"A SHOCHIKU PRODUCTION" "THERE WAS A FATHER" "Screenplay by TADAO IKEDA, TAKAO YANAI, YASUJIRO OZU" "Cinematography by YUHARU ATSUTA" "Production Design by TATSUO HAMADA" "Edited by YOSHIYASU HAMAMURA Produced by RISHICHIRO ISONO" "Costumes by TAIZO SAITO" "Music by KYOICHI SAIKI" "Starring" "CHISHU RYU SHUJI SANO" "HARUHIKO TSUDA SHIN SABURI" "TAKESHI SAKAMOTO MITSUKO MITO" "MASAYOSHI OTSUKA SHINICHI HIMORI" "SEIJI NISHIMURA REIKO TANI, KANJI KAWAHARA" "YUSUKE KURATA KENICHI MIYAJIMA, CHIYOKO FUMIYA" "Father, we're out of shoe polish." "Really?" "I'll get some today." "These shoes are worn out." "They'll never take a shine." "They're still all right." "The leather's cracked." "They're still wearable." "Do you have everything, Ryohei?" "You have everything?" "Ethics, arithmetic, history, reading, handicrafts." " My abacus!" " You see?" "You're a mess." " Area of a circle?" " Radius squared times 3. 14." "Volume of a cone?" "Radius squared times 3. 14 times the height." "Divided by three." " Good." "Quadrilateral AEDC is inscribed in a circle, so angle ACD equals angle DEF." "Those are the exterior angles." "Angles AEC and ABC are equal to this angle and this angle." "What are you up to over there?" "Yes, Kato." "And above line AC?" "Yes, the angles formed above line AC are equal." "But triangle ADC is an isosceles triangle." "Therefore these two angles are equal." "It follows that angles AEC and DEF are also equal." "Did you get that?" "Any questions?" "That's all for today." "Now let's talk about our excursion." "Quiet!" "All fourth-year students will go to Tokyo." "First we'll visit the Imperial Palace, then the Meiji and Yasukuni shrines." "Finally, we'll see Kamakura, Enoshima and Hakone." "Ready?" "Everybody look this way." "And..." "Hakone Pass steepest in all Japan" "Even Kankoku Barrier doesn't compare" "The highest mountains" "The deepest valleys" "Tower before us hold us up from behind" "Mountains circled by clouds valleys choked with mist" "The row of cedars" "Is dark even during the day" "The winding path" "Is soft with moss" "It only takes one man" "To protect it from an army" "Manly warriors traveling the land" "Swords at their hips clogs on their feet" "Stomping along" "Eight miles of boulders" "Such were the warriors of old" "Looks like a stalemate." "What now?" " These blisters are huge." " Do they hurt?" " Want me to pop them?" " No." " Come on!" " I said no!" "Yamada, how are those blisters?" "Fine." " Can you walk?" " No problem." "Rub some soap on your socks tomorrow." " What's Hakone famous for?" " The steepest cliffs." "Oh, you knew." "I've known it for a long time." "Say, are those our students?" "They can't be." "I warned them not to go rowing." "Did anybody go out on the lake?" "Did anybody go rowing?" "We don't know." " Kinoshita?" " I don't know, sir." "Sato?" "I don't know." " Hey, how much was this?" " Fifty sen." "I should've bought one." " I'll sell it to you for 80." " Forget it." " Mr. Horikawa!" " What is it?" "Yoshida's boat capsized!" "What was he doing in a boat?" "A telegram, sir." "His family's coming on the night train." "I know how you feel, but please reconsider." "What do you say?" "I understand why you feel responsible, but you did your best to watch them." "The boy's family knows that." "I knew it was dangerous, and I warned them." "But if I'd been more insistent, they wouldn't have gotten in those boats." "I know, because they all obey me." "I've taught them for three years." "I know them well." "Yoshida wasn't the disobedient kind." "But I wasn't careful enough." "I was negligent." "Don't torment yourself with that kind of thinking." "Thank you for your concern, but I've thought it over and made my decision." "I can understand that." "Anyway, the principal has accepted my resignation." "That can be undone." "Listen, Hirata, let me do it this way." "I don't want to be responsible for other people's children anymore." "It's too frightening." "I can't stop thinking about his parents." "I have a son." "I know how they feel." "It's unbearable, suddenly losing a child you've raised for so long." "He leaves to have fun and returns cold as stone, even with a teacher watching over him." "It's unendurable, a sorrow beyond tears." "He'd even bought his mother a souvenir." "I'd hate the teacher." "I'd never trust him with a child again." "This job has become too much for me." "It's terrifying." "I'm just not suited for it." "But you have Ryohei to worry about." "What will you do?" "I'll go back to my hometown for a while." "I'll stay with an old friend while I think things over." "I'm back." " Hello." " Welcome back." "Dad, how much farther to Ueda?" "About 40 minutes." "You tired?" "No." "Is Ueda a big town?" "Yes, it's a city." "What's the population?" "About 35,000." "It has an orchid market and a silk-farming school, right?" "That's right." "Did you forget to trim your nails?" "Keep them trimmed, you hear?" " Were you born in that house we saw?" " Yes." " Is it still yours?" " Not anymore." "Remember the graves we visited?" "The one next to your mother's is your grandfather's." "He sold that house to put me through school." "He owned a kimono shop, right?" "No, he taught the Chinese classics." "He went to work at the castle every day." "The yard was bigger then, with a persimmon tree." "Let's go see the castle next." "Okay." "Chew your food well." "Ueda's really small, isn't it, Father?" "I thought it was bigger." "Well, Kanazawa's much bigger." "It's the largest city on the Sea of Japan." "You don't like this town?" "Why?" "I'm thinking of settling here." "So we're moving here?" "Will you teach junior high here?" "No, I won't." "I've been meaning to tell you." "I'm never going to teach again." "What will you do?" "I don't know, but there's a temple two miles from here." "An old friend is a priest there." "I think I'll go there." "You're going to be a priest?" "No, you have to be much more virtuous for that." "But don't worry." "You'll have to change schools." "Can you do that?" "Be patient." "You'll soon make new friends." "Schools are all the same." "All right?" "I'll be better off here anyway." "Your nickname was "Badger,"" "so kids called me "Little Badger." I hated it." "Nobody knows that here." " No, they don't." "How's the job at the town hall going?" "Fine, thanks." "A lot of kids are born in this small town." "I registered three births yesterday." " Really?" "And most of them survive." "I should have been a midwife." "Where's Ryohei?" "Out catching dragonflies with a friend." "So he's making friends?" "Unfortunately he likes killing things." "That's all right, as long as he's a kid." "What a beautiful Sunday." " You finished?" " No." "Then you can't go fishing tomorrow." "It's just like last night's problem." "You made the same mistake." "You already forgot." "It's proportional distribution." "A, B, and C set out." "A will take 12 days, B will take 15." "Oh, I get it." "No, I don't." "You're too restless." "Calm down and focus." "You'll never get into a good junior high that way." "You're not focused enough." "I can't help you if you don't get into junior high." "You'll never amount to anything." "Study hard and I'll send you not only to junior high but to any high school you want." "Just relax and concentrate." "I did it!" "Good for you." "It's easy if you think carefully." "Good." "Easy, wasn't it?" "Get the fishing gear." "Check the line." " Is the float okay like this?" " That's fine." "We'll get up early and dig for worms." " There's a lot under the fig tree out back." " Really?" "Catch as many as you like." "I don't mind." "I gave them last rites a long time ago." "But the fish around here are pretty nimble." "You must be happy that exams are over." "What about that other boy?" " Which one?" "What's his name?" "The son of the soy sauce merchant." "Toshi?" "He passed." "He did?" "Good." "I didn't get question 4." "I was sure I wouldn't pass." "It's all right to miss one." "Ryohei, when you go to junior high, you're going to have to live in the dorm." "In the dorm?" "It's too far to commute every day." "I'll be all alone in Ueda?" "But I'll come visit you once a week." "Don't mope." "You'll get used to it." "Besides, summer vacation will be here soon." "You can come see me then." ""Hen" is a female chicken?" "And "cock" is the male?" "Then what's "dog" mean?" " Inu." " Male or female?" " I don't know." "English is a pain." "Aren't you hungry?" " I sure am." "What's that rice with the yellow stuff?" " Rice curry?" " Yeah." "It's good." "Good but hot." "Horikawa, a visitor." "Father, why are you here?" "I happened to be in town." "Can you get permission to come out?" "Lucky you." "You'll probably get spending money." "Nah, he just gave me 50 sen last Sunday." " Be sure to get us something." " Okay." "Your dad came?" "Lucky you." " Let's give his father a nickname." " Like what?" " How about "Badger"?" " Yeah, that's good." "Everyone out to weed!" " Again?" " They sure grow fast." "This is good." "Try some." "Father, today is weeding day." "We have to weed all around the dorm." "So it's unfair that you're here." "I'll get them something to make up for it." "Can you buy them some rice cakes?" "No, thanks." "You're full already?" "I'm stuffed." " I should've had rice curry." " Want some?" "Too late now." " Don't lie down after you eat." " Don't worry." "Father, only 53 more days to go." "Till summer vacation?" "Can we go fishing in that river?" "Sure." "We can drain the pond and catch a ton." "Can we go every day during the summer?" "I'm afraid not, son." "I came to tell you something today." "What?" "I've decided to move to Tokyo." "Tokyo?" "Great!" "When?" "But you'll continue your studies here." "I've decided to move to Tokyo and try working there." "I don't make enough here to send you to junior high and then higher schools." "I need to work even harder." "I think you're mature enough to understand." "I'll work in Tokyo while you study hard here." "Think of it as a contest between us." "Don't let me win, okay?" "I'm still young enough to give you a run for your money." "You can't afford to lose your focus." "No need to cry." "There's nothing sad about it." "This isn't good-bye forever." "I'll go to Tokyo and wait for you to get out of school." "Don't worry." "We'll be back together soon." "All right?" "That's enough crying." "I brought these since I won't see you for a while." "Shirts, shorts, tissue paper, and three pairs of socks." "Alternate the socks, and wash them now and then." "This is cold medicine." "Take this one for a stomachache." "Don't drink unboiled water, even in warm weather." "Don't catch a chill when sleeping." "Wrap something around your tummy at night." "Here's some spending money." "Don't waste it." "Be frugal." "I'll write as soon as I get to Tokyo, and you write to me once a week." "We'll keep in touch by mail, just like we do now, all right?" "I've included some stamps." "Stop crying now." "It's nearly time to get you back." "When does your teacher want you back?" "By 7:00." "Then we still have some time." "Do your best, okay?" "Did you call?" "More sake, please." "You want rice curry?" "Just the sake then." "Ryohei, come here." "It's unbecoming for a man to cry." "Men don't cry." "So your son graduated from high school?" "Good for him." "Where will he attend university?" "In Sendai." "I thought we'd finally live together in Tokyo, but it wasn't to be." "But it must be exciting to send him off to college." "We'll see..." "I just hope he studies hard." "Excuse me." "Mr. Hirata?" "Excuse me." "Well, well!" "So it is you!" "It's been a long time." "Fancy meeting you here." "I thought it was you, but I never imagined you'd be in Tokyo." "This really is an odd place to run into you." "Have you been in Tokyo long?" "Yes." "Do you come here often?" " Yes." " I see." "I've been coming a lot since last autumn." "I wonder why we didn't meet sooner." "Me too." "Well, take care." "I last saw you at the temple in Ueda." "That must have been 13 years ago." "I guess it's been that long." "I didn't know my way around when I got here, but the days went by and I got busier and busier." "I haven't kept in touch with anyone, though I meant to." "We're both guilty of that." "Ah, good." "Just a little something." "Please don't go to any trouble." "Do we have more of this?" "I see." "Please." "I'm looking right at you, but I hardly recognize you!" "You've grown into a beautiful girl." "How old are you?" "Twenty-one." "She only looks grown up." "She's a lovely flower of a girl." "Ah, Seiichi." "Come and say hello." "No." "I said no!" "He's always difficult." "That's all right." "Children should have some spirit." "That was rude." "You should greet guests." "Little dummy." " What?" " Money for the movies." "Absolutely not." "Not until you greet our guest." " Come on, Sis." " No." "What are you doing at city hall?" "Compiling material on the history of Tokyo." "A job you can't do unless you love it." "Have some more." "The perfect job for a washed-up old teacher like me." "Hello there." "What is it?" "I'm going to the movies." "That boy's hopeless." "How's your Ryohei?" "Fine, thanks." "He just graduated from Tohoku Imperial University." "He's 25 now." "Is that so?" "Where does he work?" "He's teaching at a technical school in Akita." "That's good." "Strange, isn't it?" "I gave up teaching." "I never thought I'd let him become a teacher." "I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." "What's wrong with that?" "I envy you." "But aren't you lonely living alone?" "No, I got used to it long ago." "We've been apart for a long time." "I thought perhaps this year we'd live together, but no." "You're still healthy." "There'll be other chances." "I suppose so." "I'm sure of it." "We want so much." "You should be happy he's grown up so well." "My children are still babies." "It never changes, no matter how old they get." "I just hope he's doing well." "When you nitrate toluene three times with nitric and sulfuric acids, you get trinitrotoluene, or TNT." "See the three nitrogen dioxide molecules here?" "The solid is a yellow color." "It melts at 81° Celsius and combusts if heated to 295°" "When it combusts, two moles of TNT decompose to three of nitrogen, five of water, seven of carbon monoxide, and seven carbon atoms." "Its use as an explosive derives from the energy released." "A train." "Seeing it makes me homesick." "I could get home on that train." "If home were a little closer, I could commute to school." "That's a long train." "Makes me want to go home." " Who's dorm master today?" " Mr. Horikawa." "You think he'd let me?" "You just went home last Saturday." "But I have a new baby brother." "Permission to enter." "Sir." "What is it?" "I've written a request to visit home." "Didn't you just go?" "Yes, but my mother just had a new baby." "You can't go back to drink your mother's milk." "I would never do that." "How old is your father?" "Surely you remember that." "Your older brother was drafted, wasn't he?" "How's he doing?" " Fine." "Are your parents struggling?" "Not at all." "The neighbors help out a lot." "I'm glad to hear that." "It's your duty to study hard." "Don't worry about your parents." "All right." "Permission to leave." "Permission to enter." "Yes?" "We're planning a trip to Mount Akiba next Sunday." "Will you join us, sir?" " I can't next Sunday." " You can't?" " You sure?" "I'm busy." "Won't you reconsider, sir?" "Sorry." "I'm going to see my father." " I see." " Still fond of seeing your father, sir?" "Yes, I am." "That never changes." "Is that so?" "Well, that's that." "Yeah, I guess so." "Permission to leave." " Perhaps another time." " We hope so." "This sure feels good." "It does, doesn't it?" "Thanks for coming this far." "That's all right." "The train wasn't too crowded." "The water here is nicely scented." "I haven't been around here in a long time." " You've put on weight." " Have I?" "Being dorm supervisor agrees with me." "I get up early, and I exercise." "It's good to have regular habits." "How are you, Father?" "Excellent." "I've never taken a single sick day." "Really?" "You've got more meat on you than I do." " I'll wash your back." " That's all right." " I'll wash yours." " No, I'm fine." "I haven't been here in so long." "I was at Utsunomiya Junior High." "Back when your mother was alive." "You weren't even born yet." " Really?" "It sure feels good." "So Mr. Hirata's well too?" "He must be getting on." "He's still quite active." "We often play go, though he's better than me." "I'd like to see him again." "You remember his daughter, Fumiko?" "I'm not sure." "She was just a little girl this high." "Oh, her!" "She sat up straight and had a yellow sash." "She's grown into a beautiful girl." "Really?" "She was such a crybaby." "Was she?" "I drank a lot tonight." "It feels good." "You can hold your liquor." "Not at all." "I couldn't drink this much every night, but this is a special occasion." " Do you smoke?" " A little." "Just one." "When did you start?" "I don't really smoke that much." "Good." "Better not to." "These things will make you stupid." "Is that right?" "Father..." "I've given it some thought." "I've decided to quit my job." " Why?" " To move to Tokyo." "Why?" "Don't you like your job?" "It's not that." "But with me working there, who knows when I'll be able to move to Tokyo." "Ever since junior high, I've wanted us to live together." "I thought maybe after I graduated, but I wound up in Akita." "I can't stand living apart like this." "You sacrificed so much for my education, so I know it's selfish to say this, but I want to work in Tokyo and be with you." "What do you think?" "There are jobs in Tokyo these days." "Out of the question." "I want to be with you too, but our duty is to do our jobs." "No matter what the job is, you must consider it your calling." "We all have a job to do... and we must do it to the very best of our ability." "There's no room for personal feelings." "Do your best." "Work all you can." "You'll keep up in the world that way." "Sometimes work is tedious." ""Lasting happiness only arises from the alternation of pleasure and pain."" "Work isn't worthwhile if it isn't hard." "You're only happy when you see it through." "Stop being selfish." "Let go of the self altogether." "You can't do your job with such a nonchalant attitude, especially in a profession as crucial as yours." "Those parents have made great sacrifices to send their boys to your school." "Shaping them should be your prime concern." "Your every action is an example for them." "That's not a responsibility to be taken lightly." "I failed in that responsibility, so I'm asking you to succeed." "Do your duty for both of us." "I want you to give it your all." "We can meet occasionally like this." "Isn't that enough?" "Isn't life more enjoyable when we both work as hard as we can?" "Isn't it?" "Isn't this enough?" "You understand?" "Do the best you can." "What a pity." "I wish we had more time to fish." "We should have gone fishing yesterday afternoon." "Time flies." "We barely meet and it's time to say good-bye." "That's right." "We waited a long time for this chance." "At least we had a night to talk." "I really enjoyed it." "When is your train?" " Not for a while." " At any rate, we'll meet again soon." "Take care of yourself." "Don't get sick." "At a time like this, you must do your part." "I will." "Take good care." "Father... some spending money." "Spending money?" "For me?" "It's not much, but please take it." "I wasn't sure I should." "It's such a small amount." "Should I really take it?" "Please do." "Thank you." "I'll offer it at your mother's altar when I get back." "Thank you." "Father, I'm sorry about last night." "I was being selfish." "I went a little too far, but I'm glad you understood." "Please do your best." "Now is no time for idleness." "I've still got a lot left in me." "Let's both do our best." "Yes, absolutely." "Don't forget anything." "The bush warblers are singing." "You have visitors, sir." "Mr. Kurokawa?" "For me?" "Show them in." "It's been a long time, sir." "I'm Yasutaro Kurokawa." "You taught me at Kanazawa Junior High." "Is that right?" "And I'm Minoru Uchida." "Well, I'll be!" "Have a seat." " You're looking well, sir." " Thanks." "You're looking well yourselves." "Sit down." "Thank you." "It's been quite a while." "We ran into Mr. Hirata yesterday." "He told us about you." "Is that right?" " He told us all about you, sir." " Did he now?" "How you two play go." "He was my go partner back in our teaching days." "Then I ran into him here, and we started playing again." " I'll bet you're good, sir." " No, far from it." "Some of our old schoolmates are here in Tokyo, and we're planning a party in honor of you and Mr. Hirata." "We can reminisce about the old days." "We'd be honored if you'd attend." "I'd be happy to." "What day would be convenient?" "Mr. Hirata said any day is fine." "Same for me." "I'd be glad to come." "Really?" "The sooner the better." "How about Saturday or next Wednesday?" "Let's see." "Which do you prefer, sir?" "Wednesday's best for me." "Can we make it then?" "Is that best?" "You see, my son's coming on Saturday." "Is that right?" "I heard he's in Akita." "Is that Ryohei?" "He must be grown up by now." " How old is he?" " He's 25." "Welcome." "I'm back." "Master Ryohei is here." "Really?" "Welcome home." " When did you get in?" " An hour ago." "I thought it'd be tomorrow or the day after." "Didn't you plan to stop over in Ueda?" "Yes, the priest offered to let me stay." "Why didn't you?" "I wanted to come home as soon as possible." "I see." "How is he?" "Quite well." "He gave me some cigarettes for you." "That's nice." "Still fond of his tea." "Did you pass your physical for the draft?" "You passed?" "Good." "Go tell your mother." "I'm so relieved." "You were sickly as a child." "I'm glad you grew out of it." "You're a strong young man." "How long can you stay?" " I have ten days off." "Long enough for us to have a good time." "You look younger than before." "Do I?" " You still have it." " My bald patch?" " You remember?" " I fell from the porch." "Will you take a bath?" " You go first." "Are you sure?" "If you insist." "I'll take one later." "Please get my cotton kimono for Ryohei." "We'll have dinner after our bath." "Mr. Hirata, remember how you punished Iwamoto and me for fighting in third grade?" "I'm afraid I don't." "Isn't that right?" "That was an awful day." "You made us stand at attention and then forgot to dismiss us." "Did I?" "I'm awfully sorry." "Mr. Horikawa, you used to scold me a lot too." "You were always dozing off in class." "Now he's famous for dozing off at work." "Give him a talking-to, sir." " He'll never change." " Get off my back." "I'd like to say a few words." "We're deeply grateful that both of you could spare your valuable time tonight." "More than 10 years have passed since our graduation, and nothing could be more enjoyable for us than being here together this evening." "We take this opportunity to ask you both for your continued guidance." "Please eat and drink to your heart's content." "Let's enjoy ourselves like in the old days." "I'd like to say something." "Two more classmates were expected this evening, but Sasaki was called away on business." "He sent a telegram from Kobe." "I'll read it for you:" ""Delighted you're both in good health." "Hope reunion is a success."" "And Nakanishi called to announce the birth of his baby boy earlier this evening." "Mother and baby are fine." "He'll try to make it a little later." "Wonderful news." "Cheers!" "It was kind of you to put together this wonderful reunion." "We're deeply grateful." "Nothing makes us happier than to see you all as healthy and active as ever." "Years ago you dubbed me "Badger."" "But this badger is old now." "Now it's time for me to ask you for your help and guidance." "I sincerely hope you will all enjoy good health, exert yourselves to the fullest, and succeed in your chosen professions." "I express my heartfelt gratitude to you all." "Mr. Horikawa said everything I intended to say." "No less than "Badger" here, this old "Chicken" before you now asks for your favor." "It's been so long, sir." "I never expected to see you in Tokyo." "Another, sir?" "You've grown into a fine young man." "Are you married yet?" "Yes indeed." "Most of us are, right?" "Is that a fact?" "Everybody, raise your hand if you're married." "We're the only bachelors here." "It appears so." "Raise your hand if you have a child." "Congratulations." "Two children?" "Anyone with three?" "It's a little soon to have three." " Indeed." "Just a minute!" "I have four." "Congratulations." "Time flies doesn't it, Mr. Horikawa?" "They all have children already." "Time does fly." "May I, sir?" "One more, sir?" "No, thank you." "I've had enough." "Just one more." " Life's so unpredictable." " It certainly is." "It's been over ten years since you quit over that accident, and now you're here having fun with everyone." "That's right." "Do you still make offerings at Yoshida's grave every year?" "I heard something to that effect back home." "I do what I can, out of remorse." "That remorse says a lot." "I still see you all as you were back then." "I know what you mean." "Strange, isn't it?" "Mr. Hirata, when I resigned my position, you held a party for me." "I remember." "I often recall that night." "The primroses were in full bloom along the river." "Yes, they were." "I was deeply moved... by the Chinese poem you recited." " You recite poetry, sir?" " And very well." " We'd like to hear some." " Yes, please!" "Please, sir." "Listen, everyone." "If you insist..." "Welcome." "Sorry to be so late." "Welcome back." "You're still up?" "How was the party?" "I thoroughly enjoyed it." "I'm glad." "My former pupils are now all fine young men." "I'm just grateful they still remember me, though I wasn't much of a teacher." "They were extremely kind and thought of everything." "It was a very nice evening." "Were there many there?" "Yes, and they were all glad to hear the news about you." "Really?" "You have to work as hard as they do." "We should all do our best in everything we do." "What do you think of Mr. Hirata's daughter?" "What do you mean?" "What would you say to marrying her?" "I'm still too young." "I think Fumiko's a fine girl." "Mr. Hirata brought it up." "Don't be so shy." "You can read that book later." "What do you say?" "Or is there someone else?" "No." "Then marry her." "You passed your physical with flying colors, and single life is hard out in the country." "Well?" "I would if I were you." "All right." "I'll leave it in your hands." "You will?" "She'll make a good, hard-working wife." "She's the type I've always wanted for you." "I'm so relieved." "And very drunk." "Would you get me some water?" "I feel wonderful." "Where are you off to today?" " I'm going to buy a book." " Again?" "I need a certain chemistry text." "I found one last time, but it was soiled and worn." "I'm going to look for a nicer copy today." "Visit the museum in Ueno as well." "They have many fine pieces." "Really?" "Where else can you see so many nice things for 10 sen?" "There's a Kazan Watanabe exhibit right now." "Really?" "You should go." "When you see his paintings, you'll understand the profound beauty of traditional Japanese art." "I'll have a look." "By the way, I've invited Mr. Hirata over tonight." "Try to be home for that, all right?" "Master Ryohei, something's wrong with your father." "Father, what's wrong?" "What happened?" "I'm in a little pain." "Are you all right?" "I'm fine." "Why don't you stay home today?" "No, I'm fine." "I've never missed a day of work." "Father." "Call the doctor." "Help me get these clothes off." "I feel kind of strange." "Father!" "Father." "Can you hear me?" "Mr. Hirata's here." "Kind of you to come." "Mr. Horikawa... try to hold on." "Thank you." "Fumiko... please look after Ryohei for me." "That's my wish." "Father." "I feel good." "I'm sleepy... very sleepy." "Be strong." "It's nothing to be sad about." "I did the very best I could." "I'm happy." "Father!" "Time of death: 3:16." "There was nothing more I could do." "Ryohei, don't cry." "Your father died with dignity." "Only those who did their very best while alive can die with that kind of dignity." "Mr. Horikawa was a great man." "You were lucky to have him as a father." "You hear me?" "Don't cry." "I wonder if my little brother is asleep by now." "I'm sure he misses you." "And your father will be helpless without you." "Shall we ask them to come live with us in Akita?" "It'll be a lively household." "I think so too." "I wanted to live with my father since I was a little kid." "Unfortunately he died before that could happen." "But it's all right." "At least we had a week together." "It was the best week of my life." "He was a good father." "THE END"