Gamblers & Drifters

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MVPs

The Black Tight Killers

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PLOT

Introducing: Hondo Daisuke

Run Time: start to 4:10

Vietnam, mid-1960s. Guns, explosions, and fireworks (!) light-up a barren battlefield in Saigon. Suddenly, a man zigzags between bullets, throwing himself onto the ground in the shadow of a jeep. “Ha, looks like I don’t need a flash for my camera!” he quips in English, before opening a can of beer with a stray bullet whizzing above his head. A soldier near-by urges him to retreat, only to be laughed at – and that’s all it takes to send the man right back into the line of fire, falling head first onto a pile of dirt before running away. Meet Hondo Daisuke, debonair War Photographer!

Somebody’s Watching Me

Run Time: 4:10 to 15:00

We meet Hondo again on a plane, woken-up by Sawanouchi Yoriko (aka Yokiro), a stewardess who hands him back a clean shirt (was it the beer of the pile of dirt?). As she makes an announcement on the upcoming landing, Hondo takes the opportunity to snap a few pictures of her.

Yoriko annouces that they are about to take off Tokyo International Airport – a mistake in the original English, as the plane is about to land at Tokyo International Airport. Not to worry – Hondo is too busy taking pictures to care.

At the airport, the arrival has not gone unnoticed: a group of suspicious foreigners note the arrival, and dispatch one of theirs to follow Yoriko. Near-by, and blissfully unaware, Hondo quickly catches-up with Yoriko, and after several awkward chat-up lines insists to take her out so he can give her the portraits he took.

The two meet in a fancy bar – with Yoriko rightfully chiding Hondo for his cavalier attitude earlier – and share a dance. Suddenly, Yoriko’s expression darkens: a strange man is watching her, confirming a presence she had felt from the moment she landed. The man disappears before Hondo can spot him, and Hondo quips that any normal man would want to follow a woman like Yoriko – a quip that falls very, very flat.

The couple finally sits back down for one more drink, only for the stalker to reappear and reveal himself as the airport man tasked with watching Yoriko. Hondo gives chase, but is side-tracked by meeting his journalist acquaintance Bill, and the strange man is free to finally make his move on the terrified Yoriko, left alone at the table.

Only Hondo would hear that a woman is concerned about being followed and then immediately leave her alone in the middle of an emptying bar. Hondo’s heroic skills have not caught up with his photography skills.

Hondo, finally alerted to Yoriko’s sudden departure with a strange man, sets out to find her. As he steps outside, a scream leads him to the delivery bay, where he stumbles upon a surprising scene: three women dressed in black (tights), armed to the teeth, and backing away from a fresh corpse – the man who followed Yoriko!

The women immediately understand that Hondo saw the attack, and set out to eliminate him as a terrified Yoriko watches on. Hondo starts gaining the advantage, and in response the ladies throw (or, rather, spit) their first ninja weapon at him: ninja gum (!), blinding him and allowing them to escape unscathed, laughing at the powerless and very frustrated Hondo.

Hondo is finally reunited with Yoriko, and they check on the suspicious man – dead, and carrying an ID identifying him as Fernando Lopez. As the two run to call the police, two other suspicious men in trench coats emerge from the shadows, observing the couple disapprovingly before leaving in silence.

At a phone booth, Hondo is busy reporting the murder to the police when he’s interrupted by yet another scream from Yoriko who, left outside the booth, is now being kidnapped by the Black Tight Killers! Against a backdrop of beautiful neon, Hondo gives chase and manages to grab the car – only to be violently shaken off and left behind. The Black Tight Killers have won this fight.

Near-by, policemen arrive at the scene, promptly accosted by the two trench coat men who give them the killer’s description: a tall, smart man in a white dinner suit… Hondo! Who, unaware, enthusiastically runs into a police car to ask for help – getting himself immediately arrested.

At the police station, Hondo is irate: why arrest him, who warned the police himself, while the murderous Black Tight Killers are running away with Yoriko in tow? The police snaps that two witnesses ‘saw’ Hondo, and that the car numberplate he provided as proof is false anyway.

The witnesses are of course the trench coat men, who clearly have a bone to pick with Hondo – more on this later.

Abandoning pouting Hondo, the policemen review the latest information: the victim, Lopez, is a money launderer, known to the police, and could make the perfect victim for a photographer back from Saigon (?). Hondo overhears the conversation and protests vehemently, arguing that the policemen watch too many TV crime dramas (fair).

Thankfully for Hondo, someone comes in to vouch for him: Bill, joking about the ridiculous accusation placed on his friend, and arguing that someone could not possibly commit a murder while on a date, to which he is a witness… An explanation readily accepted by the policemen, who release Hondo. TV drama logic paid off after all.

Home Sweet (Ninja) Home and Bad Dreams

Run Time: 15:00 to to 19:53

Hondo, driven home by Bill, wonders who kidnapped Yoriko: Lopez’ gang, or the Black Tight Killers? Bill, seeing his friend in distress, offers to get his contacts on the case to help rescue Yoriko.

During chit-chat, Bill casually mentions that Yoriko is a wonderful person – but how does he know her? Hondo picks-up on this odd statement but drops the question when Bill admits to bluffing. Big mistake!

Hondo arrives home – a home he shares with Sansai Momochi (aka Momochi), ninja master and owner of a carefully designed, mid-century-ninja-chic meets Japanese-style home. The two discuss the events, including the Black Tight Killers’ ninja techniques, unknown to the puzzled Momochi.

To fight these mysterious women, Momochi gives Hondo two of his very special ninja gadgets: the legendary Momochi Bomb, as well as a secret weapon gifted from the American ‘ninja’ division. Hondo, fluent in English, quickly works out that this is their ‘ranger’ division, and identifies the object and label as laughing gas. While dubious about the odd gadgets, Hondo accepts them gracefully,

Back in his room, Hondo falls asleep to images of Yoriko, floating around the edges of his consciousness… But his dream soon takes a more sinister tone, depicting Yoriko pursued endlessly by the Black Tight Killers and running through walls of colours before being caught, killed… and revealed to be Lopez. Strange dream indeed.

Thankfully, a knock on the door tears Hondo away from his troubled slumber: Bill has news and wants to meet up.

The Search for Yoriko Begins

Run Time: 19:53 to 29:17

At the club, a strange dance unravels between two dancers covered in gold. Hondo, not overly impressed, points out the perilous nature of the dance to Bill: if the paint stays on too long on their body, they will asphyxiate. No encores indeed.

The film is full of Bond references, but this is perhaps the most obvious: Goldfinger (1964)! The full body paint trick is further referenced later in the film, but as both Bond and Hondo should know, humans don’t breathe through skin.

The two are soon joined by the man they were waiting for: Okada Gunji, former Colonel, Director of Asian Studies and… Yoriko’s uncle. He explains that he raised Yoriko after her parents passed away, but that his severity drove her away – and that it’s high time to make amends, especially if she is in trouble. Okada asks Hondo for help, but Hondo has no leads – until Bill provides Yoriko’s address, a first step to finding her whereabouts.

Mid-story, Hondo starts quietly checking the time on his watch every so often. Bo-ring!

Hondo, address in hand, hails a taxi outside of the club and is instead accosted by a woman in a beautiful sports car, offering him a ride. Hondo hesitates but, with no other taxis at hand and a strange car honking behind them, he jumps in.

Note the golf club bag at the back of the car – these will be making an appearance soon!

The cheerful lady driver asks Hondo where he wants to go and he provides Yoriko’s address – not realising that they are being followed.

The suspicious men following are the trench coat men – the very same who sold Hondo to the police earlier on!

As they arrive at the destination, Hondo thanks his driver, who identifies herself as Akiko before asking him out on a date. Hondo, greatly pleased with where the conversation is going, must however decline. Akiko drives off, promising to be back when he’s free – a strange statement that leaves Hondo pondering.

As Hondo arrives at Yoriko’s door, he’s greeted by a stranger (Sabu, one of Okada’s men), who informs him that Yoriko is elsewhere, and orders Hondo to follow him there. After a very close run-in with a car (driven by… the trench coat men), the two eventually arrive at a dilapidated building in a back alley.

Despite speaking English and having eyes, Hondo completely misses the huge neon sign spelling ‘Nude Studio’ flashing right in front of him, flanked by a picture of a naked woman. An oversight which will cost him!

Hondo enters the building and looks around – before spotting a woman tied up using some pretty intricate knots. Hondo, ever the hero, jumps in to untie her, removing a scarf tied around her mouth… only to get called an absolute idiot for interrupting a bondage photo session, as the woman storms off and the baffled photographers watch on. Oops.

As the photographers clear out, the studio owners come in: a group of gangsters, headed by boss Kanzaki, who accuse Hondo of killing one of their associates: Lopez. Hondo protests and blames the Black Tight Killers, to no avail: a pair of witnesses enter the room, testifying to Hondo’s guilt – the trench coat men! Hondo, by now very humiliated and very mad, simply jumps one of the men and punches him without warning.

A general brawl ensues until Kanzaki pulls out a gun, threatening to transform Hondo into a sieve and urging him to forget about Yoriko for his own good – which Hondo flippantly refuses to do. Suddenly, a crashing sound breaks the tension: an golf ball breaks through a skylight, knocking out Kanzaki and his weapon.

Hondo takes the opportunity to throw a few more punches before catching a glimpse of his golfing saviour: it’s Akiko, golf club swinging wildly at the gangsters! The pair continue the brawl, but a gangster grabs the machine gun – prompting Hondo to use the Momochi bomb to great effect (and smoke – achoo). Hondo and Akiko seize the opportunity to escape in her car, with the gangsters unable to give chase due to slashed tires. Smart Akiko.

In the car, Hondo thanks Akiko for her timely rescue, and she asks for one simple favour back: spending the night at Hondo’s! The idea is so shocking to Hondo that he hits the brakes violently in shock – but, as usual, he doesn’t take much convincing and the two make their way to his home.

Octopus Pot

Run Time: 29:18 to 34:45

Hondo and Akiko enter the house and silently make their way upstairs to Hondo’s room, unaware of Momochi oberving them from afar with an approving – and frankly worrying – smile.

Upstairs, it’s time for bed. Hondo offers his to Akiko, who soon complains that she’s dying of cold and that the perfect remedy for that would be Hondo and his blanket (but mainly Hondo).

At this very moment, a cat noise is heard outside. A cat… or a member of the Black Tight Killers, notoriously skilled at imitating human and animal voices, giving/receiving a signal?

Faced with Akiko‘s insistence, Hondo, is frozen (!) by indecision and morality for at least a good couple of seconds before chivalrously coming to Akiko‘s rescue, reluctant to have a guest freezing while staying over (of course). But unfortunately for Hondo, trouble is brewing – three pairs of black boots quietly enter the room… it’s the Black Tight Killers!

Hondo becomes aware of the intrusion but finds himself unable to turn around and escape Akiko‘s grasp – and realises with anger that Akiko is one of theirs. As she holds him prisoner, using the ninja technique ‘Octopus Pot’, Akiko demands that Hondo reveals his true connection to Yoriko or else. Agitated and angry, Hondo finally manages to grab and throw the laughing gas bomb from under the bed, activating it.

The bomb explodes and laughter fills the room – leading the Black Tight Killers to run out the house (knocking out Momochi, who was bringing up refreshments), and Hondo to rush to the window, suffocating and very much not laughing. Momochi, back on his feet, bursts in, expressing surprise that the women were the Black Tight Killers and not Yoriko as he initially though. Which ninja technique did they use on Hondo to keep him prisoner? Octopus Pot, responds Hondo – a devious technique that could only be countered by laughing gas, forcing Akiko to… ‘let go’ (……).

Hondo has kept his bottom half pyjamas in place and intact for the whole scene, so we can presume that nothing too deadly or embarrassing happened here. Maybe.

The Ambush

Run Time: 34:46 to 39:46

Some time later, Hondo, Momochi, and Bill reconvene, agreeing to get in touch with Okada again. Hondo goes to Okada’s Asian Studies office, which he finds eerily quiet. Concerned, he scans the room and finds… a lifeless Okada lying on the ground, knife firmly planted in his chest! As he bends over to examine the corpse and the knife, the sound of a camera flash breaks the silence: it’s Natsuko, the orange Black Tight Killer! And she just took a shot of Hondo knife in hand, which she states will go straight to the police – before gleefully cutting outraged Hondo’s tie with a sharp extensible ruler, and running off.

As Hondo chases Natsuko up the stairs, the two trench coat men arrive to see Okada (revealed as their boss) dead – prompting them to run out of the building in alarm and call the police.

In the next scene, note Hondo’s black gloves, which he did not wear in the previous scene. Preparation for a stunt to come very shortly!

On the roof, Hondo stops in his tracks: it’s not one but four Black Tight Killers who greet him, all smiles and weapons. They taunt him once more, producing his compromising picture and promising him plenty of trouble with the police. Hondo runs at them, to their hilarity – does Hondo require a shave with their knives, or perhaps his throat cut altogether? The group swishes at Hondo, helpless and getting pushed dangerously close to the edge.

Thankfully for Hondo, Akiko suddenly bursts out of the rooftop door, yelling that the police are on their way, and that the Black Tight Killers must run away immediately. The group abandons Hondo to rappel down the building – closely followed by Hondo, who lands right inside the Black Tight Killers’ car, and soon ends up tied up and hidden in the boot.

Some time later, Hondo is tied up in the car in a basement, watched by Natsuko. Music fills the room via a near-by air vent: above them is a club where… the Black Tight Killers (Akiko, Harue, Yoshie, and Kikue) are performing a gig as gogo dancers!

Unbeknown to the group, the trench coat men have followed them, nodding to the stage in recognition. But soon the gig is over, and the Black Tight Killers and their prey Hondo drive to the next destination.

Escape, and Natsuko‘s Fate

Run Time: 39:47 to 43:46

The group arrive at a ‘spa’ (^soapland) and lock-up Hondo in an ornate sweat box – promising him ‘service’… and ripping his clothes off, with Akiko kindly stopping the strip at underwear level.

The sweat box decoration includes a half-naked lady at Hondo’s eye level, which he does not fail to notice (this time) – but he immediately looks up at her eyes, like a gentleman. Good Hondo!

Soon, ‘service’ starts: boiling hot steam poured into Hondo’s sweat box. With Hondo secured and sweating hard, the Black Tight Killers start their interrogation: what is Hondo’s link to Yoriko? Hondo responds with another question: why did the Black Tight Killers kill Lopez, and Okada? Akiko simply responds that they were enemies who deserved to die, and reiterates her question: whose orders is Hondo really under? Hondo is confused, responding that Yoriko is simply his girlfriend – which angers Akiko, certain that there is more to their relationship.

Suddenly, Black Tight Killer Fuyuko runs in to raise the alarm: Yoriko has escaped! The ladies leave, with only Natsuko left behind to watch Hondo. Hondo takes the opportunity to break free from his sweat box by kicking it open, throwing Natsuko on the floor – and forcing her to drive him away from the hideout.

In the car, Hondo remarks that Natsuko is wearing an Okinawa lily, and asks her about its signification and what the Black Tight Killers really want. But before Natsuko can answer, a bullet breaks the rear-view mirror: it’s the trench coat men and Okada thug Sabu, determined to harm Hondo and Natsuko, dynamite and guns in hand.

Hondo, worried about Natsuko, decides to jump off the car to divert the gangsters’ attention, asking her to keep driving and save herself. But while the gangsters’ shots do miss Hondo, the dynamite does not miss Natsuko‘s car, which bursts into a colourful explosion, leaving only a lily flower behind. “She was a nice woman” comments Hondo sorrowfully, lily in hand.

Black Tight Killers Status

Akiko – Natsuko – Harue – Kikue– Yoshie – Fuyuko

Yoriko’s Intel

Run Time: 43:47 to 49:16

As he walks away from the scene, Hondo happens to very conveniently run into the object of his affection and attention (mostly): Yoriko!

Note how Hondo refers to Yoriko as ‘君’ (kimi) / ‘You’. Throughout the film, Hondo never addresses women by their name, using a blanket ‘You’ across the board. Too much detail to remember for poor Hondo?

Hondo takes Yoriko back home, where she shares some troubling news over dinner: Okada is not her uncle but her father’s subordinate, and may have killed her father. Yoriko explains that her father was Chief of Staff in Okinawa, and was approached after the war by Okada and some Americans to appropriate a chest full of Okinawan gold, wealth stolen from the Okinawan people – which he refused to provide. And soon after, his body was found lifeless on a beach…

Over a wonderful cooking and dining session, Yoriko explains that Okada had been harassing her and her late mother for some time before disappearing – and reappeared at the airport, with Hondo representing an unwelcome obstacle to his continued harassment. Yoriko confirms that the Black Tight Killers are after information on the gold location, but that with only her dad’s diary left in her possession, Yoriko has no information on its whereabouts.

The next day, Hondo decides to share this information with Bill, seeking more intel on the mysterious Okada. Bill explains that he’s known Okada for a year, through sharing military articles about Asia, and that Okada had mentioned his ‘niece’. But one answer eludes them both: who are the Black Tight Killers?

They retrace Hondo’s steps into the strange ‘spa’ – but locals reveal that the business had been closed by the police a month ago, because of very suspicious activity (which Hondo, comically, does not want to hear). The pair enter, only to find the place ransacked – but Hondo has another location to investigate: the club he was held hostage at.

At the club, Hondo interrogates the manager, who confirms that the Black Tight (Killers) have stopped working here, and that they were originally dancers in the Okinawa American base going by the strange name of… The Ninjas!

Hondo parts ways with Bill and makes his way to Yoriko’s apartment to find the infamous diary.

Ambush & Abduction, and Kikue‘s Fate

Run Time: 49:17 to 55:26

Hondo enters Yoriko’s apartment to find it has been ransacked – but, to his surprise, he finds Yoriko’s father’s diary, carelessly left behind. On the cover, Hondo spots an ominous quote: “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s”… As he contemplates the quote, a noise gets his attention, followed by a pair of black boots landing on a window sill: Black Tight Killer Kikue has arrived! And she’s here for the diary, attacking Hondo with the Ninja technique “Flying Records” for good measure.

As the two tussle up, Hondo is suddenly struck on the back of the head: it’s the trench coat men, who capture the two and bring them to their HQ, Okada’s office.

At the office, Okada’s men are hosting Lopez’ gang of foreigners, all gathered to discuss the situation and mysterious diary that they’re unable to understand. The two groups agree on one fact: they must get the truth about the diary out of Hondo, whatever the cost.

Hondo and Kikue are in the room next door, tightly tied up and watched by one of the trench coat men. The situation looks desperate, but Kikue whispers to Hondo that she has a plan, and the two agree to form an alliance.

Kikue asks the watcher for a cigarette, promising him intel in return. As the gangster lights her cigarette, Kikue springs into action – spitting it in his face and, ever the judoka, using Hondo to strangle the gangster with her legs. The noise attracts attention from next door, prompting Kikue to pretend to be assaulted, imitating the man’s voice – with Hondo adding in some fake protests for good measure.

On the other side of the door, the gangsters chuckle at the ‘amusing’ situation, and move to leave. Hondo and Kikue free themselves from the rope, and Kikue informs Hondo that back-up is coming – before walking to the window to signal in the distance with a pocket mirror.

A small silhouette appears within the grey Tokyo skyline: it’s Akiko, practising some powerful golf swings on a rooftop near-by. Hondo is confused, and Kikue tells him to take cover – and soon enough, Akiko‘s golfball-bomb hits true and explodes the gangsters’ office, knocking them all to the floor. Making the most of the situation, Hondo and Kikue attack the gangsters and make their escape, with one of them ripping Kikue‘s top off in anger.

As Hondo and Kikue run out towards the stairs, a gangster shoots Kikue, wounding her and triggering her to fall down the stairs. On the ground floor, Hondo and Akiko reach her, alarmed, as she struggles to maintain consciousness (but still find the energy to modestly cover her chest with her hands – priorities). They carry her to Akiko‘s car where, looking up at Hondo, Kikue expresses happiness at the fact that they made friends before it was too late, before passing away. “She was a nice woman” says Hondo once more, lost for words, as Akiko drives off.

Black Tight Killers Status

Akiko – Natsuko – Harue – Kikue – Yoshie – Fuyuko

Yoriko Disappears, and Harue‘s Fate

Run Time: 55:27 to 1:01:00

Hondo gets back home to find the house ransacked, and Momochi tied up and locked in a chest: enemies targeted the house and kidnapped Yoriko (again!)!

Hondo runs out of the house, only to be ambushed by Okada’s men, who force him into a car at gunpoint. They drive to a faraway warehouse “where gunshots won’t be heard”. As he strolls into the hideout, a dingy garage, Hondo is horrified to find Yoriko within – stripped down to her underblouse and chained to a pole, defenceless. The men are after information on the gold (now worth 100 million yen), and state that if Hondo cannot provide it, then Yoriko will be tortured until someone talks.

As Yoriko denies having any information, or any way of using her dad’s diary, they strip her blouse off, leaving her in her underwear, and begin spraying her with white paint. Hondo, restrained, yells at them to stop, to no avail: they urge Yoriko to speak fast, before the paint asphyxiates her.

Unable to watch Yoriko being tortured, Hondo panics and yells that he knows the secret to the diary: the cover is thicker on one side, and is likely concealing papers (and nobody noticed before?!). Kanzaki feverishly checks the diary, and finds that Hondo is correct.

But the gangsters’ victory is short lived: a strange colourful smoke spreads through the room, and black boots appear… the Black Tight Killers! They throw more smoke bombs around the room, as Hondo frees himself and puts together a mini flame-thrower by grabbing and lighting up the paint sprayer – and chaos and gunfire ensue.

As Hondo brandishes his new toy, distracting both the Black Tight Killers and the viewer’s attention, the gangsters discreetly untie Yoriko and take her away…

A gangster finally cuts the sprayer’s cord but Hondo continues the fight, kicking down a gun about to shoot Akiko and fighting to save her from the gangsters – unaware that Sabu is about to throw a knife at his back. But Harue sees – and, repaying Hondo’s favour to Akiko, throws herself in the way of the knife… receiving a fatal wound. Hondo rushes to Harue, and she breathes her last breath in Hondo’s arms, telling him she wishes she had been on his side earlier, as blue paint (her colour) flows behind the two. Hondo, distraught once again, collects her lily pin.

Black Tight Killers Status

Akiko – Natsuko – Harue – Kikue – Yoshie – Fuyuko

Yoriko’s Fourth (!) Kidnapping, and Fuyuko‘s Fate

Run Time: 1:01:01 to 1:04:17

Leaving behind the carnage of the garage, Hondo exits to find a rope leading outside.

Throughout the film, Hondo wears various types of gloves on and off with multiple continuity issues. Remember how he held the lily in his fingers in the previous scene? He now has gloves on, and loses them immediately in the next scene. Continuity issues, or perhaps a suit with many pockets?

Back on the ground floor, Hondo stumbles upon Yoriko, shivering and hiding her face in shame. Hondo gently covers her with a Black Tight Killer jacket and ushers her into a car – narrowly escaping the gangsters, hot on their heels.

In the car, Hondo is seen with the scarf he had ‘lost’ in the previous scenes. Phew – it was a nice scarf!

While driving, Hondo reassures a prone Yoriko: she is safe with him (debatable), and they’ll get some paint stripper at the petrol station. As he pats her on the back, she finally bursts into laughter and reveals her true face: she is not Yoriko but Black Tight Killer Fuyuko!

As Hondo just about avoids crashing the car in surprise, Fuyuko explains that the Black Tight Killers tricked him to get him off Yoriko’s trail, as they are handling her rescue from Lopez’ men. Hondo, even more mad, accelerates the car (to which destination?…) – but the pair realise that they have been caught up by the gangsters, guns out blazing and once again determined to kill them both.

A rogue bullet wounds Fuyuko, who in return asks Hondo to loosen her bra so she can grab a secret weapon: a small plastic bomb, which she throws at the gangster’s car, blinding the driver and causing their car to exit the road and explode. Game Over.

But Fuyuko has been hit, and Hondo stops the car to attend to her. She falls into Hondo’s arms, barely conscious. As the sky turns ominously red behind them, she shares one last piece of information: the men are taking Yoriko to Ushiojima island. And with these parting words, Fuyuko dies in Hondo’s arms, Okinawan lily in hand.

Black Tight Killers Status

Akiko – Natsuko – Harue – Kikue – Yoshie – Fuyuko

Island Escape, and Yoshie‘s Rescue

Run Time: 1:04:18 to 11:11:02

Back home, Hondo tries to contact Bill – who is mysteriously absent with no return ETA. Hondo decides to go to the island on his own, but not before Momochi hands him his ultimate weapon: the unique Momochi Portable Canon!

Hondo travels to Ushiojima island, Momochi Portable Canon in tow. As he makes his way through the bunkers and ruined brick military buildings, he suddenly gets shot at. Taking cover, Hondo springs on the nearest enemy – who turns out to be Akiko!

As they reunite awkwardly and update each other on the rest of the Black Tight Killers, Akiko reveals that Yoshie has been kidnapped, and that the gangsters know that the Black Tight Killers and Hondo are on the island. As she concludes her explanation, a helicopter suddenly flies above the two ominously.

After ambushing several gangsters, the pair finally make their way to the inside the main building, cautiously walking down the stairs, unsure of what awaits them. They finally stumble upon a disturbing scene: Yoshie tied up to a pole, half naked, and surrounded by Sabu and his men.

Akiko imitates an animal cry to warn Yoshie of their presence, prompting Yoshie to ask for her ties to be loosened – garnering a leer and a disturbing pawing up from one of the gangsters. But Sabu takes pity on her, and asks for her request to be granted.

Before the gangsters can make a single move, Hondo and Akiko jump on the group, freeing Yoshie and both enacting vengeance: Hondo on Sabu who mistreated Yoriko, and Akiko on the gangster who abused Yoshie. But the greatest vengeance comes from Yoshie herself who calmly guns down every single gangster to death, with the sober (and sinister) explanation: “They mistreated me”. Hondo and Akiko silently look on, fully aware of the implication of this statement.

Yoshie updates the two on the situation: the gold, buried in this room, has been taken by the gangsters and flown to a villa in the near-by cape via helicopter. Akiko identifies the villa: this was Sawanouchi’s old villa, another family property appropriated by evil Okada and his men.

A Wild Chase, and Yoshie‘s Fate

Run Time: 11:11:03 to 11:14:02

As they run outside, the group is ambushed by the helicopter, from which Kanzaki shoots at them.

After an intense chase, Hondo decides that it’s time for the ultimate weapon: Momochi’s Portable Canon. He climbs onto a platform to set-up, as Akiko covers his back – narrowly missed by a bullet from the helicopter. Yoshie, worried about her captain, takes the gun from her and starts boldly shooting at the helicopter.

Hondo, after kissing the cannon for good luck (naturally), fires at the helicopter – and it’s a hit! The helicopter explodes, with Hondo bursting into laughter and looking the happiest we’ve seen him the whole film (canons > women).

But his joy is sadly short-lived. Akiko screams for Hondo, and he rushes in to see Yoshie on the floor, bleeding heavily. Panting, she asks about the helicopter, and Hondo tells her that she brought it down all by herself. Yoshie smiles, and in her last breath addresses Hondo: “You… you were a nice man”.

Black Tight Killers Status

Akiko – Natsuko – Harue – Kikue – Yoshie – Fuyuko

Saving Yoriko & the Gold – and Akiko‘s Fate

Run Time: 1:14:03 to 1:23:29

Hondo and Akiko escape the island in her canoe, hidden under some rocks. As they row to the cape, Akiko laments once more about losing her sisters and cousins, who made up the Black Tight Killers. She explains that their goal is to recover gold that belonged to Okinawans and was confiscated by the army during the war. Sawanouchi, against all expectations, kept the treasure to give it back, and refused to hand it over to Okada and the foreign gang – an idea unbearable to Akiko and her brethren, whose family was also killed by Okada and his men.

The pair finally arrive at the villa – which is oddly calm and silent. Hondo goes in, and is presented with yet another shocking spectacle: Yoriko attached to a pole (as usual), perched on a platform above a pool of water and connected to an electrocution machine. Before Hondo can make a move, a voice is heard welcoming him: it’s the foreigners gang, threatening to electrocute Yoriko if he makes another move.

The room is bare but it does contain a stone Shisa, a traditional Okinawan artifact and decoration. A nod to the villa’s original owner’s past.

The mastermind behind the operation finally emerges from the door, and takes off the Noh mask hiding his face, revealing… Bill, Hondo’s journalist friend! Bill explains that Okada was his right arm in the US army, and that Bill pushed him to assassinate Yawanouchi for the gold. Hondo was used to find out more information, but he is now redundant and has to be eliminated.

Bill immediately sets his men on Hondo, who defends himself in a violent fight – breaking most of the furniture and woodwork with his spine in the process. But as Hondo finally gets the upper hand, Bill threatens to electrocute Yoriko again, and all is still in the room until…

…ninja weapons suddenly find themselves encased in two of the foreigners’ stomach: Akiko is here! She is quickly overpowered by Bill, while Hondo jumps to Yoriko to unlink the electrocution device – throwing it into the pool and electrocuting a gangster instead. As Hondo carries Yoriko aside to safety, the signs of struggle between Bill and Akiko intensify and gunshots are heard – before a deafening silence fills the room again.

Hondo approaches Akiko and Bill, as a pool of blood forms around them – and Hondo realises that Bill is dead, and that Akiko is not long for this world. He takes Akiko in his arms, who thanks him for his help and and asks him to take care of the gold for her – before passing away. Hondo, silent, places the lily in her hand, and squeezes it gently. A tender gesture not missed by Yoriko, who looks at Hondo with some regret for not pushing him in the electrocuted pool earlier.

Police (and Momochi) in tow, Hondo and Yoriko finally break open the gold chest, only to find… bank notes, old and completely worthless. Hondo finally understands the quote “Unto Ceasar”: Yawanouchi wanted to give the gold back to Okinawans in money form, but died before he was able to – and the money is now void. In the police car back, the group laments about the brave Black Tight Killers, and their vain sacrifice.

Black Tight Killers Status

Akiko – Natsuko – Harue – Kikue – Yoshie – Fuyuko

The Black Tight Killers are no more. 😦

A Punchy Lesson

Running Time: 1:23:30 to the end

The next day, Yoriko and Hondo meet at Haneda airport. Hondo hands some flowers to Yoriko, asking her to throw them over Okinawa during her next flight over, in memory of the Black Tight Killers. Yoriko laughs – she herself has prepared a bouquet, and has already obtained the agreement of the pilot. Holding the flowers, Yoriko hesitates, before awkwardly asking Hondo a direct question: did he sleep with Akiko? Hondo, bashful, admits to the truth, and Yoriko turns her back to him, vexed but not surprised.

Hondo apologises, contrite. Yoriko turns back to him: she’ll forgive the unforgivable, but on one special condition – and she asks him to close his eyes. He complies, and… is immediately punched square in the jaw by Yoriko. Hondo is floored by the punch (literally), and mocked happily by Yoriko, who walks off and tells him he needs to hurry if he wants to catch the flight.

“Women… they’re so complicated!” laments Hondo, trotting behind her. Oh Hondo!

THE END

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