The Grim Reaper's Lullaby

The Grim Reaper's Lullaby
Operation: Mystery, episode 5
Information
Airdate	October 13, 1968
Directed by	Akio Jissoji
Written by	Mamoru Sasaki
Special Effects Directed by	Jun Oki
Continuity
Previous	Fearful Phone Calls
Next	Vampire Hell

The Grim Reaper's Lullaby is the fifth episode of Operation: Mystery.

Synopsis

On a deserted night road, a black figure aiming a gun at a woman fleeing from pursuers. A flash emanates from the gun, and the woman's body becomes frozen solid! Radioactivity is detected from the victim's body, and it's speculated that Spectral G-rays, still a mystery in the scientific world, were used in the crime.

Misawa realizes that the lyrics of a hit song sung by Kyoko Takagi match the circumstances of the murder.

Cast

• Shiro Maki : Shin Kishida
• Kyosuke Misawa : Homare Suguro
• Tadashi Matoya : Yasumi Hara
• Hiroshi Nomura : Seiji Matsuyama
• Saori Ogawa : Reiko Kobashi
• Taizo Machida : Akiji Kobayashi

Guest Actors

• Kyoko Takagi : Yuri Miyama
• Dr. Aso : Rokko Toura
• Sadao Yoshino : Daigo Kusano
• Dr. Oda : Shoji Nakadai
• Club Manager : Yasuhiko Saijo
• Victims :
  • Setsuko Iino
  • Fukiko Takano
  • Junko Sakurai
  • Machiko Kimura

Home Media

• Operation: Mystery Volume 1 features episodes 1-5.
• Operation: Mystery Blu-ray BOX features all episodes except 24.

2003 release

2012 release

Blu-ray BOX

Trivia

• According to Akio Jissoji's description in My Television Chronicle, the meticulous production of this episode was made possible by the understanding and support of TBS film department producer Yoji Hashimoto. Additionally, Jissoji's senior, Toshihiro Iijima, who frequently worked alongside him on external assignments, played a crucial role in coordinating matters with TBS and provided ongoing care and support during the filming process.

• The episode employs a technique known as "nursery rhyme murders" or "standby murders," a concept first introduced by Agatha Christie in her classic mystery novel And Then There Were None. The novel has been adapted into numerous film versions, and both Jissoji and screenwriter Mamoru Sasaki were familiar with this work and its adaptations. They drew inspiration from its serial murder plot, skillfully integrating it with the lyrics of the episode's song, creating a chilling narrative of consecutive murders.
• In the climax of this episode, the scene where Inspector Machida leads the police in a collective attack to arrest the criminal Yoshino showcases a form of violence that borders on vigilante justice. This portrayal is closely tied to the social climate in Japan at the time. In 1960s, just before the automatic extension of the U.S.–Japan Security Treaty, anti-government and anti-American student protests were rapidly escalating. With the eruption of the Anpo protests, the police's extreme actions toward suspects mirrored this historical backdrop.
  • Additionally, the dialogue in this episode that critiques the United States and the government reflects this historical context. Notably, the character Kyoko's leukemia is explained by her mother’s exposure to radiation from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, which led to health issues that affected Kyoko after her birth, making her a "second-generation hibakusha" (A-bomb survivor).

• The insert song Shinigami no Komoriuta was specially composed for this episode. However, the only existing recordings are a temporary lyrics version starting from the third stanza and the final karaoke accompaniment. The version with lyrics used in the episode has not been preserved in the original master recording. The singer of the temporary lyrics version is credited as Emi Shimoyama.
• According to art director Noriyoshi Ikeya, he regretted the final presentation of one of the key elements in the episode—the "frozen corpse." He expressed that his biggest regret was the way the corpse was depicted. Despite having established rules and being firm about not compromising due to budget limitations, the final decision was to cover the actor with plastic sheeting instead of achieving a more realistic representation.

• Cinematographer Yuzo Inagaki mentioned that the most challenging part of the episode was the final outdoor shoot. The crew chose to film at a foreign cemetery in Yokohama, working from early morning until dawn. Inagaki was particularly focused on the scene set in a thicket and, aiming for authenticity, suggested that the police should be holding flashlights in such an environment. He proposed using only those light sources for the shoot, a suggestion that the lighting technician agreed with. Although setting up five or six tracks on the sloped terrain made the shoot quite difficult, it was eventually completed successfully according to Inagaki's vision. Director Jissoji did not offer specific guidance on this scene.

• There are some differences between the initial and final versions of the script. In the original draft, Mizawa and Saori impersonate Takako's fans, along with her older brother, to make contact with Kyoko. In the initial version, Kyoko is depicted as a rising pop star on television and stage. However, in the final version, she is reimagined as a singer with an underground cultural vibe. The original draft also introduced a character, Tetsuji Dan , a singer who admires Kyoko. In the final version, this character was replaced by Mizawa. According to the setup, Kyoko and Tetsuji had debuted together five years earlier under "Imperial Records."
  • In both the initial and final drafts of the script, Dr. Oda's lines referenced the following: "This is like the so-called atomic bomb disease, the opposite effect of leukemia."

• • In the first draft, when Kyoko learns that Yoshino has been arrested, she breaks down emotionally, singing The Grim Reaper’s Lullaby while randomly shooting G-rays at the surrounding trees. Her final line in the original script was, "I don’t want to be killed. I don’t want to die!" She ultimately dies, and the SRI members continue walking forward through the cold snow as the story ends. The nursery rhyme in the episode further states: "The sixth person struck by lightning also died."
  • In Jissoji’s book Nightly Disc, it is mentioned that due to time constraints, three scenes were cut from the final version. These included: Kyoko quietly escaping from the hospital after learning of her terminal illness; Mizawa tracking Kyoko down and listening to her recount her past; and Yoshino shedding tears upon seeing happy couples, moved by the thought that Kyoko's time was running out.