01x07 - Episode 7

[bunniefuu]

[opening theme music playing]

[music halts]

[birds tweeting]

[Tamon] You seem to have recovered well.

I'm glad to see that.

I have.

Physically, yes.

Physically?

Mr. Tamon,

have you ever given any thought to what
a martial artist fears above all else?

[grunts]

He fears himself.

He fears his body's inevitable aging.

However hard you've trained,
old age will come for you one day.

It'll turn even the greatest master
into an ordinary man.

Can you understand what I'm saying?

Yes.

I shouldn't say this,
since you're with the police,

but as you know,

martial arts are about
learning skills used to k*ll.

And if you've acquired such skills,

what on earth is the use of them
in this day and age?

Well, that's...

[Izumi] A picture,
a piece of music, a poem...

These things will remain when we're gone.

But the skills of martial arts masters
leave no trace.

They'll disappear with our bodies
without being used.

I wanted to use the skills I've acquired.

So I've always taken the opportunity
to fight those who challenged me.

But even in duels like that,

I wasn't using my skills
the way I truly wanted to.

You're saying that Fujimaki
used his skills?

[Izumi] Throwing the opponent down
onto a stone,

and breaking the opponent's joint
with a lock...

That's the way of the Takemiya style.

Maybe you already know this.

His parents were k*lled by a home invader
when he was a child.

Even if that's so,

that doesn't excuse him
of k*lling someone.

True.

Even under those circumstances,

it is an unforgivable act.

He shouldn't have used
the Takemiya style to k*ll unnecessarily.

[Tamon] By the way, Master Izumi.

The one who defeated you,

Bunshichi Tanba...

Hmm?

Don't underestimate the police.

We know about that.

I want to find him.
It's why I'm here today.

Now, I don't mean
we're going to arrest him.

No one has pressed any charges.

I just received a tip that said
he's been seen in Nara again.

Do you know anything about that?

Well, he does visit me on occasion.

[grunts softly]

He comes here?

To do what?

[Izumi] To study the Takemiya style.

[Tamon] You're teaching him?

I was the one who invited him.

I want to pass on the Takemiya style.

And now Bunshichi Tanba
has a trace of it in him.

[grunts softly]

Does he now?

[Izumi] He came here at the right moment,
with regards to our earlier topic.

{an8}He is strong.

{an8}I was challenged by a strong opponent,
and I was defeated.

{an8}He came here at the right time,

{an8}before all of my skills
were eroded by age.

{an8}I see.

{an8}If this news reaches Fujimaki,

{an8}or when it does,

{an8}what will he do?

{an8}Honestly...

{an8}I have no idea what he'll do.

{an8}Nobody does.

[birds tweeting]

[Saeko] Something's different.

What?

[Saeko] Did something happen
when you went back to Tokyo?

[Himekawa] Can you tell?

I feel it.

That's uncanny.

[Saeko] You saw Fujimaki, didn't you?

[Himekawa] Yes.

I saw him fight.

What'd you think?

[Himekawa] He is...

formidably strong.

[Saeko] Who do you think is stronger,
him or you?

Hmm.

[footsteps approaching]

Hmm?

[dramatic music plays]

Fujimaki!

Where have you been all this time?

Master...

Is it true that you fought Bunshichi Tanba
and he defeated you?

[Izumi] That is true.

What does that mean
for the Takemiya style?

It's been handed
to one son each generation,

but now this is the end.

The end?

[Izumi] The Takemiya style
already belongs to the past.

I've thought so for a while.

That defeat helped me
to understand that I was correct.

[Fujimaki] I respectfully disagree.

The Takemiya style is much more practical
than any other martial art out there.

[Izumi] And yet, it was defeated.

You're wrong.

That defeat was yours, and yours alone.

It wasn't the end of the Takemiya style.

So you still believe in it?

You're fighting for it?

I think it would be a shame
if the Takemiya style were to disappear.

Would you consider
making me the heir to it?

It won't disappear.

The Takemiya style
has already been inherited,

by not only you, but everyone else
who came here to learn its techniques.

And who are the others?

For one, Shozan Matsuo.

And a young man named Himekawa
from Hokushinkan.

He's got as much natural talent as you.

Himekawa...

And the latest one is Bunshichi Tanba.

[Fujimaki] I see.

I'll go and test them then
to see how strong they are.

Test them?

Are you going to duel with each of them?

If that's what it takes.

I suppose I can't stop you.

No.

You have the eyes of a beast.

[Fujimaki] I have one more request.

What is it?

[Fujimaki] It's regarding Miss Saeko.

If I can defeat all these challengers,
then I...

I'd like to ask her
how she feels about me.

Fujimaki.

This school and my daughter
are two separate matters.

I'm well aware.

I just want the chance
to make it clear that...

- [Saeko] Mr. Fujimaki.
- [gasps]

[Izumi] Saeko!

And Himekawa?

[breathes shakily]

[grumbles]

You're here.

Why did you come back?

You just... left me there.

I'm sorry.

The way you looked at me,
I didn't know what it meant.

I thought you hated what I'd done.

I ran because I didn't understand.

I've been thinking
about your eyes ever since,

what they were telling me.

And now...

And now?

[Fujimaki] I came back so that I...

could be sure.

Well, I'm seeing this man now.

His name is Himekawa.

Then I guess I have a reason to fight.

[gentle music playing]

Can you win?

[Fujimaki] I can, and I will.

[music fades]

[footsteps thudding]

[Shozan] It was called KODOKU, right?

I enjoyed watching the fight.

Thank you for that.

It was for old times' sake, you know.

By the way, that Himekawa
who came with you to the fight,

how strong is he really?

[chuckles]

Rumor has it that man's
never been defeated in a fight before.

[Shozan] That fella...

He originally came to me
wanting to defeat me.

[woman] Oh.

To defeat Shozan Matsuo?

Let me guess, you beat him
and then took him on as a trainee?

Hell no.

Our fight never ended.

I did break his arm,

but he never actually conceded the fight.

So I decided I wanted to make him
so strong that he could defeat me.

What on earth for?

It's obvious, isn't it?

I wanna fight someone worthy
who might take me down.

With an appropriate audience, I assume?

Good to see you're as eccentric as ever.

Anyway, you can't steal Himekawa.

He's with me.

You know, Matsuo, I can set the stage
for you when the time arrives.

Hmm!

Whatever I, Shozan Matsuo, do,

has to be done on my own stage,

surrounded by all of our people
and with all of them watching.

[woman] And there you're going to what,
let the beasts have at it?

[Shozan] That's exactly it.

The next Hokushinkan Tournament
is not a karate tournament.

It'll be mixed martial arts
where anything goes.

[chuckles]

Ah, you're an interesting bunch
of gentlemen.

[Shozan] What do you mean?

Great Tatsumi
of the Oriental Pro Wrestling Company

is planning to put on a similar event.

A mixed martial arts tournament.

Yes.

We're competing with them
to get the fighters to choose us.

They have recruited
Bunshichi Tanba, I hear.

And our guy Johei Tsutsumi.

They've got some kind of history.

[woman] So, among those
who haven't yet decided to participate,

the outstanding one is...

[Shozan chuckles]

You know damn well who.

Juzo Fujimaki.

[Tanba exhaling swiftly]

[exhales]

[panting]

This is a good spot, right?

I knew you'd come find me, Juzo Fujimaki.

What gave me away?

Mr. Izumi said you'd be here.

That saves a lot of talking.

I heard you tried learning
the Takemiya style.

So let's see how well you did.

Okay, then bring it on.

[breathing shakily]

Are you trembling?

[Tanba] Just trembling with excitement.

[chuckles]

- [tense music playing]
- [both grunt]

[bones crack]

[chuckles]

- [rapid whoosh]
- [sharp swell]

[bones crack]

[Tanba grunts]

- [Fujimaki grunts]
- [whoosh]

[Tanba exhales, grunts]

[groans]

[Tanba grunts]

[tense music continues]

[Fujimaki grunts]

[grunts]

[man] Yo, do you see that?

[woman] Are they fighting?

- [bone cracks]
- [grunts]

[Tanba exhales]

[Tanba breathing shakily]

[Fujimaki] So, we done now, Tanba?

Nah, no way man.
This just evens out the field.

Now we can start the real fight.

My thoughts exactly.

- [tense music continues]
- [both grunting]

[grumbling]

[straining]

[grunts]

You used Takemiya on me!

I learned a trick,
and I just had to use it right away.

[chuckles]

- [siren wailing in the distance]
- [gasps]

[Tanba] Hey, catch!

[gasps]

It looks like we're done here.

[Fujimaki] Unfortunately.

That was fun, though.

See ya.

- [footsteps fade]
- [siren continues wailing]

[Fujimaki breathing heavily]

[exhales]

[Tamon] At last,
we meet face to face, Fujimaki.

I knew you'd show up
as long as I kept an eye on Tanba.

Mr. Tamon.

I knew that you'd been hunting me down.

Juzo Fujimaki,

you're now under arrest.

You'll have to arrest me later on, then.

There's still someone I have to fight.

[Tamon] Me too.

[Fujimaki] Hmm?

[Tamon] I've been chasing you
all this time

to have a rematch.

I'll let you go
only when you've defeated me.

That said, don't think it'll be easy.

Let's do this.

[grunts]

[tense music playing]

- [punch echoes]
- [groans]

[both grunting]

[straining]

[Tamon grunts]

[Fujimaki gasps]

- [Tamon grunts]
- [Fujimaki groans]

[breathing heavily]

- [distorted swell]
- [grumbles]

Get up.

[tense music continues]

[rapid whoosh]

[kick echoes]

[both grunt]

[Fujimaki exhales slowly]

[Tamon groaning]

{an8}That's... Tiger King.

{an8}[groans]

[Tamon breathing shakily]

[announcer] Ladies and Gentlemen,

welcome to the Fighting expl*si*n's
Special Match!

Featuring the assassin
the Hokushinkan sent

to the Oriental Pro Wrestling Company,

- Johei Tsutsumi!
- [crowd cheering]

And his opponent, Bunshichi Tanba!

He's been conquering dojos
and caught the attention of Great Tatsumi.

So this special match
is karate against karate!

Gentlemen, let the match begin!

- [distorted swell]
- [yells]

[swell, yell fades]

- [man grunts]
- [sword slashes]

[Himekawa] Good.

[breathes heavily]

So tell me again
what this training is for exactly.

This training will help teach me
to see a fist.

[man] To see whose fist?

[pensive music playing]

Shozan Matsuo's, of course.

Is it true that a long time ago,
you fought Master Matsuo,

and he broke your arm?

Afraid it is.

But that's for later.

My sights are on someone else.

Now, strike directly at my neck.

I know exactly how good I am.

And I... I'm not sure
I can control that swing.

On the contrary, I find it to be an asset
that you could make a mistake.

[sighs]

[man] Here we go.

- Hi-yah!
- [sword slashes]

[breathing shakily]

Oh my... I... I am so sorry!
My... My foot slipped.

It's okay.

But I...

There's no way you just dodged that.

Now let's try that again.

[Tamon] The Takemiya style...

KOOU
THE TAKEMIYA STYLE

So it looks like Master Izumi
taught Tiger King to Tanba too.

And maybe even to Himekawa.

[dramatic music playing]

Fujimaki.

Be careful out there.

- They might see your Tiger king coming.
- [music fades]

[Fujimaki breathes deeply]

- [Mifune] Fujimaki, have you seen this?
- Hmm?

This is your technique.

This is what you used to beat Oleg, right?

Yeah.

[Mifune] That means this move
won't be your secret w*apon anymore.

I don't care.

But thanks for looking out for me,
and I'm sorry for the trouble.

[Mifune] Man, stop apologizing.

If I thought you were a nuisance,

I'd have turned you away when
you knocked on my door. [chuckles]

THE FIRST EVENT

Finally, it's about time.

[Shozan] Yep.
I feel sorry for Great Tatsumi,

but our tournament's
definitely gonna put his little

Fighting expl*si*n show to shame.

[Himekawa] In that tournament,
Bunshichi Tanba stole the show.

His Tiger King, did you see it?

Yes.

It was a bit different
than Fujimaki's, though.

The Takemiya style
leaves room for variance.

Tiger King does too.

When you get the opponent's chin
between your feet and deliver a blow,

that's Tiger King.

Anyway, Tanba caused quite a stir,

but our tournament is going
to blow them out of the water.

[Himekawa] Okay, then.
Have you got something up your sleeve?

[laughs]

Something up my sleeve?

I'm just gonna improvise it.

[train whirs]

Saeko.

If Fujimaki and Himekawa
really do end up fighting each other,

who would you want to win?

{an8}[Saeko] The stronger one.

{an8}HOKUSHINKAN TOURNAMENT

{an8}[Shozan] Welcome, everyone,
to the Hokushinkan Tournament!

Today's tournament will completely
rewrite the history of martial arts.

Firstly,
unlike existing Hokushinkan rules,

we allow blows to the head.

And secondly,

throwing, choking,
and joint locks are allowed.

Well, Tatsumi may have beaten me to it,

but you'll see with your own eyes
which tournament is better.

I've seen too many brilliant
martial artists disappear from the scene

without having the opportunity
to show off their skills.

I'm going to end that.

Tonight, I prepared a stage worthy
of the strongest men in the world.

Ladies and gentlemen,

welcome to the new Hokushinkan Tournament!

[crowd cheering]

All right, let's get started!

[tense music playing]

HOKUSHINKAN TOURNAMENT

[grunts]

[announcer] The winner is Nagata!

Oriental Pro Wrestling's Nagata.

He's got balls.

[exhaling swiftly]

- [dramatic swell]
- [grunts]

[crowd continues cheering]

[announcer] The winner is Himekawa!

[both grunting]

[fighter straining]

- [announcer] The winner is Ikuta!
- [crowd cheering]

[grunts]

- The winner is Kudo!
- [crowd continues cheering]

[man 1] It's the semifinal already.

[man 2] Himekawa and Kudo
are the only Hokushinkans still in it.

[man 1] The next one is Kudo
against Nagata the pro wrestler.

- [man 2] Nagata's gonna win.
- [man 1] No way, dude.

[tense music continues]

[grunts]

[groans]

[both grunting]

[groans]

[announcer] The winner is Nagata!

Let's go!

[crowd cheering]

[tense music continues]

[grunts]

[bones crunch]

That was...

Tiger King.

[bell rings]

[Shozan laughing]

[Shozan] You're f*cking amazing, Himekawa!

[grunting]

- [exhales]
- [door opens]

It's Himekawa against me.

Huh?

Who are you?

[man] All right, it's time for the final!

Your opponent is a wrestler,
but he seems to be pretty good at strikes.

[grunts]

[exhales]

- [exhales swiftly]
- [both grunting]

[Nagata straining]

- [bone pops]
- [continues training]

- [Fujimaki exhales]
- [groans]

[Nagata exhales shakily]

[crowd cheering]

[Shozan] Oh, for the love of...

Where the hell is Nagata?

It's time for the final fight!

[guard 1] Who the hell are you? [grunts]

[guard 2] Hey, stop!

[exhales shakily]

[dramatic music plays]

This is it!

There he is.

[man 1] Wait, that's not Nagata!

[man 2] Who the hell is he?

[exhales shakily]

[chuckles]

[dramatic music continues]

[Shozan laughs]

Oh, now things just got interesting!

Nagata had something come up.

You don't say.

So what now, then?

[Fujimaki] Hokushinkan! I challenge you!

{an8}[total silence]

I'm Juzo Fujimaki of the Takemiya style!

- Tsutomu Himekawa, I challenge you...
- [chuckles]

...to a mixed martial arts match!

[closing theme music playing]

[yells]

[music fades]