Fall, 1988
How are we doing?
We're losing.
This is your last race!
We were all recalling the various memories of our
four years together.
We cavorted and joked about the most trivial
things, trying to prolong our last celebration
together as much as possible.
Kengo, the team captain, who always had a
strong sense of right and wrong.
Noriko, always emotional and prone to tears.
Jun, always calm. The analyzer of the group.
Naomi, who modeled from her freshman year.
She was the idol of the male team members.
Choro, who we had to go look for
when he disappeared during our training camp.
And...
Tokio, who never did manage to pay his
club dues in four years.
As members of the same club,
we were always together. Once one of us started talking,
we always ended up staying awake until dawn.
What are you going to do about a job?
I have to graduate first.
Here. Your graduation thesis.
I wrote sloppily so...
Let's get married.
Let's go to the U.S. together.
Telling bad jokes again! You're lucky I know you.
Another girl would take you seriously!
You saw through it, huh?
Of course! I'm not going to believe that from
a person that doesn't even have a job prospect.
Bingo.
It was just a joke.
Who are you rooting for? Why don't you decide
between the two?
Both of you, do your best!
What time is it?
5:30
When we graduate...
Let's...
Party's finally over, huh?
Are you awake already?
Idiot! I was just getting to the good part!
Go back to sleep!
Too bad.
But four years sure did pass quickly.
You were the first one to join the club.
I was disappointed though, because
they would only allow females as managers.
I was eating curry in the student dining hall, when
she came up to me.
I had just come to Tokyo and was lonely.
When she said, "Call me," in that sweet voice,
I was overjoyed. Then I called the number
this deep, husky voice said... "Rowing Club."
She's a con artist.
That's because you have a dirty mind. Men are terrible.
I had a hard time believing in people for a while after that.
But it turned out for the best, right?
I made some good friends.
How many roads does a man walk down before you call him a man?
How many seas does the white dove sail
before she sleeps in the sand?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind.
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
Hey, wake up! We're going home!
Now that I think about it, that was the last time
I saw Tokio.
I can't believe it's really over.
Don't sound like such a sissy.
We'll be able to see each other even after we
graduate, right?
There she goes again.
Tokio, hold on properly.
I don't want to go out into the real world.
Choro, quit complaining already.
But we won't change, right?
Of course not.
There are things in this world that don't change.
We'll always be friends.
We'll never change!
Then, according to club tradition, the season is...
over!
In the Name of Love Episode 1
Screenwriter NOJIMA Shinji
Fujiki Takako SUZUKI Honami
Takatsuki Kengo KARASAWA Toshiaki
Jinno Tokio EGUCHI Yosuke
Iimori Noriko DOGUCHI Yoriko
Tsukahara Jun ISHIBASHI Tamotsu
Saito Naomi Kurata Atsushi NAKAJIMA Hiromi NAKANO Hideo
Fujiki Yumi Sugimoto SENOU Azusa KATO Zenpaku
Takatsuki Kenzo RYU Raita
Hashizume Goro MORIMOTO Leo
Fujiki Kiyoe SATO Orie
Theme song "Kanashimi wa Yuki no You ni" HAMADA Shogo
English Subtitle By NIPPON GOLDEN NETWORK
Episode 1 The Bonds of Youth
Fall, 1991
Three years have passed. We all got jobs in the real world.
It's gotten all but impossible to keep
in touch with the gang.
Sometimes I feel as if I've forgotten something
very important. But I'm so caught up in trying to live
from day-to-day, I can't seem to remember what it is.
How does it feel to be the secretary of a
member of the Parliament (M.P.)?
I don't know yet. It's totally different from when
I was at the trading company.
But your eyes are shining.
Don't tease me.
I'm not teasing...
I just thought you had the same look that you had
when you used to row.
We've been going out for 3 years now.
I guess so.
I've been thinking...
Let's get married.
You and me. Let's get married.
You serious?
You think I'd joke about something like this?
My ideal man is not like you, Kengo.
Is there something I lack? You can look forward to
becoming the wife of an M.P.
My ideal is 360 degrees different from you.
360 degrees? Then...?
Tokio's face flashed in my mind for just a second...
I'm not the same person I was then...
As a representative of the Tokyo University Rowing
Club Alumni Association, I'd like to say a few words
about the late Dr. Inumata...
Dr. Inumata was like a second father to all of
us at the Rowing Club...
Where's Naomi?
I called several times but couldn't get in touch.
She must be busy. I see her in magazines all the time.
Where? Where?
This is just like a reunion.
Really.
Hey, want to go to the "Regatta" after this?
Hey, you guys. This is a funeral after all...
He hasn't changed.
Well, you know, dealing with hundreds of millions
is not uncommon.
But isn't it tough? I heard that the securities
market is really unstable these days.
Sure. We even have individual investors
that jokingly say they want to be reimbursed for losses.
We have guys that get stuck with huge losses.
from engaging in "Damaten" tactics.
What's "Damaten"?
In other words, we're graded on the amount
of commission we make on various transactions.
But there isn't enough investor activity
every day to make our quotas.
So we move securities around on our own.
What happens if the value of those securities go down?
We take the loss personally.
That's why you may hear that securities traders
get great bonuses, but it all washes out at the end.
And you're the top in a business like that?
I'm not the same guy I used to be.
I told you not to call me Choro.
You're lucky. Public servants have boring jobs, right?
What a thing to say!
Well, it's true. It really is boring.
But you wanted a nondemanding job so that you
could continue to write, didn't you?
You're still writing, aren't you?
Of course I am.
Hey, they've got a table...
You know, I think my legs have gotten thicker lately.
I commute on a packed train and I'm on my feet
all day long at the department store.
But you'll eventually get a better job in marketing or
promotions, won't you?
I was full of ambition when I was first hired.
But these days, I think more about getting
married and becoming a housewife.
In fact, I've just been proposed to by two
men at the same time. What should I do...?
You?
What do you mean by that?
I think you'd make a cute housewife,
Well, since you mentioned marriage...
It's too soon...
That's okay...
We're going to get married.
Really?
Not any time soon. We haven't even told
our parents yet.
I'll go visit your folks this weekend.
Congratulations! You're marrying rich!
Right, Our Rowing Club captain, and in the
Takatsuki tradition, a future M.P.
Then you're going to quit teaching, right?
Why? I plan to continue. I finally found a job
that's really challenging.
Challenging, huh?
Of course.
But isn't being a politician's wife
a tough job, too?
But I've only just become a secretary for my father so...
I'm not the housewife type like you, Nori.
I don't want to be dependent on someone financially.
I don't want to give up the pride of
being a 50 percent contributor.
You haven't changed, Takako.
But whoever gets a strong-willed girl like
Takako will have to be a very tolerant person.
Thank you.
Otherwise, an absolutely intolerant person.
I know who you mean! Like Tokio, right?
Idiot!
Really? You're really going to tell your wife
this time, right?
Promise!
I'm sorry. It's just that I don't want to be caught
in this kind of situation forever.
I know.
It's a promise.
Then we'll be able to get married, right?
Now, go have a good time.
He said he was going to do big things in the U.S.
He's probably too embarrassed to come home.
It's always because he was always dreaming.
Those that don't have their feet on the ground have
no right to dream.
It's the real thing!
Of course it is!
Please have a seat, Princess.
Tokio! What are you staring at?
So our idol is going to get married too, huh?
He's an OB GYN. I'll introduce him when
I have a chance.
What time is it?
A little before 12:00.
Then everyone will still make the last train.
Let's go out to drink a little more.
Want to?
Sorry. But I have to go to a political rally tomorrow.
Just a little while...
Well, I have a faculty meeting too...
I have to go, too. I have to get a good night's sleep
because I work in a war zone.
Well, I guess next time...
See you.
Takako, I'll give you my umbrella.
But...
That's okay.
See you.
That's not why I agreed to marry you.
What reason?
Because you're from a good family or because I
want to become the wife of an M.P.
Are you being sensitive about the "marrying rich" comment?
My father's rich. My father is the M.P. Of course I
respect him and want to do even better than him.
But me? I'm not anything yet.
I want us to be able to take separate paths.
to the same goal but still be able to talk about
the scenery we saw together.
I want that kind of relationship.
It would be good if we could develop that.
But the conversation died out at the end even
though we all hadn't seen each other in a while.
When 3 years have passed, we don't
have much in common any more.
Back then we could talk until morning about
nothing at all.
We're not able to laugh and get upset
about meaningless things anymore.
Maybe it's because...
the things in this world have a different meaning now.
I'm going home to visit my folks so use this to get
something to eat.
Thanks. I'll pay you back some day.
You're going to meet with a friend too, right?
Yeah, a woman.
I'm meeting an old friend.
From college right? It's been 3 years.
I'll bet they've all changed. It was the same with me.
They're so caught up in their own lives that they
don't have time for anyone else.
That's not true! We're different.
When we start drinking, no one goes home until morning.
We'll never change...
The first year or two of teaching, I tried hard to
take a humanistic, individualistic approach.
I'm finished.
This question appeared last year.
Those that plan to take Keio's exam, please make
a note to study it thoroughly.
I'm not sure when it happened, but I'd
turned into the kind of teacher the students wanted.
One that just made sure that they passed the
entrance exam to the college of their choice.
Miss Fujiki!
Congratulations. You had the top scores again.
I made some careless mistakes.
I have a question...
A challenging job... I'd lied to my friends.
Thank you very much!
In other words, rather than become an economic giant
without a conscience, we must work and sweat with
the rest of the world for a better future!
This is Mr. Sakaguchi of the Misawa Group.
How lucky you are to have such a fine son.
How do you do? I'm Kengo Takatsuki.
Congratulations!
Mr. Kamizono of the Keidanren.
My, what a fine young man.
Do you remember me?
You had an accident on my knee when
you were just that big.
Miwa, come here.
This is Kengo. This is my granddaughter, Miwa.
How do you do?
Pleased to meet you.
It seems that my granddaughter is bored. Could you do
a great favor and entertain her please?
Oh, Grandfather. He thinks he's being subtle.
But I'm so glad. I was worried that you'd be
someone awful.
I'm glad it's you.
Hasn't your father spoken to you?
We're engaged.
I need some extra forms please...
Please go to the next window.
Did everyone come to the funeral?
Kengo and Choro, too?
Nori and Naomi?
Naomi is a hot magazine model now.
Really?
Then I think I'll have her treat me to dinner soon.
Haven't you called Takako yet?
What's she doing now?
Something about being a teacher.
Really?
That's hard to imagine.
Why did you just disappear like that?
Takako's going to get married.
Hey, how about your writing? I thought you
were going to win literary awards.
Stuck in the back of a closet.
Why? Did you stop writing?
I'm no good. Everything's the same as yesterday,
today and tomorrow. That's the kind of life I lead.
It's depressing sometimes. It's like I'm looking at my future.
Do you have some place to stay?
I have a friend I met over there that I'm staying with.
Well then, call me.
Okay.
Tokio...everyone's changed.
You're the only one that hasn't.
Why couldn't you tell her?
The kid got sick. I couldn't tell here at a time like that,
That's a selfish excuse.
It's the truth.
Then what about me? Were you lying when you
said you loved me more than your wife?
We've been together 10 years...it's not that easy.
You've been saying that for 2 years now!
It's time...
It just went up 10 yen.
It went up again.
Mr. Nozawa, let's buy it, please.
Yes, it'll be fine.
Please, please...
That's it! All phones down!
I understand...
How much was our goal today?
3 million.
We've only reached 50 percent!
What did you have for lunch today?
A Katsu Donburi.
So, eat hearty and win big, huh?
Get out of this company.
Please, quit! You have no talent for this.
You're a liability to this branch!
Our company can't afford to keep paying an idiot like you!
I'm sorry...
Is it true you're seeing Miss Imada from the
Ladies Wear Department?
Why are you doing this?
What?
Well...then...when you...with me...
You're the one that asked me.
I did no such thing...
You had that look in your eyes.
Now don't go telling everyone about it.
It'll be bad for you if a vicious rumor got started.
What came up so suddenly.
I was just in the neighborhood, Miss Fujiki.
Stop that.
You look beat.
We're considered one of the top college entrance
schools in the city.
It's all we can do to keep up with supplying practice
questions and exams for them.
We don't want them to think that cram schools
are more effective.
Hey, you remember our classics exam?
When I copied your answer verbatim
and we got caught?
And that scary teacher asking which one of us cheated.
Right, Terauchi.
Remember making curry for 100 people at
training camp?
We ended up throwing whole carrots and onions in.
Naomi, I have to...
Hey, how about going out on the boat with everyone?
I'll bet they're all out of shape.
Kengo's coming over to my house at 7:00.
He's going to meet my folks so...
Oh. You have to go...
Sorry! If it's not an emergency, could we
talk again some other time?
Sure, no problem.
Sorry.
That's okay. I asked you so I'll pay.
We both work so I'll pay my way.
What's wrong? You both look so stiff.
Well, of course we're nervous. This is the
first time you've ever brought anyone home.
Is that true?
And an M.P. on top of that...
Oh no. I've only just become a secretary
to my father.
Is she really going to be good enough for you?
I'm home!
I'm starving!
We have a guest!
We ordered sushi for you too. So go change.
That's our second daughter, Yumi. She's the rebellious one.
Not like her older sister.
This girls has a good head on her shoulders.
When my husband passed away, I didn't know
what to do. She scolded me then.
She said that the three of us had to manage on our
own now and that we didn't have time to cry.
It's hard to say who was the mother then...
There's no reason to cry...
I was just remembering...
Please, don't mind. She's very emotional.
This may sound strange coming from her mother but...
she looks like her father with pretty eyes...
Please take good care of her.
Thank you...
The sushi is late, isn't it? I'll call and check.
I have to talk to you. Can you come to my
place later?
She sure lives in a great place.
Hey, it's me! Are you home?
Naomi, open up!
Were you disappointed?
Because it's an old housing complex.
And Mom's that way too, so I was a little embarrassed
to have you meet her.
She's a great mom.
She had a fit before you came trying to decide
what to wear. Just like a school girl.
She also doesn't normally wear that much makeup.
Who are you? I'll call the police.
Naomi, wake up!
Hello? Hello, this is East Ebisu 6-8-16.
What did your father say, Kengo?
He was happy when I told him. He said he'd like to
meet you.
He's busy right now, but I'll set something up the
week after next or so.
I'm beginning to feel a little giddy about all of this.
What did you want to talk about?
Will you promise me something before
you meet my father?
What?
I want you to quit teaching.
Why are you bringing this up so suddenly?
I've actually been thinking about it a while. I just
haven't mentioned it.
As a M.P.'s wife, I just think it would be better
if you quit so you could join the auxilliary
organizations to help support me.
You never told me that before.
That's why I'm telling you now.
That's not fair! Telling me something like that after
I've agreed to marry you!
It's not like I'm asking you to live with my parents!
It's worse! How could you just demand that
I quit my job? That's unreasonable!
I'm not quitting. I've told you this before. I want
us to be independent and equal partners.
I thought you agreed with me.
I agreed in theory. I didn't say it could be done.
Then could you quit for me, Kengo?
You can't compare your job and mine!
What do you mean by that?
Are you saying that a teaching job is not as
good as a M.P.'s secretarial position?
That's not what I mean! It's a matter of intensity.
Are you saying I'm not serious about my job?
Are you?
You haven't talked about your job lately.
That's because...
I'm not saying that you should quit right away.
You can do it after we've been married a while.
Just don't say that you want to keep working
when you meet my father.
Please, Takako. For me...
Stop! Do you think if I sleep with you I'll agree?
I'm not that stupid!
If you loved me, you would quit! You don't really love me.
You can't forget about Tokio...!
Hello? This is Takatsuki.
Oh, Jun...
I called Kengo. Takako was with him.
How about her folks?
No one answers.
You came together?
We met on the train.
How is she?
They pumped her stomach and she's
sleeping now.
Why...? Why did Naomi?
Why did Naomi...?
Seems Tokio found her.
Nori, you can stop crying now.
How is she?
She's out of danger.
How about her folks?
Tokio's trying now.
You came back...
But why did our princess do that? She said she
was getting married and everything.
She should've talked to us before she did something
this desperate.
Maybe it was something she couldn't talk about.
It was probably something private.
What do you mean "private"?
What's something private?
Maybe Naomi wanted someone to ask her.
Maybe she wanted someone to ask her!
You're all acting strangely, like decrepit old folks.
What are you afraid of?
We're not students anymore.
We have our jobs and other things to consider.
We can't be a kid like you!
We can't live from day-to-day just for fun!
Aren't we friends any more?
Friends that will never change?
We all have decent jobs! How can someone as
irresponsible as you even understand?
What are you two doing? This is a hospital!
Letting someone kill herself? Is that what
you call decent?
Stop it!
Why are you fighting?
You haven't seen each other in years!
Why are you fighting?
I came home because I wanted see
all of you again.
Dirty politicians running the country, male teachers
assaulting female students, hurting others
to move up...
In a world where everything is so
messed up, shouldn't the one thing we can believe
in be our friends? Right?
Naomi, came to the school today.
I told her Kengo was coming to the house...
I was so intent on that...
She probably wanted to tell me...
But I was only thinking of myself!
I would've listened to her back then...
I would have noticed something was wrong
and asked her without her having to tell me...
How many roads does a man walk down before you call him a man?
How many seas does the white dove sail
before she sleeps in the sand?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind.
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
The one that spoke first was the loneliest of all.
We all thought so, although no one said it.