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Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated: 1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 3 00:00:35,077 --> 00:00:40,040 Kazuo Yamagishi 4 00:00:41,416 --> 00:00:46,380 Narration by Shosuke Tanihara 5 00:00:47,756 --> 00:00:52,719 Directed by Takashi Innami 6 00:01:43,478 --> 00:01:51,903 THE GOD OF RAMEN 7 00:01:58,035 --> 00:02:02,164 We're almost as high as the Northern Alps. 8 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. 25 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. 30 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. 36 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. 54 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. 56 00:06:45,071 --> 00:06:46,781 The noodles first. 57 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 62 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. 71 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. 74 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? 105 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 109 00:13:18,881 --> 00:13:22,385 30 or so people lined up outside the shop. 110 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. 113 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. 749 01:22:09,299 --> 01:22:11,510 Look at this! 750 01:22:11,677 --> 01:22:15,431 From the Northern Alps to the Five Mountains of Hokushin. 751 01:22:15,597 --> 01:22:19,810 All of this is my hometown, Yamanouchi. 752 01:23:11,778 --> 01:23:17,993 Yamanouchi Elementary School 753 01:23:25,876 --> 01:23:30,506 Year Book 754 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. 760 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... 762 01:24:12,089 --> 01:24:13,006 In the end, 763 01:24:16,260 --> 01:24:20,514 I'll be with my wife. That's our fate. 764 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 773 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 778 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 54743

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