"I tightened their collars before I left." "So that they wouldn't run away." "It is now 6:00 am." "Under these conditions, I can't let the Cessna fly out." "We're calling off the Second Cross-Winter Expedition, and Soya will now head back to Japan." "The fact that I'm alive, I owe it to those dogs." "And yet!" "Tell me why we can't go save the lives of just 15 dogs!" "Rather than making them starve to death all chained up," "I'll go end their lives with this." "Riki!" "Taro!" "Jiro!" "Deri!" "Jakku!" "I'm sorry..." "I'm sorry!" "Too bad, it says that the Second Cross-Winter Expedition was called off." "The 15 Sakhalin Huskies ended up just being left behind." "The Antarctic Cross-Winter Expedition did well, but what a mess it turned out to be at the end." "15 Sakhalin Huskies Left Behind at Showa Station" "Left Behind" "Onii-san..." "Silent Troop Remains in Chains 15 Sakhalin Huskies Left Behind at Showa Station" "Chance of Survival Extremely Low" "Atlantic Ocean" "You said you were at Botnnuten, right?" "Yes, about 200km from the station." "So you went by dog sled..." "Also..." "Yamazato, what are you doing?" "I'm making a meal for everyone." "I'd feel too bad to the dogs if we, the survivors, get sick." "The damaged screw just isn't working." "I don't think it's going to hold up until we get to Japan." "We have no choice but to get off the ship." "The people, the ship, we're wounded all over, aren't we?" "Leader!" "Leader Shirasaki!" "A telegram from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs." "Thanks." "What the..." "Shirasaki-han..." "It can't end." "It absolutely... cannot end." "After we arrive in Cape Town tomorrow, everyone will get off the Soya, and return to Japan by air." "Also, I have news for all of you." "The government is currently deliberating on the fate of the Third Antarctic Expedition, including the possibility of shelving it." "What do you mean deliberating?" "Apparently, the fact that the wintering over had to be called off and the fact that the dogs were left behind" "are being questioned by the government." "But this is just the beginning of the Antarctic expedition and the international joint expedition." "Isn't that why we were there as the first troop?" "Yes, of course." "If it gets canceled, does that mean everything we did" "was in vain?" "That ain't right." "Then the dogs died in vain too!" "It wasn't in vain!" "The dogs, the first expedition, the second expedition, we all worked hard the past year." "We're not going to let it go to waste." "As soon as we arrive in Japan, I'll try to persuade the government." "The continuation of the Antarctic expedition is one thing I will absolutely not concede." "Pochi" "Kuma from Monbetsu" "Shiro" "Kuro" "Jakku" "Taro" "Aka" "Pesu" "Goro" "Moku" "Riki" "Deri" "Anko" "Jiro" "Kuma from Furen (Taro and Jiro's father)" "In regards to the third expedition, for starters, Shirasaki-han and I will do our best." "That's our last responsibility as the leaders of the first expedition." "Kuramochi-han." "It probably won't make you feel better to hear me say don't blame yourself, but that was no one's fault." "We had no choice." "Won't you all raise your head?" "I understand how tough it is for you, but... you're the ones who made Japan's first cross-winter expedition a success." "To live up to the expectation of all of Japan, you're the ones who worked desperately and survived in Antarctica" "for a whole year." "Won't you raise your head?" "Let's hold our head up high, hold our chest out," "and go home to Japan." "If don't hold our head up high, how we can we face the dogs." "Everyone." "In the days ahead," "please carry on with your life making the best of the things you experienced and learned in Antarctica." "Please pass that legacy." "I think... that's your final responsibility." "What... do we do to fulfill our final responsibility?" "Haruo-kun." "When Onii-chan comes home, we'll have to give him a proper "Welcome home", won't we?" "Riki..." "Riki..." "Final responsibility..." "What the hell can I do?" "Science Council of Japan Building, Tokyo" "Ministry of Finance, see you around." "Yes." "Shirasaki-san, Hoshino-san, this way please." "Then we'll be on our way now." "Thank you for everything." "It's about the third expedition, huh?" "Inuzuka, Shiroko and the puppies..." "I'll take them to Hokkaido." "I'll come with you." "Since there's Riki's matter as well." "First thing you have to do is" "go see your dad with your head held up high." "Yes, but..." "Besides, I haven't decided when I'm going yet." "I'll call you when I've decided." "Alright." "Funaki." "Yes." "Do you think I can use one of Maritime Safety Agency's warehouse?" "I need a place to keep Shiroko and the puppies." "I'm heading back to the Agency now" "so I'll ask them." "I'll be there later too." "Boss." "Thank you for everything." "Good bye, then." "At least, he looks like he's coming around." "Tokyo University, Geological Research Office" "You guys... didn't die in vain, you hear?" "Shirasaki Sensei, thank you for everything." "My resignation letter has been submitted to the President." "I have to go write a report, so..." "Alright." "I'll leave this with you." "Thanks." "I'll take you to Hokkaido soon, okay?" "I heard you quit the University?" "This place was awesome when we left, wasn't it?" "They were expecting great things." "From us... and from the dogs." "Kuramochi, did you quit the University to organize the third expedition?" "What are you planning to do now?" "I'm thinking about visiting the dogs' owners to let them know that their dogs didn't die in vain." "Letting them know," "I think, is about the only thing I can do right now." "Won't it be a painful journey for you?" "We're finally standing shoulder to shoulder with the world." "Japan went to Antarctica for the first time and built a station in a place considered impossible by the rest of the world." "We succeeded in reaching the summit of Botnnuten for the first time as well." "Japan is finally at the starting line." "This is where it starts." "This is the beginning of Antarctica." "Everyone's gone home already." "Welcome home." "I'm back." "What?" "You quit the University?" "I'm thinking about going to Hokkaido after this to tell the owners about their dogs." "I don't want the lost lives to go to waste." "I don't think... you need to go that far to shoulder the responsibility." "I'm sure... those guys were waiting for us to come back." "They were waiting for us, but we..." "I've been waiting too." "After you come back from Hokkaido, you're going to Antarctica again, aren't you?" "I wish you the best." "I don't think I'll be going anymore." "The third expedition is still under deliberation, and even if it gets approval to go," "I..." "Onii-san..." "Anyway, when I'm done with this, when I'm done with this..." "I'll call you." "Is he still lying around in his room?" "Leave him alone." "Shiro..." "Pochi." "Kuma from Monbetsu 4 years old, deceased" "Isn't it about time we put away Riki's house?" "Let's...send him off to heaven now, huh?" "I think Riki would be happier if we did that." "I think so too." "What do you think, Haruka?" "Sapporo, Hokkaido" "Tomu..." "Moku" "Mine" "You guys remembered me?" "Mine, how have you been?" "Tomu, alright." "What are you doing?" "Hello, it's been a while." "After this..." "I was going to pay a visit to your house." "Regarding Riki..." "Please don't." "But Ryo-kun and Haruka-chan..." "You killed Riki!" "The children... believed you and entrusted Riki in your care." "You left Riki there to die!" "Please leave right now!" "Go, now!" "Now!" "Ayako, stop it!" "Stop it." "They were just beginning to forget." "Please leave them alone!" "Stop it!" "Haruka, let's throw those out too." "I wonder if it didn't work because we didn't finish..." "I apologize for my daughter's behavior earlier." "But she's had it tough too." "Ryo's older, so he's easier to handle, but" "Haruka's, you know..." "Furutachi-san." "For leaving behind... your precious dogs..." "I'm sorry." "You guys had a tough time too, didn't you?" "No..." "These... belonged to Bekku and Tetsu, huh?" "Bekku died of a kidney disease." "Tetsu... died... in peace." "I see..." "When Bekku and Tetsu, fell critically ill," "I wasn't at the station, but both of them... hung in there and" "waited for my return." "Aka," "Kuma from Monbetsu, Kuma from Furen," "Anko," "Jakku, Shiro, all of them really... worked hard for us." "We were able to build the Showa Station and climb Botnnuten because... because they all worked really, really hard." "I see..." "They worked hard, huh?" "So, we brought back Shiroko and her puppies who were born in Antarctica, but..." "I was wondering, will you take them?" "I'd be happy to." "Thank you." "It must have been tough for you to come all the way from Tokyo." "You have your job too." "Actually, I quit the University?" "Why?" "Because..." "I left those guys behind." "Jakku 4 years old, deceased" "Kuramochi-san... quit the University to take responsibility for the dogs?" "That's part of it, but he must have other things on his mind too." "Besides, Kuramochi-kun said he came to tell the owners about their dogs." "Why would he do that..." "I suppose...it's his final responsibility?" "This is Kuro in Antarctica." "Kuro had a very good sense of direction..." "And who's the one who abandoned our Kuro in Antarctica!" "I'm sorry." "Why do you think the dogs were sacrificed?" "Why do you think the First Expedition lived through Antarctica taking risk of endangering their lives!" "We are well aware of that." "This is just the beginning of Antarctic expedition." "10 years, 20 years from now, if Japan is to catch up with and surpass the rest of the world, we can't afford to stop here." "Hello." "(Moku's home)" "Is anyone home?" "Budget Proposal for the Third Antarctic Expedition?" "I may be out of line, but please take this into consideration too." "Himuro-kun..." "I thought of it as a person who lived there for a year." "I'll come again, Moku." "Moku 3 years old, deceased" "Kuro 4 years old, deceased" "Inuzuka." "Sorry I'm late." "So Soya's finally come home." "This old junk really worked hard for us." "Shirasaki-san, what about the repairs to get ready for the next one?" "Can you wait..." "just a little bit longer?" "Certainly." "By the way, where's Kuramochi-san?" "He went to Hokkaido." "Ryo-kun, Haruka-chan." "I'm sorry." "The promise..." "I couldn't keep it." "Haruka, let's go." "Ryo-kun..." "Ryo-kun." "Ryo-kun, there's something" "I want to give to both of you." "What is it?" "Pictures of Riki... when we were in Antarctica." "It's Riki..." "We don't want them! So what's the scoop?" "Is there gonna be a third expedition?" "It's hard to tell yet." "What's that?" "Oh..." "It's my trophy from the time we got lost in Botnnuten." "I can't get myself to throw it away for some reason." "If... if they were able to get out of their collars, some of them might have gone there." "I wonder..." "Shiro 3 years old, deceased" "Riki... was smiling, wasn't he?" "He was mad." "What are you talking about?" "You know, we saw pictures of Riki." "What do you mean pictures of Riki?" "Kuramochi-san brought them over the other day." "Kuramochi-san came to our house?" "We're taking it away now." "Oh..." "Yes, please." "I wonder if Riki was happy to be in Antarctica." "I hope he was happy..." "Deri 6 years old, disappeared" "Hiyama Farm." "This is it." "Taro" "Jiro..." "Kuramochi-san." "I heard from my father that you're going around visiting each house." "Our place too..." "I'm sorry." "I know I'm acting out of line, but the fact that they" "once lived in" "Antarctica, the fact that gave it their all and ran, the fact that they endured and with gave it their all... to live out their lives," "I thought those guys would have wanted everyone to know that too." "Because... they were all alive once." "In the children's hearts, he's still alive." "Riki... how did he look in Antarctica?" "Will you tell the children about him?" "Aka 6 years old, deceased" "Pesu 5 years old, deceased" "Is this Riki mad?" "Or he is smiling?" "I'm sure he was happy." "Was Riki having fun in Antarctica?" "Yeah." "But to tell you the truth..." "we ran into a little difficulty at first." "How come?" "On the first day we arrived in Antarctica, we tried to get the dog sled going, but" "Kuma from Furen attacked and bit Riki." "Was Riki alright?" "Yeah." "His injury was minor, but" "Riki ended up losing the fight." "He lost his spirit, and lost his desire to run." "But... when Kuma from Furen attacked another dog, this time Riki gathered his courage and jumped on Kuma." "I think that was Riki's pride as the leader." "And so, Riki defeated Kuma." "He got his spirit back." "He led the other dogs as their leader." "And then?" "Riki is the savior of my life." "What's a savior?" "Someone... you want to thank the most." "Actually, I... got lost in Antarctica." "The ones who got my comrades to come rescue me were Riki and" "Taro and Jiro, two brother dogs." "So" "the fact that I'm alive now talking to you like this," "I owe it all to Riki and the other dogs." "They were always with me." "When we were building the Showa Station, when we went to climb the mountain, they were always by my side." "In spite of that... the promise," "the promise to bring him back for sure," "I couldn't keep it..." "I'm so sorry." "Riki worked hard, right?" "He was alive and well, right?" "Yeah." "Was he doing his jump and bark?" "Yeah." "He was." "He was, huh..." "One thing... can I ask you one thing?" "What was" "Riki..." "to Kuramochi-san?" "He was my comrade." "An invaluable comrade with whom we entrusted each other's life" "in Antarctica." "I see." "Thank you very much." "Good bye!" "Good bye!" "Kuramochi-san!" "That's..." "The children made these for Riki a while ago, but the ship left before they were finished." "If the next expedition goes..." "Absolutely." "I'll make sure they get it." "I wonder how Riki looks now?" "Riki's gone to heaven now." "You never know." "Riki's strong, you know." "Besides, he's with the other dogs too." "Haruka." "From here on out, we'd like to deliberate by ourselves." "Please wait for our determination." "Thank you." "How do you look now, Riki?" "How do you look now," "Taro, Jiro?" "I sure wish I could see you guys again." "Riki's gone to heaven now." "You never know." "Riki's strong, you know." "And, he's with the other dogs too." "Once more..." "Hello?" "Alright." "I was wrong." "The thing I can do was to believe that those guys are alive." "Is that right?" "I'm not sure what will happen, but" "I'll do my best so that I can go with the third expedition." "Thank you for everything." "Me too." "Thank you." "Oh, excuse me." "Yes, this is Furutachi." "Hey!" "Hoshino-kun." "What?" "!" "Alright, got it!" "Kuramochi-kun, it was officially announced that the third expedition will be going." "This is the beginning, isn't it..." "Yes." "This is the beginning." "Mr. Deputy Minister, the personnel selection for the expedition will be made from this, right?" "For now, I've decided on the recruitment criteria." "No way..." "This means..." "Miyuki-chan!" "I decided to... go to Antarctica one more time." "I don't know what lies ahead, but" "I want to go and bring those guys back." "4." "Those who participated in the First and Second Expeditions will be excluded." "Kuramochi..."