Masaru's Laboratory Death

Lore & Background

The original child espers, including Takashi, Kiyoko, and Masaru, were the first subjects of the government's psychic research. Unlike the controlled environment of the past, Tetsuo's awakening spiraled out of control. He sought not answers from a specific doctor, but rather absolute power and a sense of identity to fill his void. The facility guards attempted to suppress him, but Tetsuo's raw psychic energy overwhelmed them instantly. This breakout represents a turning point where scientific containment is obliterated by uncontrolled evolution. It demonstrates that Tetsuo has surpassed his captors not just in strength, but in the sheer volatility of his existence. With the facility breached and the guards decimated, there is no one left within the chain of command who can negotiate or contain the situation, leaving only military force as an option.

Reader's Guide

Following Tetsuo’s capture after his motorcycle accident, he is transferred to a secure underground complex under Dr. Masaru’s supervision for study. The scientist hopes to understand the young boy’s connection to Akira but finds himself facing an uncontrollable force within the patient. As military containment fails during transport and initial testing, Tetsuo shatters his physical restraints using raw psychic energy while in the facility. He stumbles into the main laboratory area where Masaru is conducting observations with high-ranking officials and soldiers.

In a moment of rage and desperation for answers regarding the legendary esper’s power, Tetsuo targets the doctor directly. The scene depicts a terrifying display of telekinetic violence as Masaru is crushed instantly by invisible force. This murder signifies the total collapse of government authority over the subject and ends all attempts at peaceful study. The event accelerates the timeline toward Neo-Tokyo’s destruction, marking Tetsuo’s complete transformation from victim to antagonist. His death removes the primary link between the government and the unstable esper subject.

Did You Know?

• Kurosawa was born on March 23, 1910, in Ōi Town, Ebara County (now Higashi-Ōi in the Shinagawa ward of Tokyo), though he once claimed he was born in Akita.
• His older brother Heigo, a benshi (silent film narrator), took 13-year-old Kurosawa to view corpses after the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake, forbidding him to look away.
• Heigo committed suicide in July 1933; Kurosawa titled the chapter describing it 'A Story I Don't Want to Tell' in his autobiography.
• Kurosawa entered the film industry in 1936 after his essay—which half-mockingly argued that if Japanese films had fundamental deficiencies, they couldn't be fixed—impressed director Kajirō Yamamoto.
• His directorial debut, Sanshiro Sugata (1943), was initially deemed objectionably 'British-American' by wartime censors and only released after Yasujirō Ozu championed it.

Early Influences and Family Tragedy

His father, a former samurai turned physical education director, actively encouraged his children to explore cinema as an educational tool, exposing young Akira to films by age six. However, the most profound impact on his worldview came from his older brother, Heigo. The two brothers became inseparable as Kurosawa pursued painting while Heigo worked as a benshi for foreign films. Kurosawa later described this event as a source of enduring loss, a chapter he titled 'A Story I Don't Want to Tell,' noting that it left him as the sole surviving brother among three sisters.

Transition from Painter to Filmmaker

Kurosawa's entry into the film industry was not born of early ambition but rather necessity and a shift in artistic philosophy. Initially determined to become a painter, he worked with the Proletarian Artists' League, yet he eventually lost enthusiasm for the medium, feeling it merely projected unfulfilled political ideals onto canvas without practical success. The death of his brother Heigo further catalyzed this transition. His application essay offered a half-mocking critique of Japanese cinema's fundamental flaws, arguing that if the problems were intrinsic, they could not be fixed.

This candid perspective impressed examiner Kajirō Yamamoto, who insisted on hiring him despite his lack of prior professional interest in film. Kurosawa spent years honing his craft as an assistant director and screenwriter under this mentorship, laying the groundwork for a career that would eventually span six decades.

Rise to International Prominence

This victory was transformative, effectively opening Western markets to Japanese cinema and paving the way for other filmmakers from the region. Throughout the 1950s and early 60s, Kurosawa maintained a prolific output of roughly one film per year, delivering masterpieces such as Seven Samurai, Ikiru, and Yojimbo. These works were not only critically acclaimed but also frequently adapted for Western audiences, solidifying his status as a dynamic force who successfully merged bold Japanese storytelling with influences from Western cinema.

Legacy and Enduring Impact

Although Kurosawa's output slowed after the 1960s, his later masterpieces like Kagemusha and Ran continued to garner significant critical praise, proving his artistic vitality remained intact. Kurosawa is remembered not just for his films, but for his hands-on approach to production, serving simultaneously as director, writer, producer, and editor. His legacy endures through countless retrospectives, critical studies, biographies, and media releases, securing his place as one of history's most influential filmmakers whose work continues to inspire generations worldwide.