All language subtitles for Clouds.at.Sunset.1967.1080p.HDTV

Official selection for the
1967 National Arts Festival

A SHOCHIKU PRESENTATION

A Hyogensha Production

- Here to relieve you of your post.
- Nothing to report.

Let's go now!

Hurry it up!

Hurry!

August 10th, 1937.

Reserve-component Privates
Makoto Kiyokawa and Kazuo Saegusa,

assigned to 5th Squad, 3rd Company,
20th Fukuchiyama Infantry Regiment,

deserted after the change of guard.

Again?

Maybe they longed to
see their pretty wives?

What're their hometowns?

They are both from the same village.

It is Kutsuki, in Takashima
District, Shiga Prefecture.

Alright, put out an APB
in that area at once!

Yes, sir!

Wait!

Remember, we absolutely
must catch them.

If this gets out, it will affect
people's morale.

Yes, sir!

It's dangerous if we stay together.
Let's split up.

We'll take the 5 o'clock train
to Kyoto from Maizuru.

Saegusa, you get on at Magura. I'll join
you from Umezako, one stop ahead.

We'll meet up in the third car
from the front, okay?

They stole clothes from farmers
in Kokai village.

Their uniforms were found
on the Kurotani mountain.

On Kurotani?

If the uniforms
were found here,.

then they are trying
to reach the Maizuru line.

Alright, increase patrols
between Ayabe and Maizuru.

Nakahara, you go straight to Umezako.

Now, where the hell did you come from?

And where are you headed?

Hey!

Hey! Freeze!

Stop right there!

You two, go over to the other side!

- Yes, sir!
- Stop!

- Stop right there!
- Don't think you can get away!

- Stop already!
- Give it up!

CLOUDS AT SUNSET

Producer: Masayuki Nakajima
Original Novel: Tsutomu Minakami
Screenplay: Naoyuki Suzuki

Cinematography: Masao Kosugi
Art Direction: Shigemasa Toda
Lighting: Akira Nakamura
Music: Toru Takemitsu

Recording: Hideo Nishizaki
Editing: Yoshi Sugihara

Cast

Shima Iwashita

Tsutomu Yamazaki
Kei Sato

Mayumi Ogawa
Sumiko Hidaka
Yoshiaki Hayanagi

Kinzo Shin
Ranko Akagi
Choichiro Kawarasaki
Kiyoshi Nonomura

Junkichi Oda
Ayako Murou

Directed by:
Masahiro Shinoda

Well, then, take care
and have a good day.

Matsuno, drinks for the second floor.

Coming!

Matsuno, you have a free room?

- The luxury room is vacant.
- I see.

- Auntie, three more, please.
- Sure.

And down you go.

Pretty lively here.

It's a farewell party.
Here you go, sir.

Must be an army send off party.

If they keep answering to
these "let's go to war" cries,

sooner or later there will be no
more men left in Japan, will there?

That's right.
And I'm one of those doomed men.

- Please take good care of me.
- You're so dirty!

Matsuno, where's that sake?

Coming!

Matsuno, warm me a bath, please.

I'll see to it right away.

You have it tough here,
toiling for that greedy old hag.

- Was that a new customer?
- Yes, it's Ritsuko.

Who is she with?

I don't know him, but he
seems like a lacquer artist.

She must be making good money with
all the men she keeps changing around.

Matsuno, pour me one.

Sure.

- Yes, come here...
- No, stop it!

Right this way, please.

Ritsuko!

Ouch! That hurts!

Alright, I'm sorry!
Let me go, please!

Pervert!

Listen, Matsuno.

I'm thinking of leaving Wajima.

I'll probably get sick if I don't
stop working at this dismal place.

If I keep working as a hostess, I might
be better off in a hot spring resort.

The guests who come
to hot spring resorts,

they all go there just for
a one-day excursion.

They spend their money differently.

Here we only get lacquer shop keepers
and fishermen for customers.

It's bad business.

I've told you this before.

But I used to be a geisha in Togi.

I'm thinking of going
back to that trade.

If I'm going to work in this business
anyway, might as well go all out.

Say, Matsuno, are you
okay with staying here?

Why don't you come
with me to the hot springs?

Matsuno! Someone's here!

Coming!

Brother!

Matsuno, is everything alright?

What do you mean?
Did something happen?

I got a draft notice...
I'm supposed to enlist in Kanazawa.

Draft notice?

Yeah.

I'm taking the last train at 9 o'clock,
so I don't have much time.

You're leaving today?

Isao, wait here a minute, please.

The war's been going on
since last year.

So, if I enlist now, I'll definitely
end up on the front lines.

I just wanted to see you
once before that.

That's why I came.

Mom and dad will be lonely if you go...

I am worried about dad's health,

but this is for
the good of the country.

You shouldn't think
about stuff like that.

This is all the money I can spare.
Take it as a farewell present.

I won't need it where I'm going.

If you have money to spare,
send it back home instead.

I'm working really hard to
provide for both of them,

so take this.

And don't worry about us.

Thank you.

I'll be going, then.
I'm leaving it to you.

Take care.

Isao!

No need to worry about us!

I'll work hard and send them money.

Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

♪ Our loyal and valiant troops

♪ Who fight the wicked in
the name of Heaven

♪ We send them
off with cheers...

You're an idiot,
receiving this letter...

You're not really thinking
about following that tramp Ritsu,

and going to the
hot spring resort, are you?

You can't be serious about this.

Look here.

I took you in, and I've
been taking care of you.

Thought I'd give you
a chance to work,

and support your family back home.

And here you are,
listening to her nonsense.

"Let's go to the hot springs!"

Do you know what hired
girls do in those towns?

Do you have any idea?

It's much the same as
being a prostitute.

Getting sick and dying from illness...

There are plenty of hired women
over there going through hell.

Is that what you want for yourself?

Welcome!

Can I help you?

Madam.

How can we help you?

Can you put me up for 4 or 5 days?

Yeah.

- Take him to the Plum Room.
- Sure.

Come on in.

Come with me.

Where're you going?

To the marketplace.
You're taking a walk?

That's right.

I think I might go over there with you.

It's this way, let's go.

Are you from this town originally?

No... Ever heard of Sosogi?

Sosogi beach? I know it.

You from there?

It's a place called Otani...

When you go inland from Sosogi beach.

- Near Otani mountain pass, isn't it?
- Yes.

They say that, long ago, a man
named Taira no Tokitada

ran away to that place after losing
at the Battle of Dan-no-ura,

and settled there with
his 16 retainers.

It's a poor mountain village.

Then, that makes the villagers
descendants of the Taira?

Yes.

It means noble blood
runs through your veins.

No wonder you're so pretty.

How much is this?

I love stonefish.

Do you like stonefish, mister?

Yeah.

What business brought you here?

I'm a salesman for a
canned food company.

What I do is to go around and
take orders for canned food.

Then, you must have
traveled all over the country.

- Do you know Yamashiro?
- Yes, I know it.

Please tell me what it's like.

How should I describe it?

It's one of the three
big hot springs in Hokuriku.

It also has some nice inns.

There's even one that
hosted the Emperor.

Mister.

I want to go there, but I wonder if
there's any work to be found...

What, you don't like working here?

I have a sick father.

I have to send him a lot of money.

There're a lot of places
you can find work in,

as long as you have
courage to go out and try.

What made you decide on Yamashiro?

I have a friend there.

Right.

She moved from here.

She asked me to come with her.

But I couldn't make
up my mind about it.

It's a good place, Yamashiro.

It's on a whole 'nother level
compared to Wajima.

Mister, if you ever go to
Yamashiro again,

please see Ritsuko, at a geisha
place called "Yamano House".

Tell her that Matsuno from Wajima is
waiting for her chance to come over.

Please tell her this.

- Yamano geisha house?
- Yes.

Okay.

Alright, then.
Thank you, Madam.

- Thank you.
- Goodbye.

The guys at the party today
were so rough.

- Disgusting.
- Yeah, they were so nasty.

Alright, girls, see you.

- Goodbye.
- Goodnight.

Bye.

Welcome back.

You have a visitor, Ritsuko.

What? Who is it?

Oh, Matsuno!
You're here, I can't believe it!

Yes, I'm here.
Please help me out.

I'm so glad you came.

Hey! You know a guy
named Inasuke Kosugi?

Yes, I know him.

We met at a local inn called Kuraya.

- Did he cause you any trouble?
- He's not like that!

We talked about finding a
place for you if you came here,

and he said, since he's a
regular at the Kuraya inn,

that he would take care
of it if you want.

To tell you the truth, Ritsuko,
even after I got the letter from you,

I still couldn't make up my mind.

But, when I got a postcard
from Mr. Kosugi

saying he'll be at Kuraya
for 4 or 5 days,

I decided to take the
plunge and come here.

Then, Mr. Kosugi is at Kuraya right now?

Yes.

Really now? That's great!

Kuraya is a good inn.

You should go there if
you trust him so much.

Look, Matsuno.

Unlike me, you have parents to
look after. You have to be strong.

If you fall into the business of selling
yourself like we did, you're done for.

Well then, Kuraya will do fine.

I wish I could go with you to
help you settle everything.

But I have an appointment tonight.

You'll go out alone
and meet Mr. Kosugi?

I'll go and say hi to him as soon as
I come back tomorrow.

Did you buy all this
after coming here?

I guess.

We were scorned by the proprietress
of Sanoya and everyone there.

Treated us like whores.

I guess that was inevitable.

So, I didn't feel angry at all.

And, to be frank, I have
my own agenda here.

Working as prostitutes
in Kannomachi,

we all toiled trying to pay off our
debts and the prices of our kimonos.

And the one who gets
rich is the Madam.

Working at that place was a waste.

So, I thought, working as a hostess,
taking your own customers,

that might be a lot better.

If you don't like them,
you don't have to sleep with them.

The customers I've taken at
Sanoya were mostly good guys.

And all their money went to me.

So, I was able to save up.

It's how I bought my cabinet,
my dresser and the Buddhist altar.

At any rate, Matsuno,

things are a bit different
since I came to Yamashiro.

I can't do the kinds of things
I did in Wajima anymore.

I might spend some time
with friends, like right now,

but, from now on, my main interest
is in learning the geisha art,

attending parties and getting paid.

Is the one you're going
out with your lover?

It's an old man who's
a regular at the inn.

People here are too noisy.

So, I'm going to Yamanaka
hot springs to meet with him.

In any case, you're not like me.

You're still a virgin,
you need to take care of yourself.

Alright.

I'll work diligently, so I wouldn't
embarrass you and Mr. Kosugi.

Give it your all.

Is Mr. Kosugi your
boyfriend by any chance?

No way.

Fine, if you say so.

Mr. Kosugi is a serious man.

Other customers would often
be rude and grab my butt,

but he never did such things,
he was very gentle.

Alright then, I'm going out.

It's already late,
so you can stay here.

I'll go with you to the
Kuraya tomorrow,

so you can rest easy tonight.

- I'm gone.
- Okay.

Auntie? Auntie?

Excuse me...

Is Mr. Kosugi here?

Yes, he's here.

Hey, show her the way
to Mr. Kosugi's room.

Yes.

Follow me, please.

It's this way.

Mr. Kosugi, you have a visitor.

It's you, Matsuno?

You came at last.

Yes. I was supposed to come
greet you with Ritsuko,

but she couldn't come
because of her work,

so I came here on my own.

Come on in, then.

Alright.

How's your dad been holding up?

He's been drifting in and out
of consciousness.

Ah, sorry to hear that.

If we could only get him
admitted to a hospital,

I think it would make it
easier for my mother.

But getting someone
admitted is expensive...

- You're in a tough spot.
- That's right. Mr. Kosugi, please.

Could you help me get
a job here as a maid?

If you start working here, I'll be able
to help you out anytime, you know.

Plenty of maids here, and the work's
not as hard as in other places.

Also, you get a monthly pay plus tips.

How much were you making in Wajima?

Three yen.

That's awful!

Here you'd get room and board,
and about 11 or 11,50 yen.

11 yen! Thank you!
I'd be overjoyed if I had this.

I could send a lot of money back home.

Mr. Kosugi, can you come down a bit?
Ma'am is calling for you.

Good timing.
Let's go down together.

Mr. Kosugi, here's a written
order for canned food.

Thank you, thank you.

Finding nice girls like her...

You're really good
at that, aren't you?

So, what do you think?

Quitting that low income
canned food business of yours,

and go around finding
new maids for me.

It will be much more
profitable for you.

Stop being ridiculous.

I'm a salesman for a food company,
this is my real job.

I won't go into business
selling girls to you.

I'm being serious.

It's not just this place, there's a
shortage of maids in the whole town.

You travel around
Hokuriku all the time.

You're the perfect
person for this.

Come on.

Why not take some time
and think about it?

You're a working man, aren't you?

Aren't you tired of constantly
being used by your employer?

If you agree to help me
out with finding maids,

I'll definitely make
it worth your while.

At any rate, that girl you
found is so sweet.

Sorry I kept you waiting so long.

Will they let me work here?

About that...

I talked to Oshigi, the head maid here,

and they might be able to take you.

But the issue is money.

We talked about your situation,

and, while she understands
your plight,

she can't pay you more
than she does the other maids.

"Instead of a maid, why doesn't
she try becoming a hostess?"

"It's much more profitable that way",
that's what she said.

You can earn up to 3 yen
in fees on a single day.

Going by that, you can get
80 to 90 yen a month.

So, however high your
food expenses are,

you should be left with 50 yen.

That's how much you can
send to your dad in the country.

50 yen?

Mr. Kosugi, I wonder if there's a
place that would take me as a hostess?

You're so young and pretty.

If you made up your
mind to be a hostess,

any house in Yamashiro
would gladly take you.

Mr. Kosugi.

I'll take every penny I
can get for my family.

I must help my sick father get better.

I think this is my responsibility
while my brother is at war.

Mr. Kosugi, please help me find
a place to work as a hostess.

I'd like to get Ritsuko's
advice on this,

but I'm sure she'll agree
when she hears my reasoning.

Feel free to ask her
advice if you want,

but if you want to become a hostess,
you'll have to rely on me.

No matter how experienced
she may seem,

Ritsuko is still just a girl.

If you don't have a man
as your go-between,

you'll end up being deceived.

You don't want to end up
in trouble later.

Yes, thank you so much.

Alright, then.

Satomi

Hostesses sleep here
on the 2nd floor.

They're all at a party,
so it's all empty now,

but we have six girls living here.

And apart from that, we have about
ten more who stay somewhere else.

If you join us,
you'll also stay in this room.

Understood.

They're all young,
so it can get lively in here.

I heard you were a maid in Wajima,

but I think being a
hostess will do you better.

You'll be making a lot of money.

And you'll also have the freedom
to do whatever you want.

I wouldn't try to tie
you down or anything.

Sounds great.

Well then, I'll go and make the
arrangments with the Madam.

- You wait for me here.
- Sure.

That girl is very pretty.

She'll make a good
hostess with a little polish.

Oshige from Kuraya really liked her.

She wanted to have her
as a maid there,

but I brought her here.

I know, I know.

A poor girl from the
Noto countryside,

sacrificing herself to try and
take care of her sick father.

Seeing noble girls like that volunteering
themselves to work as hostesses,

I don't know why, but it makes
me feel sorry for them.

- Take good care of her.
- Yes, of course.

I'll treat her like my own.

She's too innocent
to be your daughter.

And she may not like the
idea of being your daughter.

Oh, come on!

Is that all, Mr. Kosugi?

Right.

Matsuno.

I had a good talk with
Madam downstairs.

She understands about you
needing to send money back home.

She said she'll treat you
like you're her own.

So, please feel at home
once you move in here.

Thank you.

- I'll be going, then.
- Alright.

- Give it your all.
- I will!

If you have any problems, write
to me in Kanazawa, will you?

This is my address.

Thank you very much.
I'm truly grateful.

Take this.

Even as a hostess, you won't
start making money right away.

- I can't!
- Don't worry and just take it.

I can spare this kind of money
when business is good.

Goodbye, Mr. Kosugi.

Is it okay if I go eat
some noodles at the stall?

Oh, you still haven't had dinner?

Yeah, I didn't eat anything
since this morning.

I'll be off, then.

Udon noodles, please.

Coming.

What's the matter, Ritsuko?

Matsuno?

I didn't sleep at all last
night, so I'm really tired.

Did everything go well
with Mr. Kosugi?

Yes, he helped me out.

I'll go and say hi to the Kuraya
proprietress after I take a nap.

Ritsuko, I went for a place called
"Satomi" in the end, not Kuraya.

- Satomi?
- Yes.

Isn't that the place for hostesses?

That's right. Both Mr. Kosugi
and Miss Shigeko agreed

that if I wanted to make a lot of money,

Satomi would be a better place.

There's no way Shigeko
would say something like that.

You're not suited to that place.

Ask anyone at any inn
and they'll tell you

Satomi girls are a
bunch of loose women.

Why the hell did he take you there?

Now, I'm angry all of a sudden.

When you sent me those
postcards from Wajima,

I remember you writing "I'd do
anything, even become a hostess".

But I didn't want you
to work as a hostess.

You only say that because
you know nothing about it.

You think it's an easy job,
with good pay...

However, it's actually very hard.

First of all, you'll have to wear
a kimono just like a geisha's.

When you come back from a party
with a dirty kimono,

that goes out of your pay.

Everyone pays for their
own expenses.

So, most of the money you
get will be spent on the kimono.

The reason you don't get paid
as much as a geisha,

even though you dress the same,

is just because you don't
sing or play the shamisen.

But the customers still
see you as a geisha.

You'll have to spend the same
money on cosmetics and gratuities.

So, the money you get
may seem like a lot,

but since the expenses are high,
it doesn't come to much.

What are you going to do
about the kimono, Matsuno?

You don't even have one.

Mr. Kosugi explained that
to the Madam.

"He explained", well even if he did,

you'll have to pay
a high rent to wear it.

You won't be able save
any money like that.

And, even if we leave the
cosmetics and kimono costs aside,

say you end up borrowing
them from someone.

Though there are things
you can't borrow,

you mustn't forget the
most important thing.

Here in Yamashiro, unlike in Wajima,

when a customer calls
for a geisha or a hostess,

most of them want to
spend the night with her, too.

Now, geisha, since they
have a proper trade,

they can pick and choose
who they sleep with.

But what about the hostesses?

When you go out to
pour drinks for them,

and they ask the inn housekeeper
to request you sleep with them,

you have to help her keep face.

At this point, you can't refuse.

Having your body defiled little by little
is all you have to look forward to.

If you think pouring drinks
is all there is to being a hostess,

you're dead wrong!

Just try declining with:
"Oh, I'm not that kind of girl".

The housekeeper will start giving
you dirty looks come next day.

I could go on, Matsuno...

Ritsuko, based on what you just said,

you're obliged to sell your
own body as a hostess?

Well, it's not like you have
to do it no matter what...

In that case, I'll hold fast.

No matter how customers try to
tempt me, I won't listen to them.

You say may say that,

but it's not them you
have to worry about.

It's the inn housekeeper.

I'm talking about situations where
you have to do it, or she loses face.

I didn't think being a
hostess was like that.

You idiot!

Look, we do have some
honest hostesses here,

but the Satomi ones
are all loose women.

You come to attend a party, but
you're really there to be picked out.

- Because sex is their true business.
- Ritsuko!

Thank you...

I get what you're saying.

I didn't know Satomi was such a place.

I get that, but I'm an honest worker,
so you don't need to worry.

I did this

because I wanted money
to send home to my dad...

That's why I asked Mr. Kosugi.

Right...

It's because you have
a place you call home.

You really have it tough.

However...

There will come a time when
that won't be true, Matsuno.

And when I think of that,
I feel sorry for you.

I got in this for the money,
and I ended up like this.

When I think of that, Matsuno,

you're the one person I don't
want ending up in such a place.

Do you understand me?

I don't have the right to say
something like this to you.

But, still...

When I think of your situation,

I just can't help it.

Ritsuko, don't worry.

I look up to you. I love you.

I won't do anything to make you sad.

I think of you as my own sister.

I'll be careful when I work, so
you don't have to worry about me.

Okay?
Don't worry yourself, cheer up.

Kiku, lend me that comb for a second.

Is my lipstick colour good?

It's so hot!

I'd love to have some shaved ice now.

- Hear, hear.
- Treat us, will you?

No way! Too expensive.

- Hey!
- So stingy.

Matsuno.

Come on over here.

Alright.

Here, I'll give you a hand.

There we go.

- Hey, Runo?
- Yes?

You think this colour would
look cuter on Matsuno?

Yeah, you're right.

Face up.

The powder on her neck,

wouldn't it be better
if it was thicker?

You think?

Matsuno? When you're done with
your makeup, put on this kimono.

- Alright.
- Here it is.

Wow! It's so nice!

It's so pretty!

Come here, Matsuno.
I'll dress you.

It suits you.

Madam, we dressed her up.

- She looks so pretty now.
- What?

Madam, we're ready.

Come now.

Look at her, Madam.

- She's really pretty.
- You did a good job.

- Looks just like a doll.
- That's right.

Hurray, Sakuji Nishida!

Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!

- Good evening.
- Good evening.

- Thank you.
- Good evening.

- Thank you.
- Thank you.

Congratulations!

Please have one.

It's very hot, isn't it?

- Let me pour you one.
- Ah, thank you.

I'll pour one for you.

Hold this for a moment.

- Here you go.
- Thanks.

What's wrong, Matsuno?
Are you crying?

Seeing how there are people
who get such grand send offs,

it reminded me of my brother who
went on his own and made me cry.

- Have some more.
- Let me pour you one.

- Hey.
- Oh, I'm sorry.

Here you go.

This hot spring was
discovered by a crow.

- A crow?
- That's right.

A long time ago, a distinguished
monk climbed Mount Hakusan in Kaga.

On his way back, he found many
injured crows next to a pond.

So, when he went closer, he found
that the water was very, very hot.

And that's how they found
out about the hot spring?

Right, and because of that,

crows are treated
as important guardian deities here.

So, you could say we're
taking a crow bath?

That's right!

- One more time.
- Alright, here we go!

- Today's not my day at all.
- Yeah, same here.

- What's the matter?
- What's wrong?

- Hey, you're next.
- All right, let's go!

- One more!
- It's no good.

Madam, I have a favour to ask.

What is it?

I got a letter from my mother, and I was
wondering if you could do something.

Again with this?
What's wrong now?

Dad's neuralgia has gotten so
bad that he can't move anymore.

The doctor said
he must be hospitalised.

Now, that's quite a problem.

Madam, can you help me out here?

Well, you see...

I really want to lend you some money,

but I borrowed you 20
yen just the other day.

Let me see...

Your earnings for this
month come to 80 yen.

Out of that, 25 yen goes to the house.

Then, food expenses are 17 yen,
room and board are 10 yen,

and the rental price for
two costumes 11 yen.

The tall wooden clogs
come to 7 yen 50 sen.

On top of that, I gave you
a 5 yen allowance.

And then, if we take away the
20 yen I gave you the other day,

you are 15 yen in the red.

Since it's you, Matsuno,

I might lend you 5 or 10 yen,

but I wonder how much will it
take to admit him to a hospital.

Unlike the others,
you don't have to do some stuff

like dress extravagantly, or
satisfy lascivious customers.

Everyone sends money home.

I wish I could do something, but...

Yes, this is Satomi.

Yes, Ms. Shogetsu.

Yes. Yes, thank you for
your continued patronage.

Matsuno, they asked for you
by name at the Shogetsu inn.

- They asked for me?
- Right.

- Who could it be?
- "Send her over right away", they said.

- Hurry up, get ready.
- Alright.

Good evening.

Ah, Mr. Kosugi!
When did you arrive?

Yesterday.

I have a favour to ask you.
I brought a customer with me.

Good evening and thank you!

Hey.

This man is Kunogawa.

He's the head clerk of
a Kanazawa canned food wholesaler,

where I get my goods from.

- Hi.
- I'm indebted to him.

When I told him about you,

he kept saying:
"You must let me meet that girl".

That's why I brought you over today.

You don't mind, do you?
Staying here for a while.

I don't mind,
I'm not going anywhere.

I'll stay until you ask me to leave.

I hear you used to work in Wajima.

Yes, I was in Kan'onmachi.

Ah, that's a cold place.

I used to visit there often,

but it was such a cold, lonely place.

Yes, it's a cold town.

Still, I was so worried when I came to
Yamashiro. I didn't know what to do.

But I'm glad I came.

It's all thanks for Mr. Kosugi.

This guy's got connections.

Here you go.

You've already gotten
used to being a hostess.

Yes, thanks to you.

You're getting more and more
beautiful. Youth is so resilient.

Mr. Kunogawa, she's good, isn't she?

Yes, she is.

My... You flatter me.

You said you had something to tell me.

What is it? Please tell me.

Well... right.

You're being so weird,
come out and say it!

Ah, Mr. Kunogawa will be in
the Bamboo Room next door.

Come.

To tell you the truth...
There's something I'd like to ask you.

I'd really like you to do this for me.

But since I thought it wouldn't do
to disrespect your will on this,

I decided to ask you first.

What is it? Spill it out.

Alright.

I told Kunokawa about you.

And about how you're
an admirable girl.

These days, finding someone
sending money to their parents,

and taking care of them
is pretty rare.

I can help you out a bit, if you want.

Let me put it this way.

That man...
Let's just say he's very influential.

He's someone I owe a lot to.

He's a kind, respectable man,
with a gentle heart.

Matsuno.

Will you heed my request
if it's alright with you?

What is it?

If you keep working here as a hostess,

I believe a day will come when you're
coerced by the Madam of Satomi

to give yourself to an
unpleasant customer.

That being the case,

why not do that for my
friend and benefactor instead?

That's why I brought
you here today.

Don't be afraid, Matsuno.

If you think about it, it's kind
of like marrying for money.

Kunokawa is a rich man,
always working.

So, he never lets any
girl come near him,

but, even so, he's still a man.

When he heard about a sweet,
pretty girl like you struggling,

he felt he couldn't just let it be.

He said "If she's okay with it, I'll take
care of her for the rest of my life",

and came all the way here to ask you,
despite his busy schedule.

If I accept his request,

will it help you, too?

It might, yes.

He helps me out with my business.

If you accept his request...

I guess my business
with him might improve.

Anyway, no need to think about me.

Kunokawa seems madly
in love with you.

If you're willing to give yourself to
him, then there's no harm in that.

However, you have to take
as much as you can.

I think you should go for 100 yen.

100 yen!

Can I really get 100 yen?

Will you take the offer?

What do you say, then?

Hold on a second, please.

I don't know what I should say.

I feel like I'm forgetting something.

I can see Ritsuko's face
flickering before me.

It feels like...

Like she's staring at me intently.

Matsuno!
Where are you going?

Did she leave?

It's not really like that.

It's her first time, so I think
she went to make up her mind.

She'll come back for sure!
Look here...

You can see she left her bag.

Please have patience and
look forward to seeing her again.

Is that so?

Who knows where Ritsuko
is at this hour.

She's out at a party somewhere,
carousing with a customer.

You're back?

Mr. Kosugi...
Do I really get 100 yen?

You'll get it.

And it'll really be of help to you, too?

It will.

In that case, I humbly accept.

You've never slept with
a man before, right?

Never.

Is that so?

You've been so kind to me until now,
and I've always liked you, Mr. Kosugi.

I wouldn't mind sleeping
with you at all.

But I need that 100 yen.

I want the 100 yen to send my
father to hospital no matter what.

So, just like you intended,
I'll do what that man asks.

But please don't tell this to anyone.

Keep it from Ritsuko, too.

You too, pretend like
you don't know anything.

I don't want you to be here for this.

Go somewhere out of sight.

Is that you, Matsuno?
Come on over.

Come on, honey.

Come, come now.

I'm scared, mister.

There's nothing to be afraid of,
Matsuno. Nothing to be afraid of.

It's something every girl
does when she grows up.

You just have to lay
still and bear with me.

I'm scared.

I'm scared, mister.

Don't kill me.

Don't kill me, please.

Mom!

Mr. Kosugi... thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kosugi.

Thank you, Mr. Kosugi.
Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kosugi.

Thank you, Mr. Kosugi.
Thank you.

Mr. Kosugi…

You idiot!

Ritsuko, forgive me.

So, it's true?

I met the housekeeper
from the Shogetsu inn,

and she said you took
a customer there.

Did you really sleep with a man?

I thought about talking
it over with you first,

but I decided to follow
his advice in the end.

Whose? Tell me.

Don't be mad.
It's someone you know.

I know him? Stop messing
around and tell me already!

It's Mr. Kosugi.

You slept with him?

No, it was his acquaintance.

An older man named Kunokawa.

Did you fall in love with that old man?

No, I wanted the money.

Matsuno!

Look, I know it's your own body...

You can do whatever you want
with it, and I won't say anything.

But, no matter how much
you wanted money,

you should have waited a bit longer.
You're still 19!

It hasn't been that long
since you entered Satomi.

And you go and do a thing like that.

Does your Madam know?
Was she the one that sent you?

She doesn't know anything.

Oh, to hell with it!

So, how much did you get?

Kosugi gave me 100 yen.

100 yen! That's chicken feed!

It was your first time, right?
First time sleeping with a man?

Then, you shouldn't be so
grateful for a mere 100 yen.

He must have taken a lot of
money from the customer,

and then, swiped most of it.

You idiot! You were cheated!

So, is he still staying
at the Shogetsu inn?

He said he'll be here
for a few more days.

Alright. I'll go see him and
get more money from him.

Let me see him try his sweet talk
while I'm giving him the works!

Matsuno, you don't owe
that man a thing!

When he took you to Satomi,
he received a reward.

And now he's trying to pocket
the money for your defloration.

He's making money by passing
your body around.

You can't just keep quiet.

I'll go meet Kosugi and
get more money off him.

It's still not much, but we
have to get at least 200 yen.

Otherwise, you'll be left hanging.
Come, let's go together.

Matsuno, I'll go talk to him alone.

If you were with me, you'd
just accept everything meekly.

Why don't you wait at this shrine?
I'll be right back, okay?

Don't go anywhere and wait for me.

Making fools of us!
He's already gone.

They told me he left
early this morning.

The cheat!

That man's pretty sly, Matsuno.

Right now he must be in some hot spring
resort, having a grand old time.

I know this might make you angry,

but I don't think he's
that bad of a person.

You idiot! How much benefit of
the doubt are you willing to give him?

He was selling your own body,
without you even realising it...

Yes, but he did pay out
the 100 yen as agreed.

I already told you, that's a pittance.

Selling your body for 100 yen,
unbelievable!

Yes, but...

Anyway, what's done is done.
No use crying about it.

You'll have to be careful next time.

Men are always on the prowl.

You sold your precious
body without any regret...

You're nonchalant about it.

But if you end up like me,
you'll be done for.

One person like me in this world
is already more than enough.

I wanted to watch over you,

so that you wouldn't
end up like me.

I'm sorry, Ritsuko.

I needed the money.

Kosugi told me he'd give me 100 yen,

so I suddenly made up my mind.

Ritsuko,

I sent 90 yen
to my parents this morning,

and also
a gift packet to my brother.

The money should arrive home soon.

When I just imagine

how happy my mom and
dad will be when they see it,

it makes it all worth it.

When I look at it that way,

I don't really have a
grudge against Kosugi.

He helped me out.

Matsuno!

When I see you not feeling the
least bit bitter towards Kosugi,

even feeling indebted to him,
saying he "helped you out",

I can't help but feel sorry for you.

I can't help it!

Keep pace!

- Shall we go to the Oyama shrine?
- Sure, you want to pray for something?

- The castle is so pretty.
- Yeah, it really is.

Matsuno! Hurry up!

We don't really get to go to a
place like Kanazawa too often.

I think I might go see a
movie before going home.

Really? I have someone
here I want to visit.

I'll meet you at the station later.

- See you, then.
- Bye.

Mr. Kosugi, you have a visitor.

Who is it?

Oh... It's Matsuno from Yamashiro!

I'm here. Can I come up?

Yes, come on in.

I'm glad you came.

You don't come often to Kanazawa.

- Come on in, then.
- Alright.

You did good finding this place.

I thought you'd be at the
office at this time of day,

so I tried there.

I met Mr. Kunokawa.

What did that geezer tell you?

That Kosugi hasn't shown his
face for four or five days now.

What do you say?
How about having lunch with me?

I'm not hungry, so if you'll excuse me.

I see. It's okay, then.

One of these days, I'll go
visit you in Yamashiro again.

My relationship with the
old man has turned sour.

I haven't been to the office
for about a week now.

I read the letter you sent me.

You wrote that you regretted
introducing me to Mr. Kunokawa.

When I read that letter,

I realised right away what
a good person you are.

And, so, I suddenly wanted to see you.

I'm just that kind of woman, I guess.

I received a lot of money from that
man and sent it to the country,

and I'm truly grateful for that.

I just wanted to come
and tell you that.

I'm bad at writing letters.

Say, Matsuno.
There's something I'd like to ask you.

Was Kunogawa really your first?

It was really my first time.

I was scolded by Ritsuko
about what I did that night.

She was furious.

Of course.
It's reasonable she'd be angry.

I did something really stupid.

I'm glad... It makes me happy
to hear you feel this way.

But it's really not a big deal for me.

It really made me happy.

Oh, it's raining.

It's just a shower.
It'll go away soon.

Matsuno.

Kunokawa had me at a disadvantage,

so I had an obligation
to be of service to him.

I can't tell you about it right now,

but I'd like to lay it all
bare one of these days.

I think then you'll be
able to understand.

But I can't tell you now.

I don't know what it could be,

but you saying that you
can't tell me worries me.

Are you in some kind of trouble?

Are you in trouble?

Something like that.

But I can't tell you
about it right now.

You'll understand later.

You'll understand later, just
don't ask me about it today.

I won't if you say so.

I only came here to
give you my thanks,

and to let you know that
you shouldn't worry about it,

like you wrote in the letter.

But…

But what?

What's the matter?

Don't ever meet with
Kunokawa again, Matsuno.

He might be mad about you, but he's
not the one that truly cherishes you.

You're not the kind of girl that
he can toy with as he pleases.

I know this is strange coming
from me, after what I did,

but you have to take care of yourself.

I regret what I've done.

I regret introducing
you to Kunokawa.

Don't ever sleep with a client again!

Matsuno!

Take good care of
yourself and keep working.

You have a pure heart.

Your soul is virginal.

Please, Matsuno...

Don't let my introducing
you to Kunokawa

lead you to a rough way of life.

I beg you, Matsuno.

I'm so happy now, Mr. Kosugi.

I'm so happy...

Ah... It's so beautiful!

Matsuno, go away.

I'm a bad man.

Leave now!

Don't tell me anything, don't
ask me anything... Just leave.

I'm a bad man.

Excuse me.

You have a girl here
named Matsuno Niki?

Yes, she lives here.

I need to see her,
can you call her down please?

Here's my card.

Matsuno, this man just came.

M.P.,that's like a police for
soldiers, right?

Do you have any
idea what's this about?

Maybe they came about my brother?

- Come on down with me.
- Alright.

What's going on?

I think her brother might
have died in the war.

- No!
- No way...

Did you go to Kanazawa
4 or 5 days ago?

Yes, I went shopping with Kikuno.

So, you were there
to do some shopping?

Yes.

So, was it shopping that brought
you to North Japan Foods?

No, I went to visit someone.

Who was it?

Mr. Kosugi.

By Kosugi, you
mean Inasuke Kosugi?

- Yes.
- And was he there, Kosugi?

No, only Mr. Kunokawa.

Kunokawa is that fat manager, right?

Yes.

Where did you go after
meeting Kunokawa?

I went to Mr. Kosugi's place.

You met at a house in Saiwaicho?

Yes, Mr. Kosugi was
away from work that day.

- It was on the second floor, right?
- Yes.

But I left his place
after about 30 minutes.

I met with Kikuno at
the appointed time.

What did you talk about
during those 30 minutes?

What's the matter?

If you won't be honest with me,
we might have a problem.

If you don't cooperate
with our investigation,

we'll arrest you, Matsuno,
even though you're a minor.

We didn't talk about
anything special.

Just when I thought about leaving,
we had a sudden shower,

so I waited it out there.

The rain stopped soon, and
gave way to a beautiful sunset,

so I set off for the
station right away.

- That's all?
- Yes.

Did he tell you anything
while it was raining?

No, he didn't tell me anything.

Did something happen to him?

That's right.
Something did happen.

We're tracking Kosugi on a
matter of some importance,

but he disappeared right
after meeting with you.

What's this important thing?

It's a serious matter.
I can't tell you now.

He's a dishonest man, that one.
Poor Matsuno...

He used her and played
with her feelings.

She lost her virginity to Kunogawa,

and I'm sure Kosugi took a cut
for making it happen.

After Matsuno told me of this,

I went straight away to Shogetsu inn,
but both of them were already gone.

A swindler!

In the end, she became damaged goods.

- Damaged goods?
- That's right!

She was a steady, honest girl...

I knew her well from
when I was in Wajima.

She's not the kind of girl
who'd follow Kosugi around.

It's because she truly
believes in people

that he managed to trick her into
entering Satomi with kind words,

so she ended up suffering in the end.

Kosugi was working as a
canned goods salesman,

but I'm sure he was also in
the business of selling young girls.

He's the most despicable man.

Catch that bastard as soon
as you can! Lock him up!

If we believe everything
Ritsuko told us,

we know the connection between
him, Matsuno and Kunokawa.

But that still doesn't give us a single
clue on where Kosugi is hiding.

That Kunogawa guy is no good.

You think he'll really
cooperate with us?

I think he intends to.

He knew Kosugi was a deserter
and still protected him.

In return, he got Matsuno.

Maybe he realised his
position would be in jeopardy

if he tried to hide anything from us.

But there're so many
louts in this world.

A man sells a woman, and takes off with
the money he got for her deflowering.

And then, the man who buys
that woman snitches on him.

The only person to feel sorry
for here is the woman, isn't it?

That's right.

And we're going to
sacrifice that pitiable woman.

I just thought of something clever.

By sacrificing that poor woman,

we'll open up a new
method of investigation.

How about this, Mr. Kamoshita?

You go back to Kanazawa
right now and call a journalist.

Then, we can use them to make
our search for Kosugi public

under the guise of chasing
a vicious human trader.

I see... You're right!

The reason I've been up and
running around for a year

without being able to capture
the deserter Kazuo Saegusa

is because
we didn't announce his desertion

for fear of
harming the public's morale.

So, we decided on
a secret investigation.

Fortunately, we discovered
Kosugi's other crimes here.

He's a criminal.

He's a human trafficker in violation
of the Employment Security Act.

In other words,
Kosugi is a low-life now.

We'll fess up about him
being a deserter to the police

after he is arrested.

At this stage,

we must only accuse him
of being a human trafficker.

Go to Kanazawa,

request a new arrest warrant,
and have it published in a newspaper.

But if we do that,
what about the girl?

All she wanted was to
earn some money,

and kept the details a secret
even from her father,

so going public with this will
certainly threaten her livelihood.

Can't be helped.
It's for the good of the nation.

A warrant has been issued
for the arrest of Kosugi Inasuke,

a resident of 56 Susumu Terai,
Saiwaicho,

On the suspicion
of human trafficking

and violation of
the Employment Security Act.

This is because he lured
or forced dozens of girls

to work for him and service his
customers, while he made a profit.

This includes Matsuno Niki,
from the geisha house of Satomi

in the hot spring resort
of Yamashiro.

You sold your virginity
without telling me a thing.

What a thing to do!

What will you do if they shut us down?

(Human trafficking)

Dozens of young girls already fallen
prey to his lust for profits.

We don't have anything
to do with Mr. Kosugi.

You got me in a lot of trouble

by associating with a
no good man like him.

I had nothing to do with it!

I never asked you to give
up your virginity for 100 yen,

nor do I remember receiving
any compensation for it.

What the hell were you thinking?

You need to pack up
and leave right this minute.

You're wrong, Madam.

There must be some mistake.
He is not a bad man.

The newspaper articles are all lies!

I don't want to hear it!

Anyhow, just get out
and leave already!

I'm afraid they'll shut us down.

I don't want people
to talk behind my back.

Go away, right now!

None of my business if Kosugi
is good or bad, I don't care.

Matsuno?

I'm back.

You must be surpised.

I decided to take a short trip home,
while I was in Kanazawa.

You aren't an apparition?

It's really Matsuno.

You grew to be so beautiful.

If you sent me a postcard, I
would have gone out to meet you.

I'm glad to see you better, dad.

Thanks to the money you sent us, I was
able to get in a hospital in Udetsu.

Dr. Saito, a neurologist,

was kind enough to examine me.

He said "EMS therapy will cure you".

Every day, they'd extend
cords from this big machine,

and treat me with electric
currents coming from it.

And then, I quickly started
to feel better.

I got back on my feet.

You were so kind to us.

Thanks to you,
I was able to spend 7 days there,

and now I'm completely cured.

You sent us a lot of money.

It's all thanks to you.

You really saved us.

Oh, that's right!

I don't know what it is,
but we got a letter without a sender.

I thought it was strange they
didn't send it to Yamashiro.

I put it in the drawer
of the Buddhist altar,

thinking I'd send
it back tomorrow.

Open it and see.

It's Kosugi!

Dad, I've got an emergency.

I'll be right back tomorrow,
please wait for me.

I have to go now because I have
very urgent business to attend to.

Do you have money, dad?

We have 30 yen left over from the
hospital bills, we're keeping it safe.

Can I borrow a little?

It's your money. Take it.

I'm sorry, please lend me 10 yen.

I was thinking of sending
this letter to Yamashiro.

But, for some reason, I decided
to send it to your hometown.

Since you're in Yamashiro,

you might not read this before
the Bon festival, or New Year's,

or maybe when you go
back home for good.

But that's fine with me.

I'm writing this to you because
I want to make you understand.

I only want you to
see the whole truth.

Right now, I'm in a port called
Fukuura, near Notokongo.

I really think I wronged
you most of all.

But... Please forgive me.

To tell you the truth,
no good man that I am,

I couldn't take being in the
Fukuchiyama regiment anymore,

and so I deserted last summer.

I escaped the barracks
with one other friend...

Up until now, I've managed
to evade capture,

but when I came to Kanazawa,
I got in trouble

when Kunogawa got
wind of my background.

I was afraid he might talk,

so I spent a whole painful year bowing
down to him, and doing as I was told.

No matter how menial it was.

I also introduced you to Kunogawa

because I was afraid of
my identity being exposed.

All those things I did to you

were because I wanted
to hide my old sins.

Please, forgive me.

It's now been 5 days since
I escaped from Kanazawa.

The crime of deserting the
Army is a serious one.

A disgrace for a Japanese man.

I'm traitor to my country.
They say I'm facing an execution.

I'll be running away
until the very end,

but now I started
feeling like dying

would be easier than returning
to the dreaded Army.

Matsuno...

Please work hard, and take good
care of your mother and father.

And take good care of yourself.

Excuse me...

Is there a man named
Kosugi staying here?

No, there's no one named Kosugi here.

Maybe he's under a different name.

Is there a man staying here on his own?

There are 3 men staying at my place,

but they're all together.

They're all in the fishing industry.

Are there any other inns?

Yes, there is one in
the fishing village over there.

In that case, I'll go and check there.
Thank you.

It's alright.

I'm from the police. What did
that woman ask you just now?

Hello, is this the Togi police?

I'm Kamoshita from the
Kanazawa police station.

I called you before.

Is Second Lieutenant Inumata
of the Military Police there?

Yeah, I said I called
you about this earlier.

Yes, sir.

Right... He still hasn't arrived.

Oh, there he is now!

Phone call for you.

Thank you for contacting me.
I just got here.

Yes?

Is that so?
Alright, understood.

How many minutes does
it take to get to Fukuura?

About 30 minutes.

Alright, I'm getting there by car.
Keep an eye on them for 30 minutes.

Mr. Kosugi...

I want you to stay alive somewhere,
without falling into despair.

I came all the way here to
encourage you and cheer you up.

I'm a deserter.

I ran away from the Army because
I hated the thought of going to war.

Matsuno...
Please leave a guy like me alone.

Don't come any closer,
I'll only make you unhappy.

I don't want to do that!
I love you!

I don't want you to go somewhere
where I can't find you.

I hate the thought of
not being able to see you.

Mr. Kosugi...

- Mr. Kosugi.
- Matsuno.

Just run away, please.

Find a way to escape somehow.

I don't care where,
I just want you to live.

If you think you'll be
lonely on your own...

If you wouldn't mind...

I'd like to go with you as well.

I'll go out and buy some cigarettes.

Golden Bat, please.

- All of them, please.
- All of them?

There are 7.

Come!

Come here.

The man you're meeting
at the inn right now

is Inasuke Kosugi, who's been making
the headlines these days, you know that?

There's no more need
for you to see that man.

He deserted from the army.
He committed a shameful sin.

If you stick with him now,

the Military Police will
arrest you, too,

on the grounds that
you were his accomplice.

- She's running away!
- Stop!

Let me go!

Let me see him!
Let me go!

Be quiet!

Let me go!

Shut up!

Shut your mouth already!

Everyone makes mistakes!

Every person in the world...
We all make mistakes!

Shut it already!

Ritsuko said he was no good.

Madam at the Satomi
also said he was no good.

And now you're trying to capture him.

If he wasn't there back then,

I wouldn't have been able to
help my sick father get better.

Who else was there other
than him when I needed help?

To me, he's a kind, honest man.

I cherish him dearly.

THE END
Translation: moonlit margin
Revisions: kagetsuhisoka, bLoodZ