Cruel Gun Story (1964) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Togawa agreed to the heist because he needed money to pay for his sister Rie's surgery. Rie was paralyzed from an accident that occurred during a late-night grocery run that Togawa had encouraged, leaving him consumed with guilt. The promise of a share of the 120 million yen gave him the financial means to potentially cure her condition.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Togawa visits Rie at the hospital and expresses his guilt, which establishes his emotional motivation for pursuing criminal activity.

• togawa motivation
• rie surgery
• 120 million yen
• guilt

Okada and Teramoto betrayed Shirai because they wanted to steal the money for themselves. While Togawa was away meeting with Ito at the hotel, they attacked the wounded Shirai and attempted to take the entire 120 million yen, abandoning their original agreement to split it among the crew.

Foreshadowing: The crew was already fragile due to trust issues, and the strain of the heist going wrong created tension among the criminals.

• okada
• teramoto
• shirai betrayal
• money greed

Togawa killed Okada and Teramoto because they had severely beaten and nearly killed his friend Shirai while attempting to steal the money. When Togawa returned to the factory and found Shirai unconscious and being beaten, he shot both men to protect his partner and uphold the trust between himself and Shirai.

Foreshadowing: Togawa's loyalty to his old partner Shirai was established when he insisted Shirai join the crew.

• togawa kills okada
• teramoto death
• shirai

Ito killed Haruhiko, Matsumoto's son, because he wanted to prevent Yanagida's rival yakuza group from getting the money. Although Matsumoto agreed to pay the 120 million yen ransom, Ito argued the money belonged to the entire organization. Ito orchestrated an ambush against Yanagida's crew, but in the process, Haruhiko was killed, effectively ruining the exchange and eliminating the rival faction.

Foreshadowing: Ito's loyalty was always to the Matsumoto Family organization, not to Togawa or Yanagida, which was established early in the film.

• ito
• haruhiko death
• yanagida
• ransom exchange betrayal

Takizawa shot Togawa because, badly wounded and delirious from his own injury, he mistook Togawa for Ito who had just killed Keiko. When Togawa arrived at Takizawa's home after killing Ito, Takizawa, in his confused state and seeing an intruder, fired thinking it was Ito returning.

Foreshadowing: Takizawa had been wounded by Ito earlier when Ito came looking for Togawa, leaving Takizawa in a deteriorating physical state.

• takizawa shoots togawa
• final confrontation
• mistake

Ito killed Keiko accidentally while waiting for Togawa to arrive. When Keiko came to Takizawa's house, Ito was there waiting and attempted to hide her body while distracted by Togawa's imminent arrival. The exact circumstances suggest it was a panicked reaction rather than intentional, as Ito was trying to eliminate witnesses and cover his tracks.

Foreshadowing: Keiko had already betrayed the crew by spying for Ito, placing her in a dangerous position with multiple parties.

• keiko death
• ito kills keiko
• accidental death

The 120 million yen was ultimately destroyed in the fire at Takizawa's house during the final confrontation. After Togawa killed Ito and was himself shot by Takizawa, the burning house consumed the money along with the bodies of the deceased characters. None of the characters survived to enjoy the wealth.

Foreshadowing: The repeated betrayals and violent confrontations ensured that no character could safely claim the money.

• money burned
• 120 million yen
• fire ending

The heist went wrong because the armored truck drivers refused to exit the vehicle. The original plan required the drivers to abandon the truck so it could be loaded into the winch truck cleanly. Instead, the crew was forced to load the truck with the drivers still inside, which caused the delay that left the outriders' bodies and motorcycles at the scene for police to discover.

Foreshadowing: The plan assumed cooperation from the truck drivers, which did not materialize.

• heist goes wrong
• armored truck
• drivers refuse exit

Yanagida, head of a rival yakuza group opposed to Matsumoto, offered to help Togawa recover the money in exchange for a share. His true motivation was to use Togawa's situation to weaken Matsumoto's organization. Yanagida's crew carried out the kidnapping of Haruhiko, but the operation was ultimately betrayed by Ito.

Foreshadowing: Yanagida's offer came after Togawa was hiding from both police and Matsumoto's yakuza, making him desperate enough to accept help from an enemy.

• yanagida
• rival yakuza
• kidnapping haruhiko

The rosary that Togawa's sister Rie gave him before the heist symbolized her hope that he would stay on the right path. At the end, despite all the violence and betrayal, Togawa is found clutching the rosary as he dies in the burning house, representing the tragic failure of his attempt to redeem himself through crime for his sister's sake.

Foreshadowing: Rie gave Togawa the rosary specifically asking him not to pursue further crime and to stay on the right path.

• rosary
• rie
• symbolism
• redemption failed

Togawa shot and killed Matsumoto after learning that Ito had betrayed him and killed Haruhiko during the failed ransom exchange. When Matsumoto attempted to defend himself with a hidden gun during the confrontation, Togawa shot him and escaped with the remaining money, eliminating the yakuza boss who had originally orchestrated the criminal operation.

Foreshadowing: Matsumoto's fate was sealed when his own organization turned against Togawa, leaving him with no choice but to attack the source of his problems.

• matsumoto death
• togawa kills boss

Keiko, Teramoto's girlfriend, was coerced or persuaded by Ito to spy on the crew. She arrived at the factory to reveal her involvement with Ito, serving as his informant throughout the operation. Her role as a double agent was intended to keep Ito informed of the crew's movements and the status of the money.

Foreshadowing: Keiko's unexpected arrival at the factory following the heist established her as Ito's insider.

• keiko spy
• ito informant
• teramoto girlfriend