Original subtitles

MUJO (THIS TRANSIENT LIFE)

"...transient and changing fast... ...time waits for no man..."

The weather is really nice today

Yes, it's springtime already

Did you see Masao?

He is in a rush these days

Today, too

Father is coming back today, but...

Let me find him

Thanks, you don't need to

I'll take a walk. I'll come back in a bit

We're going to hold a high school reunion in April

You think you'll be able to come?

Yes, if I am free

How long has it been since you graduated?

5 years

Mr. Ogino, you're a really excellent head monk

How's your wife?

I am not married yet

And you?

Me neither

But my parents keep urging me

I am looking for Masao. I'll see you later

NO TRESPASSING

This one, this one

What are you doing?

I learned kendo when I was young

Once I spent 10 days trying to beat someone else

Father is coming back today

He annoys me a lot.

When he comes home, he always talks about my marriage

If you are going to get married,

I'll run away from home someday

What are you talking about?

You are the only son of the Hino family

I'll get married one day anyway

Sister

Can you just run away?

Listen, Masao,

where did you get all these silly ideas?

Stop it! Stop it!

Father's face must be dead serious when he comes home...

It's so good just to mess around with those people!

What are you talking about? Are you trying to lecture me?

You're so bad, Masao!

Everything has to be done in good order

You should remember that by heart

You are already 21

Don't you think it's too late? That is why you ask those matchmakers...

to find a man for sister and marry her off as soon as possible?

Are you a fool or just acting stupid?

Masao, what are you talking about?

Why would a smart boy like you keep your sister from getting married?

Aren't you just giving trouble to your sister?

It's because I can't find anyone to marry me

That's why Masao thinks this way

Well, your father mentioned introducing you to a man

Do you want to meet him?

It's not at all about sister

I said that because I don't want to be in this business

Trading stuff from here to there just to make money

I'd hate that

I don't want to hear this anymore. Get out!

You and Yuri, get out!

- Masao - Masao

You are so stubborn, but I've got my plans, too

I'll give you a month

If you don't change your mind, I won't see you as a member of our family anymore

I am going to Tokyo

Moriyama's son is getting married

Oh, Moriyama's son...

I was planning to have all the four of us go to Tokyo later

Now I think I'll just go with you

I see

Goodnight

What are you going to do in a month from now?

I don't know

How many men have you met through those matchmakers?

Three?

A hundred?

Take care

See you

So, Iwashita, you should go back to your family for a few days

Right. I'll get myself ready

Why didn't you go see them off?

Where are you going?

To Kyoto. I want to visit a bookstore

I hope you'll come back soon

Iwashita is on holiday these few days

I am all alone at night. I'll be lonely

Ogino-san

Oh, Hino-kun

Are you going to Kyoto?

Yes

I wanted to get some photos of Buddhist statues through an old book store

It's ironic

Though I grew up in a Buddhist monastery, I don't like monks

Yet you, a son of a businessman, are very interested in Buddhism

Do you want us to exchange identity?

But that's impossible, isn't it?

I see Yuri is about to get married?

That's right

But why don't you go to college?

You come from such a wealthy family

You're missing good opportunities

My father has been bugging me about it all the time

I don't like studying anyway

It's hard for me to understand

Where are you going, Ogino-san?

The Kannon statue we commissioned two years ago is almost ready

I am going to pay for it now

You can come and have a look, if you like

YASUTAKA MORI BUDDHIST SCULPTURE ARTIST

Help yourself

- You've spent two years on it? - Yes

Perhaps I'm getting old

It's becoming difficult for me to work

You're just very diligent, Master Mori!

Can I ask you something about sculpting?

Does it require much faith?

Yes, of course

It couldn't be done if you're only half-hearted

It takes two or three years to complete a Kannon statue

One needs a lot of patience

I apologize for being so blunt

From the time a statue is finished, in the following tens or hundreds of years,

how many different people will make different wishes to the deities?

I think about that, when I spend my time

However, every time I work on a statue,

I feel that my life is being slowly drained into it

Those people who do not have any belief and go to war...

would only die meaninglessly on the battlefield

I guess my work isn't very different from that...

Father, I'll be away for about a week

OK, please take care

You'll have to do the housework now

So you'd better get the statue done sooner

Bye

- Are you going? - Yeah

Are you from the monastery too?

No, I'm his friend

Really? You just look different

You are looking for a beautiful young wife, right?

I am his second wife

You must have other things to do...

Yeah

- So please excuse me - Wait a bit

YASAKA HOTEL

- Where are you going? - Home

Why? Aren't you going to stay for a night?

Ain't I free to go?

You don't like it here?

No

I paid for you!

You are just a commodity!

It's ridiculous for you to ask about this and that

Am I only a commodity?

Hey you there, wait!

You said something rude to our lady, eh?

Not really

You trying to fool around here?

Fucking bastard!

I'm back

Masao?

Welcome back

The bath is ready

You can take the bath first

I'm alone at home

It's quite scary

So you take the bath first. I'll wait here

I'm done

What happened to you?

You've acted so strange since you came back

What's the matter?

Is the water warm?

Yeah

I'll make it a little warmer

KOUKICHI HINO

Masao, look what I've got

It reminds me of the past

There used to be one in our father's room

Yes. Father often wore this mask and played with mother

Masao, Masao, no!

Masao, no, no!

Masao...

I'm scared, I'm scared...

There's nothing to be afraid of

This is natural

It's natural for two people to be like this

- Welcome back - I'm here

Father said he would go to Osaka

So I came back straight from Tokyo on a train

It's so fast!

What's the matter? You look pale

I got cold in the bath last night

Really?

I'll ask Masao to come over

Masao, Masao

Masao

Mother's back

You just have to stay calm

"...life and death are a great matter, transient and changing fast..."

ARHAT, BETWEEN BUDDHA AND MAN

I want to be with you all day

I can't take it anymore

Sister, I didn't know you have such a nice body

Good that you're not married yet

I didn't know anything like this was possible

It's so great...

"...life and death are a great matter... ...treasure your time..."

Yuri

What's the matter? You scared me

Father called and asked me to take his spring suits to Osaka

Can you iron them for me?

Sure

The car is here

I'm sure about it...

We can't hide it any longer

Mother seems to have noticed something

Though she would never imagine that the other person is you

But she went to meet father in a hurry

You think so?

Masao, do you want to die?

To die with me...

Why? You don't have to die

You are just too scared

Masao, you...

If Iwashita has a crush on you,

then everything would work out fine

Iwashita?

You'd let me sleep with another man?

Let's be above all that!

We are bonded to each other in our hearts

Even if you sleep with Iwashita, it won't change anything

That's all...

What will you do after that?

You don't have to worry

We shall never be apart

There is nothing to be afraid of

That's for sure

I love you!

I love you!

Sorry to bother you

Did you receive the statue of Kannon?

No, not yet

Since we last met Master Mori, the pace of his work has slowed down a lot

The statue will take at least one more year to finish

Why do all Buddhist statues look like women?

How is Yuri doing?

She is going to get married

Get married?

With whom?

With Iwashita, the houseboy

Ogino-san, are you in love with my sister?

No

Could you write me a reference letter?

For who?

For Master Mori, the sculptor

I want to work with him

Are you leaving home?

It would be better for Iwashita

Is it okay?

Hino-kun!

I... know about it

So?

So?.. Don't you care about women's chastity?

Could you just stay at home and care about nothing at all?

You...

What you did with your sister is worse than animals

So it would be better for me to leave home

This has nothing to do with you

Are you okay about the reference letter?

- Will you write it? - Yes

You'd better not come back home

I'll be here again tomorrow

Thank you

Welcome back

Master and Madam are coming back today at around 9pm

Really? Is there anything important?

- Does sister know about it? - No

She said she's in a bad mood and left

Iwashita, I want to talk to you

Can I see you in your room after dinner?

I can come to you instead

No, I'll come to you

Yuri, father and mother are coming back at 9

There's one chance before they arrive. That's our only chance

There's nothing to ponder about

So get up and wash yourself, and dress nicely

You really won't leave me?

I won't leave you

You shouldn't get so troubled

Is it Masao?

Please come in

Can I come in?

Yes

O... okay

There's only Masao at home

Please close the door

Masao said he's coming

Masao is not coming

He said it would be better if I come here in person

Father is coming back tonight because of my marriage arrangements

I know about it

Where is he from?

Congratulations

Iwashita, are you saying it from your heart?

- Yes - Really?

Then, I must have thought too much

I thought you would oppose my marriage

I really thought so

I've always cared about you...

I talked to Masao

He said I should do as I please

That's why I am here

Are you serious?

Would a woman...

come to a man's room alone just as a joke?

Iwashita

Is it alright?

Where is Yuri?

She said she wasn't feeling well, and went back to her room.

Masao, did you notice anything?

What's the matter?

Yuri and Iwashita...

Sister?

I didn't notice anything

Just get her an abortion and send Iwashita away

Abortion?

Sister is already 25

If she does it, she might have to wait until 30 to bear a child again

There were only the two of you at home, how could you not notice anything?

Even if I did, I wouldn't be able to do anything about it

Or, perhaps I am helping them

What are you talking about?

Father, isn't it nice?

Iwashita is an honest man

I don't think he'll bring wealth to our family, but, if it's Iwashita,

there won't be any inheritance problems...

That poor bloke seduced my daughter! How can I not be angry?!

If that's what you really think, just go away and don't come back!

You really want to disown me?

Masao?

Don't worry about me

I can live with it

What are you talking about?

Nothing

10 months later, winter

"...transient and changing fast... ...time waits for no man..."

I heard your sister had a child

Yeah, it's a boy

I've become an uncle

No matter how children turn out to be, seeing them gives you faith in mankind

Me and you have also been children once.

Children are a dream of adults

But, after all, a dream is only a dream

If you are not busy, you'd better go and see the baby

It would be convenient if it were nearby

But if it were nearby, you wouldn't be traveling back home

I've decided not to go back

I guess I should not go back home too often

Really?

- I'm back - Welcome back

- You came by Shinkansen? - Yeah

Good day. I thought you wouldn't be here when I come home this time

How's your work?

It's tiring

This is different from reading a book in a chair

You think it's an easy work, easier than going to college

That's not true

I understand what it is like to make a Kannon statue over two or three years

But if you were to become a Buddha yourself that would be different

It's because one couldn't become a Buddha that one keeps making Buddhist sculptures

Really? So you didn't enter college and became an artisan...

because you couldn't be a Buddha?

That's right

People should do whatever pleases them

It is because of those who suppress their desires

that the world has become so complicated

You are leaving this house and I am staying here,

it hasn't been ordered by anyone

If we just do whatever pleases us, then everything will turn out fine

- I'm back, mother - Welcome back

He's started to call me mother

When did he start calling me mother? I'm surprised

I'll make another dish now

Masao, are you going out?

I'm going to see my sister and her baby

I'll be back in two or three days

Don't be away for so long

Think about me sometimes, okay?

I'll be very bored if you're not with me

Sister,

come and get me!

If we were at home, I'd be afraid of being seen...

even late at night... I wouldn't enjoy it

You don't mind at all?

I'm alright

Are you going?

You are right

When we were in bed, Master Mori always peeped at us

What are you talking about?

That would help him to regain his strength

There is nothing to worry about

He knows about it since a long time ago

Even if he knows about it, he's never said a word

He doesn't want to sleep with me anymore

Well, then you didn't do anything wrong at all

That's it

Oh, it's you, Masao

You're back!

If you called me first, I could have met you at the train station

- How's the baby? - He's fine

Is it Masao?

You're tired, right?

He really kicks a lot

Who does he look like?

People say he looks like his mother

You're back, Masao

I just came back, mother

Father should feel relieved seeing the little boy...

Yes

That's good

Everything's fine now

You're a good boy

Where is Yuri?

She went to the monastery with Masao

I see. Masao used to go there a lot

Don't cry, come on

You should go too

You are a part of the family

Right. I'll be going then

Little baby boy

Sleep well and be a good boy

Little baby

Good boy

Ogino-san

How's the baby?

He is fine

That's great, he'll grow up healthy

Thank you

Where are you going?

Masao came back to see the baby and went to the garden with Yuri

I am here to pick her up

Are you?

Masao likes the scenery here

Please take care

It's so good...

Masao, you are my real husband

Right

The baby boy must be mine too

Yes

That's how it is!

It's late!

You really didn't see him?

No, we didn't

It must be your father

I just told him on the phone that Masao is back

So much like father and son!

Just let it be

It's just a matter of time

It's been a long while

You are already an uncle

Someone jumped on the tracks of Shinkansen and killed himself.

- A Suicide? - What's the matter?

Nothing, Iwashita hasn't been around since last evening

Iwashita?

Why would he commit suicide?

That man was crushed into pieces

A leg fell into the river

Only half of the body remained

Do you need some rest?

Yeah

Even with the warm spring in Kyoto,

people always complain that the weather is too cold

But I like it this way

I like it when spring comes and I can feel winter gradually melting

I see

Masao, let's stop sleeping separately from tonight onwards

I know about everything that happened...

between you and Reiko in these two months

I wondered how long it would last, so I kept silent and watched until now

But it was good

The pleasure of young bodies writhing in bed...

Did you enjoy it?

Well, I know your good intentions too

You let me peep on it clearly and spread Reiko's body wide open

But that's enough

If you two are going to be like husband and wife at night, just sleep in my room

I see

Master, if you allow me, how about the three of us doing it together?

- The three of us? - Yes

I want to help you, Master

I think Reiko and I would like you to join us

Really?

- But... - Women are nothing

Women are curious animals, they want immediate pleasure

If the three of us don't do it together, she won't be satisfied

I think Reiko is a good match for you, Master

I see

Please arrange it then

That night, when his sister's husband jumped under Shinkansen,

they must have done something bestial in this monastery.

After seeing that monstrous scene, he decided to kill himself

Really?

Does he do something like that in Kyoto, too?

It can't be forgiven

But since my father is involved, I'm not saying anything

The Kannon statue is made with the hands of a perverted person

Yet no one cares

Let's go and see him

How could he do anything like that?

Masao

Someone is looking for you

It's that monk

What do you want me to do?

Leave this place and go back home, is that what you mean?

Going back home is just going back to the kind of bestiality you mentioned

Go on a trip

Sever all connections with all immorality, all people, and all places

Even if I go on a trip, Japan is such a small place...

Who killed Iwashita?

It was Iwashita's own heart

I gave my sister to that man

There's nothing much about dying or not dying

It's just the body that dies

Anyway, you must leave home

Your presence will bring misfortune to each and every one

I am not Christ to bring salvation

You are creating hell everywhere you go

That's the kind of person you are

But, Ogino-san, I think I've also made this world more colorful

What?

Bringing misfortune to people, creating hell everywhere...

I don't agree with you

Can a man do something like that alone?

A man changing another man...

I can't imagine such a thing

When a person gets someone involved into something,

he has to dig out what's buried deep inside the other person's heart

There is no other way

It is only you who worry about these things, Ogino-san

Is this a kind of arrogance?

I didn't change my sister, Iwashita... nor Master Mori

These people only faced their own density when their lives crossed with mine

If you insist on saying that it is hell I created, I'll take it as your opinion

But to be aware of one's destiny...

doesn't necessarily mean that it should affect one's well-being

If seeing one's destiny means that he will be banished in Hell,

in order not to let him see that destiny,

a giant hand will appear in front of his eyes and block his sight

It's the hand of Buddha

In any case, no one has the power to see his own destiny

And what if someone really tries?

To help him overcome that desire is the duty for us monks

Of course, I may not be strong enough...

No, I am in fact very weak,

but I've chosen to be a monk because my heart believes in it

If we're talking about that, I think I'd tell you something too...

Ogino-san, after listening to my words, you'll have the responsibility to refute me

Once, when I was a child,

someone left in the storeroom of my house two old volumes of paintings of Hell

I discovered them when I was cleaning up the house

I still remember how deeply I was shocked by them

That night, I thought about many things

What does it mean if such terrible things exist?

If there is really such a place, wouldn't it be better if humans never existed at all?

I kept asking myself countless times

I had nightmares almost every night around that time

Mother didn't know why I was like that, she just worried a lot

Of course, the thoughts that obsessed me receded some time later

But, at that time, I thought that, because there is Hell, there must be Heaven, too

I always believed this

That was around the time I entered junior high

I was enthusiastic about Buddhism

I got some books about Heaven in Buddhism

And, again, I was deeply shocked

Hell can be Abi Hell, Muken Hell

While the suffering in Hell is described in all kind of details,

Heaven, on the contrary, is very simple

There is only Buddha and some lotus leaves

That's all

What I see is that Heaven as it's described has no appeal at all

No... not only without appeal, what I can see there is just a pile of skeletons

Learning about the punishments in Hell, you can vividly feel the pain

Yet seeing a painting of the Rising Sun and Heaven you don't feel any happiness

But that is...

Please let me finish

As I kept thinking about it, I came upon an idea

That's for certain:

The happiness in the paintings of Heaven does not exist

It is because happiness comes when one's desire is fulfilled

But fulfilling one's desire is necessarily evil

So there is no happiness in Heaven

You...

Simply put, this is your convenient way of bending Buddha's teachings to suit the world?

But aren't Buddha's teachings meant for the world?

If there is no happiness in Heaven, then what else is there?

Ogino-san, what is there in Heaven?

There is nothing, Ogino-san!

Nothingness is in Heaven!

It is the Happiness in Nothingness

But Nothingness is nothing, so there is no Heaven!

This is the conclusion I came to

Buddhism is nothing besides that Nothingness

It's Nirvana, not Nothingness!

It has no time, nor space

It's a suspension in eternity

So there is nothing besides happiness there!

Does one has consciousness when one is dead?

Does consciousness exist in Nirvana?

If consciousness is related to time and space, then it does not exist there

And, of course, there cannot be any consciousness of happiness!

Hino-kun, is this the principle behind what you do?

Yes, it is

If there is no Heaven, there is no Hell

What exists is this Reality alone.

And in this Reality I am caught in, there is no such thing as law

Law is something between crime and punishment

But, in my kind of Reality, there is no crime, nor punishment

But that...

In your kind of Reality, there is nothing but disorder

How can a human live on like that?

Humans don't necessarily have to live on

We humans are too obsessed with the irrational belief in reproduction and continuation

And once this irrational belief is established, all kinds of laws would come up

I don't approve of those laws

To oppose the Nothingness in Buddhism, this is the only option

You are mad

In ancient India, the highest spiritual level was believed to be Nothingness

Believers would just live and die on their own, their dead bodies would pile up like a mountain

I am obsessed with Buddhist statues because...

they all look at you with the same mysterious smile

That is exactly the countenance of Nothingness

Gradually, you end up seeing only the smile of Buddha

It's a smile of self-mockery, conscious that his teachings contain contradictions

Buddha's smile is in fact a delicate balance

It cannot be a tad colder, nor a tad happier

You joined the making of that Kannon statue with such thoughts...

and now you want to bring the statue into my monastery?!

The Kannon looks at you with a smile because my and my Master's life is drained into it

I shouldn't have introduced you to him

Ogino-san, this is the Karma between you and me

Ogino-san, you and I are very much alike

Let's live in peace

Ogino-san, you envy me, right?

Envy? What do you mean?

Isn't it nice?

You once fell in love with my sister

Ogino-san, can my sister stay with you?

You can take my place and be with her

And then, spring

Master, it's very well done

I'm so tired

I am sure this Kannon statue will silently accept...

any kind of people and any kind of wishes

You have to go back in any case, right?

Yes

I am going back with the Kannon statue

I have been with you all along

I thought you were staying here for life

Oh... come in

Your lover is going, but you are not seeing him off?

You know about it?

Look what you're saying!

Who put father's health at risk?

It's you and that guy... that bastard

Your father is the happiest one

Liar!

Father was dragged into all this

You may say that, but what's wrong with it?

There's nothing better than that

How about it?

Do you like my smooth skin?

What... what are you doing?

What's wrong with it?

There is no one at home right now

It's been some time since we were together like this

Masao, you still want to make Buddhist statues?

Yes, I do

Father said, in order to support the child, you'll continue to be his uncle

Is that alright?

Alright

If it's just a title...

Really?

Iwashita died without a reason

It would be best if you could do the work in Osaka now

How's the baby?

He's sleeping soundly with mother

With mother?

That's good!

Yeah

I knew you would come back home someday

Father's making strange noises now, I'm afraid he is dying

It's been getting strange since earlier tonight

I told him to stop, but he just wouldn't let go of me

So, suddenly...

I hoped you'd never visit this monastery again

I understand

I just want to see the Kannon statue brought in here

I shall never come again after that

It has arrived

My father died

Has he?

Last night, when he was making love

Hino-san... it's you! I think it was you who killed my father...

No, that's for certain!

You did kill him!

When the Kannon statue just brought here was completed,

Master's strength was all used up

He didn't have enough strength left to make another statue

You shortened my father's life!

People die when they have no more energy to live

I didn't do anything to shorten his life

You are a murderer!

How's Reiko?

You have to take care of her now

Perhaps this would have been Master's greatest wish

Is that Master Mori's?

This chisel was to be donated to the monastery with the statue

But...

Die! Die!

Why... me?

Masao!

Masao, come here!

Grandma! It's grandma!

I buried a carp fish here

If you're hungry you can eat it

It's for real!

A carp, a carp

This carp can feed a lot of people

It's a big one!

Grandma!

This is grandfather

This is your mother

This is your father

Here is Iwashita,

and Reiko

and Master Mori, too

Where are you going, grandma?

It could eat more people. I'd better take it away

I'll help you!