Turning Point (1994) - full transcript

SHOCHIKU FILMS

A Shochiku, TV Tokyo, AMUSE,
Nippan Group Holdings Co-Production

During production,

we took excerpts from Noboru
Nakamura's film "I'm Waiting for You",

and they play an
important part in the story.

We wish to extend our gratitude
to Nakamura and his team.

Executive Producer:
Nobuyoshi Ôtani

Producer:
Shigehiro Nakagawa

Based on a novel by:
Saiichi Maruya
- Published by Bungeishunjū -

Written by:
Tatsuo Nogami
Yoshinori Watanabe
Nobuhiko Obayashi

Music director:
Joe Hisaishi



-Starring-

Sayuri Yoshinaga
Masahiko Tsugawa
Morio Kazama
Miki Fujitani

Ittoku Kishibe
Tadao Takashima
Takehiko Maeda
Toshinori Omi
Tsurutaro Kataoka

-Special appearances-

Hideo Takamatsu
Fujio Suga
Sachio Sakai
Mari Shiraki
Hirotarō Honda

Tôru Minegishi
Chin Naitô
Kôen Okumura
Shin Yasuda
Jun Negami

Wakaba Irie
Hajime Izu
Ryo Iwamatsu
Saburo Boya
Keiko Nakajima

Bengal
Hiroko Isayama

-Also starring-

Yumeji Tsukioka
Tamao Nakamura
Takiko Mizunoe

Joe Shishido
Keiko Matsuzaka
Tsutomu Yamazaki

And
Rentarō Mikuni

Director, continuity and editing:
Nobuhiko Obayashi

- A Film Arabesque -
20 cinematic fragements
from a novel by Saiichi Maruya.



Turning Point.
Or: The Adventure of Yumiko Minami.

Tokyo, year 199X

"Are you well?"

"As I lie sleeping, I look at the beauty
of passing days outside my window."

"I am no longer sad."

"The wind is howling today."

"Millions of small, dark-colored leaves
are swaying and rustling."

"This whimsical, desolate landscape,
where have I seen it before?"

"The sound of the wind brings
me back to...

"those memories...
memories with no end."

"Saying I was happy or sad
would be an exageration."

"I don't want to suffer,
but I'm not afraid anymore."

"It might sound strange,"

"but the saddest thing
about last night..."

"was that I never
saw myself naked."

"Or maybe I did?
I just have no recollection."

"I was going mad all night
thinking about it."

"Having my body purified after death,
it was once repulsive to me,"

"but I suddenly started
having second thoughts."

"You might be able to see it
in a flash."

"You might be able to
see me naked."

"I think it would be best..."

"if I was buried in a high place,
with a view of the ocean.

"What do you think?"

"Mr. Ukai,
I heard that you swim."

What? That's awful!
Who's this Ukai?

It's a suicide note.

"To my dearest Mr. Ukai."

But there's no first name,
it's from a novel.

Why don't you read
a book or two, Mom?

I want to, but...

You read newspapers all day...

And write newspaper articles...

It's gonna be even worse
from now on.

"To write well,
you need to read well."

- Wasn't it you who said that, Mom?
- That's right.

- Ah, let me do that.
- Thanks for the meal.

- My classes start in the
afternoon today. - Okay then.

You'll get fat
if you keep eating like this.

When you get to be my age,
you're more afraid of losing weight.

Did I tell you?

About Satake,
from Woman's pages?

The one who only ever eats kappamaki?
At the Yūzushi in Roppongi.

Yeah, her.
When did you last see her?

On the way back from
a Joe Hisaishi concert.

She's very beautiful.

- When was that?
- I think it was late last year.

Well, since then,

she started steadily
losing weight.

Everyone kept telling her
how envious they were.

And it turned out...

- What?
- It was cancer.

Uterine cancer.

Oh...

They gave her 6 months.

I was surprised to see such a beautiful
woman working at a newspaper.

Ah, aside from you, Mom.

I'll be better off being fat.

No need to worry about that,
Mom. Not with that appetite.

What you should worry about
is our finances.

Stop giving me cheek.
You should sit down and eat, too.

- Can you give me a hand?
- Sure.

You taking boxed lunch
to work today?

That's right.
I might be a little late.

So, just lock up and
go to bed early.

I might be late, too.

- Chie.
- Yeah?

Do you want to meet him?
Dad, I mean.

- Meet with Nakahara?
- Yeah.

Why?

Did something happen?

He was taking his dog
for a walk.

And when he was about
to go back,

he tried to
whistle the dog over,

but no sound came out.

So, he went to the hospital
and found out why.

- What was it?
- Cancer of the larynx.

This was last Sunday, he said.

He called me on the phone
at work yesterday.

"Just to give you a heads-up."

He can't whistle...?

You want to see him?

I don't know.
You sprang this on me so suddenly.

You're right.

What about you?
Will you go to Ōdate?

I don't know yet, either.

Let's talk about
this later, okay?

And take out the trash, please.

- Mom?
- Yes?

Does he have six months, too?

Maybe a year.

Okay, then...

- Mom?
- What is it?

- Good luck on your new post!
- Thanks.

- Congratulations!
- Thank you!

"If you were to visit my grave,"

"please do so on a
moonlit night, if possible."

"I won't need you to
visit too frequently."

"Just please,
make sure you come alone."

"Farewell, then...
Dearest Mr. Ukai."

"Farewell, then...
Dearest Gen'ichi Nakahara."

Sorry!

Excuse me.

- Moving, are we? - I wanted to
thank you for this opportunity.

It's all because of your own talent.
Everyone was in favor of it.

I even prepared a speech
to support you.

- But it turned out I didn't need it.
- Thank you.

Too bad about that.

Just a moment!
Who are you?

Ah, good morning!
Congratulations on your new post!

- Good morning.
- Yes, good morning!

- That's Shirobei.
- And I'm Urano.

- I'm Yumiko Minami.
- Can't tell by the name...

- Its gender, I mean.
- Oh...

I've heard a lot about you.

Me too, I've heard of you.

- Nice to meet you.
- Yes.

Us newbies...
have to stick together!

Good morning!
Nice to meet you!

Good morning!

"Us newbies
have to stick together."

Huh?

Look, you've got bubbles
forming up.

- Must be 250... or 300.
- What is?

Your blood sugar level.

But, then again,
that's not so bad.

Before long, your shoes will be
all white from pee droplets.

That's how you know...
That you're a diabetic.

No, I'm not really...

It's getting close now...
Zenimaru's arrest.

I think we can expect
some tremors down the line.

"Year upon year,
the flowers stay the same,"

"year after year,
the humans always change."

"A word for rosy-cheeked youths
in their prime."

"Have pity on half-dead,
white-haired elders."

"Goshū" - mutual benefit.
You call it "reciprocity" in English.

- Right?
- Huh? Right, yes.

You might say that terms like
"mutual relationship" and "reciprocity"

are just polite ways of
framing the exchange of gifts.

Ah, Mr. Urano! Over here!
My name is Tsujimura.

In sociology, there's a theory
called the "exchange theory".

If someone receives a gift, they feel
obliged to give something back.

With this idea of exchange,
you can explain pretty much anything.

Like how we exchange gifts
in June and December.

Or how in Japan...

when you meet someone, you
exchange business cards with them.

Stuff like that
is fairly typical.

So, what about a politician bribing a
constituent in order to get their vote?

That's clearly a reciprocal exchange,
an exchange of gifts.

Politicians get their votes
from their constituency.

And, in return, they do things for them
like build roads and railway lines...

Calling it "bribery" might be
a bit of an overstatement,

but, in general, it is true that
exchanging gifts invigorates our economy.

But, you know, giving of gifts
is like a social custom.

And it varies from
culture to culture.

What's more, placing too much value
on the "exchange theory"...

might lead to your way of thinking
becoming base and vulgar.

So, you mean, like Zenimaru?

And love?
What about love?

A man falls for a woman and
sends her flowers and jewelry.

And then, in return,
she gives him...

No! That hasn't
been my experience.

- Yeah?
- Love...

It's something that's given freely
for eternity.

- Right? Ms. Minami?
- Right.

Well, now that we've ended on
Mr. Tsujimura's romanticism,

let's get on to
tomorrow's editorial.

Looks like we're all here,

so let's start with
the introductions first.

So, from the local news section,
or rather, I should say...

formerly of the local news section,
Mr. Jūzō Urano.

And formerly of the Women's page, also
joining us from today, Yumiko Minami.

I look forward to
working with you.

Now, I'm sorry for hitting you
with this right out of the gate,

but how about we give tomorrow's
editorial to the new arrivals?

No way…

Telling us this on our first day
out of the blue...

- It's a bit much, right?
- Don't worry, Mr. Urano!

They say that the number of people
who read these editorials...

is the same as
the number of people who write them.

- Mr. Tsujimura.
- What?

- You talk too much.
- Ah, very sorry.

Oh, I have a suggestion,
if you don't mind.

It seems there's a lot of talk
about the election these days.

I'd like to see
some fresh takes on this...

from a former member
of the local news section.

That sounds great!

You should have a lot of
interesting material to work with.

We're all here to help.

Oh, this reminds me,
Mr. Tsujimura.

Didn't you say the other day

that you had an interesting story
about electoral fraud?

You mean the one where they sent money
to the opposition party by mistake.

There's plenty of
stuff like that out there.

Yeah, bribery and election fraud
will never go away.

Naturally.
Rather than crimes,

you could consider them as just
another part of modern culture.

Culture?

Why, I've heard that,
during the election season,

there's a shortage of
5,000 yen bills in the banks.

What do you mean?

One 5,000 yen bill
in a brown envelope.

This seems to be
the price of a vote.

Ah, no, no,
what they do lately is...

they stuff a 10,000 yen bill in a fish
cake and hand over the bribe like that.

A fish cake!

Nice, as expected from the
local news section man.

Alright, alright.
Before we go on,

I'd like to decide on what
Ms. Minami will be working on.

I know.

I'll write about special
apartment complexes...

...for company men working
away from their families.

Oh?

The other day, my aunt...

was at a wedding reception
of her friend's grandchild.

And she heard this story from someone
sitting next to her at the same table.

- Your aunt?
- Her aunt! Lovely.

That man was the manager of the
Takamatsu branch of a certain company.

He lives alone in Takamatsu
with his wife and child back in Tokyo.

And being able to stay
at these studio apartments

is apparently very convenient.

There's only one room,
so it's a bit cramped.

But there's a cafeteria
on the first floor

where you can eat
breakfast and dinner,

So, you don't need to worry about
an unbalanced diet.

Of course, for dinner, he'll often go
to a restaurant on company business.

But just being able to eat lots
of vegetables for breakfast,

it makes a big difference.

Certainly better than if he was
eating out or cooking for himself.

- Is that so?
- Now, this is all well and good,

but there's a catch. What
they make you do when you move in

is sign a contract, promising not to let
anyone inside other than your family.

And if it so happens that
you disobey this stipulation,

you will immediately
be ordered out.

That's rough.

My aunt heard him say:

"Why just recently,
a guy was evicted."

A sign was posted
in the lobby, saying:

"A certain gentleman on the fourth
floor, who shall remain unnamed,"

"has violated the
terms of occupancy,"

"and will be ordered to leave."

So, as you know, it's a small
town, 300 thousand people,

and wherever he went,
people would tease him,

as he was on
the fourth floor himself.

"Could that be you,
Mr. Branch Manager, sir?"

And he got sick and tired,

trying to explain himself
each and every time.

So, I did some research.

Do you know how common

these corporate apartment complexes
are in Japan?

How common?

At the very least,
you can find them...

...in Sapporo, Sendai, Kōriyama,
Kanazawa, Niigata, Toyama...

...Shizuoka, Hiroshima,
Takamatsu, Tokushima, Fukuoka...

Wow, that's a lot!

And also about
the cafeteria's menu...

- You researched all of it?
- Yes.

So, then...

"Boiled spinach,
or middle-aged romance,"

"the problem facing
our branch managers."

This is the punch-line
I settled on.

Well, that's fine.

I mean,

that's a very
unique perspective.

However, Ms. Minami,

this seems more suited
to "Hitokoto",

or some evening papers, like
"Zero Hasshin" or "Hōsuncho".

Ah… Is that so?

Well,

you're from the Woman's page,
so it might be...

that we lack that kind of
feminine sensitivity here.

I mean, don't you have some
broader topic to talk about?

Did you read this?

It's an article from this week's edition
of "Shūkanshi Nippō".

A memorial stone for aborted fetuses
was erected in Kagoshima.

This is an excerpt from a speech
by former Prime Minister Yamamura,

who attended the
unveiling ceremony.

- Yeah, I read it.
- It's all crazy talk.

The old man's getting senile.

Actually, I don't know about it,
can you explain?

Okay...

Let me read a part of it for you.

"On March 14th, former
Prime Minister Yamamura"

"attended the unveiling ceremony
of a memorial to aborted fetuses"

"in Satamisaki, Kagoshima, where
he made the following speech."

"The reason we have so many
of these memorial services"

"is due to the rise in abortions."

"It used to be that
women cared for children."

"It is not right to use birth control to
stop us from having too many children."

"Admiral Togo was named Heihachirō,
meaning he was the eighth son."

"Because his mother
didn't have an abortion,"

"Japan was able to win the battle
in the Sea of Japan“

”by destroying
the Baltic fleet."

I see. That's terrible.

Why'd he bring up
Admiral Togo like that?

Because he was in Kagoshima.
That's where the admiral was from.

And his generation loves
the Russo-Japanese War.

In other words, doesn't this mean
that the old man believes

today's women don't have children
because they hate them?

That's right.
And not because they want...

...to have the choice to bring them
up in the best circumstances.

Basically, he can't tell the difference
between abortion and birth control.

To top it all off,
he said something like:

"If population decline
goes on like this,"

"there will be no one to buy all the
cars and electric goods we produce."

What a crazy rant.

- Excuse me.
- Yes, go ahead.

And you don't have to raise your hand
every time you want to say something.

Alright. I think using these aborted
children memorial services...

for unscientific speeches encouraging
people to multiply is very problematic.

In addition, you can see how
male-dominated Japanese society is

just by looking at the system
of sending workers away

from their families that
I mentioned before.

So, it's back to
transferred salarymen?

That's right.

Will you let me
write about this topic?

While also talking about the problems of
these company wives who got left behind?

So, the spinach will have to be kept
in the fridge for a while yet.

But it's kind of hard to know the angle
from which to tackle this issue from.

What do you mean?

Well, from the standpoint
of religious studies,

memorials for aborted fetuses can
be considered a kind of spirit worship,

and as such, can be seen as
a form of legitimate folk religion.

You can't deny that with the
breakdown of the traditional family,

old forms of ancestor worship
are dying out.

And these memorials to the
souls of dead children...

can be seen as a
substitute for them.

I want to hear your thoughts
as an editorial writer.

But what about...?
You know,

tackling religious issues and
openly attacking politicians...

How do you think
we should go about it?

We can stage it...
as a historical drama.

During the Edo period,
in the Sankin-kōtai system,

Feudal lords from all over
Japan had to alternate between

spending a year in Edo and
a year at their home province.

From the point of view
of their wives,

it was not unlike
our corporate transfers.

It has been the tradition in our country
to ignore the plight of wives.

And the national power of Japan,
both then and now,

has been fostered
with their sacrifice.

In the end, being pregnant, giving
birth, or having morning sickness...

these are all for
the woman to bear.

So. you can imagine
what a tragedy it would be

if we were to forbid
birth control and abortion.

The collapse of the
traditional family is obvious,

but it's still the foundation
of our modern society.

I believe this issue
should be discussed at length,

as it relates to the
prosperity of our country.

I see.

If we argue any further here as
representatives of Japanese men,

it would seem like...

we're taking the side of Ms. Minami's
so-called "middle-aged love".

♪ The problem facing
our branch managers

Right?

Well then, about
Ms. Minami's opinion...

What do you all think?

Ms. Konaka.

You already have half
of the material on hand...

Are you okay with her doing it?

It's okay, I'll be hosting
that symposium

on the role of Japanese economy
in Asia today, anyway.

I look forward to
reading your article.

Thank you.

Then, it's decided,

the second editorial
goes to Ms. Minami.

Deadline is 5 P.M.

I'll look over your writing
once it's done.

Or, depending on the day,

Vice-chairman Fukuda here or
Mr. Higo will check it in my stead.

And so, Ms. Minami,
please understand

that anything you write
might be altered or not used at all.

Yes.

The political situation
is very shaky right now,

so anything can happen
at a moment's notice.

- Understood.
- Excuse me!

- What about me?
- Ah, that's right.

Everyone, Urano will
get the first editorial.

It will be the election story
I proposed earlier.

So, everyone, let me
offer a candid opinion...

Ah, Mr. Hada!

Let me introduce you.

This is Urano,
formerly of the local news section.

And this is Ms. Minami, who
used to work for the Women's page.

- Hello.
- This is Yūji Hada.

He's been writing the "News from Another
Planet" column for the past 20 years.

He doesn't usually
attend these meetings.

Ah, no, it's just that my work
is narrower in perspective.

- What?
- Oh…

I came earlier and took a quick
peek at what you were doing,

but it looked like you were in
the middle of a spirited discussion.

So, I went out for a spell
to have my shoes polished.

- It's very nice to meet you.
- Likewise.

I'm a big fan of your column.

The recent topic about how New
Year used to begin on the 1st of April.

I never realized that.
It's so fascinating.

Is that so?
Well, thanks a lot.

You two newbies
should stick together.

Right!

Someone made a funny
request today.

What do you mean?

A man begged to me.

Please.
I beg you.

- He can't write.
- What do you mean? Who can't?

A new editorial writer, like me.

An editorial writer can't write...

I'm no good at writing.

Though there are college professors
who are like that.

Here you go.

Here's to our 10th anniversary.

- You're wet.
- You should go take a shower, too.

Later. I'm waiting
for room service.

So, what did he want?

Well, if you could just maybe...

- He wanted to know if I could...
- ...Fix it up for me?

- Yes?
- Room service!

Come on in!

We heated it up for you.

Let me tell it
from the beginning.

For some reason,

they tasked us two newbies
to write editorials side by side.

I was so absorbed
with this sudden opportunity,

that I paid no heed to him.

But he would stand up all of a sudden
and go somewhere...

before clumsily coming back
and sitting at his desk.

Well then, you were paying
attention to him, weren't you?

I caught it from
the corner of my eye.

It's so cold.

- Excuse me.
- Yes.

Can you please sign here?

- Thank you.
- Thank you very much.

And then?

He just kept sharpening
his pencil in silence.

His pencil?

He doesn't even have
a word processor.

You don't see that often
these days.

Nowadays manuscripts are all done
on a word processor.

A former star journalist
from the local news desk,

people like him, they're more
suited to field work than writing.

They sniff around for cases
with an almost animal intuition.

They don't sit at their desks
writing manuscripts and such,

they just fly out,
and come back,

only to disappear again.

You could say their lives
run perpendicular to mine.

That's what I thought, at least.

That was very poetic.

Just vestiges
of my time spend writing.

And?

So, I finished my manuscript,
and sent it to the chief editor.

So, he can check it?

I'm representing
the paper, after all.

Here.

"It has been the tradition
in our country"

"to remain indifferent to the
plight of these wives..."

To put it more bluntly,
this basically means:

"It's reasonable to expect
these women to commit adultery."

Maybe use: "They're generally
not considered," instead...

Awful, right?

It felt like he was trying to
suss out my inner desires

by looking at the text
I wrote.

Then, he said this.

Sexual intercourse...
Is it for reproduction or pleasure?

In the case of humans,

the evolutionary process led to the
mating season being all year round,

so if birth control
was invented,

we can say naturally that
abortion is an extension of it.

What the hell was that?

I wonder if he thought that putting it
simply would be sexual harassment?

Next time, tell him this.

That same evolutionary process led to
humans having abnormally thick penises.

In comparison, the penis of a chimpanzee
is only as thick as a nail.

- Really?
- What happened, then?

How about "It's Women Who
Give Birth" for your title?

Put something on.

How about you take
a shower as well?

I'll go later.
Here you go.

Let's eat.

Our meal
might catch a cold, too.

Since it's our
tenth anniversary,

I thought we'd go down to that
French restaurant and treat ourselves.

Oh, I see.

Small dishes like these...
you must eat them all the time.

No.

Eating it with you
is the best.

- So, what happened next?
- What?

What happened with him?

The guy you caught
with the corner of your eye.

Oh, it was something.

My, what a mess!

- What's the matter?
- What?

How insensitive of me.
Worrying other people.

It's nothing, I just can't
seem to make it work.

I just can't make
heads or tails of it.

Although everyone said
they'd help me out when asked,

they just ramble on about whatever
and then say they'll leave it up to me.

My head feels heavy...

You probably didn't
have lunch yet!

Ah, that's right, I forgot.

Well, there you go,
that's why you're struggling.

- Oh, wait!
- Now, if you'll excuse me.

Just a second, please!

In the meantime,

could you please read this over?

- What? I...
- Thank you.

- Wait…
- No, no.

You laughed at me just now.

And it is funny, I understand.

But to do it in front of someone
is just rude.

So, to make it up to me,
please read it over.

Mr. Urano...

No, I...
Mr. Urano!

Thank you for taking it up.

So, was it bad?

It's not that he can't write,

it's just that his writing's
all over the place.

And?

How was it?

It was interesting.

- Really?
- Yeah.

This part, though: "For example, one
candidate went so far with begging..."

"that he prostrated in
front of an audience,"

"and he got so carried away,
that he fell off the podium."

Did this really happen?

Yeah, it was a pain gathering
evidence to back it up, though.

But, even though
it's interesting,

we can't publish it
like this, right?

There are some parts that
won't get past the copy editor.

"In the end...", "in the end...",
"in the end..."

It's like a middle school
student wrote it.

Yeah, it's a little rough.

Please...

Please, I beg you.

I'm no good at writing.

- What do you mean?
- Well, if you could...

Just maybe...
fix it up for me?

- What? You want me to fix it?
- Well, there's no time!

And so you saved him?

- What else could I do?
- If you say so...

He begged me.

Your benevolent spirit again.

- So, then...
- There's more?

Yeah.

I just tidied up and was
about to leave, when Urano...

His name is Urano.

Even though the editor was in the
middle of checking his manuscript,

he turned to me
and loudly called:

Miss Minami!

Would you like to have that
milk and sandwich with me?

There's enough for two.
As thanks for helping me.

Go ahead, don't worry about me.

Besides, I have a dinner
engagement tonight.

Next time, then.

It was a poetic scene.

Really,
it had that air about it.

Miss Yumiko Minami.

- What?
- Don't you get it?

I'm jealous.

- Don't be ridiculous!
- Why?

I mean, I did come here, right?

That's not the point.

- Oh! That's right!
- What?

You made me wait for an hour,

so you threw off
my timing completely.

Here you go, congratulations.

For our 10th anniversary?

Wouldn't you say your promotion
is a more joyous occasion?

Thank you very much.

Commemorating the 10th anniversary
of our first meeting...

It's lovely!

It's nothing special, about
what I can afford on my salary.

Are you in the mood tonight?

- Reciprocity.
- What?

Giving a gift, and
expecting something in return.

These theories of reciprocity,
they make humans into something base.

Love is free.

- Oh, we're talking Moss now?
- Who?

The theory of reciprocity?
It's based on his research.

Was that South Pacific, or Africa?

In any case, he figured it out
from some aboriginal customs.

For example, you give someone
a seashell bracelet.

Your soul sticks to this object.
This is important.

The gift is not some thing,
it's your soul.

I wrap gifts in paper and
decorate them in ribbons, right?

That paper and ribbon...

I think they're there to
make the soul stick to the gift.

Is that so?

Well, take it with a pinch of salt.
It's not my area of expertise.

You're so great!

I really admire this side of you.

Hey! I'm not all brains, you know?

I need to study more.
Broaden my horizons.

Your horizons are broad enough.

After all, you can see a man
with only a corner of your eye.

I'm going to take a shower.

However, I'll be going
back before dawn.

Why? Your daughter?

I want to see the morning paper
as soon as it's out.

You can see it at the hotel.

I want to read it properly at home.
As soon as it's delivered.

"It's Women Who Give Birth."
Feminist stuff again?

Look, it'll fit better this way.

Leave it! It's untouchable.

Mr. Yama!
We're done with the editorial.

What, you were here?

Minami here.

Oh, hi, aunt!

It's the aunt from Ningyōchō.

Yeah, it's me, Yumiko.
Yumiko.

She mistook me for you again.

You read the newspaper?

Oh, my!
But why are you calling?

What?

Chie?

Yeah, that's right,
I wrote it.

Yeah, that's right,
it was me...

Yes. Yes.
Yes...

Yes.

Yes.

Alright.

Thank you.

Alright... Until next time.

Goodbye.

This is great, Mom.

Don't they say
"Dog bites a man is no news,

"but man bites dog,
that's a story," though?

If that's the case,
you could go with:

"It's Men Who Give Birth."
But you can't well do that.

What's wrong, Mom?

I made a mistake.

What did you do?

Tōgō Heihachirō.

Tōgō Heihachirō?

"Even though he was the eighth son,
his parents wouldn't abort,"

"and that's why he became a marshal
and beat Russia," you mean this?

- What about him?
- I made an error.

- Wait, he lost to Russia?
- No, he did beat the Russians.

Of course...
I learned that in school.

He was the fourth son.

Fourth son?

Fourth son among
five boys and one girl.

He was born as Chūgorō,
then he changed it to Saneyoshi,

then finally to Heihachirō.

Aunt said she called to let me know
before everyone noticed the mistake.

But the newspaper is
all over Japan by now.

Yeah, I know...
Too bad.

But, you know, it doesn't
have your name here.

And that makes it
the opinion of the newspaper.

I see...

So, what now?
Can they demote you back?

I don't think so.

I'm gonna go to the
office early and see.

But it's still too soon!

Didn't you say that the editorial people
come to the office around 11?

So, just stay here until then,
read the newspaper.

But if something happened,
they'll all come early.

I'll go ahead and wait for them.

But let's eat first.

Let's have breakfast.

Wash your face and
come eat with me.

Alright.

You came in late yesterday?

I wasn't late!
I got home exactly at 9:30.

He sent me back.

Takero treats me like a child.

That's how I get peace of mind.

Well, you have too much of it.

A train will be arriving
on track number one shortly.

Well, you know.

This was a statement by
former Prime Minister Yamamura,

and we were just quoting it.

But the fact that I quoted it
and was still ignorant of it,

I guess it's inexcusable...

No, no, no...
Well, I mean, if that's the case,

the same can be applied to our
chief editor and editorial writers.

Following that logic, the whole
newspaper did something inexcusable.

I'm so sorry.

This is now just a matter of a
writer's sense of responsibility.

Your own self-reflection.

And an error for the whole team
to reflect on, too.

Let's report it like that
to the chief editor.

- Okay?
- Alright.

Right...

"Those in the know, don't panic,
those that aren't, will panic."

Mr. Fukuda, he didn't know himself.
That's why he was so flustered.

We're not all-knowing gods.

If this is unforgivable,

then writing itself is unforgivable
for us lowly mortals.

Well, that's another
theory at least.

- Ni Hao! (Hello!)
- Ni Hao! (Hello!)

- Good morning!
- Thank you!

It's great!
I read it many times.

I've been going over it
since this morning, too.

This: "Often referred to
as a master of elections,"

"in this case, his mastery is akin
to that an athlete like Nagashima"

"shows on baseball grounds".

No, it's very clever.

I'm impressed you used
Nagashima like this.

But, I messed up on my end.

Tōgō Heihachirō is a fourth son.

I should have gathered
all the evidence like you.

Nagashima is like
Marilyn Monroe.

Praise them all you want,
no one ever complains.

And, come on!
Yours was interesting, too.

Connecting Japan's
economic growth to sex,

and building a discussion
on women's issues. It's unique.

It is radical, however.
Your position...

Whenever I read
something like this,

I always wonder about
the author's life, what it's like.

Mr. Arima had the
same viewpoint.

By the way, how is she?
Your aunt?

- You know Aeka Yanagi?
- Aeka Yanagi?

- No, no, I mean your aunt.
- Well, yeah, I just...

You know, the one who was at that
wedding reception at Takamatsu.

Yeah...

What? No way!

That was Aeka Yanagi?

Yeah, she's my aunt.

Who is this Aeka Yanagi?

- "I'm Waiting For You"!
- Yeah!

"Lovers of the Silver Screen".

A great star of the movies!

Never heard of her.

No, you see, she's pretty
much retired by now.

- How long has it been already?
- Around 40 years.

I was little back then.

Then, I couldn't have known.

Mr. Urano.

♪ I'm waiting for you,
I'm waiting for you... ♪

Oh! I actually know that one!

She was a great beauty
back in the old days.

Come to think of it,
you have that look about you, too.

Beautiful indeed!

♪ I'm waiting for you,
I'm waiting for you... ♪

Arima! Arima!

Yes!

Mr. Kiriyama!

I brought someone with me.

After our regular
meeting this morning,

she said she wanted
to see the editorial office.

Please come on in.
The place is a bit dirty, though.

A bit dirty?

Come now. I'm the one
who should be apologizing.

Please be patient
for just a little longer.

We're working hard on moving
our offices to a new building.

Ah, thank you.

Let me introduce you.

This is our company head,
Ryōko Samejima.

Our company's great beauty.

You forgot to add
"back in the old days".

And this, as you must be aware of,
is Chairman Kiriyama.

As for our team...

This is Jūzō Urano,
who just joined us.

Local news section's best.

He wrote this
morning's first editorial.

"Brother, you must be cold."

Yeah...

I have high hopes for you.

Next, from the Woman's pages,
Miss Yumiko Minami.

She wrote the second
editorial for this morning's issue.

- That was you?
- Yes.

Please make sure to observe society
from a woman's point of view.

Right...

They do say that the pen
is mightier than the sword,

but if you swing it around too much,
you might hurt yourself.

Well, just as Ms. Samejima says,

everyone, please do your best.
Alright, then.

Yes?
This is the editorial section.

- Mr. Arima.
- Coming!

- Miss Minami?
- Yes?

Hello? Arima here.

- I'm on the line.
- What?

- Yeah.
- Yes.

- Yeah.
- Ah...

Yes.

It's been a while.

In sad times, I always
miss my old friends.

Am I bothering you?

Hey!

Thanks for calling
the other day.

It made me happy.

That's great, then.

My dog died.

If you can, would you
accompany me to the funeral?

I will.

We lived together for 20 years.

- 20 years...
- Yeah, ever since then.

- "Men, the Pre-Forties."
- Right...

It takes me back.

That was my big break.

I was still in my twenties.

We had this new
department head, who said:

"We're the women's page, and yet
what's women's favorite subject?"

- In other words...
- How come we never cover men?

That was the suggestion he made.
So, after that joking comment,

I immediately jumped at
the chance to do it for real.

Did you pick the subjects?

First one was Kōichirō Ichikawa,
a Kabuki Onnagata.

This man died
soon after our coverage.

The series of articles
became popular,

even though that
was the reason why.

Next were the Japanese-style
painter, Sakon Ogino,

then, Hashinoue,
the novelist,

fashion designer,
Issei Chiaki,

current professor at the Japanese
college of chemistry, Akio Ōhira,

and Dr. Harumi,
cancer specialist.

There were politicians, too, right?

Like Renji Gotō, currently
of the ruling party.

Deputy foreign minister,
Narinao Yajima...

And film director,
Kazumasa Shiraki.

They were all young back then...

That's impressive, though.
20 years later...

and they're all leading figures
in their respective spheres.

Yes, and for me, that series
expanded my work.

And I'm the only
one that got rejected.

Yeah, but a story on yakuza...

That's right,
let's go with that!

The department head was the first one
to get on board with that.

That's when we met, isn't it?

You'll need a bodyguard, right?

Honestly, I was a little afraid.

"To be blunt, we do things
that could be considered crimes."

"But that goes for any
business, right?"

You said something
scary like that.

Really?

"However,
we never deal in narcotics."

You were so clear eyed
when you said it.

I remember thinking
I could trust you.

It made me happy.

Thanks.

So, when he read
the final manuscript,

the chief got cold feet.

And I came to apologize.

You came alone that time.

Yeah.

You didn't say anything,
you just smiled.

This is what crossed my mind
back then.

I will likely never be in the public
spotlight for the rest of my life.

And probably never
be alone like this...

with someone like you.

Aren't we doing it right now?

Come, let's get on.

I bought the dog
the morning after that.

And, after living together
for 20 years, he died.

So, I thought you might
accept my invitation.

Was he a borzoi?

You're knowledgeable.

My daughter loves dogs,
so I know...

It used to be known as
the Russian Wolfhound.

They were good
at hunting wolves.

It's a Russian breed,
loved by Tolstoy as well.

Why did you die?

Your first editorial
came out recently.

I was so surprised when
you called to congratulate me.

But, more importantly,

I was so happy to hear you
understood what I wanted to say.

Actually, that morning,
your article...

There was some controversy in your
company's Breakfast Party about it.

What do you mean?

- I am really sad...
- Well...

Criticizing unaccompanied
job postings was one thing,

but disturbing
hard working men by...

encouraging their wives back home
to have affairs...

They thought it was outrageous!

They completely missed the point.

But, they'll be overlooking
the issue for now,

because they fear backlash
from Women's Organizations,

if it becomes a big deal.

However, something
started stirring afterwards.

When you live in the
shadows of this world,

you can see what happens
in the spotlight all the better.

It's probably
not a big deal, anyway,

but if something
were to happen to you,

could you let me know?

I'd like to be of use to you.

But...

"Nothing ever comes for free?"
Don't say such things.

Mr. Director...

I just made you feel uneasy,
didn't I?

What was the name
of that Russian dog?

He had no name.

Names represent a
lingering attachment to this world.

That's why I didn't name him.

Calling him my dog sufficed.

Just "Dog"?

"My Dog."

That woman...
She really yawns.

- So does everyone else.
- No, I don't mean that.

It's like...

Like a flower slowly opening.

If you open it that wide,
your jaw will fall off.

It was beautiful...

- Hey, you're drooling.
- What?

- What about you? Do you drool?
- Nah.

To be honest, lately...

whenever I speak casually,
I tend to drool.

I looked in the mirror
wondering why.

And then, I noticed...

this edge of my lips
is lowering.

So, that's why...

It flows down here.

- As for me...
- Yes?

I can no longer pee properly.

I recently raced with my son.

- You lost, right?
- No, I won.

On account of our
difference in upbringing.

And then, we both
went to take a leak.

And his piss just went
way, way, out.

- It went like 2 meters!
- No way!

As for me,

mine just sputtered
at my feet like this.

Oh, come on!

And that's when I really knew...

in this game, I lost to him.

- I understand.
- What can you do?

Me, I have eye mucus,
and a runny nose.

Everyone has bodily problems
here and there.

Yuck!
Nasty old lady!

- Here's your tofu.
- I don't want it now.

It's strange, though...

almost like it
gets easier to live.

As you grow feebler, I mean.

All right, then! I'll give you
some diapers as a present.

- Old people diapers!
- Ew, no thanks.

By the way, how is it?

Being in the inner circle.

It's boring...

A lot of turbulence in the
world of politics these days.

That's why those guys are
in charge of the editorials now.

Isn't that just as well for you?

Because of them, I lost the chance
to have her revise my manuscripts.

Oh, I see.
That's why she was yawning.

No, she was just under pressure.

Anyway,
it's been kind of weird lately.

People have been
very distant to her.

It's like she touched a nerve.

- By the way, about that...
- Did you find out anything?

Yeah.

- Can I have a hot one?
- Welcome!

It looks like Zenroku
Sakakibara is involved.

- Give me a plate, I'll do it myself.
- Sakakibara?

The chief secretary
of the ruling party?

Yeah. When he was the chairman
of the National Security Committee,

he covered up the fact that
your newspaper's former president

died having sex.

- He died having sex?
- That's right.

Wow, how awful.

So, this Sakakibara,
what's he on about these days?

Well, that's why he
did that favor for them.

- Former PM Yamamura's...
- Oh! That's right!

The Tōgō Heihachirō incident
we just mentioned.

Well, I don't think the
chief party secretary

would act based on anything
that old man says anymore.

What is it, then?

And Yumiko Minami didn't write
anything criticizing the ruling party...

- I think someone got mad.
- Someone?

Yeah, and a source told me
that the ruling party

just had to
go along with that.

In other words,
it's like turning a single valve,

and shutting off the whole system
at the mains.

The chief secretary
putting pressure on us,

I wonder if there's some
weak point inside our paper.

You think there's something
we can do?

Is it love?

Love?

I think you're in love
with that woman.

- That's not it.
- The yawning woman?

Right! He's in love.

That's why he's so zealous.

- No! Like taking a leak...
- If you need to go, go outside.

- I don't mean that!
- What do you mean?

It's like pissing over
a 2 meter distance...

Love is something
young people do.

Back in the day, you know,
I thought I could do anything.

But for those like us,

people counting out
our last days,

such things are and
will remain impossible.

You should fall in love
whenever you can, though.

I've lived for so long,
but deeply falling...

- What was that?
- I've never really fallen in love!

- I already told you this!
- She said she never fell in love!

That so? If it happens,
this would be my first time.

What?
Your first time doing what?

You know...

Sleeping with a
college-educated woman.

What?

What the hell are you thinking?

I'm going to take a leak.

- Are you alright?
- Be careful.

I'm alright.

- Young girl.
- Yes?

You ever been in love?

Just all the time!

- That's the youthful spirit!
- Just keep going!

- A fire?
- I don't know.

Let's go!

Don't forget this!

Keep your head low!
Toxic fumes!

Crouch down! Crouch down!

Forward!
Now get up! Run!

Run! Run! Run!

Run!

Get to the stairwell
down the hall!

Miss Minami!
Miss Minami! Come in!

No, this way!

I really wonder how effective
these fire drills really are?

I always had my doubts
about them.

"Tokyo - New Callings for Women."

"Lifestyle and Opinions of
Female JSDF Officers."

"Land Sharks' Wives."
All good stuff.

I was a fan of your work
on the Woman's page.

Thank you.

By the way, have you
made up your mind by now?

- What we talked about?
- No...

Ah, yes, the British Museum.

They are holding
an exhibition soon,

they borrowed
all sorts of items from Topkapi.

Then, there's the Women's marathon.
Women's tennis, golf...

I'm sure you'll give us plenty more
articles written in your style.

And being department head,
that's no small thing.

I want to continue with my
true calling as a newspaper reporter.

Working in the promotions department
is important, of course,

but it feels strange somehow.

Ordering me out so suddenly,

I just came to
the editorial team.

I heard that editorial writers
have a sort of guarantee

that they get ample opportunities
to do actual writing.

Some of them are still here,
even after retirement.

- It's really strange.
- Then, let me tell it to you straight.

You're aware that
our new company building...

is going to be on land we're
getting from the government?

Yes.

And it's going before the
National Property Commission

where it'll be approved
unanimously.

- Yes.
- This is no longer a sure thing.

If we transfer you from
the editorial section,

we were promised that this matter
will be taken care of.

Transfer me?

So, by reassigning you,

the company is hoping
to resolve this quietly.

- Reciprocity?
- In other words, compensation.

So, when a newspaper company
gets something from the government,

they must give
something in return?

I guess that's true sometimes...

But it doesn't have to be just
about sycophantic obedience.

There's a more journalistic way
we can return the favor.

Like what?

I mean replying plainly, warning
and admonishing them.

Criticize their shortcomings
and correct wrongs.

This reply will feel closer
to what we truly are.

I think it's our obligation.

- And have me commit harakiri?
- What?

Since ancient times,
in our country,

loyal retainers were being forced
to resign from their positions...

...to bear responsibility.
Too risky!

You're too naive.
And maybe too upright.

Even if this didn't happen,

we'd probably have the
same situation sooner or later.

I envy you, Miss Minami.

This side of you is beautiful.

At least, that's what
I want to think.

- But it's a bit too optimistic.
- Is that right?

I've experienced many battles
I couldn't win.

But you see,

obeying isn't always
losing a battle.

You take a step back,
and then win the bigger war.

No!

Yumiko...

The other day,

I took a look
into my son's photo album.

There was a picture in it
from back then.

You know, when we
were at the Ueno zoo,

he was with your daughter...
Was it Chie?

I thought there might be pictures
of you, too, but there weren't any.

In the end,

I am the one
who lost the most.

I'm sorry.

"Brother, you must be cold."

- What?
- I was going to ask you about it.

What did that mean?

Back when...
I was a fledgling reporter,

there was a big plane crash.

Near Haneda?

I remember, I was just
a college student back then.

I rushed to the scene.

I couldn't find any words
to describe the devastation.

I had a deadline to meet,
but couldn't write anything.

Kind of like how I am now!

So, I put my hand in the ocean.

It was so cold.

A biting cold, winter sea.

There was a girl of about
14 or 15 standing there.

"My brother is on that plane",
she said.

And then,
it's a strange thing, really.

Words just started welling out
deep inside my heart.

Plain and pure.

"Brother, you must be cold."

It was used as the headline for
the top story on the front page.

I got an award from
the company president.

At the time, I was working
in the local news section,

and I felt like I learned
something important.

The best source of
writing is on the field.

- Do you know this technique?
- What?

Submitting your article by phone
while looking at an empty note.

I can draw my words from the field
as much as I want,

but I feel that, when you put
them down on white paper,

these words die.

Hence, the mess I
make at the editorials.

- Do you wanna try these?
- Thanks.

I think I've been getting
too provocative these days.

And so, they throw me in the editorials
to have me behave.

Anyway, I'm retiring
in little over a year.

I've always
dreamed of becoming...

department head of
the local news section.

- Is that strange?
- No, it's not!

Ever since I was a kid,
I always loved writing.

I once had to write a poem
for homework.

I worked so hard
at it all night.

I wrote one that I really liked,
and submitted it, satisfied.

The note I got back:
"Your style is a bit garden-variety".

I was so happy with it.

Because I thought it meant my style was
being likened to the beauty of a garden.

I was so thankful for the
divine talents bestowed on me,

but when I started
in middle school,

one time I read what
the expression really meant.

When I found out it meant
"trite and commonplace",

I was so shocked!

So, that night,
I looked down into my garden,

and saw how truly beautiful it was.
I was filled with adoration.

Now, I think my childhood
misconception was kind of sweet.

Because of that misconception,
I'm still here writing.

Ever since then, I consciously
tried to be plain in my writing.

I started avoiding
difficult expressions,

and used ordinary words
to express myself.

I'm "garden-variety".

And I'm proud of that.

This time, however...

my writing went too
far beyond my league.

In my happiness
at being promoted,

I forgot that I was a
garden-variety writer.

I'm scared.

Don't worry.

I'm with you.

Think of it as having a
brother-in-arms by your side.

- Alright?
- Thank you.

- Yumiko!
- Toyosaki!

- What are you doing here?
- I should ask you that.

- I'm on a business trip.
- Business trip?

I didn't know.

I didn't tell you.
It's just a day trip.

This is Yanagisawa.

The college professor who can't write,
the one I told you about.

What's wrong?
You look pale.

My horizons were
indeed narrow...

You mean,
because you only saw me?

But they did widen a bit.

Oh? So you can see
another man, now?

Stop being silly!

- Say, do you have some time?
- Yeah.

During this last election,

the ruling party secretly
got a considerable donation

from a religious group that profits
off of memorials to aborted fetuses.

And so they were
able to narrowly win.

The fixer here was the party's chief
secretary Zenroku Sakakibara.

And the former prime minister

attended the unveiling
of their memorial stone on his behalf

as a sign of gratitude.

However, their
leader got offended...

...on seeing our New Daily editorial
criticizing those ceremonies.

Urano found all this out by
threatening the company's higher-ups.

The man from before?

I never thought
such a thing could happen.

You would have been
safer writing about baldness.

Baldness?
What do you mean?

Man is a smooth,
hairless primate,

but we still have hair
on our heads.

Since you can't remove fleas
and lice from it by yourself,

you have to rely on others
for grooming.

It's a way of communicating
by touch.

However, it's determined
by one's genes

that one day you'll become bald.

And from then on,

the husband abandons the need
for his wife's grooming.

He must keep women away!

Why women?

It's been proven that male hormones
are stronger with bald men.

If this goes on and
the husband has many children,

someday, he'll be all spent
by the time they're all raised.

Your child is your
genetic copy,

and protecting it
means protecting yourself.

So, you make yourself bald
and keep away from women.

So selfish.

Female genes have such
a counterbalance, too.

What is it?

Wait, I know!

- Wrinkles.
- Correct.

You're awful!

- Isn't it interesting?
- All nonsense.

I was a little shocked, though.

- Huh?
- About today.

- What?
- Seeing you out of nowhere.

I've decided not to think about
the you that lives in Sendai.

Even though I sometimes
can't help but think about it.

But the you that exists when
you come here to Tokyo,

I thought I knew everything
about that part of you.

So, seeing you today
felt like seeing a stranger.

It was a sudden business trip.

And I couldn't stay, so I thought
there was no point in calling you.

That's the kind of
relationship we have...

Hey, hey.

Oh, right!
My wife knows!

- About me?
- No, no way.

- She knows him.
- Knows who?

- Zenroku Sakakibara.
- The chief secretary?

He's from Sendai.

My wife and his wife
drink tea together.

Should I go meet him?

What would you do?

"The elephant's penis, when erect,
exceeds 1 meter in length,"

"when aroused, its tip gradually
takes an elliptical shape,"

"25 centimeters in diameter."

"What sets them apart
from other animals,"

"is that they can move
this giant penis by will."

"How about that,
Mr. Chief Secretary?"

"You can also move this giant
society by the power of your will."

No good?

How is it?
Our little elephant?

It's fine... It's sitting
on a table at home.

Chie wants it.

Your daughter...

She's a strange girl.

She's a pampered kid,
and loves walking in the rain.

- Did you finish it?
- Yeah.

Is it a love letter?

Can you believe it?

That there's someone in this world
who looks exactly like me?

What?

I have a sister in Ōdate...
Akita prefecture.

- Really?
- Only one difference between us.

- She was born from a different mother.
- Yeah?

I never met her.

- Isn't that awful?
- Yeah.

- I will never see her.
- Yeah.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

Can't you say anything else?

Yeah.

Come on!

- That's right!
- What?

You are like your dad.

That’s where this is going.

How do I look?

I borrowed it from my mom,
without telling her.

You know, mom will eat
even when dressed like this.

Even when my
grandma passed away,

first she ate a whole
lot of donburi for lunch.

Then, she cried all night long.

But she has no appetite these days.
Something was going on.

And then, I finally
got it out of her.

When I confronted her,
she looked at me like a rabbit.

- A rabbit?
- You know.

- Like a cornered rabbit.
- Oh, yeah...

She tried to stay composed,
but I knew right away.

All of a sudden, it felt like
she was getting smaller.

Why have me wear mourning
clothes today, though?

I don't know. This is how
my uncle always did it.

He just says what he wants,
and that's it.

He must be a great
person, though.

The big politicians all seem to
fight over his calligraphy.

And yet, after just
seeing a picture of me,

he wrote something for me
on this fan.

Just for ladies he takes a liking to.
He writes them right away.

Did I really look that good
on that tea party picture?

I think you looked
like his mother.

The old man lost his mother
when he was a kid.

And he spent his whole life as a
bachelor, cherishing her memory.

How romantic!

And you being my fiancé...
My mother showed him that picture.

The only reason he accepted this today
was you asking him.

I thought for sure
he was gonna refuse.

Well, good that he
took a liking to me.

He doesn't seem to find meeting me
as distasteful as you do.

Did you chop some today?
Human bodies, I mean.

I wouldn't call it chopping up...

One day, you have to
dissect me, too.

Strip me naked and
lay me on that cold table,

and then open me up,
belly to chest, with your hands.

Here's the heart, here's the kidney
here's the liver,

these are the lungs.
And this little thing is the appendix.

These are the intestines,
and here's the womb.

Oh, and what a
beautiful womb it is!

And, at the end, you open the head.
This here's the brain.

Then, you tuck everything away
inside the stomach,

sew it up with a thick needle,
and wash it with warm water.

A job well done!

But, come to think of it,
we didn't see it anywhere, right?

This girl's soul.

Chie!

Whatever...

I'll sweet talk
your uncle tonight.

Uncle!
This is Chie Minami.

We talked about her.
She has something to ask of you.

- You will interview him in the car.
- Please.

Mori...

Mori...

Mori... Ogai Mori?

Ranmaru Mori?

Ishimatsu no Mori?

Kainan Mori.

- What?
- Kainan Mori.

Kainan Mori?

He was a prominent writer of
Chinese poetry in the Meiji period.

His son lived in the vicinity.

Every time we pass through this
neighborhood, he mentions this fact.

Thank you for the poem.

Thank you for the poem!

Yes...

"A fresh breeze fans
your emerald brows."

Mother...

The chief secretary is here.

No, no, you don't
have to get up.

I've already eaten,
bring out some fruit.

Alright.

I am sorry for being so late.
Let's relax now.

Please give my best regards
to your wife,

I am much obliged to her.

So, let's get to it.

An editorial writer
from the New Daily

is facing a transfer to
the promotions department,

due to pressure from certain parties.

- Can you do something about this?
- Okay, about that.

I will stop the transfer,
and restore the land deal.

No problem.

Then, you agree to help us?

One thing, though,
I'm not doing it for free.

I need something.
Give me something.

I hate working for free.

My wife went to school with you,

so I'd really like
to be of use to you.

However, in our world,

taking back something
that's already been decided,

is something that requires a great
deal of sacrifice, mental and material.

It drains a man.
You understand?

So, make it worth
my while, please.

- Please.
- So.

By this you mean,
money or goods?

- Correct.
- Chief secretary.

You can't ask a poor scholar
like me for such things.

I have the only manuscript of
an ethology book in Japan,

but you don't have use
for such things.

Oh, persimmons!

When I say "goods", I mean a wide range
of things, like information for example.

How could I have any information
useful to you?

You're asking for the impossible
in lieu of turning me down.

- Why don't you just say it?
- Well...

I guess this is a question
of my worldview.

- Worldview?
- Yeah.

When I'm obliged to someone,
I try to commit myself to it fully.

But, even so,
I would never do it for free.

Free service is no good. Leaves
a bad aftertaste for both parties.

You could even call this the essence
of Japanese conservative politics.

You must have something
that can be of use to me?

- I'll be happy with golfing advice.
- I don't play golf.

Well, professor,
I only have a little more time.

So, please think it over
before I leave.

You sit there.

"Outcasts are we, Walking
the back roads beyond the Law,

"Despised the whole world over..."

♪ Refrain, you must,
from such sinful acts

♪ Those heartless deeds,
beyond contempt

♪ But the blossoms scatter

♪ The flowers fall, By the flash
of the sword that cuts as it will

♪ In the setting sun,
In the setting sun...

"Ah, how vile a trade is ours."

You're getting much better at it.

But it'll look better if you draw
and sheathe your sword faster.

That so? Alright, thanks!

It takes time before you're ready
to perform in front of someone.

I've been practicing this for half a
year, but I still don't get it right.

So, did you come up
with any good ideas?

Where do you
intend to perform this?

At the election committee.

I thought I'd do it
after the difficult talks.

In that case, can I suggest
something gentler?

Ah... For sure.

Well, I say that, but the
only thing I know are animals.

About animal mating...
No, excuse me...

About how they exchange love.

Frogs don't mate, they do
this thing called amplexus.

The male clasps the female
around the back,

and fertilizes the eggs
she releases.

But no matter what, the female's
back has space for only one.

The males clasp
the females' back,

so they wouldn't get shaken off
by other males' attacks.

And it's pitch black all around,
they can't see anything.

The only thing they can rely on
is their own voice.

"Ribbit, ribbit."

For research, we tied a rubber band
around a toad's mouth,

and played various audio
recordings next to it...

in order to find out which voices
are registered most strongly.

The lower the voice,

the less likely other males
will come to attack them.

So, it turns out,

the lower their voice is,
the bigger strength they project.

And thus, we know what
makes a strong frog.

"Ribbit, ribbit.
Ribbit, ribbit."

Professor, I'm sorry,
but I have to go to the next meeting.

- You don't like the idea?
- I'm sorry, it's just...

I'll be off now.

Chief secretary.

I want to ask you this,
purely as small talk,

but let's say
my request is denied here.

Just as an example, mind you,
I wouldn't actually do it.

What do you think
would happen...

if I took the entirety of
what was said here tonight

about how you'd take money or info
in exchange for helping me out,

and disclosed it all to the media?

You can't do that.

If you did something like that,
it'd be bad for both of us.

Please have a look at this.

I'm going to use this
if it comes to that.

Notes on
Toyosaki's meetings with Yumiko

Alright, then.

"Ah, how vile a trade is ours."

There!

"Toko": "To steal fragrance,
to have an illicit affair."

"Stealing the fragrance skillfully
with one hand."

What is this?
Why did get something like this?

- I went to ask him a favor.
- A favor?

I did it for you.

I wanted to do something
for you, too.

- You're being ridiculous.
- He has a lot of clout in politics.

They say this old man...

carries more weight
than the prime minister.

- So, what did he say?
- He wasn't really all there.

Instead, he told me about
his memories of his dead mother.

Maybe it's his way of
giving thanks.

Was Takero with you
the whole time?

Yeah... As always,
he didn't do a thing.

Let's return this to him.

If you want to, then do it.

I wonder if he'll understand
what it means.

You know, Mom.

He told me...
he only ever truly cried once.

When he was a student, seeing a
cadaver dissected for the first time.

He says he took great pains
never to cry after that.

I wish I was with
that old Takero.

I'm turning in.

Maybe I should ask
my aunt for advice here.

- Auntie?
- She's actually pretty resourceful.

I watched one of
her movies recently.

It was great!
"Lovers of the Silver Screen".

- Is this your aunt?
- She's so pretty!

No more...
I can no longer lie to my heart.

I don't need anything anymore.

I just want a simple life.

They weren't just
lovers on the screen.

- In real life, too.
- Yeah, that's so sweet.

Good night, then.

- Chie?
- Yeah?

Thank you.

Heart, 330g. Left lung, 240g.
Right lung, 320g. Liver, 850g.

- Left kidney, 150g. Right kidney, 180g.
- Oh, look here, it's your womb.

Your womb!

Why did you come?

I came back...

I came back to you.

I don't want to see you anymore.

I understand everything now...

I won't let us fall apart again.

Hhie, she...

Huh?

- Hhie...
- What?

- About Chie...
- Chie!

She helped her mother out
in a pinch.

Yeah.

You went through a lot, too.

I'm sorry
to drag you into this.

Oh, please,

when you're old,
you're happy to be of help to anyone.

I wonder if he'll
actually see us...

Wasn't it a long time ago?

I'm the one who didn't
want to meet him, you know?

I wonder if I'm asking
too much from you...

And what am I doing?

Somehow, I just feel like
I can't back down this time.

- A oomes ride.
- Huh?

A oomes ride!

- What?
- A woman's pride!

A woman's pride!

That's right!
A woman's pride!

That's a relief.
Thank you, doctor!

- Please take this flower.
- Oh, my!

That's lovely!

In the spotlight again!

♪ Sing a song of sweet love!

Let's pay the shrine a visit
and say a prayer.

- First visit with their newborn!
- Right.

Did I take Chie like this, too?

I forgot.

- Gods have it tough, though.
- How come?

People always asking them
for small favors.

With 5 yen, 10 yen,
50 yen, 100 yen,

I wonder if they
grow weary of it deep down.

Or do they have
a lot of patience?

Giving, receiving,
returning, fulfilling wishes,

I wonder if it's only the
Japanese gods who are like that.

"Blessed are the poor."

You won't hear a
Japanese god saying that.

It's so sad.

He can't help the
woman he loves.

It must be tough and
confusing for a man.

I want a man like that.

It's hard on women, too.

♪ I wish I could die like this...

I wonder what he's
dreaming about.

Aeka Yanagi?

Yumiko Minami, I'm with her.
I'm her niece.

Alright, go on please.

We've been waiting for you.

As I told you on the phone,
you can't wear high heels.

We're not.

Please wear these instead.

- No way.
- Right...

The PM told me
you'd probably say that.

Fujimura, secretary to
prime minister Tamaru.

Please follow me.

A surveillance camera.
It catches any motion.

Right now,
it's recording the three of us.

This way.

- This must be the secret tunnel.
- No, it's just a regular back way.

Is this the hill
with the rat snakes?

Yeah! You're well informed.

Watch your step.

- As you can see.
- Very kind of you to demonstrate.

Here you go, watch your step.

This way.

Are all women guests
brought in this way?

Oh, no, I didn't mean...

I know exactly what you mean.

Let's go on.

Do you recognize this?

When a new cabinet forms,
members have their photo taken here.

Like this?

With a more serious face.

Alright, let's go on.

This is where we
hold the garden parties.

Plenty of people from the fields
of culture and sports are invited.

- Like Miss Yanagi.
- No, I wasn't.

Oh, I see.

The PM goes to bed at 10 PM,

and gets up at 1 AM
to get back to work.

This way, please.

I will wait here.

- It's unlocked.
- I'll open it myself.

Please wait here.

Shingo.

"I came back."

Please have a seat.

"I came back to you."

Shingo.

Was I... sleeping?

Yes.

For how long?

50 years.

Aeka...

Yes?

- I'm...
- Yes?

I'm hungry.

Is that Banzan's work?

- That's right! Impressive.
- What kind of person is he?

He was former PM Yamamura's
childhood friend and college classmate.

So, when Yamamura got into calligraphy,
all other politicians jumped on board.

If Banzan's hobby
happened to be tropical fish,

this whole country would have been
turned into an aquarium by now.

Is it okay if
I looked around a bit?

Oh, by all means.
Just please don't wander off.

This place is pretty big.

Excuse me.

It's an awful thing,
getting old, isn't it?

Please sit.

You've really become
a distinguished man.

But, just as I thought,

the television doesn't do you
justice in bringing that across.

Being allowed to
talk to you like this,

just because of some past
relationship, I feel happy.

- And yet nervous, as well.
- Stop it!

That's a line from
some monster movie.

Monster movie?

You played a woman
who runs a bar in Ginza,

and you had a request to make of some
Nobel Prize-winning scientist, right?

He was played
by some theatre actor.

"Please, do just one
last favor for me."

You say, all weepy-eyed.

And you can see your tears
flow down your cheeks in close-up.

Oh! So, you were watching
my movies?

Been a while since I did.
When I was young,

I had some lingering attachments.
And free time.

Though, for most of them,
I only saw one half of the picture.

Without even seeing your parts.

Sometimes it was like that...

Good evening.
Sorry to bother you.

Come here.
Follow me, okay?

I've suffered in my own way.

I like it here.

Nice and cold.

Beautiful.

Like a young bride.

You look very pretty.

Oh, but I have a grown-up daughter.

A grown-up daughter...

Madam?

"Wanted more kindness."

My final letter to you?

It was a telegram.
A short telegram.

Because you abandoned me.

I put my heart and soul into it.

- Do you have a puff?
- A puff?

I get it.
Yes, I have it.

I got 500.000 yen
from your uncle

in compensation for
breaking off the relation.

I don't know if that's
a lot or a little money,

But I used it all up
to buy this.

Look.

Thank you.

It's okay, you can keep it.

You can keep it.

Take it.

Okay?

- Do you understand?
- I understand.

You're very kind.

Thank you.

I'm surprised
you kept silent about me.

My uncle was wondering when you'd
come forward 'till the day he died.

He kept worrying over it.

- Gloria Swanson.
- What?

What was it she said?

The US president who got assassinated,
the handsome one, nice guy...

- Kennedy.
- Right!

She was his father's mistress.

Gloria Swanson?

They always kept it a secret.
But as she lay dying,

she let it all out
to people close to her.

"I knew right away that
he'd be the father of a president."

As for me,

this is the first time
I'm wearing this ring.

I didn't gain anything
by breaking up with you.

Your wife...

Without love, there's nothing.

Say.

Time. Time.
Time...

It's all the work
of that devil, time.

Akae, in truth,
there are so many people...

crawling around in this world.

And each spends their own time
trying to fulfill their own desires.

My job...

...is to bring some semblance of order
to that tremendous chaotic energy.

It would take an eternity
to achieve this.

But, I don't have an eternity.

I am losing everything
right this moment.

I'm sorry for you.

Come, come.

It's so pretty!

It's lovely.

A dangling hairpin.

It dangles.

It looks so sweet.

It dangles.

I can't, ma'am.
It's so expensive.

I won't accept it.

A grown-up...
A grown-up...

For my grown-up daughter?

Still, I'm afraid
I can't accept it.

Please.

Please take it.

I'm Yumiko Minami
from the New Daily.

Alright, dear.

I have important business
to discuss with our guest here.

So, let's go back
to the other room.

Let's go now.

You too.

- Goodnight, dear.
- Thanks.

- I am so sorry.
- It's okay.

I gave my reply
to your aunt already,

though, she may not
be pleased with it,

due to the nature of the place
we held our meeting in,

and the kind of
cautious phrasing I used.

But I can tell you this.

How about it?

I will be happy to attend any
centennial celebration of the New Daily,

when it takes place,
at their new building.

So, we'll be able to have the party
in the new building?

Miss Minami.

Here's wishing more power
to your pen.

Thank you.

Thanks for giving my wife
the make-up.

However,
you didn't see anything here.

I understand.

- Good night.
- Good night.

What's that sound?

My wife's snoring.

Mr. Urano!

That was a great speech!

We can make it
into an editorial.

- Hooray!
- Alright, take care.

- Take care of yourself.
- You too...

- Take good care of your stomach.
- Thank you.

Urano! Good luck!

Good luck, Mr. Urano.
Good luck!

Mr. Urano! Good luck.

Don't drink too much.

- I'm off. I'll leave the rest to you.
- Alright.

Good luck!

Mr. Urano!

I guess this is a sad farewell,
from a teacher to his pupil.

- Miss Minami.
- Yes?

♪ When you marry a
woman, she must be...

I'm sorry for holding you back
for so long.

It's okay.

I have something
I want to talk about.

With me?

Just a second...

I...

Here.

- For me?
- What? Oh, no, no...

What did you want
to speak to me about?

I'm quitting, too.

You're quitting?

- I'm leaving the company.
- With me?

No, it's not like that.

How should I say it?

I used to think that Japanese
newspapers were quite something.

For some reason,

I thought they were like
Western newspapers up until now.

- Ah, it's lovely.
- Ah, no...

It's not for Shirobei,
it's for you.

Since I lost track
of those fundamentals,

I want to quit the company
for a while and reconsider.

And then, after a six month
or one year break,

I'd like to write essays for magazines
or something, if possible.

After we went to all the trouble
resolving everything.

- I'll be going now.
- Goodbye.

I still sometimes wonder
if all that was just a dream.

It wasn't a dream.

Then, maybe I got sick
for a brief period.

It wasn't that either.

Then, it wasn't like seeing a god.

More like a coarse,
unpleasant sensation...

Like a religious
or a spiritual experience.

The freak coincidence
of meeting his wife.

Many things ended right then.
Within me...

I can't say I understand,

but it sounds kind of romantic
when you say it.

I'll take 2 or 3 days
to put my affairs in order

and hand in
my resignation letter.

And you told me first?

Yes.

So...

Will we see each other again?
After this?

No, I won't write anymore,

so it's not that
I need you to fix my writing.

No dice?

It was a very sweet present.
Thank you very much.

I'm sure Shirobei will love it.

Alright, then.

Alright...

Goodbye.

"Tonight, as I leave Clear Creek
for the Three Gorges,"

"I think of you, unseen,"

"I think of you, unseen,
heading down to Yuzhou."

You have no appetite.

Did you eat too much
at the party?

That guy's farewell party, right?

I think...

I've come to understand
my limits...

Your limits in love, too?

The other day,

I received a parcel from Ōdate,
with a bunch of letters inside.

Letters I wrote to Nakahara
during our engagement.

- Yours?
- Yeah.

It was in a closet
at his parents' house.

He said
he kept them there safely.

His wife found them
and sent them to me.

The handwriting
was so different,

it made me wonder
if those were really my characters.

And the writing itself
is childish and sometimes rude.

Rude?

"From now on,
you don't get to pick your own ties."

And then,

I would correct misspellings
in his letters.

That sounds like you.

I started feeling
so guilty over it.

So...

I thought
I'd nurse him for a while.

- Nurse him?
- In Ōdate.

I see.
But what about his wife?

She's very happy
with the idea!

- What? You already told her?
- Well, "strike while the iron is hot".

Incredible.

"You'll be a great help!
You must come up!"

"He'll be pleased as well."
It's what she said.

This kind of thing
would be inconceivable in the past.

I'll go as soon as
I quit the newspaper.

I feel for the man who has to
spend his last days like that.

I'll nurse you, too.

- Me too?
- If you get cancer.

Stop it.

There's no need,
I won't get cancer.

You're worried I might
come barging in to Sendai?

I'm done...

Then...

we won't see each other
for some time.

You'll slowly forget about me.

I won't!

So, will we stay like this,

even when we are
old and wrinkled?

Right?

What about it, Mr. Elephant?

♪ Elephant, Elephant,
What a long trunk you have!

♪ And my penis, too...

Here.

"I want..."

"to screw you."

♪ I'm crying in the rain
below the acacia

♪ You likely won't understand
a heart full of sorrow

Now I think about it,

this is the first time the two of us
are traveling alone like this.

Ever since I grew up.

I'm sorry.

It's fun.

How long will you stay there?

A week, I guess.

To see your hometown.

Help a little
with nursing Nakahara...

I mean, Dad.

Meet the sister
that looks just like me.

- And also...
- What?

Takero is coming
to pick me up.

He is?

- To Ōdate?
- To Oirase.

He'll wait for me there.

You're not mad?

Whatever I say...

won't make
any difference, right?

- Mom, would you say...
- What?

That you're at
your womanly prime?

I don't know...

It's like...

you only know you were there
when you've already passed it.

Oh?

You go through it in a haze,

and before you know it,
it's over.

I gotta be careful.
It's coming up for me.

You still have a lot to go.
And me, too.

When this is over,
I'm going back to work.

Sorry for
taking this time off.

It's alright.

I'm getting a job next year,
so I'll be helping you out after that.

I’ll be able to depend on you!

It's autumn.

Autumn, autumn, autumn...

Come, oh winter!

No matter how far you go,

you see people's homes...

Translation: moonlit_margin
Revisions: pupscout
Re-timing: kagetsuhisoka

Some quotes were taken from
Dennis Keene's translation

of Saiichi Maruya's
original novel

THE END

Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.