Original subtitles

AN IMAMURA/HAYASHIBARA GROUP CO-PRODUCTION

DISTRIBUTED BY TOEI CO., LTD.

BLACK RAIN

AUGUST 6, 1945

Yesterday, I told the factory manager in writing that I would be absent.

This morning, we used our neighbor, Mr. Nojima's, truck

to transport baggage for evacuation.

It contained Auntie's summer and winter kimono with the family crest,

three sashes, three winter clothes.

Also included was the special kimono, said to have been worn

by my great-grandmother on her wedding day.

It's a precious item.

My uncle's morning suit, family-crest kimono, my formal summer-winter dress,

three sashes, and my diploma from the girl's high school.

ORIGINAL WORK BY MASUJI IBUSE (PUBLISHED IN SHINCHO BUNKO)

SCREENPLAY BY TOSHIRO ISHIDO & SHOHEI IMAMURA

PRODUCER: HISASHI IINO

MUSIC BY TORU TAKEMITSU

CINEMATOGRAPHY BY TAKASHI KAWAMATA

LIGHTING BY YASUO IWAKI SOUND BY KENICHI BENITANI

ART DIRECTOR: HISAO INAGAKI EDITOR: HAJIME OKAYASU

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: TAKASHI TSUKINOKI

PRODUCTION MANAGER: YASUSHI MATSUDA

Thank you for having us.

YOSHIKO TANAKA

KAZUO KITAMURA, ETSUKO ICHIHARA

HISAKO HARA, KEISUKE ISHIDA

TAMAKI SAWA, AKIJI KOBAYASHI, MASATO YAMADA

SHOICHI OZAWA, NORIHEI MIKI

DIRECTED BY SHOHEI IMAMURA

August 6. Even though it was early morning, it was already hot.

I was on my way to work at the factory,

in a hurry to get to Yokogawa Station to catch the train, as usual.

- Did the air-raid alarm go off? - It just got called off.

Excuse me.

- Oh, Mr. Shizuma, good morning. - Good morning.

I realize I shouldn't be asking you this now,

I need you to stamp that paperwork I told you about.

What was that?

Air raid! It's an air raid!

What the hell?

First Lieutenant!

What the hell was that?

I have no idea.

What's happened?

It's getting so dark.

Evening showers, maybe.

How could that be? It's only ten in the morning.

The shadows of the clock-hands are burned into the face.

How come?

An intense light must've hit it.

Doesn't bode well.

It must be a powerful new weapon.

No radio reception either.

It's all ablaze from Otemachi to the west training grounds.

Mr. Nojima has good relations with the fishermen.

They'll probably return by boat and dock at Ujina.

Yasuko always stops by the delivery office to say hello.

Does she even know that you were going to Ujina today?

She knows, she knows. It's all a gamble, though.

What are you doing there?

I wonder if I can borrow some cucumbers from our neighbor...

Yeah, yeah, it's probably alright.

Anyway, let's hurry and go, let's go get her.

Hurry. Come on.

Never mind the pumpkin, leave it. Come on, hurry, hurry.

That's no good. It's even more warped than before.

- Ouch! - Are you alright?

- Oh, Yasuko! - Auntie...

Hey, don't rub your face. You've got coal tar or something on your face.

Uncle, your face...

It's nothing, just a little burn. What are these stains?

Black rain was falling on the way here.

The petroleum tank must've blown up.

Auntie, give me some water.

- Auntie, the fire's coming! - The fire's spreading!

Yasuko, the fire's spreading here. We're moving to Uncle's factory.

- Okay. - What are you doing?

Hurry!

Hurry!

Use sticks to move away any live wires.

Are you alright?

Move faster.

Listen, if I stop moving, then pull me out with this band.

Don't touch my body directly. Right, let's go.

Hey, don't go down there, it's too dangerous!

Go around the other way!

- Water! - Mommy!

Big brother! Big brother!

Big brother! Big brother!

- Who are you? - It's me, your little brother.

What do you mean, my "little brother"? What's your name?

What's your name? What's your school?

Hiroshima Middle School, first grade, class 2. Kyuzo Sukune.

But Kyuzo would be wearing gaiters.

My gaiters blew off.

Alright then, show me your belt.

Kyuzo, it's you! Kyuzo!

Water... Give me water.

- Uncle... - Don't look!

It hurts!

Hey, Miss!

It hurts!

It hurts!

Where's Hiroshima?

Where did Hiroshima go?

Be careful, Yoshida!

FUKUYAMA CITY, HIROSHIMA MAY, 1950

FUJITA CLINIC

There's nothing wrong with you. He said you won't be needing a second opinion.

- Right. - Here's the diagnosis sheet.

With this, nothing will stand in the way of finding you a husband.

- And you, Uncle? - Huh? Same as usual.

I'm fine as long as I don't work too hard.

Mr. Shizuma, wait a moment. I've got something for you.

- This is from the doctor. - What is it?

It keeps the doctor away!

If you keep it safe from frost, it'll just keep growing.

It's good for your health if you drink it with grated radish.

Please take good care.

- Aloe? - I see.

It's good for burns, but I guess it's good for my health as well.

How nice of him.

Tonight, at 07:00 at the Public Assembly Hall,

in commemoration of the Stockholm Proclamation

for the abolition of nuclear weapons

we will have a rally against atomic weapons.

All Hiroshima Prefecture citizens are invited to attend.

Hello, there.

Hello. Long time, no see.

It really has. Are you well and keeping busy?

Not so good. I get dizzy so easily.

You too?

It can't be helped. I can't afford to stop working.

You've grown prettier than ever.

I suppose she'll be getting married soon.

That's right. She'll soon become a bride.

Are you raising these carp?

No, I was thinking of drinking their blood.

The 14:30 train for Miyoshi is now arriving.

Please step back behind the white lines.

MIDLAND SHUTTLE BUS

Oh, I just remembered. The postmaster came over last night.

Somebody quit, so there's a position open for you.

What do you want to do?

You applied two years ago, and now he tells us.

I suppose if you started working now and then got married, they'd be annoyed.

Yes.

I can turn the job down for you. It's alright, don't worry about it.

Next stop, Kobatake!

He did it again, that idiot!

Yuichi, that's enough!

You got them! You got them!

I got them?

Terribly sorry.

You got them, you got them.

Good. I got them!

Sorry.

Mr. Shizuma, hang on!

- Here. This is for you. - Oh, thank you.

We're home!

Welcome back. How did it go?

There was no problem whatsoever.

How is her health?

There's nothing wrong with her. They gave me her health certificate.

Oh, I'm so glad.

Things will go smoothly now. This should dispel those ugly rumors.

Grandma!

What? I didn't know you were here, Kiyoko.

Yes, Grandma.

She's convinced that Yasuko is your late sister.

Don't worry about her. She's already got one foot in paradise.

She doesn't bother me at all.

What's this? You've planted all the potatoes?

You're getting on. Don't overdo it.

I'm fine.

I don't feel tired at all.

Dr. Fujita's wife didn't show any symptoms until the day she got sick.

- We mustn't take any chances. - Yeah.

Why, thank you.

A health certificate, huh? How meticulous of you.

I heard the matchmaker's an ex-soldier's wife.

I figured I'd better do things the new way.

Things must be tough for you, Shigematsu.

All this for the sake of your late sister's daughter.

Well, I was the one who invited her to Hiroshima.

But that was just to get her out of forced labor.

That was wartime.

I want to see her in her bridal gown.

She's a good girl.

The matchmaking should work out this time.

I see. Well, that's something to celebrate.

It's not set in stone yet.

Alright, I'll cancel her employment application.

However, you'd better invite me to the wedding.

Look at all this deep-fried tofu. It's a little extravagant, isn't it?

Well, for people who were in Hiroshima

it's all good for our health, or so Dr. Fujita says.

That's what Dr. Fujita said?

Grandma, you've got some in there too.

When Yasuko leaves... it's going to get lonesome around here.

Come on, Auntie, nothing's for sure yet.

Oh, set the time.

We now complete our 634th broadcast.

This is the 7:00 hourly news.

Here is the 7:00 news.

Our amateur baseball team will be participating in the international...

They say there's a giant carp in here, the lord of its domain.

I saw that carp surface here, one time.

Did drinking that carp blood have any effect?

Yeah, my body got warmer thanks to it.

Carp blood is effective, but white peach is good too, when the appetite's low.

Everyone else is busy working, so you guys must be royalty!

Gentlemen of leisure, you lot!

Look, lady, we're all A-bomb sickness patients.

We're here fishing under doctor's orders.

I want to work, I really want to work.

But if we do hard labor, our bodies will rot away.

Is that right?

But the way you put it,

it sounds like you're capitalizing on being victims of the bomb.

What are you talking about? Don't talk stupid.

When I escaped from Hiroshima and came back here,

you said I was a precious survivor and cried rivers of tears.

So I guess those tears have all dried up now!

That was before the end of the war.

Everybody said stuff like that during the war.

So don't be saying resentful things to me now.

What do you mean, "resentful"?

Just because you manage this pond, don't start thinking you own it.

- What did you say? - Well, you're making a big mistake.

Anyone in the area can fish in this pond,

and no one can gripe about it, you know?

That's why I said it's a fine thing for you to be fishing here.

That's why I said you're like royalty. That's all I meant.

You're just a spiteful widow!

Hey, you've got a bite!

Shit, she's so irritating!

She's forgotten that Hiroshima and Nagasaki were A-bombed.

Everyone's forgotten about it.

They've all forgotten about that hellish inferno.

Yet they're holding those anti-A-bomb conventions.

All the outcry about it nowadays... it's pathetic.

Shokichi, be careful what you say.

Hey, you got one. Look, it's tugging.

What the hell? It's just a minnow!

Enemy attack!

Bombs!

Bombs!

Enemy attack!

Hey, Yuichi!

You got them! You got them!

Watch out! It's dangerous!

Yuichi! Yuichi!

You got them! You got them!

Good, I got them!

You got them, you got them.

- He's still unwell? - He's a little better.

I haven't seen you around.

- I took some leave. - From the cabaret in Kobe?

No, I'm at the one in Fukuyama now.

I'm home!

I'm home!

Is anybody home? Nobody here?

Why did you come home without letting me know?

So what? I'm your daughter, I don't need to warn you when I'm coming home.

What's the matter? Were you sleeping?

Who, me?

Who is it this time?

Nobody that warrants your concern!

He's sick. I let him rest here sometimes.

This is my daughter, Fumiko. She's working in Fukuyama now.

- Hello. - Hello.

The bomb flash got Mr. Katayama.

Now that you mention it, he looks a little pale.

Still, one's got to eat. I make my rounds between Fukuyama and Miyoshi.

I'm a black-marketeer.

Then business must be booming nowadays.

You have to come over to Hollywood some time.

A cabaret?

I haven't got the energy for that.

Right then, I'm off.

- Mom... - What?

Don't tell anyone I'm here.

Man problems, again?

Yakuza problems, this time.

I don't know what will become of a woman like you.

So the health certificate backfired?

They said the mere presentation of it was suspicious.

They said I'm covering for my fellow flash victims.

- Kotaro... - What?

Unlike me and Shigeko, Yasuko was never exposed to the flash.

She was in Furue at the time, so it never got her.

Would it be alright if I talk to them directly?

Well, you see... they said they've already chosen another girl.

The suitor was very fond of Yasuko,

but his parents insist on health over beauty.

- There's no point in going to see them. - I see.

It's become rather an awkward situation.

I'm very sorry.

I wonder if someone's after her and sabotaged it.

It's possible.

Well, Shigematsu, don't let it get you down.

- Have you been to the hospital lately? - No, not lately.

You should get your blood-cell sedimentation measured once a week.

Yeah, but I can't be bothered with it.

Pardon my inhospitality.

Was that Mr. Matsukichi?

- No, it was Kotaro. - I see.

I wonder how it went.

By the looks of it, not very well.

What's she going to do about the post office job now?

Who knows?

That was her third attempt at matchmaking.

She's already 25 years old.

Maybe she'll be the end of the Shizuma family line, eh?

They say women exposed to the flash can't bear children.

Shigeko must be so ashamed.

She can't conceive, her niece can't find a suitor...

But still, they say that Yasuko was in the black rain.

Who knows?

There's also a rumor that she was at ground zero.

Alright. This time I was at fault.

How dare they assume you have an incurable disease

based on rumors alone?

Yasuko, let me see your diary.

Show me the parts from August 6th onward.

What I wrote that time is still in rough form.

That's fine, it's more realistic that way. Let me have it.

- What will you do with it? - I'll make a clean copy of it.

I'll send that to them.

But they've already turned her down.

We can't just quietly back down!

I won't take this lying down.

"I THINK IT WAS AROUND 10:00AM.

"WITH A RESOUNDING, THUNDEROUS ROAR, A BLACK CLOUD..."

What's the matter?

- This part about the black rain... - Right.

Everybody knows now that it was toxic.

Won't they say, "Just as we expected"?

Read it to me.

"With a resounding, thunderous roar, a black cloud rolled out from the city,

"from which fell raindrops as thick as fountain pens.

"Though it's midsummer, it became shivering cold."

No, we'll make a clean copy and present it to them.

Black rain is just black rain.

What matters is proof that she wasn't directly exposed to the flash.

She's under our care, as if she was our own daughter.

We must see to it that she gets married, or else we'll lose face with her parents.

I'm going to make a clean transcription of my own bomb-victim diary.

I'll add it to Yasuko's diary.

I'm going to make a record of our whereabouts for all three of us.

Over here! Here!

Mother!

Mother!

Alright, this way, we can get through this way. Let's hurry.

Alright, we have to go on all fours.

We must be strong. One false move and it'll be hell.

Come on.

Everyone from Factory No.2, assemble at the public school!

Perhaps it was reckless of me to have led my wife and niece

into that scorching heat.

But there was nowhere else to go other than the factory where I worked.

There was only one way to get there.

Don't go that way! It's too dangerous!

Somebody help me!

Water! Get to the water!

Everyone who drank the water died!

Sanae!

Sanae, where are you?

Horses and humans were killed by that momentary flash of light.

But it seemed that things that were underwater were unaffected.

Yoshida from Otemachi, are you here?

Where were you... when it got you?

It got me at Yokogawa Station.

I'm from near Hijiyama,

but it got me right as I stepped out of the air-raid shelter.

As soon as I stepped out, there was this flash.

It became pitch dark, and I couldn't see a thing.

Your wound, does it hurt?

For some reason, it doesn't hurt.

Mine doesn't hurt either.

But my heart is broken.

It hurts so bad I can't bear it.

My house fell down.

I think my wife died immediately.

My son's leg got caught between some large timbers.

I tried dragging him out, but he just wouldn't come loose.

Meanwhile, the fire was approaching.

Finally, I said, "This is the end. Please endure."

And I ran away.

"Dad, help me. Help me...

"Help me!"

I have to go. Please take care.

Come on. Let's go.

Almost there.

Hey, isn't that Mr. Shizuma?

Hey, Mr. Shizuma! So glad you're alive!

Mr. Shizuma!

Come in.

Hey!

Come on, this way.

Bring some water.

At the factory in Furuichi,

the factory manager and employees celebrated our arrival

and welcomed us in the reception room.

My tears flowed and wouldn't stop. They overflowed.

Good morning.

Yeah...

Who is it?

It's Ueda, from External Affairs.

He got here in the middle of the night.

He was writhing in such agony, like he'd gone insane.

He vomited loads of yellow water at dawn.

Then he gasped his last breath.

Sir, the town hall is as good as closed.

There's no one there to accept the death report.

No one at the temples either.

Thanks for trying.

- Shizuma... - Yes?

I want you to recite some sutras.

Sutras?

Any temple will do.

Go and make a copy of the sutras that the priests recite.

Even if I copy them,

I don't have the power to guide the dead.

Then who has the power to do it?

There's no difference between amateurs and professionals.

Shin, Zen or Nichiren, it doesn't matter which Buddhist sect.

As factory manager, I'm giving you an order.

I hear that Hiroshima has vanished.

What a terrifying thing.

Indeed...

we are witnesses to the end of the world.

How lamentable it is.

For funereal occasions,

followers of the Aki sect recite the Kisanpo Sutra,

the Shoshin Sutra, and the O-Nenbutsu, in that order.

Next, we address the transmigration into the three realms,

which is the Amida-kyo teaching,

but while that is being read,

those who come to pay their respects will offer incense.

Then we have the "Letter of White Ashes".

"There is no knowing whether I will die first,

"or if others will pass before me,

"whether death will come today or tomorrow.

"We depart one after another,

"more quickly than the dewdrops on the blades of grass.

"Hence, we may have radiant faces in the morning,

"only to become white ashes by the evening."

It takes so long for them to dry.

We can't get out until they're dry.

We have decided that extraordinary measures are required

to effect a settlement,

and hereby announce to our loyal citizens

that we have ordered our ministers to communicate to the governments

of the United States, Great Britain, China and the Soviet Union

that our Empire accepts the provisions of their Joint Declaration.

The sparkling water flows.

A small fish swims against the current.

August 15th, noon.

That is all that I can remember.

The goldfish seller is here, dear.

He's not a goldfish seller, he's a carp breeder.

Oh!

Are you alright?

I've slept for three days, and the hives on my head have gone.

No need to worry.

The water temperature, the size... I'd say this pond is perfect.

When they get bigger, we'll move them to the large pond.

Then that cranky widow won't have any grounds to complain.

What did she say to you lot?

She said everyone else was busy working, so we must be royalty to be fishing.

She said we were lazy oafs taking advantage of the flash.

You made a pass at her a long time ago, didn't you?

That's why she said those things!

All we did was play doctor and nurses years ago.

So what's she babbling about, after all this time?

Hey! What are you doing?

Explosion! Explosion!

Hey, stop what you're doing! You'll get run over!

Hey!

- Why, you... - Hey, turn off the engine!

- Turn off the engine! - Damn it!

Yuichi!

Yuichi, enough!

Yuichi! Yuichi!

Yuichi! Yuichi, that's enough!

You got them! You got them!

- Enough, enough! - Yuichi!

- Move! - Captain! Captain! Captain!

Enemy tanks approaching from the rear!

What?

They're behind that civilian's house over there!

Right. Advance to the rear!

You! What are you doing there?

What? What the hell?

Enough, Kanemaru! Please!

Forward! Forward!

Forward!

Otatsu...

Captain, they're over there.

Charge!

Our allies blew up the enemy tanks! Mission accomplished!

I got them! Explosion! I got them!

I'm so sorry, thank you so much. Thank you.

What kind of nutcase is that?

Sorry. Sorry.

He's a veteran of the suicide squads that dove under tanks carrying bombs.

The horrors he witnessed set him off each time he hears an engine.

That's our Mr. Katayama, always on the ball.

All we've done in the past was try to stop him by brute force.

But that was truly a brand-new strategy!

Not at all. I just reacted.

Hey, the bus is here.

Oh, no. Have him cut the engine.

Please stop! Please stop!

Please stop!

Please stop!

Mr. Shizuma, what good timing.

Oh, sorry you couldn't be there with us.

We just stocked the pond with carp hatchlings.

Hey, it's Mr. Shizuma.

Hello there! My name is Aono.

Er... please excuse me, I'd better be going.

Who's that?

The nephew of the beauty parlor owner in Fuchu. I've seen him before.

A prospective groom for Yasuko?

He's not bad-looking.

So you two have met before?

Yes, occasionally at the beauty parlor.

His family runs an ironworks factory.

The Aono Ironworks Factory near Ashida River?

That's right.

I asked for Miss Yasuko's address at my aunt's beauty parlor.

My father and mother have both accepted my coming to visit.

My wife goes to the Aono Beauty Parlor now and then.

They started talking and got the ball rolling.

It's kind of abrupt, but...

I was the one who urged him.

Kotaro, is this some kind of formal matchmaking introduction?

I suppose it is.

I respectfully ask to court her.

I humbly request.

I look forward to our future relationship.

That all depends on how she feels!

Right!

Cigarettes, please.

Cigarettes, Madam Okazaki!

Hey there.

What is it?

Why don't you find a good match for my daughter while you're at it?

Ha! Finding a husband for a cabaret girl is no easy task.

Don't be like that. Fuuko might be your own daughter.

Don't talk stupid. What proof do you have to back that up?

Why not?

You and I did the deed, far more than ten times if I recall!

I don't remember doing it that many times with you.

Oh, yes, Yasuko is the niece of a guy who used to own a lot of land.

I suppose that's why you'll bend over backwards for her.

That's not why!

It's because she's been plagued by rumors, even though the flash never got her.

Hey, are you alright?

Are you alright? Hey, are you alright?

It happens from time to time.

Maybe the flash is starting to affect me.

So what do you think?

About Mr. Aono?

Yasuko seems more excited about him than any of the previous candidates.

Did you get that impression too?

Of course.

Maybe this time, at last.

You never know when you'll start having A-bomb symptoms like me.

So no matter what, while we still can,

I want us to see her get happily married.

Well, as you know, I'm quite tough. Nothing gets to me.

And Mr. Aono is so enthusiastic.

It'll work out this time.

Is someone getting married?

Yes, Yasuko is.

Yasuko?

It's Kiyoko.

His sister, Kiyoko.

So Kiyoko's getting married...

I wish I could've met your sister just once.

She gave birth to Yasuko and died soon after.

It's already been 25 years.

Kiyoko?

Kiyoko!

Kiyoko... you mustn't get married.

If you get married, you'll die.

Yes, Grandma.

I won't get married.

Please don't worry.

Oh, that's good.

Because I couldn't bear it if you died.

Just don't get married.

Let's go meet my father right now.

Yes?

What's the matter?

We need to talk.

Talk? Don't tell me there's someone else.

Is there someone you're seeing in secret?

No. Is that how it seems?

No, but even so...

as long as you break up with him, I'll forget about it.

It's nothing like that.

You had me worried.

Yasuko... I love you.

Please marry me.

Even selling only a plot or two...

...it fills me with regret.

You own over twenty-five acres of land.

It's a good thing that mountain forests weren't subject to the Agrarian Reform.

Let's do business again.

You're selling the mountain again?

No.

Because if you do, you'll have to answer to your ancestors.

Water.

Give me water.

Water, please!

Mr. Katayama.

Madam Okazaki!

Madam!

We've got trouble! Madam!

KENJIRO KATAYAMA R.I.P.

- Wasn't Mr. Katayama from Takafuta? - That's right.

Should we be having his funeral here?

I heard that when we asked them what we should do,

they told us to do whatever we please.

His ex-wife got together with his younger brother, you know.

That woman at the shop is an outsider anyhow.

They sure went through a lot.

From previous generations.

How ironic, to die before those who were exposed to the flash.

It could happen to any of us.

It's beyond our control.

"Give thanks for the power of the Buddha's prayer.

"All those who listen to him and wish to ascend to heaven

"will surely achieve rebirth in his world,

"and will obtain the enlightenment from which there is no retrogression."

Mr. Shizuma, did you bring it?

Yes, I have it.

Please.

"When I deeply contemplate the transient nature of human life,

"I realize that, from beginning to end,

"that life is an impermanent illusion.

"One never hears of anyone who has lived ten thousand years.

"How fleeting, then, is a whole lifetime.

"Will I die first, or will others pass before me?

"Will death will come today, or tomorrow? One cannot know.

"We depart one after another

"more quickly than the dewdrops on the blades of grass."

FIRST AID STATION

Hey! Is there anyone here from the Kojin Unit of Takafuta Village?

Anybody here from the Kojin Unit of Kobatake Village?

Shokichi! It's me, Shizuma.

Oh! Shigeru! It's you!

I'm alive, miraculously!

I'm Katayama from Takafuta.

I'm Shizuma from Kobatake.

- Oh, what happened to your hand? - It's nothing.

We left yesterday to come to aid the draftees here.

Kotaro came too, he's somewhere over there.

But really, I'm so glad you're alive.

Where will you go how?

To Nittsu of Ujina, the factory manager's orders.

Truly, Hiroshima is no more.

It's gone.

Nothing good comes of war.

Business at our ironworks factory has suddenly boomed.

Thanks to the Korean War, there's been a sudden rise in orders for truck parts.

So not only can we go to Atami for our honeymoon,

we can go to Hokkaido or anywhere we want!

Mr. Aono...

The other day, my uncle's friend died.

He walked two days straight across Hiroshima from August 7th to August 8th.

Isn't that what they call a "secondary bomb-victim?"

All three of us in our family

also walked through Hiroshima, all day long on the 6th.

My uncle is clearly showing symptoms of A-bomb sickness.

So I've heard.

Did you tell your parents about it?

I told them that you and your aunt are unscathed.

My dad said, "Women sure are strong!" and laughed it off.

Don't worry.

- Crucian carp? - No, they're minnows.

- Are you from Fukuyama? - No, from Fuchu.

Oh, is he the doctor from the Fuchu hospital?

Our Mr. Shokichi hasn't been feeling very well.

No, her name is Mrs. Aono. She's the owner of a beauty parlor.

Oh...

You've got plenty of hatchlings.

Between hospital and beauty parlor... now there's a big difference.

I wish I could've been more accommodating.

The hatchlings are looking lively.

Yeah. They're growing fine.

Why are you wearing dark glasses?

Lately... my eyes have been stinging.

Here is the 7:00 news.

The war continues to spread throughout the Korean Peninsula...

- Good evening! - Hey there.

I'll be back by the time you've finished your dinner.

- Have some tea first. - Please come in.

- Please, come on in. - I'll be fine right here.

Alright, then.

Er... it's about the Fuchu thing.

- Have they declined? - Why would they?

Today I saw the beauty parlor's limo at Mr. Shokichi's.

Mr. Shokichi looked dejected.

It caught him by surprise. I guess he was at a loss for words.

It's got nothing to do with Mr. Shokichi,

it just pains him that Yasuko's being treated like a criminal in a pillory.

So you heard it from Mr. Shokichi himself?

What's the matter with that suitor, anyway?

I'll go to Fuchu tomorrow and drag him here by the neck if I have to.

- Uncle... - Huh?

I'm over it now. I'm the one who told him.

Told him what?

I told Mr. Aono that I could become like Mr. Katayama at any time.

- I was very clear. - When did you tell him?

Today, at noon.

Wasn't it around noon when the limo arrived at Mr. Shokichi's?

So even before that, she must've been asking around everywhere.

Did someone sabotage us again?

It's that woman from the shop. She got sassy with me.

She asked me to find her Fuuko a groom too.

It's a fact that Yasuko was exposed to the black rain. That cannot be helped.

But I can't abide the ridiculous rumors that she was at ground zero.

That's how society is. People prefer to believe the bad over the good.

Anyway, we should ask how Mr. Aono himself feels about this.

That's right, absolutely right. I'll take the first bus to Fuchu tomorrow.

Uncle! I'm over it now.

I'm not going to get married.

Yasuko!

Fuuko's mother is accountable for her own actions,

and I'm accountable for my own.

We'll find out eventually anyway.

They say the black rain was poison, so...

I thank you for everything you've done for me.

Yasuko, I was incompetent. All I did was give you a false dream.

Please persevere.

Please don't think badly of me!

Uncle... Auntie...

I just want to live here with you both.

You've got the symptoms already, Uncle.

And you, Auntie, there's no telling when you'll become like Uncle.

So I don't want to leave you to go to someone else's home.

I'll be fine.

As for your uncle's health, you mustn't worry.

That's right. Your auntie's right.

We'll take care of ourselves. And you must take care of yourself.

I want you to get happily married. If you don't, I won't be able to face...

That's right.

If you got married,

I wouldn't be able to face our ancestors.

All glory to the holy scripture of the Heart Sutra...

Glory to the Mystic Law of the Lotus Sutra...

Who are you?

Oh, the pain!

Are you Kiyoko, Yasuko's mother?

I am Kiyo...

My girl...

The flash...

Sister-in-law, you know about the flash?

All it means is that this woman knows!

Sister-in-law, please tell me!

Is there a reason why Yasuko's engagements never succeed?

Sister-in-law!

Please talk to me!

Anyway, visiting her grave is the best thing to do.

Visit the grave, and the engagement will be successful.

I understand.

What's the matter with you, getting swayed by Mother like that?

But what the medium said makes a lot of sense.

When sister-in-law died, she was very concerned about Yasuko's welfare.

- Anyway, we have to visit her grave. - That's got nothing to do with it.

Don't you care anymore about Yasuko's prospects?

I never said that.

To help her engagement go well,

you made clean copies of diaries, didn't you?

- That's right. - Then why the sudden change?

Look, those so-called mediums always tell you to go visit graves!

That's how their trickery works!

They take advantage of people's misfortunes and rake in the dough.

But there's nothing inherently wrong with visiting her grave.

Well, yeah, but...

I never had the chance to meet her,

but sometimes Yasuko starts looking like my sister-in-law to me.

What? Have you gone senile, too?

No, but sister-in-law left this world with many unresolved concerns.

We simply have to visit her grave.

It's been a long time since I last saw Shigeko.

She would've come with us, but my mother's become completely senile.

It's too dangerous to leave her alone.

Oh? Since when?

Since the Agrarian Reform.

She was devastated by the confiscation of land

that had been in the family for generations.

She's been gradually going downhill since then.

She thinks her granddaughter is her daughter.

But they really look alike, don't they?

I'm home!

Takeo, this is your uncle and your older sister Yasuko.

Yeah, I know, I know.

He's a handful, that one!

Shigematsu, I've already spoken to her about it,

but I've been thinking of having Yasuko return here.

Her engagement problems have been troublesome for you,

it's an inexcusable burden.

Not at all, don't worry about that.

But I know there are expenses here and there too.

Listen...

As things stand, myself, my wife and Yasuko

are bonded by the flash and share the same fate.

So, Takamaru...

I'm asking you to let Yasuko stay with us, and let things remain as they are.

Yasuko, how do you feel about that?

Even if I came back,

I think I'd be worried all the time about Uncle and Auntie.

- Father... - Yes?

I'm being selfish, but please let me stay in Kobatake and carry on as before.

Very well.

Sorry for bringing the topic up. Forgive me.

Not at all.

- Uncle... is Auntie alright with it? - With what?

- With me living here in Kobatake for good. - Of course. Why do you ask?

Grandma keeps calling me Kiyoko, but she ignores Auntie.

- It might be hard for her. - Don't worry about that.

Your Auntie isn't the kind of person who'd worry about such things.

- Enough now, go to sleep. - Okay.

- Shigematsu? - Oh, yes, yes...

I just received a call.

- Shigeko has collapsed. - What?

Oh, they said it's nothing serious.

The call was from the owner of Okazaki's Store, just to let you know.

Thank you very much. Thank you very much.

She told me not to call you, but of course I had to.

Thank you very much.

It's probably not necessary, but I asked Dr. Ando to make a house call.

He should be here any time now.

Really, we're much obliged.

Please don't tell her I made the call. She'll be mad at me.

Oh, welcome back.

What happened?

What's that?

Yasuko, you take this too.

You too. She told me it won't work unless everyone in the family takes it.

I'm asking you, what is it?

- It's a protective charm. - It's from that medium Shirohata, isn't it?

She has very strong spiritual intuition.

Never mind that! Lie down now.

Come on.

What on earth happened?

Tell us, and start from the beginning.

Come on, just lie down.

Yesterday, Grandma went wandering off into the mountains.

Then I had a sudden dizzy spell, and I threw up.

You threw up?

Then to make sure, I went to see the medium, Mrs. Shirohata,

and she set me straight.

What did she tell you?

She said it wasn't good that I didn't go with you to visit the grave.

She scolded me for not being obedient.

In what way does she think you weren't being obedient?

Well, she said I was competing with my sister-in-law Kiyoko

and being rebellious, and that wasn't good.

She scolded me.

So you were competing with her and being rebellious?

I knew I could never compete with her. I always respected her.

You talk about Kiyoko as if she were my ex-wife or something. That's crazy!

What's the trouble?

Grandma's doing fine.

- No, I heard you weren't well. - Me?

On our way back, we stopped to ask him to visit.

Yasuko, I'm fine now.

- Just let him examine you. - No, I'm fine!

I'll be fine by tomorrow.

Hey, you! Will you stop telling my wife such ridiculous things?

Listen! If you ever come over again and I'm there, you'll be sorry!

Glory to the Mystic Law of the Lotus Sutra!

What's that?

I carved it. You should keep it here.

That's a fine job. You've been practicing, haven't you?

Yeah. I've got lots of them.

I thought you might come over and see them.

They're all beautiful in their own way.

Yeah. I'm going to give you all of them.

No, you gave me one already.

Yeah, but this one makes a pair with the one I brought you.

Yuichi, that sound is nothing! It'll stop right away. Wait here!

Please turn off the engine!

- Please turn off the engine! - What's the idea, Miss? Careful!

Hey, are you Fuuko?

No, I'm not. I just want you to stop the engine.

Fuuko, let's go on a little jaunt to Fukuyama.

- My brother has business with you. - You've got it wrong! I'm Yasuko. Let go!

- Explosion! - What's with this guy?

- Explosion! - Hey, what's the idea, you idiot?

Yuichi! Get off him. Stop it!

Madam!

Thrust!

- You got him! - You got him! You got him!

What did you say? You got me, eh?

- Hurry up and turn that engine off! - Damn you...

Advance and thrust!

One enemy tank disabled!

Who is that?

Shokichi... what's the matter?

Oh, Shige...

The effect of the flash has got me at last.

- What is it? - My sunglasses.

I'm so messed up, I can hardly see.

Since when?

When did it start?

Shokichi...

Don't concern yourself about Yasuko's background check anymore.

Yasuko was the one who broke up with the suitor.

- Is that so? - That's right.

That's a relief, then.

It's sure raining a lot.

Hello there.

I went to Tajima yesterday and got these.

Thank you.

My wife's not feeling so good either.

Is it the flash?

Shigeko works too hard.

I thought she was much healthier than me.

She has a lot of stress to deal with about her mother-in-law and Yasuko.

This guy here is the same.

It's the ones with weak nerves that are always moping about something.

That's enough.

Apologies for troubling you over Yasuko's arrangements and so on.

Not at all.

Come on, it's not your fault.

Hey, Shige...

Something's been puzzling me.

Why did the Americans drop the A-bombs?

Even if they hadn't, Japan's defeat was already certain.

Why, indeed?

They say that it was to end the war quicker.

Then why didn't they drop them on Tokyo? Why Hiroshima?

I don't really know.

I won't be at peace if I die without understanding why.

I can't take it that I'm going to die like this, Shige...

How is she?

I can't say anything definite without checking her blood-cell sedimentation.

- But she's not doing very well. - You're saying it's the effect of the flash?

Don't overexert yourselves. For Hiroshima victims, overexertion is detrimental.

I understand.

Ah, Doctor, this here is...

It's a clean copy of Yasuko's diary and my diary.

If she gets another marriage proposal,

I want them to read the diaries from the outset.

They must understand that the black rain has not affected Yasuko.

Please read it, and make another health certificate for her,

attesting that she's absolutely fine.

Very well. I'll take it with me.

- I'm much obliged. - Oh, I see you're growing something.

Ah, it's probably Shigeko's, she's growing it secretly.

Well, good for her. A strong will to live is important.

The three of us, without knowing that it was full of radioactivity,

walked around the streets of Hiroshima.

That's why if I eventually get the flash sickness, it won't be a surprise.

Uncle's had minor symptoms for the last three years.

And Auntie hasn't been feeling very well the last two or three days.

How awful for you.

I don't know when the flash will also start affecting me.

You'll be fine.

You seem healthy.

And what about you, Yuichi? Usually you seem perfectly normal.

Are you that afraid of those trucks and buses?

I don't know.

Whenever I hear the sound of an engine, my head cracks open.

Lots of American tanks start coming!

They make an intense noise!

They knock over trees and mow down and crush my comrades.

I run away, I run away. I'm running everywhere.

The searchlight blinds me.

- Our captain shouts... - Charge!

Unit, charge!

Enemy tank approaching!

Here comes the tank!

I fall into a foxhole.

The tank crosses right over my head.

I don't understand anything anymore.

I don't even know where I am.

- Thank you for the meal. - What is it?

- You have no appetite either? - Somewhat.

- Oh, it's time for the hourly news. - Right.

We now complete our 682nd broadcast.

Here is the 7:00 news...

- Hey, Shige! It's Shokichi! - Eh?

- It's Shokichi... - What's happened, Kotaro?

Hey, what's happened? Kotaro!

- Yasuko, get some water. - Yes!

Kotaro...

Kotaro!

I lost two friends in the matter of a month.

As one would expect, I became depressed.

Now the three secondary bomb victims in the village were all dead.

But my wife and I, who are primary bomb victims, were still alive.

I must say that it was mysterious.

Maybe it's too soon to move them.

No, it's the right time.

It should be fine.

You must feel lonely, now that you've lost both your buddies, eh, boss?

What is it, Shigeko?

Shigeko!

Shigeko! Shigeko!

Shigeko... Hey!

No! No!

No way!

It's Katayama and Shokichi! The flash is coming!

- Shigeko! - The flash! The flash is coming!

No! No!

Shigeko!

I'm sorry, sister.

I couldn't bear children. Please forgive me.

That's enough, Shigeko!

Shigeko!

- Get a hold of yourself! - I...

What did I do?

It's fatigue. You're just tired.

I remember now.

Shokichi and Kotaro have died.

Enough, enough.

Don't think about anything right now. Get some sleep.

Come now, Shigeko.

Hey.

I'm just a good-for-nothing woman.

I'm a burden on you and Yasuko.

Why are you saying this, all of a sudden?

Yasuko...

Yes?

As things stand, I feel I can't face your mother.

- Please persevere. - That's enough. Enough!

Auntie, I'm fine.

I'm fine the way things are, Auntie.

Good evening!

It's nothing much, but I made it for your wife.

- Please don't worry. - And, er...

...also there's something I have to ask you.

What is it?

Now please don't be offended.

It's about my son, Yuichi.

Well, I've known him since he was little.

I think you should have him examined by a doctor.

Yes, thank you...

Well, about Yuichi...

Will you allow Yasuko to marry him?

What's this about Yasuko?

To be Yuichi's wife.

You're asking that Yasuko be his bride?

Yes.

Unlike you, we're of lowly status, so you're right to take offense.

Yasuko is constantly on his mind,

so I thought I'd at least ask.

It's not a matter of social standing. Yuichi's not well, is he?

As long as he doesn't hear the sound of an engine, he's very calm.

I know what you're getting at.

Since Yasuko's been exposed to the flash, she won't find a suitor.

- That's why you thought this might work. - No... not at all!

The flash thing never entered my mind.

You have to believe me, sir.

- Uncle. - What is it?

- Please hear what she has to say. - What?

Whenever I talk with Yuichi, I feel very relaxed.

Yuichi is actually a very gentle and good man.

When I'm together with him,

I can freely talk about anything, even the flash.

Yuichi talks to me about the war too.

I have great admiration for Yuichi.

- Otatsu... - Yes?

Your request has left me lost for words.

- I can't give you an answer right away. - Yes, well...

We're poor folk, so if you say no, we'll give up immediately.

Anyway, now that I've said my piece, I feel such a relief.

Well, then, sir...

Goodnight to you. And my regards to your wife.

Well, what do you know, a match without a matchmaker!

I heard it all.

So what do you think? Do you understand Yasuko's feelings?

The matchmaker would keep the flash thing under wraps.

She's never had a single relationship till now

in which she felt free to be herself.

When I think about that, Shigematsu...

This is all very sudden.

When I imagine her and Yuichi,

quietly talking amongst themselves about the flash, the war,

when I imagine them talking together...

...I feel such pity for them.

And Yuichi, I've known him since he was a child.

- Always such a bright boy. - I know that too.

Even as a boy, he'd always bow when he saw me.

It might be cruel... to not let them be with each other.

I wonder...

Maybe you're right.

When you're right, you're right.

Where's Yasuko?

Come to think of it, I haven't seen her this morning.

Yasuko!

She's nowhere to be found.

Did you eat aloe again last night?

No, aloe's too bitter, I don't eat it at all.

Look at this.

Yasuko?

That's right.

It's been cut here and there.

And all this time, I thought you were the one eating it.

This has been going on for some time now. Maybe she...?

This is terrible. We must find her right away.

Where should we look?

Everywhere we can.

- Are we almost there? - We go left there.

Yuichi! Yuichi!

I'm alright. I'm alright.

How are you feeling?

She's been treating herself for the tumor on her bottom, but it's getting worse.

Is it the flash?

It's a possibility, but that's not my primary concern.

I've done everything I can do.

Mr. Shizuma...

The problem is that she's convinced herself the flash has finally come upon her.

- It's a groundless concern, then? - I can't say that either.

But she mustn't lose her will to live.

For a while, it'll be one step forward and one step back.

That's why I think it would be best for her to be treated at home, starting next week.

Doctor, are you giving up on her?

Oh, no, I'm concerned about both of you.

Hey, you can't get up and walk around! Stay in your bed!

Even if you take turns, sleeping here will only exhaust you.

Neither of you have good blood-cell sedimentation levels.

Especially Shigeko's, and I don't like that.

The way you're going, and all three of you will collapse.

Then there'll be nothing I can do for you.

Yasuko, don't worry about your tumors. Soak as long as you want.

Okay.

The doctor said so too.

Okay.

How is it? Too hot?

Yasuko?

- What's the matter? - All her hair's falling off.

Shigeko, get a hold of yourself.

Get a hold of yourself.

Alright, just wait here.

Grandma! Hey!

Shigeko died one month later.

How pitiful it was, that she spoke of nothing but Yasuko's marriage to the very end,

even while enduring such terrible suffering.

Yasuko's condition appears to be stable for now, but we can't take comfort in that.

The priests have arrived!

Yasuko, you should rest a little.

Yasuko, go and rest.

Yes.

Well, I'll come again tomorrow, sir.

How are you feeling?

Are you alright?

I'm quite good.

That's good.

Do you have a fever?

How's the tumor on your bottom?

It's much better.

It seems your fever hasn't gone down yet.

No, I'll be able to get out of bed by tomorrow.

There's no hurry.

Is eating the loach helping at all?

Yes, they're very good. I'm not itching any more.

Well, that's good.

Folk remedies are nothing to sneeze at.

Yes.

Well, have some more, they say it'll even heal the scars.

You'll soon be well enough to get married.

Get some sleep now.

Fighting sickness is all about strength of will.

Thank you so much.

Oh, yes...

Tomorrow, if you're feeling up to it, let's walk to the pond together. Okay?

Yes.

Goodnight.

She's showing great perseverance.

She makes no complaints, but I don't think she's slept at all lately.

Her pain seems to be excruciating.

- Where? - Her entire body.

She's been throwing up her medicine too.

I think it'd be better if she were in a hospital, sir.

Are you cold?

I'm fine. I feel good today.

Good.

If I die, please look after Grandma.

After Grandma dies, sell the house and mountain.

Use the money for your dowry.

Don't talk like that.

Ah, I got one.

It's a hatchling. They've grown quite big.

By the time you're married, they'll be full-grown carp.

That big one jumped!

That's the Lord of the Pond! This is the first time I've ever seen him!

I saw it, a huge carp!

About one meter long!

Uncle!

It's over one meter long!

No, even longer than that!

Over here!

It's jumping with such vigor!

It's got such a wide-open mouth!

Attack! Charge!

Yasuko! Yasuko!

Yasuko!

Oh...

It's five minutes before the hourly news. Come on, let's go.

Come on, come on.

I'm fine, Uncle.

Good morning.

I'm fine.

Miss Yasuko, should you be out and about?

Here is the 7:00 news.

U.S. President Truman has declared that he would consider using the atomic bomb

against the Communist Chinese Army in Korea.

He stated that he hoped that the atomic bomb would never be used,

but the final decision about using atomic weapons

would be made by the commanding officer in the field.

This statement was made in a fourteen-article declaration...

Humans are such obstinate creatures.

We're strangling our own throats.

An unjust peace is better than a just war.

Why can't they understand that?

Sir, it's Miss Yasuko!

Mr. Shizuma!

Mr. Shizuma?

Sir, sir...

I'll leave Yuichi at the hospital and come back.

Please get some rest, sir.

You'll be alright. You'll get better, for sure.

You'll be alright.

You'll be alright.

You'll be alright.

If a rainbow appears in those distant mountains, a miracle will happen.

As long as it's not a white rainbow, which is an inauspicious omen,

but instead a vivid, five-colored rainbow,

then Yasuko will be healed of her sickness.

CAST:

YOSHIKO TANAKA

KAZUO KITAMURA

ETSUKO ICHIHARA

HISAKO HARA , KEISUKE ISHIDA, MASATO YAMADA

TAMAKI SAWA, AKIJI KOBAYASHI

KAZUKO SHIRAKAWA, KENJIRO ISHIMARU, MAYUMI TATEISHI

TOSHIE KUSUNOKI, REIKO NANAO, SATOSHI IINUMA

TOSHIHIKO MIKI, HIDEJI OTAKI

TAIJI TONOYAMA, FUJIO TOKITA, SHOICHI OZAWA, NORIHEI MIKI

ORIGINAL WORK BY MASUJI IBUSE (PUBLISHED IN SHINCHO BUNKO)

SCREENPLAY BY TOSHIRO ISHIDO & SHOHEI IMAMURA

MUSIC BY TORU TAKEMITSU PERFORMED BY TOKYO CONCERTS

CINEMATOGRAPHY BY TAKASHI KAWAMATA

PRODUCED BY HISASHI IINO

DIRECTED BY SHOHEI IMAMURA