Original subtitles

In their minds, 10 years had passed.

It's not easy to just sit and deal with something as time passes by.

When they felt from the bottom of their hearts that they wanted love.

The two women realised that if they wanted new

happiness, more pain would have to come with it.

Reiko Shiba.

Beautiful... but tired.

10 years ago, she did her duty and married a man more than 23 years older than her.

But, Naokichi Shiba, who climbed the corporate

ladder from general contractor to company president,

mercilessly trampled her kindness without a second thought.

To him, a wife was a tool for pleasure, a maid and a convenient secretary.

Those that want to live in a luxurious home will buy anything.

They're always thinking about what they lack.

But all Reiko wanted was a single shred of kindness.

Some simple sympathy to gently tend to her emotional scars.

Mayumi Ogouchi, mother to two sensitive teenagers,

was searching for the happiness of a modest family life.

As she worked hard for her family, she only had one thing for moral support.

The memories of her husband that died 10 years prior.

But, as she was suddenly left alone,

Something that could be healed by just memories arose.

Something she couldn't defend against blew into her frozen heart like a draft.

Not for Mayumi the mother, but for Mayumi the woman.

Her late husband's best friend began to show signs of affection toward her.

His wife has been ill in bed for a few years, and in that time,

he began to yearn for something to fill the gap.

As she faced the difficult challenges of daily life, one day Reiko's heart

had a memory seared into it; A memory of a burning gaze.

One of Naokichi Shiba's business rivals: The youthful businessman, Retsu Tachibana.

Like a freshwater spring, Tachibana's passion pierced

her heart that was once suppressed by her tyrant husband.

He had an unrelenting, powerful love for Reiko; And

for it, he threw away most of his past relations.

She'd already moved past being an object of desire for him;

The only thing he wanted was Reiko, nothing else.

Mrs. Reiko.

This may be verbose, but wherever you go, I will be there to meet you.

The most important thing to me right now is...

to meet you as many times as I possibly can.

While her heart reached out for his helping hand, his

hand of love, she didn't have the courage to take it.

Was she going to take the 10-year-long hunger of her unfulfilled heart...

and continue to hold it close to her chest?

Unrequited Love, unknown, by my heart's wife.

Ah, for a night where my heart can touch hers.

I won't let you go home!

You know, I'm not going to let you go back to Tokyo tonight.

Seeing the passion growing before her, thoughts of her children,

and her memories of her husband began to slowly disappear.

Mayumi finally dove into the whirlpool of passion.

Women and cats are the same,

If you thoughtlessly pursue either, they're sure to flee.

If you're quiet and give them simple compliments they'll slowly approach.

If you ask me, that's a horrible way to put it. But, on one hand,

you could also say women are "dreamers".

This Madame Emma Bovary, too.

As if in a short story,

she dreamed of being loved by a man, and ended up being

pulled in by a boring one, and cheated on him after the fact.

Hm? You have experience with that?

The common female characteristic of wanting to be loved, rather than wanting to love,

tends to bring forth almost laughable tragedies in the end.

But, women like Emma didn't just exist 100 years ago in the French countryside.

For some reason, even now, there are plenty of women like this in Japan.

All around us,

Even inside us.

W-well,

That means, the author, Flaubert,

may have been trying to communicate that "he was Madame Bovary" in the end.

But I guess the weirdest thing would be to imagine Madame Bovary with a big beard.

Hmm? What time is it? We're finished...

- Sir. - What is it?

Actually, never mind.

Go ahead.

When I raised my hand, I wanted to ask a question, but

I've forgotten what I wanted to ask.

- Wow, what a lovely house. - No no, it's nothing special.

- Ah, hello! - Ah, welcome!

I've come over to help Iseko with her homework.

I see, we've only just moved in so it's still messy,

but make yourself at home.

I really respect you, Madam!

Why's that?

Well, you're managing such a beautiful ryokan all by yourself.

I told my mom that she wouldn't be able to pull of something like this!

I don't know what to do any more.

I've rejected him over and over again, but

he still said he'd keep appearing before me.

But, if I really wanted him...

I might end up giving in...

You... really shouldn't think of it as "giving in".

Honestly, I'm in favor of you experiencing a bit of romance.

Because, through that romance,

you'll be able to grab onto your own independence.

But, if you still have things you enjoy in your household,

then I'd recommend giving this man a very clear rejection.

And, I know it's cruel, but you shouldn't see him any more.

It could be bad if my personal opinions cause you to do something rash after all.

It's already noon...

Should we go down to the Chinraiken at the main entrance...

and have some Gomoku Soba?

I've got a dance meeting this afternoon, so.

Dance?

Shiba's current customer's daughter is to be a

famous dancer, and he ordered me to go out with her.

I see, well, It's been a while since I've seen you dance so I'd love to watch, but...

after lunch I've got more work to do so I can't.

I contacted your family about it,

I haven't danced in almost 10 years, so I'm a bit embarrassed.

Will Mr. Shiba be there?

My husband doesn't enjoy dancing, so he'll show his face and then...

I see...

What about the man you were talking about earlier...?

If he is there, what do you think I should do?

Hello, this is "Yuugiri"!

Thank you for your continued patronage!

No, ah... it's not.

Please wait one second.

- Iseko, someone's on the phone! - Oh!

Hello? I'm Iseko!

Ah, Mr. Shimodzuma.

I see. Okay.

- Do you want to see my room? - Yes!

Come in!

- Mom, someone's on the phone! - Okay. Then, thank you.

Yes, Mayumi, it's me.

How is it? Have you moved in okay?

We're having to fix a lot of things so it's hectic.

Yes, we'll probably have to keep working on it for another 2 to 3 days.

Hey, I want to see you.

It feels like 10 or 20 years have passed since I last saw you.

- Manager, someone's leaving. - Hang on a second.

I'm busy,

don't call me so often, okay?

I'll contact you from here.

No, it's not like that. I want to see you too.

Yes...

Ryokans are great, right? So many tidy rooms everywhere.

There aren't too many, probably only 7 or so for customers.

Don't you have lots of customers come from far away?

Like from Kansai, Kyushu or Hokkaido?

- You're silly, Shouko. - Why?

Let's look at the Murasakinoma room!

- Okay. - It's a little wider than this one.

Ah, there's a customer in there.

Oh, I thought you weren't open right now.

It's a regular that has been coming for a while.

A regular...?

Matsunoma... This is?

Shouko, hurry up!

This one is Botan.

Ah, you surprised me Akira.

When did you get here?

Welcome. Are you staking out the ryokan?

Thank you for having me.

Investigating a love hotel won't be good social studies revision.

Well, but...

- Shouko came over to do homework. - I see...

- Have you met mom yet? - No.

When I asked one of the maids if there was a room, they took me straight here.

I'm shocked!

Ah, Akira!

Are you pulling a prank on me? I overheard the girls

talking to a customer so I came to check and...

- I'll be here for a bit... - Shouko, let's study.

Come over to the other side!

No, I'm fine over here.

It's bigger than the boarding room, and gets more sun.

Akira...

You should start wearing kimono too, mom.

The mistress of a ryokan wearing a suit is kind of strange.

Hey, Akira.

Why don't you stop boarding and come here?

No, I'm okay.

I don't want to head to school from a love hotel.

It's not good for Iseko either.

Well, I'm making a entrance designed for a family, Akira.

Won't you understand why I'm working so hard?

Of course, and I'm grateful for it.

But I don't see how this sort of business could

lead to the peaceful family life you want.

As I said, this is a temporary home.

- Eventually, I'll buy our own... - I don't want to mooch off you.

To be honest, we want you to be able to calm down more.

I don't want you to struggle.

- Mom! - You were great, weren't you!

Thank you very much.

I made some mistakes, so I'm feeling a bit embarrassed.

Excuse me, the next performers,

I'm terribly sorry but could you hurry up a bit?

- Good job. - Keep it together okay?

Mr. Shiba had other things he needed to do so he left early.

You've got a parcel.

- From who? - Mr. Tachibana.

Ah, Shiba's business rival.

Reiko, unfortunately, I had to work today, but

don't forget my pledge to meet you wherever

you go, even in the most unimaginable places.

My wish to see you has not changed.

See you.

Mr. Tachibana.

Ah, hello.

I couldn't trouble you for a minute could I?

Hmm, what is it?

- Please, over here... - I see...

You showed my wife around Nagoya, right?

Yes...

- I bumped into her at the station. - I ended up losing to you in Nagoya.

Even though I beat you to it in Mie.

I thought it was for certain they'd come over to me,

but you really had me beat.

It's not like I went into it with the intention of "beating you to it".

- What about for making sales? - Yes, of course.

How about this; Why don't you come over and work for me for a while.

Well...

As a bargaining point, I'll give you whatever you want.

- A bargaining point. - What would you want?

Mr. Shiba, if I gave you all of the business I made in Nagoya,

- Would you give me anything I want? - By everything, you mean...

I wouldn't be able to give you anything ordinary...

I suppose there's the wood pulp timber industry in Hokkaido.

Well, putting the conditions aside,

With regards to Nagoya, I wouldn't mind letting them go...

I see.

But, not without some sort of condition, right?

I'll have to give you something I care about in return.

At the end of the month, I'll be moving back to Osaka.

Let's sort out this business once I have returned home.

I'm in a bit of a rush after all.

That's convenient for me, because I'll also be in Kansai around that time.

Ah, but...

What should I ask for in return. Something that you hold dear.

- It's kind of strange. - What is? That we're walking together?

- We're like children! - Splendid!

We're both middle-aged, but we have no confidence in simple romance.

I've been so busy the past 10 days that I've even forgotten about you a few times.

That's not something I could do. Even if I was really busy.

No, there will be times you will.

I can't forget anything else.

I keep remembering you, in a way that is heartfelt and yet excruciating.

I feel like I want to forget you up until the

time where I can't any more, and then see you.

Women are like that, I suppose.

In my case, even if I meet you every day, I always discover something new about you.

No, I have an urge to discover something new.

Oh you... you're as earnest as a young man.

Sometimes I get scared.

You need a little more self-control.

I never thought I'd be told that by you.

It's extravagant, isn't it.

I'm screaming in luxury, aren't I?

Cheers! Cheers! Cheers!

Cheers! Bravo!

So that's why I wonder why.

Taa, If you have to withdraw from the women's team,

we should at least know why.

- Tachibana, confess, confess! - Don't worry about it, drink! Drink!

It's ridiculous that you've not even set foot in

the red light district this month until today.

What's going on Taa?

Anyway it's goodbye to you lot.

Tonight is the closing down party for my fan club.

Come on, let's go.

Is that so... who even is this determined guy?

Isn't it fine?

Taa is going on his own path. Come on, we're

the fireflies' light and the window's snow!

- Where's Noriko? - She was here until recently.

Come on, Taa!

That's quite the flashy statement. Are you serious?

- I'm serious. - Hey!

I don't care about the others, but don't, don't say goodbye to me.

We don't have much time in Nara. What should I do.

Do you have plans in Nara?

- Mr. Tachibana is at the Nara Hotel. - Mr. Tachibana is?

If I go to Tachibana's company in Osaka, we made

arrangements for him to give his business in Nagoya to me.

When I see him I'll have to thank him.

And then also at Toriwa, Miyake is waiting for me.

This has ended up complicated.

I know, you go to Nara, and go to the hotel and greet him.

- Alone? - You've spoken a lot before.

Tell him eventually I'll see him in Tokyo.

But, I can't - not alone -

What's the problem? Just come to Toriwa by evening.

If I'm not in Toriwa by evening, it'll be problematic.

The guest said to instruct you to come to Nishinokyo to meet him.

I believe he said to either Yakushi Temple or Todaiji Temple.

Mr. Tachibana.

Please, enter.

Ah, Mr. Tachibana?

While you were away, someone came in to see you. Here.

On the orders of my husband, I came to thank you for

your work. It is unfortunate that I missed you.

Ah, what beautiful scenery.

Reiko!

Reiko!

Reiko, you can't have parties in the hotel.

I know.

Apparently, they run a traditional Japanese

restaurant called Kashikojimasou for parties.

So, I inquired there too.

The party has to be Japanese-style after all.

It's an invitation from Naokichi Shiba. You will make sure...

to ensure the quality of both the food and the geisha.

I have done as much.

It seems like you've put on weight around your lower back recently.

You've got a bit fat.

Up until now you've just been young.

I suppose you've got the sex appeal of a woman your age now.

Reiko, come here.

What are you doing? Come.

If I don't finish my preparations, the guests will see.

You've become selfish recently.

You used to just do what I said before.

But, when you're like this I've been noticing you more.

If you're obedient like a pet dog, you're not interesting.

If you don't have a partner who will disobey you, there's no point.

Reiko.

Hey, hey.

Stop, please.

Stand there and try to scorn me.

Depending on the way you're thinking, I might welcome your disdain.

I used the power of money to get hold of a woman like you after all.

We are husband and wife.

Actually, you are just my secret delight that I can savor as I wish.

No, no I don't want that!

Is being married really just about sex?

Sex is all that's important. What else is there?

I don't want to believe that!

You're young.

If I think this way because I'm young, then I'm glad that I'm young.

You've gotten a sharp tongue, haven't you?

Until you come over here, I won't make any preparations.

Yes?

Understood.

The car has arrived.

Okay.

Get ready.

Here you go.

Goodbye.

Mr. Tachibana.

It was unfortunate we didn't meet in Nara.

- Were you waiting for me here? - We ended up in the same Ryokan.

I swore that I'd always appear wherever you went.

Mrs. Reiko.

Ah, Mister Nao!

Are you 3000? It's been so long!

You surprised me! To think this was your party!

Tamayakko, you've gotten a whole lot older!

Why thank you very much!

- Not to mention you've also... - Well well.

We've got so much to talk about!

- Good evening! - We were waiting.

Open it and take a look.

What is it?

A product made by one of my pearl factory connections.

- You'll accept it, won't you. - I don't know if I can.

Why?

Why not?

I don't know how I could explain it to my husband.

Hey! Tamayakko! Tamayakko!

What is it Mister Nao?

I've got to call, I've got to call the hotel!

You don't need to do that, it's fine!

I'm not going home today!

After all, we haven't seen each other in 10 years!

I wasn't going to let you go home anyway!

I know! That's why I need to phone... to tell them I'm not coming back!

Okay, okay! You just have to call right? Call?

Hello? Hotel? Hotel?

This is Naokichi Shiba, hurry up and transfer me!

You're in a good mood, Tamayakko.

I am! Hello hotel?

Mr. Shiba won't be coming home tonight.

He came with his wife, right? How filthy.

Can you tell her that he won't be coming home tonight?

Do you understand? Do you?

Let his wife know!

That Mister Nao won't be coming back from his important meeting!

A serious meeting! We did something similar in Nagoya a long time ago!

Don't be jealous, don't be jealous.

You understand right? You do? I'm hanging up.

Yes?

Excuse me, a guest in the bar gave me this to deliver to you.

I thought you wouldn't meet me again.

I ended up accepting this.

It may only be simple, but I am honored that you accepted it.

Thank you very much.

- I am pleased. - Do you actually feel like that?

It's not a lie.

If you were someone I disliked, I wouldn't have left my room.

Come,

I told you that I resented seeing you here, Mr. Tachibana.

After all, you said you'd appear wherever I go, but.

I didn't see you in Nara, or in Toriwa.

My heart was telling me that you were a liar.

Do you want something to eat?

Your husband seems to be out late.

Shiba met a woman from a long time ago tonight.

Apparently he isn't returning here tonight.

To him, I'm just a mistress that he doesn't have to pay.

Shiba said that to me.

When he returns home drunk, he turns into a brute.

Shiba thinks that me doing exactly what he wants at all times is "love".

Our marriage was wrong.

You've realised this, and yet...

do you think that trying to take advantage of this situation would be a sin?

Mrs. Reiko.

I heard your confession at the inn in Katsura.

I was lost, so very lost; I was ready to part with Shiba

I've been prepared for it more times than I can count, but,

but in the end, I'm a weak woman.

Mrs. Reiko.

I can't! I -

I am a terrible woman. If I'm here with you for much longer...

- I don't know what I would do. - Mrs. Reiko.

The thing that you're so fervently grasping onto,

What is it? For 10 years -

what could it possibly be that you're bound by?

Forgive me.

I'm returning to my room.

Mrs. Reiko.

What is wrong?

I'm... I'm lonely.

Mrs. Reiko.

I...

What should I do?

- Mrs. Reiko,

- What should I do?

- Mrs. Reiko! - Really, what could I possibly do?

Mrs. Reiko.

What's wrong? Mrs. Reiko, Mrs. Reiko!

I'm miserable.

I've been here, doing nothing for 10 whole years...

It's miserable.

Mrs. Reiko.

I'll take responsibility.

Get married to me. You'll become my wife.

I'm sad, so sad...

I'm so sad that I spent 10 years of my life for nothing.

Mrs. Reiko, let's get married.

I won't cause you any hardship, I'll take responsibility.

From today, Mrs. Reiko, you're Retsu Tachibana's wife.

What are you doing?

Ah, Akira.

- Professor Ajioka isn't here. - It's okay, I'm just greeting his wife.

Hey, wait a second, let's go home together.

- No, I'm going home now. - Akira...

Hello!

- You're a good one, cleaning up! - Ah, welcome! Did you not meet Akira?

I did, over there.

He came to deliver Ajioka's clean manuscript you know.

Oh, you can continue, or do you want me to help?

If you're to help, I'll have you do the laundry.

- Oh I see! - Of course, that was a joke!

Just as I thought: this book didn't have any dust.

Professor Ajioka's secret stash eh?

- I'll give him lots of chores, that man... - I'm jealous.

Of what?

I don't have anyone's secret stashes to search for.

That's what I thought you would say.

Let's head over there.

- Your aunt is here. - Welcome, auntie!

Hello.

You should prepare to live alone, so you don't end up feeling so lonely.

You seem more youthful and energized recently.

What could you be talking about?

Haven't you started to feel like getting remarried?

- Not at all. - Really?

Just running Yuugiri is the best I can do.

Right now I'm finally a Ryokan mistress so have been feeling young again.

Well, putting that aside, you're also a young and beautiful mother!

Akira seems like he can't quite calm down.

Did he say anything?

No, just that the Ryokan is loud and he can't study, so he's boarding instead.

It would be nice if we were living together though. Here.

I'm sorry it's not the whole lot, but here...

is 20000 yen of what I borrowed from you.

- Thank you anyway. - Check it if you wish.

I think I'll be able to repay you by the end of this year though.

Gradually is fine dear.

Putting that aside, would you like to cook with me?

I'm in a bit of a rush,

Well, you are a Ryokan's mistress after all!

Hello?

It is me. Yes, that's right.

Mr. Shiba shouldn't be there right now, right?

Yes I know, because I saw him at the club earlier.

I have Japan TV's new studio opening celebration from evening. Yes.

It's 3 now, and I think Shiba won't be returning until half 3.

Come over as soon as you can. Yes. At Sunboard.

If Mr. Shiba comes back,

it's probably best we don't see each other.

No, I should be the disappointed one.

Because after today I'll be away for a while.

But... Yes...

Hmm, what?

That's right.

Yes, so once its convenient feel free to go ahead.

Yes. Thank you.

Who was it?

A friend from my school years, they have a shop on Miyuki street.

Did you buy that ring there?

This... um...

Hmm?

Yes, that's right.

You've never bought something like that without asking me first before.

How much was it?

Well...

It obviously wasn't cheap. Well, whatever.

I'm not coming home with you today.

So, take this to Mr. Tachibana.

Say it's as thanks for the Nagoya deal.

To Mr. Tachibana?

Yes. He should be at the Japan TV celebration tonight.

You must ask me before you buy things for yourself.

Don't associate yourself with that friend any more.

Understood?

Yes yes, This is Yuugiri.

Thank you for your continued patronage.

How is your wife after recently? I'm worried about her.

She's been ill for years. It won't get better or worse.

Mayumi, why did you suddenly ask that? You already knew as much.

Tonight, I'm going to bring 5 or 6 people around.

Ah, thank you very much.

We can't provide the same service as a restaurant though.

But we should be able to accommodate them.

Yes, any food will do.

Honestly, I want it to be just us two.

No,

We can't take on that much for a while yet.

What are you talking about Mayumi?

Since you started focusing on Yuugiri, I, no we, haven't seen each other much at all.

Regardless, once I've finished work we will be over.

It's gotten a little windy. Are you cold?

No.

Let's go down. The performance is about to start.

I don't want to go somewhere with lots of people.

Let alone a studio celebration, right.

It makes sense. But, I want you to see it.

But, I'd prefer to be in a place with just us...

I know.

Once the celebrations have ended, we'll have time for just us.

You'll wait 30 minutes. No, 1 hour, right?

I don't like it, Mister Nao. I came all the way

from Ise, I don't want to be in such a loud place.

Come with me,

I've just got to show my face. Then we'll leave.

I see, then I'm going shopping. Call me.

Hey, wait a second.

You didn't go home in the end?

Mr. Tachibana was very happy with his gift.

Is that so.

- I wonder where Mr. Tachibana went. - I don't know.

I guess I'll have a drink.

This is pretty extravagant. Seems to me like

the TV industry is only going to get bigger.

Why don't you have one too.

I've got a party after this tonight. Come with me.

You want me to come?

- Is something wrong? - Not particularly. Let's go.

You may change your mind about coming to this sort of thing.

What's wrong Reiko?

Get yourself together. I'll forgive it.

Now, drink, drink!

I'm not quite a cook yet, but I look forward to working here.

I look forward to working with you too.

You're terrible, chief! What trick did you use

to become acquainted to this beautiful lady?

To think you've been hiding her away for all this time, you're terrible!

That's not true! She's come to the office before.

It's not that way.

It'd be splendid if it were!

We can all see you in a new light after this!

Now, a drink to "it not being that way"!

I'm not supposed to be drinking!

Just one more! And one for you too!

Splendid, splendid!

What's wrong, Mayumi?

- Are you okay? - I'm drunk and I lost my footing.

That's not good, you've got to be careful!

- Ah, it hurts. - Try to get yourself together.

But, I said I wasn't going to drink and I ended up drinking.

- Can you walk? - Yes.

This guest will be staying at our house tonight.

Prepare the second floor.

Sorry about that, Wife.

You're not worthy of a wife like her.

- She seems obedient, right? - You're like her father.

Despite that, she's quite the devil.

That can't be true, right, wife?

Tonight you'll be servicing me plenty. Understood Reiko?

Mayumi, I'm staying over here tonight, that's fine right?

- Oh no, you can't. - Why?

We don't have any rooms left tonight.

Alright, then here is fine. This room is fine.

No, you can't because Iseko's next door.

Oh.

Mayumi, I'm not one of Yuugiri's guests, I'm your guest.

- So I have a right to stay here. - No, I can't do something so public.

People will find out eventually anyway.

Hey, please go home tonight.

It's not worth trying to hide it for so long.

Anyway, I can't get home at this kind of time.

Don't do that.

Mayumi, I bet you have a lot of customers come in with their lovers,

but, ironically, we're shut out, despite being the most important couple.

Aren't we the ones who need a special lover's suite?

No. Don't speak like a demon.

Who turned me into a demon? Huh? Mayumi?

- You're hurting me, aren't you. - You're making me do this.

Have I caught hold of your weakness I wonder?

You have, grasped it like this!

No, no! Iseko is-

Piti!

So, what happened with the difficult situation...

regarding that person from before?

He wants to marry me.

How old?

- He's 33. - So in terms of age...

he is befitting of you, Rei, but does he -

does he know you have a child?

Yes, he knows.

Romance is difficult when you have children.

It so very often leads to tragedy.

Are you prepared for that?

I am.

Don't tell Michiyo yet. She'll only opposed to

it from an instinctive standpoint after all.

Ah, welcome home!

I'm home! You know Piti can't be indoors.

Okay!

- Have you had a good conversation? - Y-yes.

- What about? - It's too highbrow for you to understand.

Let me join in!

Ah, how was the pre-screening Shouko? The Dany Robin one.

It was great! The best!

What's wrong?

- Mr. Shimodzuma's wife passed away. - His wife did?

They asked if he was here.

The way you dropped the phone Iseko... is he actually here!

They said he left work saying he was coming here.

He's a brute.

- So, where has mom gone off to? - I don't care. Not about her.

Hello, yes, it's Akira.

Okay, I understand. I'll wait. Ah, also, mother,

if you are with Mr Shimodzuma, could you... no

even, if you're not with him, if you see him, please let him know,

What are you saying Akira?

What's wrong Mayumi?

What's wrong?

Your wife has passed away.

Occasionally, I think about you.

About whether this is okay.

Did you hear a rumor about me or something like that?

No, I don't know nearly enough about you.

Like when you were young, or who your friends are.

Those kind of things.

Those kinds of things aren't important. We already know a lot about the

thing that really matters.

That's right.

I've become quite quick with words recently.

But Shiba has started to question every time I've left the house.

For now you've been quiet?

Yes, I wonder if you could call that courage?

Even if he asks about it afterward, I've been able to give him consistent excuses.

That's right, we both have to be courageous.

I'm wearing this ring in front of Shiba's face you know.

I'm running out of patience, living with Shiba, but

when I think about Kyoko...

Of course, we'll bring Kyoko with us.

What if Shiba doesn't let us?

It's all about courage.

Your position is stressful. When I think about how you're in pain,

I can't sit still and do nothing.

But, Mr. Shiba is not careless.

Even a reckless guy like me has started to be careful about when we next meet.

Actually, tomorrow, we're to fly to Hokkaido.

I didn't want to accompany Shiba on his next trip, but...

You should go. With the intention of it being your final trip with him.

Yes, but...

Mr. Tachibana, you wouldn't follow me to Hokkaido later on?

There's no need. You're already mine.

Somewhere... that's right.

I'll watch the sky when you leave from the top of the TV tower.

I'll be watching from the sky above, I'm sure.

Promise.

Once you return home,

I'll have settled all of the things I need to resolve.

What kinds of things are those?

They aren't things I want you to hear.

Trust in me.

You're lying! You met with Mr. Shimodzuma.

Iseko, it doesn't matter does it?

Even mom will have things she won't want us to know and it's okay.

I don't like it.

I don't like it. I don't care if mom starts loving another man.

I might even be happy if she got married.

Iseko, I apologise.

It was wrong of me to hide it from you.

It's fine, you don't have to say it, we,

we aren't against you remarrying. We just don't like it.

That's why I left home to board.

Iseko's a young woman, so she cut herself because she didn't know better.

She had no reason to be against it.

Even now she doesn't. So, you should feel free to do what you want to do.

No! I don't want that!

Iseko!

Iseko, stop!

No!

- Iseko! - No, no I don't want it!

You waited until Mr. Shimodzuma's wife died!

You're a liar.

Have you become someone who lies to me?

Where did you go?

You won't say?

If you won't say, that's fine.

After all it was my mistake to underestimate you.

I don't know who you were meeting, but starting now,

you won't leave the house without my permission.

That's an order. Understand?

- Dear. - What?

I want to leave.

What?

- I want to split up. - Split up?

- Don't spout nonsense. - It is not nonsense.

This is serious.

Stop with the false pretexts.

Up until now, I have done my best to be your "wife".

I have endured much adversity.

I can't do that any more.

Women always want to flee when the going gets tough.

You want to be the heroine of a tragedy right?

Having difficulties with your life.

I will buy you anything you want.

What could possibly be wrong with your current life?

I may be a happy wife publicly, but...

my heart has been starved during the 10 years I have spent serving you.

- Your heart has been starved? - That's right, until now.

I've suffered, without truly knowing where my heart lie. But,

after starving for so long, now,

I understand how much my soul is worth.

I want to live a proper life.

Such a pretentious thing to say, I'd think you were a young girl.

You have Kyoko don't you?

That should be enough to make your life worth living.

What happened to your love of her?

If you want to go out, go with Kyoko.

Maybe you should act like a mother for once.

Huh?

I hope you're prepared to go to Hokkaido.

I have to think about my business dealings.

That is "serious business".

I'm not going to listen to your nonsense any more.

Hey. Massage my back.

Reiko. Didn't you hear me?

Hey, bring me a beer!

Welcome! You're a lively lot, aren't you.

We came from a class reunion!

Hey, don't you think Tachibana always planned to get ahead of us?

I'm not going to let that happen!

Please enjoy.

Tachibana, you're fortunate that you met us.

You were quick to accept that!

Tachibana, is your woman here?

- No, there isn't anyone like that. - What are you on about?

That can't be true. Is she just at a different venue?

Next, take us to your haunt.

I don't have a haunt.

This man has been a nasty piece of work ever since he was a student you know.

He was smart, but also cunning.

That's right.

He didn't care about pointless stuff.

He did everything systematically, brimming with confidence.

No woman he approached would even consider running away.

That's right.

Yeah, you seducer, womanizer and Don Juan!

Tachibana!

Tachibana, you're single, so you've got to be doing some nasty things.

Lots of women still have grudges on him after all.

He'll probably even die in a rock-and-roll way.

Death by breasts.

Ah, Mrs. Mayumi.

Hey, Mrs. Mayumi.

Don't just come to burn incense and then leave.

But...

I don't know what face to pull when I'm sat before her spirit.

It would be better if I weren't there.

It is sad... but my wife only had so many years.

- I think she would forgive us. - No, but...

Please accompany me at the wake. I'm upset and could use your company.

Mr. Shimodzuma.

I think I am going to have to split up with you.

Split up? Why, all of a sudden?

My children think I was waiting for your wife to die to get with you.

They said that? But that's...

That's a joke, right? We have to split up because of that?

I think that you're right in saying that your wife would forgive us.

But that's not why we have to split up.

Then why?

In the end, my children were not against my being with you either.

But because of that I was able to understand what kind of thing I am them.

I don't understand.

I want to repay my children.

By splitting up with you, by completely punishing myself,

I can't imagine why you'd have to go that far, even Akira and Iseko...

I think those children...

wouldn't want me to do this either.

However, I feel like I need see this through.

This isn't a problem to do with my children, or with you.

It's my problem. That's how I feel.

Was our relationship really so unreliable?

No, leaving you is hurting me too.

But I resolved myself to doing it.

I need to understand what it was I lost; What it is that I have been hungering for.

I feel like I'm finally beginning to understand it now.

You may not understand it.

I didn't come to this decision because I came to dislike you after all.

Just, in the coming years,

I want to discover myself.

It might not make sense, and it may seem selfish,

but forgive me, Mr. Shimodzuma.

Hey, Noriko.

No, I'm drunk so I've lost all my charm...

I'm a repulsive lump.

Hey, do you hate this me?

Tachibana!

Hey, don't shout.

You're a good girl. You're still my friend.

Friend? I'll humbly refuse such an unclear relationship.

Am I your lover or a stranger, damn it.

- What kind of person is she? - She's beautiful.

Of course she is.

Is she a woman that would devote herself to you and do your every bidding?

It may be bad for you, Noriko, but I, Retsu Tachibana,

am putting my past behind me to move into the future.

It is bad! Of course it is! Damn it!

It hurts.

Noriko.

Hey Noriko! Pull yourself together!

Take me to bed, I want to sleep, let me sleep!

Hey. Get out.

Let me sleep...

Stay here tonight... then I'm okay with being a friend afterwards...

I swear, so please stay here tonight.

- Noriko, go to sleep! - Don't leave after I fall asleep!

I'll be lonely tonight...

Lonely and cold, cold, cold... Turn the stove on...

Put the stove on...

It's cold...

I don't want to break up with my lover, shivering,

on a cold day, I really don't!

Hey, don't stand on the gas pipe, it'll go out.

It's on, make it hotter, much much hotter.

Mr. Tachibana.

This is our last night together.

Mama, Mama?

Hey, the gas is escaping. Wake up!

Hey, Noriko!

Evening paper!

Mom, I'm not living in a boarding school as a bargaining chip you know.

You really should get remarried, right Iseko?

You don't have to worry about that any more.

We never intended to hold you back or anything like that.

But, you're the most important thing to us in this world, so...

because of that we held a strange resistance to the idea.

We wanted you to understand that. Right Iseko?

That's really nice of you to say.

But for now, I want to just live with you two for a little longer.

- I'm not getting married. - Mom!

But then doesn't that...

No, that's the end of this conversation.

I thought a lot about it as well.

Iseko, what do you want for dinner?

Ooh, I wonder...

- Can I have an omelette? - I see.

The evening paper has arrived.

- Really? - It's true! Iseko said so.

She said she forgave her mom for getting remarried.

Children forgiving their mothers? Unthinkable!

- Oh, this is bad! Michiyo! - What's wrong?

- A lovers' suicide by gas! - Wow, how obscene.

No, do you recognise this name Tachibana?

Tachibana?

Retsu Tachibana? Ah...

I feel like I've seen that name before. Ah yes!

At Reiko's rehearsal.

He gave her a bouquet of flowers.

A bouquet of flowers? He gave them to Rei?

Would you like a newspaper?

Do you want to read it?

I'll look at it later.

Reiko had no idea.

A few moments later,

she would likely read the article that reported Tachibana's death,

But until then, knowing nothing, she believed that

within the lights of Tokyo, her beloved Tachibana...

was looking up at her plane.

English Subtitles: Ocean Martinez for MUBI