Ikiru (1952) Poster

(1952)

Takashi Shimura: Kanji Watanabe

Photos 

Quotes 

  • Kanji : I can't afford to hate people. I don't have that kind of time.

  • Kanji : [singing]  Life is brief / Fall in love, maiden / Before the crimson bloom / Fades from your lips / Before the tides of passion / Cool within you / For those of you / Who know no tomorrow...

  • Kanji : How beautiful! Truly beautiful. A sunset. I don't think I've really looked at one in 30 years.

  • Kanji : I don't know what I've been doing with my life all these years.

  • Kanji : ...I did it all for my son's sake. But as it turned out, my son doesn't seem to give a whit.

    Toyo : But you can't blame it all on your son... Not unless he asked you to make a mummy of yourself. My mom gives me the same kind of line sometimes. "The things I've suffered for you." And I'm grateful she had me. But it's not my fault I was born...

  • Toyo : What help am I?

    Kanji : You - just to look at you makes me feel better. It warms this - this mummy's heart of mine. And you're so kind to me. No; that's not it. You're so young, so healthy. No; that's not it either... You're so full of life. And me... I'm jealous of that. If I could be like you for just one day before I died. I won't be able to die unless I can do that. I want to do *something*. Only you can show me. I don't know what to do. I don't know how. Maybe you don't know either, but, please... if you can... show me how to be like you!

  • Kanji : Dying is very difficult.

  • Novelist : Drinking when you have stomach cancer is suicide.

    Kanji : The thing is - I can't go through with it. "Go ahead and kill yourself," I think. And yet - I just can't do it. I mean - I can't bring myself to make it final.

  • Kanji : Drinking this expensive sake is like paying myself back with poison for the way I lived all these years.

  • Kanji : All these 30 years - what have I been doing there? I can't remember no matter how I try. All I remember - is just being busy - and even then I was bored.

  • Toyo : Why did you buy them for me?

    Kanji : Well, yours had holes in them.

    Toyo : Do holes in my stockings make your feet cold?

    Kanji : Don't get me wrong...

    Toyo : I was just kidding. I know you did it out of kindness, but I feel awkward at times like this. That's why I made a bad joke. Forgive me.

  • Kanji : Why are you quitting?

    Toyo : I'm bored. It's killing me. Every day is like the one before. Nothing new ever happens. I've put up with it for a year and a half, but the only novel thing that's happened was that you took five days off - and now this new hat of yours. That's it.

  • Toyo : All I do is make these little things.

    [Pulls out a stuffed mechanical bunny] 

    Toyo : Just making these is so much fun. I feel like I'm making friends with every baby in Japan. Why don't you try making something too?

    Kanji : What could I possibly make at that office.

    Toyo : Yeah, it's hopeless there. You should quit and go somewhere...

    Kanji : It's too late - - No - It's not too late. It's not hopeless. Even there, there's something I can do. I just have to find the will.

  • Kanji : Now I remember: I nearly drowned in a pond once when I was a child. I felt exactly the same way then. Everything's going black. I writhe and thrash around, but there's nothing to hold on to - except you.

    Toyo : What about your son?

    Kanji : Don't talk to me about him! I have no son. I'm all alone.

    Toyo : But...

    Kanji : No, you don't understand! My son is somewhere far away. Just as my mom and pop were when I was drowning in that pond. Remembering it now, it's even more painful than it was then.

  • Kanji : It's just that I've been such a fool. I'm just so mad at myself. Until a few days ago I had never even bought myself a drink. It's only now that I don't know how much longer I have to live that I've finally begun.

    Novelist : I understand. I understand. But drinking now is plain crazy. Besides, does it even taste good?

    Kanji : No, it doesn't. But for a little while I can forget my cancer and all the other painful things.

  • Kanji : What have I been living for all these years?

  • Toyo : I'll cover for you. I'm not like Carp Windsock.

    Kanji : Carp Windsock?

    Toyo : Yes, Mr. Sakai is a human carp windsock. His lips are always flapping, but he's just hot air inside. Plus he always acts like such a big shot. He makes 200 yen more a month than I do, so he looks down on me.

  • Sub-Section Chief Ono : Sir, I'm not sure that's possible.

    Kanji : It is if you set your mind to it.

  • Kanji : Tell me, where do they sell women's stockings?

    Toyo : You want to buy some? Western clothing stores carry them.

See also

Release Dates | Official Sites | Company Credits | Filming & Production | Technical Specs


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