At the end of the 20th century: In opposition to a marked rise in city crime and its increasingly vicious nature, the Metropolitan Police established within itself the Anti-Vicious Crime Heavily Armored Mobile Special Investigation Unit. Police men and women of superior intellect and physical strength, who had a particularly strong sense of justice, were selected and made its members.
Armed with special reinforcement gear and heavy firearms, they were known as the "Watchdogs of Hell: Kerberos," and began their courageous challenge against the criminal underworld.
However, in their fervent hatred of evil, their actions were quite severe. Their almost-cruel investigation activities became the target of strong public criticism. During this tense atmosphere, an incident occurred where a misdemeanor offender was beaten to death by a Special Investigation Unit member. This triggered the inevitable dissolution of the organization. The complete History of the criminal Law Enforcement Organization by Hyohe Shiozawa chapter IV: Strife against vicious crimes Appendix: The Glory and Downfall of the Kerberos (excerpt)
An Omnibus Promotion Film
From the central control office...
... a level one emergency situation has been declared in the metropolitan area.
As of 1200 hours, an unrestricted investigation will commence.
I repeat.
From the central control office...
... a level one emergency situation has been declared in the metropolitan area.
As of 1200 hours, an unrestricted investigation will commence.
To all patrolling units on alert...
... the criminals who stole a Special Investigation Unit vehicle...
... and are on the run have been identified as...
... the members of the Central Management District First Platoon...
Kouichi Todome, Souichiroh Toribe, and Midori Washio.
Their rank is senior detectives.
Each wears reinforcement gear and carries heavy firearms.
They may attempt to flee the country.
Shoot to kill on sight.
I repeat.
Shoot to kill on sight.
They were last sighted on Coast Highway 109, at Interchange 3.
Are you OK?
They broke through a picket line...
... and are currently suspected to be in hiding near C17 Terminal.
I repeat.
Shoot to kill on sight.
They were last sighted on Coast Highway 109, at Interchange 3.
They broke through a picket line...
... and are currently suspected to be in hiding near C17 Terminal.
They aren't shy about broadcasting info on the civilian lines.
The amount of idiots who want to be famous...
...for taking our heads will surge when they hear this.
Leave the escaped watchdogs to the street kids...
...and the master himself doesn't have to dirty his hands.
Doesn't matter either way.
Or, are you saying that it's worth being shot...
... if the shooter was your friend yesterday?
We knew it since we decided to refuse to disarm and escape.
By the way...
...about the chopper picking us up.
Remaining rounds: thirty.
Remaining rounds: five.
Remaining round: one.
Inside my gut, that is.
Came right through a gap in my armor.
Bad break.
That settles it.
After hearing all those gunshots, there will be more of them, soon.
Midori and I will hold them here and buy time.
You go!
How do you expect me to do that!
Koichi!
We turned against our comrades, broke the chains, and escaped!
For what?
We didn't get this far so we can all die together!
Midori and I can't move anymore!
Go, Koichi.
And come back, you hear me?
Midori.
Go on.
We'll wait for you here.
Go!
Where are the other two?
They...
... Midori and Ao aren't coming.
They can't, now.
We could wait a little longer.
Do you want to?
They're the ones who have to wait.
Until I return...
...they'll be waiting.
Let's go.
Produced by Shigeharu Shiba Daisuke Hayashi
Screenplay Kazunori Ito Mamoru Oshii
THE RED SPECTACLES
June 15, 1995 The Metropolitan Anti Unit became subject to dissolution as per Metropolitan vicious crime Heavily Armored Mobile Special Investigation Police Order No. 209.
August 1, same year After a 45-day siege, the entire Special Unit Fifth Platoon surrendered. The Metropolitan Police declared that the "Kerberos Riot" incident had concluded.
Photography: Yosuke Mamiya Lighting: Yoshimi Hosaka
November 2, same year Midori Washio (25), a former Special Investigation Unit senior detective, was arrested at a friend's house where she had been in hiding.
December 19, same year Soichiroh Toribe (27), a former Special Investigation Unit senior detective, was arrested after a gunfight at his lover's house, where he had been in hiding.
Music: Kenji Kawai Effects : Yasufumi Yoda
June 15, 1996 The first trial for the "Kerberos Riot" was called into session. October 21, 1997 The separate trial for the "Kerberos Riot" concluded. April 28, 1998 All accused members of the "Kerberos Unitary Group" were found guilty. An appeal to the higher court was dismissed.
Editing: Seiji Morita Adjustments: Kunio Kuwahara
At large as of June 15, 1998- Former Special Investigation Unit, First Platoon senior detective, Koichi Todome (28)
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Three years later
To the Oriental Hotel.
Well?
Take a left onto Pier Street!
Oh, number 13, Port Town.
Summer, 1995.
On melting asphalt roads, people walked...
... leaving impressions of their footsteps behind.
It was extremely hot...
You alone?
You don't take singles?
No, as long as you pay, I don't care if you're a dog.
Want me to get someone?
By "someone" you mean a massage parlor girl?
Or Ambassador Magma?
Either one.
No, neither.
No?
No!
You sure?
Then you're...?
Ah, forget it.
Don't kill him. Make sure you capture him alive.
Yes, sir!
Go!
The lost, lost little kitten Where is your home
She can't tell where her home is She can't tell what her name is
Meow-meow-meow-meow Meow-meow-meow-meow
Dogs, live. Cats, die.
Hello?
It is ten o'clock.
'Tis but an hour ago since it was 9, And after one hour more it will be 11;
And so, from hour to hour we ripe and ripe.
William Shakespeare, from As You Like It...
...Act Two, Scene Seven.
What about it?
My, that was quite a surprise.
You falling from the sky with a bang like that.
Let me guess, you're...
I'm just a passing tourist.
Well, sure you are, if you say so.
But your eyes are those of one who abandoned this town once...
...for a reason and came back after a few years.
To accomplish something.
But you'd better be careful.
This town isn't the town you once knew.
In the few years you were away, its corruption has advanced steadily.
Look, Mister.
I keep wondering if it's because its people rot...
...the town rots as well, or because the town rots, the people rot as well.
Which do you think is the case?
I dunno.
Not good.
Such an apathetic attitude is not good.
Communication is the first step to deeper understanding between people.
If you keep your mouth shut like that...
Hey, aren't there any stand-and-eat soba shops around here?
Owned by a lone middle-aged man with dark past...
...where sorrowful men come to find one bowl worth of warmth...
...that kind of place.
Didn't you know, Mister?
Stand-and-eat soba was outlawed two years ago.
What?
Those shops are the place where youngsters, wanting to get away...
...gather late at night.
And the owners tend to have dark and secret pasts.
Considering those two aspects...
...they were deemed to violate public order and standards of decency.
Well, there probably was a large potential for a public opposition...
...but anyhow, the kind of people who flock around stand-and-eat soba shops...
...have no possibility whatsoever of unifying.
The Stand-and-Eat Snack Sales Prohibition Ordinance...
...or SESSPO for short.
SESSPO?
Beef bowls, too?
Of course it applies.
Convenience stores?
Until sundown.
Why?
Like I said, they've gone rotten.
Stop the car!
"Ginji the Moon-Viewing! "
Where is he?
I don't know!
You can't fool me!
I really don't know!
Ouch, it hurts, stop, ah!
I don't know!
I really don't know!
Stop it!
What are you doing?
Spit it out!
You stupid piece of shit!
Spit it out, now!
You stupid piece of shit!
Where is Ginji?
Ouch, what mediocrity.
Ouch.
Do you remember now?
Do brothers or friends not exist in a small restroom?
No such thing!
You stupid piece of shit!
Hey you.
You know an underground stand-and-eat soba shop.
Anything but that... mercy, big brother.
No brothers or friends exist in a small restroom!
Why don't you wash your face?
You.
Let me buy you a bowl.
Soba Udon
"Angel egg."
They don't have it?
Nor "moon-viewing."
You can't get "moon-viewing" or "angel egg" any more.
Lots of things have happened since you disappeared.
The traffic light has changed to muddy blue.
It may never turn back to clear red again.
Nobody stops for you.
Both the town and the people have changed.
And so have I.
"Ginji the Moon-Viewing" became just old plain Ginji...
...when "moon-viewing" disappeared from the menu.
Yet, as soon as the sun sets, I find myself coming to a place like this.
Not being able to forget the taste of the past.
But I'm the lucky one.
I still get treated to soba like this once in a while...
...and see an old friend's face, too.
The others?
Ushigoroh the Beef Bowl, Amataroh the Baked Red Bean Pastry...
Sabu the Medium Hot...
Tetsu the Hamburger, Mami the Crepe...
Where and how they are now?
Not even rumors get through this town.
Why did you come back?
Soichiroh Toribe...
Midori Washio...
It's not as if you quit your other profession as well, is it?
Have I ever caused you any trouble before?
No.
That's the problem.
Take care of yourself.
Koichi!
As someone once said, a true friend is the one you play with.
No, those two aside...
... if you want to cherish your memories...
...don't meet them.
Out of order
Occupied.
Hey, come out!
Hey, please, come out!
No brothers or friends exist in a small restroom.
Now, it's time for some wake-up exercises.
Let's pump up the energy!
Hold out your fingers, and do bend-and-unbends.
Bend, unbend, bend, and unbend.
As if you were thrusting them forward.
And elbow-stretching.
Let's see some energy!
Are you awake, Koichi?
Straighten your backs, and do some kick-ups.
Higher! Higher!
How's your stomach?
Where am I?
What am I doing here?
Who are you?
Alright, then.
Let's say I'm in the same trade as you were before.
Therefore, this is an interrogation room.
You, having eaten for the first time in three years your favorite food...
...stand-and-eat soba, suffered from symptoms of acute diarrhea.
But you couldn't overcome your own sense of public morality...
...and fainted in agony in the end.
A good citizen found you unconscious in the theater restroom and called us.
So here you are.
Now, let us begin.
Former Metropolitan Anti Vicious Crime Heavily Armored Mobile Special...
... Investigation Unit senior detective Koichi Todome.
A.K.A. "Koichi the Last Blow."
Currently on the wanted list for charges of violating...
...the Civil Servant Practice Code and illegally possessing weapons...
...a violation of the Firearms and Swords Control Law.
Interfering with policemen in the fulfillment of their duties...
Violating the Immigration Control Law.
Violating the Anti-Subversive Activities Law, among others!
The only man who, when the Special Investigation Unit was dissolved...
...refused to disarm and managed to flee the country.
What did a man such as yourself return for?
Summer, 1995.
On melting asphalt roads, people walked...
... leaving impressions of their footsteps behind.
It was extremely hot...
I see, you intend to remain completely silent.
I am talking, aren't I?
I have no interests in the dusty memories of your past.
What I want is information.
Information?
On what?
If I knew, I wouldn't be asking.
To begin with, I never trust people with the initial N.
You think, "So, he's an N," and then before you know it...
...he's lying down and is now a Z.
And in an outrageous case, he then flips over and becomes an S.
Really, it's horrible.
My initial is none of those.
Then talk.
At last, you seem to be willing to talk.
What are you thinking?
What am I thinking?
I'm the one asking questions! You're to answer me!
Make sure you get that right.
If you insist on being uncooperative, I will have to treat you to a drink.
But, if possible, I'd like to avoid that.
And your answer is?
Threats won't work on me.
It's not exactly a stirred martini, but have some anyway.
Alcohol helps protect a lot of things.
Except secrets.
Nothing to munch on?
Pinch your nose instead.
Drink, drink.
Hold on, hold on.
Shochu, give me shochu!
Sho...
We don't have soba-shochu, but we do have wheat-shochu.
Wheat! Wheat!
How about that?
Wine!
Give me some wine!
Are you a fountain?
You fountain man!
Give me some of the more expensive booze!
The bulb's dead!
Hang on a second, hey!
I'm throwing up now.
I'm throwing up here.
My dead grandma told me to throw up here!
Hold it!
I can't.
Hurry!
Here you go!
Straighten your backs, and do some kick-ups.
Higher!
One more game.
You should call it quits now.
Go home and sleep.
Hey, man.
When playing games, you have to know when to quit.
You should call it quits now.
Come on, just one more game.
I have mercy in my heart, you know.
Feed it to a dog, then!
My nest egg.
Some hundred thousand yen.
Stripping to the fuzz on your behind is mercy as well.
You wish.
Hey!
Hey man, what kind of joke are you playing at, eh?
You're blaming the wrong man.
Over there!
It's been a while.
Ao.
Koichi.
Who the hell are you?
Get him!
Koichi!
Wake up, Koichi.
Koichi!
Now, it's time for some wake-up exercises.
Let's pump up the energy!
Hold out your fingers, and do bend-and-unbends.
Bend, unbend, bend, and unbend.
As if you were thrusting them forward.
And elbow-stretching.
Let's see some energy!
Got a headache?
If you want a drink, help yourself.
Beer's in there.
Want something to eat?
Yeah.
Ao.
Don't call me that!
Don't call me by that name.
The man who used to be called that is gone.
He doesn't exist anymore.
Why?
Tell me, what happened during the time we were apart?
Why?
That's right, you weren't here.
What those of us who remained in this town went through.
You couldn't have known about it.
I...
...had to escape all alone and survive in a foreign land...
...without even a friend to talk to.
Dreaming of the day you would return here, gritting your teeth...
I know.
We...
We were the same.
When you returned, things would be all right.
And the days of battles will start again.
We believed that blindly.
That's why, we never lost our hope, even while living as fugitives.
And even when we were arrested.
But we were wrong.
In cold solitary cells, the first month passed in hope...
the second month passed in yearning...
Then everyone started to realize.
That we were, after all, left behind.
I didn't mean...
Maybe not.
But, after taking off the reinforcement gear...
...we were more fragile than a crab that just finished molting.
One by one, we dug a hole fit to our own shell and burrowed into it.
No more hurt. No more desperation.
But since then, hope has been forever lost.
And, that's when we were released without warning.
Underdogs don't require cages, you see.
The series of events were treated as dirty laundry and hushed up.
Nobody remembers it now.
Before submitting to their power...
...we sought a new shell to replace the reinforcement gear.
So we have no right to shout blame at them.
It was too late.
It was way too late.
If we were wrong to wait for you...
... knowing you would probably return someday...
...then you may be equally guilty, for dreaming about returning to this town.
On that day, we separated after making a pledge to meet again...
But we couldn't separate without it. So maybe that makes us jointly guilty.
Soichiroh.
No, Ao.
Listen to me.
To tell the truth...
... Koichi.
Yeah.
I beg you, don't tell me any more.
Such talk is poison to me now.