All language subtitles for The_Deserted_City

This film was created with the city of
Yanagawa and the friendship of its people.

This is not a true story of Yanagawa.

But it is a fantasy well-suited to the
hearts of the people of the canal town...

...beautiful and willowy.

A PSC, New Japan Productions, and
Art Theatre Guild Joint Production

By Nobuhiko Ōbayashi

The Deserted City / Haishi

...like gray coffins floating in the water.
- "Memories" by Hakushū Kitahara

Produced by Shirō Sasaki,
Kyōko Ōbayashi, Shinichi Shimada,

Michio Morioka, Shōsuke Taga,
and Nobuhiko Ōbayashi

Screenplay by Makoto Naitō
and Chiho Katsura

Cinematography by Yoshitaka Sakamoto

Art Direction by Kazuo Satsuya

Sound Design by Shōhei Hayashi

Music by Naoshi Miyazaki
and Nobuhiko Ōbayashi

Lighting by Akio Watanabe

Audio Recording by Kazumi Inamura

Assistant-Direction by Tadashi Naitō

It was such a long time ago.

I spent the summer in that town
to write my graduation thesis.

I hadn't intended to go to such a
far-off place that I'd never visited.

Any cheap and quiet inn where
I could have studied would have been fine,

but that wasn't so easy to find.

By chance, a relative told me of a
place where a friend had a home.

For me to decide to go so far away...

Something he said must have drawn me to it.

It was a town with canals throughout,
and it imparted such mysterious emotions...

The sound of water...

...though I've now forgotten them.

Youth passes so quickly and
memories are swept away.

If I hadn't read the article in the paper
about the town being destroyed in a fire,

I wonder if I would have
even remembered at all.

As I read, I thought of the
people I met in that town,

and wondered if it would become
a desolate haishi in the end.

Even back then it was such a
lonely and quiet countryside town.

I'd sent a letter beforehand, but as I
passed through the imposing gate

and saw the old-fashioned building,
I couldn't help feeling a bit afraid.

Excuse me.

Excuse me!

- I'm here from Tokyo.
- Come in. Eguchi-san, right?

I recognized your voice.

Come on in.

It was the same voice on the phone earlier.

But who knew you'd be so handsome?

I'm just teasing.

This is a big place.

That's right. It's a lot of work to run.

- This way.
- Alright.

I'm Yasuko Kaibara. Nice to meet you.

- I'm the daughter of the house.
- It's very nice to meet you.

They're just fireflies, Eguchi-san.

Really?

Aren't they beautiful? But fleeting...

They are. This is the first
time I've seen them.

There are lots of fireflies here.
It's because we're a canal town.

A book called it the Venice of Japan.

That's why I wanted to come.

So, you came out of curiosity?

I've been cleaning today
because you were coming.

Memories become indistinct
with the passage of time.

I can remember some parts of that
summer as if they were yesterday,

but most of my memories are lost in the fog.

Are we close to the river?

Yes, there's a dock right outside
the courtyard. Boats still go in and out.

Is that right...

It's so quiet. I can work hard
on my graduation thesis here.

I'll always remember not being
able to sleep that first night.

The sound of stifled crying in the night,
and the strange stillness...

It's as silent as the grave.

That's an English expression, right?

Sorry. You're in the English
department, aren't you?

Right.

Well, please relax.

- Good night.
- Good night.

That's a boat.

I heard about the sounds
of the boats on the river.

Who could that be at this hour?

Eguchi-san?

Is there something on my face?

No, sorry about that.

You're a strange fellow.

Yasuko-san...last night...

Last night? What about it?

It's nothing.

- Seconds, please.
- Sure.

It's on your face.

This is Aki-san. She's the maid.

- This is Eguchi-san.
- Nice to meet you.

- Grandmother, may we come in?
- Please.

You came all this way to
transcribe the Analects?

How commendable for one so young.

Grandmother...

No one transcribes the Analects these days.

This is Eguchi-san.
He came to write his thesis.

He needed a quiet place to
finish it so he can graduate.

Graduation Analects?

No...

My grandmother's never
set foot outside this town.

It's too late now.

On The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter

Is Eguchi-san well?

Yes, it seems that way.

He became a professor in Sendai this year.

Shōzō-san...that's so admirable.

Shōzō's my uncle.

We're speaking of my father.

That's right, that's right.

The letter asked if we'd look
after a nephew for the summer.

That makes you the nephew.

I am. Nice to meet you.

You don't have to sit so formally.

Please, relax.

Alright.

Shōzō-san loved this town.

He said it was like a
canal city in the West.

Let's have tea.

- Um...
- Yes?

I don't know how to do it.

That's fine. I'll teach you.

- Eguchi-san...
- Yes?

Please sit properly.

That's the first lesson
for the tea ceremony.

- Are we disturbing you?
- No, I was just thinking of taking a break.

Was that uncomfortable this morning?

I'd meant to introduce you yesterday
evening, but she was nodding off.

You must have been exhausted as well.

- Thanks.
- Thanks.

Let's have tea.

- It's so quiet.
- Just the sound of water.

So it's just you and your
grandmother in this big house?

A bit lonely, isn't it?

The maid's here.

- Saburō-kun too.
- Saburō-kun?

He's going to agricultural high school.

I'll introduce you soon.

Then there's my sister and her husband.

Your sister?

Her name's Ikuyo.
She's eight years older than me.

That's when I thought it must
have been her crying that night.

I was struck by a vision of Yasuko-san's
sister whom I'd never met.

However, the reason for those
tears was still a mystery.

Naturally, I was concerned.

What's the master of the house like?

Naoyuki Kaibara-san.

Kaibara? Is that her husband?

Yes.

This place is a lot to deal with, isn't it?

That's why everything's
starting to fall apart.

No...it's already fallen apart.

It doesn't seem that way.

It's not Naoyuki-san's fault. Really.

My grandfather was an
extremely influential man.

He was like a prefectural assembly
chairman, and had 30 employees.

My father was useless.

He lost the farmland we got after the war.

Then he got involved in
all sorts of business.

Nothing ever turned out well.

Despite that, Naoyuki-san
was adopted into the family.

He works tirelessly to keep us going.

Your sister must be a wonderful person.

Isn't she?

Why's that?

To capture the heart of
someone like Naoyuki-san...

Yes.

She's so different from me.
She's as beautiful as a doll.

You're beautiful as well, Yasuko-san.

You're just flattering me.
I'm nothing special.

My sister and Naoyuki-san
were well-suited to each other.

Please.

How was the kneading?

You're quite skilled...

Mekaja! Mekaja! Get your mekaja here!

Mekaja!

Huh? What's wrong with it?

This is the 11 o'clock news.

I was actually anxious to hear the crying
again the next night, but it never came.

- Ah, the fish dealer.
- Hello, young lady.

- Mekaja, please.
- Right away.

- Every day is hot now, huh?
- Right.

Two...no, three of the sole, please.

- Alright, mekaja and...
- Yo!

- Oh, Eguchi-san.
- I'm going for a walk.

Just a second. I'll go with you.

Three of the sole, right?

- Are you learning piano?
- Sorry for the wait.

I didn't really want to, but my friends were
learning dancing, shamisen, and the koto.

I had to do something.

- Goodbye.
- Take care.

Thank you.

Where are we going?

Saburō-kun!

Would you mind giving us a ride?

This is Eguchi-san, a college
student from Tokyo.

Nice to meet you.

Whoa!

Are you OK?

Be careful.

This river runs right through
the middle of town.

There are smaller rivers running alongside
it, too. We call them the little rivers.

It's beautiful.

There are canals running between
the big river and the little rivers.

That's why this is the Japanese Venice.

Using the canals is the fastest way
to get anywhere in this town.

Eguchi-san, behind you!

Watch out.

Are you OK?

- Let's walk around the park.
- Alright.

We can walk back from here.

- I'll wait.
- That's alright.

No, it's no problem.

It would be nice to
live in a place like this.

Oh? What do you like about it?

What do I like? Everything.

You don't agree, Yasuko-san?

It's hard to find a place with
such a calm and quiet atmosphere.

Is that so? I hate it.

Why?

- Close your eyes and listen.
- Huh?

Just listen. Close your eyes.

- Can you hear the sound?
- The sound?

Yes. I noticed it when I
arrived at the station.

You can hear the river
wherever you go in this town.

- The sound of the town heading to its death.
- Death?

No...it's dying even now.

This town has no energy.

The people with traditional jobs
are growing older and dying.

The young people can't wait
to get out of here.

Only the elderly will remain.

Eventually there will be nothing left.

Then what will you do, Yasuko-san?

Sorry.

We're dying as well.
We're bound to this tiny place.

Why not leave?

Just because your sister's married and
can't leave doesn't mean that you can't.

Fireworks...

I can't shine as they do.

But...

You don't understand how we feel.

People who aren't from around here...

Oh, Naoyuki-san!

Yacchan!

- Is your grandmother well?
- She's alright, but her legs aren't so good.

And you?

The practice for the festival
is going well, but I'm so busy.

- Who's this?
- Him?

This is my brother-in-law.

This is Eguchi-san. He came from Tokyo
to write his graduation thesis.

I'm much obliged.

Sorry for not greeting you earlier.

Is that so? I'm sorry, I didn't
know you were here.

Please, enjoy yourself.

Feel free to come visit.

- See you, Yacchan.
- Good night.

Good night.

Yasuko-san didn't say a word after that.

I didn't understand why, but I suddenly
felt that Yasuko-san was the one crying.

- Sorry to keep you waiting.
- Thanks for the meal.

It's the 12th anniversary of
my mother's death, so I've been busy.

- So that's the reason for that sutra?
- Yes.

What was your mother like?

She died when I was seven.

Was she as cheerful as you, Yasuko-san?

I'm cheerful?

Aren't you?

My mother and sister were alike.

They had the same sad smile.

- Could you do me a favor?
- What is it?

I feel like you're meant to
light a stick of incense.

- I'll need to get changed.
- Later's fine.

You'll be sitting for so long that I'm
sure you won't be able to get back up.

That's not nice.

It's a really long ceremony.

- I'll call you when it's time.
- Alright.

I thought I'd finally meet
Yasuko-san's sister that day.

I was excited by the thought.

Then it would be clear if those tears in the
night came from her or Yasuko-san herself.

Eguchi-san...Eguchi-san!

Eguchi-san!

Eguchi-san!

Wake up!

Please come on down.

You're barely awake.

This way, Eguchi-san.

- Well, let's go.
- Right.

Which one's her sister?

My mother and sister were alike.

They had the same sad smile.

My legs hurt.

Have a seat, Eguchi-san.

Everyone...everyone...

Everyone quiet down.

Thank you all so much for coming
to such a hot place today.

It's not much, but please relax and eat.

- Well, then...
- Have a drink.

Here you go.

- Let's have a drink.
- Oh, no, you go ahead.

Ah, the student. Stop staring
and have a drink.

Are you a relative of Kaibara-san?

You shouldn't wear a jacket in this heat.

Undo the button. Let's get that off of you.

Tanaka-san, right?

Are your studies going well?

Yes, thank you.

I love everything about this town.

It's a nice little place, isn't it?

People in towns like this
gather and drink this way.

Whether it's noh chanting, ballads,
or haikai, everyone lets loose.

That's the kind of place this is.

Eguchi-san...

It all seems so refined though.

All the water, the beautiful scenery...

The canals...

They used to have the practical purpose of
preventing flooding from the river, but...

At some point...

...the townspeople starting
digging them almost as a hobby.

The scenery became unnatural.

It's artificial and degenerate.

The townspeople themselves are degenerating.

It has no vitality.

Time is just being used up.

It's like art.

How's that?

Doesn't art always aim
to improve upon itself?

There's no aim like that here.

Just crushing boredom day after day that
drives people to obsess over canals and song.

The people and this town are becoming ruins.

Do you know the term "haishi?"

Haishi?

"Hai" from the term for "ruins",
and "shi" from "city."

That's what this place is.

Memories from the past

Everything's like a dream

They fall into the spring...

It used to be flooded over and over again.

Eventually there will be
an earthquake or a fire.

Then it will truly become a haishi.

It's dying even now.

We're dying as well.
We're bound to this tiny place.

...lamp on the fishing boat

The coming dawn

Come on, come on.

- No, I'm fine.
- You can do it.

No, I'm tone-deaf.

Come on, come on.

Why don't you sing?

No, that's alright.

How about it?

I'm fine.

I'm drunk.

Yacchan...

Why? Why, Naoyuki?

Don't you think it's gone too far?

There was nothing I could do.

Nothing you could do?

There's always something.

Not always.

It's hard to change her mind
when she has an intention.

It's like it was meant to
happen from the start.

Intention? If it was meant to happen from
the start, how can you speak of intention?

It's no use, Yacchan.

So you're...you're that kind of person?

What if someone hears us?

- If...if my sister...
- Let's go home!

Not yet!

Thank you.

You're welcome.

- Where's Yasuko-san?
- She's...

...visiting her mother's grave.

She went out?

Yes. Maybe you can catch her
before she takes the boat.

Thanks.

Yasuko-san!

Oh! What is it?

- Going out?
- Yes. To the temple.

Visiting your mother's grave?

Hm? Yes...

Is the temple far from here?

It's a long way upriver.

I'll go too.

Oh?

Don't you have to study?

Oh, don't worry about that.

- You're welcome to come, then.
- Alright.

- It's going to be hot today.
- That's not a problem.

You visited the grave on the day
of the memorial service, right?

Yes, of course.

Did everyone go with you?

Everyone?

What about Naoyuki-san?

He was busy.

Then what about your sister?

There were relatives visiting that day.

I'm always going to my mother's grave.

I visit in place of the people who don't.

You loved her, didn't you?

Well...

She died when I was young,
so I don't remember her well.

But it always feels like she's close by.

Maybe that's because there's no difference
between the living and the dead for me.

If...if my sister...

Hello! We're here to visit a grave.

A lot of people in this town died
from things like typhus and dysentery.

We didn't have sanitary facilities and
hygiene was poor, so disease spread easily.

That's how it was in towns
with so much water.

There were several times when the
unclean townspeople almost died out.

That's how my mother died.

Maybe we wouldn't have had all
these troubles if she had lived.

For you and your sister?

Yes, for my sister too.

What kind of person is she, anyway?

I still haven't met her.

It's almost like she's...

Like she's dead? Is that
what you want to say?

It's just strange.

My sister's just fine.

But she doesn't want to see anyone.

Here you are.

Are your studies going well?

Yes, thank you.

Touring the village is relaxing too.

It's boring for me, but Eguchi-san
said it's like a dream.

Enjoy yourself.

The priest needs some help, Yasuko-chan.

Why do you cause me so much trouble?

I don't mean to.

Eguchi-san surely finds it strange.

Oh?! Eguchi-san...

I was bored so I came to
see the main temple building.

I just sort of stumbled upon you two.

Don't worry about that.

It was going to happen
eventually. Come over here.

OK.

Sis, you'll have to give up your game of
hide-and-seek now that Eguchi-san is here.

I'm Ikuyo.

Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude.

That's OK. You're not mad, are you sis?

I'm very shy compared to Yacchan.

I'm kind of a impudent woman, aren't I?

That kind of person is surely
better than me though, right?

Have you met my husband?

- Yes, the other day.
- Naoyuki's been so busy lately.

- The festival's almost here.
- Right.

Well, let's have lunch.
I made your favorite, sis.

Thank you.

Let's head back when it cools down this
evening. Eat with us, Eguchi-san.

Sorry for not telling you everything.

That's alright. But why does your
sister stay shut-up in there?

Did she have a fight with Naoyuki-san?

Not a fight, but...

My heart was pounding when you were
about to talk about Naoyuki earlier.

When?

When my sister asked if
you'd met her husband.

She doesn't know that he's not at home.

I don't understand.

Naoyuki moved after my
sister went to the temple.

My sister doesn't know
and I haven't said anything.

She'll worry if she finds out.

Is Naoyuki-san with someone else?

That's right.

He's with a woman named Hide.

It's almost time for the festival,
so I'm sure you'll meet her soon.

...a long-sleeved kimono
with an elegant pattern.

...in complete shock.

The mother is mad with grief.

My precious, precious daughter
is covered in blood. Murdered.

Give her back, bring her back.
Give her back to me at once.

Under my clothes, a long-sleeved crimson
kimono with an elegant pattern.

Look, Owasa.

That long-sleeved kimono?

This is the same sleeve as the one...

This is really good.

They're like real kabuki actors.

That Benkei is a relative.
He's known as a playboy.

Daughter, did you hear?

That man is your father.

Benkei is your father.

Do you know who's playing Owasa Shinmyō?

It's Naoyuki.

Hurry, look at your father. It's him.
Daughter, look at your father. It's him.

...help you rise.

Mother, I can speak, but
I can no longer see nor hear.

If I could die here in
place of my mistress...

And the woman that's playing
the daughter, Shinobu...

That's Hide.

...I would be glad, but leaving
the parent and child alone...

Without me...

- Doesn't that breeze feel great?
- It does.

I invited Yacchan too,
but she can't really drink.

What a festival, right?

Your performance was amazing.

People in this town do things for
themselves, even if they do a poor job.

It must be difficult even
if you enjoy it, right?

It's not so bad.

Let's lower our voices.

This is very important. Look at it.

That long-sleeved kimono?

This is the same sleeve as the one from
years ago in Fukui village in Banshū.

Watching the moon on the 26th night...

Trying to avoid being seen...

That was you there.

I met your wife recently.

- Oh? Is that so...
- Yes.

It was when I went to
the temple with Yasuko-san.

Was she well?

I don't really understand.

Eguchi-san...

I know what you want to say.

You're still young. You must
think I'm a terrible person.

Hide as well.

That's not what I think.

It's just a pity for your wife.

A pity? I suppose so.

So that's how it seems...

I'll wait outside.

Alright.

This must be a joke.

Please.

Ikuyo is a good woman.

I was adopted into the family,
but she doesn't hold that over me.

And even though I like to go out and
have a good time, she's not jealous either.

She's a truly good and diligent woman.

I like that about her.

I love her.

She really is my dear wife.

Even now. I love her more than anyone.

Hide knows that.

Right, Hide?

I'm fine with that.

I'm happy to be with you even
if it's just for a little while.

You must think it's cruel to
speak this way in front of Hide.

But please listen to me a bit longer.

I love Ikuyo.

You must not think so.

But that's a mistake.

Ikuyo loves me.

And I love Ikuyo.

I couldn't love another woman.

But she didn't believe that no matter
how many times I explained it.

She went to the temple on her own.

She said she didn't want
to restrict my freedom.

Ikuyo is very prideful.

The entire Kaibara family is like that.

It must have been a
big blow to that pride.

But you live with Hide now, don't you?

That's because Ikuyo left.

I knew Hide before it happened.

I didn't know what to do after Ikuyo left.

So I ended up living here.

So your wife had already left home?

That's right.

She didn't believe that I loved
her more than anyone else.

Try to understand how I felt then.

My work was falling apart.

My family was falling apart.

I just wanted a place to rest
and find peace of mind.

Hide...

I can say it in front of her.

She's a motherly, family-oriented,
and kind woman.

She doesn't have the same
illusions of pridefulness.

She's satisfied even if the
happiness is just for today.

We got on well practicing for the play.

We know we can't live
together this way forever.

But is that so bad?

Remember when you said that
time is just being used up?

That's right.

We're becoming a ruin.

What a strange story.

Hide gives me peace of mind at home.

But Ikuyo is my true love.

Your wife believes that you
love Hide though, doesn't she?

Hide?

No.

Not her.

Not Hide.

You don't understand.

Memories allow us to make sense
of an incident after it occurs,

giving it order and context.

The incident that occurred at the end of
that summer was seared into my mind,

and as a result I became prone to expecting
tragedy at the beginning of things.

I'm able to look back on everything
clearly because my memories are in order,

though what I witnessed then
returns to me unconsciously.

The water god's festival
was at the end of July.

It happened near the end of August as
the day I was to leave the town approached.

During that short month I spent
my time on the second floor,

working diligently on my graduation
thesis, unaware of anything else.

The lives and works of poets across
the sea had nothing to do with my life...

...had nothing to do with the tragedy
that was slowly developing so close by.

As I look back on myself then,
so obsessed with that thesis,

I think of how the essence of that life
now seems to be in such a faraway place.

Eguchi-san! Eguchi-san!

Eguchi-san!

What is it?

- Naoyuki...Naoyuki...
- What is it?

This isn't like you, Yasuko-san.

Eguchi-san...stay calm.

I came to tell you that Naoyuki's dead.

Naoyuki-san?

Isn't there some mistake?!

I wish there was, but...

But it's so sudden...

He killed himself.

With Hide.

I have to go.

Please come with me, Eguchi-san.

- I'm scared.
- Alright.

Sorry I lost my composure.

Does your sister know?

How terrible, Yacchan.

Looks like they took
sleeping pills last night.

What a foolish thing to do!

There's nothing we could have
done if they were resolved.

They left three notes behind.

One was for all relatives, so I opened it.

They asked for help settling their affairs.

One is for Ikuyo.

I wonder what he said to her...

And then...

This one is for you, Yacchan.

Getting dragged into this terrible thing
won't be good for your studies.

That's alright.

But Naoyuki-san...

Why would he want to die?

When you're consumed by debauchery,
sometimes death is all you have left.

They went out together, didn't they?

There were two or three times that
I wanted to die when I was young.

Yacchan...

Yacchan...

Is it true that Naoyuki and
Hide died together?

I suppose you had to find out. It's true.

What a troubling thing.

You're a fool, Yacchan.

With someone like Hide...

Naoyuki loved you.

I'm sure you knew that very well.

- Have a New Year's drink.
- Oh...

Naoyuki!

Was it cold at practice?
Come in and warm up.

Have a drink, Yacchan.

- You can handle more than your sister.
- I can't drink.

Then I'll teach you how.

No thanks. I never want to drink.

It's puffed up like you, Yacchan.

Yacchan!

She's in a bad mood. What happened?

That girl is still in love with you.

You love her too.

That's ridiculous.

Stop joking around!

Even though he married me,
he couldn't stop thinking of you.

I never showed any jealousy.

I wanted the two of you to be happy somehow.

I planned on giving up
Naoyuki for you, Yacchan.

That's why I went to the temple.

I planned on becoming a nun.

Our mother died when you were young.

I wanted to care for you like she couldn't.

I was determined to bring you happiness.

So how did it happen, Yacchan?

This sorry state...

Naoyuki's dead.

He died with Hide... Hide!

How the hell did this happen?!

Didn't you still love Naoyuki?

No, sis.

You're wrong.

Naoyuki was in love with you. Not me.

That again.

If only that were true.

I loved Naoyuki and we married.

But even so, it was like
I was never his wife.

I never knew his true heart.

You've been wrong the whole time.

You've been wrong from the day you
got married until the day he died.

Naoyuki never returned my love at all.

Yacchan!

You think Naoyuki's death was my fault?

Well...sis...

Both of you stop it.

A wake's not the place to act like this.

Why don't we ask Naoyuki, Yacchan?

Ask him who he loved.

Me? You? Let's ask him!

My dear...

Who was it that you loved?

A Sense of Celtic Collapse in the
Works of Edgar Allan Poe

I'll see you to the station.

Thank you.

Eguchi-san, you saw the moment
when my family was completely ruined.

My sister went back to the temple for good.

My grandmother's in poor health.

But you're still well, Yasuko-san.

I'm nothing now.
I'm nothing at all.

Yasuko-san, you loved
Naoyuki-san, didn't you?

Yes, I did.

My sister and I were both crazy about him.

Naoyuki, how about we stop with the
fireworks and take the boat out?

That's fine. You two go on.

I'll get dinner ready.

Alright. It's been a while
since I used the rod myself.

You're going to do it yourself? I'm glad!

Saburō! We're taking the boat.

I'll do it!

That's alright.

You'll have a lot to make up for
if he hurts himself, Saburō.

You must find it very strange, Eguchi-san.

I loved Naoyuki from the start too,
but my sister ended up marrying him.

I happily followed him around all the time.

My sister is old-fashioned and reserved.

She didn't do things like going
out on the boat with him.

I was an innocent tomboy then,
and we were always out having fun.

People began spreading rumors.

That's what people do in towns like this.

My sister heard them and grew suspicious.

Suspicious?

She would see or hear us joking around.

It was always nothing, but she grew more and
more certain that something was going on.

She was jealous?

My sister's not the jealous type.
She's the type to resign herself to it.

She's old-fashioned.

She thought Naoyuki loved me,
and that she was in the way.

She went to the temple at
the beginning of the summer.

It was almost like she was telling
the two of us to be happy together.

Naoyuki found it hard to stay
at home, and went to Hide's place.

I was alone all of a sudden.

Why didn't Naoyuki-san stop her from going?

It seems they had a big argument.

She's the type to become more and
more resolved in the face of excuses.

He was the type that would quickly
give up and think it's no use.

It started with a simple misunderstanding
and got worse and worse.

And in the end Naoyuki couldn't
go on living with it all.

I don't really understand.

If...if my sister really said that
it's alright for us to be together,

would you leave Hide and come back home?

Yacchan...

The Kaibara family will totally
fall apart if nothing changes.

You want to be with me for the
sake of the Kaibara family, Yacchan?

That's not it!

You know why, Naoyuki.

I...I love you more than anyone.

I could only endure it because you
were with my beautiful sister, but...

Please live with me instead of Hide.

I can't.

Why not, Naoyuki?

I...

I loved Ikuyo then and I love her now.

I appreciate your feelings, but...

Here is fine.

Please let me see you off.
I don't have anything else to do.

Let's wait on the platform.
We can catch the breeze.

Please read this, Eguchi-san.

I haven't shown it to my sister.

But I think I want you to read it.

It's Naoyuki's suicide note.

Go on.

I'm so tired.

I just want to forget this tedium and sleep.

Everything I've done has been a failure.

I've only brought sorrow to others.

I pray that you get married and
live a life full of happiness, Yacchan.

Hide said she wanted to be together,
so she'll come along.

I won't fail in this at least.

- Naoyuki Kaibara

To Yasuko

I gazed at his beautiful calligraphy
and tried to find some hidden meaning.

How old was Naoyuki-san?

Thirty-three.

He could say he was tired of life
at such a young age?

Well...

The gears of time turn
so slowly in this town.

It just gets harder for me to understand.

The train bound for Saga will soon
be arriving at the north platform.

I guess this is it.

I'll come again.

No...you won't be back.

You'll graduate from college next spring.

Go to work.

Get married.

Right? You'll completely
forget about this town.

That won't happen.

It will. That's your future.

And your future?

I'll die here. I don't have a future.

Goodbye. Take care of yourself.

- Goodbye. Give my regards to your sister.
- I will.

Sir! The people in this town don't perceive
the feelings others have for them.

Naoyuki-san didn't.
And I know you love Yasuko-san!

I too now realize that I was in
love with Yasuko-san at the time.

No, the truth is that I must have
known it deep in my heart even then.

When Yasuko-san clung to me in that
room bathed in the afternoon light,

she was so dear to me in that moment.

The two of us held each other in that
second-floor room after Naoyuki-san's death.

Comforting Yasuko-san gave
me a sense of happiness

that I remember as if it were
a scene from a dream.

But what's the use in knowing that now?

Because even now...even
with how it all turned out,

I know Yasuko-san is still in love
with her brother-in-law.

And even if I love Yasuko-san,

I can't go back and relive that
summer from the beginning.

The train struggled through those late
summer fields, already so far from town.

And then I heard the moment the town
collapsed just as it passed,

like the sound of the
river flowing in my heart.

Based on a novel by Takehiko Fukunaga

Starring:

Satomi Kobayashi
Kisuke Yamashita

Toshie Negishi
Tōru Minegishi

Wakaba Irie
Toshinori Omi

Directed by Nobuhiko Ōbayashi

Subtitles by nitroblast for ADC