THE GHOSTCAT OF OTAMA POND
A Mitsugu Okura Production
Based on the Story Sotoo Tachibana
Written by Yoshihirolshikawa & Jiro Fujishima
Director of Photography Kikuzou Kawasaki Art Direction Haruyasu Kurosawa
Music Chumei Watanabe Assistant Director Hiromichi Takebe
Starring Shozaburo Date Noriko Kitazawa
Yoichi Numata
Fujie Satsuki Fumiko Miyata
Directed by Yoshihiro Ishikawa
Tadahiko! We're back at this pond again!
It's strange...
Why did we end up back here?
I'm exhausted!
We've got to get out of here.
If we show up after dark, my father might not let me marry you.
Yes.
Come on.
We're back here again!
I can't walk any more!
This is weird!
I can't believe I'm lost here.
When I was a kid I came here all the time.
I told you we should have waited for the bus!
It's too late for that now.
And we can't spend the night here.
Come on, Keiko!
I can't!
Do you think something's trying to get us lost?
Don't be silly!
Then why can't we find our way out?
I can't walk any more!
Have some consideration!
What will marriage be like if you're this way now?
I was thinking the same thing!
I'm cold.
Come on, Keiko, let's go!
A cat...
I hate cats!
There must be a house near here.
Let's follow it.
No! I'll wait here.
Keiko, will you stop being difficult?
Come on!
No!
A house!
Keiko!
Come on.
What a creepy old place!
Come on.
Hello?
There's no one here...
Wait here. I'll look round the back.
Huh?
Keiko?
Keiko!
You're burning up!
Keiko! What's the matter?
It was horrible! This weird old lady...
There's no old lady here.
You're burning with fever. I'll bring a doctor in the morning.
Don't leave me alone here! I'm coming with you!
I hate to have to say this...
...but this lady bears the mark of death.
What?
'The mark of death'?
Did you happen to encounter anything strange...
...up there on the mountain?
Yes. We got lost near a pond, and couldn't find our way out.
I thought as much.
She bears the cat's curse... an oath of vengeance.
Shall I perform an exorcism?
An exorcism?
I'll try to lift the curse.
The doctor?
I asked someone going into town to call him.
It'll be a while, though.
Thank you.
You don't seem to be convinced yet.
There's no mistake about it, though.
The lady has been bewitched by a cat.
But...
Hear me out.
This ancient record here...
...relates a terrible story from well over a century ago...
...involving her ancestors and a cat.
As I'm sure you know...
...this area is known for its thick fog.
The story begins on a morning like this one...
...when the fog lay thick over the ground.
I take my leave.
Take care, Father. The peasants in the village are angry...
...at the high land-tax this year.
Serve well at your new post in the capital...
Take care you do nothing...
...to dishonor the house of Nanjo.
I will.
Grandmother, take good care of your health.
Yachimaru...
...put the maid Kozasa completely from your mind.
No daughter of a villain like Gensai...
...must ever come as a bride into this house.
Grandmother! Today my brother takes leave of us!
Yes, that's true.
Take care on your journey.
I will.
I leave you.
Yachimaru...
...Kozasa's waiting for you.
Thank you, Akino.
Yachimaru!
Kozasa!
You're going away...
When I'm settled in the capital, I'll come for you.
Our families are enemies.
Here we could never marry.
I know that.
But still...
Kozasa...
...my heart aches as well.
Be strong.
I swear I'll come for you.
Kozasa... where have you been?
Have I not forbidden you to see Yachimaru?
Don't be so hard on her...
Be still!
You know you can never marry Yachimaru!
I'm going out.
I hope you're not seeing anyone you shouldn't.
I'm only going to the magistrate's!
He's left for the capital?
Gensai, bring me his younger sister.
With Yachimaru gone, we can employ special means.
Such as?
Either her father gives her to you or you dismiss him as headman...
...for stirring up the peasants.
That wouldn't be enough to make Shinbei give her up.
Kill him and take her.
There won't be any problem finding a replacement.
Two birds with one stone, eh?
I can see where you got your bad reputation in Edo!
I am your brother, Magistrate. Let Gorota handle this!
We can't pay these taxes! This is a death sentence!
You're our only hope, Headman.
Could you please talk to the magistrate for us?
Please!
All right.
I'll go see the magistrate.
Tama...
Why are you crying like that?
Do you want Akino?
What's wrong, Tama?
I'm going to the magistrate's.
Shinbei... Gensai has the magistrate wrapped around his little finger.
Be careful you don't offend him.
I will.
Tama worries about you. You're the one who found her...
...by Otama Pond.
She's a smart cat.
I'll be going.
Fool! Do you think I can just do something like that?!
Then I respectfully ask...
...if this increase in land-tax was really decided in Edo.
Silence! Speak that way again and I'll cut you down!
Leave! Get out of here!
Magistrate! I will protest to the authorities...
...even though I must surrender my life to do so!
Silence! Get out!
It's a deep pond. He won't float up out of there.
Now we'll go burn his house, and take Akino.
Grandmother? Is something the matter?
What a nightmare!
Tama was gnawing on the corpse of Shinbei!
Tama...
What's wrong, Tama?
You've been crying like that all day!
Fire! Fire!
Fire!
Fire! Fire!
Miss! There's a fire!
Take Grandmother!
Quickly!
Not that way, Miss!
I have to get our things! Take Grandmother!
I'm glad you're home. Where was the fire?
The headman's house.
Yachimaru's?!
Kozasa! Where are you going?!
What are you doing?!
Akino!
Let go of me!
Let go!
Akino! Is that you?!
What are you doing here? Why do you look like that?
Akino!
When are you going to make me an honest woman?
Since you ask, are you finished with Gorota?
You still don't believe me?
I'm the one who's encouraging him to marry your daughter.
Would I do that if I were still in love with him?
You're a smart girl.
Look who's talking! A man who'd use even his own daughter!
Why are you crying?
At least spare a thought for the poor girl's feelings!
Once she's married she'll forget Yachimaru.
You'd think you'd have more sympathy for your only daughter!
What do you know?
Kozasa...
...you will be happiest as Gorota's wife.
Tama!
It's you!
Is everything all right?
I was worried, so I came home.
Don't brood so, Kozasa. You'll make yourself ill.
They say in the village...
...that Yachimaru has come home.
He has?!
The magistrate's crest!
Yachimaru!
Magistrate!
What happened to my house?!
Oh, that... I'm sure you heard in the village...
It happened very suddenly.
And this box?
My father was a hindrance, so you killed him!
Don't be foolish, Yachimaru!
That box was probably dropped after the fire...
...when we took away the bodies.
Not a day goes by I don't pray for your family.
How can you doubt me?
Yachimaru... it is as the magistrate says.
Forget this misunderstanding and make your father proud.
Bring sake.
Perhaps you would taste this...
What, for poison?
Yes.
All right.
Look at these fine gifts Gorota has sent!
Yet you pine over Yachimaru, who went back to the capital...
...without even seeing you?
Your wedding's tomorrow. This is no time for tears!
Is that our thanks for fine clothes to be married in?!
The clothier brought the wrong things!
Send them back!
There was nothing wrong with them when they arrived...
Take them back!
Soon you'll be married...
We'll have to find you a replacement for Akino.
This is Akino's hairpin!
That damned thing!
'On Takasago Beach...
'... raise the sail of your ship...
'... and with the ebbing tide run with the moon...
'... past Awaji Island over the waves... '
Kozasa...
...my heart aches as well.
Be strong.
I swear I'll come for you.
Kozasa, what are you doing here?
Can't you hear it?
The fire bell!
What?!
Come on!
Kozasa!
I don't see any fire...
Brother!
Kozasa went running out as if that bell was pulling her!
Yachimaru!
Kozasa!
Pull Yachimaru...
...up out of the pond.
Yachimaru!
What are you talking about?
He's not in there!
But...
...he's right there.
She's finally calmed down, so I'll be going.
Let's have a drink and settle our nerves.
Blood!
Blood? There's no blood in there.
Well! Hello!
Aren't you celebrating? Why do you look so gloomy?
Get me a drink.
Just a minute.
Why do you look so startled?
It's nothing.
What's wrong with you? You're so fidgety tonight.
There's no blood in there.
Why did you say that?!
It just popped into my mind.
There was a message for you.
Your wife's been taken ill. You're to go home right away.
I see.
Going already?
Uh, yes...
Yes... we wouldn't want your wife to be angry.
O- Ran!
Welcome home.
So you weren't sick!
Sick?
Who told you that?
You were at O-Ran's, weren't you.
You're too old for jealousy!
That's all right.
I'm sure O-Ran will come to a fitting end.
Damn you!
O- Kaji!
What's the matter?
Akino's ghost!
What?!
Kozasa! What are you doing here?
I was thirsty. I came to the well for a drink.
You drank that water?!
It was so cold, and so delicious...
...but it was a little red, though.
Since last night it's been one horror after another.
I killed my wife.
Your wife?!
This is Shinbei's revenge!
Are you losing heart now, too?
Gorota's scared because Kozasa's sick...
Shall we go relax at a tea-house?
Yes.
You've seen me!
Gorota...
...let's celebrate tonight and drive away these demons.
Is this girl O-Gin as pretty as they say?
They say she's very beautiful.
Good evening!
I'm sorry I'm late.
Why do you look so surprised?
It's nothing.
Have a drink.
Kozasa!
What are you doing? Take your hands off me!
What are you doing with Kozasa?!
I just wondered what was going on...
What's that blood?
Don't change the subject! Kozasa is my wife!
What did you say?
Doing your dirty work brings me nothing but trouble!
Kozasa?!
Kozasa... what are you doing here?
I can't bear Gorota any more. Though I am ill, he leaves me...
...to amuse himself at tea-houses. And he is a murderer.
You dishonor me before Gorota!
What would those who killed Yachimaru and his family...
...understand of a thing like honor?
What are you talking about?!
I know all about it, from beginning to end.
Also that my mother was killed in this room.
Fiend! Begone!
Help me, please! I'm terrified of fire.
Where's Gorota?
He's fast asleep.
Please! Let me stay here.
I'm so afraid of fire!
And not of me?
No. I'm ill, and I'd much rather be with you...
...than with Gorota.
Rather me than Gorota?
Kozasa!
My brother...
...and my wife!
Wait!
Silence!
Have you gone mad?!
It's you who's gone mad!
Villain!
The fallen-down house in which you stayed...
...is all that remains of the magistrate's home.
Probably the cat Tama has cursed Miss Keiko...
...because she is in Gensai's line.
I see...
Fate certainly holds its terrors.
Mr Sagawa, there is something you should know as well.
Those who bear your name are descended...
...from the house of Nanjo.
Which is to say that long, long ago...
...your two families were sworn enemies.
I see...
Keiko!
Mr Sagawa, we should go to Otama Pond and pray...
...for Tama to stay her vengeance.
Yes!
We have no time to lose.
The lightning must have split that tree open.
A dead cat!
Most certainly the body of Tama.
Preserved like that for over a century...
...by the awful force of vengeful fury.
Let us conduct a proper funeral.
Please.
A Cat's Grave
Tadahiko...
...now we'll be fine.
We'll be at my parents' house by nightfall.
We're two days late. They'll be furious.
Don't worry.
Keiko... let's get married whatever they say.
Yes.
Let's go.
The End