Goro Tanaka Ken is a tormented man. It is Eiko, of course, but it is also Japan. Ken is a relic, a leftover of another age, of another country.
The Yakuza quotes
Goro Tanaka That guy doesn't like you.
No, not much.
So how come you figure you can trust him?
Giri.
Gitty?
Giri. Obligation.
You mean he figures he owes you something?
Yeah, sort of.
Well, that can work two ways, Kilmer. If you ain't alive tomorrow, he don't owe you shit.
This Giri...
Ken Tanaka Giri? Hai.
It means obligation, right?
Ken Tanaka Burden.
Burden?
Ken Tanaka It's called, 'the burden hardest to bear.'
Yeah, well, suppose you don't bear it. I mean, no one's going to come down on you?
Ken Tanaka No.
Well, you guys believe in some kind of Heaven and Hell?
Ken Tanaka No.
Then what is it you believe in that makes you do it?
Ken Tanaka Giri.
Eiko Tanaka Did you speak to Ken?
Yeah
Eiko Tanaka Does he know we are here?
Sure.
Eiko Tanaka Is he unhappy?
I'm on my way over to see him now.
Eiko Tanaka But is he unhappy?
Of course he's unhappy, he's been unhappy ever since he lost the war. I keep trying to tell him it's not his fault, he won't take my word for it.
Everywhere I look, I can't recognize a thing.
Oliver Wheat It's still there. Farmers in the countryside may watch TV from their tatami mats and you can't see Fuji through the smog, but don't let it fool you. It's still Japan and the Japanese are still Japanese.
American sword cuts on a push stroke, Japanese sword cuts on a pull stroke. When an American cracks up, he opens up the window and shoots up a bunch of strangers. When a Japanese cracks up, he closes the window and kills himself. Everything is in reverse.