"Spring comes late to the north." "It's pouring." "Thunder!" "When a calf is about to be born." "This time it'll be female." "I hope so." "Somebody's there!" "I wonder who." "Sorry to bother you." "I'm lost." "Can you put me up for the night?" "Any place will do." "Will a storeroom do?" "Fine." "At a time like this." "It's not fine." "Put away all the knives in the kitchen." "Use these." "Thanks." "Mom!" "Will you come?" "All right." "Will you pull that rope?" "This?" "Try hard." "You've almost done it." "Takeshi, come and see." "It's female." "Nice, isn't she?" "Mom, I forgot this." "Tell me sooner." "Got a pencil?" "Why didn't you tell me?" "Thanks for the food." "I sure appreciate it." "It was nothing." "You were a help to me." "Take this to him." "Mister!" "It's from Mom." "No, thanks." "It's yours, even if you don't want it." "You have no father, right?" "How come?" "He is dead." "The long winter passed so did spring." "And the brief summer came." "HARUKA NARU YAMA NO YOBIGOE A DISTANT CRY FROM SPRING" "Hitomi, come and have some lunch." "Thank you, but I have to go to school." "I'll come again tomorrow." "Thank you very much." "My best to your mother." "Takeshi." "What?" "Give milk to the calf." "We meet again." "I appreciate it." "I should thank you." "It's a mess." "I'm all alone." "What brings you?" "Have some tea." "I'll be finished soon." "I grew them but they're not good." "Have some." "Ma'am, can I stay and work for you a while?" "A week or two." "Maybe longer." "I could use a hand." "But we hire only through the union." "I'm not rich." "I couldn't pay much." "Pay doesn't matter." "Room and board will do." "But..." "Excuse me." "What do you think?" "About what?" "That man." "Should I have turned him down?" "A student would have been better." "He's somehow strange." "Keep an eye on him." "Tell me if he does anything funny." "Don't worry." "If he does anything funny, I'll get him." "I'll count on it." "Your supper." "Thank you." "Mom wants to know your name." "My name?" "It's Kosaku Tajima." "Kosaku Tajima?" "What's yours?" "Takeshi!" "What does it mean?" "A warrior with a strong will." "That's a good name." "Thanks." "Takeshi, huh?" "Mom." "Lock the door." "He said I've got a good name." "Did you ask his name?" "Yes." "What is his name?" "He told me but..." "You forgot already?" "Some memory!" "Have food." "I'll do that." "Can you?" "I worked on a ranch once." "May I use this?" "He's outside." "Take this to him." "It's hot." "Why doesn't he come in and eat?" "Strange man!" "Toothpaste on your mouth." "Have you eaten?" "No." "Lower it all the way." "Then stop and raise it." "Can you read the meter?" "He was born in Kyushu." "He came to Hokkaido to run a ranch." "He became a sailor, - then a factory worker." "He did lots of things." "Where does he live?" "I don't know." "What about his family?" "He didn't say." "He's big and has a good physique." "Yet he works for practically nothing." "He must have a reason." "Maybe so." "Are you all right?" "Don't worry." "I know what I'm doing." "You have a strong will." "Anyway, when you go out, - be careful of your bankbook... and purse." "You're a hard worker." "You're a big help to her." "He's good-looking." "Keep the door locked at night." "I'll send Hitomi this afternoon." "Thank you." "She can't do much anyway." "Thanks for coming." "He looks scary." "I'm not afraid." "Ever talk to him?" "Yeah." "Weren't you scared?" "No." "Want to ride?" "You too?" "Mom!" "Good saddle." "My husband used to ride." "Mosquito repellent incense and work clothes." "He wasn't as big as you." "So, they may not fit." "Thank you." "You can give me your laundry." "I wish anyway." "About your pay." "I don't have any idea about it." "So just tell me what you want, the lower the better." "Pay what you can afford." "And one day off every week." "I don't need any days off." "It's certainly convenient for me, but..." "Why do you like that?" "Why did you come here?" "No special reason." "I'd rather you didn't ask me things like that." "It's something personal." "Good night." "Mrs. Kazami!" "Mrs. Kazami!" "I've brought... some sushi for you." "Grapes too." "Isn't it hard... to take care of cows all by yourself?" "Can you mow by yourself?" "I got your answer... from Igarashi." "But will you change your mind?" "Since I first met you at your husband's funerl " "I've been crazy about you." "Frankly speaking, I've had many women." "I'm a widower." "I like women." "But... after I met you, " "I quit playing around." "It's true." "I know." "You're so pretty." "You don't have to work all day... at a place like this." "I'll take care of you." "Your rough hands..." "Do you hate me?" "Yes, I do!" "You talk straight, I like that." "I like you when you're angry." "That's enough!" "Stop!" "Change your mind." "I'll come again." "You all right?" "You saw?" "Why didn't you help me?" "I thought he's your friend." "Friend?" "If that's what you think, you're a fool." "Your supper." "Sushi?" "For me?" "A gift from a stranger." "What about you?" "Mom told me not to eat it." "Why?" "I don't know." "It's been two years since Mr. Kazami died." "It rained at his funeral, too." "Eat and drink - at our house." "Thank you." "But I'm the one to prepare it." "Our house is bigger." "You too." "Thank you." "Rest and eat." "Are they part-timers?" "They're students." "From Chiba University." "They work hard." "You're great, aren't you?" "I feel as if I were on a farm in Denmark." "It's all because my brother Seiji worked hard here, - before he married Tamiko and left home." "It's all thanks to him." "Seiji was such a hard worker." "Shall we go see the barn?" "Better do so." "The barn here is so big." "Sandals are there." "Does Tamiko plan to go on working alone?" "I told her last January, too." "She can't keep it up." "The sooner she quits the better." "What did she say?" "Nothing." "She never wants to talk about it." "The house and cows always remind her of Seii " "I can understand that." "She really tries hard, doesn't she?" "Hello!" "Hurry!" "Mrs. Kazami!" "Are you in?" "Did I wake you?" "I'm sorry." "You were sound asleep, huh?" "I'm going to play golf." "I've brought crab and flatfish." "For you." "Put them in the refrigerator." "I can't accept." "Take them away." "I'm sorry about the other day." "I haven't had a woman for so long." "I just want to say sorry." "By the way, did you think it over?" "The nerve!" "Get out!" "Just keep company with me." "I'm nicer than you think." "I hate you!" "Help!" "Go away!" "Don't be so mean." "Who are you?" "Outside!" "What?" "Scram!" "I'll remember this!" "I'll get you for it." "You all right?" "That him?" "You're carrying cow dung?" "Come." "I stepped on a meadow pie!" "Ass!" "Who the hell are you?" "Answer!" "Never mind." "We're the three Abuta brothers." "We're well known around here." "And I was treated like that." "My brothers can't ignore it." "We want to fight." "Say something." "If you don't want to, then apologize!" "Okay, let's fight." "But the kid's watching." "Let's go to the field." "All right." "Let's go!" "Don't tell your mom, okay?" "You first." "It hurts!" "Ass!" "Jiro, you next." "Wait a minute." "It's your turn." "I'm sorry." "I apologize." "Forgive me." "Let's make up, okay?" "Thank you." "Serves you right!" "Your supper." "What is it?" "You're strong, huh?" "Takeshi." "You didn't tell your mom?" "I did." "You told her?" "Didn't I say not to?" "Men don't break promises." "Mom said to give you this." "It's sake." "There he is!" "Let's go." "Let's make up." "I'll treat you." "No thanks." "I'm a Hokkaido man." "Once I like you, " "I'll take care of you." "Let's go drink." "It's kind of you, but..." "I must do something for you." "I'm a little tired." "Tired?" "Let's have a party here." "Come in." "Good evening." "Sorry about a while ago." "He's tired." "Let's do it here." "Bring the food and stuff." "What about girls?" "Girls?" "Send them in." "Sorry they're all beasts." "Not going to Kushiro?" "Never mind." "You too." "Let me introduce you." "Neoko, Reiko and Yoshiko." "Be quiet." "Let's clap hands and make up." "What are they doing?" "I don't know." "The fish is burning." "Takeshi, Takeshi..." "Takeshi..." "What?" "What, Mom?" "Mister!" "Mister, Mom fell!" "Where is she?" "Does it hurt?" "Don't move her." "We're coming soon." "Hitomi!" "I phoned them." "They're coming soon." "You all right?" "Does it hurt?" "Go away." "Mom's sick." "They're here." "It may hurt." "All right?" "Go over there." "Put something under her head." "Hurry!" "You go with her." "I'll close the door." "Close it slowly." "Don't worry about your house." "I'll come to the hospital later." "Ready?" "I'll start." "You worked too hard." "It'll take about two weeks." "Must I be hospitalized?" "Yes." "Arrange it." "She's in a bad condition, huh?" "She has to lie still for two weeks." "About her children..." "She has a boy." "Your health insurance card and chop." "This is from Mrs. Saito." "From Igarashi, too." "I've bought pajamas for you." "How's Takeshi?" "He refused to move in and live with me." "I sent Hitomi... to cook for him." "Sorry to trouble you." "It's no trouble." "She's on vacation now." "This might be your only chance to take a rest." "Appreciate it while you can." "Come to think of it, you're lucky to have that man." "Otherwise you'd have to hire some help, - and that'd cost plenty." "Does it hurt?" "I'm sorry." "Mr. Abuta!" "Is Mrs. Kazami here?" "Yes." "It's hard on you, isn't it?" "Come in." "No, thanks." "This is for her." "Get well soon, goodbye." "Let me know if you need me." "Your lunch." "I'm glad it's only a ruptured disk." "But if you go on like this, - you'll really get sick." "It will be too late to regret." "Don't worry." "I'm stronger than I look." "But it's too much work for a woman who's alone." "People speculate how long it'll be before you qut " "I know." "Aren't you thinking... you shouldn't sell the land... because Seiji left it to you?" "That's not it." "He once told me, when he got sick, that if he died, " "I ought to sell the land and move to town." "He said that?" "But... even if I move to town... with Takeshi, then what?" "I don't have any skills." "What could I do?" "Come to think of it." "Keeping cows is better, even if it is hard." "That's what I think." "I wonder how long you'll be able to do it." "Takeshi, we'll go get the cows." "Come on." "Ready?" "Hello?" "Are you listening?" "I'm much better now." "I can come to phone you." "I'll be fine soon." "Have you eaten?" "Sure." "Is Hitomi a good cook?" "No." "Still, she's doing her best for you." "You should eat it all." "Yeah, I know." "And how is he?" "I see." "Well, thank him for me." "Understand?" "I'll hang up now." "We came to help you." "Boss, good morning!" "What are you doing?" "Fool!" "You came to see me?" "There she is!" "You look much better." "Does it still hurt?" "Thanks for watching Takeshi." "What's wrong?" "Are you shy?" "What's the matter?" "Hitomi went home." "So you're lonely?" "All right, sleep here." "Are you lonely because your father's dead?" "My father..." "He died when I was your age." "Was he sick?" "No." "His business failed." "He couldn't pay his debts." "There was a bridge near our house." "He hanged himself there." "My mother wasn't with us then." "I lived with my father and brother." "When we heard about it, - my brother and I went to get him." "We took his body down... from the bridge." "We put him on a cart." "We covered him with a mat." "Then the two of us pulled the cart home." "People in town came to watch." "I was so sad I almost started to cry." "But my brother said." ""Don't cry!" "We'll look like sissies!"" "That's what he said." "So..." "I did my best to bear it." "I held back the tears and just walked." "You didn't cry?" "No..." "I didn't." "For a man to live, - there are lots of things he must endure." "So, just because your mom is in the hospital, - it's nothing to cry about." "Got it?" "Good." "Go to sleep." "It's Mom!" "I'm glad you're well." "Thanks for everything." "It's been a long time." "I appreciate your taking care of things." "Welcome home." "I want to ride the horse." "You can't." "How come?" "Did you lie?" "Tamiko, tea is ready." "Excuse me." "Where's the Kazami house?" "It's that one." "I once came here." "But it's such a big place." "Thank you." "So many books!" "Seiji liked literature." "You must be surprised to see such a mess." "Thank you for coming." "Are you tired?" "My wife Kayoko." "Greet her." "Hello." "I'm Kayoko." "How do you do." "I'm Tamiko." "I'm glad you married a man like him." "She's too good for you." "She's always sarcastic." "She beats me." "Our gifts." "Take them out." "How long did it take from Hakata?" "We came to Kushiro by ferry and stayed a night at Akan." "Then we came by car." "A deluxe tour." "This is our only chance to see you." "For you." "Here." "There's more." "You shouldn't." "Your pay is low." "I got money for gifts." "Hello!" "Why, Mr. Kondo!" "Guests?" "My cousin and his wife." "They're on a honeymoon." "Honeymoon?" "That's nice." "Mr. Kondo does fertilizing." "Fertilizing?" "Will you excuse me?" "Busy, aren't you?" "Since when?" "Last evening." "Let's go see it." "What kind of fertilizing?" "You don't know?" "Go and change." "We've got to hurry." "You from Tokyo?" "Yes, I work there." "Never seen this, huh?" "Finished so soon?" "Will she be fertilized?" "It's 95 percent sure." "Great, isn't it?" "How about you?" "Want a shot?" "No thanks." "We'll do it ourselves." "We'll go for a walk." "Let me introduce you." "This is Mr. Tajima." "He's helping me." "My cousin and his wife." "How do you do." "We'll be going." "This is vast Hokkaido." "Like the Sound of Music." ""My Darling Clementine."" "What?" "About that man." "The hired hand?" "He's nice." "He's got long legs." "Why must you speak of legs... when I'm feeling happy?" "Forget it." "What's wrong?" "I'm not being sarcastic." "You lack in privacy." "You mean discretion?" "No back talk, understand?" "I'll make tea." "My cousin brought me cakes." "Here's another egg." "They lay eggs everywhere." "Kayoko." "Give me my pants." "They're right there." "He talks so loud." "That's enough." "Make some tea." "Mom, this one." "It's from Hakata." "I feel so good." "Thanks for the bath." "She told me about when you were a child." "She spoke ill of me, huh?" "You looked so cute when you were small?" "Yeah, big eyes, high nose, round face." "Like a little prince." "Round face?" "When I started junior high, my face got longer." "And his grades got lower." "Right." "You taught me English and Math." "Yes, I remember that." "When she was a student and walked in town, - the boys all looked at her." "No!" "Yes!" "They often asked me." "What?" "If I was really... your relative." "And they always said we didn't look at all alike." "Your mother was beautiful." "That's not true." "I wondered what sort of nice man... you'd marry." "But you insisted on marrying a Hokkaido farmer." "Did the relatives oppose it?" "But she never gave up." "Eventually you eloped." "You came to see me off at the station, didn't you?" "You remember?" "Of course." "I was so happy then." "Nobody else saw you off." "I felt sorry for you." "Cold?" "A little." "It gets cold at night." "Better go to bed." "Shall we?" "We'll turn in." "Good night." "Catch cold?" "I don't think so." "You need more fat." "Excuse me." "Thanks for the dinner." "Come and look at the stars." "Did they go to bed?" "Good night." "A shooting star!" "What's that?" "Fertilization." "How awful!" "My best to everyone." "We'll visit you again." "Always be happy." "What are you saying?" "It sounds like I'm not happy now." "Think so?" "We'll come again." "Takeshi, study hard." "We'll be going." "Take care." "What's the matter?" "I feel sorry for her." "And autumn came." "Mister!" "Give me a ride." "A ride!" "Stretch your body." "Didn't I tell you?" "Your thighs count most." "Okay?" "Good." "Take the reins lightly." "Keep it loose, let it walk." "Hold your thighs tighter." "Pull and it'll stop." "Good." "Let it walk again." "Mom!" "You feel great, huh?" "Pay me for the ride." "That's too much." "I'm scared." "It's your horse." "Yuka, move slowly." "Don't let go." "Kick it." "Don't!" "Go away!" "Go away." "Don't move." "Take a good look." "Horses have to be trained." "When I pull the reins it can't run." "You can see it's irritated." "See?" "When it's irritated enough, - ease up on the reins - and lean forward." "Watch." "Excuse me." "Is there a restaurant here?" "I don't think so." "You can try the inn." "I will, thanks." "An old woman runs it." "I don't know if she'll cook for you." "Brother." "Come running?" "How are you?" "Fine." "How about you?" "Some money for you." "I brought you a coffee maker." "I got it at a department store." "I don't know anything about coffee." "The clerk helped me." "Here, the beans." "About your school... you're on vacation?" "No, I resigned long ago." "Resigned?" "Why?" "Well, because... the papers said you were the suspect." "I couldn't go on... working as a teacher." "I was the one who did it." "You weren't involved." "The world thinks differently." "I'm sorry." "Don't be." "I don't mind." "I opened a little tuition centre." "I'm getting along." "You can't keep running forever." "Some day you'll have to give yourself up." "Don't you think so?" "How long will you stay here?" "I'd like to stay as long as I can." "In a place like this?" "Take care of yourself." "Thanks for coming." "It smells good." "You bought it?" "A gift from my brother." "You like coffee?" "I see." "I brought this for you." "He should have dropped in." "Where does he live?" "In Hakodate." "He's been taking care of me." "Oh?" "I only have sisters - so I don't know well about brothers." "But I suppose it's nice to have one." "Sometimes I wish." "Takeshi had a brother." "He's small, but he's still a man." "I'm his mother but sometimes I can't understand him." "Want some coffee?" "Me?" "Yes, thank you." "It's been a long time." "Like coffee?" "Yes, I often drank it when I was in Hakata." "You came all the way from the south?" "My family..." "My family ran a small hardware store." "My parents wanted me to inherit it, but..." "It's good!" "Isn't it hard on you?" "Haven't you considered giving up this place?" "I'd be finished if I did." "I always say never weaken." "My relatives want me... to give it up, too." "But I'm still at it." "But..." "Actually..." "It's hard on me, " "In winter the wind blows like a cyclone." "I don't weigh much." "I almost get blown away before." "I can reach the barn." "It's like that day after day." ""This time I'll quit."" "That's what I think." "But... when spring comes, - and everything turns green again, " "I think this year will bring me luck." "And it starts me going all over again." "Mom!" "The bath." "You know, Takeshi is always asking me..." "Asking what?" "How long you'll stay." "As long as you want." "I have nothing else to do." "Takeshi will be glad." "Thanks for the coffee." "About the race." "You'll really do it?" "If you don't mind." "Can she run?" "Yuka is old." "She'll do all right." "I'd better go give her a pep talk." "Good night." "Nosappu is in front by a nose." "Nosappu wins!" "He did it!" "The pony race is on." "The lighter the pony, the better." "The top group has already goaled in." "What's that?" "Hey, chin up!" "It looks bushed." "Eat this, too." "You're here?" "The 9th race." "The 2000 meter trotter final will start soon." "All riders and owners get ready." "Let's go." "No. 3, Mrs. Tamiko Kazami's Yuka." "No. 4, Mr. Minoru Daido's Shinsho." "There." "No." "Let's get over there." "The race will start soon." "The horses are ready." "Both riders and horses are excited." "Yuka!" "Run!" "Trotters have a symmetrical running form." "They don't gallop like in big races." "Still, their form is interesting to watch." "It has rhythm." "No!" "She'll lose." "If they gallop for more than thirty meters - they're disqualified." "The leaders are in the second lap." "The leaders are fighting it out." "Lockheed, Disco Queen, then Yuka." "Yuka's catching up." "They're going into the third lap." "Disco Queen up front." "Nearing the fourth lap." "Yuka and Disco Queen fighting for the lead." "Yuka!" "Will it be Yuka or Disco Queen?" "It's Yuka!" "She crossed the line!" "Yuka wins!" "Yuka has won the Class!" "Trotter race." "You did it!" "It was a hard race, huh?" "Excuse me." "Aren't you Mr. Tajima?" "No, I'm not." "Not Mr. Tajima from Hakodate?" "I've never been to Hakodate." "By the way..." "I liked it so I bought it." "What do you think?" "You did it, huh?" "You sure did it." "Let's celebrate with a drink." "What do you think?" "He's about his size but the face is different." "Hurry up." "I can't see." "Better, isn't it?" "Wait here." "I'll be back soon." "Such an old man is dancing!" "What's that?" "Firecrackers." "Give them water, too." "How is it?" "It fits." "Good." "Thank you." "Listen..." "Starting tonight, stay in the house." "It gets cold at night." "I don't feel we're strangers any more." "Your bed is upstairs." "What a way to sleep!" "He got so tired today he's already asleep." "I'd never heard him shout so loudly." "You must be tired, too." "I'll prepare a bath for you." "Ma'am." "I'll resign." "I'll go on a trip." "When?" "Tomorrow." "Thank you for everything." "Have I done something wrong?" "No, nothing like that." "But the other day - you said you'd stay as long as I wanted you to." "I just took it for granted." "At that time it seemed the thing to say." "I knew I couldn't stay long." "Then, where will you go?" "What'll you do?" "And after you finish." "Won't you come here again?" "Ma'am." "Forgive me." "The fact is..." "I killed a man." "The police are after me." "My wife borrowed money from a loan shark." "The interest ran up, she couldn't pay." "She hanged herself." "I was away on a trip when she died." "I hurried home and held her wake." "The loan shark rushed in." "If it had been an accident, - you could have got the insurance!" "That's what he shouted at me." "I killed him." "That was two years ago." "I suspected you had some secret reason." "For two years, I've been on the run." "I've avoided people." "But for these past two months." "I almost forgot about it." "I've stayed too long." "I'll sleep over there." "How can I explain to Takeshi?" "Say what you think is best." "Good night." "Who is it?" "Me." "Come in and lock the door." "Something's wrong with the cow." "Miiko." "It's suffering." "I see." "I'll go soon." "It may have been poisoned by water hemlok " "I'll come right away." "What'll I do?" "I'm drunk." "I can't drive." "I'll manage." "Where are you going?" "What are you doing?" "Miiko, don't give up." "You're all right." "This is bad." "Will you get my bag?" "It's on the horse." "I wish I had some coffee." "We have coffee." "Good!" "I'll make some." "Please." "I'm drunk." "I feel sick." "I'll have to work all night." "What?" "Miiko will get an operation." "Bring the rags in the wardrobe." "Hurry!" "She might die." "Is she all right?" "Better not look." "If she dies, it'll be awful." "She's our best cow." "Will she be all right?" "Don't worry." "Stay in the house." "Don't go." "Don't go anywhere." "I'm so lonely." "Come here." "Don't let it move." "Hold it tight and don't let it move." "Thank you very much." "I'll stop by again this evening." "Have breakfast here." "Thanks, but I'll go home and sleep." "I'm so sleepy." "Thank you for coming." "He's going." "Where to?" "I don't know." "Go and say goodbye to him." "You're lying." "You're lying, huh?" "Yeah." "Say you're lying!" "Thanks for everything." "The days I spent here." "I'll never forget them." "Goodbye." "Where's he going?" "Where's he going?" "Where's he going?" "Give this to him." "Mister!" "Mister!" "Where are you going?" "Once again winter came." "The court has reached a verdict - concerning the murder " "committed by Kosaku Tajima." "The accused will step forward." "The sentence:" "Penal servitude for not less than two years - and not more than four." "The reason:" "On June 13, 1975, the accused, - then residing in Hakodate, - whose wife hanged herself... because she could not pay her debt, - held a wake for the deceased, during which... a moneylender, who also lived in Shinonome, Hakodate, " "suddenly appeared." "His name was Hachiro Matsunoda." "He lent money to the wife of the accused." "He was drunk." "He blamed her." "He shouted to the accused:" ""How will you make up for this?"" "It enraged the accused." "He struck the victim... in the face with his fists..." "How old is your boy?" "Six." "Ready for school." "That big already?" "How about yours?" "Twenty." "It costs money." "Time sure flies." "How's your wife?" "She's doing fine." "Same as ever." "Next stop Wakkanai." "We'll arrive at 3:16 and there will be - a six-minute station stop." "Three lunches." "Tea too." "How much?" "1350 yen." "The express for Abashiri will soon depart." "All passengers get aboard." "Your friend?" "In a way." "That reminds me." "You were picked up around here, right?" "Next stop Abashiri." "Abashiri... end of the line." "One more stop to jail." "Lunch?" "No thanks." "Hi!" "Glad to meet you." "It's been a long time." "So you quit raising cows and go back in town, huh?" "I heard you and your son are waiting... for your man to come home, right?" "It's nice to know." "You okay financially?" "Abuta is helping us." "That idiot?" "He's helping us?" "Is that a fact?" "Yes." "You're okay, then." "I'm glad to hear it." "May I give him a handkerchief?" "Sure."