"From the snow-covered Mountains of Niigata, waters converge on their way to the Sea of Japan to form the Agano River." "People here fondly call it "The Aga."" "Living on the River Agano" "Hasegawa Miyae, age 80" "Hasegawa Yoshio, 77" "These are the Hasegawas, who live in the town of Kanose in Niigata." "Living alone in the Agano River valley, the two care for several rice paddies all by themselves." "Our staff of 7 shot this film for 3 years," "Living communally in a house 25 km downstream." "The first task of the film was to help Hasegawa with his rice paddy." "The men would go fishing." "At night they'd cast their net" " Zafuu-zafuu." "They'd make such a racket." "The sound of the nets would wake me up." "No matter how sleepy, I'd wake up." "I also had to prepare food and drink for them." "I used to sell the fish and eels." "It was a pretty hard work." "Young people don't understand that." "People use to fish here didn't they?" "Everyone, 'round here." "Zafuu-zafuu - We'd put out our nets." "You'd pull the net into the boat." "Ton-ton-ton...the fish flap until you smack them in the head." "We'd ask, "You fished there?" "You caught it there? "" "In the mornings, the fish swam upstream, and we'd get 'em when they came back." "Brokers would be waiting to buy the fish." "Come festival time, they'd sleep on the road, waiting." "When we started helping out we thought it'd be easy." "But it was much harder than we'd imagined." "Gradually, we realized that these paddles were their entire existence." "During the busy season, the entire staff stopped shooting and pitched in." "Auntie, can you go back home now?" "Can I go now?" "This rain is awful!" "It must be tough for you folks, too." "It's ridiculous - it's miserable... harsh!" "It's certainly no trip to the hot springs!" "Thirty kilometers from Kanose, the Agano River arrives at the Echigo plain." "Situated at the entrance to the plain, Yasuda is famous for its roof tiles and its "dashi" winds." "OK, I'm going to talk about the winds now." "Hokari Shuya, 64" " The Story of Winds - OK, I'm going to talk about the winds now." "Hokari Shuya, 64" " The Story of Winds " "Hokari Shuya, 64" " The Story of Winds - This here South-east Wind." "This here South-east Wind." "We call it "Yasuda-dashi. "" "Everyone knows that one." "We use "dashi" (go out) to name all kinds of winds around here." "The one that blows East off of Mt." "Gozu is the "Ura-dashi. "" "It's "dashi, " but it's a little different." "Then looking South there, about due South there." "The wind blowing from there is the "Takakudari. "" "The wind blowing from there is the "Takakudari. "" "Then if you look to the right, over to the West towards Niitsu." "This is the "Nishikaze. "" "Then the wind that blows all along the river is called "Shimonishi. "" "Near there is a North wind, and the "Shimonishi" is between the North and West winds." "And then there's this East wind, and that is called the "Arakawa-dashi. "" "So the "Arakawa-dashi" blows from here." "There are so many winds." "Today, it won't stop all the day." "There is also a wind "Asa-arashi. "" "It's a little weaker than today's wind." "Yasuda is known for so many strong winds." "There's also the "Isshukan-dashi. "" "Other than that, the "Isshukan-dashi"" "blows every day from about I 0 to I I." "If it does, you know the weather will hold." "Hokari Shuya lives next to the bay in Yasuda." "He worked as a boatman his entire life." "The wind follows the river like a path." "Knowing how to read winds and manipulate the sails is the very life of a boatman." "Boats were always the main transportation on the Agano River." "Then came the truck, and the boats started to disappear." "Hokari sold his boats in 196l, and now sails only during the sightseeing season." "When we worked the river, the "Shimonishi" was the scariest wind." "This "Shimonishi" blows against the current." "It's incredibly strong." "And in the boats..." "Ah - what do you call it?" "The rim - we'd be filled to the rim with cargo, and waves would come right in." "We were always afraid of sinking." "Association of Unrecognized Victims of Minamata Disease" "Association of Unrecognized Victims of Minamata Disease There are plenty of people in Yasuda," "There are plenty of people in Yasuda, so we've been asked to choose a vice-president." "Well, think about your health." "We can appoint you if you can still move around..." "If you think you're OK." "Hokari Shuya is a leader in this organization." "Shall we do it that way?" "Hatano Hideto Secretary" "Suzuki Isamu Vice-President" "So for the election of officers, is this method acceptable?" "Photo, memorial photo." "All the Aunties sit here." "The guests of honor!" " All together..." " What shall I say?" "All together, OK!" "We victims in the Association will work together and fight as one." "Everyone say it together." "Let's Fight!" "Let's Fight!" "Let's Fight!" "Hang on, we're out of film!" "Are we ready?" "Fight the government!" "Mushi-Jizo: a god that protects people from bugs." "'Tsu-tsu Insect Disease' used to kill people living along the river." "Only.2mm long, this tiny insect lives in the fields next to river." "One week after being bitten, victims would develop a high fever and one out of three would die." "Endo Takeshi, a boat maker, lives on the banks of the river." "Endo Takeshi, 78" "It's not tasty, but give it a try." "I know it's no good." "But try giving it a taste." "No matter who's visiting Endo always serves tea." "Today his old co-worker, Kato, was paying a visit, as usual." "Endo Miki, 73" "What are you shooting?" "My face must be funny-looking." "Taking no disciples, Endo made 200 boats by himself." "Shugibukuro: money envelops from customers." "Theseshugibukuro are impressive!" "That's a lot of money!" "Well, in those days it wasn't that much." "Yeah, but even then it must have been a lot." "No, it's no big deal." "You got more that I did because I was just a carpenter for houses." "Regular carpenters never get paid much." "1 0,000 yen at today's prices." "Endo stopped making boats in 1985..." "What?" "They're taking pictures." "Oh, you're taking pictures?" "Better check my fly." "Hurry up!" "The Hasegawas' rice paddies dot the Agano River valley." "Wherever they go, this small, slow cultivator is their only means of transportation." "This paddy..." "That big one over there..." "It goes back to the I 300s." "These paddles are awfully old." "Border Town-Kanose, Niigata Prefecture" "Upstream on the Agano lies Kanose, a company town for Showa Denko Electric Co." "In Showa's heyday in the I 950's it employed 3,000 workers, and the company became the core of Kanose's economy and politics." "Being a mountain town, Showa also represented modernity." "Minamata Disease was discovered in I 966." "Even after it was known that Showa polluted the water with mercury, the townspeople still remained devoted to the company." "However, Showa Denko eventually left, and was replaced by a new company which continues today with about I 00 employees." "In the wake of Showa Denko's departure" "Kanose has had the highest rate of urban flight in the prefecture." "The summer festival comes to the Hasegawas' house..." "Auntie, this is great beer." "Delicious!" "After the harvest..." "My lover's a Chieftain's daughter" "She may be black, but she's A South Seas Beauty..." "When Hasegawa drinks he always tells war stories." "Sitting on the equator On a Marshall Island night" "She's dancing barefoot Under a coconut tree" "After fighting for three years in China he received a medal from the government." "You sing a song, too." "You should have married a shrine dancer (kagura)." "Butterfly please land On this rape blossom" "If you hate flowers Land on this tree" "Ah, tin tin tin tin" "Kagura is where I'm from Hideya, my home town" "I'll take you along So braid your hair" "The trip 's not easy" "Ah!" "Three pine trees!" "When people are old they have to follow their kids." "Hello!" "(A call from their oldest daughter)" "Don't worry." "I don't need anything." "Kids don't care about our rivers and mountains." "The Hasegawas' children left for the cities." ""Dad, you're too old to be farming. "" "Stop it!" "It's my paddy!" "I know no one wants to farm a mountain paddy." "Well, I suppose so." "Yeah, but I love it." "The Hasegawas love to sing." "After finishing up in the fields, we'd all get together for a singing contest." "If miners had money" "Flowers would bloom on Telephone poles" "Even fried fish would swim" "And legless Daruma Takes a stroll" "Whoa, watch out!" "Dark night, dark night Blackest night" "Searching for my lover But I can't see a thing" "The rascal, playing with me!" "Where is that rascal?" "Finding him we kissed It wasn't my lover." "It was Poppa!" "This is the "Construction Worker's Song."" "When Miyae was a girl, she worked on the Kanose Dam." "All the workers loved to sing this song" "The Kanose Dam was completed in I 928." "At the time, it was Asia's largest hydroelectric plant." "In 1929, with power from the dam a fertilizer company was established." "This would later become Showa Denko." "The Modern Age came to this remote village." "Hasegawa was famous as a hook fisherman." "When the salmon would swim up-river to spawn, he'd go out at night and catch them with a hook." "In 1963, Yogawa Dam was built down stream and salmon were never seen again." "Hooks change depending on the place." "Now I'm too old to fish." "I'm too slow." "I've lost my sense of touch." "Usually right in front of you..." "Let it drift..." "With the fish right there, you never miss." "Fish are so quick, you see 'em and they're gone." ""Ha!" It's there, and you pull it." "It takes years to master." "Day in, day out..." "you've gotta practice." "You get the feel for the fish." "But if your timing's off, just when you think" ""Ha! "- you've got it, that fish's long gone." "You pull that hook, but it's no good." "If you hold the rod like this, you might lose your rod when the fish pulls it" "And if you lose the rod the fish will actually swim away with the rod stuck in it." "This is terribly rude, I hate to interrupt but where are the potatoes?" "Come on, show me!" "Hurry up!" "I doubt I'll find them." "His grandpa, who had arthritis..." "To-to-to-to- hobbled up to us and said he saw his wife leaving all dressed up." "He was jealous because he had arthritis." "He screamed, "She's having an affair!"" ""That woman is seeing someone!"" "He was so jealous he took a hook, it was actually a little longer, and ripped up his wife's clothes." "I laughed so hard." "It's been five years since Endo quit building boats." "His workshop has been quiet and dark." "Endo's boat workshop" "We asked him if he would simply show us his tools, and he allowed us in the shop for the first time." "Tools are said to hold the soul of the craftsman." "We never really realized this until we filmed Endo's dusty tools." "When we watched our footage later, we saw Endo with a grim expression." "We realized how important these tools are for him." "I don't have many tools here anymore." "Right here." "Since I was sixteen I worked right here together with my master." "This was his shop, as well as his home." "I worked under him for some six years." "I must have made about 200 boats." "But now I don't make any at all." "These are alba saws." "They're all rusty now." "Even now, if my body and my fingers were good," "I could still make boats." "But my hands don't work anymore." "They're got no strength." "I can't walk either." "There was lots of work, but I just couldn't do it." "It was good that I quit." "Kato Sakuji, 82" "Kato Sakuji is fondly known as "Uncle Kato."" "Uncle Kato's mochi is nice and soft." "A taste from out of the past." "At New Y ears all the neighbors order mochi, so he's very busy." "Hatano lives nearby, and is a close friend of the family." "Today, with Hatano's help, they started cooking in the morning, and have made over 500 mochi." "No, no, Stop!" "Don't shoot me." "Kato Kiso, 82" "Don't shoot while I'm sleeping." "It'll look like I'm sick." "Wait, there's a hair." "Their daughter Kato Kimii, 60" "Let's switch." "Thanks." "Oh, what's with Hatano?" "He's on the phone." "Let's keep going." "Uncle Kato used to own a mochi shop in Tokyo." "After the war, he came back to his hometown, and he cultivated some small rice paddies." "Now, he lives with his wife and daughter." "Not again." "Eating with your fingers." "Don't put your fingers in the food." "Oh, it's great with sake." "You can't eat this much, can you?" "Take food from your own bowl." "Don't put your chop sticks in there." "Fool." "You've gone senile." "What do you mean?" "You're senile." "Watch where you put your chopsticks." "In the pot..." "You can't put them in the pot." "I put them in my bowl." "You liar." "Why'd you move there?" "You took my place." "I swear, taking a person's place..." "Fool!" "Don't drink so much." "You took my place." "Get out of here." "Or you can go back to bed." "I have to tend the fire." "I have to cook you know." "Well, you can do it slowly." "You can do it slowly." "Yes, but Hatano is a very busy person." "I'm too busy now." "Hatano isn't too busy to drink?" "Ah, you can't say that kind of thing." "I'm fool for dealing with this woman." "He says, she says, he says, she says..." "Why don't you move there, I have to tend the fire." "Uncle, be gentle." "You should hug her!" "They're shooting." "We're being filmed?" "So what!" "Wait, you can kick her." "Right now, I'm eating this bean." "You don't have to make a fire." "Don't eat those beans - you've got no teeth." "I can eat them." "OK, eat them." "Now, please move." "If you move, the stove will be warmer." "Bring some fire wood." "The small stuff - small." "Ok, ready?" "Move, move." "Wait a second." "My legs hurt and can't move." "Ouch!" "It hurts, it hurts." "Don't do that." "Stupid." "Pull her straight." "Her legs are bent." "I'll stand by myself." "Watch it, that's my wife." "Don't be rough." "Why not sit down here?" "Oh, the fire went out." "It got cold." "OK, I'll give you beans." "Now make a fire." "OK, you can sit there." "Bring more wood!" "All three applied to be officially recognized." "All three were rejected." "When they decided to sue Showa and the government," "Grandma became the family representative." "Many boatmen live in the villages along the Agano River." "This is Sentojin, in Yasuda." "Of its 96 families 89 worked the river." "It was a typical boatmen's village." "Watch it, we're being filmed!" "Hey, mess around like this and your husbands'll divorce you!" "My fingers get more and more crooked." "For 10 years 234 unrecognized victims have been suing Showa Denko and the government." "Once a month, they must all travel to" "Niigata City Court by bus or car." "The former Showa Denko factory in Kanose" "Ebana Toyoe, a resident of Kanose, worked at Showa Denko a total of 34 years, from I 948 until his retirement." "After retiring, Ebana started investigating" "Iandslides on the hill behind Showa Denko." "In the deep snow, he checks the water level and fluctuations in the earth's surface." "It's very hard work." "Ebana Toyoe, 63" "In Showa's heyday, we primarily made carbide and lime nitrogen." "There were 3,000 employees at that time." "There were crowds wherever you went." "At that time, we had three shifts." "Three groups would alternate." "In the morning, people that worked at night... some would just sleep, those that like mountains would hike, those that like fishing fished." "In the peak period, so many people lived here." "It was pretty disgusting..." "Back in those days, most people didn't want to work at Showa Denko." "So most people were from Kagoshima..." "Kyushu." "People here didn't want to work for them so they'd bring in people from outside." "The first problem with mercury poisoning started back when their name was "Showa Gosei."" "They had been dumping waste into the river." "This went on for decades." "There's no doubt they caused the disease." "Ebana is the only employee to sue Showa." "Kanose prospered under Showa Denko." "In Ebana's village over 20 households worked for the company." "When he applied for recognition as a Minamata Disease victim, the company tried to transfer him to a branch outside the prefecture." "After this, others workers diagnosed with the disease simply stopped applying." "Revealing no emotion," "Ebana told this story about the dark side of this boom town." "At the 60th session of the Minamata trial," "Ebana was the first to testify about the dumping of mercury from the perspective of a Showa employee." "The Ebanas organize the Fukado Karaoke Club," "Ebana's wife, Nakako." "After testifying against Showa in court, many villagers criticized Ebana saying," ""You owe Showa everything, but you sold them out."" "Even after Showa left town, many villagers still felt grateful to the company." "The judge visits the former site of Showa Denko." "Head Council" "If you look behind us, you'll see a big mountain." "That is Mt." "Akasaki." "Below that is the Showa Denko factory site." "The factory used to create a lot of dust and smoke." "It's become smaller and smaller," "Judge It's become smaller and smaller," "Judge" "Judge until only about 70 people work there... until only about 70 people work there..." "There used to be some 2,000 workers there." "They're now reclaiming that area, but there used to be a rail line" "Freight cars ran along here." "From I 936, the factory produced acetaldehyde but there's no longer any trace of that building." "In 1957 the company changed its name to Showa Denko and increased production of acetaldehyde." "From here they dumped organic mercury in the Agano River, which caused Minamata Disease in the people living downstream." "At present, Hasegawa and Ebana are only two plaintiffs from Kanose who have appealed their case." "This is where the mercury was dumped into the river." "Now you can breathe in and it doesn't smell bad." "But in those days, the acetic acid smell was extremely harsh, and you could only breathe if you plugged your nose." "When we checked the mercury level here it was 3.00 ppm." "This level of mercury is 35 times higher than the background." "Furthermore, no one can deny that even after Showa Denko left the Kanose factory, mercury continued to be dumped in the Agano River." "This is where the mercury spilled into the Agano." "Endo started teaching us boat making." "Endo started teaching us boat making." "We heard rumors that Endo was making a boat." "We often asked if it was true, but he'd always joke around." "One day, Endo suddenly told us that we could visit him at his workshop." "By then, the boat had already taken shape." "This is how we came to film" "Endo and his techniques for building river boats." "So when do you suppose we can finish this?" "Eh?" "When?" "I've got to go to Hakone on the 14th, 15th and 16th, and then Tokyo the I 8th and I 9th." "Well, if we start tomorrow we can probably do it." "Tomorrow I'm going to Niigata for a party." "I'm awfully busy." "Then we can't do anything until the 20th." "Sekizuka has become Endo's deshi (disciple)." "He is the head of Yasuda's carpenters' union... and Endo's brand new 59 year-old deshi." "When we first marked the lumber I didn't take photos." "Then I shot everything, every time I came..." "Pop would get upset and say," ""What's this, a prison?" "Always a jailer watching!"" "Inoue has always used Endo's boats." "Inoue Hyoichi, 64 Inoue has always used Endo's boats." "Inoue Hyoichi, 64" "Inoue Hyoichi, 64 After asking repeatedly for five years," "After asking repeatedly for five years," "Endo finally agreed to teach him boat building." ""The stability is good, the balance is good;" "Endo's boats can't be beat."" "Inoue would often tell us this." "Inoue took these photos as a record." "As for this boat making project..." "Endo initially refused." "No matter how hard Inoue pleaded," "Endo wouldn't give in." "Finally, Inoue and Sekizuka dismantled an old boat, studied its design, and began building one on their own." "Suddenly, out of nowhere" "Endo told them he'd teach them." "He'd never had a student and was terribly stubborn, but he suddenly gave in." "We asked 1noue and Sekizuka why, but they had no idea." "Well, Endo worked for fifty, sixty years." "So he has the craftsman's spirit." "I asked many times if he'd sell me his tools." "And he always said, "No way."" "In his own days, he really prospered as a craftsman, but he never had deshi." "He always did everything himself." "If he'd had one or two deshi before it would have been easier to say, "Sure I'll teach you."" "But he was so stubborn, he never accepted our offers." "Placing board on board is the essence of boat building." "The joints are roughed out with this saw." "So when the boat is put in, the boards absorb water, expand, and seal the joints." "Saws are used instead of planes." "This cannot be done alone; it can only be learned from a master." "Sekizuka, Endo's new deshi, often told us this." "Endo's wife, Miki" "Endo's wife, Miki Endo sure is working hard." "You don't say?" "He's hammering and sawing." ""You can explain it all you want, but at first they won't understand."" "You have to show people or they won't get it." "Like cutting wood with the saw..." "You have to cut carefully according to the ink marks." "Even there, you've got to show them or they don't get it." "After all, they could never build a boat if Endo didn't help." "I suppose so." "I always tell him, "Don't catch a cold!"" "Because once you've started you can't quit." "You folks are shooting me!" "You're awful!" "I better hide!" "Hasegawa's son came to help plant the rice crop." "Humans are so cruel." "All the salmon want to do is lay their eggs and make babies." "But everybody goes and catches them." "With big hooks." "Humans are criminals, that's what I say." "You're drunk." "You bet." "It's OK." "You eat them." "When you fished, how many would you catch?" "He's sleeping." "He doesn't hear a thing." "How many fish could you catch in one night?" "I don't know." "He's sleeping!" "Sometimes 50, sometimes 70..." "Lots of fish came to spawn." "The males always follow the females..." "So if you missed the female..." "If you miss the females, the male comes." "So you'd get another chance, because they're always after the females." "Then...again... the same... with fish..." "He's sleeping!" "He doesn't understand!" "I do, too!" "I'm sleepy, sleepy..." "Hey, Sato's asking you something!" "What?" "See I told you." "Spawning?" "When it comes to women, motherly love, humans and fish are the same." "They lay on their backs and pa-pa-pa-pa..." "Dig the holes and bury the eggs as deep as possible." "You see 'em from above..." "Pa-pa-pa-pa with their tails." "You see'em shining, right?" "You see the shine when they dig the holes." "You can't see the eggs, but..." "They always lay eggs at night..." "How did you catch them?" "Throw nets?" "With hooks." "They protect their eggs." "They love their own children." "So if another male comes, they attack him." "Open their mouths..." "it's scary." "It's like a turf war." "It's frightening." "People..." "Old people..." "Not people..." "Old fish..." "They don't come to where they're spawning." "And sometimes another school comes along..." "Right?" "Are you listening?" "You're sleeping." "In that case, they swim away..." "Huh?" "When another school comes..." "Like when a salmon is laying eggs or maybe mating..." "When another school comes..." "Another fish comes." "it opens its mouth, and gets all intimidating." "You see some fish swimming away, escaping fast, right?" "That's right." "They get outta there because they're scared." "Hey, eat this." "I'm gonna sleep." "I'll talk after I sleep." "I'm dead." "I don't know what I'm talking about." "It's awful." "Fish...why..." "When it comes to motherly love, I ah..." "Fish are better than humans..." "I sure want to see that." "Just once, I'd like to see him fish by hook." "Fishermen were moved by Hasegawa's murmuring." ""Ah, I want to fish once more."" "Hasegawa's murmuring was heard by some local fishermen, and they felt moved to help him." "Salmon fishing is heavily regulated, and this made fishing on other rivers difficult." "Hasegawa's group talked to some other fisherman." "They found a tributary of the Agano to fish on." "and Hasegawa was able to go hook fishing for the first time in 39 years." "One late fall day..." "Tensho River, a tributary of the Agano" "People continue to fish by hook in this river." "Saito, a member of the Hook Fishing Club." "Just after switching..." "Oh, 1'm sorry." "I got it!" "Get that club to hit its head." "It's a male." "OK OK." "It's been so long, I've forgotten." "There's still a female." "Therefore, males will certainly come." "It's a big...fertilizer bag." "And..." "Ah, it's a male." "Oh really?" "Y eah." "Where's that club?" "No big fish in this river, are there?" "The river's too small." "Yup, I've lost my touch." "Got it in the tail." "Head or tail, it doesn't matter." "Spring - three months after starting their boat." "The boat is finished, and finally they carve the name in the hull." "Endo was always at the workshop watching his deshi's work with a critical eye." "Today, for the first time he wore a very different expression." "As long as the river flows, people will catch fish from its currents." "People transport goods along its length." "Because of the Agano River's riches." "we have been favored with today's wealth." "we report to the gods that master boat builder Endo Takeshi" "has passed his traditional techniques to Sekizuka Kihei and other artisans." "By working tirelessly and using all their energies, these artisans have succeeded in building a beautiful boat." "It is this that we report..." "Perhaps w e could have a word from End o, who taught us everything about making boats." "Can he hear?" "Pop, pop." "You didn't train a single deshi and now you're turning 80." "You've gotten pretty old." "I have nothing to say." "But now you've got one deshi here." "Won't you say something?" "You're not my deshi." "He's not my deshi." "Well, can you say something expressing your happiness?" "Well, yeah, it was good." "Thank you very much." "I have a request." "As long as there's an Agano River," "I want to preserve your skill, your soul." "You make the best boats in Japan." "No one can make them." "That's why we learned it from you." "Yeah, you did learn it." "Yes, our first one, and it was harder than building a house." "Please come for a visit." "Drop in anytime." "Most of the boats on the Agano were made by Endo." "The water's pretty high today." "Uncle Kato lives near the Agano." "When the water's high, he climbs the banks to admire the river." "Since the great flood of 1913, the banks of the river have never been destroyed." "Nowadays, when people who live here see the river they think of the flood." "Villagers always gather at Grand Dad Kato's hearth." "I'm fine, but she's not." "I can't walk." "But she can hear." "My ears are no good." "Me too." "I can hear the sound, but I can't understand." "But you're better than I am." "I can't hear anything." "My husband thinks drinking is good for the circulation." "So he drinks every night." "Look at him." "His face is all red." "Kato's brother, a fisherman, would bring fresh fish, and we'd all come to the hearth to cook and eat them." "Kato Sanji, died in 1982." "Endo was Kato's best friend." "Kato had planned to join Endo in the Minamata legal suit, but he died suddenly from a heart attack at age 70." "Ah, when it's over there's nothing you can do." "You can't do anything about the past." "You look great." "You'll live to be I 00." "I'd often stop by to meet your husband." "We sure were good friends." "Yes, you used to come here often." "But your friend is gone now." "Yes, he is." "Look, I burned myself." " You did?" " Burned." "Right here." "What happened?" "Getting in the bathtub." " You touched the iron part?" " Touched the hot iron." "Endo's sense of touch is impaired." "I burned this much, but I didn't feel a thing." "I'm sick, too." "My hands don't work well." "I can't make it straight." "I'm the same." "My, it's all bent here." "Kato Tami Unrecognized Victim" "It's tough to live long with this sickness." "Yeah, we can't go out." "If your legs are bad, you can't go out." "Can't at all." "Ah, today was fun." "It was quite a feast." "I drank a lot of sake." "The sake was great." "The people were great." "People say if you take too many pictures of someone, they'll die early." "Die early?" "I wouldn't mind dying tomorrow." "I don't want to die yet." "You can die tomorrow." "I'll do anything I want." "I wouldn't want you to cry." "You can die tomorrow." "You can die tomorrow." "Everybody says I should die early." "If you died, everyone would come." "The film crew, everyone, including Sato." "Everyone would come." "Sato-san would come first, wouldn't you?" "Shall I ask the gods for your death?" "Even if we pray for my death, if the god aren't ready..." "I could choke you, OK?" "I'll strangle her..." "Winter 1991 Deepest snowfall in 4 years." "Miyae's 81'st Spring" "This spring, Miyae couldn't work on the rice paddy." "OK." "Oh, are you done?" "Thank you very much." "Planting was a big job, but it's over." "Thank you very much." "Now I'm the only one who can farm..." "So...anytime..." "When you've got time, stop in, give us a call." "Auntie - a job well done!" "We could have a mochi party after harvest." "It's not mochi season, but it's still delicious." "OK, thank you very much." "Thank you very much." "This film was made possible by the kind donations of I,400 people across Japan." "Subtitles by Abé Mark Nornes  Hideko Abe"