Fukasaku’s final and fifth film in The Yakuza Papers is aptly named, Final Episode. Many feel a resentment and disappoint with the resolution that they’re given when watching this, but keep in mind that the film began with Shozo, and so, if the story begins with the main character, the story should end with the main character.

Consider it a warning, or a prelude, because you won’t really see much of Shozo in 80% of the film. Takeda and the other Yamamori memebers, along with the other Yakuza families that joined up have decided to change the structure and the theme of the organisation. Although still, at its heart, Yakuza by nature, they are now calling themsleves a political organisation called Tensei, yet still dealing with all the previous forms of thuggary and fraud. All this has come about, due to the changing times, the reforms within the police force and Government, and most importantly, people power and protests against violence.

Takeda leads the organisation, now looking frail and weak, but very thoughtful. Alongside him his Vice President, Otomo, is a tetchy and violent Yakuza, who dislikes the political correctness that his colleagues have taken up. A battle of control ensues between the two, leading Takeda to offer Matsumara (a young Yakuza) to be named the successor – this is due to the police cracking down on the activities of Tensei, knowing they’re just Yakuza in sheep’s clothing. At the same time, Shozo’s sworn brother is causing havoc for Takeda in the form of street violence, and calls upon Otomo to become his sworn brother; by this method, Ichiko (Shozo’s sworn brother) gets an insider with Otomo, and Otomo gains a useful ally in dethroning Takeda and his successor, Matsumara.

It’s possibly Fukasaku lost his way, got bored, or just wanted to stretch the story as far as possible – I think milking the cow would be understating it

Meanwhile, if you’re still following, Shozo’s band of merry men are about as smart as a platypous, and as strong as an ant. With about 10% of a brain amongst them, the group is mostly made up of inexperienced youth who look forward to Shozo’s release from prison with God-like relish. They unknowingly cause more harm to Shozo’s presence, by taking out and attacking Takeda’s people. Shozo is once more seen as a threat, as Akashi wish him to lead the battle against Tensei.

Like Police Tactics, Final Episode is a drawn out political drama. There is a Yakuza air to the film, with loyalty and executions taking place. Many of Yamamori’s subordinates end up helping Takeda, while Yamamori is still the scheming wretch, hoping for control, trying to use whoever he has left as a pawn in his larger scheme. When everything backfires, of course, he runs for the hills just as everyone else does. Generally, however, it’s all drama and political angst, backbiting and so on.

The characters, in particular Shozo and Takeda, seem very tired of the whole thing. When they come to the realisation that those doing the killings these days are even younger than they were when they first began, it makes them feel old, over the hill and no longer cut out for it. Both seem to want out of the whole Yakuza world, in an attempt to go straight, but neither will back down unless the other does so first. There’s a mutual respect between the two main protagonists that have lasted for several films, but they’re also aware that they cannot be friends, with all the blood on their hands, they must remain enemies to honour those that have died by their orders.

Once more the police are involved, but in a much more brutal and aggressive crackdown – - many of the Yakuza get caught or turn themselves in, but most betray even the police with their promise of changing their their criminal ways. This leads to a rather large and chaotic, and confusing, set of events that results in an almost predictable and sombre ending. It’s a rather limp ending to what started off as an excellent series of films.

Consider it a warning, or a prelude, because you won’t really see much of Shozo in 80% of the film

It’s possibly Fukasaku lost his way, got bored, or just wanted to stretch the story as far as possible – I think milking the cow would be understating it. With the exception of the first film, the sequels seem confused and lacking any real depth. We see the same events in different forms, and it all seems lopped and regurgitated at times. The performances genuinely feel tired, and I wonder if the actors were sick of doing so many films about essentially the same thing. Everytime something big is about to happen, Fukasaku withdraws and whimpers out with a melodramatic scene. It’s an irritating trick, and I somehow feel I have dragged myself through the films in hindsight.

Final Episode is not a bad release, it just happens to take things that one step too far, and into the realms of boredom. The events that take place are interesting for a while, but none of the electrifying deception or drama of the first film are carried through. The final episode should, perhaps, have been at Volume 3, with a tighter script and more strict direction. The film fails in really keeping the audience interested, offering little in plot progression or a satisfying ending. In fact, it’s almost a repeat of the last film in context and message.

Fukasaku did define and influence a genre of film makers with his Yakuza films, but it would also be fair to say that his self-indulgence often resulted in a lot films which felt, looked and played out the same. With little variation and not much in the way of imagination, the few films that influenced a generation of younger film makers, were offset by a plethora of bad ones. Final Episode is on the whole, savagely average.

Verdict: Watch the first of The Yakuza Papers, enjoy it, and ignore this drawn out final.