"A Kazuo Kuroki film" "Bandai Visual, Ad gear, TV Asahi, Waco Pal Entertainments Production present" "The blossoming of Etsuko Kamiya" "Aren't you cold?" "Should I get a blanket?" "Mmmm...?" "A blanket." "Why?" "I'll get you a blanket if you're cold." "Well..." "I'll go and get one." "No need." "Why?" "Aren't you cold?" "No, I'm not." "No?" "So you're okay then." "The wind is very chilly." "Are you cold?" "No." "So you're the one who's cold." "I'm not cold." "Instead of worrying about me, why don't you make yourself warm." "I'm fine." "I'm wearing so many clothes." "Put on my cardigan." "Over what I'm wearing?" "If you're cold, you should put it on." "I'm not cold." "I have so much on." "But you said that the wind was chilly." "I just thought you'd be cold." "I'm not cold." "If you say so, there's no problem." "How many stories is it?" "What do you mean?" "This hospital." "Oh, I wonder..." "How many stories would it be?" "7 stories or so?" "That sounds about right." "It's a big hospital." "I heard it's the biggest in Kyushu." "Who said so?" "I wonder who...?" "Somebody told me that." "Perhaps it was Masashi." "Is Masashi coming home?" "Maybe for New Year." "The New Year holidays?" "He always tells me that he has no time for holidays." "What a busy man he is!" "He's a supervisor now." "Our boy, a supervisor..." "Just like me." "He certainly is." "It's a respectable position." "Is he coming back for New Year?" "That's what he said." "We can see so much from here." "It's quite a view we have here." "In which direction is our house?" "I wonder where it is from here." "Which way's north?" "North..." "I wonder..." "I get confused by all the trains I take to get here." "The sun goes down in that direction." "So north is that way." "Oh, is that north?" "Yes." "Get well soon so you can come home." "Oh..." "What?" "What time is it?" "I don't know." "Did you miss your IV?" "It's okay." "But..." "It's okay." "That's why you're still weak." "Oh, be quiet." "The doctor's going to scold you again." "I don't care." "You may not care, but I don't want to hear his lecture." "Maybe the nurse is looking for you like the other day." "I said, "lt's okay."" "Is that so?" "Then I'll have to leave it be." "Just a little while longer." "Yes?" "I want to be up here for a little bit longer." "Is that so?" "Then we'll stay here as long as you please." "It'll be sunny tomorrow, too." "The sun is so red." "Yes." "Why is it so red?" "I wonder why..." "The sun is going down behind those mountains." "What's behind those mountains?" "The ocean, I think." "Do you think so?" "Yes, the ocean's there." "So it's the ocean." "Can you see the cherry tree?" "A cherry tree?" "By the park over there." "Oh..." "A cherry tree." "Yes, a cherry tree." "It'll be pretty with flowers in the springtime." "I'll never forget that cherry tree." "Pardon?" "At your house in Komentsu." "Right, there was a cherry tree." "It was a grand tree." "Do you think it's still there?" "Oh, I don't know..." "I haven't been there since my brother died." "I reckon it's still there." "The tree was standing right in front of the entrance." "Nobody lives in that old house anymore." "I wonder if it's still there." "It is, it is." "I hope it's still there." "What's on your mind?" "What do you mean?" "Why are you talking about that cherry tree?" "It's nothing." "Nothing?" "Won't you tell me?" "I just remembered..." "Remembered what?" "The old days..." "The old days?" "How long ago?" "A long, long time ago." "Back in those days..." "Oh, those days." "Right, those days." "There was the war..." "Many people died..." "Oh yes, there were so many fatalities." "All those people..." "Everybody died." "I hope there are no more wars." "Yes." "I hope there are no more wars either." "I wonder why that war ever happened." "I also wonder why..." "Why..." "Why am I..." "What is it?" "Why am I alive?" "What nonsense is that?" "Why didn't I die like the others?" "It's okay." "It's better to be alive." "A dead man can't do anything." "You're right..." "Once you're dead..." "But then..." "Nagamasa?" "Yes?" "The clouds..." "The clouds?" "The crimson clouds float towards the mountains." "What's behind those mountains?" "I wonder..." "Do those clouds know what's there?" "March 30, 1945 Town of Komentsu, Kagoshima, Japan" "Your sister is late." "Yes." "Why's Etsuko taking so long to come home?" "Her shift is supposed to end with the 5:14 express." "What's the time?" "It's past six o'clock." "She's late." "Has something happened?" "What do you mean?" "I don't know but something..." "Right..." "Go and look for her." "I will after supper." "She's not married." "Her reputation's at stake." "I know." "What's this?" "Pickles." "It's ration food." "Pickled what?" "Takana spinach." "I see." "There's a marriage proposal." "For Etsuko?" "Yes." "Who is he?" "An officer who's visited us." "Which one is he?" "A man named Nagayo." "Nagayo?" "He's with the Naval Aviation Corps." "Mr. Nagayo?" "I don't remember him." "I don't remember him either." "Isn't it Mr. Akashi?" "No, not him." "It's not Mr. Akashi..." "Akashi wants to introduce Mr. Nagayo to Etsuko." "Why does Mr. Akashi want to introduce him to her?" "How would I know?" "I think he visited us once with Akashi." "I don't remember him at all." "I don't really remember him either." "But he saw Etsuko when he came here and so..." "I think Mr. Akashi is better." "Don't say that." "What can we do about it?" "Mr. Akashi graduated from your high school, didn't he?" "A few years after me." "So he's like your little brother." "He is a fine man." "Then Etsuko should marry Mr. Akashi." "What do you mean, should?" "It's not for me to decide." "But she's lost her parents." "It's your responsibility as her big brother." "I understand but fate has a role in marriage." "You mean, Mr. Akashi and Etsuko aren't destined to be together?" "I'm not saying that, but this is Akashi's idea." "What can he be thinking?" "What do you mean by that?" "Etsuko likes Mr. Akashi." "What?" "She likes him." "Did Etsuko tell you so?" "Etsuko never says things like that." "How could you know then?" "I can just tell." "That's nonsense." "Etsuko and I have been friends since we were kids." "We always told each other everything." "We cried because we were in different classes in junior high school." "We were so close that we wanted to be sisters." "So I married you." "Now Etsuko and I are sisters." "What?" "That's how well I know your sister." "Let me get this straight." "You mean you married me so that you could live with Etsuko?" "Of course I thought you were nice, too." "What do you mean, "You were nice, too?"" "Eat your supper now." "I don't think it's right." "Don't get upset by such a thing." "It's a joke." "It wasn't even funny." "Okay then." "Etsuko was completely secondary." "I fell for you and Etsuko happened to be your sister." "How do you like that?" "How do I...?" "This isn't something a man gets upset about." "I'm not upset." "What do you mean I'm upset?" "How do you like it?" "What?" "The pickles." "Oh..." "They're good." "You're not even eating them." "I ate some before." "I stood in the ration queue for this..." "This is sour." "What is?" "The potatoes." "That's how they all are." "What is it?" "What?" "Is anything wrong?" "No." "When did you get them?" "2 days ago." "What are you saying?" "What?" "They're not rotten." "I didn't say they were." "Then why..." "What?" "Nothing." "It tastes fine." "Who is he?" "Mr. Nagano." "Who?" "The man who wants to marry Etsuko." "It's Nagayo." "Right, Mr. Nagayo." "We'll know when we meet him tomorrow." "Tomorrow?" "Yes." "Akashi will come here with him." "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" "Sorry." "I'm in trouble." "What?" "I have to prepare something." "What do you have to do?" "Just give them tea." "But this is a marriage arrangement." "The nation's in a state of emergency." "Forget formality." "Oh, what am I going to do?" "Don't do anything special." "Why does it have to be tomorrow?" "It's their day off." "What can we give them?" "You can offer them tea." "That's enough." "We have tea but we don't have any nice tea." "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" "They only told me about it today!" "I'm in trouble!" "Wait." "I can make sweet rice balls." "Hey." "Yes?" "Who's at the door?" "Is it Etsuko?" "Good evening." "I need to speak to your husband about the factory." "Could you wait here?" "I'll go and get him." "Mr. Shibuya from the town office." "What is it?" "About the factory..." "I see." "It's okay." "I was just about to finish eating." "You're working so late." "What is it?" "You are to be reassigned to a different factory." "Oh, good." "I thought I would be drafted." "Hi, Etsuko." "I'm home." " Good evening." " Hello." "Etsuko." "I'm back." "You're late." "The express was delayed." "What happened?" "There was an accident around Tosu." "Oh, no..." "Nobody got hurt but the locomotive was disabled." "Really?" "Did you make tea for the guest?" "I'll take care of that." "Mom, Dad, I'm home." "Couldn't you just leave when your shift was over?" "The stationmaster said I could." "I always finish after the express arrives so I wanted to wait." "You take it so seriously." "No, I was chatting away with the stationmaster." "I suppose you had to wait for the express." "Hungry?" "Take care of the guest first." "I'll eat later." "I'll get it ready for you." "I'll do it myself." "Take care of the guest." "You must be tired." "Oh, I'm exhausted." "I ran home." "Why did you run?" "I was scared because it was dark." "The path in front of the shrine is so isolated." "It felt like someone was behind me." "I had the same experience when I went to the youth meeting." "It was very late and I passed by the shrine." "Isn't it scary there?" "I heard a tapping sound... so I ran." "Then I heard more tapping." "What were you doing?" "Well..." "Why didn't you offer him tea?" "I was making it." "Where is he?" "He's left." "Oh, no!" "Why?" "Because he's finished." "Is that so?" "What was it?" "Uh?" "Well..." "You were late." "The express was delayed." "Hungry?" "Yes." "What's this?" "Pickles." "It's ration food." "What kind of vegetable?" "What was it?" "Takana." "What?" "I said, Takana." "It's Takana." "How nice!" "Try some." "It's good." "Okay." "Have some tea." "Honey, have some tea." "What?" "Have some tea." "What's she saying?" "A cup of tea?" "A teacup?" "What about a teacup?" "What's that?" "A teacup." "I found it!" "What?" "Tea." "Tea?" "We can have this tea." "What's that for?" "It's for tomorrow." "I see." "I'll brew some now." "What are you standing there for?" "Uh?" "Well..." "Did you tell her?" "What?" "About tomorrow." "Not yet." "Tell her now." "I will." "How is it?" "Mmm..." "The potatoes." "What do you mean?" "Aren't they sour?" "A bit..." "Aren't they?" "Are they old?" "From 2 days ago." "They're still edible." "I know they're edible, but..." "Here you are." "Here's yours, Etsuko." "Thank you." "What do you think of that?" "They're perfectly okay." "They're still good enough to eat." "What are you talking about?" "The potatoes." "Haven't you told her yet?" "Uh, no." "What are you waiting for?" "Well..." "What's going on?" "This is very good tea." "What are you two up to?" "I don't know how you'll react..." "What?" "There's been a proposal." "For me?" "Who else?" "I could meet him but I'm already married." "Why don't you keep quiet?" "Sorry." "Well?" "You won't accept it?" "Okay..." "This tea is really good." "She can't react without knowing who the suitor is." "But if she has no intention of marrying..." "He's a Navy Aviation Corps officer at Izumi..." "His name is..." "His name is Nagayo." "Nagayo?" "She doesn't remember him either." "He came to our house once." "Did he?" "Do you agree to meet him?" "I don't know what he's like unless I meet him." "That's true." "We don't know anything about him." "But you know Mr. Akashi, don't you?" "Of course I know him." "See?" "Akashi wants you to meet Nagayo." "Really?" "Will you meet him tomorrow?" "Tomorrow?" "He'll come here with Akashi tomorrow." "Is that okay?" "It's too soon." "You don't have to meet him." "You have no obligation to meet this man." "But they're coming here on their day off." "You don't have to worry about that." "I'll talk to them." "We know Mr. Akashi." "He'll understand." "So Mr. Akashi wants me to meet this man." "That's right." "Okay, I'll meet him." "Will you?" "But Etsuko..." "What is it?" "Are you sure?" "What do you mean?" " How about Mr. Akashi?" " Hey!" "It's none of your business." "But, honey..." "Akashi is a pilot." "He could die at any given time." "I heard that Nagayo is a mechanic." "I'll make some sweet rice balls for tomorrow." "Do we have red beans?" "Leave it to me." "I'm fairly good at managing food." "I kept some from the last ration." "That's my big sister!" "Stop calling me that." "I'm the same age as you." "But you're my elder brother's wife." "What kind of person will he be?" "I won't know till I meet him." "I know but..." "I wonder if he's a good man." "I wonder." "Fusa?" "Hey!" "What, honey?" "Where is my backpack?" "Why do you want it?" "And the big suitcase?" "I'll get them." "Going somewhere?" "Yes." "Where?" "To Kumamoto." "Why are you going there?" "They need more engineers at the factory there." "So I was ordered to go." "Why do you have to go so far away?" "I don't know." "It's an order." "No explanations are offered so I can't ask." "Others were sent much further away." "Did Mr. Shibuya tell you that?" "Yes, and he wants me to leave immediately." "But you won't leave tomorrow, will you?" "Yes, I'm leaving tomorrow." "What are you thinking about?" "Tomorrow's an important day!" "I know, but..." "I have to start in 2 days." "Are you arguing?" "I can't deal with this anymore." "What's going on?" "How long will you be there?" "I don't know." "I'll have to be there for a while." "Are you going somewhere?" "To Kumamoto." "They want me to work at the factory there." "The factory I worked for here was bombed the other day but..." "I have no excuse to hang around doing nothing." "There're just not enough men around." "Because you have an engineering degree..." "It's okay, he's not going to be a soldier." "We'd be better off together." "I don't want us to be separated." "Your mother and father would have been still alive if they hadn't gone." "They went to Tokyo." "Kumamoto isn't so bad." "It's an important day for you." "Don't worry." "I can take care of myself." "You should go and see him off." "Why don't you go to Kumamoto with him for a couple of days?" "We can't leave you alone." "I'm not a child anymore." "These are tough times so I have to be tough too." "Why don't we have some of that tea?" "Here." "This is such good tea." "What is this?" "It's not the usual one we drink." "Your father brought it back as a souvenir from his trip." "Right." "He was proud of himself getting some famous Shizuoka tea." "Ah, I remember." "It's that tea." "Mother was happy to get that tea." "She was always saying how she wanted to taste good tea." "She was always saying, "Let's drink that tea."" "I didn't think much of it in those days." "I thought, "What a silly souvenir!"" "Father always bought us souvenirs from his trips." "It was always something that made Mother happy." "He did, didn't he?" "He wanted to make us all happy." "What is it?" "What's so funny?" "Remember, Dad..." "What about him?" "What?" "Remember?" "He missed the train when he was buying the tea." "That's right." "He came home a day late." "Mother said angrily, "Shopping caused you to miss the train?"" "So what did he do in Shizuoka?" "He slept at the station." "And his bag was stolen." "Right." "But he boasted that the thief hadn't found the tea." "He came home just with the tea?" "That's right." "He had his money stolen, too?" "No, he kept it in his money pouch." "He had dirty underwear in the bag." "He was lucky that day." "After that, he'd get out of the bath... and walk around naked saying, "Where's my loincloth?"" "Mother would retort, "It's all because you were careless!"" "Poor thief grabbed himself some loincloths." "Only unwashed loincloths." "He must have been disappointed." "Fusa, I think you should go to Kumamoto." "I don't know..." "You'd better go with him." "But I have to take care of the house." "Just for a couple of days." "So you can help him set up." "I'll take care of the house." "What shall I do?" "Do as you please." "Whatever you want is fine by me." "But it's rude if I'm not here to meet the guests." "I'll explain it to them." "They'll understand." "Do you think so?" "I think I'll come with you." "Yes." "That'll be good for you." "But Etsuko, will you be okay by yourself?" "You can trust me." "Why don't you take it easy and spend time together?" "Don't be silly." "This is business, not a pleasure trip." "How long will it be like this?" "Until the day we win." "Yes." "There's no way Japan will lose the war." "I've had enough of this..." "Let's get ready before there's an air raid warning." "Where do you keep the sugar?" "Why don't we finish our tea first?" "This is really good." "Yes, it's good." "Honey?" "Yes?" "A money pouch." "What?" "Why don't you wear one tomorrow?" "Why?" "I'll look for it, so you can wear it tomorrow." "Okay." "Such nice tea." "It's the tea from Shizuoka." "Right..." "It's so nice." "March 31, 1945" "Hello?" "Hello?" "Maybe nobody's home." "Somebody must be home." "Hello?" "Let's leave." "Don't be ridiculous." "Is anybody home?" "Nobody's answering because nobody's home." "Excuse me." "Hey!" "This is strange." "Don't be rude." "This isn't your house." "It's okay." "We know these people." "Why don't we take a walk and then come back?" "I reckon they'll come back soon." "Let's wait here." "Hey..." "They'll come back soon." "But..." "Sit down." "You're not nervous, are you?" "No, I'm not." "You were all hyped up." "I was not!" "You were saying, "Soon I'll see Etsuko!"" "What?" "What's that grin on your face?" "What grin?" "Listen." "I won't stay long after they arrive." "You'll have to take care of yourself." "Yes, I know." "What you're going to talk about?" "You have to think up conversation." "Any ideas?" "No!" "You think of something." "I don't know..." "My head's gone blank." "How about hobbies?" "Making electrical devices." "Idiot!" "Not your hobbies!" "I'll say to her that I could make a heater out of a lunchbox." "She won't want to talk about such grease monkey stuff." "Ask her what her hobbies are." "Right." "I will." "How do you think she'll answer?" "She went to an all women high school." "She must like literature." "Is that how it goes?" "That's what all women high school students like." "Literature." "Movies." "Romance." "Romance...?" "Someone like Hermann Hesse." "Hesse?" "Yes, Hesse." "Who's he?" "A poet." "You could go with Goethe." "I don't want to talk about the Americans." "It's okay." "They're Germans." "I've got to sound romantic." "Right." "Be careful not to try too hard." "Basically you're unromantic." "You don't have to go that far." "Sorry..." "But it's true." "Don't be so serious." "I know Chuya Nakahara." "Good." "He's a poet high school girls romanticize." ""Tainted, I'm sad and lonely..."" "This isn't a sad occasion." "Don't be lonely and tainted." "I know." "This is a marriage proposal." "Think about it." "They're so late." "Yes." "Where have they gone?" "Maybe they thought it was another day." "That's impossible." "I told her brother that we'd come today." "That's true." "We could have eaten something." "What is it?" "Lunch...?" "Sweet rice balls." "Oh..." "What?" "Do you have any worries in the world?" "What do you mean?" "You're thinking about these sweets now, aren't you?" "Sure." "Did you forget about her?" "How could I forget her?" "What's more important, these sweets or Etsuko?" "Listen, Akashi..." "I'm here to ask her to marry me." "Of course she's more important." "Oh, yeah?" "Your head looks like one of those sweets." "Because you want to eat them." "I don't like sweet food." "Don't eat them then." "I won't." "Not even one." "I may eat one." "Oh, you will eat one." "It's rude to decline." "But you said you didn't like them." "They'll taste good if she made them." "What?" "Did you say that?" "Did I hear you correctly?" "I knew it all along." "What?" ""They'll taste good if she made them."" "If somebody else made them you wouldn't touch them." "But if Etsuko made them, magically they become something good." "Why is that?" "There's no point telling you why." "Why not?" "You'd better forget about it." "What good weather!" "Will you ask to join a kamikaze mission?" "Yes..." "I will." "Is that so..." "I can trust you with her." "Don't be so sure." "There's no guarantee anymore." "Once the Americans start invading, everybody'll be fighting..." "Right." "Okinawa will be taken soon." "When it happens I will also..." "Yes." "I've left my life to the mercy of the Emperor." "I'll serve the country and die if that's what it takes." "Ouch..." "Who left the pickling stone here?" "Fusa must have put it here..." "Oh, it's so painful..." "Nice to see you again." "Hello." "Why are they here...?" "I know it was rude of us but nobody was here to let us in." "I took the rubbish to the hill..." "I see." "This is Ensign Nagayo." "I'm Nagamasa Nagayo." "I'm Etsuko." "Wasn't it supposed to be 3 o'clock?" "Pardon?" "I thought you were coming at 3." "I told your brother that we'd come at 1." "Oh, did you?" "You've been waiting for a long time then." "Not long, right?" "Uh... no." "Sorry that I wasn't here to greet you." "It's quite okay." "We were enjoying the garden view." "Right?" "Uh... yes." "The cherry tree will blossom soon." "Yes." "It's a grand tree." "It'll be very beautiful." "Right?" "Yes, certainly." "Is your brother around?" "No, he's left for the Kumamoto factory." "Kumamoto?" "He'll have to be there for some time to come." "Was he ordered to go?" "Yes." "He's a specialized engineer." "He'll be treated like an officer." "You needn't worry about him." "Uh huh." "So his wife isn't around either?" "She's gone with him to Kumamoto for a couple of days." "You've come all this way and there's nobody here but me." "I'm so sorry." "If that's how things turned out, what can you do?" "There's nothing to be sorry about." "So you are the only one at home?" "Yes." "Isn't it lonely?" "No, it's only for another day." "I see." "Isn't it nice weather today?" "Yes." "Nice cherry tree, too..." "It's Great grandpa's." "Yes?" "That tree's been here since Great grandpa was around." "Hey." "Hey." "What?" "Nothing..." "What?" "Well..." "What?" "Say something." "Do you have any hobbies?" "I don't really have any hobbies." "Is that so?" "Hesse..." "What?" "Hesse." "Hesse?" "Yes, Hesse." "Right, that's okay." "What are you saying?" "Oh, I forgot..." "Yes?" "I'll make tea." "Don't bother, please." "What do you think you're doing?" "Yes." "What do you mean, "Yes?"" "But..." "What?" "I asked her about her hobbies." "I mentioned Hesse, too." "You forgot Goethe." "Goethe..." "Was he the German one?" "Just relax a bit." "Why don't you relax?" "Try to keep up with the situation." "How will you intercept the Grumman fighters if you panic like this?" "Etsuko isn't a Hellcat." "I'm not talking literally!" "I should have stuck to talking about my hobby." "Idiot." "I'll make an electric heater for you." "Don't be insensitive." "It's springtime." "The cherry tree's about to bloom." "You're right." "Just say anything." "Okay." "If I do all the talking it won't help." "I know." "I'm going to leave soon." "Okay." "Here you are." "Please." "Thank you." "It tastes so good." "Very nice." "That's good." "It's really nice." "It is." "It's Shizuoka tea." "Is it?" "No wonder it's so tasty." "Shizuoka... is also famous for ...Jirocho, the yakuza boss." "What?" "I think I have to be going now." "I have to go." "No..." "You've just arrived..." "I have to get back to the Corps." "Why?" "What do you mean?" "I have to work." "What work?" "Today's our day off." "It is, but I have to work." "I have to go." "You have to go..." "Excuse me." "Excuse me." "Thank you for coming all the way." "It's okay." "I have to go." "What are you doing?" "We have work to do." "You don't." "Don't I?" "You don't." "Have some sweet rice balls." "Sweets?" "Yes, sweet rice balls." "Have some before you leave." "Maybe next time." "We don't know when the next time will be." "Here you go." "Sit down and have some." "I haven't eaten anything so delicious in a long time." "There are plenty more." "Where is the bathroom?" "What?" "The toilet." "Mr. Akashi?" "Yes?" "This way." "I forgot where it was." "Do you read literature?" "No." "Do you go to the movies?" "No." "Oh, I see..." "You went to an all women school?" "Yes, Izumi high school with my sister in law." "That's nice." "And you're from...?" "Me?" "Yes." "Hirado, Nagasaki." "Oh, really?" "Plenty of delicious fish there?" "Yes, the fish is good." "Parrot fish and scorpion fish..." "After I graduated from Hirado Junior High School..." "I was accepted into Yokohama Engineering High." "Uh huh." "In September 1943 I joined the Naval Aviation Corps at Tsuchiura as part of the 13th Navy reserve program to protect the nation." "Uh huh." "Ensign Akashi graduated from Denshukan Junior High and then 5th High." "He then entered Kyoto Imperial University." "In September 1943, he too joined the Naval Aviation Corps at Tsuchiura as part of the 13th Navy reserve program." "We are friends from the same division of the Corps." "I see." "Have more tea." "Thank you." "Have more." "Thank you." "Well..." "He's late." "Yes?" "What's he doing?" "Why don't you..." "Yes?" "...make yourself at home?" "Was there any damage done by the air raid the other night?" "A couple of bombs dropped on the factory." "That's all." "You should stay alert." "They'll come anywhere there's light." "Do they come to the base?" "Yes, quite frequently." "Watch out for yourself." "Thank you." "You too." "I'm okay." "I live in the middle of nowhere." "Train stations are targeted." "The enemy's objective is to disable all our transport." "Many civilians have died since B 29s were deployed in Tokyo." "The war has reached Japan." "Country towns should be on alert." "I saw an enemy plane flying over the town of Komentsu." "What do you call that plane?" "The funny looking one." "It has two bodies and..." "It's the Lockheed P 38 Lightning." "The one that shot down Admiral Yamamoto over Bougainville." "We were saying that it looked like a coat hanger." "I'm sorry." "What's taking him so long?" "Akashi!" "Do you have an upset stomach?" "Hey?" "Akashi, do you have a stomachache or something?" "Hey!" "Akashi?" "Akashi?" "What are you doing?" "Um..." "Looks like Mr. Akashi has left." "He's left?" "His shoes aren't here." "He didn't say anything though..." "He should have said something." "Here you are." "Thank you." "Thank you." "Oh..." "I'll get more water." "Thank you." "Have some sweets." "Thank you." "I guess you don't like..." "Please don't say such a thing!" "Since the very first time I saw you, I've always..." "I mean The sweets." "What?" "The sweets." "The sweets?" "Yes." "I love these sweets." "Good." "My sister in law and I put a lot into making them." "Is that so?" "What?" "Nothing." "Help yourself." "Is anything funny?" "Are they that good?" "They're very delicious." "Were you hungry?" "Yes." "Can I have some too?" "Go ahead." "Why am I telling you to eat in your home?" "Thank you." "Please eat." "There are more if you want." "Thank you." "I have no father and mother." "I lost them in an air raid in Tokyo on March 10." "I heard about that." "Is that okay?" "What?" "I have no parents." "Would your parents disapprove?" "My folks wouldn't mind at all." "You still have your brother." "Sometimes I'm all alone like today." "Then I shall be your..." "Let me be your..." "I can see the ocean from the hill behind the house." "The ocean..." "When I see the ocean, the war overseas seems fictitious." "When I'm sad I go up the hill ...and look at the ocean so I can forget everything." "I don't even have hobbies." "Okay." "I mean..." "I'm just an ordinary woman." "I hope you don't mind being in the company of such a woman." "Certainly not." "Please have some more." "Thank you very much." "I must be going now." "Oh, I see." "I've overstayed..." "Not at all." "Why don't you take some sweets with you?" "Take some back for your friends." "Mr. Akashi didn't eat much." "Thank you." "I'll put them in a lunchbox." "A lunchbox!" "Do you prefer something else?" "No, I'd like a lunchbox." "I'll be right back." "Well..." "Nice lunchbox..." "Can I keep it for a while?" "Do you mind if I turn the lunchbox into something else?" "That's not good..." "I can just see this lunchbox modified into an electric heater..." "It sounds ridiculous." "I know a neat trick to turn this..." "The lunchbox..." "Yes?" "It's so square, isn't it?" "So it is." "I hope your friends like them." "Thank you so much." "Ensign Akashi will be very happy." "Give my regards to him." "Certainly." "Good bye." "I wish I'd had more to offer you." "So long." "Excuse me now." "Did you forget something?" "No." "The lunchbox..." "What about the lunchbox?" "I'll turn it into..." "Yes?" "I've had my mind made up all along." "Yes?" "My mind is set on you even if your answer is "No."" "...Yes..." "I don't know if we'll win or what's going to happen to me but..." "I've decided that..." "I'll never leave you alone." "Yes..." "I'm leaving for now so... you'll be alone again but But..." "I'll come back." "Thank you very much." "I have to go." "Excuse me." ""To Yasutada Kamiya"" "Why can I hear that?" "It was such a strange thing..." "I could hear waves and they sounded very close." "But the ocean was far away from your home, wasn't it?" "But I really heard it then." "The crashing waves..." "The tide coming in and out." "The sound of the ocean eased my loneliness." "Is that so?" "Strange things happen, don't they?" "Maybe it's high tide tonight?" "April 8, 1945" "I'm home." "Hi." "The cherry tree's in full blossom." "It's most beautiful today and tomorrow." "Lucky that Yasutada will be back to see the blossom." " Is he here?" " Not yet." "Wasn't he on the 5:14 express?" "That's the only train." "I know." "What's taking him so long?" "He must be chatting with the stationmaster." "I hope that's all it is." "What an impressive dinner!" "Maybe something has happened to him?" "What could happen?" "I don't know but something..." "He'll be back soon." "Maybe we made a mistake about the day?" "April 8." "It is today." "What's taking him so long?" "You've made a feast!" "Here." "Is this the cabbage ration?" "I pickled it a while ago." "Why are we having it today?" "Why don't we eat first?" "Let's wait." "But he's late." "You must be hungry." "Let's wait a while." "He should come back early on a day like this." "We have red bean rice, too?" "What's the occasion?" "Because Yasutada's coming home?" "Cause of something Mrs. Yamana told me." "You can avoid bomb attacks if you eat red bean rice and cabbage." "Really..." "I wonder why..." "Like they say on the radio, "No damage has been done..."" "And...?" "Don't you get it?" ""Damage" rhymes with "cabbage." So you should eat cabbage." "Really..." "How about red bean rice?" "Mrs. Yamana didn't explain about red bean rice." "Do you seriously believe it?" "If you could avoid bombs that way, I'd eat them." "But if a bomb dropped on you, you'd be hit." "Etsuko." "What?" "If you say such a thing, it will come true." "Watch what you say." "Fusa..." "Yes?" "You're beginning to sound like my mother." "I'm back." "He's home." "I'm finally home." "Welcome back." "I'm tired." "How about a bath?" "No, I'm hungry." "Leave it, Etsuko." "I'll do it later." "What took you so long?" "Uh, nothing..." "Here." "How's it going in Kumamoto?" "There's hardly any material to work with." "Not much happening." "Have there been more air raids?" "Getting worse." "B 29s fly over everyday." "You'd better watch out." "Is there a shelter?" "The factory is well equipped and secure." "Hot water?" "What?" "You want it or not?" "Tell me while I'm here." "I'll have some." "Is she angry about something?" "Because you were late." "I wasn't that late." "It's past 6." "Were you chatting with the stationmaster?" "I knew it." "His stories never end." "I told you so." "You could have finished up the conversation and come home." "It's easy to say but..." "You know how it goes, Etsuko." "If I'd been you, I would have come back earlier." "You traitor." "Here, hot water." "Ouch!" "I'll burn myself!" "It's not too hot for me." "Give me something!" "What?" "Something to hold it with..." "Ouch!" "It'll cool down in a second." "I can't wait until it cools." "There's a cloth somewhere." "Where?" "Here." "How can you hold this with your bare hand?" "I have to wash dishes and grow vegetables." "My hands are tough." "They used to be soft..." "You've been mad long enough." "I'm not mad at all." "You're mad." "I'm not." "You are." "Why don't you settle down and have some dinner?" "Thank you for the food." "Thank you for the food." "Are we celebrating something?" "Nothing." "We have red bean rice, though." "Some say that if you eat it, you won't be bombed." "Is that true?" "They say cabbage is good, too." "Why is that?" "It doesn't matter why." "If a bomb drops on you, you'll be hit." "Like brother, like sister." "Don't be so edgy." "I just asked how could you avoid being hit by eating this food." "There's a good reason for it." "Etsuko, you don't have to defend me." "Okay." "I wasn't the one who said it." "It was Mrs. Yamana." "What are you talking about?" "Never mind." "Just eat the food." "How long are they?" "Huh?" "Your holidays." "Until tomorrow." "Tomorrow?" "Right." "Are you going back to Kumamoto tomorrow?" "That's my plan." "It's ridiculous!" "I'm totally speechless..." "Speechless?" "You're talking a lot." "Why did you bother coming home?" "Because I had a day off and I wanted to see you..." "This is my house!" "What's wrong with coming home?" "Keep your voice down." "You'd better take it back, Fusa." "He's your husband." "He came all this way to see you although he only had a day." "Why don't you get it?" "Calm down and talk." "But what do you mean, "Why did you bother coming home?"" "I'm sorry." "Fusa's disappointed." "You have to understand that." "The telegram said, "Coming home for the holidays." I expected more." "I can't afford to take many days off." "The Americans have taken Okinawa." "Things are getting worse for us." "We have to make more weapons." "If we don't, Japan will be in trouble." "Is that what you want?" "That's not what she's saying." "I don't care if we lost." "Fusa..." "You're protecting the home front!" "Don't say such a thing!" "Hurry up and apologize." "But I don't care..." "Fusa..." "Our hardships won't end even if we lost the war." "I'm sorry." "I want to eat red bean rice to celebrate something..." "I want cabbages to be just cabbages." "I don't want to eat things to keep safe from air raids and bombs." "I'm not asking you to take many days off." "Just another day off so you can enjoy being home and relax." "I understand but please say no more." "What can we do about it?" "Sorry." "Hello?" "Who is it?" "Coming!" "Good evening." "Come in." "My brother is home." "Yasutada, Mr. Akashi's here!" "Come on in!" "Yes." "Thank you." "It's been a long time." "It certainly has." "Have you been well?" "Yes." "Good." "How have you been doing?" "I'm as good as I've ever been." "I heard that you work in Kumamoto." "It must be an ordeal." "It's not so hard." "Just like any other factory, ours is open but not operating." "Good evening." "Sorry we weren't here when you came the other day." "I didn't mind at all." "It was rude of us." "No, it wasn't." "Have some potato liquor." "Thank you." "So you vanished without telling them?" "Etsuko told me in her letter." "Ensign Nagayo is on the shy side." "I had to leave so they could be by themselves." "I see." "Please drink." "Thank you very much." "How did it go with him?" "You only wrote that he appeared to be a nice man." "Well..." "He is a nice man." "You're not answering my question." "He is very serious about her." "He's serious." "What is your decision?" "Well..." "She should take her time and think about it." "Etsuko seems to find him attractive." "Good." "I'm glad to hear that." "Won't you drink, Akashi?" "I came tonight with good news." "You sound very official." "I'm joining a campaign to retrieve Okinawa from the Americans." "I see..." "Thank you for everything that you've done for me." "Tomorrow?" "Yes." "You're going... tomorrow..." "Mr. Kamiya." "I'll never forget how good you've been to me since high school." "Well..." "We took care of each other, didn't we?" "I hope you and Mr. Kamiya will take good care of yourselves." "Thank you." "Etsuko." "Yes..." "Nagayo is truly a good man." "Excuse me." "Good bye." "Mr. Akashi." "Yes?" "Don't we have something for him?" "Do we still have the canned pineapples?" "Where would I have put them?" "Just a minute." "Yes." "Come on, honey." "They were very delicious..." "The sweet rice balls." "Don't look at me like that." "I'll lose my resolve." "See me off with a smile." "I hope..." "I'm sure that you will..." "Yes." "...you will sink an enemy aircraft carrier." "Thank you." "I'll do my best." "I hope you'll take good care of your health..." "Sorry..." "You take care of yourself, too." "So long." "Eat this with the others." "Thank you." "I know it's not much to eat but..." "I want you to enjoy it with your friends." "We will." "Wishing you the best of luck." "Thank you very much." "Etsuko..." "Etsuko?" "Etsuko." "Etsuko, go after him." "He's going away." "I'll get more." "Etsuko." "Tell her to go after him!" "Leave her alone." "But this is the last time she will ever see him." "If she wants to go, I wouldn't have to tell her." "April 12, 1945" "It's a nice day again." "Hello?" "Coming." "Hello there." "My name is Nagayo." "Mr. Nagayo, nice to see you!" "Come on in." "I'll get Etsuko." "Yes." "Etsuko?" "Etsuko." "Mr. Nagayo's here to see you." "Where are my hairpins?" "I don't know." "What am I going to do?" "Don't worry." "Just go in." "Hello." "Hello." "Aren't you working today?" "It's my day off." "I see." "I dropped by at the station to look for you." "Oh, did you?" " The stationmaster..." " Yes." "He's a character." "Isn't he?" "He loves talking." "Have some tea." "Thank you." "It's Shizuoka tea." "Is that right?" "I told him that already." "Did you?" "This is very good." "What is it?" "Is something funny?" "Could you taste it?" "Take your time and enjoy it." "I'm sorry." "Will you be here a while?" "You should stay and have lunch with us." "But..." "I think you should stay." "I'll go get it ready." "Make yourself at home." "I'll be transferred soon." "Oh?" "I'll be with the Corps at Omura." "Omura..." "Yes." "It's closer to your hometown." "Right." "My parents want to come out to meet you before I go to Omura." "Will you meet them?" "Sure." "Will you, really?" "I will." "Good." "I'll inform them at once." "I hope your parents find me acceptable." "Don't worry." "You'll have no problem." "Is your hometown a nice place?" "It is." "Can I go there someday?" "Certainly." "Please come." "Look, there's my sister in law." "What's she doing there?" "She's waiting for a telegram from her husband." "Oh, I see." "Lieutenant Akashi left this with me." "Is it to me?" "Yes." "He called me to the cockpit right before he took off... and asked me to hand it to you." "It was the last favor that he asked." "He told me, "I can ask you because you're my best friend."" "He flew off saying, "I've no regrets now."" "Don't worry about me." "But I..." "He died." "We can't meet him anymore." "That's why..." "I'm obliged to ...take special care of you for him." "Don't ask questions..." "Just take it." ""To Etsuko Kamiya"" "Looks like the telegram has arrived." "I'll be waiting." "Pardon?" "I'll be waiting, too." "Wherever you may go..." "Whatever happens to Japan..." "I'll be here waiting for you." "Okay." "Come and take me with you." "Yes." "It was in full bloom just a while ago..." "Yes." "The petals are already falling." "They are..." "Nagamasa?" "Yes?" "The sun's gone down." "Right." "Let's go back." "It's become so chilly." "Oh, it certainly has." "I told you it was getting cold." "You'll catch a cold." "Yes, I will." "Was that enough?" "What?" "You wanted to stay up here just a while longer." "I've had enough for the day." "I can come back tomorrow." "Do you want to come back up here again?" "Yes, we'll come up here again and again." "We have all the time in the world." "That's true." "Let's go back." "Oh, that's right..." "What is it?" "I remember now." "What do you remember?" "I remember you were saying the same thing then..." "What was it?" "You know..." "Listen..." "Oh..." "Yes?" "Did you hear that?" "What is it?" "Listen carefully..." "The sound of the ocean..." "Tomoyo Harada" "Masatoshi Nagase" "Shunsuke Matsuoka" "Manami Honjou" "Kaoru Kobayashi" "Author of original play:" "Masataka Matsuda" "Executive Producers:" "Kazumi Kawashiro, Morimichi Matsubara, Keiji Kameyama," "Hisaaki Tai, Wataru Suzuki" "Planning:" "Seigo Fukada Tadayoshi Kubo, Michihiko Umezawa" "Producers:" "Satoshi Kouno, Kazuya Naito, Noboru Sugiyama," "Takafumi Ohashi, Shuichi Isoda" "Assistant Producers:" "Kimikazu Ueyama Kenta Yagi, Satoshi Kokubo" "Screenplay:" "Kazuo Kuroki, Hideki Yamada" "Music:" "Teizo Matsumura" "Art Director:" "Takeo Kimura" "Filming / Camera:" "Koichi Kawakami" "Lighting:" "Eiji Oshita" "Sound / Recording:" "Yukio Kubota" "Art Direction:" "Norifumi Ataka" "Editing:" "Yoshiyuki Okuhara" "Produced by Bandai Visual, Ad gear, TV Asahi, Waco, Pal Entertainments Production" "Director:" "Kazuo Kuroki" "(c)2006 Bandai Visual / Ad gear / TV Asah / Waco / Pal Entertainments Production"