All language subtitles for The.God.Of.Ramen.2013.1080p.WEBRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX]
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Downloaded from
YTS.MX
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Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX
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Kazuo Yamagishi
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00:00:41,416 --> 00:00:46,380
Narration by Shosuke Tanihara
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00:00:47,756 --> 00:00:52,719
Directed by Takashi Innami
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00:01:43,478 --> 00:01:51,903
THE GOD OF RAMEN
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00:01:58,035 --> 00:02:02,164
We're almost as high
as the Northern Alps.
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00:02:02,331 --> 00:02:06,251
The closest one to us is Mt. Kasa.
9
00:02:06,418 --> 00:02:09,588
The symbol of the Shiga Highlands.
10
00:02:16,303 --> 00:02:20,599
This is it! What I wanted to show you.
11
00:02:20,766 --> 00:02:25,228
This is the summit of Mt. Yokote.
It's 2,305 meters high.
12
00:02:25,395 --> 00:02:27,689
Look at this!
13
00:02:27,856 --> 00:02:31,568
From the Northern Alps to
the Five Mountains of Hokushin.
14
00:02:31,735 --> 00:02:35,906
All of this is my hometown,
Yamanouchi.
15
00:03:08,522 --> 00:03:12,484
I think it was about 10 years ago.
16
00:03:12,651 --> 00:03:17,280
I had a friend who loved ramen.
17
00:03:17,739 --> 00:03:24,830
He said, “Let's go to
Taishoken
in East Ikebukuro.”
18
00:03:24,996 --> 00:03:31,253
I told the owner I'm from Yamanouchi.
19
00:03:33,088 --> 00:03:34,297
Across the counter?
20
00:03:36,007 --> 00:03:37,592
He said, “What?”
21
00:03:37,759 --> 00:03:40,345
I don't know if I'm allowed
to say this, but
22
00:03:40,804 --> 00:03:45,142
there was a mound of char siu
stuck to the bottom of the bowl.
23
00:03:45,308 --> 00:03:51,148
A huge heap of pork hidden
beneath the soup!
24
00:03:51,314 --> 00:03:53,692
I had to eat all the noodles
to discover it.
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00:03:53,859 --> 00:03:55,986
I thought, “What is this?”
26
00:03:56,153 --> 00:03:58,488
I asked, “Does everyone get this?”
27
00:03:58,655 --> 00:04:01,992
He said, “No way. They
could never finish it.”
28
00:04:10,250 --> 00:04:11,501
Ikebukuro.
29
00:04:16,214 --> 00:04:20,510
The ramen shop was
near the Sunshine 60 Building.
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00:04:39,905 --> 00:04:43,825
The line in front of
Taishoken
was endless.
31
00:04:45,911 --> 00:04:49,331
Please let the cars pass.
32
00:04:52,584 --> 00:04:56,421
Please let the cars pass.
33
00:05:00,300 --> 00:05:01,843
What time is it?
34
00:05:02,177 --> 00:05:05,055
It's 2:05 pm.
35
00:05:05,430 --> 00:05:08,058
- Think you'd wait this long?
- No way.
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00:05:10,727 --> 00:05:17,150
I could have gone to Osaka by now.
I've been standing here for 2 hours.
37
00:05:18,902 --> 00:05:23,073
The last person in line
has a job to do.
38
00:05:24,908 --> 00:05:26,451
I thought I'd stand in line.
39
00:05:26,618 --> 00:05:28,787
They've sold out for the day.
40
00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:32,791
So everyone in line has a number?
41
00:05:32,958 --> 00:05:36,169
I'm the last person
they're serving today.
42
00:05:36,586 --> 00:05:37,796
Thanks.
43
00:05:40,882 --> 00:05:42,259
How many have you turned away?
44
00:05:43,009 --> 00:05:47,681
About 50, but I'm not really counting.
45
00:05:48,515 --> 00:05:50,725
Here you go.
46
00:05:51,851 --> 00:05:55,647
This is the reward
for the two hour wait.
47
00:05:55,939 --> 00:05:57,482
Extra large.
48
00:06:00,735 --> 00:06:02,028
It's huge!
49
00:06:04,322 --> 00:06:09,077
A double portion of noodles.
Even the regular is 260 grams.
50
00:06:09,244 --> 00:06:12,289
Soy flavored Tokyo style ramen.
51
00:06:12,873 --> 00:06:14,165
Is this ramen so different?
52
00:06:14,332 --> 00:06:15,667
Totally different!
53
00:06:18,503 --> 00:06:20,046
Totally.
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00:06:29,931 --> 00:06:33,560
Kazuo Yamagishi,
owner of
Taishoken.
55
00:06:34,019 --> 00:06:36,813
He was 67 at this time.
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00:06:45,071 --> 00:06:46,781
The noodles first.
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00:06:47,115 --> 00:06:48,909
Then the char siu.
58
00:06:52,662 --> 00:06:53,663
Thank you.
59
00:06:56,458 --> 00:07:02,213
Yamagishi was born in 1934
in Nagano Prefecture.
60
00:07:03,173 --> 00:07:09,262
His father was a naval officer
who died in the war when he was 8.
61
00:07:11,056 --> 00:07:13,099
He came to Tokyo at 16
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00:07:13,266 --> 00:07:16,728
and worked as
a lathe operator for a year.
63
00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,774
Then a relative suggested
a career in ramen.
64
00:07:21,274 --> 00:07:24,444
He trained for 10 years
and started his own shop.
65
00:07:25,654 --> 00:07:31,159
He opened
Taishoken
in East Ikebukuro in 1960.
66
00:07:32,911 --> 00:07:38,959
His wife, Fumiko, who ran the shop
died at the age of 52.
67
00:07:42,462 --> 00:07:46,132
His younger sister Setsuko
has been helping him since.
68
00:07:52,222 --> 00:07:56,893
The shop seats 16.
The seats are never empty.
69
00:08:06,194 --> 00:08:08,071
We have soup and dipping ramen.
70
00:08:11,449 --> 00:08:16,705
Yamagishi is a success story
in the world of ramen.
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00:08:20,125 --> 00:08:29,509
I guess I should feel happy
and fulfilled...
72
00:08:31,761 --> 00:08:36,641
There's a sense of reluctance
to his happiness.
73
00:08:52,824 --> 00:08:59,122
4:00 am. Yamagishi is the
first one on the job.
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00:09:10,008 --> 00:09:17,640
I have to do this first because
they make the soup in the same pot.
75
00:09:18,058 --> 00:09:21,603
Otherwise, they won't have a pot.
76
00:09:52,091 --> 00:09:55,512
6:20 am. By the time
the char siu is ready
77
00:09:55,678 --> 00:09:58,932
the apprentices arrive
and begin making the soup.
78
00:10:09,317 --> 00:10:14,239
Taishoken's soup is made with
chicken and pork bones and pig's feet.
79
00:10:14,656 --> 00:10:17,158
It cooks for an hour and a half.
80
00:10:20,662 --> 00:10:26,334
Then they add onion,
carrot, garlic and ginger
81
00:10:26,501 --> 00:10:28,336
and cook it some more.
82
00:10:31,256 --> 00:10:36,177
Finally, they add dried sardines
and mackerel shavings
83
00:10:36,344 --> 00:10:39,097
to add a Japanese touch.
84
00:10:46,271 --> 00:10:51,276
Meanwhile, Yamagishi is making
the noodles in the back of the shop.
85
00:11:03,288 --> 00:11:07,667
I feel the consistency of
the stuff that rises to the top.
86
00:11:08,084 --> 00:11:11,129
It's nowhere near done.
87
00:11:24,809 --> 00:11:25,977
Then I cut it.
88
00:11:29,147 --> 00:11:30,273
Where?
89
00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:32,233
There, with that cutter.
90
00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:33,985
That cutter?
91
00:11:46,664 --> 00:11:51,711
Yamagishi has been doing this
for over 40 years.
92
00:11:54,881 --> 00:11:58,968
I pride myself on
selling the best ramen.
93
00:11:59,344 --> 00:12:02,221
It's nothing fancy.
94
00:12:02,388 --> 00:12:05,350
Just good and cheap.
95
00:12:07,060 --> 00:12:13,191
I want the customer to go away
feeling full. That's my ramen.
96
00:12:19,197 --> 00:12:21,032
7:30 am.
97
00:12:21,532 --> 00:12:25,662
The first customer shows up
in front of
Taishoken.
98
00:12:29,249 --> 00:12:31,960
These regulars come every day.
99
00:12:32,418 --> 00:12:34,796
They find things to do to help.
100
00:12:43,179 --> 00:12:47,350
I've never seen people line up
for ramen at 8:00 am.
101
00:12:47,642 --> 00:12:52,271
We've got nowhere else to go.
We all have our reasons.
102
00:12:52,605 --> 00:12:56,442
Some big shots come, too.
Their wives don't want them at home.
103
00:12:57,777 --> 00:12:59,654
Some of us get kicked out.
104
00:13:01,030 --> 00:13:05,326
What's so good about
Taishoken?
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00:13:05,493 --> 00:13:08,162
The old man.
It's practically a religion.
106
00:13:08,579 --> 00:13:09,664
Religion?
107
00:13:10,373 --> 00:13:12,875
If the old man says
it's good, we believe it's good.
108
00:13:15,545 --> 00:13:18,715
10:00 am. There are already
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00:13:18,881 --> 00:13:22,385
30 or so people lined up
outside the shop.
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00:13:26,055 --> 00:13:29,434
11:00 am. The doors finally open.
111
00:13:37,525 --> 00:13:39,444
Welcome.
112
00:13:45,742 --> 00:13:49,746
He puts the finishing touches
on the apprentices' soup.
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00:13:59,881 --> 00:14:03,342
No one can fine-tune like him.
114
00:14:28,201 --> 00:14:31,954
He boils 20 orders of noodles at once.
115
00:14:49,138 --> 00:14:52,517
Yamagishi does all the cooking.
116
00:14:53,101 --> 00:14:56,771
The kitchen is too small
for the apprentices to help.
117
00:14:57,188 --> 00:15:00,024
They just stand aside and watch.
118
00:15:12,787 --> 00:15:14,372
Be careful.
119
00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:24,465
Taishoken stays open
for 4 hours each day.
120
00:15:24,882 --> 00:15:28,636
In that time, they sell
over 200 bowls of ramen.
121
00:15:34,433 --> 00:15:35,643
Here you go.
122
00:15:35,935 --> 00:15:36,936
One more.
123
00:15:38,813 --> 00:15:40,690
I'm doing this one first.
124
00:15:40,857 --> 00:15:43,526
A large one next.
125
00:15:46,446 --> 00:15:49,657
At 3:00 pm, the day is over.
126
00:16:01,210 --> 00:16:05,339
Once the last customer leaves,
the interior is rearranged.
127
00:16:18,603 --> 00:16:21,230
It becomes Yamagishi's bedroom.
128
00:16:21,397 --> 00:16:27,320
Why is he sleeping here?
Is sleeping on a board relaxing?
129
00:16:55,431 --> 00:16:56,265
Thank you.
130
00:16:56,432 --> 00:16:57,600
Got everything?
131
00:16:58,226 --> 00:16:59,185
Yes, thanks.
132
00:16:59,352 --> 00:17:05,191
The shop is closed on Wednesdays.
Yamagishi visits the hospital.
133
00:17:10,112 --> 00:17:11,906
Hello.
134
00:17:12,448 --> 00:17:13,866
Your hand, right?
135
00:17:15,701 --> 00:17:20,831
Further exams reveal
a more serious problem.
136
00:17:22,041 --> 00:17:26,420
The bones have no cushion.
Here's the frontal view.
137
00:17:27,088 --> 00:17:29,549
And the side view.
138
00:17:34,136 --> 00:17:37,598
It's called osteoarthritis.
139
00:17:37,765 --> 00:17:43,688
The cartilage in your finger
has eroded away.
140
00:17:43,854 --> 00:17:48,150
The lack of space between the joints
has caused the deformity.
141
00:17:49,151 --> 00:17:51,862
His knee is even worse.
142
00:17:52,446 --> 00:17:57,535
The cartilage is totally eroded,
and the bones are touching.
143
00:18:01,622 --> 00:18:03,791
I think you need surgery.
144
00:18:03,958 --> 00:18:06,335
Taking medicines or
145
00:18:07,753 --> 00:18:11,507
injections may relieve
the pain temporarily.
146
00:18:11,674 --> 00:18:16,095
But you'll need surgery
in the long term.
147
00:18:16,262 --> 00:18:19,640
What happens if he doesn't?
148
00:18:20,474 --> 00:18:26,230
He won't be able to stand
and work for much longer.
149
00:18:26,397 --> 00:18:30,610
I can't say for sure...
150
00:18:30,776 --> 00:18:35,281
But I would give it about a year.
At best.
151
00:18:37,783 --> 00:18:40,703
If he doesn't have surgery
or cut down on his work
152
00:18:41,329 --> 00:18:43,914
he won't be able
to stand within a year.
153
00:18:44,290 --> 00:18:49,170
How does Yamagishi
respond to this diagnosis?
154
00:18:54,633 --> 00:18:56,761
Excuse me, please.
155
00:19:01,265 --> 00:19:04,769
I revisited
Taishoken one month later
156
00:19:07,688 --> 00:19:12,109
and found out that Yamagishi
hadn't done anything about it.
157
00:19:12,735 --> 00:19:16,280
He hadn't changed his lifestyle
or exercised...
158
00:19:17,281 --> 00:19:21,369
He just continued making ramen.
159
00:19:38,052 --> 00:19:43,432
Certain customers are exempt
from lining up at
Taishoken.
160
00:19:48,854 --> 00:19:51,023
This man, for instance.
161
00:19:55,986 --> 00:19:58,906
How long have you been coming here?
162
00:20:00,533 --> 00:20:06,372
There was a lapse at one point,
but all in all, about 15 years.
163
00:20:06,747 --> 00:20:08,916
I always have lunch here.
164
00:20:11,585 --> 00:20:15,172
Some take out large orders
on a trolley.
165
00:20:20,219 --> 00:20:23,973
He works at a newspaper
printing company nearby
166
00:20:24,348 --> 00:20:29,311
and takes out ramen for lunch
every other day.
167
00:20:32,106 --> 00:20:33,607
How long have you been
doing this?
168
00:20:33,774 --> 00:20:36,861
We came here in 1962.
169
00:20:37,361 --> 00:20:39,697
So over 40 years?
170
00:20:39,864 --> 00:20:44,285
I guess you could say
your taste buds get used to it.
171
00:20:45,828 --> 00:20:46,871
Used to it?
172
00:20:47,788 --> 00:20:49,331
It's pretty good.
173
00:20:50,791 --> 00:20:53,961
He was a patron long
before the lines began forming.
174
00:21:02,178 --> 00:21:05,973
Taishoken has regulars
from all walks of life.
175
00:21:06,515 --> 00:21:09,518
Osamu Kawauchi comes here
twice a week.
176
00:21:09,685 --> 00:21:13,564
He commutes 2.5 hours
one way from Tochigi.
177
00:21:15,149 --> 00:21:20,654
I want to eat
Taishoken ramen
for as long as I can.
178
00:21:25,159 --> 00:21:30,080
Kawauchi has never spoken
to Yamagishi.
179
00:21:30,372 --> 00:21:33,542
He just eats and goes home.
180
00:21:37,129 --> 00:21:40,132
I'm hard of hearing
181
00:21:42,968 --> 00:21:49,266
so I can't hear what
the owner is saying.
182
00:21:49,433 --> 00:21:52,520
But after I've finished my bowl
183
00:21:52,686 --> 00:21:57,566
I feel like he's saying, “Come again.”
184
00:21:58,901 --> 00:22:01,445
“Take care and come again.”
185
00:22:03,239 --> 00:22:05,908
Sharing his happiness with me.
186
00:22:08,786 --> 00:22:09,954
We're done.
187
00:22:12,832 --> 00:22:17,378
Many customers say the same thing.
188
00:22:22,508 --> 00:22:23,926
Finally done.
189
00:22:27,972 --> 00:22:34,228
Yamagishi shares his knowledge
generously with his apprentices.
190
00:22:39,984 --> 00:22:45,948
Li Washun runs a ramen shop
in Kita Senju.
191
00:22:46,615 --> 00:22:49,326
I worked hard to make ramen.
192
00:22:49,618 --> 00:22:56,625
I thought it tasted good,
but no one came, so...
193
00:23:04,592 --> 00:23:08,846
I told him, “Something's not right.”
194
00:23:09,763 --> 00:23:14,685
“I'm trying to eat ramen at
different shops to learn.”
195
00:23:15,185 --> 00:23:18,397
He said, “I'll teach you
everything I know.”
196
00:23:19,398 --> 00:23:21,233
That's what he said.
197
00:23:21,859 --> 00:23:22,860
Everything?
198
00:23:23,027 --> 00:23:28,949
He said it over the phone.
He'd teach me everything he knew.
199
00:23:30,367 --> 00:23:33,871
I was shocked. I thought, “What?!”
200
00:23:36,582 --> 00:23:43,380
Li brought his soup over
for Yamagishi to taste.
201
00:23:48,010 --> 00:23:51,430
Your soy sauce blend isn't right.
202
00:23:52,765 --> 00:23:54,642
It's not inedible.
203
00:23:57,269 --> 00:24:00,773
But if you're running a business
204
00:24:00,939 --> 00:24:04,610
and want to win over your customers,
this one tastes better.
205
00:24:14,620 --> 00:24:17,039
You don't feel cheated?
206
00:24:17,206 --> 00:24:18,749
By teaching him?
207
00:24:20,167 --> 00:24:21,710
Not at all.
208
00:24:23,087 --> 00:24:26,382
If someone asks for my help
209
00:24:27,424 --> 00:24:31,178
I'm always happy to teach them.
210
00:24:32,429 --> 00:24:40,145
That's why there are no
trade secrets at my shop.
211
00:24:48,237 --> 00:24:53,200
Li trained at
Taishoken for 4 days.
212
00:25:00,624 --> 00:25:05,504
Why such long lines?
Why wait patiently for 2 hours?
213
00:25:06,422 --> 00:25:10,259
When I came here, I realized...
214
00:25:12,136 --> 00:25:13,470
How do I put it?
215
00:25:15,723 --> 00:25:16,974
It's his personality.
216
00:25:18,016 --> 00:25:19,727
He's just unique.
217
00:25:23,147 --> 00:25:26,400
People flock to
Taishoken
to learn from Yamagishi.
218
00:25:26,567 --> 00:25:30,195
There's always an influx
of apprentices.
219
00:25:32,197 --> 00:25:35,784
Kiichi Yamada came from Nagoya.
220
00:25:36,076 --> 00:25:39,037
He is not a ramen chef.
221
00:25:40,205 --> 00:25:41,790
He has his reasons.
222
00:25:43,292 --> 00:25:45,335
Were you a ramen chef?
223
00:25:45,502 --> 00:25:48,130
No, I was in the moving business.
224
00:25:48,297 --> 00:25:50,883
I was laid off.
225
00:25:52,217 --> 00:25:57,765
I thought I'd spend the rest of my life
learning the art of ramen.
226
00:25:59,683 --> 00:26:04,438
Yamada is a total amateur.
He cannot even help.
227
00:26:04,855 --> 00:26:09,151
Yet, Yamagishi allows him
to watch in the kitchen.
228
00:26:09,985 --> 00:26:15,657
Not even my parents
would do this for me.
229
00:26:15,824 --> 00:26:19,161
I'm more grateful to him
than to my own parents.
230
00:26:21,997 --> 00:26:25,751
Today is the last day
of Yamada's training.
231
00:26:26,043 --> 00:26:30,380
He must return to Nagoya
for family reasons.
232
00:26:32,925 --> 00:26:34,092
Thank you so much.
233
00:26:34,259 --> 00:26:35,552
Take this.
234
00:26:35,719 --> 00:26:36,512
I can't...
235
00:26:36,678 --> 00:26:39,389
Just take it.
236
00:26:40,641 --> 00:26:44,228
I don't deserve it.
I'm so grateful. Thank you.
237
00:26:44,394 --> 00:26:45,479
Good luck.
238
00:26:46,188 --> 00:26:47,564
I'm going to cry.
239
00:26:50,109 --> 00:26:51,819
Thank you so much.
240
00:26:53,403 --> 00:26:54,655
Good bye.
241
00:27:02,204 --> 00:27:04,331
Take care of yourself.
242
00:27:06,083 --> 00:27:10,003
Good luck. Come again
if you need my help.
243
00:27:10,170 --> 00:27:13,090
I will. Thank you so much.
Thank you.
244
00:27:13,257 --> 00:27:14,049
Take care.
245
00:27:14,216 --> 00:27:16,969
Thank you. Good bye.
246
00:27:18,303 --> 00:27:19,263
Bye.
247
00:27:19,721 --> 00:27:21,098
Thank you so much.
248
00:27:22,307 --> 00:27:23,642
Thank you.
249
00:27:44,496 --> 00:27:47,457
Sunday, December 2.
250
00:27:47,791 --> 00:27:51,712
The shop shouldn't be closed,
yet there is no line outside.
251
00:27:59,386 --> 00:28:04,391
Today is the only Sunday
that
Taishoken is closed.
252
00:28:04,558 --> 00:28:06,101
“Closed December 2nd”
253
00:28:08,395 --> 00:28:14,860
His middle school reunion is held
on the first Sunday in December.
254
00:28:15,694 --> 00:28:19,573
I never wear a necktie. Ever.
255
00:28:19,740 --> 00:28:24,536
We're normally open but
I have some personal business.
256
00:28:25,287 --> 00:28:27,789
Sorry you came all this way.
257
00:28:29,541 --> 00:28:31,043
It's so bright.
258
00:28:31,501 --> 00:28:35,339
I hardly ever go outside.
259
00:28:37,216 --> 00:28:40,344
I'm usually inside all day.
260
00:28:42,304 --> 00:28:43,805
I don't go out the front.
261
00:28:44,848 --> 00:28:47,976
I go in and out through the back.
262
00:28:50,145 --> 00:28:51,897
It's nice sometimes.
263
00:28:53,857 --> 00:28:56,151
He's been organizing
the reunion for 20 years.
264
00:28:56,526 --> 00:28:59,613
He's always the first
to arrive each year.
265
00:29:01,531 --> 00:29:03,033
Hello.
266
00:29:04,743 --> 00:29:06,954
You're looking good.
267
00:29:10,082 --> 00:29:11,625
Cheers!
268
00:29:17,214 --> 00:29:20,300
I moved out to Tokyo.
269
00:29:21,718 --> 00:29:23,929
I was a struggling student.
270
00:29:24,096 --> 00:29:30,894
I would go to Yamagishi and say,
“I'm hungry! Feed me some ramen!”
271
00:29:31,061 --> 00:29:32,312
When I was a student.
272
00:29:33,313 --> 00:29:34,606
I never paid!
273
00:29:40,112 --> 00:29:43,699
He's gotten so heavy. I'm worried.
274
00:29:43,865 --> 00:29:46,118
I want him to continue making ramen.
275
00:29:46,284 --> 00:29:51,873
This reunion is all his doing.
276
00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:59,423
So if he goes, there will be
no one to take charge.
277
00:29:59,589 --> 00:30:03,510
He has to stay healthy.
278
00:30:03,677 --> 00:30:05,804
We all feel the same.
279
00:30:06,304 --> 00:30:10,517
What I like about coming here?
280
00:30:11,393 --> 00:30:14,271
It's totally informal.
281
00:30:14,438 --> 00:30:19,318
Why don't I go to my high school
or college reunion?
282
00:30:19,484 --> 00:30:21,236
It's so stuffy.
283
00:30:21,903 --> 00:30:25,115
And so damned boring.
284
00:30:26,742 --> 00:30:29,369
I come here every year
285
00:30:29,953 --> 00:30:34,833
because of Yamagishi.
We're on a first-name basis.
286
00:30:36,084 --> 00:30:37,127
Because of this guy here.
287
00:30:37,294 --> 00:30:40,255
We all work together.
288
00:30:43,258 --> 00:30:44,843
Nice shot!
289
00:30:46,803 --> 00:30:48,096
One more, please.
290
00:31:03,111 --> 00:31:04,321
I can't even stand.
291
00:31:13,705 --> 00:31:14,873
This is bad.
292
00:31:16,708 --> 00:31:17,751
There's stairs.
293
00:31:17,918 --> 00:31:18,919
I'm fine.
294
00:31:19,086 --> 00:31:22,130
Isn't it harder to walk like this?
295
00:31:22,297 --> 00:31:24,174
Hold onto the rail.
296
00:31:25,550 --> 00:31:30,931
It's been 2 months since the doctor said
he won't be able to walk in a year.
297
00:31:31,515 --> 00:31:34,851
His leg was definitely worse.
298
00:31:44,611 --> 00:31:48,865
There is a picture on
the wall of
Taishoken.
299
00:31:49,866 --> 00:31:53,829
It's hard to tell from afar,
but they're cats.
300
00:31:57,332 --> 00:32:00,710
The picture is covered with grease.
301
00:32:05,924 --> 00:32:07,217
Why don't you clean it?
302
00:32:07,551 --> 00:32:11,847
Not without the boss' permission.
303
00:32:12,347 --> 00:32:14,516
It may be on purpose.
304
00:32:17,102 --> 00:32:19,521
You'd think he'd want it cleaned.
305
00:32:21,439 --> 00:32:27,112
I thought about cleaning it once,
but he may have his reasons.
306
00:32:31,116 --> 00:32:35,912
Yamagishi bought the picture
20 years ago
307
00:32:36,079 --> 00:32:39,040
for his cat-loving wife.
308
00:32:42,210 --> 00:32:46,673
Yamagishi and his wife Fumiko
were childhood sweethearts.
309
00:32:46,840 --> 00:32:49,384
They were cousins as well.
310
00:32:49,968 --> 00:32:53,138
They got married a year before
he opened the shop.
311
00:32:53,305 --> 00:32:56,266
They've always worked together.
312
00:32:56,892 --> 00:33:00,061
We were married as cousins.
313
00:33:00,478 --> 00:33:05,901
We've known each other
since we were 3 or 4.
314
00:33:08,278 --> 00:33:13,658
We weren't the typical
315
00:33:14,117 --> 00:33:17,287
husband and wife, I guess.
316
00:33:21,708 --> 00:33:25,921
My sister-in-law would say,
“That's enough bamboo shoots.”
317
00:33:26,087 --> 00:33:31,134
But he always wanted
to please the customer.
318
00:33:32,010 --> 00:33:36,681
He'd say, “That's not enough!”
and pile more on.
319
00:33:37,390 --> 00:33:44,147
They'd butt heads sometimes.
320
00:33:46,316 --> 00:33:53,782
She always said,
“He's strict at work
321
00:33:56,910 --> 00:34:04,626
but he's totally different
when he's at home.”
322
00:34:10,298 --> 00:34:14,719
Yamagishi's meals
are usually store bought.
323
00:34:26,147 --> 00:34:28,441
It can't be helped.
324
00:34:28,608 --> 00:34:35,532
If someone took the initiative
to cook rice and some dishes
325
00:34:36,157 --> 00:34:40,120
that would be good, but...
326
00:34:42,664 --> 00:34:46,459
Yet, he doesn't ask
his apprentices to cook.
327
00:35:01,933 --> 00:35:03,018
Hello.
328
00:35:06,187 --> 00:35:09,941
He won't be able to walk in a year.
329
00:35:10,317 --> 00:35:15,113
He knows this, but does nothing.
330
00:35:15,488 --> 00:35:20,327
He hasn't even told anyone
about his condition.
331
00:35:28,209 --> 00:35:35,383
The doctor said without surgery
he won't be able to walk in a year.
332
00:35:39,304 --> 00:35:41,473
He won't be able to walk?
333
00:35:41,806 --> 00:35:43,308
Did you know?
334
00:35:44,476 --> 00:35:46,561
He doesn't tell me such things.
335
00:35:47,228 --> 00:35:48,229
He doesn't?
336
00:35:48,730 --> 00:35:56,821
He holds everything in and tries
to resolve things on his own.
337
00:36:10,585 --> 00:36:12,545
Two weeks later
338
00:36:28,603 --> 00:36:30,188
I need your help.
339
00:36:31,231 --> 00:36:36,361
Can you grab my sock?
340
00:36:36,653 --> 00:36:38,029
Should I pull it up?
341
00:36:39,280 --> 00:36:41,366
Help me put in on.
342
00:36:48,039 --> 00:36:50,083
His leg was so swollen.
343
00:36:50,250 --> 00:36:53,920
It was hard like a rock.
344
00:36:55,880 --> 00:36:58,675
No softness at all.
345
00:36:59,259 --> 00:37:01,302
It didn't even feel like skin.
346
00:37:02,971 --> 00:37:04,139
- Really?
- Yes.
347
00:37:06,057 --> 00:37:07,392
Yamagishi also suffers
348
00:37:07,559 --> 00:37:13,648
from varicose veins, which cuts
the blood circulation to his legs.
349
00:37:19,446 --> 00:37:24,534
I'm taking painkillers,
but they don't work at all.
350
00:37:28,955 --> 00:37:31,749
His home is right nearby
351
00:37:32,417 --> 00:37:36,129
but he's sleeping at his shop again.
352
00:37:51,853 --> 00:37:57,192
After 3 months of visiting
Taishoken
I noticed something.
353
00:38:02,655 --> 00:38:07,368
A mountain of bags hanging
in the back of the shop.
354
00:38:15,001 --> 00:38:19,130
There appears to be a room
carefully hidden behind them.
355
00:38:19,464 --> 00:38:25,595
But the door was shut tight,
as if to conceal its existence.
356
00:38:34,521 --> 00:38:36,564
What was that room?
357
00:38:37,273 --> 00:38:41,361
Their bedroom.
358
00:38:43,238 --> 00:38:45,949
They used to sleep in there.
359
00:38:46,533 --> 00:38:47,909
I see.
360
00:38:49,786 --> 00:38:53,748
They used to live here.
361
00:38:53,915 --> 00:38:59,420
But now it's all cluttered,
like a storage area.
362
00:39:00,588 --> 00:39:05,593
They used to eat their meals here.
363
00:39:06,094 --> 00:39:07,345
I see.
364
00:39:07,512 --> 00:39:08,721
That was long ago.
365
00:39:13,643 --> 00:39:18,439
Yamagishi lived here with
his wife for 25 years.
366
00:39:19,023 --> 00:39:24,112
He doesn't talk much
about his wife, Fumiko.
367
00:39:24,279 --> 00:39:26,406
Three noodles.
368
00:39:28,533 --> 00:39:30,034
Oh, hi.
369
00:39:34,289 --> 00:39:38,585
Why would he close up
a room full of memories?
370
00:39:55,435 --> 00:40:01,608
What's that on the right?
371
00:40:01,774 --> 00:40:03,735
Is that a room?
372
00:40:03,901 --> 00:40:08,072
Yeah. A tiny room.
We took our breaks there.
373
00:40:09,490 --> 00:40:11,242
What's inside?
374
00:40:11,409 --> 00:40:12,577
Nothing.
375
00:40:12,869 --> 00:40:15,914
It's not totally empty.
There are some chairs.
376
00:40:16,414 --> 00:40:20,793
And speakers I never use.
377
00:40:20,960 --> 00:40:22,170
Can I see?
378
00:40:22,754 --> 00:40:26,966
Oh, no. It's in ruins.
379
00:40:28,301 --> 00:40:29,177
Left as it was?
380
00:40:29,344 --> 00:40:33,806
From the best days of my life.
With my wife.
381
00:40:34,265 --> 00:40:38,436
I just left it. Now it's a rat's nest.
382
00:40:38,853 --> 00:40:40,063
It's pitiful.
383
00:40:41,606 --> 00:40:42,398
Can I see?
384
00:40:42,565 --> 00:40:45,943
No way. Are you kidding?
385
00:40:49,322 --> 00:40:53,785
It's the most painful, poignant
place for me.
386
00:40:55,370 --> 00:41:01,084
It used to be my favorite place.
Now I don't even want to talk about it.
387
00:41:02,251 --> 00:41:07,298
It's the most heartrending place
in the world for me.
388
00:41:08,091 --> 00:41:10,009
I can't show it to anyone.
389
00:41:10,593 --> 00:41:14,555
If you insist, I'm not going
to do this show.
390
00:41:15,223 --> 00:41:16,516
That's how strongly I feel.
391
00:41:18,393 --> 00:41:19,352
Really.
392
00:41:21,062 --> 00:41:27,527
I'm working as hard as I can.
Why would I let my heart be trampled on?
393
00:41:28,986 --> 00:41:33,449
The second floor is the same.
You can't go up there.
394
00:41:36,119 --> 00:41:38,496
I let it go to ruin.
395
00:41:59,851 --> 00:42:04,897
When he found out his wife had
stomach cancer, it was too late.
396
00:42:06,441 --> 00:42:07,942
She had one month left to live.
397
00:42:08,484 --> 00:42:14,449
Yamagishi never told his wife.
They just spent their time together.
398
00:42:25,585 --> 00:42:31,007
He lost his wife, Fumiko,
when they were both 52.
399
00:42:37,430 --> 00:42:42,560
Everything in
Taishoken,
from the utensils to their places,
400
00:42:42,977 --> 00:42:48,608
were left exactly as they were
when his wife was alive.
401
00:43:09,378 --> 00:43:15,510
The only thing I live for is my work.
402
00:43:18,888 --> 00:43:25,978
If I can stay healthy and work,
I'll be happy.
403
00:43:26,813 --> 00:43:31,567
I'm not living in pursuit of happiness.
404
00:43:31,734 --> 00:43:34,320
I'm ready to die at any time.
405
00:43:35,571 --> 00:43:37,573
That's who I am.
406
00:43:38,533 --> 00:43:40,618
That's who I've become.
407
00:44:04,559 --> 00:44:08,813
On New Year's Eve, in addition
to normal business,
Taishoken
408
00:44:08,980 --> 00:44:11,607
makes ramen to usher in the new year.
409
00:44:11,774 --> 00:44:15,736
It's the busiest time of the year.
410
00:44:21,868 --> 00:44:26,664
On New Year's Eve, Yamagishi
makes over 500 bowls of ramen.
411
00:44:27,164 --> 00:44:31,210
No matter how hard it is on him,
he continues to make ramen.
412
00:44:55,818 --> 00:45:00,239
It was 9:00 pm
by the time he finished.
413
00:45:58,798 --> 00:46:04,428
I've played harmonica since
the 2nd or 3rd grade.
414
00:46:04,804 --> 00:46:10,601
This song is about my hometown.
415
00:46:12,269 --> 00:46:17,483
The little brook in the song
is our little brook.
416
00:46:19,485 --> 00:46:20,403
That's right.
417
00:46:21,737 --> 00:46:25,908
“Chasing rabbits in the mountains,
fishing in the river...”
418
00:46:26,075 --> 00:46:32,331
That's our river they're talking about.
419
00:46:33,708 --> 00:46:35,626
Have you been back?
420
00:46:37,003 --> 00:46:40,298
I used to go home at New Year's.
421
00:46:40,798 --> 00:46:45,594
But not so much anymore.
422
00:46:45,761 --> 00:46:49,932
I went back once after I got married.
423
00:46:51,225 --> 00:46:54,937
And maybe once or twice since then.
424
00:46:56,480 --> 00:47:01,360
So it's been about 20 years.
425
00:47:11,329 --> 00:47:13,789
Winter, 2004.
426
00:47:14,457 --> 00:47:17,626
It's been a while since
I visited
Taishoken.
427
00:47:18,502 --> 00:47:21,172
There was a long line, as usual.
428
00:47:26,218 --> 00:47:30,681
But Yamagishi wasn't there.
429
00:47:34,935 --> 00:47:39,648
It's 4:00 am. He's usually already
busy with preparations.
430
00:47:42,485 --> 00:47:45,738
‘Morning, boss.
431
00:47:47,490 --> 00:47:51,660
Isn't it easier to just open that door?
432
00:47:53,204 --> 00:47:55,498
I keep this top door open.
433
00:48:05,424 --> 00:48:10,596
He had gained more weight.
It was taking a toll on his work.
434
00:48:13,891 --> 00:48:18,104
He used to be able to work all day
435
00:48:18,270 --> 00:48:24,360
but now, he's working less and less.
436
00:48:24,527 --> 00:48:28,197
He can't stand for long periods,
to tell you the truth.
437
00:48:35,621 --> 00:48:37,998
His varicose veins have gotten worse.
438
00:48:38,165 --> 00:48:42,128
His leg is beginning to ooze.
439
00:48:53,222 --> 00:48:55,391
Two years since the doctor's warning.
440
00:48:55,933 --> 00:49:00,229
Yamagishi could no longer make ramen.
441
00:49:10,030 --> 00:49:11,365
I can't breathe.
442
00:49:12,450 --> 00:49:18,289
Even if I do,
oxygen doesn't reach my lungs.
443
00:49:19,290 --> 00:49:20,583
So it's tiring.
444
00:49:22,585 --> 00:49:25,754
As soon as I think it's better
445
00:49:26,630 --> 00:49:29,842
to some extent...
446
00:49:31,385 --> 00:49:34,763
If I lost some weight...
447
00:49:34,930 --> 00:49:39,518
His breathing is restricted.
He doesn't sleep well at night
448
00:49:39,977 --> 00:49:43,481
so he's barely coherent
during the day.
449
00:49:57,161 --> 00:49:58,412
Two days later,
450
00:49:59,079 --> 00:50:03,584
Yamagishi collapsed at work
and was rushed to the hospital.
451
00:50:12,885 --> 00:50:17,139
The nurse told me that
the boss is in bad shape.
452
00:50:18,057 --> 00:50:21,435
Today and tomorrow are critical.
453
00:50:21,602 --> 00:50:23,854
He's in critical condition.
454
00:50:24,021 --> 00:50:29,526
If he makes it, he may get better,
but we don't know.
455
00:50:29,693 --> 00:50:31,862
It could go either way.
456
00:50:33,489 --> 00:50:38,035
His chest isn't moving.
He needs to breathe.
457
00:50:59,181 --> 00:51:02,768
Meanwhile, the lines
continued to form as usual.
458
00:51:03,227 --> 00:51:06,480
But it's chaotic inside.
459
00:51:09,108 --> 00:51:12,736
They can't even open on time.
460
00:51:13,737 --> 00:51:15,948
Without Yamagishi's direction,
461
00:51:16,115 --> 00:51:19,994
the apprentices don't know what to do.
462
00:51:22,997 --> 00:51:26,458
They'll have to rely on the regulars.
463
00:51:30,546 --> 00:51:34,049
Tell us if something is missing.
464
00:51:36,093 --> 00:51:38,762
It's a little oily.
465
00:51:38,929 --> 00:51:40,931
Really? Sorry.
466
00:51:41,473 --> 00:51:44,685
The steam can't even escape.
467
00:51:45,060 --> 00:51:46,895
It's so oily.
468
00:51:49,732 --> 00:51:55,904
25 year old Takuya Kuriyama
is the most promising apprentice.
469
00:51:58,365 --> 00:52:03,037
There are many ramen shops
with delicious ramen.
470
00:52:03,537 --> 00:52:10,336
But something about
Taishoken
keeps you coming back for more.
471
00:52:11,503 --> 00:52:13,547
I don't know why.
472
00:52:15,257 --> 00:52:19,011
Taishoken's apprentices come
to learn how to make ramen
473
00:52:19,178 --> 00:52:22,306
and leave after 1 - 3 months.
474
00:52:22,473 --> 00:52:27,478
But Kuriyama has been training
for almost two years.
475
00:52:31,690 --> 00:52:33,192
Good work.
476
00:52:48,082 --> 00:52:53,379
The apprentices share
an apartment one minute away.
477
00:52:57,341 --> 00:52:59,385
The boss is amazing.
478
00:53:00,010 --> 00:53:02,137
Once I forgot to add the sardines.
479
00:53:03,055 --> 00:53:07,976
The moment he tasted it, he said,
480
00:53:08,143 --> 00:53:09,770
“What about the sardines?”
481
00:53:10,813 --> 00:53:14,358
I told him I had forgotten.
482
00:53:16,235 --> 00:53:17,820
It's only a few pieces.
483
00:53:17,986 --> 00:53:20,989
This was after the soup was
in the big pot.
484
00:53:21,156 --> 00:53:25,035
Not in the bowl.
We emptied the bowl.
485
00:53:25,202 --> 00:53:32,543
He could tell even after
the soup went in the pot.
486
00:53:33,919 --> 00:53:36,171
He is a god after all.
487
00:53:46,849 --> 00:53:50,811
Kuriyama remained in the kitchen.
488
00:54:01,864 --> 00:54:07,536
But the famous lines had disappeared.
489
00:54:09,246 --> 00:54:11,749
6 months after Yamagishi collapsed,
490
00:54:12,166 --> 00:54:17,171
Taishoken's sales
had dropped by 50%.
491
00:54:30,642 --> 00:54:32,394
Sales were bad today.
492
00:54:34,438 --> 00:54:36,064
I wonder why...
493
00:54:44,072 --> 00:54:45,908
Welcome.
494
00:54:49,411 --> 00:54:54,124
It's not consistent.
It doesn't taste the same.
495
00:54:54,291 --> 00:54:56,335
It's not the boss' ramen.
496
00:54:56,502 --> 00:55:00,172
It makes a difference
497
00:55:01,423 --> 00:55:04,051
if he's there or not.
498
00:55:04,218 --> 00:55:10,224
When he's there, customers
believe that it's good.
499
00:55:12,226 --> 00:55:18,649
The difference between the boss
and his apprentices
500
00:55:18,816 --> 00:55:20,818
is like heaven and earth.
501
00:55:21,443 --> 00:55:23,695
They're shooting again.
502
00:55:25,113 --> 00:55:26,532
Shooting what?
503
00:55:30,369 --> 00:55:32,037
How empty it is.
504
00:55:48,554 --> 00:55:51,139
The shop had always been full.
505
00:55:53,058 --> 00:55:59,064
Taishoken faced its biggest crisis
since opening 45 years ago.
506
00:56:09,366 --> 00:56:14,872
Meanwhile, shops bearing
the name continued to increase.
507
00:56:15,581 --> 00:56:17,749
Almost 100 shops bear the name
508
00:56:18,125 --> 00:56:22,504
because Yamagishi doesn't
charge franchise fees.
509
00:56:38,270 --> 00:56:43,817
Amongst the most successful
is Koji Tashiro.
510
00:56:48,697 --> 00:56:53,619
He opened 15 shops
in Chiba and Ibaraki.
511
00:56:54,828 --> 00:57:00,334
I don't think he expected this.
For there to be so many.
512
00:57:01,710 --> 00:57:05,589
Tashiro trained at
Taishoken
for three months.
513
00:57:05,756 --> 00:57:08,467
He makes over
500 million yen a year.
514
00:57:08,925 --> 00:57:12,930
Most of his shops
bear the name “
Taishoken.”
515
00:57:13,096 --> 00:57:16,475
Taishoken
516
00:57:18,685 --> 00:57:22,230
He bought a shop that went bankrupt
517
00:57:22,397 --> 00:57:25,609
and only changed the signboard.
518
00:57:26,777 --> 00:57:30,864
He named it... “
Taishoken.”
519
00:57:33,241 --> 00:57:34,701
How much do you sell a month?
520
00:57:35,744 --> 00:57:39,831
About 5 million yen last month.
521
00:57:43,251 --> 00:57:46,880
Manager! What were sales
last month?
522
00:57:49,007 --> 00:57:51,093
512 million. That's something.
523
00:57:51,259 --> 00:57:55,430
Does the name
Taishoken help?
524
00:57:55,597 --> 00:58:00,977
Big time. I'm nothing without
Taishoken.
525
00:58:02,562 --> 00:58:07,359
Shops bearing the
Taishoken name
use Yamagishi's recipe.
526
00:58:07,526 --> 00:58:11,071
The biggest difference is the quantity.
527
00:58:12,614 --> 00:58:15,617
Making sure the customer
always leaves full
528
00:58:15,784 --> 00:58:19,788
is Mr. Yamagishi's style.
No one else does that.
529
00:58:20,539 --> 00:58:21,665
Not even his apprentices.
530
00:58:22,165 --> 00:58:25,085
They can't do what the boss does.
531
00:58:27,337 --> 00:58:29,798
Especially me. I'm too cheap.
532
00:58:29,965 --> 00:58:35,053
I know they can't finish it,
so I can't bring myself to do it.
533
00:58:35,220 --> 00:58:39,474
I can't serve such huge
bowls of char siu ramen.
534
00:58:41,852 --> 00:58:43,603
I couldn't make a profit.
535
00:58:50,944 --> 00:58:55,866
Yamagishi was in the hospital
for over 6 months.
536
00:59:02,330 --> 00:59:06,793
He had major knee implant surgery.
537
00:59:10,172 --> 00:59:15,385
This is from the front, the side
and the back. It looks good.
538
00:59:16,094 --> 00:59:18,638
Your bones were so hard!
539
00:59:18,805 --> 00:59:21,391
- Did you hear me knocking away?
- It was horrible.
540
00:59:24,352 --> 00:59:26,813
Like you were breaking my body.
541
00:59:28,732 --> 00:59:29,566
Your leg was so heavy.
542
00:59:29,733 --> 00:59:33,153
He wants to make ramen again.
543
00:59:33,320 --> 00:59:36,573
That's why he agreed to the surgery.
544
00:59:37,073 --> 00:59:40,577
My life going forward
545
00:59:42,079 --> 00:59:44,790
is full of hopes and dreams.
546
00:59:46,208 --> 00:59:48,335
And new paths opening up.
547
00:59:49,044 --> 00:59:51,630
What are your hopes and dreams?
548
00:59:52,047 --> 00:59:55,342
To do business like before.
549
00:59:56,218 --> 01:00:00,555
I made ramen my whole life.
550
01:00:01,723 --> 01:00:06,144
I want to continue a life
of making ramen.
551
01:00:07,395 --> 01:00:09,064
Especially with my customers.
552
01:00:11,274 --> 01:00:16,530
That's the path I was meant to walk.
553
01:00:24,079 --> 01:00:26,373
Eight months after his
emergency surgery,
554
01:00:26,832 --> 01:00:32,295
Yamagishi was released
and walked to
Taishoken.
555
01:00:34,089 --> 01:00:36,049
Hi, thanks.
556
01:00:38,635 --> 01:00:40,178
He's back and walking!
557
01:00:40,345 --> 01:00:42,347
Thanks.
558
01:00:44,516 --> 01:00:46,434
Business is thriving.
559
01:00:46,601 --> 01:00:48,687
It's cool in here.
560
01:00:51,314 --> 01:00:55,735
It looks so cluttered.
It's been a while.
561
01:01:01,199 --> 01:01:02,993
It sure is tiny.
562
01:01:04,119 --> 01:01:06,955
I can't believe I used to work here.
563
01:01:14,462 --> 01:01:18,633
Kuriyama presented him
with today's soup.
564
01:01:37,110 --> 01:01:39,946
Good. It's tasty.
565
01:01:51,249 --> 01:01:53,418
His first taste of soup in 8 months.
566
01:02:16,316 --> 01:02:21,154
I heard from Yamagishi
about two months later.
567
01:02:22,030 --> 01:02:25,533
He was going to return to work.
568
01:02:38,546 --> 01:02:40,006
It's been a while.
569
01:02:42,384 --> 01:02:43,885
It's better that it's cramped.
570
01:02:46,680 --> 01:02:50,600
I noticed something right away
upon entering the shop.
571
01:02:51,184 --> 01:02:52,644
I had it cleaned.
572
01:02:54,104 --> 01:02:57,649
The cat picture.
573
01:03:07,242 --> 01:03:11,454
They're so cute. The colors faded.
574
01:03:14,582 --> 01:03:18,545
I hadn't cleaned it all this time.
575
01:03:20,171 --> 01:03:21,756
Good memories.
576
01:03:30,056 --> 01:03:32,809
The cat picture covered in grease.
577
01:03:33,560 --> 01:03:39,232
The picture left unattended
since his wife's death.
578
01:03:42,986 --> 01:03:48,074
He finally had an apprentice
clean it after 20 years.
579
01:03:51,036 --> 01:03:53,413
It's like reliving a dream.
580
01:03:54,080 --> 01:03:56,750
I'm going to give it a try.
581
01:03:56,916 --> 01:04:02,172
My voice is coming back, too.
582
01:04:04,841 --> 01:04:10,597
I have to give orders, right?
583
01:04:13,975 --> 01:04:19,522
I could sense his resolve
to start anew.
584
01:04:26,988 --> 01:04:29,240
The next day...
585
01:04:30,492 --> 01:04:31,785
The boss is back.
586
01:04:32,202 --> 01:04:33,787
Someone take a picture.
587
01:05:07,862 --> 01:05:12,367
The shop was filled with regulars
from early in the morning.
588
01:05:12,534 --> 01:05:13,952
Does it taste different?
589
01:05:15,870 --> 01:05:18,873
It's good. Amazing.
590
01:05:19,958 --> 01:05:21,459
His hands work magic.
591
01:05:25,255 --> 01:05:27,465
Just by word of mouth,
592
01:05:27,632 --> 01:05:32,512
a line 2 hours long had
formed outside the shop.
593
01:05:34,889 --> 01:05:37,475
This is more like it.
594
01:05:37,809 --> 01:05:40,895
There's got to be a line.
595
01:05:41,896 --> 01:05:44,107
Don't film me, you idiot.
596
01:05:47,569 --> 01:05:52,949
It seemed his passion was back.
Like when he first opened shop.
597
01:05:53,992 --> 01:05:56,536
So was his smile.
598
01:05:56,703 --> 01:05:59,539
Thanks.
599
01:06:10,508 --> 01:06:12,093
It's so hot.
600
01:06:17,182 --> 01:06:22,353
I haven't done it for 9 months.
601
01:06:24,105 --> 01:06:25,690
It's almost nostalgic.
602
01:06:26,774 --> 01:06:33,072
My fingers hurt. It's pitiful.
603
01:06:36,492 --> 01:06:38,119
They hurt.
604
01:06:40,038 --> 01:06:44,501
More so since I lost weight.
605
01:06:46,503 --> 01:06:48,046
At the end of the day
606
01:06:48,213 --> 01:06:53,343
Yamagishi only stood in the kitchen
for the first 20 minutes.
607
01:06:58,806 --> 01:07:00,808
I visited
Taishoken a month later.
608
01:07:02,227 --> 01:07:06,523
Yamagishi was nowhere to be seen.
609
01:07:10,693 --> 01:07:11,986
He's not here.
610
01:07:12,862 --> 01:07:14,113
Is he outside?
611
01:07:14,405 --> 01:07:17,992
He's in his apartment.
612
01:07:24,040 --> 01:07:27,043
He's supposed to go to rehab.
613
01:07:29,504 --> 01:07:30,838
But I don't think he goes.
614
01:07:31,256 --> 01:07:32,340
I guess not.
615
01:07:33,675 --> 01:07:37,720
Another month later.
It's December.
616
01:07:38,638 --> 01:07:43,768
Yamagishi hasn't showed up
at the shop since that day.
617
01:07:45,520 --> 01:07:47,438
I wonder if he'll come if we call.
618
01:07:48,523 --> 01:07:50,191
Maybe.
619
01:07:52,944 --> 01:07:57,240
Maybe I'll beg him to come back.
620
01:08:09,627 --> 01:08:11,379
New Year's Eve.
621
01:08:16,509 --> 01:08:20,179
Yamagishi is still nowhere to be seen.
622
01:08:20,638 --> 01:08:25,184
It's been 3 months since
he came back to work at the shop.
623
01:08:26,060 --> 01:08:28,813
What happened?
624
01:08:39,407 --> 01:08:40,658
It's me.
625
01:08:44,454 --> 01:08:45,747
Did you go to the shop?
626
01:08:45,913 --> 01:08:47,206
Just for a minute.
627
01:08:50,710 --> 01:08:53,755
I have to stop thinking that
628
01:08:54,130 --> 01:08:59,469
I have to be the one in the kitchen.
629
01:09:00,261 --> 01:09:01,054
Is that so?
630
01:09:01,220 --> 01:09:03,723
Yes. Definitely.
631
01:09:04,766 --> 01:09:07,685
To accept reality?
632
01:09:08,144 --> 01:09:12,065
I had to accept reality, too.
633
01:09:12,357 --> 01:09:17,779
After I made about 30 bowls,
I knew I couldn't do it any more.
634
01:09:18,863 --> 01:09:23,034
The pain in my hands
radiated to my shoulders.
635
01:09:23,201 --> 01:09:25,411
I couldn't even lift them.
636
01:09:26,371 --> 01:09:29,123
That was it.
637
01:09:31,334 --> 01:09:37,507
I had to ask Kuriyama
to take over for me.
638
01:09:38,633 --> 01:09:40,885
I knew that was it.
639
01:09:42,678 --> 01:09:46,391
My time was over.
640
01:09:52,313 --> 01:09:58,152
But I did my best so
I have no regrets.
641
01:09:58,319 --> 01:10:02,281
When I look back on my life,
642
01:10:04,617 --> 01:10:06,703
on how I lived my life,
643
01:10:08,037 --> 01:10:11,958
as long as I have some good memories
644
01:10:12,375 --> 01:10:16,754
I'm satisfied.
645
01:10:18,339 --> 01:10:21,008
It's not like everything will stop.
646
01:10:22,468 --> 01:10:27,932
If someone takes over for me
647
01:10:29,392 --> 01:10:32,729
the business will continue.
648
01:10:45,992 --> 01:10:49,203
March 20, 2007
649
01:10:50,037 --> 01:10:56,210
Taishoken is closing to make way for
the redevelopment of East Ikebukuro.
650
01:10:57,336 --> 01:11:01,340
The media rushed to cover the closing
of a legendary ramen shop.
651
01:11:01,507 --> 01:11:03,050
Thank you.
652
01:11:03,926 --> 01:11:06,804
Thank you for coming.
653
01:11:06,971 --> 01:11:10,725
I'm going to eat the last bowl
of the master's life work.
654
01:11:11,309 --> 01:11:12,226
Thank you.
655
01:11:13,853 --> 01:11:18,775
Record numbers lined up
to eat his last bowl of ramen.
656
01:11:20,067 --> 01:11:23,279
The wait was 9 hours long.
657
01:11:25,490 --> 01:11:27,241
- Where did you come from?
- Kyoto.
658
01:11:28,576 --> 01:11:34,040
I had to eat ramen from
a legendary shop like this one.
659
01:11:35,458 --> 01:11:38,503
There's closure for
the regulars as well.
660
01:11:39,629 --> 01:11:41,589
Can you believe the shop is closing?
661
01:11:41,756 --> 01:11:43,257
Sure I can.
662
01:11:43,925 --> 01:11:46,928
I came here every day.
663
01:11:47,386 --> 01:11:51,307
So I don't know where to go
now that this place will be gone.
664
01:11:52,850 --> 01:11:56,020
The apprentices flocked
to
Taishoken as well.
665
01:11:56,604 --> 01:12:00,691
There is no
Taishoken without
the boss. He's amazing.
666
01:12:01,275 --> 01:12:04,529
There will never be
another ramen shop like it.
667
01:12:05,947 --> 01:12:07,615
Is everyone here?
668
01:12:10,159 --> 01:12:14,789
Thanks for everything!
669
01:12:16,666 --> 01:12:21,128
Yamagishi went out in style.
670
01:12:21,295 --> 01:12:23,089
Thank you.
671
01:12:23,798 --> 01:12:28,344
Please support my apprentices.
672
01:12:30,805 --> 01:12:32,640
Thank you, boss!
673
01:12:45,820 --> 01:12:50,825
They began taking the shop down
a week later.
674
01:13:06,674 --> 01:13:08,801
This place is going to be gone.
675
01:13:10,553 --> 01:13:15,141
I've been here for 46 years.
676
01:13:17,226 --> 01:13:20,146
Making my ramen.
677
01:13:20,980 --> 01:13:25,776
Even if I quit, I thought
the shop would remain.
678
01:13:26,569 --> 01:13:31,616
But the shop will be gone too.
It's kind of cathartic.
679
01:13:31,782 --> 01:13:33,159
I'm relieved.
680
01:13:41,417 --> 01:13:44,962
The cat picture was taken down, too.
681
01:13:50,217 --> 01:13:53,721
And the room in the back
682
01:13:53,888 --> 01:13:57,016
hidden by the mountain of bags...
683
01:14:06,776 --> 01:14:10,655
If you insist, I'm not going
to do this show.
684
01:14:11,447 --> 01:14:12,657
That's how strongly I feel.
685
01:14:14,575 --> 01:14:15,576
Really.
686
01:14:17,328 --> 01:14:23,668
I'm working as hard as I can.
Why would I let my heart be trampled on?
687
01:14:25,211 --> 01:14:29,465
The second floor is the same.
You can't go up there.
688
01:14:32,343 --> 01:14:34,762
I let it go to ruin.
689
01:14:42,269 --> 01:14:46,565
The room that enshrined
his wife's memories...
690
01:15:21,976 --> 01:15:26,147
Even the forbidden room upstairs.
691
01:15:28,065 --> 01:15:32,403
An iron. From 30 years ago.
692
01:15:34,071 --> 01:15:36,782
A Housewife's Life 1978
693
01:15:36,949 --> 01:15:42,413
Fumiko's things were left intact,
as if in a time capsule.
694
01:15:43,122 --> 01:15:44,165
Is this his wife?
695
01:15:44,498 --> 01:15:46,333
It looks so rural.
696
01:15:47,209 --> 01:15:49,086
This isn't Tokyo.
697
01:15:50,379 --> 01:15:51,839
That's his wife.
698
01:15:57,219 --> 01:15:59,638
An eternal smile.
699
01:16:02,558 --> 01:16:07,188
My wife's memories
are here in my heart.
700
01:16:07,605 --> 01:16:12,151
So in my mind, she's 52 forever.
701
01:16:12,568 --> 01:16:18,407
We happened to live here
for about 46 years.
702
01:16:18,783 --> 01:16:22,286
So when I heard that
703
01:16:22,453 --> 01:16:25,790
they were putting up
a 52 story building here
704
01:16:25,956 --> 01:16:28,626
I thought, “It's my wife.”
705
01:16:28,793 --> 01:16:34,381
As soon as I heard 52 stories,
I knew she was watching over me.
706
01:16:42,515 --> 01:16:48,771
A 52-story building stood
on the site of
Taishoken.
707
01:16:59,323 --> 01:17:02,785
Yamagishi now lives
in an apartment in the building.
708
01:17:09,959 --> 01:17:12,878
Yamagishi doesn't have any kids.
709
01:17:13,379 --> 01:17:17,967
But his apprentices
bring their families over.
710
01:17:22,137 --> 01:17:26,934
It's lonely without kids
711
01:17:27,560 --> 01:17:32,690
but if I think of these
young folks as my kids,
712
01:17:32,857 --> 01:17:38,404
I have 300? 500? Who knows?
There are too many.
713
01:17:39,029 --> 01:17:46,203
I have many good apprentices
who support me.
714
01:18:04,013 --> 01:18:05,723
4 years since his retirement.
715
01:18:06,140 --> 01:18:10,269
Yamagishi is not
in the best of health.
716
01:18:18,360 --> 01:18:21,405
It's really hard to walk now.
717
01:18:41,550 --> 01:18:47,348
I'm not afraid to die at all.
718
01:18:47,514 --> 01:18:51,226
I'm not fearful of it.
719
01:18:51,560 --> 01:18:55,481
I don't dread it.
720
01:18:55,648 --> 01:19:00,194
I can die at any time.
I'll just lie down.
721
01:19:01,654 --> 01:19:04,573
It's that easy.
722
01:19:05,491 --> 01:19:07,910
I worked hard.
723
01:19:31,475 --> 01:19:32,559
How's the view?
724
01:19:32,726 --> 01:19:34,019
Beautiful.
725
01:19:37,648 --> 01:19:41,860
His apprentice
paid for this apartment.
726
01:19:42,736 --> 01:19:46,699
The one who called himself “cheap.”
727
01:19:54,957 --> 01:19:56,208
I eat fast, too.
728
01:19:58,085 --> 01:19:59,503
Faster than me.
729
01:20:01,588 --> 01:20:06,593
The guys from my school
730
01:20:06,760 --> 01:20:11,015
get together in the village.
731
01:20:12,516 --> 01:20:15,060
Word traveled quickly
that I collapsed.
732
01:20:17,146 --> 01:20:21,025
Then you should go see them.
733
01:20:21,191 --> 01:20:23,902
I'm not going.
734
01:20:24,069 --> 01:20:25,029
You sure?
735
01:20:27,323 --> 01:20:30,451
I have lots of great memories
736
01:20:31,869 --> 01:20:33,495
of Shiga Highlands.
737
01:20:37,082 --> 01:20:42,588
Songs of my hometown
738
01:20:43,756 --> 01:20:49,136
and my love for it
is stronger than anyone.
739
01:20:50,262 --> 01:20:52,890
But you don't have to go?
740
01:20:57,061 --> 01:20:59,021
You're so stubborn.
741
01:21:29,176 --> 01:21:32,638
Yamanouchi town,
Nagano Prefecture.
742
01:21:34,598 --> 01:21:38,060
His hometown had a secret.
743
01:21:39,645 --> 01:21:41,188
We're almost as high
as the Northern Alps.
744
01:21:41,355 --> 01:21:43,857
Tetsuya Kanai, Tourism & Commerce
Yamanouchi Town, Nagano Prefecture
745
01:21:44,024 --> 01:21:47,820
The closest one
to us is Mt. Kasa.
746
01:21:47,986 --> 01:21:51,031
The symbol of the
Shiga Highlands.
747
01:22:00,040 --> 01:22:04,503
This is it! What I wanted to show you.
748
01:22:04,670 --> 01:22:09,133
This is the summit of Mt. Yokote.
It's 2,305 meters high.
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Look at this!
750
01:22:11,677 --> 01:22:15,431
From the Northern Alps to
the Five Mountains of Hokushin.
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01:22:15,597 --> 01:22:19,810
All of this is my hometown,
Yamanouchi.
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01:23:11,778 --> 01:23:17,993
Yamanouchi Elementary School
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01:23:25,876 --> 01:23:30,506
Year Book
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01:23:39,431 --> 01:23:43,644
I was born in April.
My wife in May.
755
01:23:45,062 --> 01:23:47,397
Kazuo means “first child.”
756
01:23:47,564 --> 01:23:50,692
Fumiko means “second, third.”
757
01:23:50,859 --> 01:23:55,113
They said, “you two are so close,
758
01:23:55,280 --> 01:24:00,035
why don't you get married?”
So we did.
759
01:24:00,202 --> 01:24:05,290
It's been work, work, work
ever since.
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01:24:06,166 --> 01:24:08,168
That's how I lived my life.
761
01:24:08,335 --> 01:24:09,711
Really...
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01:24:12,089 --> 01:24:13,006
In the end,
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01:24:16,260 --> 01:24:20,514
I'll be with my wife. That's our fate.
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01:24:23,767 --> 01:24:29,731
Everything comes full circle.
765
01:24:47,916 --> 01:24:53,088
They returned to their hometown
the year they got married.
766
01:24:53,839 --> 01:24:57,884
It was also their honeymoon.
767
01:25:21,783 --> 01:25:23,869
Shiga Kogen Hotel.
768
01:25:31,585 --> 01:25:37,174
Yamagishi hasn't been back
since his wife passed away.
769
01:25:38,216 --> 01:25:43,972
Because his hometown is alive
and well in his heart.
770
01:25:51,396 --> 01:25:54,608
It's more precious than ramen.
771
01:26:09,915 --> 01:26:15,295
Kazuo Yamagishi
772
01:26:20,300 --> 01:26:24,262
Narration by Shosuke Tanihara
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01:26:25,305 --> 01:26:29,267
Music by Koji Takata
774
01:26:29,935 --> 01:26:33,939
Ending Theme
“Furusato no Melody” by Joe Hisaishi
775
01:26:34,981 --> 01:26:38,944
Based on the TV program: The Nonfiction
“The God of Ramen” by Fuji Television Network
776
01:26:39,986 --> 01:26:43,949
Written by Yoko Iwaida
777
01:26:44,991 --> 01:26:48,954
Director of Photography
Keishi Yamagishi
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01:26:49,996 --> 01:26:53,959
Production Manager
Yuji Tsukagoshi
779
01:26:55,001 --> 01:26:58,964
Produced by Koichi Tsutsumi
780
01:27:00,006 --> 01:27:03,969
Production Company
Media Research, Inc.
781
01:27:05,053 --> 01:27:09,015
Executive Producer
Kazuya Mitani
782
01:27:10,058 --> 01:27:15,021
Producers
Akira Nishimura Toshihiro Yamada
783
01:28:18,585 --> 01:28:22,047
Words of thanks are written on the wall
of his apprentice's shop.
784
01:28:22,214 --> 01:28:28,011
“I will treasure my four years
at
Taishoken forever.” - - Kuriyama
785
01:28:30,180 --> 01:28:33,058
“Kuriyama”
786
01:29:06,925 --> 01:29:17,143
9 months after closing,
Taishoken
East Ikebukuro reopened for business.
787
01:29:25,610 --> 01:29:33,285
Everything is back in its usual place.
788
01:29:46,840 --> 01:29:55,682
Directed by Takashi Innami
789
01:29:56,600 --> 01:30:03,690
©2013 Fuji Television Network
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