The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer (1961)

Tatsuya Nakadai: Kaji

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Quotes 

• Kaji : The Red Army should be different from the Japanese or the Nazis. Fundamentally different even from the American army. Minor incidents from a historical standpoint can be of vital importance to the individual. For those who've seen such failings, the scars never heal. The blood of hatred will continue to ooze from the wounds, forming a breeding ground for distrust that can't be wiped out. A trivial event perhaps, but also a stain on humanity. How can you defend such a thing?

• Kaji : Maybe what you're doing is right and I'm wrong.

  Tange Ittôhei : Who knows? No one can say.

• Kaji : I have faith in the future of socialism - and in my countrymen. I will continue to work.

• Kaji : In your urgency, supervision grows slack. You stick to inflexible rules. Good intentions are suppressed and evil is tolerated. The fact that socialism is better than fascism is not enough to keep us alive!

• Settlement Prostitute : It's cold out here, even with a fire. Why don't you men come inside? I've kept a spot for you.

  Soldier : No need to keep watch?

  Kaji : I'll stay up for while longer. Someone can relieve me later.

  [soldier leaves] 

  Settlement Prostitute : That young man's in for a surprise.

  Kaji : Why?

  Settlement Prostitute : They're all rolling around together in the dark in there. And there's more women than men.

• Settlement Prostitute : So we married women should just starve? Bite our tongues off and just die?

  Kaji : Who said anything like that?

  Settlement Prostitute : Even if we get home alive, how many of us can return to our former lives? Women and soldiers who spend fleeting nights together always talk about returning home together. When flesh meets flesh, it really seems possible. But at dawn, the soldiers are strangers again. They get restless and anxious and grab their weapons and sneak off. Soldier, are you listening?

  Kaji : I hear you.

  Settlement Prostitute : Women waste no tears. They just wait patiently for the soldier who'll come and take them away.

• Kaji : [inner voice]  Michiko, I'm a murderer. These hands that once caressed you killed a man in cold blood. Just to cross the road to safety! Was I justified? Or was it wanton murder? Michiko, will you decide for me?

• Terada Nitôhei : If we lose, wouldn't our country be wiped out?

  Kaji : Our country? What's that? The country you were taught to know will be dead - and that' how it should be. We've been struggling to survive - to see if a country can take its place where men are free.

• Tange Ittôhei : I hope democratic forces will unite to cope with this defeat.

  Kaji : Democratic forces? Is there such a thing in Japan? Japan's full of helpless creatures like myself - or worse. They can do nothing.

  Tange Ittôhei : Why so bitter? The test is yet to come.

  Kaji : That's not the point. We became soldiers - and fought in battle. We were wiped out, and now we plod along. We killed and we deserted our buddies. "Cope with defeat," you say. How many of us are even capable or worthy of that?

  Tange Ittôhei : That's enough. Even your ideals seem starved.

• Tange Ittôhei : You've sure changed.

  Kaji : When it's kill or be killed, you change.

• Nagata Taii : What happened to Lieutenant Doi?

  Kaji : Killed in action, sir.

  Nagata Taii : Then why are you still alive? Why didn't you press on in a final attack? Your commanders are dead, yet you dare live on? You must be deserters. And bringing a woman along -- such indiscretion! Explain yourself!

  Kaji : I offer no explanation.

• Kaji : Let's call the men and get out of here.

  Tange Ittôhei : It's dangerous wherever we go. Why not relax the reins a bit?

  Kaji : Am I too hard on them?

  Tange Ittôhei : You're not satisfied until you've dragged everyone else up to your own level. Of course, that's probably why you're alive today.

• Kaji : They're all sick of war, sick of the army. They keep walking only to get home. Why should they risk their lives for the Americans or Chiang Kai-shek?

• Hikita Ittôhei : She's already been worked over by the Reds. Why should she deserve special treatment?

  Kaji : And just what treatment did you give her?

  Hikita Ittôhei : I gave her the appropriate treatment.

  Kaji : Meaning?

  Hikita Ittôhei : You want to know? I wiped the Russian filth off her.

• Kaji : [inner voice]  Michiko, I'm still alive. I'm still walking toward you. If you weren't waiting - I doubt I could continue another day.

• Kaji : What about her? She's depending on you. Didn't you want someone to depend on you?

  Terada Nitôhei : She means nothing to me. It's only 'cause you rejected her that she...

  Kaji : Stop pretending to understand things you don't. She doesn't want you or me. She just wants male protection.

• Kaji : I have to survive - to see that bastard unmasked.

• Kaji : Stop crying! It's not over yet. It's only just beginning.

• Kaji : I could have denied it. You have no evidence! Meanwhile you deny that your own troops committed rape and pillage against the Japanese - even though it would not harm the prestige of the Red Army. I at least admit my faults so that I may point out yours.

• Kaji : I survived the battle and tried to escape. I hoped to find proof here that I was wrong to run. But now I see that that was an idealistic miscalculation. Russia's needs and its historical mission lead it to destroy human lives and then justify doing so. Just or not, the sacrificed individuals suffer. They must protect themselves, but it looks like resistance. What other way is there?

• Kaji : They seem smug and selfish to me.

  Tange Ittôhei : That can't be helped. The present stage calls for a Soviet-first policy.

• Ume-chan : What's wrong with them?

  Refugee Man : They've mooched off us ever since we escaped.

  Ume-chan : You ran to us when the Russians were going to rape your women.

  Kaji : Enough! We'll all share. If you want to argue, we leave you behind.

• Kaji : [to the prostitute]  What are you doing undressing here? It's dangerous!

  Soldier : Why don't you mind your own business?

  Kaji : [slaps soldier]  Go back and get ready to leave. You can complain later.

  [soldier leaves] 

  Kaji : Stop teasing the men.

  Prostitute : I wasn't teasing them.

  Kaji : The tension eases and you ladies are back to your old tricks.

  Prostitute : You ladies? Stop acting so big. I happen to prefer his type.

  Kaji : I don't care who you prefer. There's danger everywhere.

• Settlement Prostitute : Let's go inside. It's safe here at night. No Russians or Manchus will come.

  Kaji : You go on. I'll find someplace to sleep later.

  Settlement Prostitute : A paragon of virtue, eh? Rare for a soldier. Too good to be dallying with my kind.

• Soldier : I felt like having fun last night. Hadn't had a chance to work out the kinks in a while. But what about you? You're acting like some Zen priest. Weren't any girls interested?

  Kaji : Who the hell cares?

• Kaji : Cut out the bragging. Touch a woman while you're with me and I'll shoot you.

  Soldier #1 : Who gives a shit about white or Chink dames anyway? They're raping our women.

  Soldier #2 : It's war. An eye for an eye.

  Soldier #1 : These guys don't realize who they're talking to.

  Kaji : I can guess.

  Soldier #1 : Then stop being such a wet blanket. You have to enjoy the moment.

• Chôsen e Iku Heichô : Where you headed?

  Kaji : We hope to get to Mutankiang.

  Chôsen e Iku Heichô : It's that way. But you're wasting your time. The enemy got there first.

  Kaji : Really? What about yourself?

  Chôsen e Iku Heichô : I'm headed for Korea. Closer to home than Manchuria.

  Hironaka Gôchô : And your unit?

  Chôsen e Iku Heichô : I had one until yesterday.

  Kaji : Watch out for the Korean-Manchurian border. It's controlled by Kim Il Sung.

  Chôsen e Iku Heichô : Is that right? Then I'll just be another Red. What's 'comrade' in Chinese and Korean?

  Kaji : It's tongzhi in Chinese. In Korean I think it's tongmu.

  Chôsen e Iku Heichô : Tongzhi and tongmu, eh? Thanks. That's all I'll need. See ya. Tongzhi and tongmu, eh? You look strong and healthy, my tongzhi!

• Kaji : Now talk! What did you bastards do to her and her brother? Get out of here! I'm confiscating your weapons. Terada, take their rifles. You bastards can crawl on all fours from now on.

• Kaji : Michiko... our happiness was an illusion. For the joys we shared at the cost of Chinese sacrifices, I am now paying dearly. What's more, I must kill and steal to fight my way back to you. Michiko... will you and I ever get a chance to start anew?

• Kaji : Can I keep walking? Where am I headed anyway? All this walking... is it just a waste of time? Has south Manchuria become just another mass grave for the Japanese? Maybe there's nowhere left for the Japanese to go.

• Kaji : You deny our request for food?

  Nagata Taii : I do! My unit's to make a final stand at the Korean-Manchurian border. We have no supplies for cowards. Now get out of here! Loiter here and we'll hang you all.

  Kaji : Captain Nagata, was it? Keep your food and your damned lectures. I'll blow your head off! Nobody move! Terada and Hikita, shoot anyone who moves. Look at these idiots in full battle dress! What 'final stand'! If you don't want to give us food, just say so! Our men were wiped out so you could run! I'll blow you to bits!

• Kaji : I don't know who among us will survive... but this rice is for them, not for the dying.

• Hironaka Gôchô : You calling me a fool? I only let you take charge because you know this area. I'm still an NCO. I won't be insulted!

  Kaji : As long as you're with me, I give the orders. Forget about rank. While we're at it, let's get something else clear. You listen too, Terada. I didn't expect Mutankiang to fall so soon. The Kwangtung Army must essentially be wiped out... so I'm no longer concerned about rejoining them.

  Hironaka Gôchô : Then what do we do?

  Kaji : We go back to our former lives. South Manchuria lies in that direction. My former life awaits me there. And I'll do my best to get you back to your former lives. If you don't agree, we can part ways now. We decide right here. How about it? We'll run into friendly forces somewhere. Whoever wants to can join them.

  Hironaka Gôchô : Not 'whoever wants to'... it's our duty! You can't just ignore the soldier's code.

  Kaji : What we need now is the defeated man's code. If you want to go on soldiering, take Terada and go. I'm going this way.

• Terada Nitôhei : Sir, tell me how you did it.

  Kaji : Don't ask useless questions! It got us across that road. Concentrate on what lies ahead instead.

• Kaji : Let me bury the child. Carrying it around won't bring it back to life.

• Kaji : No. If you're so hungry, eat the grass!

• Kaji : I'm breaking out of this forest today come what may. I won't stop until I reach homes or farmland. Stick with me if you don't want to die.

• Tange Ittôhei : Their militia seems to indicate that the war must be over.

  Kaji : If so, they'd announce it and urge us to surrender. Would they just come after us?

  Tange Ittôhei : Would you surrender?

  Kaji : No.

• Kaji : So I was buying a woman by stealing that food?

• Kaji : Michiko... are you still alive? Do you realize that I'm walking like this to return to your side?

• Kaji : Stop pretending to understand things you don't. She doesn't want you or me. She just wants male protection. Stay behind and give her that. Keep trotting along behind me and you'll never become a man.

• Kaji : It was me.

  Minagawa Tsûyaku : Fool! Why'd you do such a thing?

  Kaji : I didn't mean to. I didn't think they'd halt, but I was hoping they would.

  Minagawa Tsûyaku : He says the prisoners need a rest.

  Sorengun Shôkô : That's for the commander to decide. Are you resisting my authority? You're just a prisoner.

  Minagawa Tsûyaku : Just do as you're told.

  Kaji : Explain what I'm saying. The commander doesn't realize conditions at the rear. The men are hit by diarrhea. Some have even been kicked by the guards. Maybe I went too far, but he has to understand the conditions back here.

  Minagawa Tsûyaku : He says many men in the rear have diarrhea. The guard kicked one of these men. He wants the case investigated.

  Sorengun Shôkô : He claims one of you kicked a prisoner. Is this true? Physical force against prisoners is not allowed! However, if a prisoner violates military discipline again, he'll be punished! Fascist samurai!

  Minagawa Tsûyaku : He'll let you off this time, but don't do it again. And he called you a fascist samurai.

• Kaji : From here on... I quit running and start fighting. They can kill you and me if they want. But why civilians? And a woman?

  Tange Ittôhei : They're on edge just like us.

  Kaji : You think that's an excuse? That kind of thinking justifies anything.

• Kaji : I know rummaging for garbage must be rough.

  Terada Nitôhei : Only washing the stuff, now that the water's so cold. But then I feel better, knowing we'll all live another day.

• Noge Shôsa : That's how it is. What do you think?

  Kaji : I don't think anything.

• Tange Ittôhei : It's strange you should fear Siberia. If you can't survive it, no one can.

  Kaji : They can send us to Siberia and work us to death. But take down the 'peace' and 'liberation' signs. Listen to me. Exploit our labor and then try to reeducate us... that shouldn't be the Soviet way. I'm not complaining about too much work. I can even understand the short rations. Their guards even sleep on the ground like us. What I'm saying... is that most POWs are not enemies in the class struggle.

• Kaji : It was a mistake to escape and walk all that way, and another mistake to get caught. I'm considering making one further mistake.

• Kaji : This one he addresses as 'comrade' must be a true party member. If only I could speak their language! That fool Minagawa! There's so much to tell you. It would take me all night. But... I wonder if you'd understand.

• Minagawa Tsûyaku : After the war ended, did you ever harm any of our men?

  Kaji : I did.

  Minagawa Tsûyaku : Did you also harm any Chinese?

  Kaji : I did.

  Minagawa Tsûyaku : That is sufficient to declare you a war criminal.

• Kaji : Ignore him. He has the bad habit of sneering at anyone who talks about anything serious.

• Kirihara Gôchô : Finally showing signs of wear and tear, eh? You're a good fellow, but stupid. Living right doesn't necessarily mean living seriously. Chaotic times call for chaotic living. Your naivete brings tears to my eyes.

  Kaji : They say even a thief has his reasons.

• Kaji : Terada, I just had an idea. Starting tomorrow, pretend you're sick and stay behind. After we leave for work, rummage through their garbage heaps. Potato peels, scraps of carrot... salvage anything edible. We'll add it to our rations. Otherwise we'll starve... and I refuse to die like this!

• Sorengun Shôkô : 'Private first class, 21 months of service. Previous employment: labor supervisor.' So you helped exploit workers, eh?

  Minagawa Tsûyaku : Yes... it seems so.

  Kaji : What did he say?

  Minagawa Tsûyaku : It doesn't concern this interrogation.

• Kirihara Gôchô : I was hoping we'd meet again.

  Kaji : I can't say the same. Are thieving rapists allowed to run around free in here?

• Kaji : I don't know whether Kirihara or Noge turned me in, and it doesn't matter. What matters is that you use such men to censure me for saving my men's lives by sifting through your garbage heap.

• Minagawa Tsûyaku : You know, you'd better start showing up for work. I can't stick up for you much longer.

  Kaji : I'm suspected of something again?

  Minagawa Tsûyaku : It's not just you. The Soviet officers are angry. They're cracking down on reactionary elements.

• Kaji : When you hear them singing, you get the feeling they're good men. They must have something to sing for. Outside the army, I mean.

• Kaji : Wait for me, Michiko! It won't be long now! I've come this far. It won't be much longer. I faced so many trials along the way, but that's all over now. Tonight I'll see your face, hear your voice, touch your hands, and my memories will bring back all that we've lost. It's not far now. Let me rest just five minutes. Then I'll continue on to you, no matter what. In the end we never had to say farewell. Tonight our life together will begin anew. Michiko, I'm home at last! I'm with you at last!

• Kaji : Michiko, look. I've come this far. I'm going to save this for you. I'm bringing this dumpling to you. It's my only gift. After over 700 days away from you, it's all I have to bring you.

• Kaji : I had to kill many men... to continue my journey back to you. I killed many men. Don't hate me for it! I'm coming home to you. Even now I keep walking toward you. Michiko, do you still await my return?

• Kirihara Gôchô : Stop it, please! Please! I apologize!

  Kaji : That's what I've been waiting to hear! Bastard! Die! Worthless scum like you deserve to die! It takes too long to do away with bastards like you! Meanwhile, good men suffer and die! Die!

• Kaji : Really? It can't be helped? Is that the universal solution to human dilemmas: 'It can't be helped'?

  Tange Ittôhei : History will correct that... not you or me.

• Sorengun Shôkô : This is not a court. I will not pronounce sentence. But we cannot allow resistance and sabotage by prisoners. You will be assigned to a detail pulling up railroad tracks. There are no camps nor fenced enclosures... but you cannot escape or resist. If you try, you will starve to death.

  Minagawa Tsûyaku : You're getting hard labor as punishment for sabotage. If you resist or attempt escape, you will starve to death.

  Kaji : That's ridiculous! I don't mind hard labor, but can't we talk like human beings? Let me tell my side. Tell him that.

  Sorengun Shôkô : What's he saying?

  Minagawa Tsûyaku : He says that what you say is ridiculous... and stupid.

  Sorengun Shôkô : Son of a bitch! Fascist Jap!

  Kaji : What did he say?

  Sorengun Shôkô : Ah, it's you! Wait a minute. I've seen you somewhere before. Yes, it's you! The samurai scoundrel! I'd expect something like this from you! Nazi dogs are the worst scum in the world... and then come Japanese like you!