"Taketomi Island" "Through its history, this island has experienced many times when typhoons would leave its land so barren that even rice couldn't grow." "Because of that, the residents help each other in dire times." "The spirit of "utsugumi", meaning "to collaborate", is still very deeply ingrained in them." "It's so big!" " Again!" " Even bigger!" "Make it really big." "We picked it!" "We picked it!" "We picked a flower like this!" "You're going into the ocean!" "The ocean!" "Snow!" "So much has fallen!" "Snow!" "Snooow!" "It snowed here!" "Snow!" "Snow!" " Fuuki." " Yeah?" "Waaaay beyond the ocean's horizon, they say there's a utopia called Nirai Kanai where God lives." "Waaaay out there." "Fuuki." "I will" "write you letters, okay?" "Make sure you eat." "Have a lot of fun." "Be good and wait for me." "Okay?" "Fuuki!" " Be safe!" " Take care!" "Fuuki!" "Fuuki!" "Fuuki!" "Mom!" "Mom!" "Mom!" "Mom!" " Where is your mom?" " Where is she..." "Grandpa, where's Mom?" "Fuuki." "Happy 7th birthday." "Are you well and going to school?" "I will be..." "I will be staying in Tokyo a little longer." "But I will definitely come back to where you are, okay?" "Listen to your grandpa and everyone else on the island." "Be good and wait for me, okay?" "To my precious Fuuki," "From Mom." ""Tokyo" "Asato Masami"" ""Asato Fuuki"" "Aoi Yuu" "What has happened?" "Please help me do this." "Let's all help her." "Taira Susumu" "Grandpa." ""Mom"" "Minami Kaho" " Here." " Ah, good work as always!" "Iwasaki-san?" "Is nobody home?" "Grandpa!" "Thanks!" "Fuuki, happy 10th birthday!" "You've already become a young lady, haven't you?" "Fuuki, since you are a girl, if something comes up that is hard to ask Grandpa ask Grandma Hanashiro or Aunt Matsutake, okay?" "I am always thinking about you, Fuuki." "To my beloved Fuuki, from Mom." "Letters from Nirai Kanai" "Are you stupid?" "Kijinuma don't exist." "[Kijimuna are mythological creatures in Okinawa]" "They do!" "Grandma Hanashiro told me so!" "She said they live in the banyan trees on Taketomi Island!" "They're mischievous, but kind." "If you make friends with them, it will be fine." "I don't believe you." "Grandma Hanashiro always tells lies." "Your mom isn't even coming back!" "Misaki!" "Shut up, Kaiji." "I'm off for now, but I'll be back." "Counting on you." "Got it." "Fuuki, what is it?" "It's nothing." "Grandma!" "Grandma, are you a liar?" "Grandma, is my mom never coming back?" "What do you think, Fuuki?" "Your mom hasn't been able to come back so there are people who might say things." "But, Fuuki, you should believe what you want to believe." "Then it will be true for you." "If you think that she will come back, then she will come back." "Kaiji!" "A little left!" "Here?" "Your hand!" "I can see your hand!" "Come down!" "Not a chance." "Climbing back up is too much work." "Kaiji!" "Are you okay?" "Are you okay?" " Grandpa, good morning." " Good morning." " That's hot, so be careful." " Okay." "Let's eat." "Oh, the garlic." "This is great." "Fuuki, we're going!" "Hold on!" "Be careful!" "Be careful!" "We'll be fine!" "We'll miss the ferry!" "We'll make it." "Hurry up!" "Hurry!" "I said we'll be fine!" " But, you know..." " Yeah?" "Fuuki, haven't you gotten heavier?" "Maybe my hair is longer." "You also have a lot in your bag!" "Oh, yeah, I've got a lot classes today." " Hold the ferry!" " Wait for us!" "Wait!" "Thank goodness!" "Good morning." "Good morning, Chiyo-san." "What is it?" "These documents came for me from town hall." "I don't really understand them..." "I thought I was getting some money." "No, that's not it... this is the type that takes money from you." "Oh... then I'll deal with it later." "Well, well..." "Putting it off will just make it a bother later, so come in." " Hello, Choumei-san." " Hi." "Fuuki, are you not going to the shop?" "Sorry, the teacher called for me!" "Kaiji, if we don't hurry they'll run out of taco rice!" "[taco fillings on rice" " Okinawan dish]" " See you later." " Bye!" "Misaki, we'll make it even if we don't hurry." "Why did you hand this in blank?" "What do you plan to do after you graduate?" "I'll stay in Taketomi." "I understand wanting to stay on the island, but are you really okay with that?" "To me, it always looks like you're holding yourself back." " Hello." " Hello." " I'm heading to the post office." " Thanks." "Hello." "How is your back?" " It's getting better." " Really?" "Your grandchild had a child, right?" "Yes, a boy." "I'm very happy, thank you." "Congratulations." "Fuuki." "What is that?" "It's not for your exam studies, is it?" "No." "I'm... returning a book." "I guess so." "You can't leave because of your grandpa, right?" "Yeah... oh, you're going to get into a university in Naha?" "Yeah, with Kaiji." "I decided to go with him." "I see... do your best!" "Do you not have anything?" "Things you want to do?" "Or things you like?" "Misaki, I'm heading out." "I'm coming." " Then..." "I'm out." " Okay." "Okay, go ahead." "Bye!" " I'll take this." " Okay." "How much is it?" "300 yen." "[2-3 dollars]" " What did you buy?" " This photograph." "Welcome!" " Hello." " Hello." "I'm back, Reina." " It's a good one." " Thank you very much." "Fuuki, what about school?" "There's only extra classes in the afternoon." "Oh, right." "Entrance exams are soon." "So... did you talk to Grandpa?" "Many of your photographs have sold, Fuuki." "Here you go." "Thank you, Fuuki-chan." "Thanks." "Here, eat this." "Oh, thank you as always!" "Grandpa, I just got this." "Let's have it for dinner!" "Fuuki, carry these off." "Okay!" "Were you at Reina-san's place again?" "It's amazing, you know!" "My photographs were" "Fuuki, I need you to help around here more." "Come here right after school." "You can stop for today." "Fuuki!" "What is it, Kaiji?" ""What is it"?" "Are you..." "I had no idea what I'd do if I couldn't get this to you today." "Here, your birthday present for this year." "It's tomorrow, you know!" "Huh?" "Is it?" "Crap!" "Dammit!" "Thank you." "Hand it here..." "look at this." "See?" "I bought it on the internet." "You told me before, Fuuki, that you wanted to see snow." "Thank you!" "I wonder if I'll see real snow after I go to Tokyo." "So you do want to go to Tokyo?" "For your mom?" "You're going to Tokyo to see your mom?" "No." "You never talk to me about things, Fuuki." "Is it that you can't rely on me?" "That's not it." "If you say you need to see her" "I can go to Tokyo and find her for you." "I said that's not it!" "When I was a kid," "I thought so many times that I wanted to go to Tokyo to see her." "But it's been more than ten years since I saw her!" "I know that she has her reasons for not coming back." "Do you hold it against her?" "That can't be, right?" "I did... before." "I've even torn up her letters before." "But they come every year." "They come without fail." "It's a very warm feeling." "Reading those letters... somehow... makes me feel unsure about things." "When I was 14, she wrote me a letter telling me she would explain everything when I turn 20." "So I decided that until she explains it all to me" "I won't get hung up on the details." "I see." "Buuut I... want to go to Tokyo if it's to study photography." "I knew it was about photography!" "Yeah!" "That's it!" "Alright, I get it!" "I'll cheer you on." "Whaaat?" "!" "I can't do it!" "I can't say it to Grandpa." " It'll be fine!" " Ow!" "If you make it clear, he'll understand." "Alright!" "I'm going to Tokyo, too!" "But it'll be really hard to convince my mom..." "Grandpa?" "Grandpa, good morning." "Where were you yesterday?" "A village meeting." "Fuuki." "Starting in the spring, you are to help out with Kaiji's family's water buffalo business." "[water buffalo are a tourist attraction in Taketomi]" "It was decided at yesterday's meeting." "They don't have enough help there, either." "When we're facing trouble, everyone here has to help each other." "Here." "Fuuki-chan, happy birthday." "Thank you!" " Good work." " Thanks." "Fuuki, happy 18th birthday!" "You'll be graduating from high school soon." "I wonder what kind of path you'll choose after that." "If you've found a path you like," "I'd like you to walk that path." "That way, you can live your one and only life without regret." "No matter what anyone says," "I am always cheering you on." "I believe in you." "To my beloved Fuuki, from Mom." "Yeah." "It'll be fine." "Yes." "Yeah." "Yeah." "Then... when you come back, I'll let her know." "Yeah." "Bye, then." "Grandpa." "Matsutake has asked for a package to be picked up." "Can you go get it?" "Grandpa, I'm..." "The bike's tires are running out of air." "While you're out, stop at Tomohachi-san's place and put some in." "Grandpa." "I want to go to Tokyo." "I want to go to Tokyo and study photography." "Reina said that she will introduce me to a cameraman she knew well when she was a model." "I'd be a live-in assistant, so my housing" "Don't cause Reina-san any trouble." "Even then, I told you that you can't leave this island until you turn 20." "But, Grandpa..." "No means no!" "Why do you never listen to anything I have to say?" "!" "I know about my mom, you know!" "I know you secretly hid and never delivered the letter I wrote to her when I finished elementary!" "Grandpa, please... tell me the truth." "Grandpa, your tea." "It's fine." "I asked him to pick you up at Haneda." "Thanks, Reina." "I'm sorry I can't go with you." "Mom said if I don't go to university, we'll get rid of the business." "It's alright, Kaiji." "Thank you." "Do your best in Tokyo, Fuuki." "Good luck in university, Misaki." "Alright, it's time to depart." "Fuuki, make sure to eat well." "Take care!" "Don't you come back soon, now!" "Have a good one!" "Good luck, Fuuki!" "Take care!" "Bye!" "Good luck!" "She'll be fine." "The Gods of Taketomi will be sure to protect her." "This is NTT Docomo." "[major Japanese phone provider]" "The number you have dialed is currently out of our service range or without power, so your call cannot be completed." "This is NTT Docomo." "The number you have dialed..." "Hello?" "Hello!" "Asato Fuuki-san?" "Yes." "I'm sorry, but I can't get away at the moment." "Can you get here on your own?" "You're at Haneda right now, yes?" "You should get on a bus from there and get off in Shinjuku, then change to the JR line..." "Asato-san, right?" "Right?" "Come in." "The bathroom is on the second floor." "It has been a storage room for a while, so it might be a little dusty." "I did clean it up a bit, though." "Come quickly." "You can do what you like with whatever is around." "He's pretty messy with everything but his photographs." "Where is Sakiyama-sensei at the moment?" "This is the first time I've met someone from Okinawa." "You've got a cute way of talking!" "I don't know where he is, but he said he'll be back in a couple days." "You can ask him in person when he's back." "Alright... bye." "Uh..." "What?" "Uh... well... you are...?" "Oh, me?" "I'm Aiba Sachiko." "I was his assistant until last month." "But I got a call this morning asking me to come in." "It's such a pain..." "I think you'll have some trouble, too." "But hang in there." "Bye." "Umm..." "What?" "Um... is Shibuya close to here?" "Shibuya?" "[a recipe for pickled garlic]" " Umm..." " Welcome." "Excuse me, I'd like to know the address of the person who sent this." "Ah, right." "Hmm..." "Getting you the address might be a little..." "And this postmark isn't from this post office." "But this is Shibuya..." "Even if it says Shibuya, there are a lot of post offices here." "It says here which branch it came from." "Asato, what should the exposure be?" "1/125th exposure at ISO 100 and an aperture of f/11." "The lights are off!" "Alright, one more." "OK!" "Let's change the film." " Hold on a second." " The film!" "Hurry up!" " How many times do you need to be told before you get it?" "!" "Forget it." "I'll do it." " Sorry." "Hold on a second." "Asato!" "How many times do I have to tell you?" "!" "Parcel for you!" " Hello." "Your signature, please." " Okay." "Can I borrow your pen?" "Yeah." "Please sign right here." "Thank you very much." "Suzume!" "[sparrow]" "[Shiritori: game where last sound of a word is first sound of next word]" "Medaka!" "[killifish]" "Kamera!" "[camera]" "Hello!" "From camera." "Rakkyou. [leek]" "What's "rakkyou"?" "Okay, get in position." "Not there!" "Where were you looking?" "Closer!" "A little more." "There." "[Kaiji]" "Turn off your phone while you work!" "Sorry." "Hello!" "Fuuki?" "How is it there?" "Yeah..." "I'm doing well." "Yeah?" "That's good to hear!" "Reina..." "Hm?" "What?" "Is everyone doing well?" "Yeah." "Your grandpa, too." "Fuuki, will you be able to come back for the festival?" "[the pickled garlic recipe]" " Okay, do it." " Okay." " The other way!" " Sorry." "Get in position." " When are you going to figure it out?" " Sorry." "Fuuki wasn't able to come to the festival, then." "She's fine." "Shouei-san, you must be worried." "Fuuki will be fine." "Since Grandma is saying it, she must be fine." "Yeah." "She's fine." "Alright, one more!" "Okay, change the film." "Fix her hair up a bit." "Long time no see." "You're still here?" "Good work." "Okay, add another light." "Okay." "You're working hard, Fuuki-chan." "That Sensei... he's a little hard on his helpers." "Smile, Fuuki-chan." "You can't even do that." "Are you taking pictures for yourself?" "It's used, but you can have this." "It doesn't matter what they are, but take some pictures when you can." "You can carry that around easily." "If you can't even take pictures with that, you should go back home." "Aiba-chan!" "Ah!" "Long time no see!" "You're all dolled up again." " How are you?" " I'm well." "Do you remember her?" "She was working as an assistant here before." "Yes?" "Oh." "Uh... my name is Uchimori." "Is this..." "Asato Fuuki's...?" "Huh?" "But..." "Tokyo sure is hot." "So hot, so hot." "How's everyone on the island?" "The same as always." "Thanks." "Oh, before I forget... here." "Really, Fuuki?" "Did you forget your own birthday?" "But why did you...?" "I asked Grandpa to just send it here." "I dunno." "I wonder why." "It must be that he's worried about you." "But you've become more feminine, haven't you?" "You're paler, too." "Because I don't really go outside very much." "Is your work that busy?" "Fuuki..." "I quit university." "Huh?" "I didn't really want to go there to begin with, anyway." "While I was there, I was always just thinking about the island and the buffalo." "Not that I'm telling you that you need to go back to the island, though." "Reina made it really clear not to say that to you." "Well..." "Maybe I'll go back..." "Being in Tokyo... just... makes time feel like it's just passing me by." "Sometimes..." "I wonder what I'm even doing." ""Why am I here?"" "Have you given up on being a professional photographer?" "If that's the case... keep up it a little longer." "Even milking a cow has to wait 3 years." "It's not really something I should say, though." "[grunting]" "Here you go." "My present to you for this year." "Thank you!" "Did you manage to tell her?" "No way, I can't!" "You're totally hopeless!" "Let's go grab a drink!" "Reina..." "Fuuki, happy 19th birthday!" "At 19 years old, you must be working hard to reach your dreams." "Making a dream reality is really hard to do, but I believe that if you keep at it and never give up, you can do it." "Next year, you'll be 20." "You'll finally become a full-fledged adult." "Do you remember?" "That on your 14th birthday," "I wrote that I'd explain everything when you turn 20." "Next year, on your 20th birthday, please come to Benten Bridge in Inokashira Park in Tokyo at 10 in the morning." "I'm always thinking about you, Fuuki." "From mom." "There's so many of them!" "Look!" "Umm... excuse me, can I take your photo?" "My photo?" "Oh, go ahead." "Can I have you stand here?" "Is here fine?" "Yes!" "Please." "Here we go." "Thank you very much." "Excuse me." "I'd like to take one of you holding this ball." "Can I have you crouch a little bit?" "Just like that." "Okay, smile!" "Hold it over your head like this." "There!" "That's good." "Huh?" "Hey!" "Huh?" "Here we go!" "Fuuki-chan!" "Oh!" "Keeping busy?" "Is that all?" "Yeah, thank you!" "Thank you very much!" "Excuse me!" "I live over there." "I want to make the ball glow a bit." "Like... the ball itself is glowing." "But somehow it hasn't been going well." "I... am thinking about going back home." "Fuuki-chan, how are you able to work this hard?" "I couldn't take any photos when I was an assistant." "I'm going to see my mom soon." "Your mom?" "So when the times comes, I want to show her pictures I've taken." "But they're just not turning out the way I want them to..." "Do you know a way to make it glow?" "Hm..." "Can't you just raise it high?" "But... they've been doing that." "Excuse me, uh..." "Could you let me take your photo?" " Sure." " Is it really okay?" "Sorry." "Well then..." "Then... can you move a little closer?" "And now can you face eachother a little?" " And now... can you smile?" "Sorry." " Sure." " Now... at the ball." " Okay." "What's up?" "Have you been well?" "Yeah." "What is it?" "Have a look." "[Camera Life]" "Asato." "Yes?" "You've been taking photos on your own, I hear?" "Oh, yes." "I'm leaving." "[photography exhibition with prize of ~8000USD]" "[Benten Bridge]" "Alright." "Good." " Last 2." " Alright." "Yes, like that." "Stay like that." "Here we go." "Alright!" "Good!" "A little more... a little more!" "Good luck today!" "Huh?" "What's going on, Aiba-chan?" "Fuuki asked me to help." "She said she has something she has to do today." "Aiba!" "Exposure settings?" " Everything is set for an aperture of f/16." " Okay." "[Camera Life]" "Mom..." "Grandpa..." "Look at this." "I was able to take this photo thanks to Mom." "Because she encouraged me." "Grandpa..." "I won't complain about whatever kind of life she's leading." "I just want to see her and thank her." "I want to show her this photo." "I can't even do that?" "Grandpa... say something." "Forget it." "I'll find her myself." "Welcome!" "Is there a manager in?" "There is." "What is it?" "I want to know where this Asato Masami lives." "That's not something..." "I know that you can't actually tell me, but I really want to know." "Please." "She's my mother." "Please!" "What's going on?" " Are you the manager?" " Yes." "Um..." "Fuuki-san?" "But... why are you here?" "I, too, was confused at first." "But exactly 13 years ago, your grandpa asked me to do this no matter what." "Your mom must have been really concerned for you, as well." "Because back then, you were only 7 years old." "Grandpa!" "Grandpa!" "[to Asato Fuuki]" "Fuuki?" "Kaiji, do you know where Grandpa is right now?" "He said he would be coming home today." "Hello?" "Fuuki?" "Welcome!" " Is Tanaka-san, the manager, here?" " Yes." "Sorry, Asato-san." "Fuuki-chan was here just a while ago." "Fuuki was?" "And I told her what you asked of me..." "I see." "Then... about Masami, too?" "I'm truly sorry." "Don't worry about it." "It's my fault for not finishing the job." "Tanaka-san, thank you very much for your help all this time." "Well, that's..." "You should give her this letter." "Delivering letters is our job, is it not?" "Aiba-san, I'm sorry!" "I really need to go to Taketomi!" "I'm sorry!" "I'll come back soon." "I get it, I get it." "How many more?" "We're on the last 2." "Yes?" "Oh, I understand." "Someone is here, so I'll be back." "Yes?" "Grandpa!" "Huh?" "Fuuki?" "Where's Grandpa?" "I have no idea." "Grandpa!" "Grandpa!" "Fuuki!" "What is it?" "Did something happen?" "Mom..." "Mom..." "She was dead!" "Kaiji!" "M" " Mom was dead!" "Grandma, Fuuki came home." "I... can't put it very well, but I'm on your side." "I know." "I'm seriously on your side." "["Asatoya Yunta"]" "In the Asato family there is a girl named Kuyama." "Raised with so much warmth, she became such an adorable, lovely maiden." "Fuuki, welcome home." "Eat this and cheer up." "Thank you." "Here." "Thank you." "Have some sweets." "Feel better, and hang in there." "Thank you." "Hang in there." "Fuuki." "Thank you." "Fuuki, happy 20th birthday." "I think you've already learned the truth, but I am... writing this letter from my hospital bed." "I've done something so very roundabout." "You might even be mad at me." "But..." "I just wanted to... stay alive inside your heart." "Have you heard from your grandpa already?" "My mother... in other words, your grandmother died to illness when I was 6 years old." "Around the same age you were when I left you." "Your grandpa and everyone else on the island did their best to raise me with care." "But I... just wanted my mom to still be alive." "That's why I... always thought I would say all of the things to you that I wanted my mom to say to me." "But the doctors told me that I wouldn't be able to do that." "I cried every day." "Even if it was upsetting my body, I cried every single day." "And then one day, your grandpa said to me:" ""Write letters that say the things that you want to say"." ""I'll deliver them to her for you every year on her birthday"." "But if he did that... it would mean he will always be lying to you." "I didn't know what to do at first." "But..." "I just couldn't ever give up on going on living to cheer you on until you're an adult." "That was the only dream I ever had." "Did you see the sakura at the park?" "When spring comes so many white petals fall and cover the ground beautifully like snow." "I made the decision because I wanted to show you the scenery I loved here in Tokyo." "I'll be going to Nirai Kanai soon." "I am and forever will be watching over you" "from far off in the oceans in Nirai Kanai." "Always." "Fuuki, happy 7th birthday." "Are you well and going to school?" "I will be..." "I will be staying in Tokyo a little longer." "Fuuki, happy 9th birthday!" "Are you getting along with your friends?" "Something that you all work together to do is more precious than anything else." "I'm always cheering you on." "Fuuki, do your best!" "From Mom." "Fuuki, happy 14th birthday." "Have you been having arguments with your grandpa?" "Fuuki." "I don't need any." " Eat quickly before you go." " I don't need any!" "He isn't very good with words, but he really loves you." "After you've turned 20 and become an adult," "I will explain everything to you." "I will always love you, Fuuki." "From Mom." "Fuuki, happy 16th birthday." "Do you already have a boy that you like?" "My first love was in my first year of high school." "But, in the end," "I graduated before I ever told him how I felt." "I think I might still be regretting that a little." "So if there is a boy that you like be brave and try telling him how you feel." "You'll be fine, Fuuki." "He will understand your feelings." "I'm always thinking about you, Fuuki." "To my beloved Fuuki, from Mom." "To 7 year old Fuuki" "To 8 year old Fuuki" "To 9 year old Fuuki" ""To my precious Fuuki-chan,"" "Fuuki..." "Fuuki..." "My precious Fuuki." "Please forgive me." "From now on, as always," "I will be watching over you." "From far off in the oceans in Nirai Kanai." "Always." "From the person" "who loves you more than anybody else," "your mom." "Thanks for the food." "It's delicious." "[To Asato Shouei]" "[From Asato Fuuki] [original Japanese subtitles and timing provided by ericf at asiandvdclub.org]"