The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity (II) (1959)

Tatsuya Nakadai: Kaji

Photos 

Quotes 

• Kaji : You seem to love ultimate victory even more than food. Personally, I love my wife more than ultimate victory. You may consider that unmanly. But when fighting starts, I'll be the only one you can count on.

• Kaji : You believe unconditionally that true freedom can be found over there?

  Shinjô Ittôhei : Not unconditionally. It's all relative.

  Kaji : What use do they have for a deserter? You'd be a mere tool. A little tool in the service of their big promises.

  Shinjô Ittôhei : You doubt that all races are equal?

  Kaji : I just don't share the same naive certainty. What have the Japanese done? Deserting the ranks of the invader doesn't prove the purity of your ideals. You're still just a deserter.

  Shinjô Ittôhei : What are you trying to say?

  Kaji : Prettier flowers blossoming on their soil doesn't justify rejecting your own. I could never do it.

• Tokunaga Kangofu : You were talking in your sleep, calling for Sinjo and a Michiko. Your sweetheart? Or your wife?

  Kaji : Both.

• Kaji : There was so much I wanted to discuss with you.

  Tange Ittôhei : We'll meet again somewhere. You can always meet those you really wish to.

  Kaji : Someone once told me that true human beings will always find kindred spirits. You're proof of that.

  Tange Ittôhei : Don't give me too much credit. But I appreciate your words.

• Kageyama Shôi : You're a clever man, but picking the army as the stage for your battles was a fool's work. It's wiser to play it safe than be stubborn.

  Kaji : Will you do a clever fool a favor? The mother hen's leaving half her brood behind. My absence may make it easier to keep the vets in line. Can I count on you?

  Kageyama Shôi : Don't be such a pessimist. If you must worry, worry about your wife.

• Kaji : I refuse to die.

• [last lines] 

  Kaji : I'm a monster! But I'm going to stay alive! Is anyone there? Isn't anyone left alive? Answer me!Is anyone else still alive?

• Shinjô Ittôhei : You're tops among the recruits. But don't forget: You're under suspicion.

  Kaji : I know.

  Shinjô Ittôhei : They can't afford to have a Red leading the pack.

• Shinjô Ittôhei : You're a hard worker, Kaji. I hated laundry duty even more than beatings.

  Kaji : One might hate it, but there's no avoiding it.

• Kaji : Michiko, let's hope we never spend such a wretched yet beautiful night again.

• Kaji : Michiko, will you grant me one last favor?

  Michiko : Anything. Just ask. I came here for your sake.

  Kaji : I realize it's cold; but, I'ld like you to undress - and stand over by that window. I must see you - all of you. I want to burn that image into my mind.

  Michiko : [approaches the window, disrobes, starts to cry, Kaji approaches]  I have nothing to offer you! Nothing. Please take me me!

• Kaji : [to Michiko]  You haven't lost any weight. I'm relieved.

• Michiko : Time to part once again.

  Kaji : Thank you for coming.

  Michiko : Hurry and go. I can't bear it.

  Kaji : Let's not say "good-bye", all right?

• Kaji : Who's been changing my bed pan?

  Tokunaga Kangofu : Don't worry about that.

• Kaji : Was Yoshida's action in accord with military discipline? Forcing a helpless recruit to mimic a common harlot?

• Head Nurse : Nurse Tokunaga, why did you leave your post? What's the meaning of this misconduct? A rendezvous in broad daylight - while on duty!

  Kaji : Rendevous? Forgive me, but there's been no misconduct. I asked Nurse Tokunaga to assist me.

  Head Nurse : A patient issuing orders to a nurse? That's as bad as a rendezvous!

• Nakai Nitôhei : Sir, I'm gonna carry a picture, okay?

  Kaji : Watch the casual language. What kind of picture?

  Nakai Nitôhei : Of a girl.

  Kaji : Sure. Most pictures are of girls or boys.

  Nakai Nitôhei : [to Recruit #2]  I told you.

  Recruit #2 : His is different. It's a naked woman.

  Kaji : A good luck charm?

  Nakai Nitôhei : Something like that.

  Kaji : It'll never pass inspection. Better sew it into your loincloth.

• Kaji : You and I still have unfinished business. You avoided the issue, while I pushed a little too hard. Neither of us accomplished anything.

• Kaji : Maybe we could give those vets a good licking, but they're not the real enemy. Our real enemy - is the army.

• Kaji : Well, the end has come. Orders may not be heard above the din of battle. Each of you must think for himself. There are just two things I want to say. Don't be a coward. Like it or not, what comes will come. The other thing is: Never give up. Not for the sake of victory, but for yourself. If things get too hot, take cover and think about home - or your girl. That's what I plan to do.

• Kaji : Sending the prodigal son out for a few knocks in the harsh world?

• Kaji : Filthy braggarts! Don't tell me you're afraid of one two-year man. I'll swap my life for one of you stinking worms!

• Kaji : You may think you've rid the company of its cancerous growth, but I'll be back in a month, probably more malignant than ever.

• Nakai Nitôhei : Sir, that bum wants to bring his mother and girlfriend to live here.

  Recruit #1 : You idiot!

  Nakai Nitôhei : Your mother might want to sleep between you and your bride!

  Kaji : Are you engaged?

  Recruit #1 : Yes.

  Kaji : When the war's over, let Naruto build you a love nest. He's a carpenter. He'll be glad to. Nakai, you can help handle his mother.

  Nakai Nitôhei : I'll help handle - the bride anytime!

• Kaji : We were lucky to come through it alive. Let's try and stay that way.

• Kaji : Who goes there? Who goes there?

• Kaji : You've had your chance to speak. Now it's my turn. You're a fool! A simpleton who wouldn't understand why his mother would shed tears if he was killed in action. To die here is a dog's death. Even you'll understand that someday, if you survive.

• Sawamura Fuchô : You there! Since when did you start walking? No one does anything here without authorization.

  Kaji : I'm practicing my walking, nurse.

  Eiseiheichô : Hon. Head Nurse!

  Kaji : Sorry, Hon. Head Nurse! I was practicing walking.

  Sawamura Fuchô : What's so funny? Lance Cpl. Minakami... this ward lacks discipline. Army hospitals aren't playgrounds. Tighten things up!

• Kaji : Dump the food back in the bucket. Azumi, when that's done, take it to the vets. We'll eat just rice. It's better than nothing.

• Shinjô Ittôhei : I don't care about going home, but I do want to get out of here.

  Kaji : What do you mean?

  Shinjô Ittôhei : I'm not even sure myself. To go to some unknown place and get a fresh start. Someplace where no one knows me.

  Kaji : Is there such a place?

  Shinjô Ittôhei : Escaping from here only means immediate recapture. There's only one other possibility.

  Kaji : Is the border close?

  Shinjô Ittôhei : Not far. But it's all marshland up to the lake. Get bogged down there and you're finished. Which would you choose? The land where people are promised freedom... or the land where your loving wife awaits you?

  Kaji : I promised my wife we'd start a new life together.

  Shinjô Ittôhei : You really believe you'll get back alive?

  Kaji : I don't know... but I hope so.

• Michiko : Even after you left, that Sergeant Watai kept coming by. Wanted me to let him read your letters. Nasty man! Maybe he thinks you're planning to desert.

  Kaji : What would you do if I did?

  Michiko : Where would you go?

  Kaji : Across the border. There's a man in my squad named Shinjo. After three years, he's still a private. His brother was arrested for communist leanings. Even his girlfriend sold him out. He claims there's a better world beyond that border.

  Michiko : A better world?

  Kaji : Where they treat people like human beings.

  Michiko : And you intend to escape there all by yourself? You can't run away! Not while you still have me! The warrant officer said you were a top soldier, but you're still under suspicion, aren't you?

  Kaji : I won't go. I won't run away. I'll carry on here.

  Michiko : Please don't run away. Come back to me.

• Obara's Wife : My husband wasn't the type to do such a thing. There must have been some reason. Won't you tell me the truth?

  Hino Jun'i : A demoralized home front is the main reason. Good soldiers only come from wholesome families.

  Kaji : I wouldn't probe too deeply. Please try to see it like this. A part of Obara died due to your feuding with your mother-in-law. Another part died when I deserted him. What was left...

  Hino Jun'i : That's enough! You're dismissed.

• Tokunaga Kangofu : Writing to your wife?

  Kaji : But I don't dare write the truth.

  Tokunaga Kangofu : Because of the censors?

  Kaji : Not just that. Everything I write ends up as a half-truth. I want her to know how lonely I am, but I don't want to worry her. What's more, as much I detest army life, I actually want to stay here as long as I can.

  Tokunaga Kangofu : Is it that nice here?

  Kaji : There are things here you don't get at the front.

  Tokunaga Kangofu : For instance?

  Kaji : For instance... talking to you.

• Kudô Taii : By blaming a superior for a weak soldier's suicide, you undermine our finest military traditions.

  Kaji : I do not blame PFC Yoshida alone. His actions only revealed the absurdity of conditions here. That's why I demand his punishment. Obara's death was not caused by domestic troubles.

  Kudô Taii : Then what did cause it? With your eloquence, I'm sure you can explain. Tell me. Answer me!

  Kaji : The basic cause... is the military itself.

  Hino Jun'i : You'd make a good private 1st class if you'd shut up!

• Kaji : Shut up and walk! Quit now and all you've suffered will have been in vain. We're almost done with basic. Show some guts for once!

• Kageyama Shôi : A new batch of recruits arrives soon. I want you to assist me in their training.

  Kaji : In what way?

  Kageyama Shôi : The new men range from 20 to 44 years old. Half active service, the remainder untrained. Artillery men are a rough bunch. They'd tear these men to shreds.

  Kaji : Basic is like that anywhere.

  Kageyama Shôi : That's why I need your help.

  Kaji : Count me out. I told you I gave up guarding the army's sheep.

  Kageyama Shôi : I've reported that you're my assistant in the rifle squad. I'll see that you make private 1st class.

  Kaji : Think you can bait me with a promotion?

  Kageyama Shôi : No, I know I can't. I just figured you could spare those recruits a lot of grief. Need I say more?

  Kaji : I'll accept your proposal... on one condition.

  Kageyama Shôi : What's that?

  Kaji : I want radical changes in squad composition.

• Kaji : It's not because I took a beating. I want orders forbidding all corporal punishment of recruits.

  Kageyama Shôi : I'd go along with you if we were stationed further back. But it's different here. The vets may be louts, but they can stand on their own two feet. If I lost control over them, what would happen in battle?

  Kaji : I'd place my recruits and myself at your command.

  Kageyama Shôi : In actual combat... I couldn't trust you half as much as I trust those men. Those jaded five-year vets wouldn't listen to a 2nd lieutenant fresh from the academy.

• Kaji : Listen here: Use formal language when addressing veterans besides myself. If they hear 'ain't' or 'gonna,' you'll get a beating you'll never forget. Understand?

• Kaji : Sir, I demand that PFC Yoshida be punished.

  Hashitani Gunsô : Demand? That's no way to address your superiors.

  Kaji : Are you aware of the personal punishment he inflicted upon Obara yesterday?

  Hashitani Gunsô : I am not.

  Kaji : Not even a private 1st class is authorized to inflict such personal punishment upon a recruit. But yesterday...

  Hashitani Gunsô : Hold it there! Only dogs inform on others.

  Kaji : I'm not informing. I'm demanding punishment.

• Kaji : Get up, Obara!

  Obara Nitôhei : It's no use. Leave me behind. I can't go on.

  Kaji : You'd let my help be for nothing? Think what the senior soldiers will do to you, you fool!

  Obara Nitôhei : It's no use.

  Kaji : Then to hell with you! Be a quitter! I'm going on! Hate me all you want. You quit before the fight was over. But I won't quit! You hear? I'm going!

• Kaji : What was your profession, Honorable Veteran?

  Tange Ittôhei : Forget the 'honorable veteran' stuff. I was a latheman, and a good one.

  Kaji : Weren't you guys exempted from service?

  Tange Ittôhei : There are some guys it's safer to keep in the army.

• Kaji : It seems I repaid your kindness with injury. You're being sent to the front because of me.

  Tokunaga Kangofu : It's all right. We had to part sooner or later. We may even meet again somewhere.

  Kaji : I believe we will, whatever the odds. You can always meet those you really wish to.

• Kaji : Let's see you do that again, Akaboshi. Come on! I'll cut you wide open! Don't think I won't do it. Pride and face mean nothing to me now. Come on!

• Kageyama Shôi : Michiko wrote me. I told her you were here with me. She can't understand why you so rarely write, since you must be enjoying more freedom here.

  Kaji : More freedom, eh?

  Kageyama Shôi : Want to read it?

  Kaji : Just give me the gist.

  Kageyama Shôi : She's relieved. Figures you have it easy under my command. She has a lot to learn. She asked me to keep an eye on you. Be careful, Kaji.

  Kaji : Don't twist her words to support your own position.

  Kageyama Shôi : Fool! She's praying that our worthless lives might be spared, hoping against hope that you'll survive. She repeats that over and over.

  Kaji : I'm sorry. You're an officer. You can write to her. If you send a reply, here's what you should say: 'Kaji will not die. No matter what happens, he'll make it out alive.' Please tell her that.

• Kaji : No! You'll soon be glad to hide under corpses. Why worry about a grave?

• Kaji : Don't you rats ever forget! I'll get even with you someday!

• Kaji : He's dead. I won't claim I put him out of his misery. I killed him!

• Kaji : Nakai, you got that girl in your loincloth?

  Nakai Nitôhei : Of course!

  Kaji : Good. Hang on to her.