Original subtitles

Okiku and the World

Prologue: The People of Edo Sure Can Talk

Late Summer, 1858, Edo

- Just you? - Yeah.

The one who usually picks up dung with me has diarrhea. Probably not planning to work today.

Do you have all the money with you?

Oh, sorry, we're short-staffed today. Only half the money.

Here's fifty mon.

So you collect waste paper, huh?

You picking up dung look down on me?

Why are you looking at me like that?

What do you mean?

Are you collecting paper that the temple doesn't want?

If the paper gets wet, it can't be sold.

How much paper can they give you?

They can give me a full basket.

I think it's all pointless.

Stop talking, you're really annoying.

Ah.

Huh?

You're the one from Kinuta-cho... What was your name again?

Ah, need to use the restroom?

No, not that.

- If you need to use the restroom, we'll make room for you. - I'm going to the temple.

- I saw you bustling over there, I thought... - I'm here to escape the rain.

Ah, you're Okiku, right?

- You're Jiroemon Nagaya's... - Please don't call me by my name in a place like this!

Are you Miss Okiku?

- You are... - How come he can call her by name...

Well... I sometimes collect waste paper to sell.

So, you know each other?

If you collect, I occasionally have some unused character paper, I can give it to you.

Right, I remember there's a teacher who teaches reading in the temple school over here, Miss Okiku, right?

Don't call me by my first name in a place like this!

Ah, with this rain, you can't see anything.

It might be impossible to leave for a while.

Could you move aside, please?

I said, could you please move aside!

Okay.

Okay.

It stinks!

Goodbye.

Thanks for your hard work.

Where are you going to deliver this bucket?

It's going to Katsushika Province by boat.

How much can you earn from this?

Huh, why?

In your line of work, if you work hard but earn little, no one will do it.

You work so hard to collect waste paper, but you can't make much money, right?

Mind your own business.

I need a deputy now.

Leave me alone.

- My helper... - Leave me alone.

- I need a helper... - Leave me alone!

Kameari Village, Kasai Territory, Musashi Province.

Who said I shouldn't handle this?

It's not easy. The Edo mansion is over here. Chuji, push this way.

I really hate going to those places that aren't down-to-earth.

Actually, it's just a very dilapidated longhouse.

Why haven't we arrived yet?

- Ouch, it hurts. - You can't even push properly, you're all over the place.

Look how you're making the cart shake.

It's your problem with pulling the cart in front!

I can't feel my legs anymore.

You're not uncomfortable at all?

Thank you very much.

I wanted to say...

- Take all of these to the market. - Okay.

Let's go right away.

Why are you pouring it all in like that?

I just want to finish quickly...

Move aside.

- I have to go back to Edo again. - Huh?

The river is calm now. It should be fast by boat.

But when we come back, won't it be too late?

Then we'll just unload the poop by the river and leave it to ferment overnight.

Fermenting for two or three days is fine.

Poop, like miso, needs to sit for a while.

That's how "shit miso" is made.

You should laugh now, Chuji.

Big brother…

Big brother?

Yasuo, your hand...

Go wash your hands at the well.

Looks like a big wind is coming.

The river might flood.

We won't be able to go back to Edo.

Hurry up and work. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can rest.

Let's go eat rice balls. I'm starving.

- Big brother, how does this cycle work? - What?

Why do we pile up Poop and then vegetables grow on top?

It's simple. Once you eat something, it becomes a mess inside you, no longer what it was before.

It's a cycle, like drawing a circle.

Kobikicho Jirohama Togaya.

Father, what are you praying for?

I'm not praying for anything.

I'm just praying for money to fall from the sky.

But surely God won't grant my wish.

Father,

What's wrong?

During the hour of the Rabbit (5-7 AM), Father, why did you suddenly fart?

And not just one or two farts.

I don't know...

I guess I'm getting old.

Sometimes, even when I fart, poop comes out.

Thanks to you, I couldn't sleep all night.

Okiku.

What's wrong, father?

You always call me Father... I'm still not used to it.

After all, we're not from a noble samurai family anymore.

Mother is no longer here.

And you're still acting like the boss.

I'm going to poop.

So sweaty.

Chapter One: Invincible Okiku

Autumn, 1858

Oh, it stinks so bad.

The roof is leaking again.

Can't even withstand a bit of rain.

Really.

Can't even withstand a bit of rain!

- This is a disaster! - Oh!

Sorry.

Oh, be careful where you're looking!

- Such a foul smell... - How did the longhouse become like this?

Mr. Landlord...

If this continues, I'll lose my sense of smell.

I've been holding it in, not unloading yet.

The landlord's cesspool is like a sea of poop now.

If a family of three goes to poop there again, it will definitely overflow.

It's about to overflow.

If you can't hold it, just find something to hold it up your butt.

Why hasn't the dung collector come yet?

- His name is Yasuo, right? - Yes, yes.

I'll take care of it.

Do whatever you want, just come up with a solution quickly.

Yes, my husband is about to lose it.

Me too, I just can't hold it...

I can't hold it anymore, I can't control it.

- Mr. Landlord, you need to think of a solution! - yes!

We'll follow your lead, just don't let us suffer!

I really can't take it anymore, I can't stand it.

We can't just sit here and suffer!

- That's right - I have to find a way!

Those who haven't paid their rent have no right to dictate!

Father, let's pay the rent.

Our rent?

Sir, why don't you show off your skills?

Oh... I have something else to do.

You seem pretty calm and composed.

I'm telling you, enduring hardship is a good thing.

What's wrong with that? It won't kill you, right?

Sir, look at me.

I'm just a commoner, not a samurai.

What hardship do I endure? If you want me to endure hardship...

People treat me like a monster, avoiding me.

I've encountered things that are worse than each other.

Some people, their butt just gets deformed after a hit, no matter how you move their hands, they can't touch their butt. I've seen it all.

You probably don't understand these hardships, sir.

There was another time, a person's eyeballs, worms kept crawling in and out, flying around.

At that time, I felt that the world was so miserable...

Let's talk about these things later.

I'm useless now.

When I walk on mountain roads now, my knees tremble.

Feels both numb and tingly.

After I finish pooping and wipe my butt, I feel like my legs and feet are not listening to me.

My swordsmanship is only half-hearted.

Let's talk about these things later.

Okiku.

When is "later"?

We've talked this much, and you still want to postpone it to "later"? Not talking it out properly makes me uncomfortable.

Someone is poking needles in my spine!

Father, this is so annoying.

When others say "East," you say "West." When others ask about the ground, you answer about the sky.

Clearly, you don't need to pick up the leftover straw, but you insist on picking it up and saying a few words.

As the saying goes,

"Father-daughter love is as heavy as a mountain, difficult to untangle."

Do you know how much suffering I've endured because of you?

I'm someone who...

My heart is filled with national affairs,

while love between children and parents is trivial.

That's something people like you, full of fireworks, pursue.

What happens between you two...

Can we discuss it later?

I can also understand what Miss Okiku said.

but what we're discussing is the problem of poop,

and none of you seem to think in the same direction.

I've been dealing with common people for so long,

nowadays, even words like poop, pee, and fart, I can say without changing my expression.

I shouldn't be criticized like this!

Excuse me...

Ah, what's going on? Why are you so late?

If you hadn't come, something big would have happened.

- We really don't know what to do. - Sorry.

It's been raining for so long, we were trapped in Katsushika. The rain is so heavy, people won't let us cross the river.

We went upstream in the Okawa River, took a boat and came down with the current, taking a risk, we finally made it here.

It wasn't easy at all.

- Is this person new here? - Right.

His name is Chuji. He's new and not very skilled yet.

Alright, everyone, let's hurry up. Don't just stand around. Grab whatever tools you can and get to work.

Let's clean up this mess as soon as possible.

There are no tools for me in here.

Ah, what did you say?

I said my tools aren't in here!

I'll go prepare them myself.

Is she going to... clean up the poop herself?

Yeah... that's how she is.

Sir, someone is looking for you.

Shinjiro, everything okay?

Mr. Landlord, why are you going ahead? Are you embarrassed?

This longhouse is quite strange.

These people are quite strange, talking one way and acting another.

- That's true. - Coming to a place like this is worse than going to a samurai's mansion.

You like places like this?

Chapter Two: Regretful Okiku

Late spring 1858

- What? I'm still squatting... - Sorry.

I've been waiting for you.

Tell me an interesting story.

This morning, I felt... a bit constipated.

My legs are numb.

So... tell me a joke to cheer me up.

I don't really know any jokes.

Yasuo, my brother, he likes to listen to people tell stories... He's good at storytelling.

But actually, I...

Do you have any relatives?

I have a sister, Aya...

She got tuberculosis and...

I see...

My wife also got tuberculosis and passed away.

Were you two living together before?

Losing her, I immediately realized

having someone by your side... is good.

But a child like Okiku is quite difficult to deal with.

My daughter, as soon as her hands touch pots and pans,

she can actually cook up a decent meal

Before, when she heard about relatives who were struggling, she would send them vegetables.

She would also make me some rice balls.

One time I said:

Can we stop always eating salty rice balls?

Occasionally, we can add some miso inside." I said something like that.

I didn't say much more.

But this stubborn child didn't give me a single grain of rice to eat.

Finally, I managed to poop.

Before,

I used to wipe with paper... now I have to make do with straw.

Maybe this is my...

...last meeting with you.

It's up to fate.

You know...

what is the "world"?

No... I'm not quite sure.

I feel like I don't even know this word.

Do you know where the end of this sky is?

How can there be an end?

That's called the "world."

The world on the other side, we don't understand at all.

Even if we know this much...

Really,

we're all just a bunch of frogs at the bottom of a well.

If one day you meet a girl you like,

you should say to her: "The person I like the most in the 'world' is you."

That's the highest level of liking.

How should I put it...

you probably don't understand, right?

This is also a long time ago for me,

when I was young and reckless, just a kid.

I couldn't imagine at all how I would spend the rest of my life.

Mr. Chuji.

Have you seen my father? Our family's sword is also missing.

Yes, he was just here using the toilet.

I remember... he did seem to have the knife with him.

He didn't take the main road. Where could he go wearing straw sandals?

- Probably a few people came to fetch him. - Fetch him?

He and those samurai went east together.

Hey.

- Why didn't you stop Okiku? - Huh?

I saw it.

But...I didn't stop her either.

I'm just a commoner.

What business of mine is it to intervene in the affairs of samurai lords?

Don't just stand there, get back to work.

Excuse me.

- Mister, have you heard? - Come in and tell me.

I…

It's truly unfortunate about Mr. Genbei.

But Okiku did save her life.

It's so cold. Come inside.

Actually, you know...

I used to be a very skilled coffin maker.

I used to deal with coffins.

On the way to funerals, there were funeral items and Buddhist implements everywhere.

But now, I'm just someone who repairs and hammers wooden barrels.

It's really hopeless. Unconsciously, I've ended up like this.

Like a tiger falling to the plains and being bullied by dogs...

That's how it is. When someone's barrel falls apart, I have to repair it.

I have become an insignificant little guy...

But you know,

even when people buried underground decay and get bitten by insects, after being bitten, they return to the earth.

Humans,

no matter how good their hand is, in the end, they can't keep anything.

If that's really the case, it's quite sad, isn't it?

After Okiku returns from the clinic, she probably won't be able to say a word.

There's no need to be taboo about it with her!

"Today's sky... has a cloud... right?"

Just speak to her like that.

But... when she comes back,

it'll be two or three months, right?

Maybe even four months.

Chapter 3: Okiku in love

Late spring, 1859

Hey Chuji!

What are you doing?

Ah, the boatmen around here are always active.

a boat comes this way, they'll all be stuck at Eitai Bridge.

After that, they'll come over here.

Uncle Magoshichi, where are you going?

me?

while I'm still able at this age,

I'll hurry back to continue as a funeral director.

But someone cried and begged me to go to a funeral.

They begged me to use my strength and effort to make a coffin.

I should be back. You take care.

Thanks you for everything.

By the way, Okiku is back.

But... she's been staying at home and not going out.

Let her recover slowly.

It's fine to let her be alone for now.

Take care!

Okiku.

we made some small fish today. I brought them for you.

Remember to eat.

Let's hurry.

Okiku.

today is your father's monthly memorial.

I brought some wine. Let's drink together.

I borrowed money from your father... and he hasn't paid me back yet!

Over here,

Miss Okiku

I am filial.

Come, everyone, let's talk to the teacher.

- Teacher! - Teacher!

Teacher, please come back.

- I want to see the teacher! - I want to see the teacher!

Teacher!

Teacher!

Teacher!

Teacher!

Teacher!

We're so sad too.

so lonely.

Teacher!

The children keep asking me when you'll come, always asking me when you'll come.

These children gather every day in the temple's warehouse.

Miss Okiku is still very important.

Even though you can't speak or read aloud,

you can still write.

Even if you only rely on writing, can you continue to teach?

Whether you convey orally or in writing

the most important thing is the message conveyed.

It's just like that.

In areas where you're not comfortable,

you can find someone to assist you.

I feel ashamed to say this,

but I prefer quietly eating rice balls over preaching and teaching.

But the word "人" (person)

is made up of two parts, supporting each other.

So, dividing the tasks into two parts, Miss Okiku only needs to do one part well.

If you focus only on one thing, it can be difficult.

For example, my life is supported by preaching and eating rice balls.

In other words, I can only come up with good words and phrases when I eat sweet snacks.

After preaching, I can eat rice balls. After eating rice balls, I can preach well.

I don't really understand what I'm saying...

The poor monk himself doesn’t quite understand.

Anyway... it's just... being a monk is being a monk.

Indeed...

Preaching is about persuading others. In this respect, I don't really have much talent.

Did you agree?

I really want to eat rice balls!

Is the gatekeeper here?

Excuse me.

Thank you for your hard work.

What, so you're the one picking up poop.

Now I get it. You can go about your business.

What about the previous gatekeeper?

He quit.

Come on.

- Wow, you've been working hard. - Brother

But we've had it tough too.

What, just this little money?

- It's been this price before. - I don't care about that!

Do you think just because we live in a rundown house, you can take advantage of us?

You can't say that. It has always been this price.

Give me some more!

Hey!

Give me the money!

You're unbelievable.

You don't have to worry about me.

Hello!

What's going on?

How could you walk with someone like him?

It's not what you think.

- Sister, let's go. - Okay.

You don't have to care about me or think about me.

I don't want anyone's sympathy that will cause me trouble!

Sorry Miss Okiku

I'm the one causing trouble for you.

The schoolhouse is at the other end, and you came all the way here.

I'm sorry for putting you in a difficult position in front of everyone.

And... you...

Even though it's so difficult for you,

I heard from Chuji.

We were drinking then... he said it's okay to talk about it now.

it stink…

Big brother, someone's watching me while I'm picking up poop.

Brother, what's wrong with you?

Nothing.

It's still early before it gets dark. Let's take a few more rounds.

Big brother, you don't seem very happy. How about taking a day off today?

What did you say?

This is the peak time for manure in Edo.

If you feel uncomfortable, just give up. What should I do if I have trouble poop? Isn't it a waste?

We make a living from Poop.

We can only eat because others can produce Poop. Don't you understand gratitude?

- Don't speak of us so lowly... - What's lowly about it?

If you look down on it, then don't do it.

There are plenty of other jobs you can do in Edo.

I just... saw Okiku.

I said some unpleasant things... if you get a chance, apologize to her for me.

I can never get away from it in my whole life... splat splat splat splat splat

It's because I'm not kind enough... splat splat splat splat splat

The world is a sea of pool... splat splat splat splat splat

(Back home)

Excuse me...

Miss Okiku, I am Chuji.

Ah, excuse me.

I was picking up manure today and went to Marunouchi.

I passed by a kikyo shop and got this.

They don't even know how they got it, but it's pretty cheap.

That's all I wanted to say.

And that's all…

Oh, Yasuke said something he shouldn't have.

He asked me to apologize on his behalf.

I will come again... take care.

Chapter 4: Two Idiots

Early summer 1859, Kasai district

What should we do, big brother?

Huh?

Huh?

why…

don't leave the ones who feed us out of it.

What... oh, sorry.

You're talking about manure. I didn't catch on at first.

- Can you hold on? - I'm okay, just my eyes hurt. What's up?

Big brother, big brother!

Brother!

Brother, wait for me!

Brother!

This is too silly... how did we end up like this?

It's not that funny.

Hey.

You've thrown half of it away, haven't you?

- Halfbei-san, there's a reason for this. - It's because our cart broke down.

Why do I care? You two idiots!

You two, get back to work!

I wanted to let the world taste poop, but we're the ones who ended up eating it!

Chuji, you should be laughing now...

- Huh? - I mean, that was a joke!

Hey... what are you laughing at?

Are you making fun of me?

I'm really sorry.

I'm sorry!

Chapter 5: Silly Okiku

(Chu...)

...ji)

(Chuji)

Chapter Six: Moving Forward

Let's talk about the brave thief, Jirojiro Mouse

who stole a thousand ryo, robbing the rich to help the poor,

light as a feather, flying around with no trace.

- Walking on the river, flying on the grass, only the sound of the wind is heard... - Big Brother

Big brother, in such troubled times, why do you keep going to tell stories?

Is it a way to pass the time while picking up poop?

I want to be a storyteller.

Then tell me an interesting story.

There's nothing interesting.

It's really frustrating.

Summer 1859, Nakagawa

Don't just talk, practice. It's better not to do it at all.

ｰChuji... - It hurts...

- Huh? - Do you have a crush on any girls in Edo?

What's wrong?

I just realized it now.

You say there's nowhere good to go in Kowaramachi, so why do you keep going?

Isn't it because you like working in the samurai's mansion?

You like Okiku, right? The one living in Jiroemon's Nagaya in Kowaramachi.

You like Okiku, right?

Ah, there's a turtle.

What's so special about a turtle? You can see them every day. You're quite observant.

Is it inappropriate to give a hairpin or something like that?

That's too broad.

Big brother.

Whether you use more or less fertilizer depends on how much the other person gives.

How are you? The food you ate before should have come out by now.

I don't just eat to poop...

You know, even though you have a personal status, why don't you live in Edo?

I'm different. I'm a poor farmer and only deserve to drink water.

Why are you looking at me like that?

Okay, I'll pretend I didn't see it

Isn't it because of that Hanbei in Katsushika? He's so annoying, always saying we're not giving enough.

His son is always dealing with samurais, but he keeps making mistakes.

I always end up cleaning up after him.

Do you really clean up after him?

Chuzo, should we be laughing now?

There's nothing we can do. The world is like poop.

After we finish, I'll take you out for a meal.

Eating sounds good.

- After eating, you'll poop and increase the amount, right? - Yeah.

Regardless of who they are, from top to bottom, from rich to poor, everyone has to poop and wipe their bottoms.

Whether they're samurais, businessmen, or even courtesans from Yoshiwara, after pooping, they all have to wipe their bottoms.

Ah... even Okiku, huh?

Stop talking.

Okiku probably poops a lot too.

I said stop.

How does Okiku squat in the toilet?

- I don't want her poop. - I see. It's not really useful anyway.

Oh, it's no use

Now you should laugh, right?

I'm not hungry anymore.

Hey, you've been acting strange since earlier. Are you possessed by Raijin?

- We really don’t have any relatives around us. - There's always a way to deal with this kind of thing..

At least we don't have relatives criticizing us or women dying for us.

I say, why don't we team up and become bandits?

Regardless of whose territory it is, we pretty much know the way to go.

Don't drag me into this.

I've already set my sights.

- I'll show you when I have the chance. - What sights do you have?

The head of the Nagaya, the samurais, they'll all come out to beat you up.

I'll give you a good show.

You're so unsure about me?

Then just find a wife and live a mediocre life.

You'll have to follow my plan, slowly make a name for yourself in the world, experience the thrill of the sword.

Hmm, this is the most interesting part!

I hate this kind of brother

You always liked to brag in the past.

Your mouth is not idle when you're scooping dung.

Even when others talk about you, you're indifferent.

Just now, you were watering the poop, cutting corners.

How come you're so good with words?

I'm embarrassed for you.

The feelings you have are all a matter of your mindset.

Sometimes, putting on a great facade like you do,

people have to pinch their noses when they see you.

When people pinch their noses at you, it's not because you stink.

Hey, now you should laugh, right?

I'm sorry, big brother!

I didn't mean it.

Big brother.

Just now, the turtle!

- Huh? - The turtle.

The turtle...

I'm going back to the boat.

it hurts!

I didn't cry.

I don't understand what you're saying.

Chuji,

One day I'll speak my mind to the world.

That's the spirit, big brother.

But if both of us are gone, Edo will definitely be flooded with poop.

Yeah.

- How about slacking off a bit when scooping poop next time? - Alright then.

Chapter Seven: The World of Okiku

Winter 1860

Good morning.

(Why is your face sunken?)

(And your body thin?)

Ah... it's nothing, I haven't lost weight.

It's snowing now.

When it snows, the world becomes quiet.

I like...snow.

- When you come back, remember to bring rock salt. - Anyway, it's just pickled small fish. I'm off.

But it's really delicious.

- Good morning. - Good morning to you.

- Good morning. - Good morning to you too.

- Good morning. - Ah, thank you.

Good morning.

- Good morning. - You drank too much again.

- Good morning, Okiku. - Good morning, Okiku.

Landlord?

Recently, I lowered everyone's rent a bit, so I can afford to charge a bit more for the bathroom.

With the rent decrease, everyone managed to pay up.

Last month's rent.

I mean, how much can you really earn by doing this?

Why does he seem so timid?

Here you go, the rent.

You should probably gamble a bit less.

Really,

why do you always walk looking up at the sky? You're just asking to get hit, aren't you?

Right?

What's up?

I don't understand what you're saying. Write it down.

Chuji is in... room one, two, three, four.

That one.

Why did you come all this way?

(I was going to bring you rice balls.)

The cart?

(But on the way, the cart hit me.)

(So the rice balls flew away!)

(And they were gone.)

There's rice grains...

The rice balls got dirty... Miss Okiku , you...

Are you feeling unwell?

Why did you come over?

Miss Okiku... is still the daughter of a samurai after all.

With my status... it's not possible.

so…

Can someone like me also do it?

I...can't say it.

(In this world...)

(The person I like the most...)

(It's you!)

If there's a chance, could you teach me those two characters?

Final Chapter: Okiku's World

Late spring, 1861

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please don't hit me anymore!

If this continues, I won’t be able to eat!

It's your own fault if you can't eat.

You're really disgusting.

- Disgusting? - You're the shit here.

- What did you say... - Huh?

What did you say?

I said you are a disgusting piece of shit!

Piece of shit...

It's not even funny... damn it.

Get lost!

I'll beat the shit out of you, you piece of shit!

it hurts…

Go on!

You motherfucker, you motherfucker!

Eat shit, you piece of shit!

I feed you stinky dog ​​shit!

You should be laughing now, you damn thug!

Damn it!

Now let’s talk about today’s topic:

(The world)

world…

First, everyone please gesture with your hands

This is youth

This word, read as "world," has the meaning

That you walk out in that direction...

...and then you can come back from that direction

That's what it means

Where are you going, Okiku?

(The world!)

This is youth

How many times do you want to say it?