Original subtitles

Haha to Kuraseba (Nagasaki Memories of My Son)

Sayuri YOSHINAGA Kazunari NINOMIYA

Haru KUROKI Tadanobu ASANO Kenichi KATO

Music: Ryuichi SAKAMOTO

Directed by Yoji YAMADA

August 9th 1945, 9:50am.

A B-29 bomber carrying a plutonium bomb reached its primary target of Kokura,

but poor visibility

forced it to switch to Nagasaki.

The crew were under strict orders

to drop the bomb visually, without radar or abort the mission.

Mother?

Mother?

What are you doing?

Mother!

What is it?

Taken your blood pressure medicine?

Oh, I forgot.

That won't do. Dr. Yoshida will scold you.

I'm off. See you.

Take care.

Auntie!

See you later!

Mind how you go.

"Nobuko Fukuhara Midwife"

He's too old to yell like that.

He'll be a doctor soon, your Koji.

I envy you.

He'll only be a quack.

What a wicked thing to say!

Hey! Wait for me!

Hey, Fukuhara

Ah, good morning

At that time, clouds covered 70% of the sky over Nagasaki.

Just as the bombardier was about to switch to radar against orders,

the clouds suddenly parted, and the city became visible.

Don’t take it to heart

No, it’s not, don’t mess around

He’s here, he’s here! Sit properly!

Today's another hot one.

Hey, this is the book I mentioned before

A person's heart is generally about the size of their fist.

Its shape is like a peach,

and an adult's weighs around 300 grams.

Its weight is proportional to the weight of the person, as well as the amount of muscle the person has

On August 9th, 1945

On August 9th 1945 at 11:02 am,

at 11:02 in the morning.

I died

I died.

My college was near ground zero, and nearly 900 teachers, students,

and hospital staff

lost their lives.

I was one of them.

Three years have passed since then.

Good morning! It's Machiko!

I checked the coop on my way, and found two eggs.

They're still warm.

That's lovely of you.

Can I really have them?

Pour some yellow egg over freshly-cooked white rice,

then drizzle it with soy sauce...

My mouth's watering!

Eat together nicely, you three. No quarreling.

Shall we go?

Flowers?

Oh my, it's so hot!

Visiting your family grave?

That's right.

That day's come around again.

Take care.

Mrs. Fukuhara?

Take off your sandal. The thong's frayed.

Thank you dear.

Listen, Machiko. We shouldn't wait anymore.

For who?

For Koji.

So many of his friends in that pathology classroom died.

I know there's no chance he could have survived.

You see, if that's true,

I'd pray to his bones in the family grave with his father,

but there was nothing left of him.

There's no proof of his death.

If we had his father's Elgin wristwatch that he wore,

or the Onoto fountain pen that he treasured,

or a bone fragment or a shred of his trousers, we'd know for sure.

All this time, I hoped something would turn up,

but it never will.

He was swept away to somewhere unknown.

I wished he'd come back, even as a ghost,

but not anymore.

Do you understand, Machiko?

Everyone, it's almost 11:02 am.

People say they saw it over there.

The mushroom cloud...

How can human beings do that each other?

Your favorite, rolled omelet. Machiko gave us the eggs.

You know,

I think I'll stop doing this from today.

I mean to say, I've given up on you.

I wanted proof.

I didn't want to believe it until I could be absolutely sure.

I didn't want a memorial service.

One of your father's relatives chided me for that.

But I've given up now.

When I told Machiko that by your grave, she said she would too,

and she cried.

If you'd lived, you two would be married now.

Perhaps she'd have a big tummy now,

and I'd deliver the baby. My grandchild.

I've gone and said it again. The same words, over and over.

I'm such a fool.

Bless us, Oh Lord, and these thy gifts

which we are about to receive

from thy bounty, through Christ, Our Lord.

Amen.

Is someone here?

It's me.

Koji?

Is that you, Koji?

You never did give up easily, Mother.

You wouldn't give up on me,

so I couldn't make my way back here.

Now I've made it, at last.

Really?

Did you look for me?

Of course I did!

Machiko and I looked, from the day after the bomb fell.

The state Nagasaki was in back then...

The state it was in...

It was...

...hell.

No need to tell me.

I can imagine what it was like.

You walked all over, looking for me?

I thought you might be alive somewhere.

I went to Mt. Konpira, Mitsuyama, the shrine at Nameshi,

anywhere there might be students from your college.

I walked for days.

But you were nowhere to be found.

Where were you, Koji?

Like I said,

I was waiting for you to give up.

Three whole years.

You were?

I'm so glad you're back.

So Mother, have you been well?

Without you around, I was heartbroken.

I wished I could die, so we could be reunited.

But I'm alright now.

I get by somehow.

Are you well?

Of course I'm not well! I'm dead.

Mother, you're as funny as ever!

Asking me if I'm well...

You always laughed a lot, Koji.

With so much sadness in the world, all I can do is laugh.

That's right.

You've been that way since you were little.

Father died of tuberculosis,

but I couldn't help that.

Then my big brother was killed in Burma and I died too,

leaving you all alone.

That's life. I'm just grateful to be alive.

So many families were destroyed by the bomb.

I survived,

and this house that your father built still stands.

Mother,

you don't look well.

Get Dr. Yoshida to check your blood pressure.

Dr. Yoshida died in the bombing.

But your father's friend Dr. Murai is taking good care of me.

Also, up until last month,

two families were staying here too. It was so noisy.

Kazuko's family, and the Fujii's. Their homes burned down.

Now it's peaceful again,

but the house is quite worn down.

Mr. Fujii was here?

How's everybody else doing?

Like Tomie next door?

She's well. Her whole family survived.

So did the Shanghai guy.

He came back with only a backpack.

His son died in the bombing, so he was down for a while,

but he suddenly perked up last year.

He was always good at business, so he became a broker.

A black marketeer, really.

He's been quite a help to me.

Forget about him! I want to know about...

...Someone...

...else.

Oh? Who?

You know who.

You mean Machiko?

A-Are you teasing me?!

She's well. She's a grade school teacher now.

What? Machiko is?

And a pretty one too.

A grade school teacher?

That's right.

Wow. Her students don't know how lucky they are!

She'll brighten up the whole class.

They'll all want to study hard! I know it!

"The notch on the pillar is from two years ago”

"When my height was checked in May"

"My big brother carved it while munching a rice cake"

"That was the day when he checked my height"

"When I checked to see what it was yesterday"

"I saw I'm just a little bit taller”

Remember my first year homeroom teacher? Mrs. Waniguchi.

In her 50s, with glasses and a face like a crab.

She always hit me.

"Koji! Why won't you do what I tell you?!"

Koji! Why won't you do what I tell you?!

You scamp!

Hey! Come back here!

Run!

This isn't funny!

Boy, did that hurt! She even drew blood.

See, I've still got a bald spot here.

You're as talkative as always.

- I am? - You are.

Excuse me, ma'am!

Takeshi? What is it?

My mother says... her tummy hurts.

She's gone into labor. Alright.

I'll be right there.

Let's go.

I want a brother.

Of course you do.

I don't like girls.

Why not?

I can see myself in your eyes.

The phonograph's gone faulty!

Mrs. Fukuhara!

Why are you up so early?

A child was born. At 5 am in Kosuge Town.

Easy delivery?

10 pounds, and big.

You've been up all night? You must be tired.

This boy doesn't have an umbrella.

He cried that he couldn't go,

so I went to his place to get him.

You're lucky, sharing your teacher's umbrella.

Oh my. You're wearing your father's shoes!

I can't risk undernourished children catching a cold.

I tell them to stay at home,

but they love going to school.

How cute.

Miss, let's go.

Get plenty of rest, Mrs. Fukuhara.

Mother, are you alright?

Dashing here and there, though you're so tiny.

You have to get healthier.

Take care of yourself.

I wanted to become a proper doctor,

and give you a more comfortable life.

I remember.

When I got into medical college, we went to tell Father's family.

Even that scary uncle was all smiles.

"Study hard, do well, become a doctor,"

"carry out research, and become a Nobel Prize-winning doctor."

That's what he said. So l said,

"I don't care about a Nobel Prize."

"I'd rather do clinical trials."

"Nagasaki Prefecture has many islands,"

"and most don't have doctors."

"I'll practice there,"

"and dedicate myself to helping the poor and unfortunate.”

"That's my dream.”

Then Uncle said,

"You can't eat off dreams!”

"We aren't paying your school fees so you can treat the poor!"

I couldn't take anymore.

"Then don't pay them! I'll work and save money!"

He and I got into a huge row, and you kept bowing to apologize.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't raise him right,”

"so I'm to blame for his selfishness."

Mother, that must have been so frustrating for you.

We came home, you sat in this chair,

gazed at Father's photo and said,

"Darling,"

"because you died young,"

"your brother wouldn't stop ranting.”

"It made me so furious!"

"Your brother's a jackass!"

You really surprised me.

Where did you pick up such foul language?

Nobuko?

Who is it?

Me! The Shanghai guy!

Come in.

Gotta fix this door.

You're right.

I got hold of some miso.

Shimabara barley miso.

And this too. Soap.

Got it from a G.l..

Oh my! What a lovely scent!

We went to war with a country that makes luxuries like this.

Talk about a dumb idea.

You said you needed gauze. For your work.

It ain't easy to get,

but I found a way. Wait a little longer.

I appreciate it.

The cops have been cracking down lately.

They're doing their job, and so am I.

If the black market's so bad,

the government should make it unnecessary.

Useless bastards.

How much do I owe you today?

Forget it. I make money elsewhere.

I can't do that!

At least let me pay the official price.

It may be official, but it keeps going up.

Okay, this will do me fine.

The soap's a present.

Give one to that young lady.

That cutie Machiko.

Thank you. She'll be delighted.

There's something I've been wanting to ask.

She'll get married one day, right?

Or will she stay faithful to Koji and live alone all her life?

What a waste!

I don't think she'll do that.

When she finds someone nice, she can get married anytime.

If you mean that, can I introduce somebody?

I know a great guy.

He ain't been to no university,

but marriage ain't about education or social status no more.

After all Nobuko,

three million young men died in the war.

Ain't many left nowadays.

Can't pass up an opportunity. Whaddya think?

It's very kind of you,

but I doubt that Machiko wants an arranged marriage.

Why the heck not?

She can meet him once. No commitment.

Even so,

we've entered a democratic age,

so isn't it her right to choose?

Huh. So that's what democracy is.

That's right. Marriage is a mutual agreement.

I want it to be that way for her too.

While you're thinking that,

some sly dog might get his paws on her.

Some sly dog?

You mean, someone like you?

You got me!

I never saw it coming!

You've got a sharp tongue, Nobuko!

Gotta go! See you next time!

Call if you need anything!

Thank you.

You sure did scare me.

A sly dog? Who, me?!

Who, me?!

Hello.

Miss Machiko!

I'm not used to being called that!

You were still a student not so long ago.

The rain finally stopped.

There was so much.

I know it's autumn, but still...

I'm returning the record I borrowed.

How did the concert go?

It was wonderful!

There must have been 20 teachers in the music room.

They sat around the phonograph.

The vice principal brought boiled sweet potatoes from his family farm.

"But no farting. It'll drown out the music."

"But no farting. It'll drown out the music."

Everyone burst out laughing!

Sounds like you had fun.

I hadn't listened to Mendelssohn for a long time.

It was great.

Koji loved that piece.

Actually ma'am,

a little while after it began,

one of the teachers burst into tears.

A female teacher?

A male. A returnee from the war.

Afterwards, I asked him why he cried.

And he told me.

He listened to it at home on the day he shipped out.

He thought it was the last time he would ever hear it.

Most of his comrades died at the southern front.

He himself was seriously wounded,

but somehow survived and made it home.

When he heard Mendelssohn after thinking he never would again,

his emotions got the better of him.

Kuro told us his story, and we all cried.

Kuro?

That's his nickname.

His real name is Kuroda, so the children call him Kuro.

We ended up doing the same.

He barely made it home from the war.

Does he have family?

His mother and younger sister died in the bombing.

He lives alone?

He does.

I'll return this.

You sure are strong.

Give up?

Not yet...

How about now?

You're a man after all.

Machiko, is there someone...

...you like?

There is.

Who?

I had some black market sugar left.

Have some tea.

How lovely.

Chopin and Mendelssohn go better with tea than sweet potatoes.

It sure does.

You used to sit in this room by yourself a lot.

Last year. Or was it the year before?

When I get lonely,

I come to this room.

Hoping he'll be in here.

One evening, in the kitchen,

I called out to you, but you didn't reply.

I got worried and came up here.

You were sitting on the sofa, just like that.

In silence.

It seemed as if you were

only a shadow of your former self.

Like you'd disappear if I tried to touch you.

When I called you, you slowly rose to your feet.

"Oh good! She's alive!, I thought.”

That happened several times.

Back then, you often slept over out of concern for me.

Your futon next to mine.

Sometimes I even fell asleep first.

And snored.

Thank you.

I'm still here today thanks to you.

That's not true, ma'am.

I had to watch over my beloved Koji's mother.

So I worried all the time, and you depended on me.

That kept me alive too.

If you'd died

to follow Koji into the afterlife,

I wouldn't be here today. I mean that.

I'm still alive thanks to you.

I'm delighted to hear that.

But Machiko,

I told you at the graveyard.

It's been three years.

So...

...you can let go of him now.

Let go?

You mean forget him?

I can't... I can't do that!

I told you already, ma'am.

I want to treasure Koji's memory forever,

and live a quiet life.

But what would Koji think if he heard you say that?

Would he be happy?

He would be!

After all, we said...

...we'd keep loving each other, even in the next life.

We made a promise, ma'am.

Let him go?

Please don't say that to me in his room!

I'm sorry.

Don't cry.

Mrs. Fukuhara, you home?

There's a big ration of sardines.

We've got to hurry to the co-op. Bring a pot.

Ma'am?

I'll go for you.

You will?

Let's have dinner together tonight.

Salt-grilled sardines.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

Eternal rest, grant unto him.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

Amen.

You're here!

This has your scent.

You loved sleeping with me when you were little.

When you were in fourth grade,

you wet the bed and made a huge fuss.

I wonder why I wet the bed for so long?

Nagasaki's rainy.

My futon wouldn't dry out.

But Mother, you never got angry at me.

Even if I wet the bed.

Is that so?

You don't know how much that put me at ease.

I was so ashamed, I couldn't bear it.

If you'd got mad at me, I would've wanted to die.

So I said to Machiko, if our child wets the bed,

let's not ever lose our tempers over it.

You and Machiko talked about children?

We did.

And the kind of wedding we should have.

Really? What kind?

A ceremony at St. Mary's.

With Dr. Kawakami as the matchmaker.

Outfits were a problem though.

It was wartime, so I could put up with dowdy khaki clothes,

but I desperately wanted Machiko to wear

a wedding dress.

Bright white, like in the movies.

The music would be Mendelssohn, of course.

What's Machiko doing?

You can see me, but not her?

I'm trying not to.

It'd hurt too much.

I bet she's still pretty, as always.

I'm still alive today thanks to her.

In my darkest hour,

my head ached terribly and my body felt sluggish.

I had to stop many times walking up the hill.

I had no appetite, and couldn't sleep.

Then she came to visit me everyday.

She cooked rice, cleaned the house, and washed my clothes.

I'd become an empty shell,

so she delivered your death notice to the city office,

sorted out certificates and insurance,

liaised with your college,

and so much more.

Mother, you can rely on her as much as you like.

After all, she's my wife.

She almost... became your wife.

Right?

Koji.

Lately, I've come to realize that we can't go on like this.

If...

If...

...Machiko were to find someone else to love...

Someone else?

Who's the guy?

I'm saying it's possible.

If that happens, you and I

will have to let her go.

No way.

I couldn't.

No way, no how!

Koji, calm down and think.

The bomb fell three years ago.

She's grown up over that time.

So, does she love somebody else?

Not that I know of.

But she's so kind,

it wouldn't be strange if some young man wanted to marry her.

If so, she's being deceived.

Machiko's smart, but she's unworldly.

Some slick Casanova has tricked her.

Koji, she wouldn't fall for that.

If it's her choice, she'll be fine.

She chose me!

I'm the only one she chose!

Mother, aren't you on my side?

Or perhaps,

you're taking the side of some cheap gigolo?!

I'm the only man Machiko loves!

You're right.

You're right, but...

Koji,

you're no longer of this world.

Please think hard about that.

No. I'm not dead.

I'm not dead!

Koji...

Please don't push.

I can't help it!

Sorry. Are you okay?

"Demobilization Bureau, Nagasaki Branch"

"Investigation Department”

Ms. Kazami, you're next.

I'm a teacher at Tenjin Elementary in Nagasaki.

My name's Machiko Sata.

This returnee child in my care is searching for her father.

I'm accompanying her.

Tami, remember what Grandpa said.

About what you should ask.

I'm a second-year student.

My father went to the front.

His name is Shigeru Kazami.

My grandpa is sick and bedridden.

He told me to take this letter,

and ask about my father.

I came with my teacher.

Where?

The Philippines.

Your father...

Your father...

...went to Baguio in the Philippines,

and that's where he died.

My grandpa told me what to do.

If my father is dead,

I have to ask the clerk

about the place where he died,

and the... circum...

Circumstances?

The circumstances, and to get the clerk to write it down.

Right.

I've written down the place and circumstances.

Give this to your grandpa.

Thank you very much.

You poor girl, Tamiko.

Miss, I...

My grandpa told me.

Told you what?

Don't cry, no matter what.

Really?

I've got two little sisters,

and our mother's dead.

So he said I have to be strong.

I...

...mustn't cry, no matter what.

That girl really didn't cry at all?

I wanted her to cry her heart out.

But I was the only one crying.

What was the point of me accompanying her?

I couldn't help her at all as her teacher.

Do I have any worth at all?

I felt so pathetic.

You did plenty, didn't you?

You accompanied her to the Demobilization Bureau,

and you cried for her when she couldn't.

I'm sure she was grateful for that.

I was given some dried fish.

Want to have some?

Thank you, but I've got a union meeting tonight.

I bought those balloon flowers that Koji liked.

Bye.

Koji, what are you doing?

You looked sad when you disappeared. I'm worried about you.

Why don't we listen to your favorite record?

Mendelssohn.

You played it so often.

Enough to wear it down.

Isn't Menuhin's violin wonderful?

I wanted to be a musician.

A conductor.

Oh? Not a movie director?

You sent a fan letter

to Itami or Ozu, didn't you?

Indeed, I did.

Then you said you wanted to be a novelist,

and fought with your brother.

I did, I did.

He said you'll starve to death, and I snapped.

You had no chance against him.

Black belt in judo. Shoulders like this!

He had Father's build.

The last time he came to see me,

he'd become this thin.

He came?

The year you entered college. On April 9th.

The day he died.

You said he visited you in your dreams. That was the night?

Mother, what's wrong?

Your brother was here!

There!

His face was covered in a beard.

He's dead! I know it!

So he...

He came to see you.

He must've wanted to desperately.

He came all that way from Burma,

just to bid farewell to me.

But why didn't you come? You were much closer.

Listen to me.

My brother,

he wandered in the jungle for days,

thinking of you.

I want to see Mother!

I want to see Mother!

That's all he thought.

But in my case,

I had no time to say goodbye.

I was gone in a flash!

I had no idea of what had happened to me.

You're right. You were suddenly gone.

I'm sorry for what I said.

The day before he shipped out,

he said to me, "Don't study the arts, study science.”

"Become a doctor, and look after Mother."

He looked so scary. He said it like it was his final wish.

I had no choice but to do what he said,

and entered medical college.

It would delay your conscription,

and you'd be drafted as a medic, so you wouldn't be killed.

That put me at ease, and yet...

In the end,

it made no difference.

That was inevitable.

It was my destiny.

Your destiny?

Only if it had been

unpreventable, like an earthquake or tsunami.

Your death was preventable.

It was a terrible tragedy, planned and executed by humans.

It wasn't your destiny.

Don't you think?

Koji? What happened?

So, sadness makes you disappear.

Koji.

Koji.

Your favorite, baked eggplant with miso.

I got some from next door.

Koji.

Koji?

Bless us, O Lord,

and these thy gifts which we are about to receive

from thy bounty.

Amen.

Oh, you were there?

What's all this for? Lighting candles and praying.

Setting the mood?

Don't be silly.

There's a power outage, so it's off.

It'll be back on soon.

That's a shabby-looking meal.

Being a midwife is hard work.

You need more calories.

It's alright. My patients make food for me.

Want some?

I can't eat.

You eat it.

I wish I could eat those rice balls you used to make.

The shredded kelp ones.

You want that?

On school sports days, we opened our lunches,

and your rice balls were the grandest.

Equilaterally triangular, with sharp corners.

And darn tasty.

I practiced making them when I was young.

I molded freshly-cooked rice with sesame and salt.

It was so hot, my hands turned red.

Grandma scolded me whenever I dropped some.

When I finally mastered making perfect triangles,

I felt like I'd become more womanly.

Grandma often said that Nagasaki people

are extravagant in food and dress.

We overdo it a little bit.

We ate champon noodles in Chinatown once.

They were delicious.

When was that?

Remember?

When I was arrested on suspicion of spying.

Mrs. Tomie, when Mother comes home,

tell her I've been summoned.

I'll be at Military Police HQ.

What did you do?

I don't know,

but they say I'm a spy.

Who, you?

Enough idle talk! Get a move on!

What a mess...

"You're a traitor!”

They bashed me around, and threw me in a dark room.

I feared for my life, but then,

you came to my rescue.

I was absolutely livid that they'd accuse you of spying.

I asked them what they thought you'd done, and they said

you'd taken photos of an anti-aircraft gun base.

They saw them at the studio where they were developed.

I demanded that they show me the photos.

The base could be seen in one out of 16 of them.

I didn't want to talk with underlings,

only their commander.

So l burst into his office.

You sure have guts.

I had to save my son, didn't I?

I burst in and said to him.

"How can my son be a spy"

"if an anti-aircraft gun base shows up blurry"

"in the corner of one photo?"

"A real spy would take several, and in focus."

"My son is not a spy!"

"He's a loyal subject of His Majesty the Emperor, studying”

"diligently for his country!”

The commander laughed and said,

"Alright. Out of consideration for you,"

"your son will be freed."

Funny, isn't it?

I was dragged out of my cell,

only to find you in the commander's office.

I was amazed.

The commander said,

"If it hadn't been for your mother,"

"you'd have been tried for leaking national secrets.”

"That's quite some mother you've got there!"

On the way home,

we cried over two bowls of champon noodles.

So we did.

They really got my dander up.

Mother, that's dirty. Your nose'll drip into it.

Shut up!

I went to all this trouble for you!

Snotty noodles.

Don't eat them then!

Wow. Yummy.

You know, Mother,

you used to make me laugh with your blunders and mistakes,

but when it really mattered,

you said the wisest things.

I did?

Anyway,

I've been thinking a lot about Machiko.

Since our talk.

In what way?

Well...

If she spent the rest of her life as my wife, looking after you,

you'd be happy, and so would I.

Even so,

it wouldn't be right.

I'm...

...no longer of this world.

She should forget me and find somebody...

If possible, somebody better than me...

I doubt she will. I doubt it,

but if she does,

if she finds somebody... No, I doubt she will. But...

If she does...

...she should marry him.

You and I can bear being lonely.

That's because...

...we love her.

I want Machiko to be happy.

And I'm not the only one.

Everyone who died with me when the bomb fell,

tens of thousands of people,

want that too.

Machiko should find happiness on our behalf.

Isn't that right, Mother?

That's quite a change of heart.

I'm proud of you.

You're my son alright.

The power's back.

Nobuko?

It's me! The Shanghai guy!

Good evening.

I hate these power outages.

Can't see a thing.

And ghosts come out.

I fixed your radio.

Changed two tubes.

It's working!

You're gonna love this. G.l. peanut butter.

American flour.

Canned pineapple!

Make sweet buns and eat 'em with peanut butter. Delish!

I'm drooling.

Let me pay.

That can wait.

I'll pay now. How much?

300 yen will be fine.

500 yen.

Did you pass on that G.I. soap?

To that cute teacher?

She was delighted.

She asked me to thank you.

About that arranged marriage.

It wasn't to be, so I told them no.

Would've been good for her.

I'm sorry.

Care for some tea?

Oh, no thanks. I've got work left to do.

It didn't work out with Machiko,

but Nobuko, how about you?

Fancy getting m-married?

Me?!

What are you talking about? Don't tease me.

I'm dead serious.

You're on your own.

You need a dependable man!

You're saying you know someone?

Sure do!

Is he wealthy?

Well, that might be overstating it.

But you'll want for nothing.

I wonder who he is. Do I know him?

Yeah, pretty well.

Who?

Well, in a nutshell...

...it's me.

You're such a joker.

I am, I am!

Right, see you next time!

It's me!

You big dummy...

Mother, shoo him away.

You saw that?

I did!

What's up with that guy? He's filthy.

You're just as bad, trading sick jokes with that charlatan,

and giggling like that.

Don't let that swindler inside.

I know.

I know that he's more than a little fond of me.

I take advantage of that to buy sugar, American flour,

and other black market goods cheaply.

That's underhanded! It's unbecoming of you.

You're right. It is underhanded.

I won't buy black market goods anymore.

But Koji,

he's really not such a bad man.

That's naive thinking. You're too nice.

No.

I'm not as soft as you think.

In these last three difficult years,

I've been scammed, deserted by relatives I lent money to,

and betrayed by close friends.

Awful things like that.

Even so, that man

isn't the type who'll let you down in a pinch.

He's uncultured and crude,

but to survive in these chaotic times,

you need an unbowed man of action like him now and then.

A man who's there to say,

Alright, I'll take care of it when someone's in trouble.

But I've made you angry,

so I'll stop buying from him.

Alright.

But I'll tell Father when I see him!

"Mother was proposed to, and she giggled with joy."

Don't blame me if he gets mad.

You mustn't do that!

I'll tell him. Count on it.

Please don't.

I will!

Hey!

It's okay, it's okay.

The maternal instinct is amazing.

Your desire to raise your child produces more breast milk.

Eating enough protein is important,

but worrying about low milk supply won't help.

When Sumire was born, you made plenty of pearl-like milk.

Right, Sumire?

But there was still rationed meat at that time.

Things were a little better then,

but you'll be fine. Don't worry.

Have you decided on a name?

Yes. I'll call her Machiko.

After Kagomachi Town.

Our teacher has the same name. Miss Machiko.

Oh, you go to Tenjin Elementary?

I do.

I know Miss Machiko very well.

Is she a good teacher?

She's young and pretty, right?

Hey! Don't start that again.

What is it?

You know, Mr. Kuro likes Miss Machiko.

Don't be silly! You're being rude to Miss Machiko.

What's Mr. Kuro like?

He's tall, and has a nice voice.

Does he sing well?

Badly. A nice voice, but tone deaf!

Sumire!

She's so ill-behaved.

Don't you be like her, Machiko.

Mother.

I'm here.

Oh my, that kimono takes me back.

It was your brother's, but it suited you better.

Yamaguchi High School dorm anthem!

A Song for Konan!

"Eins, zwei, drei!"

"When the splendor of spring comes"

"Woven throughout the pearl bushes”

"Will our young hearts take flight"

"Through the trees along the riverside"

Remember, Mother?

You and Machiko took the train

to come to my school's annual festival.

Huh? What's so funny?

There were so many performances at the lecture hall,

but the silliest one was the tropical dance.

So it was.

Students covered in black ink wore grass skirts,

and sang "My Lover Girl."

As I watched the group gyrating,

I realized that you were one of them!

It was so funny and foolish.

Remember the rest?

We went outside to have fun, still all inked up,

but the sun was really beating down.

Because of my sensitive skin,

I got blisters all over.

"Ma'am! Please come!”

Your friends called me over,

and you were desperately washing off the ink.

Your skin was all red and swollen.

Ow! Ow!, you cried.

Slowly! Slowly!

Anybody got lotion?

I'll get some!

It stung like crazy. I was burnt all over.

We all crowded around you with my lotion,

and patted it all over your body.

You looked at me so angrily.

And Machiko was laughing at me, her face all red.

I was in a loincloth, whimpering in agony.

Boy, was I ashamed.

I thought Machiko would dump me.

I stopped eating, slept all the time, and skipped school.

But she didn't dump you, did she?

After a while, a parcel came. Burn lotion was inside.

And a letter.

"How are your burns healing?"

"Use this lotion to get well soon,”

"so that next time we meet,"

"your skin will be as lovely and white as always."

That's what she wrote.

You were lucky.

I was so happy.

As happy as I've ever been.

I suddenly got hungry, and started stuffing my face.

My friends teased me so much...

Koji, you mustn't cry.

If you do, you'll disappear.

Stay with me a while.

Autumn nights are long.

Did you tell Machiko?

Tell her what?

You know.

To forget me and move on.

Not yet.

It can't be easy for you either, to tell her that.

But I have to, sooner or later.

Good evening!

You have a guest?

No.

I heard you talking.

Only to myself. As always.

Don't be startled. I got some azuki beans. Look!

How rare! That can't have been easy.

I'll have to get some sugar.

I guess I'll ask the Shanghai guy.

Good idea!

If I could eat my fill of sweet red-bean soup

with rice cakes, l would die happy!

Don't say that! It's bad luck.

I don't have anything to live for anyway.

Don't talk that way. It's unlike you.

After all, both of my sons are dead,

and I don't have any kin...

You have me.

Machiko, about that...

About what?

You don't have to always be faithful to Koji and me.

Think about finding someone,

and starting a family of your own.

Ma'am, we talked about this before.

I've no intention of getting married.

Why? Why won't you get married?

I'll only tell this to you.

The day before the bomb fell, on the evening of August 8th,

I finished work at the weapons factory in Morimachi.

I walked with my friends Mutsuko and Tateishi,

to the Takaramachi intersection, as always.

Suddenly, with a serious look on her face, Mutsuko said,

"None of us know when we're going to die."

"So from time to time, we should say goodbye politely."

After that,

we said farewell. "Let's meet again tomorrow. Take care."

Then we bowed deeply, and burst out laughing.

The next morning,

you had a sore stomach and stayed at home.

On August 9th,

the factory roof fell,

and Mutsuko and Tateishi

were trapped underneath.

They kept calling out for help

as they burned to death.

I had borrowed Mutsuko's watch.

A lovely Swiss one.

I had to return it,

but I couldn't do it.

A few months later, I went to Mutsuko's home.

I told her mother that I'd borrowed this watch,

and she hugged me.

"She said You're lucky to be alive,” so I told her.

I took that day off because of a sore stomach.

That's what I said.

Then Mutsuko's mother pushed me away.

What happened?

She glared at me intently, then said,

"Mutsuko should have faked a stomach ache too."

I'm sure she was just overcome with sadness,

and became upset.

No.

I'm ashamed to be alive.

Don't you dare say that!

Not that, not ever!

It's alright.

I'm happy to be Koji's wife.

No. You mustn't be.

That won't make Koji happy at all.

I'm sure he wants you to get married and find happiness.

So please, find someone nice.

There's no one! Don't say such things!

Please don't be angry.

Say, remember what you told me before?

About a fellow teacher of yours

who cried listening to Mendelssohn.

He sounds like a nice man.

Why? He's just...

He's nice, but that's all!

I'm sorry.

I'm just using him as an example.

Someday, you'll meet someone who wins your favor,

and you'll marry, and have lots of children...

Ma'am, stop! I've heard enough.

All I'm saying is, if you do meet someone nice,

please forget about Koji, and think about your own life.

I'm sure Koji wants that too.

No. Koji would be angry if I did something like that.

He wouldn't. Not at all.

I'm his mother, so I should know.

Please, do as I ask.

Machiko?

Are you angry?

I'll think about it on my own.

Goodbye.

Mother, did you talk it over with her?

I told her exactly what you said.

That if... she finds someone,

she should let go of me,

and be with them? Like that?

What did... Machiko say?

She said she'd think about it, and left in tears.

The poor girl.

Oh.

She cried.

Koji, you mustn't cry!

Don't worry. I won't.

It was hard for me too.

I felt as if I was pushing my own daughter away.

Mother, snap out of it.

Y-you're acting like you broke up with her.

You're right. I mustn't be sad.

No.

I said what I said for her sake.

Dr. Kawakami.

This takes me back.

He was so fond of drinking.

He came here once.

Even treated us to the little rationed sake he had.

The next day, he called me into his lab,

and suddenly said loudly,

"Fukuhara! Your mother's a beauty!"

That night, we drank again. Home-brewed sake.

Whenever he got drunk, he'd always sing.

His old dormitory song.

Grass grows on these noble grounds

The flowers' sweet fragrance...

Wait...

I was in Dr. Kawakami's class when...

That's right.

Your life ended on August 9th,

in Dr. Kawakami's class.

Of course...

I wonder what became of him?

Miraculously, he emerged from the rubble,

but his body was riddled with glass.

The shards stuck in him as if pulled by a magnet.

Covered in blood, he made it to Nameshi Shrine,

and nurses did all they could,

but he must have known he had little time left.

He asked,"I don't suppose you've got some sake?"

A nurse got some rubbing alcohol,

diluted it with water, and gave it to him.

It hurt so much, his whole body arched.

Trismus.

The spasm of mastication muscles.

It's excruciatingly painful.

He said to pour the alcohol into his throat through a tube.

The nurse cried as she did it,

but the spasms came back.

Dr. Kawakami said, I guess there's no way.

He laughed sadly...

...and before long, he passed away.

That was the day we surrendered, August 15th.

You remember a nurse named Yoshioka, don't you?

She came here and told me everything.

In spring last year,

she died of radiation sickness.

She was a Christian, and a beautiful soul.

Are you alright?

Nobuko, what's wrong?

I'm sorry.

If I stay like this for a while, I'll be fine.

Oh dear, you've grown so thin...

Have you been eating?

The wind's chilly today, ain't it ma'am?

My, that looks warm. Get it from a G.l.?

Sure did... POW.

Americans are unfair. They let prisoners wear these.

No wonder we lost.

- Mommy, I'm hungry. - Shut up!

Hey there! It's me!

Oh, hello.

It's been a while.

You're cleaning by yourself?

Machiko usually comes by,

but she's busy this year.

That's tough on you.

I would've come to help... No, I'll do it.

But would you believe, the cops threw me in the slammer.

The slammer? You mean jail?

You got it!

A jerk I know snitched on me. Man, it was rough.

Are you alright?

I'm fine. Something like that ain't gonna kill me.

I brought black soybeans. It ain't New Year's without 'em.

And kamaboko.

Listen, I'm very grateful for your kindness,

but I'm thinking of giving up black market goods.

After all, that judge who never bought them

starved to death.

I shouldn't buy luxuries

when more principled people are abstaining.

As a Japanese citizen.

Don't be such a goody-two-shoes.

There's people out there much worse than me,

nationwide.

Please, take this back with you.

My son is adamant. He says I mustn't buy from you.

Your son? You mean Koji?

Yes.

H-He died, didn't he?

He spoke to me in my dreams.

Don't buy black market goods.

So please, sell these to someone else.

He... might have said that if he was alive,

but you don't have to listen now he's dead.

I'm sorry to reject your kindness.

I huff and puff up this hill

just to see your smiling face.

I'm sorry.

Oh yeah. I almost forgot something important.

Koji owned a lot of records, right?

Still got 'em?

I do.

I'm gonna open a coffee shop near Shianbashi soon.

A musical one.

Beethoven. Da-da-da-dummm!

They're all the rage in Tokyo.

Would you sell me Koji's records? I'll pay heaps.

I can't. If I did, Koji would be furious.

Furious? In your dreams?

Yes.

I appreciate your offer, but I can't sell them.

When I die, I'll donate them to a university.

I'm sure he'll tell me to do that.

Nobuko,

you don't seem well to me.

Why's that?

You should see a doctor.

If money's a problem, leave it to me.

Thank you. Koji always fusses over me too.

No more of that Koji talk, okay?

Just take c-c-care of yourself.

Thank you.

I'll be back in the new year.

Koji, I refused to buy from him.

Ma'am?

About Nobuko Fukuhara.

She hasn't been herself lately.

I've been worried too. She seems a bit down.

Hey mister, got anything for New Year's?

Yeah. Black soybeans.

That's great! Come on in.

Hello, it's Machiko.

Ma'am?

I'm sorry I couldn't come to help.

Are you ready for New Year's?

I don't need to do much.

Just clean the house,

and make one or two dishes, that's all.

I got some glutinous rice, and made rice cakes yesterday.

It's not much,

but this is for soup, and your altar.

Oh my, thank you.

Now it'll feel like a real New Year's.

I'm sorry for not coming.

I'm glad you're here.

I didn't see you, so I thought you might be mad at me.

Weren't you?

I wasn't mad at all.

Machiko, could you close the door?

The wind's cold.

Ma'am,

I know you might not like it, but I brought someone.

Who?

Will you meet him?

This is Masakuni Kuroda, a teacher at my school.

How do you do.

Actually ma'am...

This man and I...

You're engaged?

Yes.

I see.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

You came to tell me?

Yes.

He wanted very much to meet you.

You know, don't you? About Koji.

Yes.

Machiko has told me.

Well then...

Would you mind meeting him?

Thank you.

This is Koji.

He was a student at the medical college.

On August 9th...

I don't need to tell you.

Koji?

This gentleman,

and Machiko...

Ma'am,

let's talk at leisure after New Year's.

We must be going.

Your name is Kuroda?

Yes.

The man who barely made it back home,

and burst into tears

when he heard Mendelssohn, that was you?

Yes.

I'm glad to hear it.

Mr. Kuroda?

Please, take good care...

...of Machiko.

Please tell Koji.

I promise

to cherish her for the rest of my life.

Thank you.

I'm sure Koji will be happy when he hears that.

No,

he's happy now.

Well ma'am,

please take care.

You too.

I'm sorry!

I...

...don't know how to apologize to Koji!

It's alright.

You already have.

Please be happy.

Won't you?

Koji,

I'll keep this photo in the drawer.

I'm exhausted.

You came?

I saw a movie today.

I can get into any cinema for free.

That's nice.

It was amazing, and British.

"Henry V" The picture was in color!

They called it technicolor.

All movies will shift from black-and-white to color soon.

What have you seen lately?

"Rhapsody in Blue."

A full house at Nagasaki Central. I had to sit in the aisle.

That movie's great, isn't it?

Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue is a wonderful tune.

I was captivated by it.

The U.S. is a weird country.

They make swell movies like that,

and nuclear bombs too.

Mother, what's wrong?

Feeling unwell?

While you were at the movies,

she came here. Machiko did.

With someone else.

Someone else?

You know what I mean. With a man.

She came to tell me that she got engaged.

Engaged, huh.

She found someone?

Yes, she did.

What's he like?

He was injured in the war and lost a leg.

He's on crutches and can't move freely,

but he's nice.

Nice? How exactly?

He's just nice.

I knew it in my heart.

That I can trust him.

If you say so, it must be true.

So, Machiko will be happy.

I'm sure she will.

He's an elementary school teacher, and popular with his students.

Is he a funny guy?

The opposite.

He's an earnest type. Gentle, and of few words.

Not a chatterbox like you.

He's right for her.

Am I that much of a chatterbox?

You sure are.

When you were here, you said Mother! Mother! all day.

Until I answered you.

You said Mother enough to last a lifetime.

Don't talk rubbish, silly.

What's wrong? Are you sad?

Even so, you've got to be strong. Koji, you're a man.

Thought I was going to cry again? Relax. I won't.

I just want Machiko to be happy.

I trust your judgment.

That's kind of you to say. You're a good son, Koji.

Don't worry. She'll find happiness.

She's clever, and kind.

She'll be a good mother.

And have lots of children.

Why are you crying?

She'll find happiness,

and eventually, she'll forget about you.

That's for the best.

She has to forget me.

But...

Why should only Machiko be happy?

I wish she'd died instead!

Mother!

Stop it! Don't say that!

It's not like you to talk that way.

I'm sorry. It was wrong of me.

I'm a bad person. A truly bad person.

How could I be jealous of her?

Koji...

I'm tired.

Please, let me rest.

Yes.

You should rest.

I feel dizzy.

Mother?

You look pale.

Are you alright?

I'm fine.

Good night.

Please come again tomorrow.

Father,

into your hands,

I commit my spirit.

Amen.

Alright,

good night.

Mother?

Mother?

You're still here?

...I might not be able to come back again.

Why? You must come back!

Machiko won't come to see me as much as she used to.

I need you here everyday.

You know, since you died,

no matter what I've done, nothing has made me happy.

Please.

Don't ever say you won't come back.

It's alright, Mother.

What's alright?

Even if I can't come back here,

we'll always be together.

From now on, and forever more.

Why?

Why will we be together?

Because...

You see, Mother...

You're...

...part of our world now.

So...

I can...

...be with you...

...from now on...

...for eternity?

That's right.

I'm happy.

I'm so happy!

Now then, hold my hands tightly.

Are you ready?

Then... let's go.

Nobuko? Good evening!

It's me! The Shanghai guy!

I'm here again! Coming in!

Oh, were you sleeping? Sorry.

I've brought you soba noodles for New Year's Eve.

The Shanghai guy said you weren't well.

He's been worried sick.

I got pork cubes and champon in Chinatown.

You can eat 'em for New Year's.

Nobuko?

Feeling ill? Pardon me, I'm coming in.

Hello?

Nobuko?

Mister, something's not right.

A doctor! I'll go get a doctor!

A doctor!

Nobuko?

Did you die all by yourself?

All alone?

You poor dear.

You poor dear!

Shall we go?

Machiko...

Let's go.

"I shall abide”

"I shall abide a single sorrow"

I shall abide countless sorrows

Sumire?

Is the baby well?

I can no longer return

"Pierce my body"

"Now I am far, far away"

"Pierce my body"

"Tomorrow the sun will rise again”

"Flowers will bloom all over the earth"

"Tomorrow the little birds"

"Will sing cheerfully”

"O Earth, O Earth"

"Always so beautiful”

"Be forever filled with joy"

"Tomorrow I will take that joy with me"

"When I pass you by"

Executive Producer: Junichi SAKOMOTO

Planner: Maya INOUE

Producer: Nozomu ENOKI

Screenplay: Yoji YAMADA Emiko HIRAMATSU

Music: Ryuichi SAKAMOTO

Cinematography: Masashi CHIKAMORI

Art Director: Mitsuo DEGAWA

Lighting: Koichi WATANABE

Editor: Iwao ISHII

Sound: Kazumi KISHIDA

"With gratitude to Hisashi Inoue”

Directed by Yoji Yamada