The Man Who Stole the Sun 1979

Bus hijack during a field trip ends in heroism

During a school field trip, Makoto is involved in a botched hijacking of a school bus. He and Yamashita manage to overpower the hijacker, and the incident earns them public praise as heroes. The episode thrusts Makoto into the limelight and seeds his later extraordinary actions.

Theft of plutonium from a nuclear plant

After the bus incident, Makoto undertakes a dangerous plan to obtain plutonium isotopes. He succeeds in stealing material from the Tōkai Nuclear Power Plant, arming himself for the creation of a bomb. This act marks his transition from a teacher to a would-be mastermind.

Makoto resolves to build his own atomic bomb

With the stolen plutonium, Makoto decides to construct two bombs: one genuine device and another decoy that is detectable but useless. He begins assembling them in a makeshift lab, signaling a radical shift toward extortion and terror.

Two bombs completed

Two bombs are completed: one real and one inert decoy. The devices become central tools for Makoto's blackmail campaign against the government and police. He now has the means to threaten authorities publicly.

Plants the decoy bomb and taunts the police

Makoto plants the fake bomb in a public lavatory and uses a voice scrambler to phone the police, demanding that Yamashita take the case. His anonymity allows him to orchestrate a persistent extortion campaign without being traced.

Extorts the government with full baseball broadcasts

Using the decoy bomb as leverage, Makoto forces the government to broadcast baseball games in full, breaking from the usual 9pm cutoff. The stunt elevates his profile and demonstrates the reach of his coercion.

Rolling Stones concert extortion plan approved

Following Zero's suggestion, Makoto uses the real bomb to press for allowing the Rolling Stones to perform in Japan. The government concedes, marking a peak in his extortion campaign as the band is scheduled to play in Tokyo.

Makoto heads toward the concert with the bomb

Makoto makes his way toward the concert venue with the real bomb in hand, threatening to escalate the situation further. Yamashita follows, suspicious of Makoto's motives but unable to identify him as the mastermind.

Rooftop confrontation with Yamashita

On a rooftop, Makoto draws a gun and reveals his true identity as the extortionist. He and Yamashita engage in a brutal struggle, and they spill over the edge with the bomb still in Makoto's grip. Makoto is saved by a power line, while Yamashita falls to his death.

The countdown ends in explosion

Makoto, still clutching the bomb, walks away as a ticking sound grows louder. The explosion erupts, ending the rooftop confrontation and leaving his fate and motives open to interpretation.

Aftermath and escape

The blast unleashes chaos, and authorities scramble to understand the sequence of events. Makoto disappears into anonymity, leaving the public to wrestle with the dual image of him as a hero and as a dangerous extremist.