "Ken-san... who are you calling?" "None of your business." "Hey, sister... it's an office." "If the watchman answers..." "ask him for Otsuka's home number." "Okay?" "Hey... a hand towel!" "ya..." "God damn." "if you get the number..." "adda be great!" "Chief!" "... a bourbon." "No more, chief." "He's had too much!" "Whad'ya mean?" "I wanna get drunk." " What are you saying?" "Ken-san... just a little?" "Pour... a little more." "More!" "One more..." "It's rot gut." "Don't... no more, Ken-san." "Give..." "It's bad for you." "Keniichi...!" "What about work?" "Day off." "You're always on a day off." "I'm not listening to you." "You went to Hakone?" "Those are Hakone Hotel matches, no?" "Ya... are so." "I was there." "With who?" "Alone." " That's a lie." "I was alone!" " You're lying!" "Welcome..." " Welcome." "Welcome, Mr. Yamagami." "Please come in." "Don't drink too much!" "I need a word with you." "Come with me after." "Okay." "Oh... have a drink." "Rye-chan..." "Coming." "Just like you..." "left Kyushu for Tokyo." "Is that so?" "This new girl's from Kumamoto too." "She came with Nobuko about two months back." "Oh..." "You know him..." "East Kumamoto high school Yamagami." "Yamagami." "Didn't you know..." "The famous baseball player." "Pro-ball brought you to Tokyo, no?" "So he played pro-ball?" "Yah, till three years ago." "But then he left the pros... gave it all up." "If you'd stuck with it you'd have been like Kaneda and Ito... an invaluable southpaw." "Left-handers are rare in pro-ball." "A good lefty's gold." "Sugita Kenichi's reputation is clean." "It's strange that the chefs at the Minase restaurant... all seem to defer to him... are even wary of him." "Why wary of him?" "I'm not sure exactly..." "Anyway they say he works hard." "Abe-san..." "How are the Minase and Otsuka-san related?" "He's their legal consultant." "Legal consultant?" "The details are like this:" "Currently the Minase restaurant is managed by a woman named Michiko Kouno." "Three years ago her husband met another woman and got her pregnant." "When Michiko found out she filed for divorce... and Mr. Otsuka represented her successfully." "As part of the settlement she got the restaurant." "So... this KOUNO Michiko..." "what type of person is she." "Beautiful to look at and very business like." "Once she took over the restaurant began to do well." "Mr. Otsuka and this woman... they're just legal consultant and restaurant manager...?" "There's nothing more to their relationship?" "You... what are you trying to say?" "So..." "What?" "My staying here with you... is it becoming a problem?" "Heh...?" "Mr. Kenichi..." "he used to visit you before?" "Because I'm here, you're relationship with Kenichi is suffering." "I feel..." "I'm responsible." "If you feel responsible..." "get out!" "You're leaving wouldn't help." "Nothing can help now." "I... know everything now." "He's been seeing another woman." "But who and where...?" "I don't want it to end like this." "I don't want to just cry myself to sleep." "Riye..." "I need your help..." "You'll help me, won't you?" "Would you do it for me?" "You'll do it then..." "See you." " Good night." "What's up tonight?" "My day off." " Oh..." "Who you waiting here for?" "I'm not waiting for anyone." "I'm going to a movie." "A movie ah?" "I'm trying to decide which film to see." "Really?" "I didn't do it!" "I didn't do it!" "You..." "you have to be my witness." "I didn't do it." "He was like that when I got here." "I just got here too." "I didn't kill this man." "You..." "You have to be my witness." "I didn't do it." "Please help me." "Later... if they suspect me..." "be my witness." "So please..." "your... name and address." "I'll be your witness." "Who are you then?" "Please... tell me your name." "I'm..." "I'm KOUNO Michiko." "Ms. KOUNO Michiko...?" "Yes." "Where are you from?" "Ginza..." "I have a French restaurant there, the Minase." "Excuse me... but I need your name." "I work as a bar hostess at the Kaiso in Ginza." "Oh, the Kaiso..." "Kenichi-san's sister's place." "That's right..." "I work there." "So..." "I see why you're here." "But..." "Kenichi-san..." "why did he call you here?" "What's your name then?" "I'm YANAGIDA Kiriko." "In the club I go by Riye." "YANAGIDA Kiriko...?" "So you're YANAGIDA Kiriko?" "But... who on earth killed him then?" "How the hell would I know." "I don't know anything." "Let's go." "We shouldn't be seen here." "There's a caretaker..." "he might come." "Get out... quickly!" "Oh... what happened to you?" "Nobu-chan said you'd be off sick tonight." "I'm sorry..." "I was lying down in the apartment..." "but I felt bored." "So you're well enough to work?" "Yes..." "I'll be fine." "Riye-chan..." "You're better...?" "I'm fine." "My fever's gone." "Excuse me a second." "Riye-chan..." "So what happened...?" "I'm sorry..." "What...?" "I was watching carefully... but somehow Kenichi slipped out without me seeing him." "I was standing at the corner until 8:30." "So what did you do after that?" "Nothing I could do... so I caught a movie." "You didn't see who was with him... or where he went?" "I'm sorry, really." "Name and address of the renter?" "Granny, you're the caretaker here, aren't you?" "So tell me the name and address of the person you're caretaker for." ""Prime Suspect Apprehended!" "Gloves Found At Crime Scene"" ""Lady Owner Of Minase Restaurant In Custody"" ""Murder Scene Was Love Nest!"" ""PUBLIC PROSECUTOR" " TOKYO BRANCH"" "So when you arrived on the scene Mr. Sugita was already dead..." "Yes, that's right." "You told the police interviewer that you had a witness... who'd confirm you didn't commit the murder." "Is that correct?" "Yes." "You don't know?" "That's right." "I've never met a Ms. KOUNO Michiko." "You really don't know?" "Yes..." "I didn't see anything and I've never been to that place." "Ms. Kouno..." "I want you to tell me the truth." "You've said repeatedly that you didn't do it." "But none the less... you're covering something up." "I had nothing to do with the murder." "Why didn't YANAGIDA Kiroko tell you." "Forget about Yanagida for now..." "I'm asking you something else." "You and the victim were lovers." "You felt it wasn't good to continue your relationship with a young worker." "You were determined to break it off." "But Sugita wouldn't accept it." "Yet in fact, that's what this is all about." "You felt you'd be better off with him out of your life." "You never wanted him dead." "You never thought that even for a moment." "That's what you're saying?" "Yes, exactly." "So there's nothing else to tell me?" "With Sugita out of the way... there was another man you liked more than Sugita." "That relationship was becoming deeper." "You had to get rid of Sugita at any cost." "No... not like that..." "Ms. Kouno... can't you get the other man's name out of your mouth?" "You want me to say it for you?" ""Head Waiter Murdered" "Case Turns In Unexpected Direction!" "?"" ""Michiko Kouno's 2nd Man" "Famous Lawyer Otsuka!"" ""Kouno's Relationship With Divorce Lawyer"" ""Lawyer Otsuka Relationship Complicates Woman's Story"" "I told you, I won't..." "Such private matters are not the business of newspapers." "Hello..." "Is that Mr. Otsuka's office...?" "Hello..." "Hello..." "So you quit your job at the Kaiso bar?" "Yes." "So now what're you doing?" "I'm working at the Ryu opposite the Sugama Station." "The woman called Nobuko at the Kaiso, KINUE Sasaki... you know her right?" "Yes." "We're both from the same town and before this case I was staying in her room." "If you're questioned in court..." "you'll say the same thing." "What...?" "To perjure yourself in court..." "is a very serious crime, no?" "So... what are you trying to say?" "You... everything you've told me is a lie." "You say you never saw the crime scene." "But on the day of the murder, KINUE Sasaki asked you.... to follow SUGITA Kenichi and you tailed him to that house." "At Nobuko's request..." "I was watching Kenichi that night... but..." "I didn't see Kenichi leave the bar." "You didn't see him?" "That's right." "What's so strange about me not noticing him leave." "Why would I go there alone?" "I'd never seen the place or even heard of it." "No..." "I definitely met her there." "If I hadn't met her that night... how could I know YANAGIDA Kiriko's name?" "I'd never met her before." "The bar was owned by Kenichi's sister." "Kenichi regularly came to the bar and knew my name well." "Why did Kenichi tell that woman my name...?" "How should I know?" "I'm sorry." "But..." "We both saw the dead body in the house." "Beside the dead body was a lighter... with a dragon motif." "It didn't belong to Kenichi... he never used a lighter." "YANAGIDA Kiriko also saw it..." "Please ask Kiriko-san." "Lighter...?" "I never even went there..." "How could...?" "I'm not clairvoyant." "What can I get you?" "Ah, let's see... whiskey and water." "Coming up." "Here you go." "Good evening." "Why didn't you tell me about the new job?" "I've been looking all over." "I read about your testimony in the newspaper... at least the gist of it." "Oh yes..." "But... is it true?" "It's not a lie." "Still, as a result Otsuka's reputation has taken a serious dive." "Oh... is that so?" "Well it's a huge scandal." "Mr. Otsuka's such a big name... it's created a big stir." "Anyway..." "you've gotten your revenge now." "Oh... what do you mean by that?" "You don't think so?" "No I don't." "Why?" "Because..." "Mr. Otsuka will get over it." "Eventually he'll recover fully." "But my brother's dead... convicted of a murder he didn't commit." "Even though I asked her several times... she insisted she was telling the truth." "She swears what she said's not a lie." "So in the end..." "I got a little upset." "I asked her, if she watched the Minase from 7 to 8:30... was she absolutely sure she didn't see SUGUTA Kenichi come out." "Was it really the truth..." "or was she just lying?" "She said, "I'm absolutely not lying."" "She said she stood there a long time and met someone she knew." "Someone she knew..." "who was it?" "His name's Yamagami... a high school friend of Sugita's." "Yamagami...?" "He used to play pro baseball..." "a 'southpaw'." "Southpaw...?" "He's a lefty...?" "That's right. why...?" "I can't be sure without more research, but... this information could prove critical." "Thank you very much." "Anyway... it's hard to say for sure." "Mr. Abe..." "Go back... ask Ms. Yanagida again... if her testimony's true... and about the lighter missing from the crime scene." "No, it won't work." "I tried several times." "What...?" "The only way is to talk to her directly." "It's useless me trying." "And I..." "can understand what's she's feeling." "I can sympathize..." "I can well understand her motives." "But she's taken it too far." "This YANAGIDA Kiriko woman... is really something." "Left-handed...?" "This is the 'warming table'." "(horigotatsu)" "Sugita was here..." "when he was killed he fell here." "There's absolutely no evidence of a struggle." "It means he must have known his killer." "Yamagami was sitting here... on Sugita's right." "However, by itself this is not enough." "The prosecutor will say that... a right handed person could have done it by shifting his body like this." "Or if he got up from the warming table... and struck him like this." "But, if the lighter was still there..." "The lighter would place the left-handed Yamagami at the scene." "Then there'd be no doubt." "But the lighter..." "I have to get that lighter back." "Michiko, it's not only the lighter..." "YANAGIDA Kiriko is falsifying her testimony." "I have to make her tell the truth." "Why's she..." "I just can't understand... why against us?" "Michiko... don't worry." "I'll do my best." "First... you're not the one who killed Sugita... they can't convict an innocent person of murder... it's madness." "No... the law is there so that such unjust things can't happen." "It won't be long..." "I'll get you out of here." "Michiko... you're the only one I have in this world." "Oh...not like that!" "Welcome." "Come in." "Welcome sir." "Be comfortable." "Welcome, sir." "It's been a long time." "Indeed, thanks." "Sir..." "What would you like?" "Ah... something light." "When you came into the club..." "I guessed you wanted to speak to me." "I was prepared to listen to you." "I see." "I was with Michiko Kuono at the crime scene." "You're wondering about my testimony, aren't you?" "That's right." "It's not that I'm blaming you..." "I came to request you to please tell me the truth." "You hold some ill feeling toward me." "That I can understand very well." "I can give you any compensation..." "whatever will give you satisfaction." "So please tell the prosecutor the truth..." "the actual facts." "actual facts...?" "That's right." "I told the prosecutor what happened already." "I told the true facts." "Welcome." "Welcome." "Welcome." "Thanks for last night." "Riyu-chan..." "What can I get you?" "Same as yesterday." "Yes." "Here you are." "Welcome." "Good evening." "So... you going to buy me something?" "Of course." "Miss Yanagida... it's OK if you take revenge on me." "But Michiko hasn't done anything to hurt you." "So Sir, you still think I'm lying?" "No, that's a separate issue." "Anyway, Miss Yanagida..." "I..." "I'm not saying that Michiko's innocent... simply because she's my mistress." "Actually as a lawyer in this case..." "I've already got a good idea who the real murderer is." "If you know who really did it... shouldn't you be pursuing that first." "But unfortunately it's not that simple." "That's why I must have your cooperation." "The real killer dropped the lighter at the scene." "Michiko clearly saw it." "But when the police arrived it had disappeared." "Someone had taken it." "I believe... it was you who took it." "Miss Yanagida..." "That lighter... it wasn't me who took it." "If you want to save Miss Michiko..." "be my guest." "After all Sir, you're the best murder case lawyer in Japan." "Not yet." "More... more." "Warm it some more." "Ahh... warm." "You're hands are so warm, Sir." "But... they say, people with warm hands have a cold heart." "Not in my case." "I'd give my whole life to a woman I loved." "You're that kind of person, Sir." "But, that requires a lot of sacrifice." "Not only for yourself." "Don't you think so?" "But it's hopeless..." "I don't change my mind once it's made up." "Don't say that..." "I've been a lawyer for a long time... but I've never felt this low." "That's fine then?" "You've spent decades as a lawyer... gaining much fame and money." "But when someone not so well off comes to you, and needs your..." "I know." "And I've repeatedly told you I'm sorry." "Please..." "tell the prosecutor the truth." "Not only that... the lighter...?" "in exchange..." "I'll do anything I can for you." "I'm begging you with both hands on the ground." "This has nothing to do with what I said." "I only wanted you to know..." "the pain of those you've turned away." "That and Michiko's case are two separate things." "Kiriko-san please..." "What are you doing?" "This isn't the bar!" "I'm sorry..." "it's not like that." "Forgive me." "Please help me." "Sir... your behavior is completely inappropriate." "I'll do whatever it takes." "You're wasting your breath." "Kiriko-san... your brother wasn't by any chance left-handed?" "If he was left-handed I can't clear his name." "If he wasn't..." "he's clearly not guilty." "That crime could only have been committed by a lefty." "The evidence proves that Sugita's murderer was left-handed too." "A right-handed person couldn't have done it." "I've eliminated every other angle of attack." "But to prove it I need physical evidence." "That's why..." "I need what you have." "To place him at the scene..." "I need Yamagami's lighter." "I investigated Yamagami's background." "He's a desperate thug." "He's not a good man..." "he's capable of anything." "Last year from July to August he returned to his home town." "Exactly... when the old woman was murdered there." "No... he wasn't the only one who returned to Kumamoto then." "Sugita also went back at that time." "I have to dig deeper and deeper into the details." "But with your testimony for Michiko..." "and if you provide the lighter as evidence..." "I'm sure I can substantiate your brother's innocence." "and I can get Michiko released." "But not only for Michiko." "Think about your brother..." "simply testify truthfully... and the lighter!" "It's not fair." "If you prove his innocence it's good." "But... my brother's already dead." "while Michiko-san... is alive." "Welcome." "Oh dear... welcome." "Riyu-chan" " Yes." "Goodness gracious!" "You'll catch cold." "Let's get this off quickly." "Let's have you eat something before you catch cold." "The rain must have been a real bother." "Whiskey and water, as usual." "Kiriko-san... please..." "help this desperate man." "Help Michiko too." "Kiriko-san..." "I beseech you." "I know it won't satisfy your heart." "But there's no other way left open to me." "But..." "afterwards I'll do anything you want." "Please..." "tell the prosecutor the truth." "and bring the lighter." "Sir, don't belittle yourself." "Sir..." "I understand." "What?" "It's okay..." "you don't need to do this." "It's okay!" "?" "I understand completely." "Understand..." "you'll tell the prosecutor?" "Tell him the truth...?" "Yes, and give you the lighter." "Miss Yanagida... really?" "I'm not lying." "At any rate, please stand up." "We can't speak with you on the ground like this." "Please get up." "Where's the lighter..." "I don't have it with me." "Tomorrow evening." "Tomorrow evening?" "Tomorrow evening..." "come to my apartment." "I'll give it you then." "OK, OK..." "I'll go anywhere..." "only give me the lighter." "And then tell the prosecutor about Michiko." "I promise I'll keep my word." "Oh... thank goodness." "Oh... thank you, thank you." "Really... she really said that?" "Really... return the lighter and tell the prosecutor... said it clearly!" "Now it'll be alright..." "now it'll be alright." "Please come in." "Door's open." "Please come in." "Welcome." "Keep your shoes there." "Sorry..." "I came very late." "Come in." "I only just got back and changed." "I'm glad you came." "Oh please, don't bother." "I just want to get the lighter and go." "I'm sorry, there's nothing to eat." "No, really..." "Sir, at least take off your overcoat." "No... anyhow, just give me the lighter." "And so... you'll testify in court to Michiko's innocence." "Tonight..." "I want to see you drunk." "I don't know if you'll like this or not." "Please." "It's not poison." "When you came to the bar you were always stressed out." "You could never drink to your heart's content." "But tonight there's nothing to worry about... so let's drink." "Still... about the lighter..." "I promise I'll give it to you." "But, if I give it to you, you'll run away on me." "Stay a while tonight." "Oh, no... no more." "One more..." "drink it down for me." "Go on..." "But... this is good for both of us." "If you insist on keeping the lighter..." "Nonsense, Sir..." "really, always lighter, lighter." "You have to have just one more." "No... too much..." "Take it." "Then really, just this one..." "then I have to have the lighter." "I promised." "I'll give you the lighter." "Oh... you've brightened up, Sir." "Sir... just a..." "What are you doing?" "!" " No." "What are you trying to do?" "I've wronged you." "I'm sorry." "Sir... sir, I wronged you..." "because I liked you." "I like you, Sir." "Then, after that Mr. Otsuka the lawyer came to the bar every night." ""Provide proof of KONOU Michiko's innocence..." ""and give me the murderer's lighter."... every night he repeated the same thing." "He pressured me to give false testimony." "Lawyer Otsuka, such an prominent man... is it right for him to do this?" "Wait... just..." "No..." "let me finish." "When Lawyer Otsuka repeated it every night, I became intimidated." "I refused and refused, but he wouldn't stop." "Then last night, finally he came to my apartment." "I told him, "Whatever you say I won't give false evidence..." ""and I can't give you a lighter that I don't have."" "When I told him that, Lawyer Otsuka suddenly pulled me onto the bed... and forced himself on me." "Lawyer Otsuka believed that... if he made me his woman" "I would become completely dependent on him." "I resisted him as much as I could... but finally he overpowered and defiled me." "That's madness...!" "I'm not complaining just because my body's been violated by an angry old lawyer..." "It saddens me that my whole life's been desecrated by one incident... but the thing that really makes my blood boil... more than anything else... is that I was made dependent... and that such a famous lawyer tried to coerce me into giving false testimony." "How can such a thing be tolerated?" "I hesitated to write this but felt it my duty to expose this fraudulent lawyer... of his pretense of respectability." "Please consider this carefully and understand my intentions." "Conclusion." "That's it, no?" "What do you think..." "Mr. Otsuka?" "It's utter nonsense." "Yah..." "I think so too." "However..." "YANAGIDA Kiriko went to the hospital." "From the date and time, we can see that she went immediately after the rape." "Hospital...?" "This is the doctor's report of the hymen damage... it means she lost her virginity." "But.. officer Shimazaki... working in a bar, who knows who she slept with." "Of course you'd say that." "The doctor tested the semen found in her vagina." "I knew you'd reject this report, Mr. Otsuka." "Excuse the intrusion... but we had your blood type checked and we ran detailed tests." "We checked them against her report." "You're a practicing lawyer." "Even more, Mr. Otsuka, as a reputable lawyer... to compel someone to perjure themselves in court..." "Make some excuse and immediately cease all your case work." "By complying you're in no way agreeing to the charges in this letter." "But now that this has happened... there's no way you will be able to continue as a lawyer." "Once this gets out, things will get very bad." "That's why I asked you here unofficially today." "Well... this is all I can do... for someone I consider a great lawyer and senior colleague... to facilitate things." "Then in a... no, within a week, decide and notify the Bar Association." "Please resign." "Mr. Otsuka's had the wind knocked out of him." "700 meters?" "That's right." "From here to the bottom." "Well... nobody's allowed to go to the bottom, are they?" "What..." "No, once the police and a reporter wore gas masks and went down... to look for the body of a suicide." "Excuse me..." "What?" "How deep is the sea here?" "What..." "The depth of the sea here?" "Well, I'm not sure..." "but 1,000 meters, maybe more." "But, why do you ask?" "Thank you very much." "What...?" "!" "You'd better go in..." "It's cold." "It'll take at least 3 hours to get to Tokyo." "FLAG IN THE MIST THE END"