The Burmese Harp (1956)

Rentarô Mikuni: Captain Inouye

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Quotes 

• Captain Inouye : [Excerpt from Mizushima's letter, which Captain Inouye reads to his men as they sail back to Japan]  As I climbed mountains and crossed streams, burying the bodies left in the grasses and streams, my heart was wracked with questions. Why must the world suffer such misery? Why must there be such inexplicable pain? As the days passed, I came to understand. I realized that, in the end, the answers were not for human beings to know, that our work is simply to ease the great suffering of the world. To have the courage to face suffering, senselessness and irrationality without fear, to find the strength to create peace by one's own example. I will undergo whatever training is necessary for this to become my unshakable conviction.

• British officer : We've done all we can. The troops that took Triangle Mountain have returned home. The Japanese survivors are not in this town.

  Captain Inouye : But that tune?

  British officer : You hear a certain way of playing - a few notes floating by the breeze, and it's enough to make you think a dead man is alive. You must be dreaming.

  British officer : [to his adjutant]  He must be dreaming!

• Captain Inouye : The songs uplifted our spirits and sometimes our hearts.

• Ito : Captain! What's the point of training it to say that? I know how much you regret Mizushima's death, but such behavior is unmanly. Hearing this bird repeat those words day and night will only demoralize us. We're already homesick as it is! I beg of you, sir: Pull yourself together.

  Captain Inouye : We all saw that monk carrying a white box of ashes. That's a Japanese custom!

  Ito : I thought it odd too, but there's a similar custom in Burma.

  Captain Inouye : He was the only one carrying a white box. I have to find out who that monk is. If we meet again, I'll put this parrot on his shoulder. If it's Mizushima, he'll respond to what the bird says. If he doesn't, then I'll know I'm wrong... and I'll give up. I'm sorry to put you all through this. Bear with me just a little longer.

• Captain Inouye : Clap your hands! Laugh! They could attack at any moment. Night's falling. We need to keep them off guard. Laugh and clap your hands!

• Captain Inouye : Hey...

  Ito : What is it?

  Captain Inouye : That music. It's a harp. Who's playing it?

  Ito : That's a famous song.

  Captain Inouye : I don't mean that. I mean the way it's played. The way the notes are played together. That's how Mizushima played it.

  Ito : It's the kid we saw at the temple.

  Captain Inouye : Let's ask who taught him how to play.

• Captain Inouye : A Japanese unit has been holding out on a mountain. The British have laid siege to it for the past three days. I've asked them to let one of us go and talk our men into surrendering. I don't want a single man to die needlessly. That's the mountain there. What do you say? Will you go? It's a half day's trek by foot.

  Mizushima : I'll go, sir. I'm not sure what to do, but I'll proceed as necessary.

  Captain Inouye : Thank you. The rest of us will go south to Mudon. Join us once you've completed your mission. It'll be tough to walk the 200 miles to Mudon alone, but the British have assured you safe passage.

  Mizushima : I'll proceed to Mudon once I've fulfilled my duty.

• Ito : That's enough! Captain... I know it's disappointing to hear this, but I think it's best to forget about Mizushima. He died bravely trying to carry out his mission. To doubt his death is actually to dishonor his spirit. When dressed like a native, he looked exactly like one. By the same token, there must be Burmese who look just like him. You believe he's alive, so you think you see him or think you hear his harp playing. I'm grateful that you care so much for your men, but you'll only hurt your men if you let worry ruin your health. There's no hope for him. Please just give up.

  Captain Inouye : I suppose you're right.

• Captain Inouye : Why don't we sing? Singing is meant for times like these. Mizushima... play your harp.

• Captain Inouye : We have surrendered. Not only us, but our country as well. I'm not sure what to make of this. We don't know where we'll be taken, what we'll have to do, or even if we'll be allowed to live. All of Japan has been heavily bombed. Many are dead. Many are homeless and starving. Our country is in ruins, while we're imprisoned thousands of miles away. All we can do now is watch and wait. It's no use fighting our fate. Far better to accept it like men and wait for the day when we can rise again as a nation. Up until now, we've lived and died together. Now we must share this fate together too. If we die here in Burma, we'll die together. But if by chance we're able to return home, we'll do so together, leaving no man behind. We'll rebuild our country. That's all I can say for now.

• Mizushima : PFC Mizushima reporting. I'm leaving now to scout ahead.

  Captain Inouye : Thanks.

  Mizushima : I'll signal on the harp, as usual. I'll play 'Danger' if I see anything. 'All Clear' if it's okay to advance.

• Captain Inouye : Mizushima... so it was you after all. Now that I see this box here, I know for sure. Mizushima... what happened on Triangle Mountain? And what happened after that? I know nothing. But I think I know how you feel. You've made a weighty decision. How hard it must have been.

• Captain Inouye : Sing! They're forming a line in the woods. We'll make them think we don't know they're there. Get ready for action as we sing.

• Ito : Get that damn bird out of here!

  Old woman : This is the other parrot. He kept the one you gave him. He told me to bring you this one in return. He asked me to give this to the captain. He asked me to do that, and since it's the last thing I can do for you, I brought it.

  Captain Inouye : Time to go!

  Ito : There's a letter from Mizushima.

  Captain Inouye : There's no time now. I'll read it later.

  Ito : But Captain, what if Mizushima changed his...

  Captain Inouye : Mizushima isn't going to change his mind. Even if I read this now, it wouldn't make any difference.