A Killer's Key (1967) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

An assassin presumed dead returns to pursue the people connected to a killing and the suppression of evidence.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Contract Takes Shape

Nitta is introduced as a dance teacher who keeps his distance from a young woman. He accepts a paid assignment to kill Asakura and is given three days to prepare.

Key Events

• Dance Teacher Keeps His Distance — A young woman approaches Nitta, who works as her dance teacher and keeps his distance. Characters: Nitta Location: Unspecified
• Asakura Is Named as Sponsor — The woman tells Nitta that Asakura is her sponsor. Characters: Nitta, Asakura Location: Unspecified
• The Assassination Contract — Nitta accepts a contract to assassinate Asakura for 15 million yen. Characters: Nitta, Asakura Location: Unspecified
• Three Days to Prepare — Nitta receives only three days to prepare for the assigned killing. Characters: Nitta Location: Unspecified
• Asakura Fears His Associates — Asakura fears his associates will silence him before he exposes their wrongdoing. Characters: Asakura Location: Unspecified

A Killing and a Disappearance

Asakura fears his associates will prevent him from exposing their wrongdoing. After Asakura is killed, Nitta's car falls into a canyon, but no body is found.

Key Events

• Asakura Fears His Associates — Asakura fears his associates will silence him before he exposes their wrongdoing. Characters: Asakura Location: Unspecified
• Asakura Is Killed — Nitta carries out the contract and Asakura is killed. Characters: Nitta, Asakura Location: Unspecified
• Nitta's Car Falls into a Canyon — Nitta's car goes over a canyon, and no body is found. Characters: Nitta Location: Canyon
• Nitta Is Presumed Dead — Nitta's enemies assume he died in the crash despite the absence of a body. Characters: Nitta Location: Canyon

Records and a False Death

Asakura's records become important to the investigation, while those involved grow wary that Nitta may have survived. Endo says he bought and burned the records to erase evidence.

Key Events

• The Records Become Central — Asakura's records become central to efforts to investigate the wrongdoing. Characters: Asakura Location: Unspecified
• Endo Says He Burned Records — Endo says he bought and burned the records to erase evidence linking powerful interests to Asakura. Characters: Yasujiro Endo, Asakura Location: Unspecified
• Nitta Reappears — Nitta reappears and begins pursuing the people behind the killing. Characters: Nitta Location: Unspecified

Endo's Admission

Nitta reappears and pursues the people behind the killing. Endo admits the records motivated Asakura's elimination, but Nitta rejects his money and demands the identity of the person who ordered the assassination.

Key Events

• Nitta's Other Name Is Revealed — The woman searching for Nitta says he may also have been known as Fujigawa Juichiro. Characters: Nitta Location: Unspecified
• Endo Admits the Motive — Endo admits the records were why Asakura had to be eliminated and tries to buy his way out. Characters: Nitta, Yasujiro Endo, Asakura Location: Unspecified
• Nitta Demands the Order — Nitta refuses Endo's money and demands to know who ordered the assassination. Characters: Nitta, Yasujiro Endo Location: Unspecified

The Unresolved Airport Lead

A phone call directs Nitta to airport waiting room 3A, following a lead connected to Endo's circle. The excerpt ends with Nitta heading toward the location, leaving the outcome unresolved.

Key Events

• The Airport Lead — A phone call points Nitta toward waiting room 3A as he follows a lead connected to Endo's circle. Characters: Nitta, Yasujiro Endo Location: Airport waiting room 3A

Story Breakdown

• Dance Teacher's Double Life — Nitta's work as a dance instructor provides the opening context for the assassination plot.
  • A Distant Instructor — A young woman approaches Nitta, who keeps his distance.
  • Sponsor Revealed — The woman identifies Asakura as her sponsor.
• The Paid Contract — Nitta accepts an assignment against Asakura under a short deadline.
  • Fifteen Million Yen — Nitta agrees to assassinate Asakura for the stated payment.
  • Three Day Deadline — Nitta is given only three days to prepare.
• Asakura's Threatened Exposure — Asakura fears his associates will silence him before he can expose wrongdoing.
  • Fear of Associates — Asakura anticipates that those around him may prevent him from speaking.
  • Records at Stake — His records later become central to the investigation.
• The Canyon Disappearance — After Asakura's death, Nitta's car goes over a canyon and he is presumed dead.
  • Asakura Is Killed — Nitta carries out the contract against Asakura.
  • No Body Found — Nitta's enemies assume he died, although no body is recovered.
• Records and Concealment — The effort to control Asakura's records exposes the stakes behind the killing.
  • Publication Dispute — A journalist wants to publish the records, while a lawyer refuses to disclose privileged information.
  • Endo Burns Records — Endo says he bought and burned the records to erase evidence linking powerful interests to Asakura.
• Nitta Returns to Pursue — Nitta reappears and follows clues toward those involved in the killing.
  • Search for Nitta — The woman searches for her missing teacher and says he may also have been known as Fujigawa Juichiro.
  • Renewed Pursuit — Nitta begins pursuing the people behind the killing.
• Endo's Admission — Endo acknowledges the role of Asakura's records and tries to escape Nitta's questions.
  • Motive Confessed — Endo admits the records were the reason Asakura had to be eliminated.
  • Money Refused — Nitta refuses Endo's money and demands to know who ordered the assassination.
• The Airport Lead — A final phone call provides Nitta with a destination but not a resolved outcome.
  • Europe-Bound Contact — Nitta learns that a man connected to Endo is due to fly to Europe.
  • Waiting Room 3A — A phone call points Nitta toward airport waiting room 3A as the excerpt ends.

Directed by

Kazuo Mori

Key Cast

• Raizō Ichikawa — Nitta
• Kō Nishimura — Yasujiro Endo
• Tomomi Satō — Hideko
• Isao Yamagata — Hojo
• Ichirō Nakatani — Ishino