Rainbow Kids

Rainbow Kids

Year: 1991

Runtime: 120 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Kihachi Okamoto

ComedyDrama

A wealthy matriarch is kidnapped by a gang of three. She is insulted by the amount of money they propose to demand as ransom, and a strange interchange of roles takes place.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Rainbow Kids yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Rainbow Kids (1991)

Trace every key event in Rainbow Kids (1991) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Stakeout at Toji's mansion

Three recently released criminals stake out Toji's mansion for two months, mapping her daily routine and noting when she leaves with her chambermaid Kimi on mountain hikes. They observe her patterns to choose the moment for the abduction.

Two months before kidnapping Wakayama Prefecture, Toji's mansion
2

Abduction during a mountain hike

During one of Toji's routine mountain hikes with Kimi, the kidnappers strike and seize her. Toji remains calm and begins negotiating, aiming to spare Kimi from harm.

During the hike Wakayama mountain trail
3

Toji negotiates in the car

In the car en route to their planned hideout, Toji negotiates with the abductors and convinces them to release Kimi. She hints that she knows how to avoid the police and steers the group toward an alternate location.

Immediately after the kidnapping In the kidnapping vehicle
4

Ransom escalated to ten billion yen

Toji loudly raises the ransom to ten billion yen, insulting the captors for their initial offer. She outlines how the ransom will be arranged and that her family will contribute, including strategies to minimize tax impact.

After moving toward the former servant's house En route to the former servant's house
5

Ransom logistics and family funding

Toji dictates the delivery method for the ransom note and explains how her family will raise funds, including selling land to ensure the payment can be made after taxes. The plan is tightly choreographed to evade law enforcement attention.

Post-kidnapping planning stage Former servant's house
6

Igari questions safety on TV

Police inspector Daigoro Igari takes a special interest in the case due to Toji's past charitable acts toward him and publicly questions whether Toji is truly safe. His skepticism adds public pressure to the affair.

Early investigative phase Television broadcast venue
7

Toji arranges a hidden TV broadcast

Toji arranges a TV broadcast from an undisclosed location to prove she is safe and to instruct her family on how to sell land to fund the ransom. The broadcast is designed to project control over the situation.

During the ransom timeline Undisclosed location used for the broadcast
8

The vast ransom fills two helicopters

The ten-billion-yen ransom is so large that a helicopter carrying it barely has room for the pilot, and a second helicopter follows. The logistics of moving such a sum become a central logistical hurdle.

Ransom transport phase Mountain pass area used for ransom transport
9

Ransom flight falters and disappears

After a dizzying flight across the wilderness, the ransom helicopter disappears. The pilot is later found drugged and sleeping in a cave, raising questions about the operation's integrity.

During ransom transport Mountain pass and remote cave
10

A kidnapper chooses honesty

One of the kidnappers falls in love with a local woman and decides to walk away from the plan, refusing his share of the ransom. His decision unsettles the others and shifts group dynamics.

During the aftermath of the abduction Local village area
11

Another kidnapper pockets ten million

Another kidnapper takes his cut, interpreting the promised amount as ten million yen. This creates tension as the value and expectations clash with the original plan.

After the first defection Hideout and surrounding area
12

The plan's originator becomes a carpenter

The kidnapper who conceived the idea begins working for Toji as a carpenter, with his first task repairing a shrine on the property. This marks a surprising turn toward normalcy for at least one participant.

Post-incident aftermath Shrine near the family property
13

Igari exposes the tax-evading aim

Igari reveals that he has figured out most of Toji's plan and its purpose: evading taxes and preventing the mountains from falling into government ownership. He also suggests the majority of the ten billion yen is hidden in the recently repaired shrine.

After the investigation progresses Toji's location
14

Igari signals he won't pursue it further

Despite suspecting the shrine houses the money, Igari indicates he will not pursue the matter further for now. The case lingers, with Toji seemingly having achieved her strategic goals.

Conclusion of the immediate investigation Police authority office

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:54

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Rainbow Kids Summary

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Rainbow Kids Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Rainbow Kids

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Rainbow Kids

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