Damned son of a bitch!
Bastard! I'll kill you!
I'm starving.
Where I Belong (Shabon Dama, lit. Soap Bubble)
Boy...
Boy!
You came just in time.
You've saved me.
Come on, Boy.
Hurry up and do it.
Help me up.
Me?
Do you see anyone else?
Come on, hurry up.
I cannot move.
Don't just stand there and stare at me.
Come and help me up.
Outch, outch, outch!
- What's wrong? - My leg.
My leg. My leg is hurting so much.
My leg...
It's only an old woman. Try harder, okay!
[Shiiba Suma]
Sorry, we've let you wait!
Boy, you must be hungry.
Suma-chan is sleeping now.
I see.
Boy, we'll eat right away, okay!
Let's go.
Is anything wrong?
No...
It's all nothing special,
just our home cooking.
Wild boar marinated in soy sauce.
Pig?
Wild boar.
Tasty.
Didn't you know that wild boar was eatable?
That's vegetable tofu, a specialty of this village.
Tasty.
They are baked, you know.
Tasty.
All that boy says is "Tasty, tasty".
Like a baby, huh?
Well, of course he's irritated.
He doesn't know the country life.
Boy, what's your name?
Izumi.
- Izumi? - Izumi?
I think his father wanted him to remember his hometown, that's why he named him after it.
Izumi.
Our village has a lot of delicious springs.
You've heard of that, right?
Water?
There's no way to forget that.
Now when you're back here, you remember it, right?
Shiiba Izumi, that's a good name, isn't it?
A good name indeed!
Oh, you've got up!
Once the sun goes down, it gets cold here.
Right after sleep, you can easily catch a cold.
You must be careful.
What are you doing?
Come with me for a moment.
The doctor said because of my injury I couldn't take a bath for a while.
I thought I should thank Buddha today
for sending you to my rescue.
Are you grateful to me?
Of course, of course.
Then...
- What is it? - Right, right. That's right.
I haven't thanked you yet.
Thank you.
I'm truly grateful
that you are such a good boy.
Really, I'm very grateful.
You're a good boy.
I'm glad, I'm glad.
Obaachan, (Grandmother)
do you know me?
Do you know my name?
Izumi... That's all I overheard on the street.
Izumi, is that really your name, huh?
Well, it doesn't matter.
It's as good as any other.
I've put something to dress here.
The criminal is a young man of about 1.70m.
So far, the weapon has not been found at the scene.
Have you warmed up?
The criminal is on the run and perhaps still has the knife,
so Miyazaki Prefectural Police warns nearby residents to be careful.
Obaachan, tell me. Where are we here?
In Miyazaki, of course.
Miyazaki?
Sit down.
It's diluted Shouchu.
We drink our sake a little lighter here.
Obaachan, are you living by yourself?
You just have to look around.
Since my father died, I've always lived all alone.
I've prepared some riceballs.
Just help yourself.
What a nice weather.
Hey!
Are you stupid?
I'm a murderer.
I thought there might be a toothbrush.
Boy, that's not the way to hold your chopsticks.
When will you finally do it right?
Boy, you must be hungry.
Just wait a little.
What a nice weather.
Hey, stupid dog!
What did you prepare today?
Radish soup.
And I made miso soup.
I made persimmon tempura.
Show me, show me!
Huh, you're still wearing this?
I just got up.
You're a happy-go-lucky fellow, right?
Seems you've put on a little weight already.
Stop it!
You mustn't tease our young friend!
Don't mind and come eat.
I guess you're hungry.
It smells really delicious.
These mushrooms are good, aren't they?
They are from me.
This year they're especially good.
Because we had so much rain.
Yeah, it rained all the time.
Delicious, aren't they?
Is this pork from you?
Today, I tried roasting it coated with miso.
Let me try.
It's about time again
to prepare for the Heike Festival, isn't it?
I wonder who will be Princess Tsurutomi this year.
Last year, that girl was cute, wasn't she?
If I were younger, I would be elected.
What's that?
What's this Heike Festival?
You don't know?
Never heard of it.
But you should have taught him this, shouldn't you?
It's the duty of the father to teach his children such things.
About his own family history and the place where they live.
It's in order to give them orientation.
You must have heard that when you were a kid.
Do you really not know such things about yourself?
No, I don't.
I've grown up without a father.
Even so...
My parents were divorced.
So that's how it was.
I see.
Where's Suma-chi?
In the fields, I think.
Yeah, she's a hard-working girl.
So, you live in her house?
Well, then bring me something to drink.
The festival is drawing nearer.
This year too, they've chosen an excellent person.
Once such an event is famous,
it suddenly attracts a lot of people.
Say, what's with you, Boy?
All day long, you do nothing but hanging around here.
If a young man lives like that day by day,
he goes down the drain.
"Down the drain", you say?
How about you look for something to do, huh?
Won't you help me?
You? With what?
With various jobs in the mountains.
What kind of jobs?
There are just a few people living in this village,
and they are all old.
So I could use help.
You mean a part-time job?
How much do you pay per hour?
That's not what I'm talking about. I won't pay you money.
Instead,
I will give you something else.
You can sell it on the festival.
Me?
The festival is in 10 days.
So will you help me?
Say, how much money will I earn in these 10 days?
That depends on you.
I live right in the next house from here.
Everyone calls me Grandpa Shige here.
Well then, starting tomorrow you will help me.
I'll come by in the morning and pick you up with my car.
Take a hearty lunch packet along. See you.
That's good.
You may find some precious things up there.
Just go with him.
What precious things could that be?
You just must not fail to see them.
You always serve this.
Because my father liked it.
Obaachan, say, why are you so good to me?
Well, I couldn't tell exactly.
You don't know anything about me.
You are a good boy.
My parents are divorced.
My father got in debt and run away with a young woman.
My mother started an affair with a bar guest,
got pregnant with my little brother, and disappeared.
They are both good for nothing.
Don't talk bad about your parents.
But it's true, really.
I'm sure, if they were your parents, if you had such parents,
you'd also think they're no good at all.
An abandoned child may think so.
I was abandoned and divorced too.
So you had a man like my father.
And you also had a child?
Two.
They may feel like you now.
If I had known that those days, maybe we had not broken up.
I didn't want them to leave the village.
Such a separation inevitably means
that parent and child will silently drift apart.
Come on, get up!
Don't make me repeat it again and again. Get up!
Quickly!
Shut up.
What are you doing?
You're about to waste this day.
I'm waiting so hurry up.
Hurry up!
Boy!
Take care of yourself.
Let's go.
Here?
Oi, come on!
Hey, wait a moment!
Damned old man!
This way!
Come here!
Don't play me for a fool, old man.
It's time to begin with the work.
Oi! Pull yourself together!
Oh, they're back.
Welcome back!
For his first time, he did well.
He looks so fragile
and I thought he would immediately start complaining,
but he persisted till the end.
That's true.
This kid went with you to the mountains.
That's amazing.
Look. This is what you earned.
Wow, that's great, isn't it, Boy!
Look at this!
That's great, isn't it?
This will sell for a good price.
You're great, you're great, you're great!
Shut up.
How long will you be sulking?
You haven't spoken a word.
It's not good to be im a bad mood in the early morning.
The weather is good, the air is fresh,
you're healthy and the food is delicious too.
So what reason is there to be unhappy this morning?
But...
Outch! What are you doing?
That's what I ask you!
Always whining "But, but" like a little girl.
You're a man.
Even a man can say "But".
If you want to say something, say it.
If I did, you'd just get mad.
I won't get mad.
Didn't you just hit me?
I hit you? Hit you? Don't talk nonsense!
Shall I give you a real hit?
Okay, let's go.
I wonder what that festival is good for.
Boy, what's wrong?
Is there anything you have forgotten?
Oi, what's wrong?
Seems you're walking in your sleep.
Hey, that hurts!
You're not yet awake, huh?
Pull yourself together!
If you're absent-minded in the mountains, you'll end up injured.
Let's go.
You're waiting already?
You're late.
Perhaps I shouldn't be so strict with you anymore.
I hate that, strictness.
That's clear to me.
All the time you think only of running away.
But,
you should stop with that.
It's time to start using your abilities.
The work you can do,
you must do as good as possible.
Me?
Yeah, as good you can.
What you've been doing in this one week
is not working in the mountains.
All that's important to you now
is how you can run away.
Do you think you can do that for the next 60 years?
If you continued to run away,
your remaining life
would be wasted.
I would be 80 then.
That's too old anyway.
Don't talk nonsense.
What do you think how old Suma-chan is!
Nevertheless she works hard, doesn't she?
Naturally, you must have the right spirit.
That's important.
Obaachan is so old already?
Boy, aren't you tired?
After such a work you should take a hot bath.
If I take a hot bath every day, my skin will get crumpled.
Is it so funny?
It is!
Damned.
Boy!
Are you not sleeping yet? I have to take a pee.
Boy
is a good kid.
There was a call from Grandpa Shige.
He said he had to go to another place first.
After he's finished there, he will come by.
Did he say when he would come?
He didn't tell me.
What's this?
It's time already.
Really.
If Shige stays at that place till the evening,
he should at least tell me.
What are you doing?
I'm waiting.
Grandpa Shige,
I'm the one who was waiting.
Where have you been?
I had something to do.
And what?
A friend of mine died.
If you want to come with me, wait a moment.
I'll go to the toilet first.
In this weather, it's a mistake to neglect that.
I'm sorry, but do you have a man to spare?
What happened?
We have to plant the flowerpots,
but there was a mistake with the quantity.
It has to be finished in the course of tomorrow,
but with this many plants it takes time.
Boy, go help her.
That's great.
Who's this boy?
He's the guy who's living at Suma-chan's place.
Ah, I heard, I heard!
It's time for you to show up.
I'll pick you up on the way home.
I'm sorry, Mi-chan.
Grandmother is alone and needs her meal.
See you.
- Take care. - Yes.
Mi-chan, I've found a good guy.
This guy was willing to come help us.
You see, he is Suma-chan's grandson.
And this is Mi-chan.
She came back this year just for the festival.
Yes.
Where are the others?
They went home.
Irie-chan had to take care of her grandmother,
and the other two had to pick up their children
and prepare the shiitake mushrooms.
What's this?
So you are all alone now?
Yes.
Well, it's alright, isn't it?
Right?
Oh, this late already.
Some way or the other, they all run away.
My name is Kuroki.
Kuroki Michi.
You are the rumoured one, aren't you?
Suma-obaachan's grandson who accidentially came back and saved her.
Would you tell me your name?
Izumi.
Izumi-kun.
Then, let me explain what I want you to do.
The Heike Festival venue must be decorated with flowers.
With these flowers here. They must be planted into those pots.
Originally, the number of the flowers and the pots should match
so that they all could be planted.
They said the order was correct, but I'm sure that's not true.
I think the quantity is not right.
So it seems.
There are obviously too few flowerpots.
Can't they see that at first glance?
They can't all be planted in these pots.
Gloves and shovels are here.
You can use the new ones.
Then, let's begin.
Uhm...
What is it?
I was thinking what's with you.
What do you mean?
I mean, you're sighting and look tired.
It's nothing.
Uhm...
I have a question.
What?
The Heike Festival, what is that?
The old men are working for it,
all those flowers were bought,
so what is this Heike Festival?
You work for the Heike Festival and don't know anything about it?
There will come a lot of people, there will be a beautiful festival princess,
and some old women would like to become this princess themselves.
Princess Tsurutomi, you mean.
I've been that once.
This village was founded by fugitives of the Heike clan.
- Fugitives? - Yes.
They were hiding in these mountains from a member of the Genji clan.
This was Nasu Youichi's younger brother Daihachiro.
But when he saw how miserable they lived,
he thought there was no need to kill them,
made a false report to the Kamakura shogunate,
and lived together with them.
I've heard of this Nasu Youichi somewhere.
At that time, there lived the daughter of a Heike nobleman in that village.
This was Princess Tsurutomi.
When Daihachiro met this princess,
he fell in love with her.
Later, the princess expected a child from him,
but the shogunate ordered him to come back.
Amid tears they parted with each other.
That's their tragic story.
Really?
That's a wonderful story.
A commemoration of Princess Tsurutomi and Daihachiro,
that's what the Heike Festival is.
So that's how it was.
Obaachan, do you know Kuroki Michi?
Kuroki?
She's perhaps a little older than me... and quite good-looking.
Boy, do you like this girl?
No, that's not what I mean.
After all, I met her today for the first time.
How shall I put it...
She seems to be nice.
She must have asked who you are, right?
This old lady Kuma-san had told her you were my grandmother.
You can't continue with this lie forever.
I know.
You can tell lies to people you don't care about.
But you must not lie to people who are important to you.
When you confessed to me last time, you felt relieved, didn't you?
So it was. So it was! It were two sins.
Here.
So it was, so it was!
The flower girl asked for help too,
but over there we're short of manpower.
Really, Oniichan you're a big help. [Oniichan = brother]
We really can use every single hand.
Indeed, everyone wants to hire our youngster, huh?
Yeah.
Thanks, Oniichan. You're a big help.
Thanks a lot.
Here, that's for you. Thank you.
I'll put it here.
Oniichan, here. For you.
Sorry for coming late.
Have you had lunch yet?
Yummy.
I'm glad.
The way I hold my chopsticks is weird, isn't it?
Yeah, it's weird.
Say,
the people here are all nice, aren't they?
It's because you treat them nicely, I guess.
Country people are simple.
How long will you stay here?
I don't know exactly yet.
That's good, isn't it? Being so free and easy.
I'm not free and easy.
So you're not.
But that's no surprise.
I guess no one is really free.
This one might be good too.
Give it to me.
And the next one.
Get going!
Shut up.
- Finished! - Finished.
I'm so tired!
Is something wrong?
No.
Don't you have a boyfriend?
I had.
Until half a year ago.
We broke up.
I see.
And you?
I haven't. There's no way I could have.
Why?
Because
with this unsteady life I'm living I can't get a girlfriend.
Tell me about your unsteady life.
It's like a soap bubble.
Soap bubble?
It gets blown away by the wind.
It's not free and easy.
Because there's no place to return.
Say, don't you have a cellphone?
I have,
but it's never on.
Well, then switch it on and give me your number.
Mine?
There might be various issues concerning the festival,
so it's best to exchange phone numbers.
I don't remember the number.
Don't you have it with you right now?
Seems it can't be helped.
Then, I'll give you my number,
and when you've returned to your grandmother's house
you switch it on and call me right away.
Ah, but... maybe it's not charged up.
If I don't get a call today,
then tomorrow morning 9 o'clock before I go to the festival ground.
Alright?
Alright.
What's with this thing?
Come on.
Hello?
Hello, it's me.
Seems the phone is working.
Don't worry.
I got it.
Yes.
Hello, it's me.
Yeah, it's me.
Where are you right now?
On the central plaza.
Tomorrow, they might sell well,
the things you've harvested.
Isn't that what you wanted?
Certainly not!
I'm doing this for the very first time.
But you worked well, didn't you?
Because Grandpa Shige is scary.
He even hit me.
Every morning he routed me out of my bed,
he even pointed a gun at me.
I'm not a bear or something.
In the beginning, I had such a muscle pain.
It was hell, really.
So it was. And what do you get for your work?
The things I've harvested myself I can sell myself
and keep that money.
What's so funny?
What is it?
Shall we go watch Princess Tsurutomi's parade in the evening?
I'll give you a call.
Well, good luck with the sale.
Yeah, I'll do my best.
Then, see you later.
I'm so glad that Mi-chan is fine again.
It was a sad thing, was it not?
Such a beautiful girl.
Did anything happen to her?
She had bad luck.
Only a little bit deeper and who knows what might have become of her.
You see, she encountered a street robber.
That girl went to work in Osaka,
and there, this summer, when she left the company, she was robbed on the street.
He stabbed her with a knife from behind and snatched her bag away.
It was by a hair's breadth.
Of course, that girl became scared.
Even though she had a boyfriend there,
she came back just like that.
And after she came here,
she hardly talked to anyone.
Allways showing that scared face...
I wondered how long this would go on.
When you talked with her just now, she smiled like that for the first time.
Mother!
I know!
Hello.
What's wrong? Why don't you answer?
I'm sorry.
Somehow you seem to be unwell.
Perhaps you've eaten something bad.
Don't worry. Where are you now?
Back in Obaachan's house.
Sorry, but I can't go today.
I understand. Get well soon, okay?
You will be better tomorrow, won't you?
I think so too.
Then, see you tomorrow.
What are you doing there?
A thief!
You're wrong.
How did you get in here?
Obaachan, it's me. Me!
Outch!
Boy, you?
You are the thief?
You're wrong. Didn't I tell you?
Then, what are you holding in your hand, huh?
Didn't you intend to steal it!
"Stealing", you say?
I was hungry and thought there was something to eat inside.
Does this look eatable?
It's not like this!
What's with you?
Obaachan,
do you think I would do something like that?
Huh?
Is that how you think about me?
Instead of talking like that, give me my money back!
Boy, do it!
There's someone.
- And who? - How should I know!
You don't know either?
How strange... at this time.
Boy, no matter what you hear, don't come out of this room!
- What? - Don't ask! Quickly, quickly!
Boy, hurry up!
Not this!
No!
Shut up!
I won't give you anything.
Don't make such a fuss.
I won't give you anything anymore!
Shut up!
You've told me nothing but lies all the time!
I've given you enough during this summer,
2.5 million yen all in all!
Obaachan...
Boy!
Who are you?
I am...
What are you doing in other people's house?
Other people's house?
This is Obaachan's house.
Mother!
Who is this guy?
What business does this little shrimp have in your house?
This boy is my lifesaver.
He picked me up outside and brought me home.
Without him,
I may be dead already.
Lifesaver?
Obaachan...
Are you Obaachan's son?
So what?
How can you treat her like this!
Shut up. Keep out of this.
This is a conversation between mother and son.
I don't regard you as my son anymore.
He is the son of complete strangers, nevertheless he is worried about me.
In this respect, he is more my son than you.
Get lost, kid.
I said get lost. Can't you hear?
This is a matter that doesn't concern outsiders.
If I leave, what will you do to Obaachan?
Didn't you take all her money this summer, 2.5 million yen?
That's why she has nothing left anymore.
He's right. I have no more money.
Not a single yen. There's nothing left!
Come on, just a little pocket-money.
Don't worry, Mother.
Only this one last time, and them I'm satisfied.
Just a small sum.
Let's say 150,000 or 100,000 yen.
- Even 50,000 would do. - She said no!
You're keen on the money yourself, right?
Why else did you stay in this shitty countryside?
You had high hopes, hadn't you?
But that's a miscalculation.
What makes you think he is like you?
This boy never asked me for anything
and worked hard here every day.
He's a good boy.
Whatever the people in this village asked him to do,
he did it properly.
He worked well. He worked very well!
You made a mistake by going into the big city.
Since you left this village, all you did was searching for pleasure.
That's why you asked me and your father to let you go to college, right?
That was a big mistake.
If you had been with me all this time,
you had not become like you're now.
I regret that I made this mistake.
It makes me sad. Very much.
But in today's matter there's nothing I can do for you.
Mother,
aren't you supposed to be on my side?
Then, do it.
What you said today touched my heart.
- When I heard your words, I... - Stop telling nothing but lies!
You're the worst.
How can you appeal to the sense of family!
I told you to shut up!
Don't make unnecessary remarks!
Helping their child when it's in trouble
is the duty of the parents!
Shitty old woman!
Come across with the money!
I know you have money here!
I'll kill you!
You are
my mirror image.
Die!
Stop it!
What's going on here?
Isn't this a burglary?
Did you do it?
Ah, uncle.
I saw the car standing outside,
but didn't know it was you. I thought a thief had intruded.
So it was, so it was!
Well,
Mother, I think it's time for me to leave.
Perhaps I won't come back for quite some time.
You're alright, aren't you?
What are you saying?
Won't you attend the festival?
Stay here for a few days.
I would like to do so,
but there are some urgent matters.
I have to go now.
Too sad, isn't it?
Good-bye.
That idiot.
I couldn't even say, "Take care" to him.
Boy!
Eat this when you go with Grandpa Shige.
You will have a lot of fun on the festival.
Princess Tsurutomi's parade is so beautiful.
Never mind!
[Shiiba Heike Festival]
Indeed, somehow it's good, isn't it?
A lot has happened,
but I will try a new start.
After a setback
it's good if you can come back here, isn't it?
I guess you heard
what happened to me.
When the festival is over,
I will slowly start to make plans for my future.
Your future?
Well,
wouldn't it be sad if I resigned at my age?
I think I'm still too good to throw away.
Izumi-kun, what will you do?
Leaving here like Nasu Daihachiro?
I...
I'll go help the others with the shop.
I really wasn't about to steal it.
There's no way I would think you're a thief.
How could I, after these antecedents.
- Obaachan... - Yes?
Say,
in the next time,
you won't die, will you?
Can you live on?
I mean,
until I come back.
You are going away?
Tomorrow.
Oh, I see.
You see,
I have no other place to return.
That's why
I want to come back here.
Do you have to leave?
I will wait for you as long as I last.
However, I'm an old woman, aren't I?
I'll wait, I'll wait,
I'll be waiting until you're back.
You're a good boy.
Obaachan,
my name is Shoto.
Izumi Shoto.
I've always
targetted elderly people like you
or women who seemed weak
and robbed their money.
Last time,
I thought it would be easier if I had a knife,
and actually stabbed out.
As it seems,
this person died.
Obaachan,
how many years it will take,
how many decades it will take,
I don't know.
But
when I'm released,
I want to come back here.
I know very well that you're a good boy.
That's why you will properly atone for your sins.
Right?
That's good, isn't it?
You're a good boy.
Good boy, good boy.
Boy!
Go and do it.
Hurry up.
Grandpa Shige,
you want to go somewhere,
but can't you turn me in?
Is that necessary?
The festival takes place today too.
Please.
If you don't do it,
I might run away.
I'm begging you.
Thank you, Grandpa Shige.
Take it.
[3 years later]