If You Were Young: Rage 1970

Factory closure and eviction

The factory shuts down, leaving the five friends without steady work. They retreat to the men's dorm until both the dorm and the factory are auctioned off, forcing them onto the street. The loss plants the seed for a new plan to change their lives.

Ryuji's boxing debut and arrest

Ryuji fights in his boxing debut while the others face hecklers and are arrested. He fights the police to get placed in the same cell as his friends for the night. In that cell, they hatch the plan to pool their money for a truck.

Plan to pool money for Independence No. 1

After their release, the friends commit to saving every paycheck and pooling money for the next year to buy their own dump truck, Independence No. 1. They dedicate themselves to their jobs and avoid unnecessary expenses, hoping for a freer life. The plan anchors their shared ambition.

Kiyoshi's prison visit

In the present, Kiyoshi's mother and sister visit him in prison after he falls behind on truck payments and is caught trying to steal from a warehouse. The visit underscores the family pressures tied to the truck's fate. It also reveals the ongoing hardship surrounding their pursuit of independence.

Asao's memory of a robbery and Kiyoshi's restraint

Asao recalls a mugging where he would have killed the muggers, but Kiyoshi intervened and prevented him from taking revenge with a knife. The memory shapes Asao's sense of loyalty and fear of crossing lines. It foreshadows the bond that binds them to their friends.

Ichiro's burden and loan

Ichiro has fathered a girl multiple times and must borrow money from Asao and Kikuo after already having taken back the money he was supposed to contribute to the truck. His financial troubles strain the group and test their support for one another. They try to keep the truck project afloat despite setbacks.

Ryuji's death during the strike

Ryuji is beaten to death by police during their assault on striking workers. His death marks a brutal turning point that amplifies the costs of their pursuit of independence. The loss compounds the fragility of the five-man plan.

Ryuji's sister's gift and message

Ryuji's sister tells Asao and Kikuo to keep his money for the truck and gives them a rear-view mirror decoration of boxing gloves that Ryuji had bought. The gesture embodies loyalty and a memory that binds the group to their cause. It also foreshadows Kikuo's chance for a new start.

Ten days of rain and desperate work

After ten days of rain, Asao and Kikuo scramble for work and accept a gravel transportation job from their boss. Their decision angers the other workers who are on strike. The pressure of payment pushes them toward riskier actions.

Scrape, fight, and bar encounter

Asao scrapes the truck against a rock wall during the job and a fight breaks out between the friends. He later apologizes and goes to Ryuji's sister's bar, where he sleeps with her. The incident strains the fragile trust among the group.

Strike-painted truck and cleanup

The striking workers spray-paint the friends' truck with 'Strikebreaker No. 1', forcing them to scrub the paint off. The act deepens the conflict between the workers and the truck crew. It also heightens the sense of betrayal among the group.

Kiyoshi escapes and confrontations with Asao

Kiyoshi escapes from prison and hides with Asao to recover from a gunshot wound he sustained during the escape. Yukiko finds him and he demands the keys to the truck from Asao, who refuses, suggesting Kiyoshi would have to kill him. They drive toward the coast, turning their peril toward a fateful showdown.

The sea, death, and the crash

Kiyoshi dies as they reach the sea, after which Asao continues driving and crashes off a cliff into the beach. He climbs out while the wreckage burns and he faces arrest. The journey ends with the loss and a grim fate for both men.