Original subtitles

In order to become a graphic designer at a major ad agency,

you first need to get into an art school's design department.

This is because they only hire art school graduates.

The year I applied, the design student admission rate was one in 17.

KOICHI ASAKURA (22)

And the odds of getting hired for a creative position here

were 300 times that...

In other words, about one in 5,000!

There are a hundred thousand people chasing that dream,

but only one out of that hundred thousand makes it.

That's the reality.

I'm halfway there, Eren!

Hey, if it isn't Koichi!

K-Kamiya-san!

Yo.

Thank you so much for the networking during the alumni visit!

I'm looking forward to working with you!

Oh... Yeah.

PRODUCTION HQ, CREATIVE DEPT., 1ST CREATIVE DEPT. DIVISION, TEAM KASUGA

CREATIVE DIRECTOR YUSUKE KAMIYA

You going on a smoke break again?

My bad.

Did you finish that fix yet?

I sent it to your PC.

Then say so.

Well, you were away from your desk, Yanagi-san...

Oh, sorry about that.

I've never seen a designer who smokes. Unbelievable.

Yeah, I dunno about that!

Let's go, Asakura-kun.

Um... Am I not on Team Kamiya?

He's still in his 30s, isn't he?

He doesn't have a team.

Hard at work, I see.

This man will be your boss.

PRODUCTION HQ, CREATIVE DEPT., 1ST CREATIVE DEPT. DIVISION, TEAM SAWAMURA

Creative Director Sawamura.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR TAKASHI SAWAMURA

Pleased to be working with you, sir!

Looking forward to it.

Your seat's right there, okay?

Yes, sir!

A pleasure to meet you.

I'm Koichi Asakura.

PRODUCTION HQ, CREATIVE DEPT., 1ST CREATIVE DEPT. DIVISION, TEAM SAWAMURA

I'm Kumeda.

ART DIRECTOR YUKI KUMEDA

Um, today, what are we...

Gotta be proactive!

Kumeda-san, is there anything I could help you with?!

Oh, well, I'm only working on urgent things right now, so...

All the more reason to help if they're urgent!

What I'm saying is... Hmm.

I'm fine.

Koichi... Ko-chan. Kume-chan is busy right now.

Go read a book or something.

Right.

THE PRESSURE HOW TO CREATE AN ANNA KISHI EMPIRE

THE MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY THAT CHANGED THE WORLD THROUGH FASHION

THE PRESSURE

Oh, lunchtime.

Kume-chan, not happenin', huh?

I'm sorry. I still have a bit to go...

Keep at it.

Ko-chan.

Let's go grab a bite.

Yes, sir!

Oh, Yuuko.

Oh. Good afternoon to you, sir.

Hey, Koichi.

You going to lunch too?

No, no. I'm about to meet up with a client.

What?! Already?!

I still haven't gone out to lunch once since I joined the company.

If you know any good places, fill me in next time.

Sure.

My senpai is waiting, so I gotta run!

We're colleagues and I'm already getting left behind.

KIRAKURIAN

Sawamura-san.

Hmm?

I would like to contribute more.

Yeah, I'm counting on you.

Despite how I look, I'm confident in my stamina!

I've also worked as an art director

representing our student organization. So...

Here's your Combo A meal. Thanks for waiting.

No need to rush it, Ko-chan... Ow, hot.

You're going to be working for another 40 years.

I'll be retiring in a few.

The reason I was able to make it this far is because I'm a huge slacker.

Sawamura-san, with all due respect...

I am a creator!

I'll keep at it up until the deadline

and do as much as I can, no matter how small!

I'll go without sleep!

So please—

Well, there'll be days you have to do that,

even if you don't want to.

You see, it's just... that era is coming to an end.

The days it was cool to be a hard worker are over.

If you wanna get lost in the work,

a day job like this might be kinda tough.

Sure, there'll be days where it's just not possible,

but you know...

Aim to clock out on time.

As if he'd ever understand why I'm this impatient!

Especially as an old man near retirement!

But I'm still young, so...

This is my own personal theory, but...

Everyone has to fight with the cards they've been dealt.

Whatever talent and even the connections you've got, those are all cards.

Listen up. Youth is your last wild card.

Don't count on that.

You can't rely on a card that'll eventually disappear.

Instead, hurry up and find your other cards.

I can't really think of any, but...

Come on. You scrutinized yourself during your job hunt, didn't you?

I've got guts!

That's the same as youth, y'know...

Listen, there are four types of people who make it.

First, the realist who grows through calm self-analysis.

They're prized in the corporate world.

Kamiya would be this type, for example.

Sayuri might be the same.

THE PRESSURE PHOTOGRAPHER: IFUU SAKUMA

Second, the narcissist who truly believes they can succeed at anything.

The celebrity type, I suppose.

Third, the sadist who forces everyone around them to submit to their judgment.

You could even say they're charismatic.

Yanagi is a prime example of this.

The final type are people for whom this is their way of life,

and they have no other choice but to pursue it.

The artists.

Eren would be exactly that.

I don't really feel like I fit into any of those...

I need to find my strengths fast.

I need to find my strengths...

and earn recognition from the people around me.

And then I need to become something. I need to become someone.

How about the end of the year?

Going to Hawaii to surf again?

Nah, I didn't get that much of a bonus, so...

I know, right? I guess we'll just have to stick to domestic travel.

I don't even know if we'd be able to get reservations

at a hot spring at this point—

I'm sorry!

I've got the graphic drafts!

You're late! Quit dilly-dallying!

Line 'em up already!

Yes, sir!

The presentation's right after New Year's! You got that?!

Yes, sir!

TOYOKAWA INARI

TOYOKAWA INARI TEMPLE

Happy New Year!

Yeah, happy New Year.

You're here awfully early.

Yeah, well...

Us old folks just wake up.

Man, he's early.

Don't tell me he stayed overnight at the office...

Right after New Year's and everything.

I gotta stop minding him.

Koichi is on Kamiya's team now.

Koichi?!

Are you sure you're okay with Koichi?

It'll be a massive hit if you lose this 300 million yen campaign.

It'll be fine, chief.

This guy's got guts!

I mean, guts is all he's got, but hey!

Come in.

Excuse me.

Koichi, you all right?

Yes. I'm sorry. It was just anemia.

How about the hospital?

I went. I'm all right now.

I see.

"I see" doesn't cut it, Kamiya.

Have a seat.

Team Kamiya is affiliated with my department.

PRODUCTION HQ, CREATIVE DEPT., 1ST CREATIVE DEPT. DIVISION, TEAM KASUGA

As your superior, I bear the responsibility

CREATIVE DIRECTOR SATORU KASUGA

of watching over you two in a way...

Even though you only show up when it's time to take the credit.

The director seems like he's still going to continue with Team Kamiya, but...

If you'll excuse us...

Um, I'm really sorry.

I said what I did to Kasuga-san,

but you can step down if you need to.

I want to do this.

What? Asakura-kun did?

Yeah...

I just took him to the hospital.

They said it was nothing serious, so he came right back, but...

These are all the graphic drafts!

Hey, Koichi, the lines are so hard.

Don't just go with any old lines you've seen before.

In order to really wring out something striking from deep within—

Kamiya.

Oh, sorry. Can't right now.

You see, Koichi, logos are—

Kamiya!

Come with me for a sec.

Fix it, all right?

Yes, sir.

You're working him like that right after he just collapsed?!

It was his decision.

You really think he's capable of making the right call on his own?

He doesn't want to let you down!

Don't ya dare exploit a kid's dream!

Nah, he's not a kid anymore.

In my eyes, you're just a kid yourself!

That's why I didn't want Koichi to end up on your team!

I'm always telling you!

Don't count on your youth!

Sawamura-san...

All this talk about the youth card...

I hate it.

Don't go acting like some old zen master!

I liked you better as "Sadi-mura" in your prime, feared by all.

Those days are long gone.

That's nothing but a dark past.

Huh? Should you really be talking about yourself like that?

Listen to me, Kamiya!

Koichi isn't a full-fledged—

He ain't your damn son!

Stop pretending to be his dad!

Your own wife and son left you because you were too invested in your work.

But, hey...

You were able to earn yourself a bit of fame thanks to that.

You don't call that fame.

Like hell I don't!

My dad was a designer too, and when I was a kid, he left us.

But, y'know, not once did we feel unfortunate.

Kamiya...

NICE-LOOKING FAMILY, SLOWLY MOVE IN "THERE IS A FAMILY TOGETHERNESS"

We design sweet dreams as advertisements.

"A NORMAL DAY TURNS INTO A SPECIAL ONE." "DAD, LOOK! IT'S THE OCEAN!"

We work behind the scenes of that dream world.

A BIG YARD WITH WHITE LAUNDRY. A HAPPY MOTHER. IN HER HAND IS THE DETERGENT

Rather than dreaming those sweet dreams,

we opt for spine-chilling reality...

We chose to be creatives over becoming adults.

If I'm going to teach a craft to someone who's all about that...

No way am I going easy on him.

Sawamura-san, you've had those moments too, haven't you?

Where you find yourself in an empty office at midnight,

staring at your work and laughing...

The younger you are, the more you feel like it's the right time to do it.

You endure it,

and endure it...

And after you've endured enough,

down dangles the spider's thread...

If you can't sink your teeth into that,

why in the world did you even come to this hellhole?

Koichi...

Thank you.

What?

I couldn't hear you, Eren.

Eren...

SUNNY TRY PRESENTATION 10:00 AM!

JANUARY 9 (WED)

How many hours was I asleep?!

ARE YA DONE? LET ME SEE IT BEFORE YOU EXPORT

I need to calm down...

Calm down, calm down, calm down...

I need to print out the materials by nine...

JANUARY 9 (WED)

Which means I have 47 minutes left...

I-It's impossible.

It'll be fine, chief.

This guy's got guts!

I mean, guts is all he's got, but hey!

There are five corrections...

If I spend ten minutes fixing each one, then...

All right!

Three more to go!

I've got... 32 minutes left!

All right! I'm on track!

I can make it!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

CONTACT ME

CONTACT ME NOW!

I know, I know, I know!

I have 20 minutes left...

Oh no...

I can't get this done!

Why did I fall asleep?

I was awake for 30 hours...

It's just not happening.

INCOMING CALL CD YUSUKE KAMIYA

Yes?!

How much have you done?

I just have a little to go...

It's all right. Just tell me what you have done.

Send me the file.

I'll take on half of it.

Th-Thanks.

Shoulda called me sooner, ya dunce.

I'm very sorry.

Okay.

Koichi.

You present the logo design part.

Wait, me?

S-Sorry! If it's the corrections, I've got a little more...

We won.

That 300-million Sunny Try presentation?

They said we got the job.

Things're gonna get even busier.

Yes, sir!

Wait, busier?

I think it was Sunny Try that won last year's ADC Award, too.

If I take next year's, I'd be the youngest to get it, wouldn't I?

Psych.

Koichi-san, the chief is looking for you.

Huh? What do you mean?

I'm asking you to step down from this project.

You just don't have the experience.

Well, aren't you glad you got to participate in a big presentation?

I'll get a veteran to take over.

Wanna go for drinks?

How about you, Micchan?

Yep! I'm in!

Um, about the Sunny Try project...

Yeah, I heard about that.

I really wanted to do that project.

Koichi... How should I put it?

Well, this happens a lot.

Don't rush it. We'll work hard next time.

I'm working hard now.

It's a real shame for you too, Micchan, but keep at it.

Will do.

I'm already working hard enough.

You know, they stopped letting people smoke in taxis.

I'm doing my best here.

I'm busting my ass so hard I'm not even sleeping.

In an enclosed space like that? Of course they did!

Even restaurants will be totally nonsmoking one day.

I had the idea, I designed it, and I presented it, didn't I?

That would suck.

You should take a hint from Koichi-san.

That was my project... Mine!

He's refraining from smoking next to a lady.

It was mine!

I'm going home.

We're good. This is on me.

It's fine.

I've got it. It ain't much.

That aside, you look pale.

Micchan, call him a taxi.

I said it's fine!

Damn it!

Are you sure about this, sir?

It's a bit far out from the city.

Are you planning on heading to the beach or something?

Do you know of an art museum near Bankokubashi?

Oh, you mean BankART.

It's close by.

A woman must be involved.

Koichi...

The person who scribbled this probably left that too, right?

They must have.

"Suck."

She got competitive with an art museum exhibit

and wrote "You suck" on it. Who does that?

I was also pissed at you for being better at art than me, y'know?

VOICEMAIL CW YURINA MITSUHASHI

We know how hard you worked.

Kamiya-san was in the chief's office for a very long time.

I know they must've talked for ages,

but he was probably powerless, so he invited us out to drink.

Please try to understand how Kamiya-san must feel.

So lame...

I'm so lame...

Koichi.

You seem pretty occupied with yourself.

I'm... only ever thinking of myself...

If...

If I could go back to that day in high school,

I'd still have chosen to be a designer.

Whether I keep failing or no one expects anything of me...

None of that matters.

Hello, this is Asakura.

I'm very sorry about earlier.

Yes... Huh?

Yes, I'll do it!

All I've got is guts, after all!

EPISODE 3: ALL I'VE GOT IS GUTS, AFTER ALL

Then make sure you have the presentation materials

by the beginning of the week.

Are you sure about this?

You really don't need to cheer him up more?

You guys only talk about work.

It's all good that way. We're guys.

TRANSLATION: YUKARI MURASE-LOUDEN

TIMING: MARIANA MARTINEZ EDITING: RILEY DALTON

QUALITY CONTROL: SMR TRANSLATION CHECK: REI MIYASAKA