The Yakuza
The Yakuza is a 1974 neonoir gangster film directed by Sydney Pollack, written by Leonard Schrader, Paul Schrader, and Robert Towne. The film is about a man Robert Mitchum who returns to Japan after several years away in order to rescue his friends kidnapped daughter. Following a lackluster initial release, the film has since gained a cult following.
Tanner and Kilmer had been Marine MPs and friends in Tokyo during the postwar occupation. Kilmer became aware of a woman, Eiko Keiko Kishi, who was involved in the black market so that she could procure penicillin for her sick daughter. Kilmer intervened on behalf of Eiko during a skirmish, saving her life. After theyd been living together, with Kilmer repeatedly asking Eiko to marry him, her brother secretly her husband Ken Ken Takakura returned from an island where hed been stranded as an Imperial Japanese soldier. Both outraged that she was living with his former enemy and deeply indebted to Kilmer for saving the lives of his apparently only remaining family, Ken disappeared into the yakuza criminal underground and refused to see or speak to his sister. Eiko, cautious to do nothing to offend Ken further, broke off contact with Kilmer. Before returning to the US, Kilmer bought Eiko a bar with money borrowed from George Tanner which she operates to this day, named Kilmer House in his honor. Kilmer has never stopped loving her.Kens debt to Kilmer, giri, is a lifelong obligation that traditionally can never be repaid. Tanner believes that Ken would therefore do anything for Kilmer, including rescuing Tanners daughter. Traveling to Tokyo with Tanners bodyguard Dusty Richard Jordan, they stay at the home of another old military buddy named Oliver Wheat Herb Edelman. Kilmer visits Eiko at the bars closing time, seeking to find Ken. Eikos feelings for Kilmer are clearly as strong as ever. He also becomes reacquainted with Eikos daughter, Hanako, who is delighted to see Kilmer again. Eiko tells Kilmer that her brother can be found at his kendo school in Kyoto. ........
Source: Wikipedia
