Always - Sunset on Third Street (2005) - full transcript

Leaving her provincial home, teenage Mutsuko arrives in Tokyo by train to take a job in a major automotive company but finds that she is employed by a small auto repair shop owned by Norifumi Suzuki. Suzuki's hair-trigger temper is held somewhat in check by the motherly instincts of his wife, Tomoe, and his young son Ippei immediately bonds with Mutsuko as if she were his older sister. The Suzuki shop lies almost in the shadow of the Tokyo Tower as it rises steadily above the skyline during construction in 1958. Others in the neighborhood also are striving to better themselves as Japan continues to emerge from the shadow of war. Hiromi has just abandoned her shady life as a dancer to start a sake bar. Abandoned by his single mother, young Junnosuke is first handed off to Hiromi but she passes him off to Ryunosuke Chagawa, a struggling writer who runs a candy shop and only manages to sell adventure stories for boys as his serious novels continue to be rejected. Junnosuke is an avid reader of Chagawa's stories and begins to idolize him upon learning about his authorship. Junnosuke also writes stories, and makes friends with Ippei and others when they discover his tales that show Japan in the hi-tech future of the 21st century.

A karate chop by Rikidozan...

Hey, Nakamura...

The pitcher, Kaneda,

has NagashIma In a tight corner...

Tokyo, 1958

TV! TV!

Mommy, is the TV coming today?

Not yet

How many times do l have to tell you?

You heard the shopkeeper say

he's all backed up on TV orders

Shoot, no fair

You never tire of waiting for the TV,

do you?

Let's go fly this

Yeah, let's go

Come home before Dad does

Who's he?

Who knows

Where are you from?

Hey, get with it

Strange

Let's fly it over there

That's enough

Wow!

Wake up, we're almost there

Look at that really big building

lt's really Tokyo

lt says automobile company

Maybe that's where your job is,

Mutsuko

lt's too big for me

What's your job at

the automobile company?

l dunno

Maybe the president's secretary!

Of course not

Alongside...

the hands of the clock...

l stood watch as my happiness...

slipped through

the palms of my hands...

HeIlo!

What a pain

Chagawa General Store

HeIlo!

Keep your dirty hands

off the merchandise

l want rice crackers,

2 magic candies and carameIs

5 yen won't buy all that

Can't you even add?

One lottery ticket

l'll win First Prize today

We'll see about that

No Luck

Not again

Chagawa san

Literary Newcomer's Prize

Out of luck again?

Shut up!

l drew another No Luck

Are you sure this isn't rigged?

They're all No Lucks

All No Lucks!

All No Lucks!

Shut up!

lf you want to make accusations. go home!

Go home! Go home!

All No Lucks! All No Lucks!

Don't say All No Lucks!

No Luck

Life is not...

so easy

All right

Hiromi

l can't help out

l just started here a week ago

l'm finally getting used to it here

You're his only hope

l think you've got it wrong

You were friends with his mom, right?

That was years ago

l've given up the dancer's life

for a respectable job

We've got respectable jobs, too

Try someone else

Don't be that way

What'll become of him?

Ueno Station

This Is the Iast stop on thIs traIn

lt's been a Iong ride

Please don't forget your beIongings

on the train

We're finally here

Never seen so many folks in one place

lt sure is Tokyo

Who's that?

Hoshino san

He's the president of Suzuki Auto

He came all the way here

to meet you

You'lI go straight to

Suzuki Auto from here

What a shock! The president himself

came to meet you

You are going to be a secretary!

lncredible!

Hurry up and go, Mutsuko

Meeting's nice,

l'm Hoshino Mutsuko

Over there

Everybody, take care!

Hang in there!

Hang in there!

Welcome back, Mr. President

Thanks

Hey

What are you doing?

Tokyo Tower. When it's done,

it'll be the tallest in the world

Hey, l'm home

SuzukI Auto

Hey, c'mon in

Welcome, so glad you came

Meeting's nice

Please

Thank you for your consideration

Not at all

Mommy, when's supper?

Hey! l told you to stay home

lntroduce yourself

She's going to be working for us...

Mutsuko

Mutsuko

Rokuko

No, it's Mutsuko

Oh, sorry

Meeting's nice

What do you say, lppei?

Meeting's nice

Your room's on the second floor

lt's six tatami mats

You want me to wear these?

Yeah

The tools are here

Are here

Feel free to use any of them

Here's the oil

Here's the oil

Don't start any fires

Um...

What exactIy am l supposed

to do here?

Fix cars, of course

Oh, um...

lt's not a job like being

the president's secretary?

You're funny

Honey, that's enough

about her job, right?

You must be tired

l'm starving

Right, time to eat

We're having croquettes

Cool!

Cool!

Come on in

Oh, l'm starving

Maybe the presIdent's secretary!

Of course not

l wonder if she's all right

lf she can fix cars at her age...

she must be bright

That's not what l mean

She looked really dejected

Why?

l guess our place isn't

what she'd imagined

Maybe she expected something grander

What the hell!

No, no!

l just imagined that

Shut up!

Let's settle this right now!

No, Honey!

Let go, idiot!

Honey! Calm down!

Please, wait

How many have quit on you!

Want to know a secret?

Want me to telI you a secret?

What's wrong?

Does your tummy hurt?

Nothing's the matter

What's your secret?

Shall l tell or not...

C'mon! Tell me

TV?

That's amazing!

When's it coming?

Can't...

Don't be like that

Tell me

l don't know

As a former finalist for

the Akutagawa Literary Prize,

in my opinion,

these upstart noveIists,

lshihara and Oe,

are truly feeble

That prestigious prize?

Well, yes...

But today's literary judges

champion only

controversiaI writing

l'm...

l'm in despair over

the current state of Japanese literature

ls that so?

And so...

these days, l'm also involved

with children's literature

l want to help cultivate

truly literate adults

How wonderful, sir

You're thinking about the future

l've given up on adults

l want to nurture proper adults

with the power of literature

Wonderful

ln that case, is that store of yours

part of the endeavor?

Of, of course

My establishment allows me

the chance to observe children

Huh...

Establishment...

So you're an entrepreneur, too?

Well, it's more of a hobby, reaIly...

Someone in my position,

should spend as much time

as possibIe with children

Welcome

Oh no, Suzuki Auto

What the hell,

got a problem with me?

What's everybody doing out tonight?

Oh, l get it

Hey, even Mr. Literature is here

Hey, move over

That's my seat

Don't tell me,

you've come for Hiromi, too?

Pour me one

Or to drown your sorrows?

l know! Another rejection

Shut up and leave me alone

My check please, Hiromi san

Bull's eye, huh?

Just one minute, sir...

Here you are...

please

l was wondering

if l could count on you, sir...

Oh, no l really shouldn't

What is it?

No, it's fine

Go ahead, you can tell me

Are you sure?

Junnosuke

Junnosuke

He's a friend's child

His mom ran out on him

and he's got no one to take him in

No one knows who his father is

l can't possibly raise him

But someone like you, sir...

l know it's asking a lot,

but can you take him in for a while?

Oh, no, that's...

l feel so sorry for him, but he'd be safe

with someone refined like you, sir

l'll visit from time to time

and check in on things

You will?

Just for a wee little bit,

until l find a proper home for him

All right, sir?

She got me good...

Amazing, he really took him

You sure he's safe with

that literary has-been?

l don't mean to be crude

but he's human trash

That ''establishment'' of his is

just a run-down candy store

Oh, no, is that true?

l thought he came from money

His family, yes

Some classy family in the provinces

But they disinherited him

for writing novels

Pathetic

The candy store?

Belonged to some ancient relative

She took him in 8 years ago

when he was banished,

and she died 3 years later

Been Iiving like that these 5 years

Sending children's stories to

hip magazines like some literati

He applies for every prize

but always gets rejected

He's sure got a soft spot

for the Iadies

Natto for sale!

Natto!

l'll take one

Sure

Good morning

Morning, did you sleep?

l completely overslept

l'Il do this

Stop me! Stop me!

lt just seems to have a mind of its own

l think the brakes are going

Are you sure you should ride that?

Of course. Recreational cycling is all

the rage these days

Shoot, l'll get the hang of this thing

She's the worker from the sticks?

Yes

l think that should do it

Thanks

You're not so bad, honey

She owns the tobacco shop

Meeting's nice...

Oh, ''Nice to meet you''

No need to adjust your dialect

You should cherish

your regional idiom

Off l go

Mommy!

Will the TV come today?

No, it won't

Shoot, no fair

What's wrong?

Hide, Roku, it's the devil

The devil?

He's not the devil

Actually, he's a doctor,

Dr. Takuma

Oh, that's all

Yes he is the devil

He gave me a big, fat shot

when the flu was around

lt was just a shot

You're a scaredy-cat

Shut up!

Hey!

Who?

Oh no... that's right...

l'm such an idiot!

Hey! Hey!

Hey, l know you're there,

Hiromi san

l toId you not to follow me

Go hang out by Hiromi's place

Think about it logically, OK?

You and l aren't related in the sIightest,

we're complete strangers

You get it, right?

lf you get it,

go back to Hiromi's place

Give me a break

Hey, Mr. Literature

What?

Got yourself a family

ldiot, he's not family

Total stranger

But you promised

Better look after him

Of course l will

C'mon

l'll give you 10 Yen

Go outside

What, you're back already?

l told you to stay outside

Go, scat!

Gives me the creeps

Don't play with the merchandise!

Just keep quiet

l'm working here, working!

Boys' Adventure TaIes

Chagawa Ryunosuke

Boys' Adventure TaIes

Volume 18 - Chagawa Ryunosuke

Mister, you write...

''Boys' Adventure Tales?''

Yes, yes, that's right, l write them

So sorry l'm just a hack novelist

l do it for the money,

not because l want to

My real calling is literature...

What is it?

Oh, no, it really is tiny

lt's me, sir, Hiromi

l promised to look in on you

That's enough

Says he's a fan of my noveIs

A fan?

Look, here's an old one

Ever since l said l had more,

he's been glued to them

l do find it suspicious

that he likes them...

Who knows where

he picked up flattery

He actually smiles

l didn't think he could

l'll make you curry with rice

l'm home!

l'm off!

The jack!

l said, bring the jack!

Don't you even know

what a jack is?

This is it!

This is a jack!

Why'd you put Car Repair

as your specialty?

Was it a lie?

No excuses!

You can't finish a single task!

This is employment application

fraud and it's an out and out scam

Are you a liar?

lf l'm a liar, you're a liar, too,

Suzuki san

What the hell

l never expected to work

in such a small shop

You wrote ''Automobile Company'',

so l expected

a much bigger building

This isn't an automobile company,

it's just a tiny

car repair shop

lsn't that an out and out scam?

What the hell!

Roku, run!

Hide me!

Suzuki san's mad!

Suzuki Auto, calm down

Calm down

Move!

This is bad, Mom

Daddy, stop!

Honey, calm down!

Help!

You total jerk!

You're the liar but

you called me a liar!

What's wrong with calling you a Iiar!

And l'm not a liar

Shut up, you good-for-nothing!

You should just go back...

to where you came from!

l won't go home

l've got no place to go!

Fine, then just get out!

Get out...

and go to work for some

company in a bigger building!

lf you knew how hard l've worked

to make Suzuki Auto!

What are you doing!

Stop it!

Shut up! l'll kick her out!

Please, stop!

Daddy! Oh, no!

Daddy! Daddy!

You read it wrong!

lt says ''Bicycle Repair''

You're the one who got it wrong

Roku wasn't lying

Um...

Let's see...

Oh, l know

l seem to have misread your resume

l know, l'll say it

Um...

lt seems it was

a terrible misunderstanding

l'm sorry

l apologize

Suzuki san,

l shouldn't have said what l did

Well...

l can sort of understand

your disappointment

l really agonized

over the job description

But you know...

l just couIdn't bring myself

to write ''Car Repair''

lf l did, l might be

stuck there forever

Automobiles are

a growing industry now

Having an auto company

of my own isn't just a pipe dream

ln fact, l think we can

sell our cars abroad

l know...

that for now,

it's just a small operation...

But the war's over now

l know we can make this

into a big building!

You'll help me?

l can't do anything...

Learn everything from scratch

That's right!

Thank you!

l'll work really hard

Good for you, Roku

l'm counting on you!

Thank you, Roku

My name's... Mutsuko...

Oh, well

Let's go home

Suzuki Auto!

Hey, Mr. Literature, sorry

Everything's A-OK now

Sorry, my hubby had it all wrong

l'll get your closet door fixed

Well, it's edible

lf you don't like it, don't eat it

Oh, no, no, it's delicious

ln any case,

Suzuki Auto was

in fine form, today

ls he always like that?

Yes, he's uncultured

Why are your cheeks so red, Roku?

They're not red

Yes, they are

Are they that red?

lt's cute

Cute, cute, like apples

Oh, wow, apples...

Your cheeks are turning redder

You, too, Suzuki san

l'm bright red

Wait!

What are you doing?

You take a real nap

or you can't go out and play

Powerful high pressure from

the PacifIc envelops much of Japan,

and today will be another

hot, muggy day...

This is a sauna

The battery seems fine

The starter?

l'll go under

Roku, Iet's rest

l'Il do it

Hey, Roku, won't they expect you

home for the summer holidays?

Oh, no, that's all right

My time's too precious

But your mom probably

wants to see you

l said l'm fine

Hello

lce man, here

Thank you

No, thank you

What is it!

Really special cream puffs

They were a gift from a client,

but you were out on a delivery

so l saved them for dessert

But then...

Have they spoiled?

l think it's too late

Are you really, really sure

it's too late?

l'm not sure

But it's risky

Are you sure?

l'm sorry, please dump these

lf lppei finds them,

he'll never forgive me

So yummy...

That's a good boy

Keep sleeping

Get a good sleep

lppei! You're supposed to be

in school today!

l sold some stuff

My life is over...

My talent's dried up

l have no ideas

l'll have to die

l'm going home

Don't leave me alone

OK, OK, hang in there

Junnosuke can't wait for another

installment of ''Boys' Adventure''

OK, sir?

Study HaIl

The pitcher's thrown it

Three strikes!

Rookie Nagashima,

a magnificent missed swing

What's this?

lt's study hall today

Oh, great

Forget about that,

let's play ball

Hey!

Up to no good again

Everyone act Iike Junnosuke

OK!

Bookworm

Creep

What are you always writing?

Show me

What's this?

Are you writing a novel?

Think you're some novelist!

lnsIde transparent tubes

suspended In space,

countIess cars sped by,

gleaming in the reflected sunlIght

The boy, Koichi, had landed

in the worId of the 21st century

The IIght Koichi had notIced

at the back of the cave,

were the lights of these cars

But Koichi was far too transfixed

by everythIng else

to even notice

Everything about the worId

of the future was strange

The tubes fuII of speeding cars,

the people walking...

Boys' Adventure - Special Edition

The Flying BattIeship - by Junnosuke

A pack

Smokes, granny!

Here's your pack

Hardly granny music

Nowadays Rock-a-billy's all the rage

What's that strange stuff?

Don't you know? lt's Cola,

just on the market, try it

Forget it, it looks like soy sauce

lt's like a soda

We can watch tonight, right?

You're not invited

l'll come anyway

Don't come, you jerk!

Drink soy sauce and die!

Do you have anymore?

There's ''The Martians Arrive'',

and ''The Flying Battleship'' and...

Bring them tomorrow, OK?

l read it first!

No, me!

No, me!

l know, come to my house tonight

and bring them

Tonight?

They're getting a TV delivered today!

A TV!

l hope it really comes this time

Mom said it would

And on just the perf ect day

Right?

Let's watch together

What?

What?

This, of course!

Good evening, congratulations

Oh, why, thank you

l can't believe the fuss everyone's

making over such a smalI matter

You've got your hands full

Hurry, sit down

OK, a word before we start

Thanks to everyone,

we finaIly have a TV at our house

Looking back,

it's already been 13 years since

we survived the war...

Enough of your speech

Hurry up and turn it on

Shut up, granny!

All right, l'll turn it on

There it is, Rikidozan's

signature karate chopl

One chop, two, three...

ls this a black out?

The light's still on

Hey, what's wrong?

Roku, bring me a screwdriver

Don't

l'm a Tokyo University grad!

l can handle this!

Go ahead, bring it!

Mister, your outlet is the problem

But you dismantled the whole thing

Oh boy

What a bore

Let's go home

lt was going to be so much fun

l'Il pay for the repairs

Of course you will

Stick with your literature

l'm sorry, lppei

No big deal

Roku?

What's wrong!

Doctor! Dr. Takuma!

Roku

How is she?

lt's not serious, is it?

Food poisoning

What?

She probably ate some spoiled food

Tomoe, you!

l didn't give her anything spoiled

Besides, she eats what we do...

Cream puffs? Ate them?

Cream puffs...

Oh, no, those rancid cream puffs?

She says she'd never seen them before

so she had to try one

Roku! You...

l can't believe it

Hey, what do you mean?

What cream puffs?

l don't know...

C'mon!

Maybe a shot...

No... l...

Hate shots

Oh, no!

Devil!

Can you pour me another, Hiromi?

Won't you join us, Doctor?

Please, join them

Please

Thank you, but l must get home

l see

Can you wrap up some yakitorI?

To take home?

My daughter's favorite

l'm home

Welcome home, Daddy!

Now, now, your father's tired

l'm sure you had a busy day

Yeah

Look, l got you some yakitori

Great! Thanks, Daddy!

Oh, lucky you

lt's yummy

ls it, that's good

You have some too, Dear

OK,

l will then

You're right, it's delicious

- Yummy

- Isn't it?

You can eat all you want

How about Daddy's?

But there's plenty

Hello

Hello there

lt's Dr. Takuma

What's wrong?

Why, l don't know

l was just with my wif e and daughter...

Doctor, you've been drinking

No, l just had the yakitori...

l know

There are still foxes around here

Foxes?

Doctor, you've been outfoxed

ln the firebombing?

On their way to air raid shelter

Nothing left of them

l think his daughter

was just 7 or 8

His wife was lovely,

beautiful, too

They say the Post-war period is over...

Open it

lt's cool

Let me!

Lif e certainly has gotten convenient

No more food poisoning,

right, Roku?

Devil!

l'm sorry for aIl the trouble

But thanks to you, we've got it all

TV, refrigerator, washing machine

The three sacred treasures

You can afford them, right?

Sure, things'll be fine

in 10 years time

Let's work hard

Hurry, hurry, hurry

Here, this month's issue

You're late!

He'll be back!

What?

Just shut up and go, go!

l'm home

Did ''Boys' Adventure'' arrive?

What? They took this month off

Didn't you know?

Something about the publishers...

ls that so?

l can't show him this...

l'll go play with lppei

No, like this

Hey! Look!

You won't believe it!

This is the episode you wrote

Didn't you know, Junnosuke?

That Mr. Literature,

he stole your work!

Oh, no, you saw it?

Don't look at me like that

Listen,

l'm looking after you,

a complete stranger

All your ideas belong to me

Oh, all right

l'Il pay you for the story idea

Here, 100 Yen

Man, you're cheeky

Oh, all right

When l get my paycheck,

l'll give you half

Satisfied now?

What?

What do you expect me to do?

l'm... happy

You turned the story l wrote,

into a real novel

And now it's a book

lncredible

lncredible

At your place?

And according to that old client,

he's sure it's Kazuko's

Which store does she own?

A traditional sweet shop in Koenji

lt's a famous place

What should l do?

What should you do...

We sure can't tell

Junnosuke about it

You eat some, Suzuki san

None for me, makes me fart

C'mon, c'mon

What?

C'mon, Mommy

Buy me a new one

Of course not,

you can still wear this one

l hate mended clothes

Don't act spoiled!

That's right,

l was the sixth child,

so l only ever got hand-me-downs

During the war, forget about clothes,

we couldn't even eat...

l'm sick of your war stories

All done

lt suits you

l sewed a special blessing in there

Open it when you're in trouble

Who cares!

Hey, lppei!

Wait for me!

Huh, so do you want to

see your mommy?

Let's go see her

How?

Koenji, huh

ls it far?

Koenji...

Let's see...

All we got

How about the ride home?

How about it?

lf we ask your mom,

she'll pay our train fare home

Sure she will

Where's the local

sweet shop?

l think it's over there

Thank you very much

lppei! Supper time!

lt must be around here

l'm so hungry

l'd love to have some sweets

Yeah

This is it! Jun!

Yeah...

Go!

Hurry!

Let's go home

How can you say that!

We got this far

Excuse us! Excuse us!

No, let's not

Why not?

What will l do

if my mom comes out?

But you came here to see her

But...

l might disturb her

What is it? We're closed

Um, is there someone named

Furuyuki Kazuko here?

No

What? But someone said

they saw her here

Listen, kid

When a grown-up says ''No''

that means no

What?

What's wrong, Jun?

Say, has Junnosuke left?

Yeah

l see

l don't...

think l'll ever be able

to live with Mommy

Why not?

Because

Junnosuke ran away!

Please calm down,

that's not certain yet

He's such a pain

l'm sure your kid put him up to this

What the hell!

How dare you, you jerk!

This is hardly the time...

A kid like him,

you've got to teach him manners...

You asshole!

Step outside!

Say that again,

you literary has-been!

As much as you like,

Suzuki Auto!

What the hell!

You never even went to war!

You never even

read Russian literature!

That's enough!

This is hardly the time for it

ln any case, the point is

to stay calm

They may just have gotten

involved in a minor accident

Exactly

What do you mean, minor accident?

Hit by a car...

Drowned in a river or pond

Kidnapped

A strange guy was lurking earlier

Why didn't you teIl me sooner!

l never should've indulged

in those silly appliances

Junnosuke!

lppei!

lppei!

You'd better calm down

Getting on?

Or not?

lt's your fault for wanting

to go see your mom

But you suggested it

Don't blame me

lt's all your fault

Don't cry

l sewed a specIaI bIessing in there

Open It when you're in troubIe

What is it?

What's wrong, lppei?

Did you find them?

Any luck?

Roku...

What happens when

you get kidnapped?

Roku!

Honey, Honey...

They'll be all right

Junnosuke...

Junnosuke?

Mister

Mommy!

lppei!

lppei!

Junnosuke!

lppei! You!

What the hell did you do!

Fool!

Mister...

You had me so worried

You and l...

aren't related in the slightest

We're complete strangers

You had us so worried

Where were you

Koenji

Koenji?

Looking for Jun's mommy

Junnosuke's...

But finally,

we couldn't find her...

lppei!

What's wrong?

lppei!

He's burning up

Don't call the Devil

l hate shots

Don't call him the Devil

Dr. Takuma is a fine doctor

Your fault for being dumb

lt wasn't dumb

But l'm proud

you made it back so far

Mommy, your change

Thanks to your blessing,

we could afford to ride

the tram back home

Use it when you're in trouble

l hope you're grateful

l'm grateful...

So please don't call Dr. Takuma

l already did

Oh, no!

You're acting like a real father

Cut it out

But l guess he misses his mother

Can't blame him,

he's still a chiId

Maybe...

l'll become Junnosuke's mom

Hey, Sir, let's get together

lf we got together,

l would be Junnosuke's mother

And then the 3 of us

would be a famiIy

What do you say?

Just joking, no, no

You don't want a tramp like me

No, no, l...

Don't go all serious on me

l was just joking. Who'd want

to live in this Iousy store

Now that we've found Junnosuke,

l'Il go back home

Are you lshizaki san?

lt's just a hypothetical question...

You couldn't advance me next

month's payment, couId you?

Oh, of course not

No, l was just

hoping against hope

Welcome home

Hey, you got anything

you want from Santa?

Oh, l'm fine

But there must be

something you want

Like toys

But...

Santa-san never came to

my house before

But he might come this year

Mister

You don't have to try so hard

Fool!

l've got nothing to do with it

What do you want?

l'll ask Santa for you

ln that case...

Right, I'd like a pencil and eraser

l'll go make some tea

But that's hardly...

So...

That's more Mercurochrome, healing

ointment and bear's gall bladder

Yes, please

What is Santa bringing you?

A baseball board game

That's great

l wonder if Santa's really coming

Sure he will

What do you think, Honey?

l bet he won't this year

He only visits good kids

He won't come, then

Yes he will! He will!

Oh, Chagawa san

Hey, what's up?

We've had a lot of expenses...

This is all l can lend you

ls it enough?

l'm grateful. l'll pay you back

from next month's salary

But it's sure unlike you

to turn to me for help

Money for New Year's?

Yeah, well, lots of things

Listen

How does it feel to have a famiIy?

What's this, all of a sudden?

No, it's fine, it's nothing

Forget it

What is it? Give me the creeps

What's up with you?

Yes, who is it?

Junnosuke, can you go see?

Sure

To Junnosuke

Merry Christmas!

There really is one

Mister, you won't believe it!

l saw Santa CIaus!

The real Santa Claus came

He did?

l always thought he was pretend

But he's real!

Hurry, open it up

lncredible...

A fountain pen

lt's a fountain pen

How did he know what l wanted?

lt's because...

He's Santa Claus, right?

Amazing

My very own fountain pen

Drink up

You were a great heIp

Thank you so much

Did it work?

He bought it completely

Was he happy?

He was overjoyed

He was so excited, l had a terrible

time getting him to sleep

Oh, great

Sorry for asking

such a strange favor

Not at all, l enjoyed myself

l had a lot of fun, great fun, really

Please drink up

lt's on me

Drink your fill

No, that's it for me, tonight

At this rate, l'll get drunk

Thank you

Take care

- Merry Christmas!

- Merry Christmas!

Sorry to bother you

about the costume and all

Don't be so serious

lt's fine

l wanted to do something

for Christmas, too

Besides, soon...

Oh, never mind

What are you doing?

You'll freeze

Right

The thing is...

l wanted to talk to you

What? What is it?

Wait a second

Will you get to the point?

What is it?

Before, you said,

you might want to

get together with me...

Oh, that?

That's what you wanted

to talk about, sir?

l'd forgotten all about it

Um...

This...

Um...

l'd like you to be my wife, too!

Sir...

l'm sorry...

You see how it is

l only had enough money

for the case

But soon,

l'll buy what goes in it...

When my author's fee...

Put it on

That...

Ring you're going to buy someday

Put it on

Beautiful

Let's go

Santa Claus came!

Oh, realIy?

Must be some mistake

Send it back to Santa

He gave it to me!

Morning, Roku

Morning

Look, Roku, Santa-san came

Ma'am, Suzuki san, look...

That Santa guy made it here, too

To you, too?

lf he came here,

he went to Roku, too

This is my first

Christmas present... ever!

Go ahead, open it

lt f eels too precious

Ticket to AomorI

The ticket's for New Year's Eve

Better pack

You worked so hard, you deserve it

lnstead of a bonus

lt's New Year's,

make your Mom happy

Yes...

Shop for Rent

Hiromi

Hiromi, you're there, right?

Hiromi, Hiromi!

She's not here

You know her?

She left early this morning

Heard she had big debts

Her Dad's hospital bilIs

So the girl sells herself off

like some f eudal geisha

Chagawa san?

You are...

This is who l am

''Ote lndustries,

''Secretary to the President''

l'm looking for Junnosuke,

who's here

What do you mean?

His father sent me

l'm so busy!

Tear them nicely

Hasn't Roku left yet?

lf she misses that train she'Il miss

New Year's at home

You're right

What's she doing?

Roku, it's time to go

Yeah

l'm...

returning this

Why?

You're all still so busy...

We're fine. Besides, you've

worked so hard this year

You didn't go home this summer

Show your face for New Year's

That's right

lt's fine

Roku...

They don't want to see my face

When l left home,

my folks were relieved

''One less mouth to feed'',

they said

When l write,

they never write back

l've been abandoned

lf l go home,

no one will be happy

l'd just be a bother

Roku...

What's ''One less mouth''?

Hey!

Go away

What do you think, Satake?

Does he have the right stuff?

Of course, he's your son

You think?

Please

Gee, thanks

This is who l am

lt was 10 years ago

l met her when she was

posing as a geisha

She was a rare beauty

l took her as my mistress a while

Wandered off like an alley cat

l heard she had a chiId

So l ordered Satake here to find him

l've no ties to the mother,

Kazuko

But the child's different

To see my own offspring

living this way...

No offense

l have to give him a decent life

or become a laughingstock

l'll legaIly adopt him and

raise him with wife's chiIdren

You don't need to worry

Please look after Junnosuke

Of course l'll reward your

consideration properly

You're so lucky

Your real daddy

And a rich family

They'll buy you anything

Besides, l'm happy

to be rid of the nuisance

Go on

Leave that behind

But...

From now on,

you only use the very best

An inferior pen isn't suitable

for a member of my family

Take this

Take off

Hey

lt's no big deal

l've just become

my old seIf again

Right

Roku

Do you mind?

Do you know what they are?

They're all from your mother

Read it

She sends us one every month,

without fail

''How's our Mutsuko?

''ls she working hard?

''When we sent her off,

''we were severe with her,

''because any kindness

would have made it harder''

''We don't want her

getting homesick,

''so please don't show her

my letters''

Of course your parents

want to see you

Do you have any idea

how desperately they miss you

Mommy

Roku

Don't panic!

lppei!

Right!

Get on, get on!

Yes!

Hurry, Honey!

Leave it to me!

Kamikaze Taxi to the station!

Me, too!

No fair

You fool...

Mister, thank you

for the fountain pen

At first,

l was surprised that

Santa Claus was real

Later, I realized that

it came from you

And thank you for feeding me

and washing my cIothes

Thank you for

sendIng me to school

Being with you, Mister,

was my happiest time

Junnosuke!

Junnosuke?

Junnosuke!

Mister!

Junnosuke!

What are you doing?

Why'd you come back,

you fool!

You have to go!

Go!

You're a pain!

lt's hard looking after you

Go!

l told you to go!

lt's a rich family

They'll buy you anything

Think of it logically

You and l...

aren't related in the slightest

We're complete strangers

Suzuki san!

Ma'am!

lppei!

Roku!

Thank you!

See you soon

Take care

See you soon

lt's alI finished...

l'm hungry

l want some of

Hiromi's curry and rice

We'll have it soon...

Sure, we'll have it again

Yeah

Hiromi, Hiromi

You're up next

Right

lt's beautiful again

Sure is

Of course it is

Tomorrow and the day after

and for 50 more years!

The sunset will always be pretty

l certainIy hope so

l sure hope so

Cast :

YOSHlOKA Hidetaka

as CHAGAWA Ryunosuke

TSUTSUMl Shinichi

as SUZUKl Norifumi

KO YUKI

as lSHlZAKl Hiromi

HORlKlTA Maki

as HOSHlNO Mutsuko

MOTAl Masako

as OOTA Kin

MlURA Tomokazu

as Dr. TAKUMA Shirou

YAKUSHlMARU Hiroko

as SUZUKl Tomoe

Based on : San-chome no Yuhi

( Shogakukan Big Comic) by : SAlGAN Ryohei

Screenplay : YAMAZAKI Takashi

and KOSAWA Ryota

Composer : SATO Naoki

Theme Song : D-51 ''ALWAYS''

Executive Producers :

ABE Shuji and OKUD A Seiji

Producers : ANDO Chikahiro,

TAKAHASHl Nozomu and MORlYA Keiichiro

Line Producer : TAKEUCHl Shouichi

Cinematography : SHlBASAKl Kozo

Lighting : MlZUNO Kenichi

Sound Recording : TSURUMAKl Hitoshi

Production Designer : JOJO Anri

Props : TATSUTA Tetsuji

VFX Director : SHlBUYA Kiyoko

Editor : MIYAJlMA Ryuji

Sound FX Design : SHlBAZAKl Kenji

EngIish subtitles : Linda Hoaglund

Production Companies : NTV/ ROBOT/

SHOGAKUKAN/ VAP/ TOHO/ DENTSU/ YTV/

THE YOMIURl SHIMBUN/ SHIROGUMI/ IMAGICA

Planning & Production : ROBOT

Director and VFX :

YAMAZAKl Takashi

?2005 NTV/ ROBOT/ SHOGAKUKAN/ VAP/

TOHO/ DENTSU/ YTV/ THE YOMlURl SHlMBUN/

SHlROGUMl/ IMAGlCA