"A Nikkatsu Production" "THE BURMESE HARP" "Produced by TAKAGI Masayuki" "Original story by TAKEYAMA Michio Screenplay by WADA Natto" "Cinematography by YOKOYAMA Minoru" "Music by IFUKUBE Akira" "Cast:" "MIKUNI Rentaro, YASUI Shoji" "HAMAMURA Jun, NAITO Taketoshi, NISHIMURA Ko, KASUGA Shunji" "Directed by ICHIKAWA Kon" "The soil of Burma is red" "And so are its rocks" "The war ended many years ago, but it left indelibly sad stories in our hearts." "What follows is one such story which happened to our company." "It's a story we shall never forget." "By July of 1945, the tides of war had turned against Japan even in Burma." "Our company retreated from one mountain to the next." "We wanted to reach the border somehow and cross over into Thailand." "Why don't we sing?" "Singing is meant for times like these." "Mizushima..." "Play your harp for us." "A night in late autumn" "The solitary traveller" "Looks up at the sky" "With a desolate heart" "His beloved hometown" "His parents dear" "The path of his dreams" "Is one that leads back home..." "We often sang." "Our captain had graduated from music school, and he eagerly taught us the basics of choral singing." "Those songs lifted our spirits in times of sorrow and pain." "In our company, we had a special harp fashioned after the ones used in Burma." "PFC Mizushima learned how to play it." "He'd never studied music previously, but he had a natural gift and quickly mastered it." "He composed wonderful accompaniments and variations and played along as we sang." " Kobayashi, watch these for me." " Right." "PFC Mizushima reporting for reconnaissance duties, sir." " Thanks." " I'll signal on the harp, as usual, sir." "I'll play "Danger" if I see anything, "All Clear" if it's safe to advance." "You look better dressed like that than you do in uniform." "He looks Burmese." "You should settle down here." "The natives would love you." "Me Burmese." "Burma nice country." "What's taking him so long?" "Shall we send out a second scout?" " The harp!" " Mizushima's playing the harp." "Which tune is it, sir?" "You still can't tell?" "It's the "All Clear"." "I always get them confused, sir." "The sarge has a tin ear." "Move out!" " What happened to your clothes?" " Did a fox cast a spell on you?" " Some thieves cornered me." " Thieves?" "What did they take?" "What could they take?" "All he had on was a longyi." " They took my longyi." " And wrapped you in banana leaves?" "They gave me these." "They had plenty." "They pointed a pistol at me, and asked me to exchange the longyi for banana leaves." "What a polite hold-up!" "Mizushima, you look even better in those leaves." "With a gold necklace, you'd look just like a cannibal!" "A banana loincloth keeps you cool." "Our greatest worry was food." "Enemy paratroopers had laid traps in surrounding villages, so we couldn't afford to be careless." "Where's the village chief?" "Through distant clouds the snows of the Himalaya glisten" "We bathe ourselves in its melted waters" "Somewhere afar your hidden spirit" "Soothes with those waters my burning heart..." "Can you see the mountains of the Himalaya from here?" "Not from here, no." "The sutras and tradition tell us that the Himalaya are the home of the soul." "We long to see them, even just once in our lives." "Mizushima, your playing's got very good recently." "Not at all." "You should settle here and play." "You've always said you love Burma." "I want to go home to Japan." "Japan?" "Your hospitality was quite unexpected." "We thank you sincerely." "We'll sing a song of gratitude." " "Setting Sail", first verse." " Yes, sir." "I knew it was too good to be true." " Stay put." " Ammunition boxes in the square!" "Nobody move." "Is it the British?" "Sing!" "They're forming a line in the woods." "We'll make them think we don't know they're there." "So sing!" "And get ready for action as we sing." "Blossoms fall in myjade cup" "The moon is reflected in my sweet wine" "Lost in thoughts of peace and tranquillity I look down on the fields of glory" "Rising toward the far hill" "Five stalwart youths in high spirits" "Clap your hands!" "Laugh!" "They could attack at any moment." "It'll be nightfall soon." "We need to keep them off guard." "Laugh and clap your hands!" "What about the ammunition boxes, sir?" "One shot and they'll all explode." "One shot and we'll all be blown to pieces." "O merciful Buddha..." " False alarm." "It's not the enemy." " Wait." "The song's in English." "That night, we learned that the war had ended three days earlier." "We gave up our arms." "We have surrendered." "Not only us, but our country has surrendered as well." "I'm not sure what to make of this." "We don't know where we'll be taken, what we'll have to do, or even if we'll be allowed to live." "All of Japan has been heavily bombed." "Many are dead." "Many are homeless and starving." "Our country lies in ruins, while we're imprisoned thousands of miles away." "All we can do now is watch and wait." "It's no use attempting to fight against our fate." "It's far better to accept it like men and wait for the day when our nation can rise again." "Up until now, we've lived and died together." "Now we must share this fate together too." "Maybe we will die here in Burma." "If so, we'll die together." "But if by chance we're able to return home, we'll do so together, leaving no man behind." "We'll work towards rebuilding our country." "That's all I have to say for now." "What's Mudon like?" "So we're finally going to the Mudon prison camp." " Good thing, too!" " What's good about it?" "You think they'll kill us all?" "Are you serious?" "So what's Mudon like?" "How should I know?" " Where's Mizushima?" " Here." "The captain's summoned you." "A Japanese unit has been holding out on a mountain." "The British have laid siege to it for the past three days." "I've asked the British to let one of us go and talk our men into surrendering." "I don't want a single man to die needlessly." "That's the mountain there." "Well, Mizushima?" "Will you go?" "It's a half day's trek by foot." "I'll go, sir." "I'm not sure how to proceed, but I'll do whatever's necessary, sir." "Thank you." "The rest of us will be heading south to Mudon." "Join us there once you've completed your mission." "It'll be tough walking the 200 miles to Mudon alone, but the British have assured you safe passage." "I'll proceed to Mudon once I've fulfilled my duty, sir." "Persuade them to surrender." "But you only have 30 minutes." "We won't wait any longer." "What happened?" "The bombardment suddenly stopped." "They must be having their afternoon tea!" " Son of a bitch!" " Wait!" "He's Japanese!" "Japanese?" " Easy, easy!" " How'd you get here?" " Well done!" " Where'd you come from?" "Where's your commander?" "At a time like this, we can use every man we can get!" "Stand at attention!" "I'm Mizushima from Inoue Company." "I'm here on a mission." "What?" "You're a messenger?" "The Japanese army has surrendered." "Further resistance is useless." "Please surrender as quickly as..." "Silence!" "How dare you!" "Surrendering is an insult to those who've died!" "Unlike your unit, we're not filthy cowards!" " We'll fight to the death!" " What good are you then?" "Live, endure, work for your country." "For our country?" "Such insolence!" "How does surrendering help our country?" "None of us here wants to live with that humiliation!" "As long as nobody surrenders, how can Japan lose?" "That's right!" "A coward like you can't be Japanese!" " Leave!" " I refuse." "I won't leave until you reconsider." "You'll die if you stay." "Aren't you afraid?" "I don't want to die meaninglessly." "Dying in battle is meaningless?" "It doesn't serve Japan or its people or yourself." " It's meaningless." " How dare you!" " A harp?" "What's the idea?" " I use it for signalling." "Captain, you're responsible for these men's lives." "If they die in vain, the blame will be yours." "Who will apologise to their families and to the people of Japan?" "Very well." "I'll put it to the men." " Nakai, what about you?" " I'll fight to the end, sir." "And the rest of you?" "How's it really going to turn out?" "Just as I told you." "If only we had time to discuss it calmly." "Unfortunately, time's almost up." "Please decide in the next three minutes!" "It's unanimous." "We'll all fight to the death." "I'll ask the British once more to give me more time." " You're afraid of dying!" " Coward!" "I'm not a coward!" " We won't be taken prisoner!" " Go home alone!" "Very well." "I don't have time to argue with you." "What are you doing?" "We'll never surrender!" "My captain said not to let a single man die needlessly!" "You'll pay for this, you son of a bitch!" "MUDON" "It's so quiet." "Glad you made it, old lady!" "And in the rain!" "It's her livelihood." "Old lady, let's trade." "What have you got today?" "That stupid Indian soldier..." "firing blanks to scare me." "A raw recruit, I'll bet." "How can he not know my face?" "Hey, how about a molasses bar for this broom?" "You call that a broom?" "I made it out of palm leaves." "You're a clever fellow." "Okay, it's a trade." "Old lady..." "I made this bamboo flute yesterday." "It has a good sound." "Trade it for some bananas?" "Okay, let's trade." "I don't want this monkey you gave me." "Can I trade it for food?" "No, that monkey's a very naughty creature." "I won't take it back." "I'll trade these new socks for some shrimp paste." "Okay, trade." " Is that stuff good?" " Tastes like our salted fish guts." "Old lady..." "Did you ask about what we discussed?" "You forgot again, didn't you?" "It's hopeless." "We can't get any information." "We have to rely on you." "It's no use getting angry." "Please don't forget this time." "The wounded Japanese soldiers brought to the Mudon hospital, were they really captured on Triangle Mountain?" "If so, was there a man from another unit?" "And is he all right?" "Just ask that much." "In a few days, I'll be going to the hospital to do some trading." "I'll ask about it." " We'll pay what we can." " Don't forget." " Don't forget, please!" " I understand." "Thank you." "Goodbye." "She's kind, but completely unreliable." "I wonder what happened to Mizushima." "It's been over ten days." "I should've gone myself." " Don't feed the monkey now." " It's hungry." "I was saving that rice!" "I was going to feed it tomorrow." "What?" "Yesterday you gave it my share!" " Go to sleep!" " I can smell sake" "Would you all shut up?" "We haven't even begun to taste the suffering of defeat yet." "We ought to be grateful that we're just locked up here." "What do you say if we start our rehearsals tomorrow?" "The shrike sings on a withered branch" "While we beat the straw" "Okada, take the baton." "It's all as it was last year" "But something is missing" "The chop, chop, chop of my brother's axe" "They're singing with us." "They come every day, they must've learned the song." "Singing's not your forte, is it, sarge?" "I'm probably the worst in the unit." " You know how terrible you sound?" " I guess so." "Hey, that monk's here again." "He rakes it in here, people are always giving him alms." "Fall in!" "Double file, forward!" " What is it?" " What's wrong?" " Looks like him, doesn't he?" " He looks exactly like Mizushima." " Mizushima?" " He said it's Mizushima..." "Mizushima?" " Stop fooling around." "You'll scare him." " Are you Mizushima?" "Taking shelter from the rain?" " Hello, old lady!" " What are you doing here?" "This is my house." "So this is where you live?" "Did you find out for us?" "Yes, this time I remembered to ask." "What happened to Mizushima?" " Mizushima?" " What I mean is..." "What did they tell you?" "Calm down and I'll tell you everything they told me." "You know the hospital, the soldier..." "Just give us the gist." "This rain will soon pass." "They said they were on Triangle Mountain." "They said that there was a man from another unit." "They were all running around, bullets flying through the air, so they reckon that he probably died there." "So he's dead after all." "He died in battle." "That's the same as the one that monk had." "Did you meet the monk too?" "This is the brother of the monk's bird." "My husband spent all day yesterday in the woods and caught five parrots." "The monk came along and asked him for directions." "My husband gave him a parrot to earn a favourable rebirth." "He sold three." "This is the only one left." "Old lady..." "will you sell me that bird?" "It's a very cute bird." "This is in thanks for all the information." "This is for you too." "Thank you." "Go ahead." "Take the bird." "This bird can learn Burmese, Japanese..." "Anything you want to teach it." "That was the end of our hopes for Mizushima." "We couldn't learn any details, and we had no way even to search for his remains." "The only thing we could believe was that he'd died in battle." "It's been five days already." "Can't you see that whatever you do is futile?" "The armies of Britain and Japan can come and fight all they wish." "Burma is still Burma." "Burma is the Buddha's country." "I'm starving." " Which way is Mudon?" " I don't know." " Which way is south?" " That way." "A Japanese cartridge." "They're here too." "Aren't you going to Mudon?" "Yes." "But the corpses of the Japanese soldiers..." "In Burma, the bones of many foreign soldiers lie unburied." "It's a terrible pity." "You may take this boat to Mudon." "Thank you." "Please be our guest in this room whenever you visit Mudon." "You seem to have undergone some very severe training." "Good night." "At last, tomorrow is almost here." "They'll be so surprised when they see me like this." "Why are you playing so early?" "I'm sorry." "I play the harp every day for money." "Why do you play that tune?" "If I play this, the English give me money." "May I play?" "Please teach me to play like that." "That way I'll be able to earn more money." "I will teach you." "But the monks will complain if we play here." "The British hospital workers are singing a hymn." "A Japanese soldier probably died this morning." "GRAVE OF UNKNOWN JAPANESE SOLDIER" "Aren't you going to the prison camp?" "The camp is the other way." " Mizushima?" " Don't scare him like that." "So...that monk was Mizushima after all." "But we weren't to know that at the time." "I know now that I can never go back with them." "It's a ruby!" "It's strange to find such a big one along the river." "It must be the spirit of the dead." "Hey..." "What is it?" "That music..." "It's a harp." "I wonder who's playing it." " It's a famous song..." " I don't mean that." "It's the way it's being played." "The arrangement of the notes together." " That's how Mizushima played it." " It's that kid we saw at the temple." "Let's ask the kid." "Let's ask him who taught him how to play." "What do you think?" "If Mizushima is alive, is there any reason he wouldn't want to return to his unit?" " There can't be!" " Unthinkable!" "Why was that boy playing Mizushima's song?" "How do you know it was Mizushima's song?" "We don't, but the captain says it was in his style." "And the captain's a musician, isn't he?" "Mizushima died on the mountain." "How could he teach the kid?" " Maybe before he died." " Idiot!" "He didn't have time." " Did anyone see him die?" " Are you saying he didn't?" " We can't be sure." " I've seen deserters pose as monks." "So the monk on the bridge may actually have been Mizushima." " That's right!" " Why didn't he say anything?" " He didn't understand Japanese." " But he looked just like him..." "Right!" "That's enough!" "Captain..." "I know it's disappointing to hear this, but I think it's best to forget about Mizushima." "He died bravely trying to carry out his mission." "To doubt his death is actually to dishonour his spirit, sir." "When he dressed as a native, he looked exactly like one." "By the same token, there must be Burmese who look just like him." "You believe he's alive, so you think you see him, or you think you hear his harp playing." "I'm grateful that you care so much for your men, but it'll be detrimental to your men if you let worry ruin your health." "There's no hope for him." "Please forget him, sir." "I suppose you're right." "Attention!" "Eyes right!" "Eyes front!" "At ease!" "Isn't that Mizushima?" "Hey, Mizushima!" "Let's return to Japan together." "Very good." "Let's return to Japan together." "It's no good." "Maybe it's too difficult." "BRITISH ARMY HEADQUARTERS" "Please...just check one more time." "That's impossible." "We've done all we can." "The British troops that took Triangle Mountain have returned home." "The Japanese survivors aren't in this town." "But that tune..." "You hear a certain way of playing, a few notes floating on the breeze, and it's enough to make you think a dead man is alive." "Are you sure you've not dreamt it all?" "Mizushima!" "Let's return to Japan together!" "You got it!" "Well done." "Captain!" "What's the point of training it to say that?" "I know how much you regret Mizushima's death, but such behaviour is unmanly." "Hearing this bird repeat those words day and night will be bad for the unit's morale." "Everybody's already homesick as it is." "I beg of you, sir, please pull yourself together." "We all saw that monk carrying a white box of ashes." "That's a Japanese custom!" "I thought it strange too, sir, but there's a similar custom in Burma." "He was the only one carrying a white box." "I have to find out who that monk is." "Next time I see him, I'll put this parrot on his shoulder." "If it is Mizushima, he might respond to what the bird says." "If he doesn't, then I'll know I'm wrong... and I'll give up." "I'm sorry to put you all through this." "Just bear with me a little longer." "Mizushima..." "So it was you after all." "Now that I see this box here, I know for sure." "Mizushima..." "What happened to you on Triangle Mountain?" "And what happened after?" "I have no idea." "But I think I know how you feel." "You've made a weighty decision." "How hard it must have been." "It is springtime, and high in the castle" "At a flower-viewing banquet" "The sake cup makes the rounds" "Casting its shadow against the walls" "Moonlight shines through boughs" "Of ancient pine" "Where has it gone" "That light of days long past?" " It's Mizushima!" " That's his harp!" "It's coming from the forest!" "No!" "It's coming from the statue of Buddha!" "Mizushima!" "If you're in there, open up!" "Can't you hear us?" "That's Sergeant Ito's voice." "And that's Kawakami." "That's Baba." "Hey, everybody!" "We're going home!" "The repatriation order's arrived." "We leave in three days!" " We're going home?" " Really?" "The captain said so." "He's at headquarters now." "Mizushima!" "Let's return to Japan together." "That's right." "That stubborn bastard Mizushima." "We have to take him back to Japan." "Show your face, Mizushima!" "Let me think." "How can we get this parrot on that monk's shoulder?" "We only have three days, not much time at all." "Well, at least now we can go around and look for him." "I've got a good idea!" "If we start singing really loud tomorrow, he's bound to show up." "Your unit really likes to sing." "Deep in the countryside of Shinoda" "The mother fox longs for her cub" "Deep in the countryside a red dragonfly..." " Hey, I don't think he's coming." " I'm losing my voice." "Whose bright idea was this anyway?" "Look, the old lady's here!" "Congratulations!" "Congratulations!" "I heard you're going home." "I'm very happy for you." "I wish you happiness back home in Japan." "Thanks for all your help." "I'll tell my mother back home all about you." "You've all suffered so much." "Old lady..." "Something to remember us by." "Thank you." "Here's another memento." "This is for you." " This is a good-luck charm." " Thank you." " For you." " Thank you." "People have started calling me "Japanese Granny"." "It'll be lonely here when you've all gone home." "You're still speaking in that Osaka dialect." "And I always will." "That's the Japanese the officers stationed here taught me." "Is it now?" "Old lady, do you think you could give this parrot to that monk?" "That's impossible." "He's a wandering monk and a highly revered one too, but nobody knows where he is." "We're leaving tomorrow." "We're not asking you to search all over Burma, but if you see him, could you give him the bird?" "What a strange request." "We have enormous respect for that monk too." "Very well, you can trust me to do it." "Really?" "From now on, you'll be with your brother on the monk's shoulder, serving the Buddha together." "Please make sure he gets it." "I'll visit again before you leave." "Goodbye, and thanks again!" "I'm not sure." "She didn't seem that serious about it." "We have no other choice." "There's nothing else we can do." "At least there's a chance." "Has everyone finished packing?" "There's nothing to pack." "Just put me on that boat." "What's wrong with your voices?" "He said Mizushima would show up if we sang." "Now we all have sore throats." "Fools." "Captain..." "Don't you care if Mizushima doesn't come back?" "He's coming!" "He's coming!" "What is it?" " Who?" " He's coming!" " You stink of booze!" " Mizushima's coming!" "Where?" "I mean, that monk's outside the fence." "That same beggar kid's with him." "He's got two parrots on his shoulders." "Hey, Mizushima!" "Let's return to Japan together!" "So the old woman found him." "That's our parrot." "But Mizushima never had such a vacant look." "Maybe it's not him." "How about if we sing?" "Mizushima, we're going home tomorrow!" " It's good you came back!" " Come home with us!" "What's the matter?" "Say something!" "Hey, Mizushima!" "What happened to you?" " Good day." " Old lady!" "Good day." " We've nothing left to trade." " These are for you." "Free of charge." "I won't go back!" "That's a strange phrase to learn." "Get that damn bird out of here!" "This is...the other parrot." "The monk kept the one you gave him." "He told me to bring you this one in return." "What?" "He asked me to give this to the captain." "The monk asked me to do that for him, and since it's the last thing I can do for you, I brought it." "Time to leave!" "There's a letter from Mizushima." "There's no time." "I'll read it later." "But Captain, what if Mizushima changed his..." "Mizushima isn't going to change his mind." "Even if I read it now, it wouldn't make any difference." "Ready for departure!" "All units ready for departure." "Company, forward march!" "At ease, march!" "Is everyone here?" "I'm going to read Mizushima's letter." "I think I understand how he feels." "When I went to the repository that day and I saw that white box, I understood." "But I felt uneasy and said nothing to you about it." "I think this letter will answer your questions." ""My captain and brothers-at-arms..." ""It's difficult to express how much I miss you all," ""how much I want to join you, work with you," ""talk with you and sing with you." ""It's even harder to express how I long to return" ""to my war-ravaged country and see the ones I love." ""But I cannot return." ""I cannot leave the bodies of my comrades" ""lying scattered along the hills and rivers of Burma." ""It was when I turned back for them" ""that I met you on the bridge." ""I can't express how I felt at that moment," ""but by then I had already made my mind up to stay." ""I couldn't rejoin you," ""or even tell you my name." ""I had only one intention, and that was to hurry north." "No, I can't go back!" ""As I climbed mountains and crossed rivers," ""burying the bodies left in the grasses and streams," ""my heart was racked with questions." ""Why must the world suffer such misery?" ""Why must there be such inexplicable pain?" ""As the days passed, I came to understand." ""I realised that, in the end," ""the answers were not for human beings to know," ""that our work is simply to ease the great suffering of the world." ""To have the courage" ""to face suffering, senselessness and irrationality without fear," ""to find the strength to create peace by one's own example." ""I will undergo whatever training is necessary" ""for this to become my unshakable conviction." ""The Burmese priest who has been my teacher" ""has formally accepted me into the priesthood." ""The captain's words that we should all return" ""and work together to rebuild our country..." ""...are still fresh in my memory." ""But when I saw how many dead were left behind," ""I could no longer feel the same way." ""I will stay behind to create a place" ""where those thousands of young souls can find repose." ""After many years, when that task is done," ""I may return to Japan if possible." ""But even then, I may not." ""My life may end here." ""I'm writing to you from my room in the monastery." ""The parrot you sent me..." ""...sometimes says the words that it learned from you:" ""'Hey, Mizushima, let's return to Japan together.'" ""Each time I hear those words," ""I'm startled." ""Today, filled with unbearable sadness, I forgot my monastic vows..." ""...and played a song of farewell to you on my harp." ""I am now resigned to my fate." ""There is no end to words of farewell." ""Those of you who still think of me," ""please accept my heartfelt thanks." ""From snow-capped mountains" ""to the coast where the Southern Cross stars shine," ""I shall wander throughout Burma." ""Whenever my loneliness becomes unbearable, I shall play my harp." ""Thank you for everything you've done for me." ""I shall always pray for your happiness." ""Mizushima Yasuhiko."" "When I get back to my house in the mulberry orchard," "I'll take a nice long nap on the veranda." "I wonder what's become of the factory." "I miss the sound of those motors." "I'll whistle as I ride my bike through the Ginza delivering telegrams." "And I'll go to movies and I'll..." "You really think it'll be that easy?" "You really think Mizushima will never come home?" "What?" "You never cared about him before." "What's got into you?" "Let Mizushima lead his own life." "Everyone lives as he pleases." "I used to be a station employee..." "It was true..." "I hadn't given Mizushima much thought before." "I didn't even think about him much as we headed home." "All I could think about was how his family would feel as they read his letter." "In an oddly sincere way, I hoped the captain would find a good way to explain it." "The soil of Burma is red" "And so are its rocks" "The End"