"Presented by fuji television, gentosha, toho, dentsu, altamira pictures an altamira pictures production" "an itsumichi isomura film" "milk white" "don't overdo it, mother." "Don't worry about me." "Nagasaki's changed so much." "I still love this view." "Right, my love?" "Dad gets to see it every day." "Ten years already... ten?" "It'll be thirteen next year." "Really?" "Now you're back home we can have a proper memorial service." "Thirteen years... takayuki." "What?" "That shirt looks good on you." "Six months before, mongolla" "how are you?" "Everything okay?" "I'm fine." "Don't worry." "Hello." "Hello." "That one." "Here you are." "Tokyo sir!" "Sir!" "What?" "I want to be in your class next year." "That's not my decision." "Besides, i might not teach 5th grade." "I don't want us to split up." "We want to be together 'til 6th grade." "You too?" "Good morning, sir." "'Morning." "Hey." "Come here!" "They're so childish, aren't they?" "Good morning." "You're lucky with your class." "The principal told me, expect good kids only once a decade." "Is that right?" "Well, you've got no violent ones?" "Not really." "Good kids, bad kids, good grades, bad grades we get blamed for it all... i dream about my kids, sometimes." "The only time they behave well." "Is that right?" "See you." "Who's there?" "What's wrong?" "What was that?" "...my head?" "...my eyes?" "Nothing, i guess." "I'm okay." "One, two, three, four, five... you're supposed to chase us." "Are you crying?" "No but... i'm so slow, i can't catch anyone." "I'll let you catch me, then." "Hey, taka-chan." "Are you well?" "I guess not." "Sorry." "Sorry to come on your break." "Don't be silly." "You always helped me." "Did i?" "Don't you remember?" "Sit." "I hope it's not strange." "I don't care." "It's strange for me to treat a friend." "Dr. Shimizu, go ahead." "Okay." "To tell the truth, when you called, your symptoms gave me an idea." "Did the mouth ulcers clear up?" "They vanished three days ago." "I maybe wrong but... i'll take a look anyway." "Put your chin here." "One thing... what?" "You described a white fringe around your pupil... right, like a half-moon shape around the bottom." "One eye?" "Both of them." "I can't see it now... i'm scared... it's dark." "Shut up." "You'll get me scared, too." "How is it?" "Listen, taka-chan... tell me straight." "What's that legal term?" ""Informed consent"?" "Yeah, that." "Okay, i understand." "Okay." "I'll go get coffee." "It could be tricky... in what way?" "The area around here is the uvea." "Yours has an inflammation." "It's called "uveitis"." "And so?" "In the worst case you could lose your sight." "I could go blind?" "Not for sure." "It all depends." "Let me ask you something." "Ever had a really bad rash on your lower body?" "Yes, i did." "I was covered in blisters." "Really." "The main cause... the main cause of the uveitis... the mouth infections, the whitening of the iris... is a related disease... known as "iridocyclitis"." "But the oral infection, the eye problems the genital sores, the other skin disorders" "also point to a lar ger syndrome." "It's called behcet's disease." "Does that mean... i'll go blind for sure?" "Not necessarily." "But in your case it's very likely." "When will it happen?" "I really don't know." "My eyes, huh?" "Don't you dare get sick." "Don't you dare get sick." "Come back in one piece." "To wear that wedding dress." "I want to be a june bride." "You said you didn't want a ceremony." "Did i say that?" "You'll be back in the spring?" "Yes." "Too late to be a june bride, then." "Depends on my research." "I'm used to waiting for you." "If anything happens to me, you'll come right away?" "Of course." "Take care." "Sure." "Thank you." "I'm off, then." "This is mr." "Kuroda." "He was a patient of mine." "Thanks for meeting me." "Not at all." "You're still young." "I'm well into my thirties." "You've got a young voice." "Really... excuse me." "In my particular case i had the mouth infections but not the whitening of the eyes." "The symptoms differ widely between people." "My left eye lasted five years, my right for three." "The loss was gradual." "My friend lost his at the onset." "More men get it than women." "It's a strange disease." "May i smoke?" "Please." "Thank you." "There was no treatment back then." "It was assumed you'd go blind." "There wasn't even an official diagnosis." "Sorry to keep you waiting." "It looks delicious." "I'm not saying this to scare you... what is it?" "I have a friend." "I got to know him after the fact." "For six years after he got ill except for a mouth ulcer or two, no symptoms." "Then one day he left home for work, walked ten yards and an intense pain brought him to his knees." "When he stood up, he couldn't see a thing." "I didn't mean to scare you, but it really is different for each person." "For some it's quick, for me it took ten years." "Some have great distress and pain;" "others nothing." "Right." "This'll be no consolation but... since going blind, only one thing has bothered me." "Just one thing." "What was that?" "In the morning, cleaning my teeth, i couldn't get toothpaste on the brush." "But then i realized the fault was my preconception." "The next day i solved the dilemma." "I simply put the tube directly into my mouth." "I'd like to say that's as hard as it gets." "Excuse me, while i go to the bathroom." "No need for that." "I know this place well." "As my late mother told me, you're experiencing something unique, make use of it." "It's not something everyone goes through." "I used to think that going blind meant to be in darkness." "Maybe because i was once able to see... i thought it'd be like plunging from light into dark." "But it's not at all." "It's not dark?" "Think of it like a milky, white fog." "A white fog?" "I only realized when i went blind, that the dark is a form of the light." "That's typical of you." "I'm sorry." "I don't really know but... is behcet's such a complex disease?" "There are new treatments and i might not lose my sight." "Then let's not be hasty... but in my case, the fundus... sorry, the back of the eye is inflamed beyond reach of the medicine." "I'll most likely go blind." "I don't want to make your daughter unhappy." "Listen." "The reason i introduced you two was because she asked me." "She'd been fond of you for a long time." "Here's someone i thought you should meet." "This is my student... it's takano-san, right?" "That's right." "He used to come to our house with his friends." "Oh, yes." "Will she continue your research?" "No, her field is educational psychology." "She's still only an assistant." "Father often used to say, when you became a teacher, he lost his successor." "I never said that." "Yes, you did." "I just said it was a shame, that's all." "I wonder... you did stress the importance of early education." "I did." "Takano-san, do you like children?" "I love them." "She always liked you." "Even when she was in high school, when she heard you were coming she'd run off to buy a special cake." "Maybe she was filling in for my late wife." "Did she say anything?" "No." "She's still in mongolia." "Have you called her?" "Not yet." "What was it she was doing?" "A survey of number concepts." "She's due back in the spring?" "Yes." "If she asks me what i think, i'll tell her i agreed with you." "But yoko's an adult, now." "I doubt she'll come to me for advice." "I've got something to tell you all." "Summer break starts next week." "But i wont' be coming back afterwards." "I'm going back to my home in nagasaki." "I'm sure going to miss you guys, but i need you to work hard in 5th grade." "Why are you going?" "Hey, stop crying." "C'mon guys, don't be like this." "You'll make me sad, too." "Hello?" "It's me, yoko." "Can you see me?" "Yes, i can." "Then why not once..." "think about my feelings?" "!" "Why are you in tokyo?" "My dad wrote to me... i left the mountains, jumped on a plane, raced over here, to be with you." "Sorry." "You could've called, at least." "You have your future... your dreams... i've no right to get in your way." "I'm going blind." "I'm going to lose my sight." "That's no way for you to be happy." "How dare you decide my happiness!" "Going out?" "For a while." "Thought i'd take a walk around the old town." "I'll be back by dinner." "Hey, takayuki!" "How are you?" "Really well." "See how i ran?" "You still doing that?" "I ran a half marathon this year." "I came in 76th." "76th?" "I quit the company team five years ago." "For an individual runner, that's pretty good." "Pretty good." "Damn good, i'd say." "Okay, don't overdo it." "That's impressive." "Two and half times the titanic." "Should be finished next year." "You must be busy." "Sorry." "Nonsense." "It's been ages." "Let's have coffee." "When did you get back?" "Last week." "How long for this time?" "Good afternoon." "Taka-chan, you're back." "Hello, sis." "Mom told me yesterday." "What's up?" "Are you moving back?" "She's worried about you." "Five bean cakes today." "That's more than usual." "My son's home." "That handsome boy of yours?" "How good of him." "My boy's so useless." "He pretends to work in the morning, then quits early." "But his wife... she's a treasure." "A real hard worker, always respectful." "Didn't mother ask you?" "We spoke a little." "What about?" "I told her i was tired... stressed out." "Being a teacher must be hard work." "I'm thinking everything over..." "my job and all." "Don't tell me... someone broke your heart?" "Maybe a little." "Then you shouldn't have let mom worry so." "Okay." "Where's your husband?" "In kumamoto, for the festival." "Hey, can i borrow this?" "Sure." "They're easy to catch here." "What kind?" "Whiting." "It's my secret spot." "Really?" "We'll see... the bait's for whiting but who knows what we'll get!" "Takayuki?" "They've changed the name of our old school." "Really?" "I was pretty upset." "Of course the village has changed but you'd think they leave the name... i've got one!" "How come it was so easy?" "You got one already?" "A nice, fat whiting." "What did i tell you?" "Just like i said." "It's huge." "Next time, let's try for snapper." "Sure." "Next week, the sooner the better." "Matsuo...?" "What?" "Did you hear about my illness?" "Yeah, a little, on the phone, from hiro." "He said to be happy you're staying in nagasaki." "Sorry to ask you." "Don't be stupid." "We were always together." "It'll be just like old times." "Can you see me?" "Yes, i can." "Let me be your eyes." "No way... no way... yoko tomomura, sorry for the unexpected visit." "Not at all." "You're very welcome." "Please come in." "Apologies for the mess." "Takayuki, is this her?" "The girl you wrote about in your letter?" "You wanted to introduce her." "How long will you be in nagasaki?" "I'm going to take my time." "Maybe write my thesis here." "That's nice." "My daughter's room is empty." "Why not stay with us." "Right, takayuki?" "Oh." "Sure." "She's married now." "Why not... thank you so much." "I think i'd like that." "Lovely." "You'll be a breath of fresh air." "Good afternoon." "Good afternoon." "Hello." " Seven, please." " Sure." "You're ordering a lot these days." "Someone in town?" "Yes." "Is it a fianc?" "By any chance?" "Well, perhaps... that's great." "But watch out." "My daughter-in-law's changed her tune." "Treats me like a servant." "I'm sure i don't have to worry." "Just like the painting." "Which painting?" "In the meiji gallery." "It's painted from up here." "Was there one?" "Yes, in the corner." "There was." "What?" "Sorry." "I've a confession." "I used to look at it and think of you." "How do you feel?" "The warm weather helps with the inflammation." "I read a lot about it in tokyo." "And about rehabilitation." "Don't be afraid to tell me anything." "Thank you." "To tell the truth, my vision's narrowing." "Don't worry." "I'm not blind yet." "Okay." "What about your mom?" "Would you be angry if i told her?" "My mother... i think she already knows." "Shall we head down?" "I'm sorry." "She knew." "What?" "She asked, so i told her." "About your illness." "She didn't know its name but she guessed it was your eyes." "I told her everything." "About us, too." "Everything." "What did she say?" "Thank you." "She thanked you?" "She'd been worried." "She was in the dark..." "with no idea what to do." "Really." "Also... she said she approved of me." "Really." "Are you angry?" "No." "Sorry i... worried about how to tell her." "It's a relief." "Let's go." "What's "den-della-ryu"?" "Your mother sang it to me... that's it." "Does it mean anything?" "Not really." ""Ryu" sounds like a festival dragon." "I thought so." "Actually it's local dialect for "leave"." "It's like a nursery rhyme." "Very old but making no sense." "Wait a minute..." ""if i could come out, i would..."" ""but since i can't, then i shan't..."" "can't come out even if you want to... like your mom's feelings... i see what you mean... teach it to me." "What's that sound?" "Let's see... i wonder." "A buddhist service?" "I could've guessed that." "Right." "This bell's famous in our town." "It's rung at midnight, december 31st." "For the new year?" "First, all the boats sound their horns." "How nice." "Then the bells ring in the christian church." "Then this bell joins in." "That's great." "We'll hear it together this year." "Yes, we will... close your eyes again." "Why?" "Let's play hide-and-seek." "Like when you were a kid." "No." "It's embarrassing." "Don't worry." "Close your eyes." "Okay." "Let's go." "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine ...ten." "I can see you, yoko." "Over there." "You're okay." "Relax." "Take a deep breath." "Gently, gently." "Gently." "Are you alright?" "Yes, thank you." "We're okay now." "Please, sit at ease." "Pardon me." "I'm hayashi of the kofuku temple." "Today's an important day for zen buddhism." "That's why i'm visiting." "I'm takano." "Thank you for your kindness." "Not at all." "Have tea... please take your time." "Are you unwell?" "Can you tell?" "You seemed in pain." "It's my sight." "I have a disease." "That's a burden, indeed." "It's called behcet's disease." "I'm going blind." "How unfortunate." "As my retina hemorrhages, i lose parts of my sight." "You know how an ink drop in water spreads out like this... it's like i lose sight in the ink part." "Really?" "At this rate i'll probably be blind in three months." "Three months... we call it "ketsu-ge"." "Summer confinement there are many ways of reading it." "It's an old word for a special day in buddhism." "What kind of day?" "I'm not sure it's so interesting but if you're not in a hurry and can bear an old man's chat... definitely... first, let me make fresh tea." "How come you told him?" "It just came out." "Something about him... he seems so gentle... i suddenly wanted to talk." "Maybe to convince myself... and to be straight with you." "Tell me everything." "I will, now." "That's best." "I want to know everything." "Especially the bad... may i come in?" "Young couples these days can't keep their hands off each other." "So, i always knock." "You have a lovely smile." "In the old days, monks lived preaching and walking, day in and day out." "Begging aims as they went." "But buddha bid them not to walk during the rainy season." "For it's a time of growth and life." "To walk would risk crushing shoots and eggs." "During this season the monks would come together and spend time in meditation." "This group living was the start of the temple system." "Am i boring you?" "No." "I'm fascinated." "Me, too." "Are you really?" "I'm glad." "So, the monks lived together for the ninety days of rainy weather." "They called this period, summer or rainy season "ango"." "How do you write "ango"?" ""Calm existence"." "In lunar terms, it starts 16th day of 4th moon." "In the solar calendar, this year it's may 27th." "Today, in fact." ""Ketsu-ge", right?" "Today is "ketsu-ge"" "the beginning of "calm existence"." "Does it end on a specific day?" "Yes, the 15th day of 7th moon." "This year, august, 23rd." "They called it "ge-ge"." "Did you say "ge-ge"?" "It's written;" ""summer's release"" ""ge-ge"... you've been very kind." "Thank you very much." "Takano-san." "You've been given a trial... a trial?" "Indeed." "To defeat your fear of going blind." "My fear of going blind?" "A hard, hard trial." "But the instant your sight is gone, you'll be free." "It's a brutal and heartbreaking trial." "From which there is no escape." "I see... you mean my fear will be gone, the moment i am blind... indeed." "That day will be your "summer's release"." "My "summer's release"." "Hang on to him tight." "Mind your own business." "That's mt." "Inasa." "Which one?" "That long one on the left." "Doesn't look big enough for a mountain." "Not from the sea, no." "But that one... the one on the right." "Mt." "Hiko... you can only see one, right?" "It was said that nagasaki only had one mountain." "What's that?" "What?" "The red roof, over to the right?" "Sorry." "Can you see it?" "Well... it's probably the university." "I think." "Sorry, yoko." "I can't make it out." "This place has the best noodles." "Pretty good, huh?" "Yeah, it's good. "darn" good." "Are you teaching her a nagasaki accent?" "No." "She's making fun of you." "I haven't got a local accent!" "Like hell, you haven't!" "I like the accent." "It's nice and soft." "And you like our noodles." "Those other ones, too." "Have some more." "I've had plenty." "No, you haven't." "Another order here!" "Thanks for today." "Do you want a lift?" "It's not far." "We're fine." "Okay." "Matsuo-san, thank you." "Use the car any time." "Can you drive?" "Yes." "Okay." "Teru." "I want to walk and see everything ...before it's too late." "So i'll remember it all." "Good for you, my friend." "He went out." "Said he was going to the temple." "Okay." "He seems well, today." "Really... yoko-san, think of yourself, too." "I'm sorry." "Don't apologize to me." "Let's have cake." "Then, i'll make coffee." "I didn't mean to trouble you." "Not at all." "The cups are here... hayashi-sensei is usually here but today is his day at the university." "You met at the other temple?" "Yes." "I'd love to see him again." "I'm glad to see you." "Thank you again." "Not at all." "You seem well." "At least in spirit... thanks to you." "Sit, please." "I hear you lecture on local history?" "Indeed." "Do you know of "don bartolomeo"?" "The samurai lord who converted to christianity?" "Indeed." "Anything else?" "The italians first named our town, don bartolomeo." "And it was once under rome's jurisdiction." "You must love this town." "I do." "Young people don't care for local history." "It does seem very interesting." "Why not come to my lectures?" "Is that okay?" "Most certainly." "Takayuki, are you okay?" "I was miles away... thinking of a little church by the cape where daffodils bloom in spring." "The dark earth, green grass blue sea, white waves... and the yellow daffodils." "On a sunny day you can see the five islands." "It must be lovely... if only we'd been earlier... i guess i won't see them again." "This is lovely." "Where are the islands?" "Over there, maybe... i can't see too well." "Neither can i." "Today's no good." "We'll come back again." "Forget it." "I just got lucky, with the daffodils." "Better if we hadn't come?" "Not at all." "It's nice to get out." "Shall we go back?" "Sure." "I'm just going to buy soda." "You must find all these hills very hard." "Not any more." "I finally get it." "Get what?" "In nagasaki, the hills are a fact of life." "They're always here, so you never even think of them." "Is that right... may i have a word?" "Of course." "I've been meaning to talk to you... about your future." "Mine?" "I'm grateful with all my heart for your help at this trying time." "I think you're wonderful." "Normally i'd be so happy for you to be with takayuki." "Mrs. Takano." "The lovelier you are, the more i think how unfair it is." "How unhappy you'll be... mrs." "Takano, i'm perfectly happy." "I appreciate your concern... but... i want to be with him." "My mind's made up." "Thank you." "Going out?" "I'm feeling good." "I'm off to see dad." "Where's yoko?" "I thought i'd be by myself." "Don't worry." "Help me... help me... i'm going to the clinic." "Didn't yoko go already?" "I thought i'd take her an umbrella." "I'll do it." "Will you be okay?" "Sure." "It's my medicine after all." "Takano-san." "Thank you." "Get well soon." "Are you okay?" "Yoko, just leave me alone!" "I don't want pity... please." "Just go home." "Three of those." "And five of the others." "Lovely weather, eh?" "You're looking well." "Not too bad." "Takayuki." "You're not the only one suffering." "It breaks my heart to see that girl's pain." "So, you've walked around the entire city." "At least the places i want to memorize." "I've left nothing out." "Then i start my local history studies." "Take your time." "So, then... what would a man want to see" "as his last thing on this earth?" "The lilacs at my temple will soon bloom." "I'd like that girl with the pretty smile to see them." "We'll hear the bells together this year." "Is that right?" "I'm very sorry." "She hasn't contacted me." "Didn't come here, either." "Really." "Maybe she's back in mongolia... to tell the truth," "i think you know her better than me, now." "In the meiji gallery." "It was painted from up here." "I used to look at it and think of you." "I need you to be my eyes." "Hello." "Hello." "How many, today?" "Seven, please." "Mrs. Takano, today's mail." "Thank you." "This came for you." "May i come in?" "Of course." "The thesis looks hard work." "I've got plenty of time." "Just as well." "What's that?" "From my old students." "The other teachers had them write." "It's kind of difficult for me... okay, show me." ""It's summer in tokyo already."" ""So nagasaki must be warm already."" ""Take care." "Ohno."" "Little ohno." "Class president but a bad scholar." "Popular, though." "Somehow, he kept the class in check." "Next?" ""We heard from teacher"" ""that you quit because of illness." "Are you well?"" ""I don't like 5th grade." "I wish you were here."" ""Enomoto."" "Enomoto... a baker's son and a fast runner." "50 meters in 7 seconds." "Maybe he's sped up." "May i continue?" "Please, go ahead." ""I love you." "Yumi." that's it." "Kimoto." "Very forward." "Forward?" "Precocious." "She'd send me valentine cards... really?" "So i have a rival, huh." "Next?" ""Next year's class trip is to nagasaki." "Let's meet."" ""Horio."" "Horio..." ""dear sir,"" ""okabe is being bullied."" ""Please, sir..."" ""please come help."" "Maybe next year... maybe next year... hayashi-sensei called." "He wants the girl with the pretty smile to see the flowers." "Does that mean me?" "Of course." "You should go." "Please come with us." "I'd prefer you two go." "Over there, right?" "I thought indian lilacs were red?" "They're white." "They are here, yes." "Are they pretty?" "Can't you see?" "Can't you see any more?" "It's like i'm in a fog." "Take me to where that picture was painted." "I want to walk that hill." "Let's take a break." "We can sit here." "What?" "Am i there in the fog?" "Of course." "Do i look happy?" "You do." "You're crying, though." "No need to cry, now." "Takao osawa yuriko ishida" "sumiko fuji tatsuo matsumura" "executive producers:" "Chihiro kameyama toru kenjo yoshishige shimatani nobuyuki toya shoji masui kazuyuki seki keita kodama haruhiko tateno takehiko chino" "producers; daisuke sekiguchi neri segawa yoshino sasaki cinematography:" "Takahide shibanushi lighting:" "Meicho tomiyama production design:" "Hidetaka ozawa sound:" "Masatoshi yokomizo editing:" "Junichi kikuchi based on the novel "gege" by masashi sada theme song:" "Masashi sada music:" "Toshiyuki watanabe" "written and directed by itsumichi isomura"