"When no longer boggy, it's time to prepare the soil." "Lime speeds the plants' growth, so we start with plenty of that." "Then straw compost to firm the soil's texture." "For fertilizer, use traditional ones..." "bone meal and the like they're tried and true and last the longest." "They'll do the trick." "Forgot my basket." "From the ground an old buddy came out" "Oh my god!" "Dynamite!" "Oh my god!" "The carnival" "Oh my god!" "Dynamite!" "Oh my god!" "The carnival..." "Hey, best not wander outdoors." "Today they're crop spraying." "See the helicopter there?" "Crop spraying... helicopter?" "Bare Essence of Life" ""Schedule of Activities 6am Get up..."" "How to grow late fall cabbages." "Here we go, Yojin." "1." "Plant in late June." "Timed when hydrangeas bloom." "2." "Don't forget both fertilizer and compost." "And with cabbage... you should spread lime, too." "3." "Once carefully prepared, leave the mixture a day or two." "Otherwise the seed will get fertilizer burn." "4." "When sowing the seeds..." "Oh... what is this?" "Oh..." "My..." "God." "Oh my god..." "Oh my god!" "Grandma, I'm here..." "Eat up quick." "I listened carefully and did what you said..." "But my cabbages are full of holes." "Such a shock to find bugs behind every damn leaf." "Full of holes..." "what did I do wrong?" "Grandma, more rice please." "There's bread in the kitchen." "Give me pesticide, for the cabbages." "Pesticide?" "No way." "If it's for your own use... don't waste the spray." "Then show me what to do again." "I didn't understand Grandpa's tape." "My legs are killing me." "Let me get some rest." "Grandma, I'll take some pickles, then." "Where are you going?" "We're selling veg at 2pm." "Yojin here." "Yojin?" "It's Dr. Misawa." "What about your checkup?" "It's been 2 weeks already." "I forgot." "I'm just too busy." "When can you come?" "Tomorrow?" "The day after?" "Call when you're ready." "Okay." "I'll come now." "What, now?" "I'll wait for you, then." "Hurry." "Don't forget your insurance." "I know." "See you." ""Sell veg"" "Get rid of this..." ""At the doctor's"" "What the..." "Where's my insurance card?" "And my i/d..." "Where is it?" "Where did I put it?" "2 o'clock." "Departure time." "The sky looks fit to burst" "Watch out, he'll explode" "Seems he ate baking soda" "Watch out, everyone" "Run away, he's gonna blow!" "Take my blood pressure, too." "Get out of my way." "How are your legs?" "Terrible as always." "Just like my head." "We're both useless, huh..." "Right, and this place can't help us." "Yojin, sit down." "Let's begin." "Give me that." "Take a breath." "Close your mouth." "Doc, patch things up with your son?" "Turn around." "Hey, stop it." "What'll happen?" "When you die, we'll have no doctor." "Reconcile with your boy, have him take over." "Again." "Breathe in and hold it, okay?" "Do it properly." "Take a deeper breath then hold it. 1, 2, 3..." "Gimme medicine." "If I take it, no need to be here, eh?" "Idiot, I'm not doing that." "Call your son in Tokyo." "He'll send some." " I'll do it, then." " Cut it out." "I'm through with you." "Get out of here." "Next patient." "I'll examine you." " It's not a toy, idiot." " We're ready for you." "Shinsen, Machiko... not a local surname." "You're not from Aomori." "Born in Tokyo." "I just arrived." "So I reckoned." "You used to have a great sense of humor." ""Psychic consultation"" "He was obviously attracted to that." "A sense of humor, really?" "You're pretty obstinate, too." "That was hard for him." "One day, he just didn't come back." "No answer from his cell phone." "I want to know where he is now." "The guy had his soul taken away." "He's empty." "But popular with women." "Good at the sweet talk." "That's how he steals hearts." "He made the move when we first met." "Of course." "His type can't be without a woman." "He's dead, isn't he?" "Yes." "I knew it." "How did he die?" "An accident." "He was driving." "Was he alone?" "No, he wasn't." "Another woman?" "Yes." "A girl I didn't know." "Was she killed, too?" "Badly injured." "Still in hospital apparently." "We lived together for nearly two years, yet..." "I never knew what was on his mind." "I couldn't bear Tokyo any more so I came to Aomori." "I decided to consult you straight away." "I see." "It's sad that he died empty..." "But you and I are empty, too." "Empty?" "His head was taken off in the accident." "They still haven't found it." "Is that why he's empty?" "He lost his head?" "Goodness..." "They didn't find it?" "What are the police up to?" "Is there anything he wants to tell me?" "Shouldn't think so." "I want to know what I meant to him." "What you meant to him?" "Shouldn't think he has a clue." "Know what he means to you, do you?" "Don't think about that stuff." "Get on with your new life." "It's not good to get all worked up." "Don't try to find answers right away." "Someone else might come along and show you the way." "Got it?" "All right." "Can you call Ms. Tsushima?" "Ms. Tsushima?" "That's right, she's waiting outside." "Oh, okay." "Thank you very much." "Not at all." "Take care." "Fresh, organic vegetables." "Plucked from nature's bounty today." "We've got all kinds, y'know." "No need to go to the store." "Gather around." " Yojin." " Let's get together." "Yojin!" "We're all friends..." "You changed the schedule again yesterday." "Grandma... sorry." "Sorry!" "I'm so sorry, so sorry..." ""Kaneshiro Kindergarden"" "These days if a store cheats... even slightly on a sell by date, people get up-in-arms... and accuse it of fraud." "That's right." "My Granny... she wolfs down cheap stale bread, hard as nails... and chugs milk the texture of yogurt, as grateful as can be." "And she's 98 and fit-as-a-flea." "Wow, that's one tough old lady." "And the veggies they all grow nowadays..." ""Pesticide-free, all organic" they say." "Next door's Eiko, was so strict about that, only organic and ate no meat whatsoever, too." "Then at 35 she kills herself." "What a tragedy." "What's wrong with the world?" "Well done." "Thank you girls." "Now then, let me introduce your new teacher." "Here's Miss Shinsen, Machiko." "Nice to meet you all." "I'll be taking the Dolphin Class." "I'm Machiko." "Let's all have fun, playing like dolphins." "We sure will." " Yojin's here." " Please call me Miss Machiko." " Yojin, Yojin!" " I love to sing." "Where are you?" " I'll teach you lots of songs." " It's the veggie sellers." "Sorry but would you go summon them?" "I got a bad leg and can't run." "Go get the truck?" "That's right, the gate's that way." "Excuse me!" "Excuse me..." "I'm from the kindergarden." "Principal wants you to stop by." "You're the new hire?" "Yes, while my colleague's on maternity leave." "Miss Kaoru's pregnant, huh?" "Okay, we'll be right there." "You scared me." "I didn't see you there." "Clear behind." "Keep coming." "Clear behind." "Clear behind." "Keep running, keep running..." "We've arrived." "I'll introduce you." "This is Ms. Motsu who helps with the potato festival each year." "This is Miss Machiko, substituting for Miss Kaoru." "How do you do?" "I'm Machiko." "Nice to meet you" "Not from Aomori, huh?" "I'm from Tokyo." "It's my first time here." "All the way from Tokyo." "Well done." "Give it back, you jerks." "That's Yojin, her grandson." "He also helps with the potato festival." "This year, I'm letting him grow his own." "If he can't stand on his own two feet, he'll never make any progress." "Principal, maybe Miss Machiko can take charge of the potatoes this year?" "Yeah, not a bad idea." " Me, in charge of potatoes?" " Shut your traps!" "Organizing the festival." "You meet with Yojin, sort out the schedule etc." "Diarrhea pants!" "I'll be working with you regarding the potatoes." "Same here..." "You noisy little jerks!" "Give me my cucumber." "Give it back!" "Give it back to me!" "Let me have it!" "9 o'clock..." "Watering..." "Mowing..." "Okay... 7 o'clock... breakfast." "9 o'clock... mowing." "When the leaves wither it should be about time." "That's the end." "When the leaves get about this high, the potatoes should be about ping pong size." "Harvest should wait a little longer." "These are tiny..." " Yojin, don't pull 'em up early." " This is hard." "They're going to take ages." "C'mon, you spuds..." "Futoshi, I want to buy pesticide." "What's going on?" "I want to kill the bugs." "Give me chemicals." "Pesticide?" "No way." "The tomatoes and spuds are in a bad way." "I'll blast 'em with chemicals." "I got to make 'em right." "Fix it yourself." "Learn to dig them in right." "Listen to the tape again." "I'm the leader of the potato festival." "I got to get it right." "Quick, give me chemicals." "No." "Just chucking pesticide around won't improve the vegetables." "Yojin..." "Yojin." "Hey, Yojin." "I'm going to Tokyo soon, to join a theater group." "I won't be able to hang out with you." "Okay for me to go, too?" "How could it be?" "Anyway, keep your voice down." "You still seeing the doctor?" "Nope." "He won't give me medicine." " Here, try these glasses on." " These?" " Read this." " Oh, thanks." "Please, give me some pesticide." "No." "You never have money anyway." "Look." "So give me some." "No way." "You tight jerk!" "Hey, what are you doing?" "Shut up, you old bag." "For chrissakes..." "My legs are so bad." "Doc says they might pack in any day." "You've got to be independent." "Buy a new truck and some land, and get yourself a wife." "I am independent." "Nonsense." "You can't even grow decent potatoes." "As things are, even if you wanted, no woman would want you." "I've got money ready for the wedding, y'know." "I know." "In the drawer by the family altar." "So you know?" "Granny, I got a woman to marry." "We'll use up all that cash." "What?" "You, a fiancee?" "What're you talking about?" "I'm getting married." "I'll introduce you." "What nonsense." "You're barely half a man, as it is." "I'm independent but soon I'll be in a team." "Watch out." "Keep your eyes on the road." "I am independent." "You've driven past it." "Dr. Misawa's no good." "I'll take you somewhere else." "Forget it." "Just turn back." "I'll go sell the vegetables then come back for you." "Today you're in their hands." "What for?" "See you." "Motsu's pesticide-free veg!" "Freshly picked from nature's bounty." "Better for you than a trip to Dr. Misawa... and more likely to cure you." "Come and get your veggies!" "Spring onions... and tomatoes, too." "Onions and tomatoes." "How many?" "Five tomatoes, three spring onions and two cabbages." "Five tomatoes..." "You'll never eat all these on your own." "Don't let our veg rot will you?" ""Our" veg?" "Who grew 'em, then?" "Mostly it was me." "My Grandma just harvests them." "You really didn't use pesticide?" "Are they edible?" "Totally organic." "It's insulting that you ask." " Maybe I won't sell 'em." " Then I won't buy." "What're you doing?" "I don't want 'em." "I'm not selling 'em!" "I won't sell them." "Hey, what's going on!" "Stop that." "Cut it out." "What are you doing?" "!" "C'mon, stop it!" "Stop this." "Whatever are you thinking?" "Quit it, will ya?" "Get out of here." "Can't catch me." " What the..." " Let's all calm down." "Cut it out!" "What the hell..." "Where?" "Miss Machiko, thanks very much." " You're welcome." " Sure." " See you tomorrow." " You, too." "Hey, don't put it in your mouth." "Don't do that." "Wonder when your parents will get here?" "Ah, a monster!" "Miss Machiko, it's a monster." "Monster..." "Yes, it's Yojin." "Your work's not done yet, Miss?" "What are you doing?" "Go home, you jerk!" "These kids' parents haven't turned up yet." "What brings you today?" "To see you." "Let me walk you home." "I can't leave 'til the parents come." "Are you okay 'til your folks come, eh?" " No, we're not." "Clear off." " Yeah, scram." "Please don't suggest such a silly thing." "Please don't suggest such a silly thing." "He came to pick you up, right?" "Go with him." "I can wait alone." "He's right." "Let's go, Miss Machiko." "Miss, he's eating boogers again!" "Hey, I told you not to." "It's fine, he won't die." "Leave him be and let's go." "Get out of here." "I'll walk you home." "C'mon." "Close it, close it." "Close 'em all." "He's making a funny face." "Ugly!" "Open up, Miss Machiko." "Miss!" "Miss, I'll be fine, really." "You can go." " I'll wait here with you." "Okay?" " Miss Machiko, his parents are here." "His parents have arrived." " Miss, they're coming." " They're here." "Come and see." "Just kidding." "Let's go." " Stop it!" " Miss Machiko..." " C'mon, Miss!" " Help!" "What the hell are you doing?" " I came to pick up Miss Machiko." " Let her go!" "Release her!" "Hey...!" "My Dad's here." "My back... you jerk, get off me." "Yojin's an asshole." "It's our weekly fashion police report." "So you're here in Tokyo for the shopping?" "Yes, that's right." "For clothes, mainly." "Now for today's fashion hint..." "Sorry I forgot about you yesterday." "You better stay home, do nothing for a while." "Don't you want help with the rice?" "No." "Stay out of the paddies, the wheat fields, too." "Am I allowed to eat?" "Just plain white rice." "Forgive me, Grandma." "I'll take you on a trip to Tokyo." "Forget it." "TV's plenty for me." "Stay at home." "You're grounded." "Not again..." ""Confined to quarters"" "Cut it out!" "It's cold." "Don't." "Kid, come over here." "Me?" "Yeah, quick." "C'mon!" "These'll do." "I've got an idea." "It's run out." "You're awake?" "You feel okay?" "Don't get up." "Stay down." "What's up?" "Why am I here?" "You idiot." "You were buried in the field." "What the hell happened?" "Right." "I was playing out there." "You were covered in pesticide." "Fool." "You feel bad anywhere?" "Not at all." "Does it hurt anywhere?" "No." "It's quiet." "It's really quiet..." "Quiet?" "Of course it is." "It's night time." "He should be examined tomorrow." "It was a lot of pesticide." "Please do that." "I stepped on a cat, I stepped on a cat" "I stepped on a cat and it scratched me" "It scartched me, it scratched me" "Cat was shocked and it scratched me" "What a bad cat, cut your claws" "Get off the roof and shave your whiskers" "Can you take them for a sec?" "Not again." "Stay away, please." "Don't come any closer." "Forgive me for being rude the other day." "Miss Machiko, what time do you finish today?" "I'll be done when I'm done." "May I wait 'til you're done?" "I won't be done for ages." "How many hours is "ages"?" "Four or five hours." "Four or five hours." "Okay, I'll be waiting." "Miss Machiko, welcome back." "What time is it?" "Five o'clock." "Right on time." "Last year we tried making fluffy boiled potatoes." "What shall we do this year?" "Miss Machiko, how's your potato cooking?" "I don't really use potatoes much." "I prefer eggplants, so they're my specialty." "Next year, let's make it an eggplant festival." "But digging up potatoes is more fun for the kids." "Oh, I see." "Miss Machiko, you pay attention to the details, huh?" "Yojin, you're a different guy today." "How do you mean?" "I never thought I could talk to you like this." "You prefer the old or the new me?" "The new one, maybe..." "Can I have your cell phone number?" "I can call if I have a good idea for the potato festival?" "Wait, I'll write it down." "You got pen and paper?" "I'll write mine, too." "Give me another sheet." "And a pen..." " Here." " Thank you." "Here." "Here." "Thank you." "I don't have a cell phone." "Really?" "That's unusual." "I used to but I phoned so many folk the bill was really high." "Grandma took it off me." "You like to chat, huh?" "Yeah, I'm a chatterbox." "Miss Machiko, shall we go to town after work tomorrow?" "You busy?" "I was planning on giving the kids a special class." "Their parents turn up so late." "I want to use that time..." "A special class?" "Like what?" "To teach them about living things, the planet, the world..." "I want to teach them so many things." "Wow, that's amazing, Miss Machiko." "Can I come along?" "No, you can't." "Why not?" "It's for the children." "And you're a grown-up, right?" "Right." "I'm not a child, huh?" "How's next Sunday, then?" "Is there someone you like?" "A "special someone"?" "There is." "Wow... a special someone?" "I'm twenty-five but I've never had a special someone." "Well, I'm heading that way." "Okay, let's do this again some time." ""Got bitter gourds from Yamamoto's." "Woke."" ""Farmers' co-op." "Futoshi not there."" ""Met Miss Machiko." "She has special someone." "Date to walk home."" "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain." "The sixth sheik's sixth sheep is sick." "Round the ragged rock the ragged rascal ran." "Peter piper picked a peck... of pickled pepper." "Futoshi, what're you doing?" "Elocution exercises... for next month's audition." "Don't bother me." "You okay after that pesticide?" "Had a check-up?" "No, 'cause I feel great." "Jeez, you could've sued for huge compensation." "Jerk!" "You're the jerk." "Rubber baby buggy bumpers." "Three thick thistle sticks." " Three thick thistle sticks." " The slippery slug slides slowly." "She sells sea shells on the sea shore." "Tripped a tricky trap." "How many saws could a see-saw saw... if a see-saw could saw saws no more." "Hey, what're you doing?" "Futoshi!" "This is bad!" "I need help, please." "Clean up your puke." "It's an emergency." "Gimme pesticide." "No way." "I said no." "Look." "Wait outside tonight." "This is the voicemail message box..." "You got a photo of him?" "I didn't bring one today." "Really..." "Then close your eyes and remember his face." "Do you hear anything?" "Nothing." "Exactly." "Me neither." "I sense people talking but not what they're saying." "I'm no clairvoyant, see..." "The living listen carefully for the voices of the dead." "Keep listening, even if they don't understand what's said." "Keep that up until you die." "Got it?" "Got it, right?" "Okay, that's it for today." "I'm done, dears." "Machiko, let's play." "Grandma's no clairvoyant." "What're you talking about?" "Hey, give it back." "What's it say?" "Who's it from?" "Your headless guy?" "Hey, come back here." "They didn't find his head yet, right?" "Where can it have gone, that head of his?" "I know." "At night, it flies above the fields, saying "Where's my body gone?"" "That's why he's been calling." "That's him, Mr. Headless." "His head's after us!" ""Public Telephone"" "Don't touch." "Money first." "You tight bastard." "Forget it, then." "Go home." "Okay, okay..." " That's for the chemicals." " Chemicals..." "And this is your reward." "Why is it in coins?" "I called Miss Machiko." "The teacher?" "Don't tell me you fell for her?" "Yeah, I like Miss Machiko." "That's too bright." "Quick, choose what you want." "50,000 yen's worth." "Which is it?" "Whichever." "Gimme 50,000 of the good stuff." "What do you mean "good stuff"?" "Herbicide, okay?" "For caterpillars. 50,000 yen." "Don't dazzle me." "You don't just use one kind." "Different agrichemicals in different combinations." "Otherwise the bugs get resistant." "After farming for 5 years you're still clueless." "Stop it!" "Okay for chrissakes." "Gimme 50,000 yen's worth." "Hurry or we'll get found out." "Quickly." " Don't." " Get a move on." "Put the light down." "Oh, forget it." "Please, I beg you." "Keep quiet, then." " Good for caterpillars..." " For caterpillars, right." " For caterpillars, okay?" " Caterpillars, okay." " 50,000 yen's worth..." " 50,000 yen, right." " Good for caterpillars." " Choose carefully." "50,000 yen's worth, good for caterpillars." "That Machiko's boyfriend was killed in a car wreck." "But she said there was a special someone." "Maybe she found someone else?" "His lover was in the passenger seat." "He was cheating on Machiko." "How come you know all this?" "Everyone's talking about it." "You're the last to know." "If he's dead, then she doesn't have anyone special, huh?" "No idea." "His head was knocked clean off in the crash." "They still haven't found it." "Scary, huh?" "He can't be her special someone without a head, eh?" "Quit talking about her "special someone"." "And keep your voice down." "What if we're caught?" "I'll be fired for sure." "But you're going to Tokyo for the theater." "It'd be perfect." "Jerk." "I'd lose my severance pay." "Keep quiet." "I can't hear you." "Speak up." "Why'd you get money to quit your job?" "That's just the way it is." "Where'd you get this cash?" "It's for my wedding ceremony." "What?" "Can you use it for this?" "This is for the wedding, it's fine." "Makes no sense, idiot!" "Let's get out of here." "Wait." "Lend me 10 yen will you?" ""Public Telephone"" "Kaname?" "Kaname?" "Miss Machiko?" "It's Yojin." "Is Kaname your boyfriend?" "The old one?" "Miss Machiko, is that you?" "Want to have dinner tomorrow?" "Tomorrow I'll be feeling much better." "When does school finish?" "I'll wait, then we'll get a bus..." ""Woke." "Ate." "Co-op." "Threw-up."" ""Miss Machiko." "Phone." "Bought pesticide." "Showered." "Sleep."" "Dear Mr. Kaname." "Nice to meet you." "My name's Mizuki, Yojin." "Are you Miss Machiko's old boyfriend?" "Are you dead already?" "Since I first met her, I've liked her." "Were you really cheating on her?" ""Mr. Kaname"" "I can't believe that you can love two people at once." "One is more than I can handle." "It'd be nice if I was the one she liked." "Maybe you know how she feels." "If possible, let me know." "What job did you do?" "I'm a farmer." "I've had a helicopter pattering around in my head since I was little." "As an adult, they found out... that my brain was different from regular people's." ""You're like Shogun Oda, Nobunaga."" ""So be strong." said Dr. Misawa." "He said my wiring's different." "Not broken, just different." "But after the chemical shower, like a strong wind blowing away the sand... leaving a clean concrete floor, the helicopter soars..." "Miss Machiko prefers me like this." "I want her to like me." "I can't wait to see her." "I'll write again soon." "From Mizuki, Yojin." "Miss Machiko, welcome back." "How was it?" "The special lesson went okay?" "How long have you been here?" "For ages." "But I shouldn't come in so stayed out here." "Don't come here so much." "My nerves can't take it." "Sorry I cut short our phone call." "Forget it." "Did you come especially to apologize?" "Yes." "Are you tired?" "You should rest." "I'm not tired, so don't worry." "Bye." "Okay, stop." "I'll get you a present." "I'll fetch pickles from Grandma." "Wait there." "It's fine." "I don't need pickles." "Please walk me home, half-way." "When I was a kid, I kept a turtle in a sink." "A turtle?" "Just a little one." "He was always in water." "But winter seemed so cold... so I threw the water out." "Then one day he wasn't there." "Months later I found him dead, upside down under the TV." "Had someone hurt him?" "I kept him a secret." "He must've crawled out by himself... trying to become a tortoise." "A tortoise?" "To live on land." "They're different from turtles." "Didn't you know that?" "I'm planning on giving a class about evolution." "Evolution?" "Why do living things change?" "What do you mean?" "I'm beginning to think... that all living things get stronger, then evolve through fear." "To preserve their own lives, they run faster, develope eyes..." "But mankind is busy destroying nature and suppressing fear." "We don't feel it anymore." "So we've stopped evolving maybe." "Feeling fear, we transmit information into our genes." "It's difficult..." "I don't understand, Miss Machiko." "You don't..." "For example, if there were..." "Fireworks." "Oh, yeah..." "If there were constant wars worldwide, and we were surrounded every day by fear of living or dying, our descendants would learn not to wage war." "I wage war with my vegetables every day." "It's life and death for them so maybe they're evolving." "At war with vegetables?" "Is farming war?" "I wonder if vegetables know fear?" "Life or death..." "living or dying..." "Miss Machiko, do you always think about stuff like this?" "All the time, ever since I was in middle school." "You're the only one pondering such difficult stuff in this town." "Miss Machiko, you're amazing." "It's the first time I've spoken about it." "Not even to Mr. Kaname?" "Remember, on the phone you said "Kaname"?" "Sorry about that." "Is that him?" "Your special someone?" "Surely you know?" "Everyone's whispering about it." "I do." "But is he really dead?" "Yes, he is." "So who is your special someone, then?" "Mind your own business." "Stop going on about that..." "Don't be angry, Miss Machiko." "I just want to be your special someone." "Impossible, huh?" "I'd never cheat on you." "I'd always keep you safe from harm." "Don't worry." "Yojin, you're so funny." "What's wrong?" "Leave me." "But..." "Leave me..." "Leave me..." ""Woke." "Ate." "Co-op." "Fields."" ""Machiko same as ever." "Co-op." "Pesticide." "Sleep now."" "Dear Mr. Kaname." "How are you?" "It's Yojin." "If you use the same chemicals... the grubs develope resistance and it no longer works." "The pesticide doesn't work as well on me, either." "But I still want Machiko to like me." "Yojin, is everything okay?" "Are you sick at all?" "Why?" "I'm fine, nothing wrong." "You're unusually calm." "Really?" "I don't think so..." "Grandma, I threw up." "Is it good fertilizer?" "Go see the doctor again." "That's strange..." "You haven't felt bad after that pesticide dose?" "Not at all." "You nearly done?" "I'm bored..." "You damn quack!" "You fool!" "I can hardly hear your heart." "This is no good." "I'll arrange a hospital visit." "Lie down over there." "Ah... first, call your grandmother." "Hello?" "Hello, Miss Machiko?" "My heart practically stopped." "Your heart what?" "My heart stopped." "Your heart stopped?" "What are you talking about?" "Miss Machiko, I want us to be together soon." "I want us to marry and live together." "Then we'll honeymoon in Tokyo." "Marriage?" "I can't get married." "Please, I want to be with you." "Miss Machiko, over here please..." "I'm at work now." "When will you respond?" "I'll come by tomorrow." "I'll see you then." "What's this?" "Oh no, this is bad!" "My arms..." "My legs, too..." "Something's emerging from inside me..." "Just kidding, just kidding..." "Is that you, Kaname?" "Yeah." "What a surprise!" "Kaname, right?" "Where are you heading now?" "Maybe there..." "Or over there..." "Can I come along?" "Sure." "I proposed to Miss Machiko." "Proposed?" "That's impressive." "I'll get her response tomorrow." "Let's hope it goes your way." "I need your support, please." "Sure, no problem." "How come you don't have a head?" "When it got knocked off in the crash, it landed on the roof of another car and got taken away." "What?" "You are one funny guy." "So where did it end up?" "No idea." "I just remember it landing on the roof." "Not a thing after that." "Just the sound of wind." "You can still hear after death?" "I don't know." "I don't even know when I died." "What do you hear now?" "Your voice." "You're an interesting guy." "Hey, will you be my friend?" "Us?" "Me and you." "Okay, then..." "Let's hang out tomorrow." "Go someplace." "Whatever." "Maybe you don't like me, huh?" "That's not true." "Maybe we won't meet again?" "Maybe..." "Kaname... shall I go find your head?" "Forget it." "I don't need it any more." "Okay, I'm off." "Where to?" "Kaname..." "Hey, can I have those shoes?" "These?" "Sure." "Kinda small..." "Want my sandals?" "That's okay." "See ya." "Sebana." "Sebana?" "Bye bye." "Sebana." "Sebana." "Sebana!" "Is he dead then?" "8:34pm, his final moment..." "Good evening?" "Anyone home?" "Good evening?" "Woke." "Breakfast with Grandma." "Gourd pickles were bitter." "In the fields." "Threw up." "Proposed." "Get answer tomorrow." "Met Kaname." "Got his shoes." "Doctor, he's fit as a fiddle." "Doesn't eat much but..." "You filed his death certificate, right?" "What do we do?" "Shall I visit town hall and have it cancelled?" "You're dead, right Yojin?" "Let me listen to your heart." "Me, too... me, too." "You can't hear it." "He's a ghost." "Right, I'm a ghost." "Amazing, huh, Miss Machiko?" "I evolved." "What's "evolved" mean?" "Let me listen, please." "What're you talking about?" "I don't get it." ""Evolved"?" "Erm..." "Those shoes?" "He's a zombie!" "Zombie jerk!" " Come back!" " He'll eat our brains!" "Zombie!" "Damn zombie!" "Zombie jerk!" "September 27th, Saturday." "Ninth day since his recovery." "No sleep yesterday, again." "8:30am breakfast." "Rice, miso soup, eggplant pickles all uneaten." "Drank only water." "Temperature, 36.2°C. Complains of cold." "It's no use." "I can't go." "But it's no biggie." "Is it a small one?" "It's no biggie." "What size is it?" "No, I can't go." "I said I just can't go." "The local accent's so thick I get confused." "No stool." "Nuthin's coming." "Miss Machiko, that looks tasty." "Have some." "I've got no appetite." "Stop... stop... just a sec." "Say "cheese"..." "October 4th, Saturday." "Sixteenth day since recovery." "Didn't make food." "Temperature 36°C." "Heading to Tokyo for hospital tests." "Travel with Futoshi going to his audition." "Two months since I left Tokyo." "Hurry up!" "Tomorrow morning, let's head to that holy land across the sea." "Aboard a ship." "I don't believe in God." "I don't even believe in myself." "Himiko shakes off his hand and moves to the mirror." "Michiru follows her." "You don't believe in yourself?" "As one who loves you, what should I believe in?" "Michiru embraces her from behind." "A fly flits over her head." "If I don't exist, then neither does God." "But without me you still exist." "I'd be happy just being that fly above your head." "No, perhaps I don't even deserve that." "He suddenly grabs her by her neck." "Her eyes go white." "She groans." "Grandma, you still alive?" "I am." "Is that you?" "Yes, it is." "Didn't you go to Tokyo?" "Back already?" "I gave up on going." "So you didn't go to hospital?" "Right." "Got off at the first station." "Went shopping." "Here's a souvenir." " What is it?" " A hat." "Rain, mud, wind, snow and sun-proof." "Perfect, huh?" "Here you go." "Yojin?" "What are you doing?" "Miss Machiko, you made me jump." "What's going on?" "Evolution." "What is that?" "Pesticide." "Pesticide?" "You want to die?" "For chrissakes." "But it makes me better." "Don't be mad." "It's fine." "I don't understand you." "Idiot... you'll die!" "Don't be angry, Miss Machiko." "My heart stopped, so I can't die." "Don't, Miss Machiko." "Miss Machiko..." "October 7th." "Tuesday, 4:45pm." "Yojin doused himself in pesticide in an outbuilding." "What's going on?" "All I can do is watch him?" "What else is there for me to do?" "It's so quiet..." "you can hear everything." "I just heard a worm eating." "Really?" "A worm eating?" "You've got good ears." "They are." "Really good." "Let's walk every day." "Every day." "Why the chemical shower?" "It clears my brain." "Makes it one you'd like." "So I can be with you." "Miss Machiko, I want to marry you." "I want you to like me." "Let's marry and be together forever." "I don't want you to leave." "The pesticide is my medicine." "It's no use relying on that." "You can't rely on pesticide or your brain getting better." "I'm with you now." "And will be as long as I can, okay?" "Really?" "Won't you leave if I stop the pesticide?" "No, I won't." "We'll go walking every day." "Really?" "Really..." "You can walk without a brain." "Then I don't need a brain." "A stopped heart and no brain, yet I'm still alive." "Ouch... don't." "I'm dead but alive for you, Miss Machiko!" "Then he died a second time." "This land of ours began with songs" "From the days of ancient myth" "With flute, shamisen and kodaiko drum" "Songs we mustn't forget" "Miss Machiko, bring more rice, please." "Sure." "Oh, thanks." "Hey, do that chant again." "Oh, okay..." "Dr. Misawa, Miss Machiko's here." "Oh, good." "Thanks for all the hard work." "I looked after Yojin since he was a lad." "Thank you so much." "There's no dead body." "Is he still alive?" "His body's being examined in a Tokyo hospital." "He was living with a heart that had stopped." "It's the discovery of the century." "Anyway... run along." "She's still out working the fields." "It's a hard life." "Grandma, come eat with everyone." "I'm not hungry." " Hey, you're not allowed in here." " Look, broccoli." "It's broccoli." "Pull it up." "Go on." "It's okay to dig it up." "Here goes!" " I pulled one out." " Oh, wow!" "I got another one." "Well done." " Cabbage is so light." " That one, too." "This is hard." "Help me." "I can do it." "Pull out more." "We did it!" "Welcome back." "Sure enough, his was smaller than other people's." "How to grow potatoes." "1." "When Sakura blossom, break the potatoes in half." "Spread sap on the wound and let them dry..." "Is this thing..." ""October 10th, Friday." - recording?" ""If I stop moving use my body for science."" ""Then it's okay to display it in a Tokyo museum."" ""But don't touch my brain." "That's for Miss Machiko."" " Oh my god!" "Dynamite!" " Cat flew away" "Cat flew to the skies" "To the blue skies, holding an umbrella over it's head" "Cat, good-bye, bye Cat, good-bye, bye" "Cat, you come down to the ground next morning" "Miss Machiko, I'm hungry and tired." "You are?" "Let's take a little break, then." "Again?" "Miss, get the food out." "But there aren't any candles." "What's in your pack, then?" "Pickles?" "Birthday cake?" "Cucumbers?" "Cucumbers?" "Presents?" "In here I have..." "Pickles?" "What?" " A chicken?" " Presents?" "A cockerel?" "I wonder..." "Here." "Gross." "What's that spongy thing?" "Yojin's brain." " What a small brain." " Is that what one looks like?" "Okay, let's go over to that clearing." "Come on." "Over here." "Sit down." "Let's all sit in a circle, please." "And hold hands." "Close your eyes." "Listen carefully." "Hear anything?" "Hold hands." "Close your eyes." "Behind you." " Shut your eyes." " Okay." " Don't open them." " I won't." " Close them." " Open 'em and you'll drop down dead." "Open them and you'll die." "Who's next?" "Not you or you." "It's him." "It's his turn." "Good luck." "Who shall I choose?" "Count two laps." "The hoe swings down and turns the soil... in a "nice to meet you" greeting to the earth." "Mixed with the soil Grandma made, the field comes to life." "If you don't make it soft the vegetables won't grow up comfy." "Plant 4 large and 2 small seed potatoes together..." "Give 'em plenty to drink." "Let 'em have lots of sun." "They'll sprout from the soil, then when they grow, help 'em by removing two or three." "If aphids come, fight back with ladybugs to make 'em healthy." "Lots of leaves that flutter in the wind will come." "Then lots of fringed flowers tapering from yellow to light purple." "June bugs will come for the nectar." "Oh, that scared me." "In the soil, new spuds grow round." "When the flowers and leaves wither, it's time to pull them up." "Then repeat next year." "Who's next, who's next?" "Puchi, puchipun!" "Machiko, you're "it"." "Machiko, it's your turn." "You're it Machiko." "You're it, you're it..." " Machiko, take your turn." " You're it, Miss." "Machiko, what can you see?" "What is it?" "Kenichi Matsuyama as Yojin" "Kumiko Aso as Machiko" "Seiji Nozoe as Futoshi ARATA as Kaname" "English subtitles by Kennedy Taylor and Aya Futami" "Subtitle timing, editing and additions for this version by famitsu1" "Additional translation assistance from chochoc, harryumotust, quaisnord, stahl" "Special thanks to cologne69" "Yumiko Fujita as psychic consultant" "Yoshio Harada as Dr. Misawa" "Misako Watanabe as Motsu" "Director of Photography:" "Ryuto Kondo" "Lighting:" "Isamu Fujii" "Sound Recording:" "Hirokazu Kato" "Art Director:" "Ryo Sugimoto" "Editing:" "Shinichi Fushima" "Music:" "Yoshihide Otomo" "Ending theme music: 100s" "Producers:" "Asako Nakano Tomoo Tsuchii" "Written and directed by Satoko Yokohama" "©2009 "Bare Essence of Life" film partners"