Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Final Episode

Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Final Episode
Japanese release poster
Directed by	Kinji Fukasaku
Produced by	Goro Kusakabe
Written by	Koji Takada Kōichi Iiboshi (original story)
Starring	Bunta Sugawara Akira Kobayashi Kinya Kitaoji Joe Shishido
Narrated by	Tetsu Sakai
Music by	Toshiaki Tsushima
Cinematography	Sadaji Yoshida
Edited by	Shintaro Miyamoto
Distributed by	Toei Company
Release date	June 29, 1974
Running time	98 minutes
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese

Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Final Episode (Japanese: 仁義なき戦い　完結篇, Hepburn: Jingi Naki Tatakai: Kanketsu-hen^?) is a 1974 Japanese yakuza film directed by Kinji Fukasaku. It is the final film in a five-part series that Fukasaku made in a span of just two years.

Following the previous film, Shozo Hirono is serving seven years in prison and Akira Takeda was released from prison on a technicality. Takeda then united all the families in the Hiroshima region, shed their yakuza image, and formed the Tensei Coalition political party. In August 1965, Takeda is leader as Chairman, Katsutoshi Otomo is Vice Chairman, Tamotsu Matsumura is Managing Director, Hideo Hayakawa is Secretary General, and Shoichi Eda a Director. Hirono's men get into an altercation with some low-level Tensei members. Elder yakuza Otomo and Hayakawa demand the instigators should have to commit yubitsume, however, after a vote the Coalition agrees to let Matsumura handle discipline on account of wanting to avoid the rituals tied to yakuza for their public image. In 1966, Hirono's friend Terukichi Ichioka has a Tensei financial adviser killed and attends the funeral, angering Otomo who openly vows to take him on. However, Takeda threatens that anyone who responds to the attack will be expelled from Tensei.

Sensing tension brewing, the police raid Tensei's various offices and find illegal firearms, leading to Takeda's arrest. However, earlier that day Takeda called an emergency meeting to pick his acting successor should he be arrested. Takeda nominated Matsumura while Hayakawa nominated Otomo, but Takeda had scripted the voting to have his nominee chosen in order to have a fresh face not well-associated with yakuza. Immediately upon Takeda's arrest, Otomo and Hayakawa sir up discontent amongst the member of the coalition. Otomo then sends men to kill Matsumura. However, when Otomo is released on bail in 1968, Matsumura allows him to return to Tensei. Hayakawa lures Otomo into a meeting with Ichioka, with the later two formally swearing brotherhood the next day in order to take down Matsumura.