Original subtitles

“For months, I followed strangers in the street."

"For the pleasure of following them, not because they particularly interested me."

Sophie Calle - "True Stories."

A Double Life.

Put it on.

Well done!

Hang in there!

Come!

That's nice!

That's right.

Come on.

Come!

Come, come, come!

Right! That's it!

Thesis Topic : "What is 'Existence' in Contemporary Japan?" 2015 Academic Year. Department of Philosophy . Master's Thesis Proposal.

Tonight...

Let's eat something delicious!

Okay!

We're going to be super busy from now on, aren't we?

That's right...

Then, let's meet at 7pm,

in front of the station?

All right. See you then.

What should we eat?

What do you want?

- Meat. Yakiniku? - Yakiniku sounds nice.

All right then! Let's do our best today!

- Good morning. - Good morning.

Here.

Recently, our garbage area has turned into a mess, right?

So, I installed a security camera.

I made those using my own computer.

Really?

- It's pretty good, right? - Amazing. Yes it is.

The camera is watching!

Well, I'm sorry, but we need to hurry.

Ah! Sorry!

Thank you!

- Anyway, don't forget about the garbage! - Yes!

- Don't forget to sort it too. - Okay!

Goodbye then.

Take care!

Let's go!

What is the origin of the universe?

How were countries created?

Storms, why do these natural phenomena arise?

People around the world...

...had to rely on legends and myths to explain those things.

But before the 6th century BC,

there were people who weren't satisfied with only relying on myths and legends.

They were called...

...the philosophers.

Then,

those philosophers created a new term.

Which was called...

..."existence."

What is exactly "existence"?

The definition of the word itself...

Are you worried about the questionnaire?

Yes.

However...

A survey conducted on a hundred people...

Isn't it a sociological and psychological method of research?

(Including Research Methods)

That's true...

"Why..."

"...do people exist?"

"What's our purpose of living?"

To be honest,

I don't know the reason why I live,

and why I'm here.

The answer to...

...my own existence,

I can't find it.

Just thinking about it,

somehow, I always feel depressed inside...

Depressed?

Yes.

Also,

if I conduct this survey on some random people,

they might fake their personal experience or feelings.

I wonder...

...if you could give me a little advice..?

Drawing the conclusion to those questions, that's what philosophy is.

"True Stories" by Sophie Calle.

Shiraishi-san.

You don't need 100 people.

How about changing the subject into just one person?

One person?

Follow this one person,

and record his/her life.

through that person, try to study the meaning of human's existence.

But...

You can't get caught by that person.

You're going to tail him/her.

Tailing?

Is it okay to do such a thing?

It's not like the policemen or stalkers who have some certain intentions to follow a person.

In other words,

it's tailing without reason.

Tailing without reason?

Would you like to try it?

I think this would be an unprecedentedly interesting thesis.

Well...

Could you please...

...give me some time to think about it first?

Chapter 2 : Tracking Methods. These are Professional Tailing Techniques of Getting Information Without Being Noticed.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much.

Come!

Come, come, come!

Right! That's it!

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much.

- Thank you very much. - Thank you very much.

Sensei,

I need to go.

See you then.

Hello.

Tama. Sorry, I have to cancel our plan tonight.

- Is that so? - I need to make some adjustments to my design tonight.

I'm sorry, Takuya, but, I need to go.

I'm sorry! I'll hang up now.

Thank you.

- One cup of coffee, please. - All right, miss.

Here.

No need.

I'm waiting for an appointment anyway.

Don't forget about this again.

Don't do this at such a place.

See you!

Sawamura Design Office.

An Interview with the Bookbinder - Sawamura Shinobu.

She's really cute.

They told me to do some adjustments.

I need to make the breasts bigger.

Otherwise, it won't sell.

Tama...

What's on the 3rd of next month?

It's my father's death anniversary.

Really?

I see.

They said the launching will start in a month.

They've been saying that since forever.

I feel so dejected.

How about you, Tama?

How is it going?

Is your thesis going well?

Hm?

Is it going well?

Choosing "Tailing" as a philosophical methodology.

Take one person randomly as a subject and record his/her life and behavior.

Is that so?

You would like to do that tailing-without-reason method?

Yes.

Shiraishi-san...

You can't be in contact with your subject.

Otherwise, it's not 'tailing' anymore.

Please adhere to this rule.

All right.

The root of mankind is alcohol, isn't it?

Right!

Those people are living in what period, huh?

What's the use of such a discussion for today's society, really?

I should have realized it sooner...

Graduate students should just focus more on finding a job...

I mean, the thesis can be written casually.

Right.

Shiraishi-san...

What topic did you choose for your thesis?

Tell me.

Well, I'm a bit uncomfortable to talk about that, so...

I'm sorry!

Really?

Shinohara-sensei has been bragging about your thesis.

It made me curious.

I've been working in the lab for a while,

but I've never seen him boasting about other researchers.

If he thought the research content was boring, he would fail you directly,

and not give you the master's degree.

I'm jealous!

Good luck!

Thanks.

Let's ask for the check!

Medical Report.

Shinohara Sayoko.

The rectal cancer had spread to the lung.

Hello.

This is Shinohara.

I called you yesterday.

Yes, two months.

Yes.

Yes, I'm okay with that.

Yes.

Thank you very much.

Goodbye.

Funeral preparation in two months.

March 20 (Friday).

13.33 : Leaving his workplace carrying a bag, wearing a black suit and a watch.

- It's 2350 yen, miss. - Thank you.

This is so good.

Really?

Thank God! I'm glad to hear that.

The opening chapter is already perfect.

From the 3rd chapter all the way to the end, it was surprisingly interesting.

As expected of you.

Thank you.

For me personally, the 2nd chapter took a lot more time to finish.

I was worried for so long before finally coming up with that story.

But it's really nice.

This may even win something.

However...

However?

I still feel something is lacking.

What is?

Something that can touch the readers' hearts and make them immerse in the story.

No.

I don't think it's lacking.

It's too much.

This second chapter.

Second chapter?

I know that you spent a lot of time working on this second chapter.

But, this chapter...

...may get in the way of the readers' feelings.

What are you gonna do?

Shall we remove it?

I understand.

I'll get rid of it.

Yosh!

I give you three days.

We still have enough time before the deadline.

Goodbye, then!

Thank you very much.

Hello.

How about next week?

At Ebisu Hotel.

I promise.

I'm looking forward to it.

Hello.

Mina!

This is Papa.

I'm on my way home.

Wait for me!

Papa, welcome back!

Welcome back.

It's a cake.

March 20.

17.22 : Went to a cake shop; Planning to go to Ebisu Hotel next week.

17.40 : Returned home.

Hello!

There were people who threw their garbage at this time! So annoying!

What?

Do you need something from Ishizaka-san?

Ah, no...

I was just thinking about how nice their house is. The yard is also really beautiful.

That's right.

Ishizaka-san has been the landlord of this area since long ago.

He's on a different level from us.

It's been four years...

After the landlord lady passed away,

her only son, started living at that house.

Right now, he lives with his wife and daughter.

He is an editor-in-chief at a publishing company.

He's already sold millions of books.

His wife is also really beautiful and elegant.

She takes part well in every community event without looking hesitated.

How do I say it, well, she's just perfect!

Have you ever seen his cute daughter? Mina-chan.

She goes to an elite school.

Amazing!

Their family practically has everything they need.

There's a word to describe people like them, I wonder what it is...?

What is it?

- Hey! You can't throw out your garbage at this time! - I have to go. Bye!

Bring it back with you!

Right! It's called "celebrities"! Celebrities!

Where are you going?

To the library.

And after that, I'll be hanging out with Ayaka-chan to refresh our minds.

I may come home late.

Where are you going?

Still don't know yet.

We'll decide it after we meet.

I'm off!

Modern European philosophers led by Derrida...

...haven't been able to systematically classify this subject.

So, I think this book would be very important to our modern society.

Now, all's left is to publish it.

I'm looking forward to it.

You know,

I don't have any regrets in my life.

Everything happens at the right time.

You managed to get yourself such a nice lady...

I'm sorry.

I should have come and greeted you sooner.

It's okay.

He's a man who devotes himself to his studies anyway.

You had suffered enough waiting for him.

No.

I was the one who insisted to wait.

I feel at ease now.

After this,

I might still be able to see my grandchild's face.

Excuse me.

Shinohara-san, I'm going to measure your body temperature.

Excuse me.

- Excuse me. - Yes?

Could you please take a picture of us?

Yes!

- The three of us. - Okay.

- Press this button. - Okay.

I'm going to take it.

Get ready!

I took it.

How is it?

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

Papa.

That's a whale shark.

- A whale shark? - A whale shark?

That's not a whale shark. That's a ray.

Do you know rays?

- I know. - You know?

It's coming!

Hey~

It's so cute.

This one is cute.

So small!

- So small! - It is.

- So cute. - So cute.

Just like you, Mina.

12.56 : Arrived at the aquarium.

13.22 : Subject "A" entered the toilet.

I'm home.

Welcome back.

You're home early.

So?

- Where did you finally go? - The aquarium.

Aquarium?

Well, I thought it would be good to go there once in a while.

Ayaka-chan and I felt so refreshed after that.

The jellyfish had healed me.

The jellyfish?

The jellyfish.

Is that so?

- You seem to be under great pressure. - Yeah, I am.

Of course, I am.

Let me water it.

Put it there.

Mina!

How many colors are there in a rainbow?

Red, blue, light blue, yellow, green,

purple, and orange.

Subject A. Room 1025.

Excuse me, is there any vacant seat?

- Yes, I will take you to your seat. - Okay.

Um...

I would like to have the raw fish slices.

- And a glass of white wine, please. - All right.

- Would you like the main course too? -Yes. I'll call you back later.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

What are you angry about?

What do you mean?

What's with your mood?

Thank you.

It's a misunderstanding.

Misunderstanding?

Misunderstanding, huh?

I've misunderstood your lying then? I'm really sorry!

Keep your voice down.

Why? No one is listening.

That's so cliche! You can only say such cliche things!

That's not true.

You can only say some cliche things!

I know everything.

I know what kind of person you are!

Because I know...

That's enough.

Excuse me!

Papa!

Mina!

What brings you here?

What are you doing here?

You know the password is Mina's birthday, right?

The GPS!

Mina, I'm sorry!

Take Mina home with you.

What are you going to do?

Mihoko!

Papa!

Mihoko!

Takuya.

Is there any reservation under Ishizaka Shiro?

Ishizaka-sama?

I'm sorry, but you are...?

I'm his wife!

Is that so? Please wait a moment.

I've already calmed down, let's talk.

It's already over between us.

I'll call you again.

We were at the same restaurant earlier, right?

Before that, you were in the lobby too.

What?

Did his wife ask you?

What are you talking about? It's just a coincidence.

No, it's not.

What?!

Did I do something bad?

I'm sorry.

I was just overthinking it.

Never mind.

I'm sorry.

Ishizaka-san didn't make any reservation here.

About the lady you asked, we don't have any information about her either.

Did you check properly?

Yes.

Can you check it again?

I have checked it many times.

I'm really sorry.

05.44 : The wife returned home.

04.35 : The wife took the first bus home.

March 28 (Saturday).

Good morning.

Good morning.

The weather is so nice.

Right.

Tama!

I overheard the person who called the ambulance.

It's a suicide attempt.

She took a lot of sleeping pills.

Ishizaka-san, you should stay with her.

Mina-chan can stay at our place.

Thank you very much.

Mina, stay with Harue-obasan and wait until I come back.

Papa and Mama will come home soon.

Everything will be all right.

Please get in.

Please get in.

Let's go.

She's survived.

You too, take care.

Shiraishi-san!

You know me, right?

What are you talking about? I don't know you!

Wait!

I'll get straight to the point.

You've been following me, right?

Right?

Shiraishi Tama-san!

I asked the building supervisor about you.

Did Mihoko...

Did Mihoko ask you?

That's impossible! I don't even know your wife!

Then, do you have any grudge against me?!

There's no such a thing!

Then, why are you following me?

I...

...s-shouldn't be in contact with you!

What?

That's the rule!!

Hey! Wait a minute!

Sorry! I'll pay for it later!

Shit!!

Shinohara-sensei.

This is Shiraishi.

This is urgent. Please call me back.

Shinohara-sensei.

Sorry, this is Shiraishi.

Um.. please call me back. I'll be waiting...

I'm Shirashi Tama, one of your graduate students.

Can I speak to Shinohara-sensei?

Is that so?

Passed away at 15.03.

Thank you for everything.

It's over.

Mother.

Mother.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Someone's calling...

You won't answer it?

Hello...

I got your number from the building supervisor.

You should know that you can't run away from me.

Let's talk.

Okay...

I understand.

You can choose the time.

Who is that?

My professor.

You're lying.

As the subject...

...of my philosophy thesis,

um, Ishizaka-san, the owner of the house where the ambulance was called before,

I,

I have been tailing that guy.

Huh?

What did you say?

What do you mean by "tailing"?

I took him as a subject of my tailing-without-reason method,

so,

as my subject, I recorded his life, and his behavior...

- Then... - I got it!

I see.

You were doing such things...

I'm sorry...

Sorry for keeping it from you.

- But... - That's enough.

No need to explain it to me.

Why should you do those kind of things?

I don't get it.

Doing such things,

what's the point of it?

I really don't get it.

Tama.

The two of us,

why are we even together?

Why are we even together?

I don't know...

I don't know!

I really don't know!!

I can't even say "nice to meet you"...

We have such a strange relationship, right?

I heard you are a graduate student?

Yes. That's right.

Suzuki Takuya-kun, right?

The game designer who lives with you.

Did the supervisor tell you that too?

Right.

So?

Why did you follow me?

Mihoko asked you to do that, right?

After that, she tried to commit suicide.

If that's the case, then you're also responsible for it.

That's not it.

But...

I'm really sorry...

This is the master's thesis I'm currently working on.

- Thank you for waiting. - Thank you.

In order to write this thesis, I followed you.

I've been tailing you without your knowledge.

I truly apologize for that!

In order to write this thesis...

I tailed you for that.

It has nothing to do with your wife...

Also...

It wasn't something I did out of resentment against you.

Drink it.

Can I ask you something?

Why did...

...you and Shinobu-san...

That question,

is it also for your thesis?

After following me around,

how did you feel?

Tell me...

Honestly.

It was interesting.

Interesting?

Quite interesting, huh?

Do you have any right to say that?

No. Well, um... I'm so sorry...

"Don't experience it yourself."

You were commenting about other person's secrets in your mind.

You exploit it for your own gain, right? For your thesis.

Well...

You can't use my family and that woman...

...as the subjects of your thesis research.

Sorry?

I'll be in trouble, um...

I must finish that paper.

How does that have anything to do with me?!

But, you know, ah...

I beg you!

If you hadn't followed me around, I would still have lived my life as usual!

Excuse me!

I beg you!

I beg you!

Wait here.

Are you all right?

Please let me write the thesis.

Let me write the thesis...

Don't do this!

Hey!

Papa, please come home soon.

You know,

I loved this one guy when I was a sophomore.

What are you talking about?

That person...

...was my late father's close friend.

My father passed away when I was 8 years old.

He was really calm and gentle.

He treated me as if I was his daughter.

He always encouraged me...

But,

I didn't think of him as a father.

I loved him.

He was my first love.

I met him many times without telling my mother.

But in this one summer break,

he suddenly told me that we wouldn't be able to meet again.

He was hospitalized...

It was cancer.

Five days prior to his death,

I and my mother went to visit him.

We were told that it could be our last meeting...

But, when I finally met him,

I couldn't tell him anything.

I couldn't say what I wanted to say...

That was how we parted.

"Why do the people I cherish need to die?"

"Why am I always left alone?"

Every time I thought about it,

I always felt depressed.

Because I always thought about such things,

I couldn't get along with people.

Deep in my heart,

I always felt somewhat empty.

Then...

I met Takuya.

But,

my heart still felt empty after all.

Even though I wanted to express my feelings to him,

I didn't know how to express them well.

So, I stay with him, without expressing these feelings.

But after I followed you around,

I feel like my empty heart had begun to fill up.

I wondered if I could understand something.

Somehow, I thought it would be able to fill my heart.

So...

I tried to write that thesis.

I tried to write it.

Your story...

...was so cliche.

Nothing special about it.

It wasn't interesting at all.

You've been suffering alone with no one to rely on.

Do you want me to sympathize with you?

You wanted me to sympathize with you, so you told me everything,

then we could understand each other?

There's no way it would happen!

No one in this world is ever content with their lives.

You want to know what people live for?

How would you know that?

You asked me earlier why I cheated with that woman, didn't you?

Just figure it out yourself!

I gotta go.

You can use it...

My secret...

I'm on my way home. Go to bed first.

How is your tailing going?

So, this is how it turned out...

You were in contact with the research subject.

Shiraishi-san,

please continue.

Even if you have to change the subject, please continue your thesis.

I would like to know how you will analyze your research.

I'm waiting for you to finish your thesis.

What kind of alcohol should we buy?

The Japanese sake?

I haven't had Japanese sake in a long time.

Let's pick shochu (distilled alcohol).

Which kind of shochu?

April 14 (Tuesday).

08.09 : Subject B left his house.

16.33 : Read a book in a secondhand bookstore while standing.

16.55 : Went to the supermarket and met his wife there.

17.29 : Subject B and wife went home.

April 15 (Wednesday).

08.11 : Subject B left his house.

13.20 : Subject B gave a lecture at the university.

17.19 : Subject B went to the supermarket with his wife.

18.33 : Subject B and his wife went home.

Hello.

Thank you for everything.

I can't...

...thank you enough.

Take care.

Wait...

Can I see you again?

I'm home.

Welcome home.

Sorry for calling you when you're really busy.

You haven't eaten yet, right?

It's already cooked.

Thank you.

Itadakimasu.

Thank you.

You know,

somehow, our relationship is getting weird.

Is it my fault?

I'm sorry, I really can't think of anything other than my thesis right now. But, I promise I will...

I'm moving out.

I saw it too.

Your game is now ranked first, right? That's awesome.

Our president wants to hold a party.

He said...

...he will give me an award at the party.

I see. You're indeed amazing, Takuya.

"Tailing without reason" means to put yourself in the place and position of others.

That is, to understand each other's life, passion, and determination.

This may be the only way to prove that everyone is an irreplaceable individual.

It's finally done!

What is "Existence" in Contemporary Japan.

Honestly speaking,

I think this is a great thesis.

But, I need you to fix just one thing about this thesis...

I mean, about the tracking part of the subject "B",

please fix it.

This part doesn't match the facts.

In order to make it a perfect thesis,

you should fix that part only.

Okay.

I believe this will be useful for you.

Daiko Agency.

Sales Manager - Kunishita Etsuo.

Theatrical Company "Foie Gras Sherbet". "Housewife Eiko Murder Case."

Theatrical Company "Foie Gras Sherbet". "Housewife Eiko Murder Case."

Hello? This is Tokorozawa's New District police's homicide division.

Yes? What did you say?

Take a note.

Tokorozawa's Old District 3-chome residential area, building 3, room 333.

You found 3 bodies?!

What?

There's a message written in blood?

What does it say?

"Tobe, or Notobe."

What the hell is that?

HUH?

You arrested the suspect?

Identity: Tobe Eiko, 44 years old, a housewife.

"Tobe or Notobe."

This isn't the right "Tobe"!!!

The suspect was caught when she was changing the price...

...of 500 grams of pork loin with pork back ribs'.

What the hell is that?

What are you guys doing?

Do you think you can do something like this?

I have to go home soon to make pork soup!

I met this truck driver,

and after I divorced that violent drunkard, I have to raise my 3 kids alone!

I'm just a desperate single mother, why are you doing this to me?

Tell me what the heck did I do wrong?

You changed the pork loin with pork back ribs, right?

That's not important!

Inside this,

there's something that will make you feel good.

Hello. I'm Shinohara.

For the next two months,

we shall be husband and wife.

I'm counting on you.

Also...

Sorry if this is sudden,

but, can you wear this thing too?

I'm sorry.

If you don't mind,

can you please put the ring on my finger?

So pretty.

Good morning.

Sorry for calling you so suddenly.

This time, I want to start doing the daily details.

This is something I made early this morning.

If you don't mind, please eat this.

You don't have to pay for this. I just want to give this to you.

Please don't feel burdened.

Thank you very much.

Then, I'll be off.

Thank you very much

"Tobe, or Notobe."

Isn't this Shakespeare's phrase?

"To be, or not to be."

Then, that has nothing to do with the murder case?

They're two different things!

Thank God!

You're also evil!

You're also evil!

Is it better to live?

Or to die?

Those are two different things!

The thesis is scored 93.

Master's Thesis.

Ordinary and peaceful.

No betrayals, no secrets, no lies.

Such a perfect life that is full of love doesn't exist.

People can't escape from the pain.

What makes the pain a little less intense...

...must be a secret.

"Tailing without reason" means...

...to put yourself in the place and position of others.

To imagine yourself as that person.

That is,

to understand each other's life, passion, and determination.

This is probably the only way to prove that everyone is...

...an irreplaceable individual.

Department of Philosophy. Master's Degree-2nd Year.

Shiraishi Tama.

What do you think of me?

What do you want to me to do?

What am I to you?

I will never know.