High and Low 1963

A wealthy executive, Kingo Gondo, finds himself embroiled in a fierce battle for control over a prominent company known as National Shoes. Facing immense pressure, he contemplates a pivotal choice: should the company produce cheap, low-quality shoes aimed at the impulse market, or uphold its reputation for crafting sturdy, high-quality footwear? Gondo’s vision for the business leans towards the latter, believing that maintaining high standards and modern styling is crucial for the company’s long-term success. Yet, this plan comes at the cost of immediate profits, a gamble that does not sit well with the current board members.

Just as he is about to finalize a leveraged buyout to seize control—risking everything he possesses—his world is turned upside down with a chilling phone call announcing that his son, Jun, has been kidnapped. Initially dismissing the threat as a prank when Jun arrives home from playing, Gondo soon learns that the kidnapper has mistakenly taken the wrong child—Shinichi, the son of his chauffeur. As the urgency of the situation escalates, the kidnapper confirms the error but still demands the ransom. This leaves Gondo at a moral crossroads, caught between his commitment to save a child and his corporate ambitions.

After an agonizing night of reflection, Gondo resolves not to pay the ransom, aware that doing so could lead to his financial ruin and jeopardize the futures of his own family. However, his resolve is shaken when his unscrupulous assistant hints at using the kidnapping to garner support for the “cheap shoes” faction, and, under pressure from his wife and the desperate pleas from the chauffeur, Gondo ultimately decides to heed the demands of the kidnapper. Following the plan laid out by the perpetrator, Gondo reluctantly prepares the ransom in two small briefcases, tossing it from a moving train. To his relief, Shinichi is returned safely.

As events unfold, Gondo finds himself ousted from the very company he fought so hard to control, with creditors swiftly moving to claim his assets. Ironically, the public sees Gondo as a hero, while the National Shoe Company faces backlash and boycotts. Meanwhile, the police embark on an investigation to unravel the kidnapping, eventually locating the hideout where Shinichi was held captive. Tragedy strikes as they discover the bodies of the kidnapper’s accomplices, victims of an overdose from heroin supplied to them.

Through diligent detective work, law enforcement identifies the perpetrator, a medical intern with a grudge against Gondo, yet lacks irrefutable proof linking him to the accomplices’ deaths. In a clever ruse, the police manipulate the media into suggesting the accomplices have survived, thereby luring the kidnapper into a trap during a botched attempt to deliver more drugs. In a harrowing climax, most of the ransom is recovered; however, it is too late to salvage Gondo’s possessions from auction.

Facing the consequences of his crimes, the kidnapper, now imprisoned and awaiting a death sentence, requests a meeting with Gondo. With Gondo having taken up a position at a rival shoe company—one that pays significantly less but grants him greater autonomy—the two men confront one another. The kidnapper initially presents himself as unremorseful, but as he reflects on his motivations, the envy he harbored while witnessing Gondo’s affluent lifestyle becomes apparent. This encounter culminates in a powerful emotional breakdown as he confronts the reality of his tarnished life, ultimately revealing the harrowing cost of envy and desperation.