Original subtitles

Late 18th century, Tohoku

Third consecutive year of cold summer

Breathe.

No..

We can't afford to feed it.

Can't be helped.

Rin.

Thank you.

It's no good to bring someone into this world.

What's going on, Granny?

Can you hear something?

It's still a while before the sun shines.

You must endure from now on, there's no other choice.

It's not over yet, huh?

We can fit two people in there, I just need to dig a bit more.

That's enough; move aside.

Hey.

Hurry up and finish it.

The sun is setting.

Good morning.

Don't come to fetch water here, It'll get dirty.

I'm back.

- Welcome back, big sister. - I'm home.

I found something good outside.

- Flowers? - It's white gentian.

Normally, they're a bluish-purple color.

It's rare, you know.

Something good will happen.

That's what I think.

Shōkichi.

What about you?

I'm fine.

I'll eat properly.

Eat up, Shōkichi.

Pack this tighter.

It'll be more robust.

- Big sis. - Hmm?

Today, I was sitting in front of the house,

and a baby sparrow fell down.

It was already dead.

I buried it in the grassy area.

At that moment, I thought...

Is this the end for this fellow?

Will its spirit return to Mt. Hayachine.

Only human souls go there.

I wonder...

If you're human...

Can everyone go?

What about us?

Yes...

Both sinners and virtuous people,

poor and wealthy, everyone can go.

The goddess of Hayachine welcomes anyone.

She's a kind goddess, isn't she?

Maki, stop wasting time.

Go to bed.

Wait, wait.

Don't panic, don't panic.

Line them up.

Line up.

Today is the last of the relief rice.

Eat it carefully.

From here on, patience is necessary.

Give it Jiro.

Thanks a lot.

Thank you.

Thanks a lot.

- Hey. - Next.

Is this all I get?

I'm distributing it according to the size of the persons fields.

You don't have any, do you?

Still you're getting a share, that's mercy.

You guys took over my field, didn't you!

If you want to hold a grudge, resent your ancestor who started the fire.

Until when?

Until when should I hold this grudge?

- Let go, hey! - Ihee!

Hand it over!

Are you telling me to die, huh?

If I die, there won't be anyone to do the dirty work.

Calm down, Ihee.

Even though you're an outcast, you're still a member of the village.

That's why I'm giving you your share like this.

Hey.

Are you gazing at Mount Hayachine again?

It's you Taizou?

Looking at the mountain makes me feel calm.

How have you been?

Nothing has changed.

- And Shoukichi? - No change as well.

Are the sandals selling well?

Not at all.

I'll bring some again next time.

Really?

Thanks.

You, being out there,

experiencing and seeing things.

It's not all good stuff, you know.

Next trip, will you come with me?

I can't do such things.

Why not?

It's unforgivable.

Leaving without taking care of household matters.

I have to look out for Shoukichi too.

Are you okay staying like this forever?

Can't be helped.

I was born in that house.

The circumstances don't matter. It's up to you.

I left home without fields or a house, but I made sure to earn my keep properly.

Don't talk nonsense.

You and I are not the same.

Is this the only option?

It was difficult to sell everywhere.

Even if it's difficult,

it depends on your skills.

Look.

Taizou.

The village chief seemed angry.

I'm relying on you.

Don't make things awkward.

Thank you.

Taizou.

Before setting off on your next journey,

try meeting my daughter in the spring.

What's wrong?

Just go and meet her.

She's a sweet girl.

Rin.

The wind is strong.

Could there be monsters?

It's okay.

These things only appear beyond the shrine at the mountain's end.

Really?

Really.

Dad?

Don't look.

Go to sleep.

Did Grandfather told you to come?

Same for you, right?

You're setting off on a journey again, huh?

- Yes. - When?

Soon, when the horse have rested.

I see.

Do you want me to join you?

You? That's surprising...

What's there to hesitate about?

Someone like you won't find a woman that easily, you know.

Ihei.

Dad?

Move!

Ouch... What's happening!?

Pretend like you don't know.

The lock of the village storehouse has been broken.

Was it you?

I don't know.

Kakumatsu.

Flip it over, behind there.

Try digging there.

Found it.

I found it, there's rice!

Ihe, theft is a serious crime.

- I don't know. I don't know anything! - Well, what about this rice?

You're no different from your old man.

I did it.

You...

So last night...

You went out somewhere.

It was then?

You stole it, didn't you!

You idiot!

You did something you shouldn't have?

You idiotic fool!

Thieves have no place here!

Idiot... Idiot... Idiot...

Idiot... Idiot... Idiot...

Enough, enough!

We'll discuss and decide the rest in the village.

Embarrassing.

Sis, are you okay?

I'm fine.

Shoukichi.

Clean up inside the house.

- But... - Shoukichi!

To strike when one is down, that's truly foolish.

It's fine, can't be helped.

I'm sorry.

Sneaking out and stealing.

Sis?

Where are you going?

I'm just going to pick up some trash.

Rin.

Taizō.

Take this away.

- Mr. Ihei? - What?

Did Rin actually go missing, like, for real?

Have you seen her sandals at the Michikiri shop?

I've seen them, but...

That's unmistakably a case of disappearance.

Do you think she went into the mountains by herself?

That's absurd!

Acting all smug like a villager.

I'll search for Rin along the way.

Do as you please.

Be careful and hurry back soon.

Are you a mountain man?

It's frost.

I don't get it.

I can't hear anything.

Maybe the gods in heaven are angry.

Why do you say that?

The offerings aren't done properly...

Even if we wanted to, we can't offer what we don't have.

Granny...

What should we do?

Long ago, in the village beyond the mountain,

the river was raging.

Houses and fields were being swallowed up.

Despite trying various things,

the river showed no signs of calming down.

In their desperation,

the villagers, as a sacrifice, offered up a young girl from the village to the river god.

After that, the river is said to have calmed down immediately.

It's Shokichi.

Thrown away.

Are you alive?

I heard creatures like you get discarded and still claim to be alive.

Of course... You're going to Mt. Hayachine.

Something that happened in the past...

The goddess came here with her three daughters, they say.

And then, she made a promise that the daughter

who had the best dream would receive the best mountain.

That night, the youngest daughter woke up,

and flowers fell from the sky onto her chest.

The youngest daughter,

taking the flower and placing it on her own chest, went to sleep.

And in the morning,

she received the best mountain.

And she became the goddess of that mountain.

That mountain is Mt. Hayachine.

It's where the goddess of theft lives.

Because she's the goddess of theft,

she can understand even the hearts of weak people.

The souls of the dead...

all go there.

I think the mountain is looking over everyone,

No matter what kind of person you are, it's okay to exist.

As for you...

Where do you think you'll go when you die?

If that so, why not village chief's daughter?

That girl already has her marriage arranged!

So what if she's engaged!

If a daughter is chosen to be offered to the god,

differences in status don't matter!

Shut up!

For the sake of the village,

we can't afford to lose the village chief's daughter!

What's for the sake of the village?

Is this village ours?

What about you?

Yorozuichi.

The daughter from your place...

What about her?

She's no good.

She's been sold to a brothel.

What about your granddaughter?

Taizou, I've marry off my daughter, already.

She's no longer unmarried.

Please, all of you... I'm begging you!

If it continues like this, the village won't survive.

The village head is bowing down like this!

Someone has to do it, right?

Make up your minds, all of you!

Hey, who's there?

I'm a hunter from Ishigami Mountain.

What about you?

I'm in charge of the fees for the village ahead.

The fire, share it!

Come on.

Come, sit if you can.

Sorry, and thanks for your help.

Is there something going on? What happened?

I haven't been able to catch any prey at all.

Deep in the heart of the mountains, it's so remote...

I crossed over the shrine and went ahead.

The shrine of the mountain god?

That's... You shouldn't cross it.

I know.

But... it couldn't be helped.

Just need one rabbit.

I intended to return as soon as I obtained something.

But...

I saw something unpleasant.

What did you see?

Mountain woman.

Beyond the shrine, monsters have settled in.

That one... is not just a mountain woman.

What kind of woman is she?

What was she wearing?

Shoukichi.

Taizou? You're back?

Shoukichi.

The hunters I met in the mountains...

They saw a woman, beyond the shrine.

Really?

I'm going to the village chief's place now.

and try asking if we can hire the hunters.

Thanks a lot.

Don't talk nonsense!

Shoukichi.

My daughter was spirited away.

Are you going to search her?

This cursed one!

I don't believe she was spirited away.

Leaving and not coming back is different from being taken.

If she ran away from home,

I won't acknowledge her even if she comes back.

Dad.

If you leave stolen goods at my place...

You'll receive worse punishment.

You, your child, and the next child after that.

You might never be able to escape from this existence.

Become like a thorn.

You...

Can you endure it?

Even people like us have to live.

We have to keep on living, don't we?

Rin understood that.

Please.

Please let me go search for Rin with the hunter.

Go to Granny's place.

Yeah, it suits you.

Let's go.

Is that Taizō?

Rin?

It's Rin after all.

Don't shoot. Rin!

So you're alive.

Have you been in the mountains all this time?

Anyway, I'm glad you're safe.

What happened?

I smell bad.

No matter what you say.

- Well, let's go home. - I'm not going.

Rin?

I'm not Rin anymore.

Then who are you?

You seem to be in good spirits.

Look after Shoukichi.

Rin, wait!

Let go!

I'm a mountain dweller now!

Mountains are not a place to live.

You wouldn't understand!

I may have been in the village, but I wasn't human.

But I can live properly in the mountains.

What are you saying...

Come on! Let's go home.

No, let go!

- I'm not going home! - Let's go!

I'm not going home!

No...

A mountain man.

Boss.

Let's go. Hurry up!

No.

No!

- Stand up! - No!

I'm begging you.

Kill me, too.

Please, I'm begging you.

Quiet down!

No!

I'm begging you.

Kill us together!

I'm begging you.

No!

Ihei.

What?

She's no longer related to me.

Well, go ahead and ask.

I no longer feel like accusing you of theft.

Offer Rin to the gods of heaven.

To end the famine,

we must ask the gods of heaven to shine the sun upon us.

Offer the girls.

We won't be able to survive unless we do.

Entrust that role to Rin.

That's an admirable thing.

Do you understand?

Ihei.

And then?

What are you offering in return?

If I hand over Rin,

you'll consider it as pleading guilty to my great-grandfather's arson.

In return, give back our fields.

- That is... - How much?

Can't be helped.

Is that true?

Really, is it true?

With this, I have gained ownership of the fields.

Haru!

Did you know about the sacrifice?

I didn't know.

You must have!

It's fine, isn't it?

One single woman can save the village.

Haru!

What the hell, you damn raccoon!

Why do you care so much about that girl!

This guy...

Let go.

Is it okay to stray from the path of righteousness to save the village?

I don't know, but it appears so.

Can you go against what the village has decided?

Fool.

Causing me worry...

Returned without saying a word.

Rin.

It's your favorite.

As for you...

I offered you, to the god of heaven.

And so...

The sun, may shine upon me...

I will make the village's wish come true.

It's a splendid... duty.

In exchange for that...

We've been able to get our fields back.

You don't have to do dirty work anymore.

Including Shoukichi.

Well done.

Duty.

Fulfill your duty with determination.

Rin.

I'm sorry.

I've been deceived.

Damn it.

Taizou.

Taizou.

Enough already.

Here.

Fulfill the duty.

Haru, it's me.

Open it.

Don't go, Shoukichi.

There's nothing worth seeing.

No, I can't stay silent.

Don't go!

Shut up! Let me go!

Foolish child!

Can't you listen to your parents?

Then don't come back anymore!

There.

You too.

You two handle it.

God of heaven.

This village can't survive any longer.

Now, I will send this girl on a mission.

Please, grant our wish.

Shine the sun upon us!

Are you over there?

I want to see you.

Set it on fire.

Help us.

Please forgive us.

Help us, help us.

Please forgive us.

Where are you, Sis?

Sis?

- Shoukichi! - Let go.

Sis...

Forgive us.