All language subtitles for Ballad Of Orin (1977

TOHO CO., LTD.

Your mom hasn't come home?

Since when?

Did she run off with a man?

How could she leave behind
a blind daughter?

Maybe she drowned.

No. She must have run off.

Caring for a blind daughter on her own
became too much for her.

You're Saito the druggist.

I couldn't find anybody
in the village.

Then I heard voices
as I was passing by this hut.

You came at just the right time.

We need help
from a worldly man like you.

What's your name?

Your age?

Orin.

Six.

What a cute little voice you have.

So you're called Orin, eh?

Here, eat this.

I was told that I was born
in the province of Wakasa.

But I've never seen my parents.

I heard that it's a beautiful place.

All I know about the place
is the sound of the waves.

When I was six,
Mr. Saito took me to Echigo.

There, I became a pupil
at a house of goze.

THE BALLAD OF ORIN

A HYOGENSHA PRODUCTION

Produced by
KIYOSHI IWASHITA, SEIKICHI IIZUMI

Based on the story by
TSUTOMU MINAKAMI

Screenplay by
KEIJI HASEBE, MASAHIRO SHINODA

Cinematography by
KAZUO MIYAGAWA

Production Design by
KIYOSHI AWAZU

Music by
TORU TAKEMITSU

Sound by
HIDEO NISHIZAKI

Lighting by
TAKEJI SANO

Edited by
SACHIKO YAMAJI

SHIMA IWASHITA

TOMOKO NARAOKA, KIRIN KIKI

RIE YOKOYAMA, TOMOKO JINBO

KEIKO NAKAMURA, AKO TOMIZAWA

TAKAKO MINEKAWA, SEN HARA

YOSHI KATO, JUN HAMAMURA

TAIJI TONOYAMA
KAORU KOBAYASHI

SHOICHI KUWAYAMA
MANSAKU FUWA, HATSUO YAMAYA

TOSHIYUKI NISHIDA, TORU ABE

YOSHIO HARADA

Directed by
MASAHIRO SHINODA

It has been exactly 20 years
since then.

When I was 21,
I was denounced as a loose woman.

And I was expelled from
the goze house.

I've been on my own ever since.

So you were cast out
from the group?

Yes.

Goze is an itinerant group
of blind women like me.

We travel playing samisen
and singing songs.

And we stay
at a house for goze.

Once you're cast out
from a group,

you have to travel
all alone like me.

And you spend nights
in empty charcoal burner's huts

and in shrines with leaky roofs.

Sakuji, isn't the errand man
back yet?

GOOD FORTUNE IN BATTLE
KOTARO ABE

The comedians are no good.

They're not cheering up
the party.

The goze are late.

They promised to come
just this morning.

The young master is going to war.

We need samisen
for the singing to get going.

It's not time yet
It's not time yet

Now is the time
You can turn...

- Good luck, Kotaro.
- Thank you for coming.

I have information
from the village office.

Your regiment might be sent to Siberia,
as the troops are used to snow.

Did you hear that a man
hanged himself at Shimosatose?

Yeah, I heard about that.

Somebody saw something hanging
from a beam in a firewood shed.

He realized that it was a body
when he got close to it.

I think the man was a deserter.

The military must be keeping quiet,
for it's a shame to them.

If captured,
he would have been shot.

She's here!

We have a pretty goze.

Master. Mistress.
I brought a goze.

I found another louse
on your kimono.

Really? I'm sorry.

She's pretty
and accomplished in her art.

She's going to sing many songs
for our party.

Thank you for sending for me.
I hope to entertain you.

Sing something cheerful.
We don't want sad songs.

All right.

Soft seaweeds by the rocky shore

Can she see a little?

- Not at all.
- That's what she says.

She may be saying she's blind,
even if she can see.

- It makes no difference in bed.
- What?

She can make love
even if she can't see.

Idiot.

- Don't sneak into her bed tonight.
- But she's a lone goze.

She's lone, but not a slut.

I'm sure you won't say no

You want to come with me
I know you do

I was born blind. I've always lived
in the world of darkness.

When I was six, Mr. Saito said
that I should go to Takada

where blind girls like me
were living as a group of goze.

And there,
I could become a good goze.

He said, "You're blind."

"A blind girl can only live
as a masseuse or a prostitute."

"But in the goze group,
a kind woman will take care of you."

"She'll teach you music,
and you'll be happy."

Kaneko, don't stop.

Any footsteps sound to you
like those of Yasuke's?

They're Mr. Saito's.

- The druggist?
- Yes, you're right.

Last year,
he came after the snow melted.

He's not alone.

Hello.

It's Saito, the druggist.

I'm back once again this year, too.

I'm glad to see you well.

Welcome.

Why, you're Mitsuko.

You've grown a lot since last year.

Thank you for coming in the snow.

It's very nice to see you well,
Mistress of the House of Satomi.

I have a request to make again.

- Well, please come in.
- Thank you.

The goze house smelled
of incense and hair oil.

The mistress was a kind woman.

When I paid my respects to her,
she stroked my hair.

Then she introduced me
to my goze sisters.

And Yasuko toasted
some rice cakes for me.

The rice cakes were warm
and made me happy.

I remember them well.

And now...

you have nobody to guide you,

and you're traveling all alone?

Yes.

So...

where did you come from?

I was at Zenkoji till March.

I came here through Arai
at the beginning of April.

Here's some water. Drink.

Thank you very much.

- Are you really homeless?
- That's right.

I came here to work
at the quarry.

The job finished this morning.
I'm on the way home.

You're in the mountains.
And you're telling me you're homeless?

- You must be from around here.
- No, I'm not.

It would get dark
before I reached the village.

So I decided to
spend the night here.

I'm tired.

Thank you.

Are you really asleep?

All of us living today
live in a degenerate age.

In order to live a true life,

we must firmly believe
in the Original Vow of Amitabha.

And we shall never waver

but find strength in the chant...

Use your index finger.

Prostitutes...

Like this.

Now, the second string.

Move your finger up.

Tsugiko.

Do you hate me so much?

Why do you say that, Kaneko?

You tried to trip me with that.

What?
Why would I do that?

I knocked it down accidentally.
I'm redoing blind stitches.

Liar.

Don't act superior.

You're always mean to me.

I know all about it, you know.

You're secretly having dates
with Magoji.

- The water is cold.
- Yes.

- Doing washing is the worst.
- Yes.

Orin.

Yes.

You have good instincts,
and you learn quickly.

But there's one thing
you mustn't forget as a goze:

to observe the proprieties of goze.

Listen well.

The goze dedicates her ears,
nose, mouth and limbs,

all of herself to Amitabha.

That's why we chant the sutra
every morning

to pray to Amitabha to protect us
from straying from our path.

If you stray, you go to hell.

You will fall into a terrible hell.

- You understand, Orin?
- Yes.

After two years, we celebrate
the beginning of the third year.

After seven years,
a career name is given.

The following year,
in the eighth year of training,

you advance
to the status of "big sister."

After three more years,

your training is finally completed.

And you become
a full-fledged goze.

Despite paying visits
over many evenings

I still do not see you

On the door of the gate

I leave a message for you

On the door of the gate

I leave a message for you

When I write the message

On the door of the gate

It is my teardrops

That wet the inkstone

It is my teardrops

That wet the inkstone

I shall tell my tale

Behind a young pine tree

Finer in details as...

In Sado

Jiro speaks thus:

"Listen, Miyazaki."

"We should stop staring."

"I am becoming depressed."

"Indeed, Jiro."

"We should stop staring.
It is making my eyes tear up too."

Let's end this as a draw

What a cute little girl she is.

You sang the song very well.

You understand the lyrics?

How old are you?

She is eight now.
She joined us when she was six.

I shouldn't have made her
wear tabi socks.

We wear straw sandals
on our bare feet.

But we feel warm
even walking on snow.

Very soon

The elder said...

She was right.

At first, my bare feet hurt
from the freezing cold.

But after an hour, I actually felt
it was easier to walk that way.

It was strange.

Since then, I never wore
tabi socks even in winter.

When are you going to stop
following me?

You must have somebody
waiting for you at home.

I'm alone.

Like you.

I have no parents.

- Nobody's waiting.
- You have nobody?

- You're lying.
- Why would I?

If I had somebody
waiting for me,

why would I come to work
in the mountains?

Hey, miss!

Tokamachi will have its spring festival.
Why don't you go there?

I'll come with you.

Get down into town for a change.
And eat something good.

I can't afford to do that.

Why don't you get on
my back for a bit?

I'll carry you on my back
and run.

- You're kidding me.
- No need to be shy.

- Stop it.
- Come on.

If anyone sees us,
they'll laugh at us.

Nobody's watching.

You should stop.

We passed it.

There was a path off to the right.
You follow it through a thicket.

Then you'll find a place
full of magnolia blossoms.

How do you know a place like this
when you have nobody to guide you?

When I was eight,
I hurt my foot,

and I passed through here
on Yasuko's back.

You sneak out with your man
every night.

Did you think
I didn't know what's going on?

I've been taking care of you for years.
What do you think it was for?

You slut.

You have no regard
for my feelings.

I've had it. I'll expel you.
Go anywhere and drop dead.

Along the Niigata Route
A swarm of locusts ruined the soybeans

It's great to be locusts
Without the worries of human beings

That's right
That's so true

We had a poor crop last year.

We only have rice seeds for sowing.

I can only give you
these taro stems.

I didn't know.
I'm sorry to bother you.

We're blind, so we couldn't see.
Please forgive us.

- Yasuko.
- Yes.

They're having a hard time.
Don't trouble her.

Please, don't say that.
My father has been ill for a long time.

He wants to hear you sing
before he dies.

He's been waiting for you.
This is from him.

It's not much,
but please accept it.

Thank you very much.

I'm glad that I kept at this business
for this moment.

Thank you.

In the town of Shinbo

There's Kodaiji Temple
Where did its priest come from?

Oh, yes, where is he from?

Let it out.

She's pregnant.

- Orin.
- Yes.

Can you see?

This place is called
the Healing Buddha Pass.

Every mountain seems to be filled
with the smell of new buds.

It feels as if fresh green leaves
are shedding tears

that would wash our eyes clean.

People come into this world
thanks to their parents.

Amitabha mercifully
made us blind

so that we are spared from seeing
the hells of this world.

Tsugiko, you are a girl after all.

You wanted happiness
just like ordinary people.

But why couldn't you see
the great mercy of the Buddha?

Orin.

Orin.

I'm here.

Orin, your first period came?

Orin is a woman now.

We'll make red rice tonight
to celebrate.

Orin, the menstrual flow is a sign
that your body can have babies.

Every woman
has a monthly period.

It's the destiny
all women have to bear.

But goze are not allowed
to sleep with men.

You'll become pregnant
if you sleep with a man.

Remember when you were eight,

Tsugiko became pregnant
with Magoji's child, and she left us.

The night wears on
Over the castle walls of Liaoyang

Under a pale morning moon
Dark shadows fall

In the mist-filled fields of sorghum

No voices are heard
From the trenches

Oh yeah, oh yeah

We don't need pillows

Oh yeah, oh yeah

We'll rest our heads

On each other's arms

Pea pods are growing
in an abandoned field

When one pea pod goes
all others follow

But I'll follow you

Orin, you're pretty.
You're a grown woman.

Every kind of bamboo is adorable

From marbled bamboos
to tootsik bamboos

To small bamboos in the neighborhood
to mountain bamboos

To Simon bamboos
growing on the causeways

Even to their shoots

- Here, have a drink.
- Thank you.

Orin, the men are laying a trap.

Young men are drooling
over your body.

Go in and leave quickly
And there would be no problem

But you stayed on
And now you spent all your money

Oh, yeah, oh yeah

I'm having fun.

- I'm leaving tomorrow.
- Where are you going?

- To Fushimi.
- Where is Fushimi?

In Kyoto.
I'll be working at a brewery.

Have another drink.

- Drink.
- Thank you.

She's still a child.
Please don't make her drink too much.

Don't be strict.

Go on. Drink.

Now, I'm going to do "Iso Bushi."

"The plane is taking off
with newlyweds.

The propellers roar to celebrate
their honeymoon."

'Honey, what's that speck
over there?'

'That's Miyajima, one of the three
famous sights of Japan.'

'And what about that thin strip
down there?'

'It's the Bakan Straights.'

'And where are we?'

'In the clouds.'

'Then nobody can see us?'

'Nobody can.'

Orin, you'll be cast out
if you sleep with a man.

You'll have to leave our house.
It's the rule enforced by our chief.

You were given a new name
when you were 13.

You exchanged nuptial cups,

and you became a bride of God.

You are not to sleep
with a man.

Orin, once a goze sleeps with a man,
she will be expelled.

'Forget about the control stick.'

Come on, Orin.

Drink this.

Drink up.

Let me fill the cup.

Come on, drink up.

All right.
I'm going to do "Wajima Bushi," now.

I couldn't help it.

No matter how much
she lectured me,

I couldn't contain the excitement
coursing through my body.

I felt such delight.

I even pitied the mistress
for refusing pleasure.

What are you making?

Goze are on an endless journey
led by the Buddha.

We help them not to get lost.

I'm a family relative
spending the night.

You don't have to worry
about a thing.

Is this your first time?

You're a virgin.

Take a good bath, goze.

Thank you.

Mom.

Mom.

I had secretly dreamed
about sleeping with a man.

Sleeping with a man
made me feel warm.

It was very sinful of me.

I enjoyed working last night

because you were beside me
when I sang.

I haven't felt so good
and sung so well in a while.

I felt happy too.

- Thanks to you.
- You're kidding me again.

You introduced yourself as my guide
to last night's customers.

But now you must be feeling
burdened by me.

You're wrong.

I was spellbound
when I heard you sing.

And your pretty.

Why don't you make love to me?

When we first met at Itsukodaira
and also last night at Isakiya,

we slept side by side.

Why didn't you take me?

Is there a reason
why you can't love me?

After I was cast out
from the goze house,

I traveled with strangers
who guided me for weeks at a time.

All those men
were after my body.

Being blind and helpless,
I couldn't refuse.

They were big and strong.

There was no use fighting them.

I simply let them have me,
and they paid me some money.

Some men would banter with me,

and I would remember
the warmth of my first man.

I would tell them
where I was staying

and even beg them to visit me.

When I had to sleep alone
on a cold winter night,

I would imagine that
I might freeze to death by morning.

And the thought frightened me.

Mister, please don't leave me.

- I'm an old man.
- I don't mind.

Please warm me with your body
for a little while longer.

I beg you. Please.

I beg you. Please.

When I was lonely,
I would beg any man to stay with me.

- It's arson!
- Where's the fire?

The rice store in Arasemachi.

The mistress in Satomi taught me
that Amitabha made us blind

so that we don't have to see
the hells of this world.

But an old woman
who gave me rice said

that we were like
itinerant priest of long ago.

They traveled to save people
from their sins.

And she said we were doing
the Buddha's work like them.

Didn't you ever have a child
living like that?

I had one. But the baby died.

Where?

In Noto.

I gave birth
in the village of Suzu.

It was during a cold winter.

I couldn't raise a child,
and my man ran off.

The baby froze to death.

It was my sin.

When I have enough money,
I'm going to buy some tools.

I'll mend geta sandals.
And I'll feed you hot rice.

My mother used to work
for a geta shop.

So she was good at mending them.

I used to help her as a child.

Is that so?
Your mother was a great woman.

Shinbei Kudo has a daughter

There had been three years of rain
and two years of drought

For five years altogether
he suffered poor crops

Should he sell his daughter
or his land?

What's the deal
between you and her?

I'm her guide.

She picked me up.

She picked you up?

It must be the other way around.

For a five-year contract
for 35 ryo

I have been sold
to serve as a prostitute

How I have missed Anju

Oh, for so long

How I have missed Zushio

Don't eat what you're not given!

How many times did I tell you?

Even if you're starving...

Even if you're starving...

Why did you never tell me
your name?

Tell me.
I want to know your name.

It's Tsurukawa.

Tsurukawa?

It means a crane in a river.

A crane that alighted
on a river.

I'm called Senzo Tsurukawa.

I heard that cranes land
on rice fields.

They land on rivers, too?

What are you doing?

Hold me in your arms.
I feel lonely.

Orin, don't ask me to do that.

If I do, I can't travel with you.

Why not?
What's wrong with holding me?

I want to travel with you
for a little while longer.

My body feels so cold.
Why won't you warm me?

Just hold me tight.
I'm not asking for anything more.

Orin, stop.

You're a good girl.

But you have to live like this
just because you were born blind.

It really makes me feel
that this world is hell.

I can't sleep with you.

If I do that,

I'll have to leave you

like the rest of your men.

I want to travel with you
for a while.

Let me be your guide
for a little while longer.

Stay still like that.

You look like the Buddha
in the glow of the sunset.

Mr. Tsurukawa, don't stay back there.
Come closer to me.

You're the Buddha.

CARPENTER'S TOOLS

Raising again
their tear-streaked faces

How cruel is the fate
of the sister and the brother

Wherever you may
find yourselves

Do not be bold with your mouths

Like trills that birds make

It's as smooth as an eggshell.

Orin.

If my business goes well,
you won't have to work so hard.

You can sit by me
and polish geta.

- And quit being a goze?
- That's right.

You'll no longer be a goze.

You'll be a sister of Tsurukawa,
the geta maker.

Sister?

Don't you get it?

You're my sister.

I'm your brother.

From tomorrow on,
you can call me brother.

You're not my brother.

You're not my brother.

You're the man I love.

Come on over. Take a look.

Fine silk shirts for only a third
of the retail price -

Here's Jitsubosan, a new medicine
from Kokando of Toyama.

Take one dose and
the chill below the waist will be gone.

It's the best cure
for poor circulation.

The next most common illness
is of the nerves.

As the great Buddha said,
all nature is medicine.

Now, these seeds
of daikon radish...

It's like a dream.

Thanks to you,
I'm living like an ordinary woman.

I don't have to slave for meals.
I have an easy life now.

Not so loud.

I can't help it, I'm so happy.

Don't be silly.

Just act like an ordinary woman.

All right.

Leaving behind

My place of birth

On the way to an island off Ezo

Oh, yeah

Staying awake
Many sleepless nights

Aboard a boat
rocked by the waves

To the right is the sea,

and to the left
is Mount Yoneyama.

I'm happy
for the first time in my life.

It feels like a dream.

It's not a dream.

I wish you would make love to me
even for one night.

I'd have no regrets,
if I die then.

We're together because I don't.

You're like a beautiful Buddha to me.
I want to keep it that way.

I'm no Buddha.
I'm not your sister, either.

From Mount Yoneyama

Clouds rise

Soon enough

Showers will fall

As here comes

The crackling of thunder

Here comes
the crackling of thunder

TAWARAYA INN

Orin, I've been wondering.

Are you really
Tsurukawa's sister?

- I am. Why do you ask?
- Because you carry a samisen.

I used to be a goze before.

In our childhood,
we were separated.

And I became a goze
in Echigo Province.

Many things happened.

We found each other again,
and now we're traveling together.

Here. Come.

Don't be too friendly
with that man.

Why not?
He's very kind to me.

You can never tell with a man.

Keep away from him.

How can I?
He has a stand next to ours.

I think you should be nicer to him.

I don't like to be as frank
to people as you are.

You worry too much.

Ah, he's looking at me
and smiling.

A druggist has it easy.

You can heat up old ointments
and sell them as new.

Look who's talking.
You sell rayon and pass it off as silk.

You buy rabbits to make a profit

by selling the meat for food and
the fur to Siberia-bound soldiers.

- Maybe I'll do that too.
- Don't bother.

When the war ends,
the price will drop.

The poor always end up losing,
no matter what we do.

Right.

- Out of my way!
- You hurt me!

Who gave you permission
to do business?

Come with us.

Come on.

Brother?

Brother!

Where are you going?

Brother!

Orin.

He went to the local gangster's office
about a license.

He just needs to get their permission.
He'll be back soon.

Orin, put away your things
before they get wet.

It doesn't look
like the rain will stop.

The rest of us
are going back to the inn.

Your brother will return there too
in this rain.

Just a short while ago,
the shirt peddler heard this news.

About what?

Tsurukawa got arrested
and taken to the police station.

What for?

Earlier, the gangsters took him
to the back of the temple.

They got into an argument.
Then a fistfight broke out.

Tsurukawa is a big man.
So he injured the gangsters.

- And the police arrested him?
- That's right.

Tell the others to keep this secret.

We don't want Orin to worry.

What rain, eh?

- Let me help you.
- Thank you.

Did you hear any news
about my brother?

He'll be back soon.

But I heard he was arrested.

Goze have good ears.

The police won't keep him long
over some trouble with a license.

I hope you're right.

I'm not sure whether
he really thinks of you as a sister.

Why do you say that?

Let me tell you
what the shirt peddler saw.

When Tsurukawa came to this town,
he went straight to the post office.

And he sent some money
to somebody.

He must have sent it to his mother
or some relative.

He has no family.
He said his parents are dead.

"He said"?

Orin, you are not his sister.

You're his woman.

He never made love to me.

He's been in a police cell for days.

It wasn't just for fighting
with the gangsters.

Maybe he has a previous record.

- Don't speak ill of him.
- You're a fool.

It's no use to
stay with such a man.

He'll leave you some day,
and you'll be old.

This is your chance to
make a decision.

When you're old,
it will be too late.

You'll end up dying
in some abandoned shrine.

You'd better come with me to Toyama
and start a new business.

Come on.

I used to sleep on the wooden floor
of abandoned shrines.

I'm a blind woman.
I don't need pretty kimonos.

I can't go with you to Toyama.
I'll wait for my brother.

Orin, are you sure about that?

Can you live like that?

You're a woman.

Some nights you want
to sleep with a man.

I'll stay with him
as brother and sister.

I'm content with that.
I'm no longer a cast-out goze.

- You don't know when he'll be back.
- But I'm not a slut.

The mistress of Satomi
expelled me when I was 20.

But my brother made me
an ordinary woman.

I see. Then I won't say any more.

I'm off to Itoigawa by myself.

Thank you for taking care of me.

You were very kind to me.
Thank you.

Don't do this.

I believed in your kindness.
Don't betray my trust.

Don't do this.

Nobody is around.
Tsurukawa is locked up.

Just this once,
it won't hurt to let me have you.

Nobody is around.

Wait.

I'll untie the sash myself.

Wait.

I'm going.

Don't tell my brother about this.

Never tell him.

If he finds out,
I'll have to kill myself.

If he's really your brother,

then he won't punish you
for loving me.

But I won't tell him
if you don't want me to.

I won't tell him.

Brother.

Did you see?

- Did you?
- Was it the druggist?

- Bessho?
- Don't be angry.

It wasn't his fault.

I was to blame.

Brother.

Brother. Forgive me.

Forgive me, Brother.

Brother. Forgive me.

From samurai, peasants and merchants,
there shall be recompense.

To temples, monks, believers
and Shinto priests, pay respects.

Leave!

One who breaks the rules

shall cut her hair
and give up her bamboo stick.

And as a punishment
for the sin,

she shall be banished
25 to 50 miles outside the area.

Orin.

How could you be so thoughtless?

After all my warnings,
you slept with a man.

The chief found out
all about it.

You're sure to be expelled.

This is an important party
to honor the goddess of music.

Your presence will disgrace
the goze of Satomi.

Leave at once!

Go away!

Get on the cart.

I want to be alone.
I won't get on your cart.

You'll go your own way?

Don't tell anyone
that you met me.

I won't.

I beat up the druggist just now.

I beat up the local gangsters, too.

Many more will be after me
once they hear the police released me.

I don't want you to get hurt
because of me.

So we'll go our separate ways
for a while.

When things blow over,

I promise I'll find you,
and we'll live together again.

Where will you go?

I'll head south.

To Wakasa Province.

Come back soon.
I'll wait for you.

You head towards the south too.

I'll be just ahead of you.

JITSUBOSAN

It's Bessho.

That's Bessho, the druggist.

Who goes there?

Who are you yourself?

- Are you a goze?
- You too?

Are you completely blind?

I can see blurry things
when the weather is fine.

- Where was your goze house?
- In Nagaoka.

- When did you get expelled?
- Three years ago.

- You were expelled too?
- Yeah.

On the way to this place,

I was asked
to perform in this village.

Will you keep watch
on my things?

Sure.

- Are you Orin?
- Yes.

I'm Imanishi
from the police in Nagaoka.

I have some questions.

Yes.

You have a brother
called Senzo Tsurukawa, right?

Yes.

While he was locked up
at the police station in Kashiwazaki,

who were you with
at Araiso beach?

With Mr. Bessho.

That would be Bessho,
the druggist?

Yes.

You walked with him along the beach.
And you rested a bit.

What did you do
after you parted with him?

- I returned to Tawaraya Inn.
- And you met your brother, right?

- No, I didn't.
- Don't lie to me.

He was released that day.

I returned to the inn,
and the innkeeper said

that he went looking for me.

He checked out
and took the cart with him.

I went back to the beach,
but I didn't find him.

I don't understand
why he left me behind.

Please tell me
where I can find him.

I'm looking for him too.

It's sundown. I wonder where he is
and what he's doing.

You can see, can't you?

When the sun goes down,
the smell of the air changes.

Oh, it's confusing,
it's confusing

This present world is confusing

They say Westernization
is underway

But you can't judge
only by what you see

Gas and electricity are amazing

Steamed engines are wonderful

But are they just flash and show

Like gilding or puffed tempura?

People keep complaining

About the bad economy

Unaware of being caught

In an endless cycle
of cash shortages

Oh, it's confusing,
it's confusing

Love and duty are also confusing

NAGAOKA POLICE SUBSTATION

NAGAOKA POLICE SUBSTATION
Are people blinded
by their selfish desires?

Oh, all people are confusing

Imanishi.

PUBLIC SECURITY SECTION

This is Lieutenant Imanishi,
who I was just talking to you about.

I am First Lieutenant
Torazo Hakamada,

of the Fukui Prefecture division
of the Army military police.

It's the second man from the right
in the foreground.

Army Private Heitaro Iwabuchi.

We can't identify him
by this picture.

So I gathered descriptions of him
from the men in his regiment.

And made a drawing
of his likeness.

HEITARO IWABUCHI

HEITARO IWABUCHI
When did he desert?

April 1917.

That's nearly two years ago.

This is an embarrassment
to the army,

but desertions and draft-dodging
are increasing.

I believe it's caused by the rice riots
and the dispatch of troops to Siberia.

We suspect Tsurukawa
murdered Bessho, the druggist.

How does he resemble
the deserter Private Iwabuchi?

We trailed him to Niigata,
then we lost him.

We're sure he's hiding
somewhere in Niigata.

Then we heard of the murder.

Tsurukawa is described
as 5 feet 10 inches tall,

a swarthy craftsman type,
with a slight stutter.

It's the same man.

We questioned the peddlers
who were with him.

He left the inn
saying he'd head to Itoigawa.

But he didn't set up his stand
at the festival there.

He must have realized the police
were after him and disappeared.

Then he's almost surely
guilty of the crime.

I'll show this drawing
to the innkeeper's wife

and determine
if it's the same man.

Your inquiry at the inn

and further investigation
of Iwabuchi...

should be conducted
as a search for Tsurukawa.

It must be kept secret
that he's a deserter.

It will bring shame
to the Imperial Army.

- Somebody is in here.
- It's only my friend.

You told me differently.

You have your friend waiting
to shake me off?

No. Your hurting me.

Don't mind me. You can use the hut.
I'll go out for a bit.

Thank you, Orin.

He's my customer.
Forgive me.

- She's blind?
- She can't see anything.

Is that so?

What's the hurry?

My friend kindly left us alone.

Leave her some money, all right?

Are you asleep?

Who is it?
Are you staying at the inn?

What do you want with us?

- I have a request for you.
- What sort of request?

I brought my granddaughter
with me.

She became blind
shortly after she was born.

Her father died in Heilongjiang,
and then her mother fell ill.

And she died last spring.

She became an orphan,
and I have to take care of her.

But I'm old and won't live long.

In these hard times,
I can't ask others to raise her.

I was at my wits' end.

Then I heard that you came to play
samisen at Echizenya.

This is money
my late husband left me.

Please, goze.

Please make her a goze
like yourselves.

I can't take your money.

- Please take care of her.
- But we can't.

As you can see,
we're lone traveling goze.

All we can do is write a letter
of introduction to a group mistress.

Please. I beg you to take her in.

But we can't.

Yoshino.

Yes.

- Put your hands together.
- Yes.

Let's go to
where your mother is.

Say your prayers.

I sincerely believe in Amitabha.

Something's up.

What is it?

- Are you goze?
- Yes, we are.

We found a
pair of drowned bodies.

A blind girl of five or six.

And a tall old woman in her 60s
with a full head of grey hair.

They must have jumped
from the cliff of Amagozen Cape.

You said you'd help her.
Why did they kill themselves?

You said you'd write a letter.

Why did they have to die?

Because I didn't promise her
that I'd take care of the girl.

The old woman was weak.

I'm an expelled goze.
All I could do was write a letter.

The undesired comes true
And the desired does not

Such is the way of the world

Such is the way of the world

ZENKOJI TEMPLE

Who's there?

I'm from the police.

- Are you the mistress?
- Yes. I am called Teruyo.

Who is the other person?

He's from the police
in Fukui Prefecture.

I see.

From Fukui.

It's a long way from Fukui.

We want to know about Orin
who used to be with you.

Orin?

Did she do something?

No, she did nothing wrong.

We're investigating a man
she was with after she left here.

She left nine years ago.

She never came back here?
Not even once?

No, she never did.

I'd like to talk to her too.

- Where is she now?
- We lost her.

We trailed her to Toyama Prefecture,
but we had communication trouble.

She's been missing
since the end of last year.

Where is Orin's hometown?

Her hometown?

Before she came here,

she was living in Obama
in Wakasa Province.

Obama?

Orin!

Orin!

Who is it?

It's a geta dealer.

Orin, do you know him?

- Brother?
- Orin.

- It's really you!
- Brother!

Orin, I'm here!
I'm here!

Brother!

I knew you'd come to Zenkoji.

I thought you'd come,

so I've been working here
and waiting for you.

I wanted to see you, Brother!
I missed you!

Orin. Be happy.

Brother.

Aren't the police after you?

Yeah.

But I wanted to see you.

I had to see you.

Amitabha led us to find each other.

Orin.

You're not my brother anymore.

Forward!

Don't slow down!

Move!

- Don't fall behind!
- Keep walking!

Don't slow down!

Sing a marching song!

I was told I used live
in a hut on the beach.

- Who knows?
- Yeah.

But I still remember
the sound of the sea.

The sea sounds
the same everywhere.

No. That's not true.

The sound of the sea
I remember is particular.

But that was 30 years ago.
It would sound different now.

Besides, there are trains and sirens.

It'd be hard to hear the sea.

I'll hear it when everyone
has gone to bed.

That's right.
He fits the description perfectly.

Yes, she's definitely a goze.
She has a stick.

They're just passing our shop.

So this is the sea
that you remember.

What's wrong?

I heard the sound of a saber.

Saber?

What about a saber?

I'm sure it's the police.

Run!

Heitaro Iwabuchi,
you're under arrest!

- Brother!
- Orin!

Brother!

Just confess.

You killed the druggist.

Confess, and this will be over.

Stop screaming! You had
the guts to desert, didn't you?

Enter.

This is Orin's statement.

She's still sticking to her story.

Unless you confess, Iwabuchi,

she'll be tortured for aiding
and abetting a deserter.

You understand?

Bessho asked you to come to Toyama,
but you didn't go with him.

Heitaro Iwabuchi had been detained
at the police station,

and you were worried about him.

Also, you didn't want to leave
without telling him.

Is this correct?

Yes, that's correct.

However,

shortly after you parted with Bessho
who headed for the train station,

you saw Heitaro at the beach.

Well?

Don't lie, or you'll suffer.

- I didn't see him. I'm blind.
- Fool!

You're lying.

You say he's your brother,
but that's a lie.

He's not your brother.
He's a deserter.

- "Deserter," what do you mean?
- He's neglected his duty to the nation!

I don't understand what you say.
I'm a blind woman.

I don't know anything.

I've never seen
faces or hands or feet.

You keep mentioning
the pine grove.

But I don't know where it ends
and the beach begins.

There are many things
I don't know in this world.

I just feel with my hands
and smell them.

And I walk as Amitabha leads me.

I don't understand
complicated things.

Damn, don't be wise.

But I can't say I saw something
when I didn't.

There's a witness
who saw you with him at the beach!

I didn't see my brother.

What I saw was his heart.

A truly warm heart full of kindness

like only a real brother
could have.

I killed him.

He forced himself on her.

That's why I killed him.

I...

I entered the army in place
of the son of Ichibei Terada,

the owner of a hardware
manufacturer in Daishojimachi.

I did it for money.

Universal conscription is a lie!

You can dodge the draft
if you have money.

But poor men like me
have to sell ourselves for money.

- War sacrifices poor men!
- Silence him.

I refuse to go to Siberia
even if I have to die!

Have you said enough?

You're a murderer
and a deserter.

Spare yourself
from making further excuses.

Right.

I'm ready to be executed.

But before I die,

I want to see Orin just once.

You've got some nerve.

Stop.

Let him see her.

For the last time.

Orin, it's me.

There's something
I have to apologize to you for.

I lied to you.

Orin.

I told you that I have no family
and I'm all alone in this world.

It's not true.

My mother is alive.

I was born in Daishojimachi.

My mother lives there alone
and has a geta shop.

I couldn't tell that to you.

I'm sorry.

Forgive me.

Don't apologize.

It's only natural
that you have a mother.

I have a mother too.

I have a mother.

From Mount Yoneyama

Clouds rise

Soon enough

Showers will fall

Mother!

Mother!

Who are you?

Mother!

You'll break the door.

Why, you're Orin.
Aren't you?

Where's the mistress?

- The mistress of Satomi?
- Yes.

She passed away
at the end of last month.

She passed away?

That can't be true.
She's inside.

Mother!
Please open the door!

Mother.

Where are you?

Orin has returned.

Mother?

Where are you?

Orin has come back.

Mr. Saito told me

your mother lived

in Obama Village, Fukui.

He said she might still be living

in a part of the village
called Buddha Valley.

Despite paying visits
over many evenings

I still do not see you

On the door of the gate

I leave a message for you

On the door of the gate

I leave a message for you

When I write the message

On the door of the gate

It is my teardrops

That wet the inkstone

It is my teardrops

That wet the inkstone

Let's take a lunch break.

You know...

I've been wondering what it is.

There at the edge of the cliff,

I can see something red.

What is it?

Where?

Just to the right
of the edge of the cliff.

Starring

SHIMA IWASHITA, YOSHIO HARADA

JUN HAMAMURA, TOMOKO NARAOKA
RIE YOKOYAMA

TOMOKO JINBO
TOSHIYUKI NISHIDA

TORU ABE, HATSUO YAMAYA

TAIJI TONOYAMA, MANSAKU FUWA

KIKI KIRIN, KAORU KOBAYASHI

A HYOGENSHA PRODUCTION

reworked: hids