Kengan Ashura (2019–…): Season 1, Episode 6 - Pulling Strings - full transcript

Back when I was a young student,
I watched a foreign movie.

I still remember the party scene
on a luxury cruise ship.

I was deeply impressed by
how gorgeous and exquisite it was.

"I want to join such a party someday.

To make it happen,
I will work my way up in society!"

It might have been my youth
that motivated me that way.

Decades have passed since then.

KAZUO YAMASHITA
PRESIDENT, YAMASHITA CORPORATION

I wish I could tell my young self...
that one day my dream would come true!

Although it comes with a huge debt.

This is a whole different world to me.



OHMA TOKITA
FIGHTER, YAMASHITA CORPORATION

-I prefer the other ship to this one.
-Mr. Yamashita, Ohma.

Mr. Nogi!

HIDEKI NOGI
CHAIRMAN, NOGI GROUP

It's been a while, Ohma. Congratulations
on getting through to the tournament.

I won my place in the tournament myself,
the way you suggested.

But that doesn't mean
that I'm going to be your pawn.

PULLING STRINGS

Come on, Kaede. Don't be so heartless.

KAEDE AKIYAMA,
CHAIRMAN'S SECRETARY, NOGI GROUP

-Can I get your number at least?
-You're being too persistent, Lihito.

Besides, shouldn't you
be with your employer right now?

My employer?

I don't have one. I'm on my own.



As a matter of fact,
I'm the president of SH Frozen Storage.

LIHITO
PRESIDENT AND FIGHTER, SH FROZEN STORAGE

What?

Does that mean
you're a president and a fighter?

Surprised?

I wouldn't be here
if it wasn't for your boss,

-Chairman Nogi.
-Hey. Get away from me.

I was fired as a fighter

and got a part-time job
for a shipping company under Nogi Group.

They paid me well.

Then one day,
Nogi visited me unexpectedly.

His words made me snap out of my stupor.

Lihito, you're not the type of person
who deserves to work under others.

You should start your own company at once.

You think so too?

I'll entrust you with a food company
we bought out recently.

Wow! But hold on a second.

Being a president does appeal to me,
but I want to be a fighter again.

Don't worry.

You'll make a comeback
as the first ever "president fighter."

Wow. The first ever?
That sounds awesome!

-You just need to sign this contract.
-Okay!

-I'll lend you as much money as you need.
-Okay!

All you'll need is the challenge fee
to get membership

and then the entry fee to the tournament.

-It's not very much at all.
-Okay!

-It's only five billion yen in total.
-Okay!

That's how I made
a sudden comeback to kengan matches.

He's been conned.

You've succeeded then.

-So, if you win...
-He won't.

...will you become the chairman
of the Kengan Association?

What? Don't you know anything?

If I win the tournament,

-I must designate Nogi as the chairman.
-What?

-It's part of the contract.
-Designate him?

-Is that allowed, Ms. Akiyama?
-Yes.

The reward for winning the tournament
is the right to designate the chairman.

The choice of the next chairman
is in the hands of the winning company.

Yamashita Corporation
has the same contract.

The more participants you control,
the more of an advantage you have.

Mr. Nogi didn't tell me any of this.

Wait a second.

Ms. Akiyama, does that mean...

I suppose other companies
are probably using the same tactics as us.

Many companies drag other companies
into their own camp

through buyouts,
conciliation and coercion.

This is what will be
happening behind the scenes.

This tournament is essentially
a stratagem battle between companies

to secure the position of chairman.

-Basically, we just need to win.
-Yeah.

I don't feel comfortable
in a fancy place like this.

What's going on there?

NAOYA OHKUBO
FIGHTER, MUJI TELEVISION NETWORK

That's the absolute champion
of ultimate fighting, Naoya Ohkubo.

Wait, why are they playing Japanese chess?

Hey, Kazu!

Ken!

KEN OHYA
GINOKUNIYA BOOKSHOP CHAIRMAN

-I've been looking for you.
-Is everything all right?

Kazu, you're good
at Japanese chess, aren't you?

Well, yeah. I believe so.

Avenge me and beat him.

I can't win
no matter how many times I try.

Really? You lost against Ohkubo?

Not him. That guy!

There. That's checkmate.

Goddamn it! Why can't I win?

SUEKICHI KANEDA
JAPANESE CHESS PLAYER

Well, too bad.
I look forward to your next challenge.

Now, is there anyone else
who would like to challenge me?

The challenge fee is 10,000 yen.

If you win, I will give you 100,000 yen...

Gambling on Japanese chess? Here?
Who is he anyway?

That's my friend, Suekichi Kaneda.
He's from outside of the kengan world.

Why did you bring an outsider here?

I met him at a Japanese chess center
yesterday and we became friends.

We went for drinks and really hit it off.

I invited him on the spur of the moment.

Oh? Mr. Ohya.
Is that the man you were talking about?

Yes, this is Mr. Yamashita.

He has 50 years’ experience
in Japanese chess.

Wow. You must really be a tough one.
I hope you go easy on me.

This guy must underestimate me.

All right.

Let me show you my skills.

People used to call me
"Kazu the Twisting Rook." Behold.

There. Checkmate.

What!

That's the fifth time
in a row that I've lost!

Don't beat yourself up so much.
You did a fine job.

Even Kazu couldn't match him.

He's pretty good.

TAKAYUKI CHIBA
FIGHTER, YOSHITAKE REAL ESTATE

It's as if he can see
his opponent's every move in advance.

Hey, look. Isn't that Chairman Katahara?

-It's him!
-It's Chairman Katahara!

What's he doing up there?

Thank you all for waiting.
Let's get started.

METSUDO KATAHARA, GOVERNOR OF DAINIPPON
BANK & KENGAN ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN

SEN HATSUMI
FIGHTER, NOGI GROUP

Here he is, the monster geezer.

The ship will arrive at the battlefield

in about 27 hours from now.

Twenty-seven hours? That's a long trip.

Upon arriving at the battlefield,
you must register your fighters.

This will see them entered officially
into the Kengan Life-or-Death Tournament.

Entered officially? What does that mean?

One more thing.

Private battles between kengan fighters
on this ship are firmly prohibited.

Those who break this order will
be sanctioned by the Guards.

THE GUARDS
PRIVATE ARMY OF METSUDO KATAHARA

That's all.

You may return to enjoying the voyage.

I see. This is just...

Perfect.

-Nogi.
-Oh! It's been a long time.

SHION SORYUIN
CHAIRWOMAN, KOUOU EDUCATION GROUP

-Ms. Soryuin.
-Let's skip the pleasantries.

What did you think
of the chairman's speech?

Oh. You noticed, too?

Do you think something triggered it?

Who knows? The Kengan Association
is full of ambitious people.

Ambitious people?

-Are you talking about yourself?
-You're as sexy as ever.

-Huh. Ohma Tokita.
-Wow! He's hot!

Huh? Do I know you?

You're even more handsome close up.

I can see why our fighter,
Kiryu, is chasing after you.

Setsuna Kiryu. Where is that asshole?

Oh no! Ms. Soryuin!

Don't lose your cool, boy.
Are you trying to hit on me?

What are you doing, Tokita?

I don't know what kind of history
you guys have, but I can tell you this.

He is extraordinarily strong.

If you want to fight him, you should
prepare yourself to some extent.

SETSUNA KIRYU
FIGHTER, KOUOU EDUCATION GROUP

What the hell are you?

Blood splatter from the blow you struck
fell on him and defiled his body.

You should die.

Yes, companies are allowed to change

the fighter they have
chosen to represent them.

What?

RYO HIMURO
GINOKUNIYA BOOKSHOP

Are you kidding me right now, Kaneda?

Oh, no. That's not my intention at all.

So, I'll ask you one more time,
Mr. Himuro.

Will you allow me
to represent you instead?

You want to be our fighter?

What's wrong with you, Kaneda?

-It's too late to switch--
-No, it's not.

The chairman mentioned two things
in his speech which caught my attention.

The first thing was that the fighters are
only officially registered upon arrival.

To put it another way,

until we arrive at our destination,
you are allowed to change your fighters.

That can't be true.

Don't you remember he also said private
battles weren't allowed on the ship?

What he actually said was that battles
between kengan fighters are forbidden.

That brings me to the second thing.

Battles with outsiders are not prohibited.

If you want proof of that,
look over there.

Those Guards are watching
me organize a private battle

yet they're making
no attempt to try to stop me.

Oh my God.

I didn't think there could be a loophole
like this in the passenger-on-board rule.

Hey, Himuro!

Don't worry, Mr. Ohya.
I won't harm your friend.

I'll get this done in no time.

You're scaring me!

He's not bluffing, he's perfectly serious.

All right, then. Let's get started.

The winner will represent Ginokuniya
Bookshop. Is that okay with you?

It's not like I have
anything against you or--

Don't be vain.

You are no match for me.

He's fast and he's a southpaw.

I'll give you one minute.

If you can withstand my attacks
for one minute,

you can be their fighter.

That's very kind of you.

I'm not going to pull any punches.
You should prepare yourself.

It's okay. This isn't a problem.

I just need to watch out for his left fist
while I analyze his--

That was a vertical fist!

No, I was wrong. He's not a southpaw.

I see.

Mr. Himuro,

you practice Jeet Kune Do, don't you?

Jeet Kune Do is a modern martial art
based on Chinese Kung Fu

which has ambiguous fighting tactics.

It uses a stance
with the dominant arm and leg forward

and unique trapping techniques.

It allows all kinds of forbidden moves,
such as poking eyes,

attacking the groin and kicking joints.

The battles are kept brief and short.

The average match lasts
for a mere six seconds.

It's my balance.

He worked that out by observing
the position of my center of gravity.

You have a keen eye.

Good luck with that.

Feel free to surrender
as soon as you've had enough.

Is he just going to defend himself
for the whole minute?

Don't underestimate me.
Die, sucker!

Whoa, Himuro. Don't take it too far.

He got him right in the ribs!

I hope you get it now, Kaneda.

Kengan matches are no game.
So don't joke around.

Is he serious?
Does he still think he can win?

Kaneda hit Himuro.

It looks like I scored a bull's eye.

What the hell?
How did he manage to hit me?

How was that? I'm not that bad, am I?

You freaking newbie.

You're getting too cocky.
Playtime's over.

I'm going to ask you again.

Will you allow me to represent
Ginokuniya Bookshop instead?

What's happening?
How did he beat me?

I'm so tired.
Why don't we have a little break?

Himuro.

He's got serious.

I admit it.

You're strong.

What a murderous expression on his face.

What is the most powerful weapon
in Jeet Kune Do?

Is it breaking a joint?
Or kicking the groin?

No. The answer is...

the combination
of the fastest and the shortest.

The average punch velocity
of a middleweight boxer

is ten meters per second.

Himuro's punch velocity however,
is an outstanding 15 meters per second.

Furthermore, he can shift
to the offensive in an instant

while still blocking
his opponent's attacks.

It makes the opponent experience
his punches faster than they actually are.

Eye jab? He's trying to kill me!

That's enough, Himuro!
Kaneda can't take anymore.

It's over now.

Perfect! That felt amazing.
But he did make it difficult...

What?

Thank you, Mr. Himuro.

Now I'm the winner.

He broke his arm!

My timing was perfect. How?

Wow. That must hurt a lot.

So, what do you say?
Do you want to continue?

Kaneda, I'm going to kill you!

You can stop now, Himuro!

Even you can't fight with only one arm.

He hit his broken arm!

Suddenly, Himuro's blows
stopped landing on Kaneda.

What kind of trick is Kaneda using?

What the hell was that?

Kaneda dodged Himuro's kick
faster than he could deliver it?

No way!

Blow to the liver in one second.
One and a half steps back.

And... he missed it.

I can't believe that Kaneda can actually
predict Himuro's every move.

Is that even possible?

Can we finish this now?

It took me a while,
but I can read your every move now.

You've already been checkmated.

It's not cool to go on struggling in vain.

Why don't you just concede?

Shut up!

Of course, it had to end like this.

The Kujin Style...

Falling Bucket.

Kaneda.

You should have had
enough by now, Mr. Himuro.

Just stay lying there.

Stop, Kaneda! That's enough!

Mr. Himuro. You're incredible.

I admire your tenacity
and determination to triumph.

However, this is checkmate.

Himuro was the strongest fighter
our company has ever had.

But he still lost... to this unknown man.

So what?

Being strong is absolute
and the only truth.

Kaneda, why don't you become our fighter?

RYO HIMURO
FIGHTER, GINOKUNIYA BOOKSHOP

SUEKICHI KANEDA
FIGHTER, GINOKUNIYA BOOKSHOP

Hey, Tokita. I've been looking for you.

I'm digesting my food.

People are holding
so many parties on this ship.

Free food and drink is awesome.

By the way, did you hear?

Ginokuniya's fighter, Himuro,
was defeated by a stranger.

Who is this Kaneda guy?

Actually, should we
be worried about ourselves?

It turns out battles are allowed as long
as they're not between kengan fighters.

Who cares?

What? You should, Tokita.

It means we run the risk
of being attacked by somebody.

Thank you for coming.

TAKESHI WAKATSUKI
FIGHTER, FURUMI PHARMA

You'd better mean it.

COSMO IMAI
FIGHTER, NISHIHONJI SECURITY SERVICES

-I was in the middle of having dinner.
-Could you stop eating for a moment?

Strange. What is it?

The rules of this tournament allow
for collusion, bribery and intimidation.

I don't see how those
rules benefit the chairman.

So, you're wondering why
he has those rules?

Who's behind all this?
And who can we trust?

Misjudging this could cost us our lives.

Here they come already.

Look. They're kengan fighters.

Let's crush them and take their spots.

MISFORTUNE

Well, I guess my plan to talk to you
covertly has worked against me.

No. This is perfect.
I was getting bored of this voyage.

Whoa. Don't you have any sense of danger?

Well, looks like it's time
for a little workout.

Let's do this.

PREVIEW

This is the battlefield
of the tournament, Ganryu Island.

Men, women, geniuses, gods and demons.

The time has come.

Spin the roulette wheel of fate.
Next episode: "The Night Before"

Subtitle translation by
Miki Miyaji