Breakfast in Casablanca
（the first edition.）

　　HIRAKI　ISHIKURA

The models for Holly in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' and Rick in 'Casablanca' were Japanese.　



INDEX
Eijiro
Rick Miura
PARIS
RIck cafe american
Holly
Sessue Hayakawa
Gunshots
Letter
invaded Casablanca
Final chapter
--------------------------
Explanation by Sakiko
About Holly Golightly
About the Movie "Casablanca"
About Ejirō's Mother, Mitsuko Aoyama
The Acclaim and Screenplay of "Casablanca"
Ejirō's Escape
The City of Casablanca
As Time Goes By
Marianne
the behind-the-scenes story of the movie "Casablanca"
kill off Rick
-----
a Japanese-American who became a mafia boss in the United States.
------
an explanation of why Bogie (Humphrey Bogart) is popular in America and regarded as the number one actor.









Eijiro.
My name is Richard Nikolaus Eijiro Coudenhove-Kalergi.
My father was an Austrian count.
My mother was Mitsuko Aoyama, and my father met her in Japan while he was serving as an ambassador. They started living together just two weeks after meeting. My brother and I were born in Tokyo.
I advocated for a united Europe, known as the European Community.
Unfortunately, I criticized Hitler at an inopportune time.
Hitler quickly became the Führer of Germany.
On the eve of Germany's annexation of Austria, I abruptly ended a party hosted by the Jewish organization "Kite."
My wife Ida and I packed the bare minimum into a car lent to us by the Swiss ambassador and escaped from a city overflowing with Nazi demonstrators.
We had some close calls surrounded by the demonstrators, but the car had Swiss diplomatic plates, so we narrowly escaped danger and fled to Bratislava in Czechoslovakia.
The next day, we traveled at full speed only during the night to reach Budapest, the capital of Hungary.
We spent our days hiding in the woods.
After entering Italy from Yugoslavia, anti-Nazi Italian officers who had been informed of our situation greeted us and escorted us to Switzerland.
There was a newspaper article declaring that Nazi propaganda minister Goebbels had announced my arrest and intended to put me on a public trial.
While based in Switzerland, I traveled all over Europe, advancing the anti-Hitler movement, and frequently stayed in Paris.

Rick Miura:
Sam and I were born in California to Japanese-American families.
Sam's last name was Samukawa, and his father was a Black pianist.
We ran away from home with Eto Ken, the son of a pastor who had emigrated from Oita Prefecture.
The American West was an anti-Japanese region, and we were bullied.
We crossed the continent to visit an uncle in New York.
Uncle Kuniyoshi was an art professor at New York University and managed an apartment called Kuniyoshi House.
The person renting a room there was Holly.
Holly, whose real name was Horii, was Japanese-American and modeled for Kuniyoshi's paintings and photos.
Holly was always traveling and was rarely in her room."

The three of us rented a room in our uncle's apartment. Eventually, we got a job at a gambling den in New York's Little Italy and moved to Little Italy.

Ken Eto, the son of a pastor, was known as "Joe the Card." His card handling was brilliant, and his sleight of hand was like that of a ninja. Joe received an offer to work as a dealer at a gambling party for the New England mafia boss, Raymond Patriarca. Joe's card handling was so impressive that it captivated the mafia boss. He possessed the dexterity that Japanese people are known for, allowing him to deceive swiftly. Joe eventually rose to become the mafia boss.

We Japanese-Americans were even disliked by the Italians in New York. Eventually, an incident occurred. The Corleone family of the Mafia sent a hitman to kill Joe. To protect Joe, Sam and I ended up killing the boss of the Corleone family. As a result, Sam and I were hunted by the Mafia.

Uncle Kuniyoshi was planning a photography trip to Africa with Holly, so Sam and I joined him. We fled the country. Kuniyoshi consulted with Sessue Hayakawa, who had been chased out of America and was living in Paris. Kuniyoshi was his art mentor.

Hayakawa consulted with Baron Satsuma, who initially set up a bar for us in the south of France. However, when the Nazi persecution began, and since aiding Jewish refugees would ensure protection from the Jewish community, we moved our base to Casablanca, Morocco.

Thus, besides being a bar owner, I was also helping Jewish refugees flee to America. Holly was part of our group as well."



goto PARIS
Rick was sent to Paris by the Jewish organization Kaito to arrange for Eijiro's asylum. His mission was of utmost importance, and there was no time to lose.

Upon arriving in Paris, Rick decided to meet with Sessue Hayakawa first. He was a key information source for Kaito and likely knew something about Eijiro's whereabouts. When Rick entered the designated café, he saw Hayakawa waving at him from a table in the back.

"It seems Eijiro has been captured by the Nazis. It's not certain yet," Hayakawa said in a low voice.

Rick's heart almost stopped for a moment. However, he managed to suppress his emotions and nodded calmly. Realizing the urgency of gathering information, Rick headed to another café where Kaito members often gathered.

Sitting at an empty table outside the café, Rick noticed a woman sitting next to him. Her face was etched with deep sorrow. He saw that she was clutching a newspaper, staring at its contents in a daze. A sudden gust of wind blew the newspaper onto Rick's table.

Rick picked up the newspaper and gently said, "Isn't this yours?"

The woman looked up in surprise. Since Rick had spoken in English, she must have thought he was an American. She nodded slightly and took the newspaper. From her demeanor, Rick guessed that she was Eijiro's wife, Ida.

Without hesitation, Rick sat at Ida's table and said, "The view is much better from here," and in the most broken French he had ever heard, he ordered two cups of coffee.

Ida couldn't help but laugh at his attempt. "Which is funnier, I wonder? Your accent or your face?"

Rick smiled as well. "Probably both. But I wanted to lighten your heart a little today."

Ida's smile was a brief comfort, and Rick resolved to stay by her side. As they shared their pain, Rick continued to gather information for his mission. Gradually, they built a bond of trust and began devising a plan together to rescue Eijiro.




fetch Eijiro:
Rick donned his trench coat and sat down on a chair in the closed bar. The place was silent, with a faint lingering scent of alcohol in the air. Rick's eyes were fixed on the door. Sam had gone to fetch Eijiro. Though Rick was waiting, he was always ready to leave at a moment's notice.

"I fled New York with Sam," Rick muttered. "Now, I'm running a bar in Casablanca, Morocco. It's called 'Rick's Café Américain.' The place didn't have a name, but the people around here started calling it that. After me."

Rick reflected on his past. He was of Japanese descent, but he didn't look typically Japanese. The reason he was able to set up a bar in Casablanca was thanks to Baron Satsuma's pocket money. The Baron was a Japanese man living in Paris, who spent his grandfather's enormous fortune like water. He even had a villa in Morocco. Thanks to his support, Rick's bar had a grand sign displayed.

Rick leaned back in his chair, lost in thought. The hustle and bustle of New York, the thrill of the escape, and the new life in Casablanca—all these memories blended together, shaping who he was now. His murmurs dissolved into the quiet bar.

Holly

Holly came into Rick's Café. The doorbell rang faintly, and as her figure appeared in the dimly lit interior, Sam looked up with a surprised expression.

"Holly, are you safe?" Sam asked.

Holly smiled lightly and took out a letter from the bag slung over her shoulder. "How did Eijiro's escape go?" Sam continued to ask as Holly handed him the letter. "Eijiro was able to flee to New York University as a professor, thanks to Professor Kuniyoshi. This is a letter of report from Kuniyoshi."

Sam accepted the letter, carefully opened the seal, and began to read the contents. The words on the paper quickly caught his attention. "Eijiro, threatened by the Nazis, escaped from Casablanca and fled to the safety of Portugal. He tried to obtain a U.S. visa in Lisbon, but was rejected. This was Roosevelt's doing. President Roosevelt does not favor the European unification movement."

Sam took a breath and furrowed his brow. "That’s troublesome. Not being able to get U.S. support."

"But British Prime Minister Churchill values Eijiro's movement as central to post-war European peace plans and is supporting him. That’s why I was sent to Casablanca, Morocco, to obtain a black-market passport and visa. Just after that, New York University permitted Eijiro’s appointment," Holly continued.

As he folded the letter, Sam said, "That's good news. French Casablanca is under German control. Getting him out must have been dangerous, with the risk of clashes with Nazi spies."

Holly chuckled slightly. "Yes, Eijiro is lucky. But he’s such a naive boy."

"Did something happen?" Sam asked, intrigued.

"According to reports, he called an American radio station to announce his successful escape."

Sam widened his eyes in surprise. "That’s bold."

"Eijiro had just arrived in New York and happened to be listening to the radio. A New York Times reporter commented on the broadcast, saying, 'It's no wonder if Richard (Eijiro) is already dead!' Eijiro called the New York Times to protest. 'Hello! I am Richard Nikolaus Eijiro Coudenhove-Kalergi,' he said."

Sam burst into laughter. "The reporter must have been shocked."

"Eijiro said, 'I successfully escaped!' It became a newspaper article. He's such a naive boy."

"Indeed," Sam chuckled. "We have to pray he doesn’t get assassinated. Where's Rick?"

"Recently, the boss has been having several discussions with the chief. A German officer came, and the café had to close temporarily. The boss is currently in a meeting with the chief. We need to report Eijiro's successful escape. Let’s go to the police station together," Holly replied.

Sam nodded and stood up. "Alright, let's go." The two left Rick's Café, heading toward the police station, anticipating new developments while Rick and the chief continued their discussion.

Sessue Hayakawa.
Rick's Café Américain was visited by Sessue Hayakawa.

Sessue Hayakawa: "Are the mafia's pursuers no longer after me?"

Sam: "They came once. The boss took care of them."

Sessue Hayakawa: "I see. Rick is a reliable guy. Sam! Play something for me!"

Sam: "What should I play?"

Sessue Hayakawa: "Do you know the song from the Broadway musical 'Everybody Welcome'?"

Sam: "A song from 10 years ago, right? I think it goes something like this."

Sam started playing "As Time Goes By," which was featured in the movie 'Casablanca.'

Sessue Hayakawa: "That's it. It was 'As Time Goes By.' You got it right."

Sam: "The song wasn't a big hit, but my father used to play it often. Did you have something to do with this song?"

Sessue Hayakawa: "Yes, somehow I know the composer, Herman."

Sam: "Why did you leave the United States?"

Sessue Hayakawa: "During the chaos of a movie set collapse in an earthquake scene, there was a plan to kill me. There seem to be other assassination plans as well. I couldn't stay in America. Now there are about 150 Japanese people in Paris. They are all receiving aid from Baron Satsuma (Jirohachi Satsuma). He is a wealthy man with no financial troubles, a worldwide tycoon. He has already spent 60 billion yen."

Sam: "This club is also thanks to the Baron."

Sessue Hayakawa: "Yes. For him, it's a small favor."

Sam: "Why is the Baron so rich?"

Sessue Hayakawa: "It's his grandfather's inheritance. There is a place called Nihonbashi in Tokyo. His grandfather, Jihei Satsuma, built a massive fortune in one generation and was known as the Cotton King."

A man with a deep-brimmed hat and a guitar appeared on the stage and started playing.

Sessue Hayakawa: "It's Django."

Sam: "You recognized him?"

Sessue Hayakawa: "He disappeared from Paris, so I was worried."

Sam: "Django is Romani, and he wants to seek asylum here."

Sessue Hayakawa: "Being born a Gypsy, he's afraid of the Nazis' genocide policy."

Sam: "The Roma are treated worse than Jews. The Nazis shoot them on sight, treating them like pests."

Sessue Hayakawa: "Has he decided on a place to seek asylum?"

Sam: "Switzerland. Switzerland accepts the Roma. Django is not a target for extermination. A German officer asked him to perform. But jazz is banned."

Gunshots
Gunshots rang out. Then the sound of a car speeding away gradually faded into the distance.

Rick was the first to burst into the store. He caught his breath and looked around. A few minutes later, Holly caught up. Her face was a mix of relief and tension.

"Holly! You got away safely," Rick said.

Holly smiled in response. "So did you, Rick."

Rick's face turned bitter. "Who would've thought they were double agents?"

Shaking her head, Holly continued, "Max couldn't trust his wife was a double agent, so he disappeared to investigate in London."

Rick let out a deep sigh. "We were just driving and keeping watch, but Max and his wife went all out with their machine guns."

Holly nodded. "According to Section Five in the UK, the Nazi ambassador they killed was an anti-Hitler faction member, and the assassination was ordered by Hitler himself."

Rick clenched his fists. "We were set up perfectly."

Holly's expression grew stern. "Max received orders to kill his wife, who was suspected of being a double agent."

Rick narrowed his eyes and said with determination, "I'm done with this."

At that moment, Sam appeared. "Boss! Are you okay?"

Rick smiled. "Yeah, it was quite the machine gun storm, but I hid out at the precinct chief's place for half a day to avoid the Nazis."

"Sam! Play us something!"

Sam replied, "How about we have Holly sing tonight? I've played too much already; give me a break."

Rick nodded and turned to Holly. "Holly, would you mind?"

Holly smiled and said firmly, "Alright. I feel like singing, too."

The place fell silent as Holly began to sing "Moon River." Her voice gently enveloped the room, easing all the fatigue and tension.

Letter
Airi, Rick's sister, was in the café within the photo studio. She sat in a chair, re-reading a letter from her Uncle Kuniyoshi.

"Dear Airi,

How are you? This is your Uncle Kuniyoshi. I'm managing to stay alive. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, I have been involved in the civil rights movement with the Japanese Society of New York. We issued a statement under the name of the Japanese Artists' Committee of New York, clearly expressing support for America in the Japan-US war. Hozokura Hota, Thomas Nagai, Mori Suzuki, and Roy Monowaki, among other Japanese and Japanese-American artists in the US, joined the statement. We sent it to President Roosevelt, the Governor of New York, and acquaintances. So far, Japanese people are not being sent to internment camps in New York. But we don't know when we might be taken to internment camps and killed.

As for your brother, he's currently in Casablanca with Sam. He was working under Boss Tokyo Joe, but Rick got involved in a conflict with a rival mafia and ended up killing their boss. To help them escape, they were sent on a modeling trip to Africa with Holly. Since they were born in California, they would be sent to internment camps in the US, but luckily, they have avoided that. They can't return to the US because they are being pursued by the mafia. They are currently working to help an Austrian nobleman, Mr. Eijiro, seek asylum in the US. Eijiro publicly criticized Hitler and is being pursued by the Nazis.

I'm working on behalf of the Jewish Association to reduce the charges against Rick and Sam for fleeing the country. By the way, I’ve enclosed the play 'Everyone Comes to Rick's'. It's about your brother's bar. An American visits Casablanca during summer vacation and witnesses what's happening at Rick's bar. Jewish refugees are struggling to obtain forged passports. There are scams to deceive refugees seeking passports, and some refugees are even selling their bodies to get one."

Rick was also reading a letter from Airi. Sam asked, "Boss, what's making you smile?"

"It seems our bar has been made into a movie. They say I'm played by Bogie. Sam, you're in it too."

"What about Holly?"

"In the original, there’s an American woman named Dolly, who’s probably based on Holly. Initially, the movie was supposed to feature Holly, but it seems she’s not in it."

One day in November 1942, Holly entered Rick's bar, cutting through the heavy atmosphere.

"Long time no see, Rick," Holly's voice echoed.

"Is Casablanca finally in danger?" Rick got straight to the point.

"Yes, the invasion is about to start." Tension was etched on Holly's face.

"What happened to Max?" Rick asked about an old friend.

"His wife committed suicide. They had a daughter." Holly's voice lowered.

"To be involved... it's heartbreaking." Rick sighed deeply.

Just then, Sam appeared. "Boss, it's time. I'm enlisting in the army. Why isn't Kuniyoshi going to the internment camp?"

Holly answered, "Japanese people living in New York are safe."

Sam seemed unsatisfied. "But Boss, Joe is also living in New York. He was born in Stockton, California, just like you."

"Maybe because he's the first Japanese mafia gangster." Holly said sarcastically. "Anyway, Japanese people in the West are unfortunate."

Sam asked curiously, "Holly, where are you from?"

"The South."

"Japanese people in the South are rare. Even Eijiro, who is half-Japanese, is a university professor. It's so unfair. How many Japanese people are there?"

"About 120,000. Many have died of illness in the camps." Holly's voice was filled with anger.

Holly spoke to Rick, who had been listening silently. "Rick, the Jewish Association has a request for you."

"It's not a request. It's an order." Rick's voice was icy.

invaded Casablanca
On November 26, 1942, Allied forces invaded and occupied Casablanca. Rick watched from the shadows as a plot to assassinate high-ranking Nazi officials unfolded, helping a couple who killed a Nazi official escape to London. Rick went to London, while Sam returned to the US and enlisted in the army.

The morning after the occupation, Casablanca lay in ruins from the Allied bombing. Holly was drinking soup at a refugee facility by the port when a man, Signor, spoke to her.

"So this is breakfast in Casablanca. If you have nowhere to go, why not come with me?" Signor was a wealthy man from South America.

Holly smiled and replied, "That doesn't sound too bad."

Holly traveled to South America with Signor, embarking on a new adventure. The dirty streets of Brazil, the dazzling scenery of Buenos Aires, everything was fresh and exciting for her.

She sent a postcard to Capote, saying, "Brazil is filthy, but Buenos Aires is fantastic. Not quite Tiffany's, but close enough. I've met a wealthy man, Signor. Is it love? Maybe. Anyway, I'm looking for a place to stay. Signor has a wife and seven kids, so I'll let you know when I find somewhere."

However, Holly's real purpose was to research the Nazi strongholds in South America. In this new land, armed with her resilient spirit and wit, Holly stepped into her next adventure.

Final chapter

World War II had ended. Sessue Hayakawa was called by Humphrey Bogart to come to the United States from Paris. He was to appear in the film "Tokyo Joe." The movie was set entirely in Japan.

Joe (played by Humphrey Bogart) had been running Tokyo Joe's in Ginza 2-Chome, Tokyo. When the war between Japan and the United States broke out, Joe returned to the U.S., but with the war's end, he came back to Japan. In the movie, Bogart showcases his skills in judo and speaks Japanese.

One day, Sam returned to Japan and visited Rick's place, "Tokyo Joe's," in Ginza. The interior resembled Rick's Café from Casablanca.

"The name of the place is the boss’s, right? The inside hasn’t changed from the Casablanca bar," Sam remarked.

"Well, well, you're alive. Are you in Japan too?" Rick responded with a mix of surprise and joy.

"The U.S. betrayed us Japanese-Americans. I can’t trust it," Sam said with a stern face.

"I feel the same. I can't trust the U.S. either," Rick agreed.

"Why is Bogie using the boss’s name in the movie?" Sam asked.

"I don't know. Maybe Sessue Hayakawa came up with it. Where were you sent during the war?" Rick inquired.

"Boss! I was deployed to Norway. I was involved in liberating a German comfort women’s camp in the Norwegian forest," Sam replied.

"Another camp, huh? I went to the UK. Operation Anthropoid. It was the assassination of the mastermind behind the Nazis' extermination policies against Jews and minorities," Rick recounted.

"The assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, right? That was quite a mission," Sam said, impressed.

"Joe the boss is said to have liberated a Jewish camp too," Sam continued.

"Where?" Rick asked.

"Dachau concentration camp in Bavaria, Germany," Sam answered.

"All the Japanese are helping Jews," Rick said with a touch of admiration.

"Maybe we’re related to the Jews after all," Sam joked.

"I heard that German-Americans put Japanese people in camps in the U.S.," Rick noted with a harsh expression.

"They were the enemy, yet they lived comfortably in the U.S.," Sam said angrily.

"That's right! Sam! Holly has returned to Japan too. Look," Rick pointed. Holly appeared and began to sing. Her voice filled the room, and for a moment, a serene silence fell between the two men. Sharing the scars of war, they started to step toward a new future.

Explanation by Sakiko

**About Holly Golightly**

Holly Golightly is a character made famous by Audrey Hepburn in the movie.

Keiko: "It's from 'Breakfast at Tiffany's,' right?"

Sakiko: "Yes, Keiko! Is Tiffany's a restaurant?"

Keiko: "I looked it up. Tiffany's is a world-famous jewelry and silverware store in New York. It was founded during the Edo period in Japan."

Sakiko: "In the movie, Audrey Hepburn eats a croissant while looking at the store's window display. However, this scene isn't in the original novel. The title 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' suggests something unreal, like having breakfast at Tiffany's. It can also be interpreted as a symbol of high status."

Sakiko: "Let's read a bit from the original novel. Holly says, 'I want to still be me when I wake up one fine morning and have breakfast at Tiffany's.'"

Keiko: "Is Holly a real person?"

Sakiko: "As Haruki Murakami mentioned, the author Truman Capote could only write about things he experienced, so there must be a model for Holly. Experts believe she is a composite character based on several real women Capote knew as friends."

Keiko: "In Capote's 'Breakfast at Tiffany's,' Holly seems to have traveled around Africa and even went to Casablanca in North Africa."

Sakiko: "That's right. After Rick and the others left Kuniyoshi House, Capote rented the room they had stayed in."

Keiko: "I think the protagonist of the original story for the movie 'Casablanca,' titled 'Everybody Comes to Rick's,' might be Holly. The original character is a disreputable American woman named Lois Meredith."

Sakiko: "In the movie 'Casablanca,' Lois Meredith's role was changed to Ingrid Bergman’s character. Most of the original cast was replaced, and the author later sued over this."


Keiko: "What kind of woman is Holly?"
"Yasuo Kuniyoshi, a painter, has painted her portrait. When you look at the portrait, she seems like a Japanese woman. By the way, in the original work, Kuniyoshi is named Yunioshi.

Yasuo Kuniyoshi was an artist from Okayama Prefecture who became a professor at New York University. He lived in New York's East Village, in the top floor of a building. He rented out the room below to Holly, and the author Capote also lived in that apartment.

The character Yunioshi in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' is modeled after Kuniyoshi. I think that Holly, who had a sign saying 'Traveling' on her mailbox, was a mysterious woman even Capote didn't know well."

Keiko: "It seems like the portrait Kuniyoshi painted was of Holly."

"But, her face was said to be the complete opposite of Audrey Hepburn's. According to Capote's autobiography, 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' was considered obscene and was banned in the American South. Holly was interpreted as a prostitute. In reality, she made a living through compensated dating.

Capote was furious when he heard that Audrey Hepburn was going to play Holly because she was very different from his image of the character. Capote thought Marilyn Monroe would play Holly. Hollywood actually did offer the role to Monroe, but she declined because it was a prostitute's role. That's how the fairy-like actress Audrey Hepburn was chosen. It was an unimaginably bold choice.

People who knew the original story didn't think the movie would be a hit. The ending was different from the original, and the male lead was a different character. Despite this, the movie was a huge success. This is what you could call Hollywood magic. It was because the fairy-like Audrey Hepburn played the role.

Later, Capote saw the actress Jodie Foster and said, 'She is the real Holly!'."

### About the Movie "Casablanca"

The American movie "Casablanca" has an interesting story suggesting that a Japanese person was a model for one of its characters. This film is often considered a national treasure of the United States and is an Academy Award-winning work. It is so iconic that the first emblem of Warner Bros. features the theme song from "Casablanca," "As Time Goes By."

In 1998, the American Film Institute (AFI) ranked "Casablanca" as the second-best American film of all time. In 1999, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) selected it as the number one in their list of "101 Greatest Screenplays."

The story of "Casablanca" revolves around Rick, the protagonist, who helps Ejirō escape to the United States. The plot thickens as it is revealed that Ejirō's wife was Rick's former lover.


### About Ejirō's Mother, Mitsuko Aoyama

Mitsuko Aoyama was born in Tokyo during the Meiji period. One day, outside her father's antique shop, Austrian diplomat Heinrich Coudenhove-Kalergi had an accident with his horse slipping. Mitsuko helped him, and they soon started living together. Mitsuko married Heinrich at the age of 18, which led to her being disowned by her family. They had two sons, Hans Kōtarō and Richard Ejirō.

Later, Mitsuko moved to Austria with her husband and became a prominent figure in social circles. Mitsuko is also said to be the model for Guerlain's perfume "Mitsouko." This perfume was named after the heroine of Claude Farrère's novel "La Bataille," a fictional character. However, Guerlain later associated Mitsuko with the real-life Mitsuko to boost sales in Japan.

### The Acclaim and Screenplay of "Casablanca"

"Casablanca" was ranked first by the Writers Guild of America. The top five films are:
1. Casablanca
2. The Godfather
3. Chinatown
4. Citizen Kane
5. All About Eve

The screenplay of "Casablanca" is highly praised, largely because it was written by the Epstein brothers, who are revered in the U.S. as "script gods." This is even mentioned in Charlie Kaufman's film "Adaptation," where a screenwriting lecture highlights the Epstein brothers as legendary writers.
### Ejirō's Escape

Ejirō's escape story is similar to the real-life escape depicted in "The Sound of Music," where a family fled the Nazis. Ejirō escaped from Paris to the United States via Portugal. At that time, France and Morocco were under German control, but Portugal was not yet occupied by Germany.

### The City of Casablanca

Casablanca is a city in Morocco, North Africa. The name means "white house" in Spanish. Morocco was once a French protectorate. Geographically close to Spain, the two countries have a deep historical relationship.




###　As Time Goes By
The theme song of the movie "Casablanca" is from Warner Bros. movies. When the logo of Warner Bros. appears at the beginning, "As Time Goes By" plays for a few seconds. It's a treasured song for Warner Bros. Although it's a famous song now, it wasn't a hit initially. Herman Hupfeld wrote and composed it for the 1931 Broadway musical "Everybody's Welcome." In the musical, Frances Williams sang the song. Warner Bros. planned to reshoot and change "As Time Goes By" after finishing filming "Casablanca." However, Ingrid Bergman had started filming "For Whom the Bell Tolls" right after finishing "Casablanca" and had cut her hair short, so they decided not to reshoot or change the song. It's always unpredictable what will become a hit.


###　Marianne
In the movie "Marianne," released in 2016, Holly and Rick are deceived by a Nazi double agent, Marianne. They manage to escape safely. The story takes place in 1942, during World War II. Brad, a secret agent from Quebec, is assigned to a mission in French-occupied Casablanca. He joins forces with Marianne, a French operative, and they pose as a married couple. Since Quebecers speak French, Brad can pass as a Frenchman. Their mission is to assassinate a Nazi official in Morocco. As they proceed with the mission, they develop romantic feelings for each other.

They successfully assassinate the Nazi official and escape to London. Brad and Marianne get married in London. Marianne safely gives birth during an air raid, naming their baby girl Anna. They build a happy home in the suburbs of London. However, Brad learns that Marianne is suspected of being a double agent for the Germans. The real Marianne died before the Casablanca mission, and a woman is impersonating her. The Nazi official they killed was actually an opponent of Hitler, and secret information from London is frequently leaking to Germany. Brad is forced to test Marianne by feeding her false information to see if it reaches the Germans.

Before the test, Brad flies to France and meets resistance members who worked with Marianne, learning that she was skilled at playing the piano and often performed for the Germans. Returning to England, Brad asks Marianne to play the piano. She admits to being a German spy, forced into it to protect her daughter's life, and professes her genuine love for Brad. Brad decides to flee with Marianne and Anna. They kill the German spies threatening Marianne and attempt to board a plane, but the British pursue them and surround them. Realizing it's over, Marianne entrusts Anna to Brad and commits suicide with a handgun. Brad reports that he eliminated Marianne. Afterward, Brad and Anna live quietly in Canada.

This type of story is common. There are well-known true stories about British spies with fake marriages, and Osamu Tezuka's "Big X" also features a similar plot.

Here is a concise summary of the behind-the-scenes story of the movie "Casablanca":

---

Rick's sister, Airi, is documenting the behind-the-scenes story of the movie "Casablanca." The play "Everybody Comes to Rick's" was given to Airi by her uncle Kuniyoshi. Airi consulted Diamond, who works at Warner Bros. and is her husband's sister. Diamond got her boss, producer Hal Wallis, to purchase the rights to the play for $20,000.

The movie's release date was set for November 26, 1942, the same day as the Allied invasion of Casablanca, but the script was not yet completed, so production proceeded at a rapid pace. Warner Bros. regarded this movie as a propaganda film and didn't mind if it turned out to be mediocre.

The screenwriters proceeded with the production even though the script was unfinished, and Airi proposed a storyline involving Rick and Eijiro. Eventually, Eijiro became the Czech revolutionary Lazlo, and his wife Ida was made Rick's lover. The role of Rick was given to Humphrey Bogart, known for playing villains, and the role of Ida was given to Ingrid Bergman, a Swedish actress not yet influenced by Hollywood.

Filming began on May 25, 1942, and was completed on August 3, but the script was not finished at the start of filming, so scenes were shot as they were written. Bergman was puzzled because it hadn't been decided which man her character would end up with, but she continued with the filming.

Additionally, to adjust for the height difference between Bergman (175 cm) and Bogart (170 cm), Bogart stood on a platform during filming. Despite these challenges, the movie was completed, resulting in many iconic scenes and famous lines.

---

Thus, the production of "Casablanca" overcame many difficulties and is now known as a classic.

kill off Rick：
Howard Koch, the screenwriter of the movie 'Casablanca', was constantly thinking about who should be left at the end. He pondered whether to kill off Eijiro, but he didn't want to kill a hero. Should he kill off Rick instead?

One day, unexpectedly, Koch decided on the ending. While driving on Sunset Boulevard, the phrase "Round up the usual suspects" suddenly came to his mind. He decided to have Rick kill the German major and have the police captain say, "Round up the usual suspects." This line was later used in the movie 'The Usual Suspects'.

Various ideas for the final scene of 'Casablanca' were also considered. For example, there was a version where Rick stays, and another where Ingrid Bergman's character lets her husband leave and stays with Rick. In the end, the version that received the highest evaluation from the staff was adopted.

In the famous final scene, Rick persuades Bergman, saying, "If that plane leaves the ground and you're not with him, you'll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life." Bergman responds, "No, no, I won't!" but Rick continues, "It's not that you don't understand. But you belong with Victor. You're part of his work, the thing that keeps him going. If that plane leaves the ground and you're not with him, you'll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life." When Bergman asks, "What about us?" Rick replies, "We'll always have Paris. We didn't have, we lost it until you came to Casablanca. We got it back last night." She says, "But I said I'd never leave you." Rick then responds, "And you never will. But I've got a job to do, too. Where I'm going, you can't follow. What I've got to do, you can't be any part of. I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you'll understand that." She tearfully replies, "I wish I didn't love you so much."

Furthermore, Rick's famous final line, "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," was not in the original script. It was added by the producer, Hal Wallis, three weeks after filming ended. Wallis also changed the title of the movie to 'Casablanca'.

### Summary of the Movie "Casablanca"

#### 1. Awards for the Movie "Casablanca"
- The movie "Casablanca" won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
- Michael Curtiz won the award for Best Director for this film.
- The screenplay, written by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, and Howard Koch, won the award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
- Humphrey Bogart, who played Rick, was named the greatest male star of all time by the American Film Institute (AFI) in 1999.

#### 2. Why is the Movie "Casablanca" Considered a Classic?
- The atmosphere on set was friendly and collaborative, with actors and staff working together to create the screenplay and shooting multiple scenes to choose the best one.
- Many people were able to contribute their opinions, leading to a film that reflected a wide range of inputs.
- The process of changing the script after reviewing the footage made for an extravagant and luxurious filmmaking experience.

#### 3. Woody Allen's Homage Film
- Woody Allen created an homage to "Casablanca" with his movie "Play It Again, Sam."
- The film opens with a scene from "Casablanca," featuring a protagonist who watches it every day.

#### 4. Ingrid Bergman's Experience
- Near the end of her career, Ingrid Bergman was invited to a Bergman retrospective in London, where she gave a lecture.
- During the event, "Casablanca" was screened, and Bergman mentioned that it was the first time she had seen the film.
- She commented, "It's really a good movie," which made the audience laugh.
- Bergman had thought "Casablanca" was a failed and incomplete project.
- This was because, after filming "Casablanca," she immediately began working on Hemingway's epic "For Whom the Bell Tolls," dedicating herself entirely to the role and even shaving her head for it.
- She was so engrossed in her new role and her time with co-star Gary Cooper that she had forgotten about "Casablanca."

#### 5. The Movie "Tokyo Joe"
- Eight years after "Casablanca," Humphrey Bogart starred in a film called "Tokyo Joe."
- This movie is different from the mafia-themed "Tokyo Joe."


a Japanese-American who became a mafia boss in the United States.

1. **Introduction of the Character**: The main character's name is Ken Eto. He is the eldest son of Ei Eto, who was born in Takeda, Oita Prefecture, Japan.

2. **Father's Activities**: Ei Eto was sent to California by the Japanese government to investigate the conditions of Japanese-Americans. He opened a church in Stockton to help the struggling Japanese-American community.
3. **The Rise of the Main Character**: Ken Eto was born in Stockton but ran away from home to work in a gambling den in Little Italy, New York. His skill with cards was quickly recognized, and he was favored by the mafia boss.
4. **War and Internment**: During World War II, Ken was interned at the Minidoka Internment Center in Idaho due to the forced relocation of Japanese-Americans. He served in the Japanese-American Nisei Battalion during the war.
5. **Mafia Connection**: After the war, Ken met Carlo Gambino (one of the models for the character in the movie "The Godfather"), joined the mafia, and eventually rose to become a mafia boss.
6. **Arrest and Protection**: In August 1980, Ken was arrested by the FBI for illegal gambling at a hotel in the suburbs of Chicago. While out on bail, he was nearly killed by Vincent Solano, the boss of the North Side Chicago mob, which led him to enter FBI protection.
7. **Final Years**: Ken Eto died in Georgia on January 23, 2004.

Additionally, the character in the movie "The Valachi Papers" shares a similar story with Ken Eto in that both betrayed the mafia and entered FBI protection.

### About the Piano Used in the Movie "Casablanca"

The piano that appeared in "Casablanca" has the following history:

1. **Auction**: Around 1988, a Japanese person won it at an auction for $154,000. The rival bidder was the American real estate mogul, Donald Trump.
2. **Features**: The piano is believed to have been made in 1927 and has 58 keys, which is 30 fewer than a typical piano (which has 88 keys).
3. **Exhibition**: The piano was displayed in a coffee shop in Nara City, Japan, attracting much attention.
4. **Re-auction**: In 2014, it was auctioned again and sold for $3.4 million. The buyers were Leonardo DiCaprio and other wealthy individuals, who plan to donate the piano to a museum in Los Angeles.
Sam might be Japanese.

### Eijiro's Career After Fleeing to the United States

Eijiro became a full professor at New York University in 1944. During his exile in the United States, he collaborated with Otto von Habsburg, a descendant of the former patrons of the Coudenhove family, to establish a government-in-exile for Austria. However, their efforts to gain support from the U.S. and U.K. governments were unsuccessful.

After World War II, he returned to Europe in 1946 and engaged in pan-European activities, advocating for European unity. He passed away in 1972 in the village of Schruns, located within Austria near the Swiss border.

Here is the translated text:



an explanation of why Bogie (Humphrey Bogart) is popular in America and regarded as the number one actor.

Bogie was not a typical leading man and often played villains. However, he was cast as the lead in a war propaganda film, which paved the way for his stardom. The film was rushed into production with an incomplete script, but its release coincided with the Allied invasion of Casablanca, drawing significant attention. This fortuitous timing catapulted Bogie into stardom as if blessed by the movie gods.

Bogie’s character also played a role in his popularity. He was clumsy and had a fragile heart, traits that appealed to women’s maternal instincts. In this regard, he resembled the Japanese actor Ken Takakura, who was also a tough-looking star with a hidden vulnerability that made him popular among women.

Moreover, Bogie was a crybaby and had a gentle side towards women. In the movie "Casablanca," this crybaby side of him is well depicted. Bogie often asked women many questions, only to receive a kiss in return. His character is not about "stoic endurance" but rather a man so fragile that another betrayal from a woman might break him. He distanced himself from Bergman, saying, "We'll always have Paris." For him, memories were more important than the current romance.

In summary, Bogie's human and sensitive character is why he became America's number one actor.

At the end, there is something important I want you to know about as a Japanese person: the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Keiko:
"The 442nd Regimental Combat Team?
I thought it was an old Japanese army that did bad things in China."

"It's a unit known as the strongest army in American history."

"The strongest?"

"The 442nd was a Japanese-American unit that, during World War II, was the most effective in the U.S. Army at defeating the German forces. However, their achievements were kept secret."

"It sounds a bit like the movie 'Casablanca.'"

"Do you know that the 442nd had a casualty rate of 314%?"

"What does that mean? That doesn't add up."

"In other words, on average, each soldier was wounded more than three times. Even after being wounded, they would return to fight again. They received the most decorations in the history of the U.S. Army, a record that still stands. They received so many medals that they were nicknamed the 'Christmas Tree Regiment,' meaning they were heavily decorated. Soldiers would get injured two or three times, return to the front lines, and achieve victory with their blood and sweat."

"This shows how much Japanese people have contributed to America. In history, where white people's achievements were often highlighted, Japanese contributions were also significant. It's possible that even America's national treasure movie 'Casablanca' had contributions from Japanese people."

---

### Norway's "Lebensborn" Policy

"You should also know about the 'Lebensborn (Fountain of Life)' policy by the Nazis to increase the number of superior German descendants. At that time, due to a declining birthrate, the Nazis encouraged German soldiers to have children with Norwegian women in the occupied territory to increase the German population. After the war, the children born from this policy, said to be around 9,000 to 10,000, filed a lawsuit for damages against the Norwegian government in the European Court of Human Rights."