Ikuo, come help us
Oh, let him play
Where on earth is the landlord?
Dad'll be mad, let's go home! Let's go home
I want to die at home...
So I'm going back to Shikoku
You can't die yet!
Anyway, you can only get to Shikoku on the ferry, Grandma
And you don't have any money
Grandma wants to die at home I'm going back to Shikoku
Time to come in, Takeshi
Any luck?
They just said, “Not again"
No sign of her?
So far, no calls reporting missing grandmas
At least she can't freeze to death
We'll wait one more night
I hope she's OK...
It's hardly the first time No big deal
But what if she never comes back?
Don't say that It's not your fault
Someone'll bring her back, always do... right?
Iku-chan
lku-chan
- Honey... - Yeah?
I had that dream again
I keep on having it
Wonder why
I'm not your grandma's reincarnation
Go back to sleep
Keep dreaming Maybe she'll come back...
Maybe...
If only I could've kept her from going then...
MABOROSI
How far did you go?
The baseball stadium Better to steal from the rich...
You really stole this?
I said I would
Maybe whoever stole yours had been robbed, too
Yup, when robbed, rob back
Don't let this little taste make you a real thief
You nut...
The bathhouse was so crowded
I bought you some paint
Did Yuichi cry?
Not one peep
You sure? What were you up to?
Listening to the neighbor's radio
It's so loud Shall I ask him to turn it down?
Don't bother The old man's hearing's gone
We get to listen along
You haven't changed
VVhatis?
You haven't changed at all
What's that mean?
You're the same as when you were a kid
How the same?
I don't know, you're just the same
You're impossible
He's enjoying himself
What's on your mind?
Tired from your walk to the stadium? You're out of it
What's that mean?
The trucking company we use hired a sumo wrestler
Really? A sumo wrestler?
An ex-sumo wrestler Had to quit 'cause he was lousy
Now he's learning to drive a truck
Still hasn't cut off his topknot A guy in his 30s,
taking orders from 18 year-olds
I don't know why he keeps that topknot...
Who knows...
Something about that topknot kind of depresses me
But lku-chan... you don't have a topknot
And your 30s are a long way off
Got a point
Hey, a cop...
Just kidding...
Tanaka from the stadium...
Don't scare me
I'm taking this
Unusual to see you out together
We must reek
The minute you came in
Let me guess - okonomiyaki...
Got the neighbor to look after Yuichi
You've got seaweed on your lip
Just kidding
Don't let the baby cramp your love life
You absorbing this wisdom?
He knows
No, I had to drag him away from work
Ambushed him?
I was watching him for along time and he didn't even notice
How could I know?
I would have
Seems like you're getting along fine
Honey...
ls my face weird?
What's that about? Did someone say so?
Of course not
I was looking in the mirror in the cafe bathroom,
and my freckles started to bother me
Looking at my freckles made me think my whole face was weird
So that's why you were in there so long
Remember, a long time ago you said,
“Bet you've got a lot more freckles waiting to sprout"
I kept staring in the mirror, wondering
if I'd get more freckles
I really said that?
You really did
Getting tired?
Trade places?
I'm happy right here
You're back early
The weather's so unpredictable
I got you some tangerines
Thanks Just a minute
Was he a good boy?
A real good boy
Maybe he likes the hum of the sewing machine
He's never like that with me
He takes after his father
You really think so?
Especially around the eyes
He'll be a handsome one
You think?
Yes you will, right, Yuichi?
Ono Tailoring - Gentleman's Clothing
What are you doing here?
Just parking the bike I was nearby
They're predicting rain
Stick around, stranger
Maybe next time Just grabbing the umbrella
I'll walk you down
You're a nut...
But I want to
Comb your hair, it's a mess
ls your husband home?
He's not back yet
We found a man who'd been hit by a train
It may be your husband
We found a torn envelope stuck to his pants
It was from the Yamaoka Dye Factory
Your husband is the only one of their employees
we haven't accounted for
I've brought his wife
Was this his?
Where is my husband?
You'll never recognize him
We haven't established definitively that it is your husband
It happened in between stations on the Hanshin Line
According to the engineer, he was walking along the tracks,
going the same way as the train
There's a gentle curve there,
and by the time he noticed him, it was too late
Never reacted to the whistle or the screeching brakes,
just kept right on going...
Yumiko
Ono san's worried
She says you stare off into space, while your baby howls
She's worried you might try to kill yourself
She keeps checking on you
Leaving such a little baby...
Why did lkuo have to die?
Well...
That's no answer You sure there weren't any signs?
Usually, having a new baby
makes a man eager to work
But killing himself for no reason...
He left you a riddle to solve...
But then, what's the point...
You're all set Nice and clean
Let's tuck you in while you're warm
Thank you
Pull yourself together
Yuichi can't do anything for himself
Right...
That radio sure is loud
Always like that?
He's a lonely old man
lkuo always said it was his way of proving he was alive
I'm going to come live with you for a while
Takeshi thought I should, too
We can't expect Ono san to look after you forever
Besides, you've got to consider your future...
Why, Ono san, thank you so much for everything you've done for us
He lives far away, but he's a solid, decent man
I'll be praying things work out
Thank you for bringing them together
Noto's far away, so you won't see them often,
but Yuichi's ready for school and he's a good boy
I'm sure he'll get along well with his new father and sister
Thank you so much...
Let's go, now
Grandma, I got some candy
Who gave you that?
The old man next door
Wasn't that nice Did you thank him?
Thank you
Thank you so much...
You take care, now
Good bye, Yuichi
Off you 9°
Yuichi, bye-bye
I'll go with you to Osaka station
We're fine
It'll only make the goodbyes that much harder
The North-bound Express will be arriving on platform...
I'm so sorry I had a problem at work
I just panicked and really messed up. I'm sorry
Thank you for coming
He's really got guts sleeping through this
He couldn't sit still on the train...
I'm really sorry, but I have to get right back to work
Is that so?
I'll come home as soon as I can
Take it easy today You can meet our neighbors tomorrow
You already said that That's the third time
I'm going to be your mother, now
OK?
It's really loud, isn't it?
It might take you a while to get used to it
Good morning
This is my wife, Yumiko
It's nice to meet you
She's a real beauty
I'll make it formal later and we'll have a drink
It's a tight community so we've got to make the rounds
The old folks get uptight It's easy to offend them
The neighbors are near enough,
but my relatives are scattered so it's a real chore
When we do get together it's such a sprawling clan...
That's no fun, either
A real backwater, huh?
The sea's so powerful
Too powerful
It quiets down after the morning market
My new wife
I knew that
I'm Yumiko It's very nice to meet you
At her age, Tomeno san still takes her own boat out
Why didn't you come introduce her to me first?
I did, I did, but you were out
Remember that filthy shack painted an awful color?
Some excuse, you came too late You missed me
We found you here
Pure chance
We stopped in at work, first
He's so damned proud of that new wife,
he's dragged her all the way out here
I came all this way so you could see her...
Show off!
Gimme alight
No use falling for me now I'm married with children
You're so full of it
On this special occasion,
I'd like to celebrate with a song
Please clap along with me
These are ready?
Getting warm
It sure is
There's so much land
The ocean's even bigger
Let's go see what's on the other side
I'll go first
Don't, it's dangerous
Whose boat is it?
Nobody's anymore
Then I want it
But where will you keep it?
In the closet
Guess which hand
Wrong
Thank you
It's all sticky
That's the last one
What happened?
I found them wandering around, all worn out
so I gave them a lift back
You're so kind
Rhubarb
You picked such a lot How many?
Let's count
When I'm in junior high, I'm going to grow my hair
You'll be even prettier, then
I think your dad's getting silly in the bath
Here it comes
Some salt
No
Salt?
Time for breakfast
I'm 90mg
Off you go Take care
I'm beat
And here I'd imagined relaxing on my day off...
Guess we need that air conditioner
I never thought it'd be so hot here in the summer
Thought there'd be winter year-round?
I was so shocked by the cold at first
Bet you were sorry
“I screwed up, coming to this god-forsaken place," no?
You nut
When I first came back from Osaka, it was really tough
Couldn't believe I'd been born and raised here
I'd sworn never to come back when I left after junior high
Enough, move over
Nope
It's hot Besides, you're heavy
When you're done, I'm heavy, huh?
The kids'll be back
I'll keep an eye out from here Don't worry
Spare me
Nope
Spare me, please
Nope
Spare me...
Please...
Spare me...
It's been six months already
Tamio wanted to come, too,
but he's afraid to leave his father alone
Of course he can't
But I'm so happy you brought Tomoko with you
Takeshi must be doing well Renting this big apartment
He married a piano teacher,
who's got 3O students She makes more than he does
A dependable wife
Imagine children playing lousy piano all clay long
You'd go out of your mind
And this?
This is family, it's different
How are things?
Thanks to your excellent match-making
Oh, don't exaggerate,
but I really was hoping it would work out
Now and then my husband asks how you're getting along
How's Yuichi doing?
That's wonderful
Hello
What a shock
Thought I'd come back?
I'm here for my brother's wedding
Mom's looking after the kids I'm just wandering
Man, what a surprise
You been well?
That day... What time was it?
He popped in for a cup of coffee and left
What day?
The day... he died
He stopped in after work, on his way home
He seemed his usual self,
so I was shocked when I heard the next day
He just sat there grinning at my usual jokes
So he got this far home, then...
Said he'd forgotten his wallet,
that he'd hurry home and get it
I said, "No rush, anytime"
He said, "Thanks then, I'll owe you 'til tomorrow," and went out smiling
Thinking about it, it seems like a dream
You still haven't changed?
Hurry up and take a bath, before the water cools
Tired?
Yuichi and Tomoko went right to sleep
How was your Mom?
I really should go see her again
I'm going out for crabs You want any?
Three? You sure three will do?
What are you staring at?
What's wrong?
Close the window, will you? We'll get icicles in here
A little homesick?
You're not yourself these days
Do you want to go back to Osaka?
No, I don't
I just had a dream... It woke me up
Guess what I noticed the other day?
What?
You've got spots here
No, I don't have spots there
I'm serious Didn't you know?
Not a clue
They're not spots, they're freckles
How are they different?
They just are
Nonsense...
Tomeno san took her boat out?
I'll check with the fishermen
She'll be fine
She's indestructible She'll swim back if she has to
Nobody knows the sea better than she does
She never gets it wrong
I swear she'll be back
Survived, did you? She's back!
So you're OK? We were so worried
Mind your own business
She was on the verge of tears
Just as I promised
Sorry I worried you
You made it back?
That's right
What happened?
We were worried sick
I swam all the way back
Yumiko
Don't trouble yourself
She's indestructible
Can I look at the bicycles?
Sure, but don't go far
Out shopping?
Your first husband's boy...
How old was he?
When his father died?
He was 3 months old
Then he doesn't remember a thing
Maybe that's for the best
It probably is for the best
What... Stfllup?
What are you doing up?
Waiting for you Did you drive home?
What else? Too far to walk...
You shouldn't drive so drunk
Want some water?
Nope
Call me when you're going to be late
I worry about you
What's that?
What did you just hide?
I didn't hide anything
It's just an old bicycle key
I wanted to take off the bell...
You're a liar
You once told me,
you had to come back here because of your father
That's right
Tomeno san had a different story
You came back from Osaka to marry your old sweetheart
You were crazy about her
How could you marry me after losing someone that special?
How could you?
What the...
You're a liar A liar...
There, there Let's talk about it tomorrow
It's a scary conversation Save it for tomorrow!
What's wrong?
Your silence spooks me
Do you hate it here?
What are you up to?
BasebaH
Baseball's no fun alone
It's not so bad
Where's your mother?
Dunno
You came out here alone?
I just...
I just don't understand...
Why he killed himself...
Why he was walking along the tracks...
Once I start thinking about it... I can't stop
Why... do you think he did it?
He said the sea calls you
Dad used to go out to sea
He says when he was out alone, he used to see a beautiful light,
shimmering in the distance, calling him
I think it can happen to anyone
What fine weather we're having
A wonderful season, indeed
Directed by KORE-EDA Hirokazu
English subtitles: Linda Hoaglund with Judith Aley