Sabu 2002
Directed by
Takashi Miike
Made by
Nagoya Broadcasting Network
Sabu Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Sabu (2002). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Eiji, Tatsuya Fujiwara, Sabu, and Nobuko Tomoko Tabata grow up as friends at the Kobunecho orphanage during the Edo period. Years later, Eiji is wrongfully accused of stealing a 100-ryo piece of gold cloth from the Watabun Bank and is sent to the Ishikawa Island workhouse. Refusing to speak, he earns the nickname Bushu from the head guard Tatsuo Yamada. Sabu loses his job as a paper hanger after repeatedly visiting Eiji and is sent out into the country, where he develops beriberi. Osue, Kazue Fukiishi, visits Eiji, and he explains that he believes Watabun and others framed him because they thought he planned to marry Watabun’s daughter. He insists that he never intended to wed and that his only love is Osue, but he has devoted his life to revenge.
The geisha house where Nobuko works hopes to groom her to marry a 37-year-old Toku Yoji Tanaka and take over as mistress of the house, but Nobuko would rather run away with Sabu and Eiji. Osue visits her, and Nobuko accuses Osue of stealing the gold cloth. Sabu steals food from his employer and is fired again, forcing him to return to the city. Eiji breaks his leg saving another prisoner during the collapse of a frame under construction and emerges with a permanent limp. A heavy rainstorm threatens the Okawa River, risking a flood that could submerge the island and devastate the workhouse.
Disgraced pimp Roku, who repeatedly raped Nobuko and was responsible for the suicide of her older sister, runs into a burning building to rescue a girl there. Eiji convinces the prisoners to work together to reinforce the workhouse and protect it against the flood. The violent new prisoner Giichi, Grass Snake, attacks Eiji, but Eiji defeats him and his knife-wielding companion Ryu by striking them with his cherrywood cane; instead of punishment, the head guard sends Giichi and Ryu to Denmacho and is paid by Sabu to send Eiji to Kitamachi court, where his case is reopened with a petition signed by 100 inmates and he is set free.
Sabu and Eiji return to Nobuko’s house, where the mistress has ended up marrying Toku. Nobuko asks Eiji to marry her, but he returns to Osue instead. Eiji discovers a letter of apology written by Sabu and becomes enraged, though Osue confesses that Sabu was protecting her and that she framed him for the theft because she wanted to marry him herself. Her father pleads with Eiji to punish him instead of her, but Eiji forgives her and takes Osue as his wife as she desired. Eiji later visits Sabu, who puts on a display of apologizing for the theft; Eiji punches him, then embraces him.
Sabu Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Sabu (2002) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Childhood friends at Kobunecho orphanage
Eiji, Sabu, and Nobuko grow up together at the Kobunecho orphanage during the Edo period. They share a bond formed by hardship and companionship that will influence their choices in adulthood. Osue appears within their circle as their lives diverge and intertwine. The close-knit trio's early friendship sets the stage for the revenge, love, and loyalty that drive the story.
Eiji framed for theft and sent to workhouse
Years later, Eiji is accused of stealing a 100-ryo gold cloth from Watabun Bank. He is sent to the Ishikawa Island workhouse, where he refuses to speak and is dubbed 'Bushu' by head guard Ryojiro Kojima.
Sabu fired and sent to the countryside
Sabu is fired by Hokodo for visiting Eiji too often and is sent into the countryside. He eventually develops beriberi there and must make his way back toward the city.
Eiji explains the frame to Osue; love and revenge
Osue visits the workhouse; Eiji explains that he believes Watabun and others framed him, thinking he intended to marry Watabun's daughter. He insists he loves Osue but will devote his life to revenge until justice is served.
Nobuko's geisha house plan; longing for freedom
Nobuko, a geisha, is pressured to marry 37-year-old Toku and take over the house, but Nobuko wishes to run away with Sabu and Eiji. This longing sets up a future clash of loyalties.
Osue visits Nobuko; accusation of theft
Osue visits Nobuko, and Nobuko accuses Osue of stealing the gold cloth. The accusation heightens the tension and reveals the possibility of hidden schemes.
Sabu steals food; fired again; returns to city
Sabu steals food from his employer and is fired again, forcing him to return to the city. The act adds to his mounting troubles and distance from Eiji.
Eiji breaks his leg in a building collapse
While the frame of a building is being constructed, Eiji saves another prisoner and breaks his leg, leaving him with a permanent limp. The injury becomes a lasting reminder of the danger and sacrifice surrounding their imprisonment.
Flood threat; Eiji unites prisoners to reinforce the workhouse
A strong rainstorm endangers the Okawa River and threatens to flood the island. Eiji convinces the inmates to work together to reinforce the workhouse and safeguard the prisoners.
Confrontation with Giichi and Ryu; Eiji prevails
The violent Giichi, nicknamed the Grass Snake, attacks Eiji, but Eiji defeats him and his knife-wielding ally Ryu with a cherrywood cane. The fight consolidates his leadership and earns the respect of the other prisoners.
Petition frees Eiji; court at Kitamachi
The head guard avoids punishment and sends Giichi and Ryu to Denmacho. Sabu pays to reopen Eiji's case at Kitamachi court, and a petition signed by 100 inmates helps secure his release.
Return to Nobuko's house; choice between Nobuko and Osue
Sabu and Eiji return to Nobuko's house, only to find the mistress has married Toku. Nobuko asks Eiji to marry her, but he chooses to return to Osue.
Osue confession and Sabu's deceit revealed
Osue confesses that Sabu is protecting her and that she framed him to win his marriage. Eiji also finds a letter of apology written by Sabu, which deepens the emotional conflict between them.
Eiji forgives Osue and marries her
Eiji forgives Osue and takes her as his wife, as she desired. Their union signals a shift away from vengeance and toward new beginnings.
Final reconciliation: Eiji visits Sabu; punch and embrace
Eiji visits Sabu; the two share a tense exchange as Sabu apologizes. Eiji punches him for past deception, then embraces him in a final reconciliation.
Sabu Characters
Explore all characters from Sabu (2002). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Eiji (Tatsuya Fujiwara)
Quiet, determined, and loyal, Eiji endures betrayal and hardship after being framed for theft. He suppresses self-defense and channels pain into a relentless pursuit of revenge, while clinging to his love for Osue. A man of resolve, his limp marks the cost of his journey and the stubborn hope that justice will prevail.
Sabu (Satoshi Tsumabuki)
Sabu is a lively, resourceful friend whose actions mix affection with risk. He alternates between supporting Eiji and making choices that complicate outcomes, sometimes shading the truth to protect himself or pursue his aims. His presence injects momentum and tension, driving the story’s twists.
Onobu (Tomoko Tabata)
Onobu appears as a supportive figure within the group, offering friendship and stability in a harsh environment. She represents the networks that keep relationships alive despite social and economic pressures.
Osue (Kazue Fukiishi)
Osue is torn between love and social expectations, becoming a pivotal figure who navigates loyalty and deception. Her choices—betraying Sabu to influence outcomes and later confessing the truth—show the emotional costs of romance and ambition in a constrained society.
Giichi (Ken'ichi Endô)
Known as the Grass Snake, Giichi is a violent new prisoner who threatens Eiji. His aggression underscores the brutality of the environment and the precarious balance of power within the workhouse and prison system.
Toku (Yoji Tanaka)
A pimp at the geisha house who embodies exploitation and control. He represents how personal desire intersects with financial power, shaping Nobuko’s and Osue’s situations within the social framework.
Ryojiro Kojima (Tatsuo Yamada)
The strict head guard who manages punishment and later influences Eiji’s case at Denmacho and Kitamachi court. He embodies institutional rigidity, balancing authority with moments that hint at mercy when faced with collective action by prisoners.
Sabu Settings
Learn where and when Sabu (2002) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Time period
Edo period
Set in the Edo period of Japan, the story centers on a rigid feudal hierarchy, strict social norms, and the apparatus of punishment. Orphanages and workhouses reflect the era's harsh realities, while legal processes and petitions reveal a patchwork justice system. Recurring floods and weather also shape survival and community risk, amplifying the stakes for the characters. The time frame amplifies themes of loyalty, revenge, and the costs of personal choices within a tightly controlled society.
Location
Kobunecho orphanage, Watabun Bank, Ishikawa Island workhouse, Denmacho, Kitamachi court, Nobuko's geisha house
The film unfolds across a network of Edo-period locations that reflect a rigid social order. The Kobunecho orphanage serves as the starting point for Eiji, Sabu, and Nobuko, highlighting poverty and abandonment. The Watabun Bank and Ishikawa Island workhouse expose the economic and punitive mechanisms shaping their fates. Denmacho and Kitamachi court scenes reveal the legal pressures and power dynamics, while Nobuko's geisha house illustrates the commodified paths available to women in this society.
Sabu Themes
Discover the main themes in Sabu (2002). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Revenge
Eiji’s wrongful framing sparks a lifelong quest for vengeance that drives his choices. The pursuit tests loyalties and blurs lines between justice and cruelty. The narrative shows how revenge can consume time, energy, and relationships, often producing unintended consequences. Yet the story also probes whether revenge can ever restore what was lost or simply perpetuate the cycle of harm.
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Justice
The inmates’ petition to reopen Eiji’s case highlights a counter-narrative to official punishment. The film exposes flaws in the system, where leverage and mercy sometimes shape outcomes as much as law. Characters chase personal notions of justice, often clashing with formal procedures. The ending implies that justice is imperfect and earned through persistence, sacrifice, and accountability.
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Friendship & Loyalty
Friendships between Eiji, Sabu, and Osue anchor the story amidst hardship and danger. Loyalty is tested by conflicting desires and schemes, yet bonds persist as sources of strength during crises. The trio’s interactions reveal how trust can both heal and complicate outcomes under pressure. The narrative ultimately weighs forgiveness against accountability, suggesting loyalty seeks the well-being of loved ones even when imperfect.
Sabu Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Sabu (2002). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In the bustling streets of an Edo‑era port town, a tight‑knit group of friends forged their bond within the stone‑cold walls of an orphanage. Years later, their lives have scattered across the city’s varied strata, yet the memory of those early days remains a quiet compass. When Eiji is inexplicably dispatched to a remote workhouse on an isolated island, the harsh rhythm of forced labor and the weight of an unseen accusation begin to reshape his world. The institution’s austere routine and the unforgiving sea create a landscape where hope feels as distant as the mainland.
Meanwhile, Sabu, once a modest paper hanger, feels the sting of his companion’s disappearance and chooses to abandon his own precarious livelihood to search for a way to restore Eiji’s name. His wandering brings him through rain‑slick alleys and bustling markets, where whispers of the past mingle with the clatter of daily commerce. Along the way, he encounters Nobuko, a geisha whose ambitions are tangled with the expectations of those who oversee her fate, and Osue, a gentle presence whose own aspirations intersect with the lives of the two men. Their intertwined stories hint at unspoken promises and the lingering ache of unfulfilled dreams.
The film paints a picture of Edo‑period Japan that balances the elegance of its cultural rituals with the grinding reality of social hierarchy. Lantern‑lit streets, the sigh of rice‑paper roofs, and the perpetual hum of distant labor chants compose a backdrop that feels both timeless and immediate. Within this world, loyalty is tested, friendships are strained, and the yearning to clear a wrongful stain drives the characters forward, all while the ever‑present tide of tradition exerts its quiet pressure.
Against this rich tapestry, the narrative invites viewers to contemplate the lengths one will go for a comrade, the subtle power of collective voice, and the quiet resilience that blooms even in the bleakest of places. The story hints at redemption and perseverance without revealing the precise paths that will be taken, leaving the audience eager to follow the journey toward justice and understanding.
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