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The Genji and their allies thus created a mighty navy
comprising of three thousand warships
with the aim of encircling the Haiké navy.
The Genji an Heiké couldn't wait for the hostilities to start.
Both armies flung themseves at each other.
It is a well-known fact that the Genji army
had been put under the high command
of General Yoshitsuné from Genji.
At Dan-no-ura of Shimonoseki Channel
the last battle was fought between the Genji and the Heike clans.
The Heike were defeated in many battles and escaped to the west.
And here, the clan perished with the infant emperor.
Notonokami Noritsune knew this was his last day.
The Genji samurai were no match for him.
He wanted to cross swords with Yoshitsune, the Genji commander.
"Come on, Yoshitsune!"he called.
The high waves prevented them from landing the shore.
And the Genji ships blocked the one possible escape to the sea.
They waited with arrows in their bows.
The crew were all dead
and the Heike ships had no where to go.
Some sank, some went adrift.
The long contest between the two samurai clans
was reaching its end.
Lady Nii saw the end of the battle.
She held the infant emperor in her arms.
"Woman though I am, I won't let my enemy kill me.
I'll escort His Majesty to the next world.
If you have loyalty, follow me."
And that sea and its shores
have been haunted for seven hundred years.
Thousands of strange crabs
called Heike crabs
which have human faces on their backs are found there.
After Amidaji temple was built at Akamagahara
to console the dead samurai's souls
many strange things took place.
Hoichi!
Here you are.
Be careful not to fall into the well, Hoichi.
Yes.
The Priest wants you to take care while we're away.
We're going to perform a service at the house
of a dead parishioner.
Yes.
There's a piece of watermelon for you in the kitchen.
Eat it while it's cold.
Yes. Thank you.
All right.
I told him to take care.
He's new here. I'm afraid.
I think he'll be all right.
Who is it?
Are you back, Priest?
No one would visit here at this hour of night.
Maybe I only imagined I heard a sound.
Hoichi!
Who's calling?
I'm blind.
I've not been living here long.
I thought somebody was in the garden, but I was not sure.
Pardon me.
Forgive me.
Nothing to fear.
I'm stopping near this temple
and have been sent here with a message.
My present lord, a person of exceedingly high rank
is now staying at Akamagahara with his numerous attendants.
He wanted to view a scene of the battle of Dan-no-ura
so we went there today.
I see.
Now, my lord heard of your skill in reciting
the story of the battle.
They say you even surpass your teacher.
So he desires to hear your performance.
Take your biwa and come with me to our house at once.
It's very kind of him.
But I'm afraid I'm not good enough.
You wouldn't disobey his commands, would you?
I believe your lord is a very noble person.
Yes. Usually you couldn't be in his presence.
It's good fortune.
Open the gate!
Someone in there!
I've brought Hoichi!
Take your shoes off now.
Another dead one?
The tide washed him back
Another ghost ship?
I saw wills o' the wisp last night.
Yasaku!
Good morning.
Hoichi?
He isn't in.
Not back yet?
No.
Is it true that none of you knew when he left last night?
Yes. I thought he had gone to bed.
Another ship sank last night.
Whose?
Gon-emon's. He went out fishing.
His family came here to request a service.
Is that so?
I told the Priest.
I see. I'm very sorry.
Does a ghost ship really exist?
It seems so.
I haven't seen it. I wonder if it really exists. Don't you, Donkai?
It exists only for those who believe it does.
You make me confused again.
I really believe it.
Don't fool me.
I'm serious. You always...
I'm serious, too.
Is Hoichi back?
Yes. Are you going out?
How is he?
It seems he's sleeping in his room.
What? When did he...?
None of us knows when he came back.
I see.
He must have had a pleasant night.
I told him to take care of the house.
What an untrustworthy fellow!
Well, I must get ready for a service for Gon-emon.
We'll have another wake tonight.
It'll be hot today.
How I was scared! You're sitting in the dark like that.
I wondered who it was.
What's the matter?
"What's the matter?"
Everybody's out. Matsuzo went home today, so I'm alone.
And I thought you were asleep.
I took you for a ghost.
Oh, I got soaking wet.
I'm so sorry.
That's all right. You didn't eat your breakfast yet.
Where on earth were you last night?
Your breakfast is ready here. It hasn't gone bad.
Now eat it.
The boiled eggplants for supper are there too.
Thank you.
Donkai and the Priest were very anxious about you.
Where did you go and what did you do?
Were they that anxious?
You should have known that. "That anxious"?
You're too young to stay out all night, aren't you?
So you have a girl now, is that it?
Of course not.
I went out because I remembered some business I had to attend.
Really?
Your girl must be blind too.
So you make love groping for each other like this.
Hoichi!
It's the time we promised. I've come to take you.
Yes, sir.
You didn't tell anybody?
No, I didn't.
Don't say a word about it.
I understand.
This is very good.
These rice cakes and wine are all I brought from home.
Give some to Hoichi.
He'll get up soon.
He'll be hungry when the sun sets.
Oh? What does he do during the day?
He sleeps like a dead man.
He's very pale.
It's because of the shining green leaves.
No.
And...
Who's there?
Oh, it's you, Yasaku.
Oh, Matsuzo!
When did you come back?
You were asleep when I came back so I didn't wake you.
I'm afraid you're sick.
No.
It's this hot climate, that's all. I'm all right.
Well,
I've been thinking I must ask you
where you go every night.
Why do you stay out nights, eh?
Tell me the reason why you leave the temple
every night at so late an hour.
What do you do while you're away from the temple?
Everybody is suspicious of you.
But I've told them we could trust you.
At any rate, to go out blind and alone is dangerous.
I could have had Matsuzo or Yasaku accompany you.
Where have you been going?
Won't you tell me?
Forgive me.
It's nothing serious.
I remembered some business I had to do.
So I went out late at night. I'll be careful from now on.
What is it?
Nothing really.
I'm sorry I worried you.
I see.
Priest! Priest!
Yasaku, what happened?
Hoichi...
What's the matter with him?
He went out again just now.
Went out? What are you waiting for? Follow him immediately!
Go with Matsuzo. Don't let him find you. Hurry!
Take this. Hurry!
And Matsuzo?
Come on, hurry!
I can't light it.
Better get blind. Then you wouldn't need light.
- Hurry! - You go first.
But it's dark.
Of course. Night is never bright.
The thunders!
Never mind! Go now! Matsuzo!
Yasaku!
Matsuzo!
What are you waiting for? Go and get him!
Where'd he go?
Over there?
He can't be very far.
Go that way.
Run!
Yasaku!
Yasaku, you must come with me!
Matsuzo!
His Majesty wants you to be at home.
Yes, Your Majesty.
You play the biwa beautifully.
And you recite the long story of Heike
that consists of one hundred songs every night.
His Majesty is highly pleased.
We're very glad too.
Thank you very much.
As I told you
there are nineteen secret songs and five secret poems
besides the main story.
It takes many nights to perform all of them.
I'd like to chant the part you like most tonight.
He is right.
The battle of Dan-no-ura.
That is the most moving part of the story.
The chant of the last battle.
Of Dan-no-ura.
Then, Hoichi, chant the battle of Dan-no-ura.
Certainly.
Let's go home, Matsuzo.
It's terrible.
That kid makes us suffer.
It's unfair.
They shot arrows at each other for a time.
Then the Genji ships moved in the rapid current
and sailed into the middle of the Heike ships.
The ships of both clans crossed one another
and covered the surface of the channel
like dead leaves carpet the waves of a river.
...And then General Tomomori proclaimed
in front of his assembled soldiers:
Depends upon this battle.
There should be no regrets in life.
Fight like the good men you are!
Think of nothing else!"
"The fate of the Heiké clan
Shouted General Tomomori repeatedly.
"A born emperor you may be", said Lady Nii,
"your day is done."
The heavens will welcome you,
call the holy name of Buddha.
There is a capital beneath the waves and there you will be crowned.
Hoichi! Hoichi!
Hoichi!
Holding the infant emperor in her arms
she throws herself into the deep sea.
Hoichi!
What are you doing?
Don't interrupt me before this distinguished assembly!
What are you saying?
You must be mad.
You're bewitched!
Let's go home!
You'll be dead if you stay here.
Let's go.
You'll be punished if you interfere.
Let go of me!
Listen to us. Come home!
Let go of me!
Leave me alone.
Come home! It's the Priest's order!
Let go of me!
Are you mad?
Let me go!
Why didn't you tell me this sooner?
Poor boy!
You're now in great danger.
They must have wanted you because
you have wonderful skills in music.
You've not been visiting a house
but a cemetery.
That place is the home of the spirits
of the Heike samurai.
You've been passing your nights among tombs.
By this time you must be aware of that. Understand?
You were sitting before the tomb of Emperor Antoku last night.
It has all been a vast illusion
except for the calling of the dead.
Then, it was the spirit of the dead that came here?
Yes. It was in fact that the spirit of the dead came.
You have put yourself in their power.
If you obey them again,
they'll tear you in pieces.
But in any event they'd have destroyed you sooner or later.
Will the spirit come again tonight?
Tonight,
as soon as we go away
you must seat yourself outside and wait.
Then the spirit will call you.
But, whatever may happen, do not answer.
I understand.
And do not move.
I understand.
Say nothing and sit still
as if meditating.
Yes.
Understood?
Should you move a muscle or utter a cry,
you will be torn to pieces.
To get rid of the spirits, you must stay calm
and never call for help.
Even if you call out, no-one will be able to help you.
You mustn't speak. Alright?
Yes
If you follow this advice,
there may be hope for you.
I won't move. I won't cry.
Understand?
Whatever may happen?
I won't.
Donkai, you've written the holy text upon his body?
On his entire body, from head to toe.
Good.
Help me, Buddha!
Hoichi!
No answer? That won't do!
I must see where the fellow is.
Here is the biwa.
But of the biwa player I see... only two ears!
That explains why he didn't answer.
He had no mouth to answer with.
There is nothing left of him but his ears.
This is very strange.
I will take those ears to my lord
to prove his commands have been obeyed
as much as it's possible.
It's blood!
Priest!
It leads to the rear gate.
Hoichi!
Are you there?
Hoichi!
My goodness!
Hurry, clean it!
Yes.
What happened to Hoichi?
His ears were torn off.
What?
His ears?
But why the ears?
Both of them torn off?
- Donkai! - Yes.
Does the ghost like ears?
He should eat the ears of a dried cuttlefish instead.
It's our fault.
I thought I wrote everywhere on his body.
We forgot to write the holy text on his ears.
I'm sorry.
It's too late. Ears don't grow again.
It was wrong of me not to make sure you had done it.
It's my grievous fault.
I never imagined it would take his ears away.
Well, it can't be helped now.
We can only try to heal his wounds.
Yes.
But cheer up.
The danger is now over. His ears were a trade off for his life.
Then, we won't see those visitors again?
They'll come no more.
We wish to hear the famous Hoichi-the-Earless play the biwa.
My lord heard of the strange story.
He will pay Hoichi generously.
By his order, I've come to take him with me.
- He's here again. - What?
With attendants!
A noblewoman came also with her attendants.
I can't tell if they're real.
Maybe the ghost is among them.
Hoichi. You'd better refuse them. You have so many offers.
No.
I'll play the biwa
as long as I live.
I'll play to console those sorrowful spirits
and make them rest in peace.
Many noble persons came to the temple with large gifts of money
so that Hoichi-the-Earless became a wealthy man.
The Year 1900.
Now, in old Japanese books,
there have been curiously preserved
certain fragments of fiction.
Why were they left unfinished?
Perhaps the writer was lazy.
Perhaps he had a quarrel with the publisher.
Perhaps he was suddenly called away from his little table
and never came back.
Perhaps death stopped his writing brush
in the middle of a sentence.
But no mortal could ever tell why...
I select a typical example.
It was today 220 years ago -
New Year Day of the fourth Tenwa.
IN A CUP OF TEA
It was when Lord Nakagawa Sado paid a New Year's visit.
He stopped with his entourage at a temple in Hongo.
You're on duty tonight.
I'll relieve you in the morning.
Yes.
I'm Shikibu Heinai. I met you today for the first time.
You don't seem to recognise me.
I don't recognise you.
Will you tell me how you gained entrance to this house?
Ah, you don't recognise me!
No, I don't.
This house is strictly guarded at all times.
No one can enter unannounced.
I don't understand why you don't recognise me.
This morning you dared to wound me!
Intruder!
Come out, everybody!
There's an intruder in the house!
Kannai. No stranger was seen entering or leaving the house.
But I saw him.
No one in his house has ever heard of "Shikibu Heinai".
Anyway I thrust him.
To death?
Strangely, no.
We can't even find a stain of blood.
Kannai!
Well, it sounds strange, but he went through the wall soundlessly.
Through the wall?
Do you mean he vanished into the wall?
Yes.
Soundlessly?
Yes.
That explains why we couldn't find him.
After all, he vanished into the wall.
You're tired, so you had a nightmare.
No. I'm sure I saw him.
Men! Men!
Men! Where did the intruder go?
Don't you know?
He runs fast!
Will you go to bed, Brother?
It's late.
Umm. How are Mother and Father?
They're asleep now.
Will you tell the servant to bring wine?
Are you still worried about last night?
No. I'm off duty tonight.
I want to sleep well.
Sir...
What is it?
We have guests, sir.
What?
Who?
Where?
At the front.
At this hour of night?
What do they want?
Well, a little conversation with you, sir.
Didn't they give their names?
No. There are three of them.
I'm Kannai.
I'm Matsuoka Bungo.
I'm Dobashi Kyuzo.
I'm Okamura Heiroku.
We're retainers of Shikibu Heinai.
Shikibu... Heinai!
Yes.
When our master visited you last night
you struck him with a sword.
He was hurt badly
and went to a hot spring to tend to his wound.
I sympathise.
But on the 16th day of the next month he will return.
And he will then repay you for the injury done to him...
"And..."
Here the old narrative breaks off.
Well, I didn't see him go out.
He has been writing all day.
I made him hurry.
I'm the publisher.
Oh. I never thought he went out.
Well...
I just dropped in to say New Year's greetings to him.
- Why don't you come in and wait? - I will.
I can imagine several possible endings.
But none of them would satisfy your imagination.
I prefer to let you attempt to decide for yourself
the probable consequence of swallowing a soul.
The man who swallowed a soul...
END
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