Original subtitles

[train passing in distance]

[train bell rings]

[exhales deeply]

Mother! I… I think Kazuko just woke up.

Kazuko? Oh, Kazuko! Can you hear me?

Mother, what are you…

[sobs] Foolish girl.

How could you ever wanna die before your mother?

[crying]

[Nakazono] Why did you behave in such a rash way?

Can you tell us what happened?

[Mine continues crying]

Nakazono-san.

I want to… I want to open my own business.

I never wanna work for someone else again.

I want to run my own business.

What do you mean? This is all so sudden, Kazuko.

I'm sure you'll be able to have your own business someday.

That isn't going to help me. I want to open it right now.

I didn't die, which means that's what I should do.

[Mine] Kazuko.

- I'm going to quit high school. - Ah…

Don't you try to stop me.

I won't let anyone take advantage of me ever again.

[stirring music playing]

[electronic music playing]

WAKOSHA LITERARY NEWCOMER AWARD

[Kazuko] You know the difference between the heliocentric

and the geocentric models?

It's basically the difference between working for someone

or working for yourself.

Are you going to run yourself ragged for someone else?

Or are you going to have people running around for you?

When I went into business for myself, I was finally free.

As a novelist, I'm sure you know what I mean, right?

[music ends]

Just 'cause you're a novelist doesn't mean you're free.

[woman] That's it. Come on, now.

[footsteps approaching]

[woman] Here we go. That's it, honey.

Mommy! I just took my bath!

- Oh, good. - Oh, that was exhausting!

I'm not gonna do Reina's baths anymore. She gets so hyper! So excitable!

[Minori] Just hold still.

There we go.

I think you should bathe her from now on, all right?

Okay.

Oh yeah.

- [woman sighs deeply] - Should we dry your hair?

- [Reina] Okay. - [Minori] Come on. This way.

There. That's good.

- Mommy? - Hmm?

Tomorrow, can I use the fizzy bath bear?

Sure. Do you know what's inside?

- No. [giggles] - Mm. I guess we'll have to find out.

There.

Okay, come on.

Lie down.

- Mommy? - Hmm?

Can we get a doggy, please?

I already told you. Animals aren't allowed at Grandma's.

But when I saw Daddy the other day,

he said we could get one.

When are we going back to Daddy's house?

[woman on TV] A woman hits 30 and her market value drops quickly.

We're staying here a little longer, okay?

And then you and I will move to a much bigger house.

Then we can get a doggy.

Hmm.

[man on TV] Uh, ma'am, I think you should remember…

I'm off to work now, sweetheart.

Good night.

[Kazuko on TV] Tell me.

Why do you wanna be married anyway?

Hey, what kind of person is she anyway?

I just started interviewing her, so I'm not really sure yet.

She seems fake, like there's a dark side to her, you know?

I have no idea.

You call yourself a comedian, but you've got no real talent,

charm, or presence.

No real appeal as a woman either.

So you're clinging to the one quality you still do possess, which is your youth.

You know, you've been watching that show a lot, Mom.

Do you like Kazuko Hosoki?

Yeah. A lot.

What's her appeal?

It's so satisfying. She's straightforward. Honest.

You don't see people like that these days, you know.

And besides all that…

What else?

The woman is filthy rich.

Lucky for us. It's been over ten years.

Now our "promising new author" is finally writing her second book.

I'm sure it would be fun to write a novel all about her.

It'll be a hit.

People love her.

[Minori] Hmm.

All right. I'm off.

Oh, Minori. Um, how long do you plan on staying with me?

I don't know yet.

You're not seeing anyone these days?

Of course I'm not, Mom.

Well, if you're going to be staying here, then I want you to pay rent.

And considering that I'm also taking care of Reina,

how's 30,000 per month?

[Kazuko on TV] You don't wanna believe me, that's fine.

- That's okay. - Good.

[Kazuko on TV] …you should know

that you're going straight to hell.

[intriguing music playing]

[intriguing music continues]

[music ends]

[Kawatani] Wow.

I'd heard about her house, but this place is something else.

[both laugh]

It kind of looks like a museum.

Yeah, it does. [chuckles]

[Kawatani] So, you ready to go in?

[Minori] Yeah.

[doorbell rings]

- [man] Yes? - Oh.

Yes. I have an appointment. It's Kawatani.

Please, come in.

[Kawatani] Oh.

[Kawatani gasps]

[door lock clicks]

- We've been expecting you. - [Kawatani] Ah.

Come in, please.

Okay.

[Kawatani] Tiara.

[Tiara whines]

[Kawatani chuckles]

This dog must be expensive too, right?

[both laughing]

[gasps]

Oh. Please sit down, you two.

No need to be formal. You're guests in my home.

I'm so sorry. I didn't want you to go to so much trouble for us.

Don't worry about it at all.

I never wanted to be one of those people who passes off the housework to a maid.

I like to do it all myself.

They say that early habits stay with you forever.

When you grow up in poverty, these old habits are hard to shake.

[Kawatani] Mm.

It's homemade herbal tea.

Please have some.

Oh. [chuckles]

It smells great.

[Kazuko chuckles politely]

- Thank you so much. - Hi.

Oh, it's delicious.

It is, isn't it? It's made with herbs I grew myself.

I have to say, this house is simply magnificent.

It cost about 1.5 billion yen, which wasn't that much in the end.

You're kidding.

My house in Kyoto cost me three billion yen.

Really?

I hired the best traditional carpenters. Cost me more than I thought.

Oh, is that so? Just amazing.

I guess you think it's flashy nouveau riche style?

Oh, no. Not at all.

It's all right. You can be honest with me. It's the truth.

I don't hesitate to spend the money I earn.

I'm greedy when it comes to the things I want.

I know people criticize me,

but I don't see anything wrong with being nouveau riche.

I'm quite proud of it, don't you know?

I made it to where I am today by rising from nothing.

[train rattling]

STORE FOR RENT

[Nakazono] This is it.

[Kazuko] There's a lot of foot traffic around here.

Yes. It's a back road that leads to the station.

It's a small space. Only 100 square feet. It's a good location though.

Yeah. You can build whatever kind of business you want here.

And how much would the rent be, then?

Well, including the key deposit, you'll need 380,000 yen.

That much, huh?

I can help you with the rest, you know.

For my body in exchange?

[laughing]

You must think so little of me, Kazuko.

I'm simply an investor, and this is a business venture.

Business venture.

I wanna take a chance because of your guts and determination.

Are you in?

Nakazono-san.

Yes. I'm gonna rent it.

We'll start in this spot just until I find something bigger.

That's the spirit.

[rhythmic acoustic guitar music playing]

[Kazuko] I quit high school the very next day

and started preparing like crazy to open as soon as possible.

The place wasn't very big,

so I racked my brain trying to figure out what kind of business to start.

[music intensifies]

I got my older sister to help me

since she was sick of working in a factory.

We woke up at 4:00 every morning, cooked five sho of rice,

and made rice balls until our hands became wrinkled.

[Kazuko] Here you go. Thank you so much.

In the morning, we served rice balls and miso soup.

I charged 50 yen, and the coffee was free.

We changed the fillings of the rice balls and the ingredients in the soup daily

so that our customers wouldn't get bored.

[Kazuko] Thank you very much.

For lunch, we would serve sandwiches or tonjiru with rice.

That was also 50 yen with free coffee.

[Kazuko] Here you go, sir.

Sis, we're out of pickled plums. Can you get them?

- Hurry, please! - [Akiko] Okay.

- This one's got pickled plum. - Oh. Thank you.

[man 1] Thanks very much.

- [man 2] I'll have the tonjiru. - [Kazuko] One tonjiru. Thank you.

Sis, get the tonjiru!

Okay. Thank you.

What are you doing, sis? Would you hurry up and get the tonjiru?

- All right. - [Kazuko] Okay, thank you.

Here's your change. Fifty yen. Thank you so much.

[Kazuko] It was a business where time was of the essence.

The customers would eat as fast as they could,

so the tonjiru was served lukewarm, and the ingredients were cut small.

[Kazuko] Thank you.

Sis, you can do the dishes later.

- Sorry about that. Thanks. - All right!

[Kazuko] Here's your sandwich, sir. Thank you.

Oh, hang on. I need the sandwich first, please, sis!

- All right! - One moment, please.

Here's your change.

There you are. Thank you so much!

Just one minute.

- Thank you so much. Here you go. - [coins jingle]

[indistinct chattering]

And what part of town are you from, sir?

- Here you go. Thank you. - [man 3] I'll have the tonjiru.

[Kazuko] My strategy of selling a lot for a small profit was a huge success.

The key to business is to figure out what the customers want.

Every day was like playing a big game but with real people.

It's very difficult to understand how people work

if you're sitting at a desk thinking about hypothetical situations.

Uh, and how long did you run the shop for?

I think it was about six months.

Oh wow. So even though you were making money,

you mean you just stopped?

[Kazuko] Someone came along and wanted to buy the business

for three times what I paid for it.

If you wanted to sell it, why didn't you talk to me about it?

[sighs] Well, since I'm the one running it,

I can decide to sell it or close it whenever I want.

I mean, you were just the help, Akiko.

I didn't think that I had to consult with you about it.

I was just the help, huh?

Look, I've been thinking, and I wanna open a new business.

So you wanna help me again?

Who do you think you are?

I was a fool for letting you talk me into quitting my factory job!

Hey! Wait just a minute!

You could have found a nicer way to say that.

Kazuko, you're in the wrong here!

I'm wrong? I was the one who got slapped!

- You are! You-- - Calm down! You're making--

Wait, wait! No, no, no, no! Don't do it, sis!

- [woman] Kazuko! - [man] Come on!

[Kazuko] I'll kill her!

[women chanting] Here we go! Here we go! Here we go!

[all cheering]

[Kazuko] The next business I started was a lounge in Shinbashi.

I wanted to create a place where the young businessmen

who were regulars at the restaurant could have fun.

I kept my prices low and recruited a bunch of beautiful young novices

to be my hostesses.

CONGRATULATIONS ON CLUB JUN FROM EIICHI NAKAZONO

[all laughing]

I'll be with you in a minute.

All right, I'm off for now. I'll be back.

Please, drink as much as you want. Excuse me.

Welcome! Here, why don't I light that for you?

[man] Oh, thank you.

[Kazuko] The lounge was a huge success as a result of that plan.

The atmosphere was fresh and new,

unlike anything in Ginza at the time, so the customers flocked to us.

I recouped my investment in a year,

and within five years, I had over three million yen saved up.

This was at a time when a businessman's first paycheck

was less than 20,000.

How… how much would three million yen in those days be now?

Well, you simply multiply it by 20.

Sixty million yen!

And I was only in my twenties.

Wow! You must have been really living it up, I bet.

Actually, it really wasn't like that at all.

What? Didn't you know that, Mama?

Gosh. A hostess in Ginza would be able to keep up with economic talk.

I do apologize for my ignorance.

That's what you get for dropping out of school, huh? [laughs]

[Kazuko] I was getting frustrated.

Until then, I'd been able to survive with just my guts and determination.

But I was beginning to realize that it wasn't enough.

♪ I love, I love I love my calendar girl… ♪

[Kazuko] I was determined to prove them wrong,

so I went to university.

[Minori] Hang on.

You dropped out of high school, but went to university?

[Kazuko chuckles] As an unregistered student, of course.

[chanting] Down with Kishi! No security treaty!

[Kazuko] In those days, the campus was in an uproar,

full of idealistic youths, but I didn't care about any of that.

I was desperate to survive in an increasingly harsh world.

[professor] …Wealth of Nations consists of two distinct branches.

[Kazuko] I was attending university during the day

and working at the lounge at night.

I studied much harder than the average student.

Though, of course, I wasn't paying a dime in tuition fees.

I started reading everything I could get my hands on

about politics, economics, and philosophy.

["Calendar Girl" continues]

At first, I couldn't understand a thing,

but after a year or two, little by little,

I started to develop a good grasp of the subjects.

Eventually, I found it more and more interesting.

I was very motivated to study, and I could feel myself

growing more intellectually sophisticated every day.

[music fades]

And when that happened, that's when I became more and more greedy.

I got bored with serving the customers in Shinbashi.

I wanted to compete on a much bigger scale.

Ginza. Is that right?

- [laughs] - [lighter clicks]

[Nakazono] Opening a lounge in Ginza, even for you, Kazuko…

You're only 23 years old.

Why are you hurrying through your life?

The Olympics will be held here in Tokyo in two years.

This city is gonna be overflowing with even more people than usual.

The time is now.

But Ginza, it's the most exclusive area in all Japan.

Which is why I wanna challenge myself.

It's also the most competitive area in the country.

It's not gonna be so easy.

[Kazuko] Here it is.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

It's rare to come across a property with such agreeable terms.

So?

Well, the location is certainly perfect.

I plan on spending the most on the interior

and turning it into a high-end club.

Okay.

How much will you need?

Even with my savings, I'll need five million.

[chuckles] Kazuko.

Do you have a concept of how much money five million yen is?

I know that you could… build a house in Setagaya with that.

It's a whole other level from the amounts I've invested in you so far.

I really wanna open a club in this area.

Nakazono, please.

You know I'm a professional.

If you fail at this,

I will take everything you've got in order to collect what's owed to me.

Are you sure you're ready for that?

I am ready. And I will succeed, no matter what.

You shouldn't say "no matter what" so easily.

Please. Won't you take a chance on me again?

Otherwise, I'll beg you.

[sobs] Please!

- Hey! Kazuko. Stop it. Don't do that here. - I beg you, Nakazono-san. Please.

[Kazuko] If you don't give me that money, then I'll die!

My life is basically already over.

All right, all right!

I'll give you the money. Now, please, get up.

- You will? - Yes.

[laughs happily]

Thank you! Thank you, dear Nakazono!

Oh, I love you!

You're really something else, huh?

- I'll do my very best! I promise! - [Nakazono laughs]

[child] Wait!

Hey! Hey, wait up!

[Mine] Hello there.

[man] Nice weather we're having, huh?

[Mine] Yes. It really is.

- [man] I'll come by soon. - [Mine] All right.

Aya, honey, you're such a good girl.

She's my little sister, so it's easy.

- Hmm. - [bike bell rings]

Good results will come with patience.

Kazuko Hosoki.

This child will be blessed with good fortune

and will achieve great success.

Kazuko will? Is that really true?

Yes.

Thank you so very much.

However…

However? What is it?

This child's desires will grow rapidly from now on.

She may be swallowed up by those very same desires someday.

[train horn blares]

[train rattling in distance]

Ah! [chuckles]

So cute.

So you're actually opening a club in Ginza.

You're amazing, Kazuko. [laughs]

Are you going to be all right pushing yourself so hard?

I don't think I'm pushing myself that hard.

- [baby crying] - Oh.

- Oh. - Oh, what is it?

- What's wrong all of a sudden? - There, there, sweetie.

It's okay. It's okay.

[Akiko] There, there, little one. It's okay. It's okay.

What is it?

There, there, sweetie. What's wrong?

It's okay. It's okay, sweetie. Hmm?

You like when your mommy holds you, don't you?

- You're all right. You're okay. - Akiko, you really look like a mother now.

Are you enjoying it?

It's not a walk in the park, you know.

My husband doesn't make a lot of money.

Sure, but at least you don't have a mother or sister-in-law,

so you're lucky.

That's true.

I can't even imagine what a club in Ginza must be like.

Walking away from you after that fight was the right move.

[chuckles]

- Hey, Sachiko. - Hmm?

Wanna quit being a career woman and work at the club instead?

No way.

- You'd make a lot of money. - No, thanks.

I'm gonna marry a man with a house and a car and no mother-in-law.

Oh. Could I be your manager?

You said you were gonna get an office job, didn't you?

Oh, I'm not good at waking up early, so I think the club would be better.

- That's a dumb excuse. - What do you say?

You know, I could probably make use of you.

- [Hisao] So I'm hired? - Hmm. I'll think about it.

Wonderful! An informal job offer.

- You're such a fool sometimes. - [Hisao] What? It is an informal offer.

- Kazuko. - Hmm?

Have you talked to Mom about it?

[Sachiko] You're being irresponsible, dear brother.

No.

But I will.

[Sachiko] She is your older sister, after all.

I can take over.

Mom.

- Look, I-- - Nakazono-san already told me.

Oh.

I think you're an amazing young woman.

And it's thanks to your earnings

that we've been able to pay off all of our debts.

But, Kazuko,

five million yen is still an awful lot of money, you know.

I know, but it's all right. I'm confident it'll work.

Don't worry.

If you keep acting tough despite being a woman,

you're never going to be able to find happiness.

I still wanna get married someday,

and I do wanna have kids.

I don't intend to spend the rest of my life running a club in Ginza.

But I do intend to get everything I want.

You know, I had a fortune teller do a reading for you today,

and he said that someday your greed will consume you.

What a ridiculous thing to say.

Fortune-telling's a scam, Mom. I told you.

I'm worried about you, Kazuko.

That's about the only thing I can still do for you, my daughter.

[stirring music playing]

[intriguing music playing]

[stirring music plays]

[intriguing music continues]

[door closes]

- Oh! - Oh!

Megumi just asked me to do something for her.

[Kazuko] I see.

You know, I think my luck is changing. [chuckles]

Yeah.

I'll be right back.

Good, good.

[door closes]

Good morning, everyone.

[all] Good Morning, Mama Kazuko.

Kazusa is finally opening, as you know,

and I'm counting on all of you.

[all] We'll do our very best.

- Let's have a toast! - Cheers everyone.

- [giggles] - [indistinct chattering]

I'd be happy to.

Hey, Mama!

- Mizuno-san. Welcome! Welcome! - Thank you! This is wonderful!

- Thank you so very much. - Congratulations, Kazuko.

- I'm so grateful to have everyone here. - We'll definitely be back.

I look forward to seeing you all again soon.

[man] Thank you.

[Kazuko] Welcome, everyone.

Takahashi-san, I'm so happy you could make it.

- [woman] Good evening. May I take a seat? - Thank you very much.

Welcome.

- Ah! Nakazono-san! - Hello.

Ah. We've only got seats available at the counter now.

I'm just here to check things out.

Huh? No! At least stay for a drink.

[chuckles] I guess I can have one drink since I'm here.

- All right! - Hmm.

Please, this way.

Wow. It sure is busy.

Sis has been working so hard on it.

You're doing a pretty great job yourself.

Clothes make the man, huh? [chuckles]

This one.

- A beer, please. - Certainly. Welcome, sir.

This is our investor, Nakazono-san, so take care of him.

Of course. Very nice to meet you, sir.

Thank you.

[Kazuko] Nakazono-san.

Welcome to Kazusa.

You're off to a great start here.

Nakazono-san, if that's so, it's all thanks to you.

She was on her knees in the middle of Ginza. What could I do?

Everyone around was looking at me like I was some kind of villain.

"Please!" How could I say no?

- Oh, so it was basically a threat? - It certainly was.

- Well, enjoy your night. - All right.

May I have a drink with you?

Kazuko, I'll never be able to say no to you again.

Thank you.

I know I'm preaching to the choir,

but everyone says there are demons in Ginza.

So don't let your guard down, huh?

I'll do my best to protect everything

so that it doesn't get taken away from me.

[both laugh]

Well, to Kazusa's continued success and to your health.

And to yours.

[Minori] Did the club keep doing well after that?

Yes. It was very good timing.

It was during the time of "The Economic Miracle."

And thanks to my research,

big names from the political and financial worlds

eventually came as well.

Because of that,

I was able to pay back my debts to Nakazono-san in a year

instead of getting stripped of everything I had.

Ah, that's amazing. Dreams could become reality back then.

[Kazuko] Hmm.

People these days are crushed by reality, and nobody even tries to dream.

They quit before they even begin.

[Kazuko chuckles]

[Kawatani] Mm.

I'll make some coffee.

- [Kawatani] Huh? Uh… - Oh.

- Uh… - Thank you so much.

- I'll take those. - Oh, yes.

Thank you very much.

The world is becoming such a dull place.

If you don't dream, the seed of desire isn't planted.

And if you don't desire, you won't ever get anything.

Ms Hosoki? Would you say you're a woman who desires more than most people?

To the point of being greedy, you know?

[laughs]

Uh, no, I meant it as a compliment.

No, you're right. I am so greedy.

["Big Girls Don't Cry" playing]

♪ Big girls don't cry ♪

♪ Big girls don't cry ♪

♪ Big girls ♪

♪ Don't cry ♪

♪ They don't cry ♪

♪ Big girls… ♪

PERSONNEL CHANGES

♪ My girl ♪

♪ Said goodbye ♪

♪ My, oh my ♪

♪ My girl ♪

♪ Didn't cry ♪

♪ I wonder why ♪

♪ Silly boy ♪

♪ Told my girl we had to break up ♪

♪ Silly boy… ♪

NEW MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION AKIMITSU NABESHIMA

♪ Big girls don't cry ♪

♪ Big girls ♪

♪ Don't cry ♪

♪ They don't cry ♪

♪ Big girls… ♪

WITH ALL MY HEART, KAZUKO HOSOKI

Good.

♪ Maybe ♪

♪ I was cruel ♪

♪ I was cruel ♪

♪ Baby ♪

♪ I'm a fool ♪

♪ I'm such a fool ♪

♪ Silly girl ♪

♪ Shame on you, your mama said ♪

♪ Silly girl ♪

♪ Shame on you, you're cryin' in bed ♪

♪ Silly girl ♪

♪ Shame on you, you told a lie ♪

♪ Big girls do cry ♪

♪ Big girls ♪

♪ Don't cry ♪

♪ They don't cry ♪

♪ Big girls ♪

♪ Don't cry ♪

♪ That's just an alibi ♪

♪ Big girls don't cry ♪

♪ Big girls don't cry ♪

♪ Big girls… ♪

- Oh! Over here, Mama! - Sugita-san.

- We've been waiting for you. - Welcome, everyone.

- Ah. Of course. - May I sit?

Mama, have a drink with us.

- Thank you very much. - Won't you?

- Oh. This is our new employee, Mr. Mita. - Ah.

He's in charge of the hotel project in Akasaka.

I'm Kazuko, the mama here. Pleasure to meet you.

Uh… Mita. Nice to meet you.

Cat got your tongue, Mita? You look dazed.

Don't tell me you've already fallen for her.

[laughter]

Well, it isn't every day that you meet a rare beauty like this lady.

Nishioka-san, you're such a smooth talker. Goodness!

But be warned, Mita.

If you go after Mama, you'll have tough competition.

Most of the customers here are among the richest in Tokyo.

Well, then there's no way that we corporate-entertainment guys

could ever compete with any of those guys.

Customers are like gods to me,

and I treat every single one of them equally.

Oh! So I might have a chance?

[laughter]

- Excuse me. - Yes.

- Thank you. - Here you are.

- Thank you very much. - Mr. Mita.

Why don't you ask Mama out for an after?

An "after"? What's that?

Oh! Don't tell me!

You don't know what an after is?

It's a date that you go on after the club closes.

- Oh. I see now. - [laughter]

So… do you have any plans tonight?

- Oh! Whoa! Whoa! - [laughter]

- Wow! You just went right for it! - Right now?

I'm very sorry, but I have a prior engagement.

- Ah. - You can't win her over just like that.

You've got to come here every single night.

Yes, except a new hire can't use the company's funds.

Yes, which means she's way out of your league, Mr. Mita.

[chuckles] Oh, don't tell him that.

Come back here every single night if you can.

Okay, Mita-san?

[Sugita] Mama! He'll go bankrupt if he does that.

[laughs]

- You're right. - [Sugita] Have a heart!

I do apologize.

[car horns honking]

[indistinct chattering]

[girl] Flowers for sale!

Would you like to buy some flowers?

Would you like to buy some flowers?

[exhales deeply]

Would you like some flowers, sir?

Uh…

We'll be waiting for you.

Kamiyama and his party of three will be here in 30 minutes.

- Very good. - [door opens]

[both] Good evening.

[Kazuko] Mita-san, you came!

- Here, let me take your bag. - Oh.

Are you alone this evening?

Yes. Ah. This arrived at my office today.

[chuckles]

Oh! Um…

For you.

Ah. Thank you.

- Here, this way, please. - Mm.

[inhales deeply]

Hmm?

Oh, eh, uh… Um…

[Kazuko chuckles]

- Well… - [Hisao] Excuse me.

How about an after tonight?

I'm afraid I'm booked every night this month. I'm very sorry.

- That's all right. - Ah.

Mita-san.

[jazz music playing]

[Kazuko] Oh. Hello there.

[sighs]

[jazz music continues]

Ah. Hello there.

- Hey, sis. - Hmm?

Mita-san's been coming here three times a week. Hope he's okay.

Mm, not to mention that he's been spending quite a lot of money.

And he always pays in cash.

He's just a young businessman, right?

Maybe he's embezzling from the company.

[Kazuko] No way. He's too square for that.

Those are the types you have to watch out for.

Today, we've been rented out by members of the National Diet.

Minister Nabeshima will also be here,

so please make sure that there aren't any blunders tonight.

[all] Yes, Mama.

Now, let's have a wonderful evening.

[indistinct chattering]

[indistinct chattering]

- Oh! Is that right? - Yeah, I thought so.

Oh my!

Wow. Now, that goes down nicely.

Being surrounded by beautiful women also helps.

Thank you so much for coming today, Minister.

Well, I've been hearing about this place for quite a while,

and I thought I'd come see it for myself.

[laughs] The rumors about beautiful women were true.

Well, I hope that you'll continue to come visit us here.

Yes, I will.

- Please do. - Oh, I will.

Mama, Mita-san is at the front door.

[woman] You're so funny.

All right.

[chuckles]

[Nabeshima] Let's see. You know, I can't remember.

It's been quite some time.

- [Kazuko] Please excuse me for a moment. - Of course.

Mita-san.

[Mita] For you.

Oh. Thank you.

I'm so sorry, but tonight, we're reserved for a private event.

Ah, I understand.

Then I'll… I'll come back some other time, then.

I'm sorry about this.

[Nabeshima] Oh, hey! Marohiko!

Oh! Nabeshima, sir!

[chuckles] I thought it was you.

I see you have good taste too, huh?

Minister, you and Mita-san are already acquainted?

Oh, yes. Of course we are. His father is one of my supporters.

He's a major landowner in Shizuoka.

Oh! That's wonderful!

The Shinkansen project asked him to sell three of his mountains,

and he made an enormous fortune.

Is that so?

[light jazz music playing]

Mita-san, you never said anything about your family.

So did you agree to go out with me tonight because you found about my father?

[Kazuko] Not at all.

It's because I was moved by your passion.

I was worried that you might be draining your finances at the club.

Seems I was worried for nothing.

Oh, that's sweet.

I'm glad to hear you were worried about me, Ms Kazuko.

Mm.

So you've been keeping this a secret from your colleagues, then?

I'm still in training,

so I don't want them to treat me any differently.

Ah.

What kind of plans do you have for your future?

Well, down the line,

I'll have to take over my family's business.

My father was always content to just be a simple landowner,

but I'm very different than he is.

I plan on starting a business with my money.

Oh. What kind of business?

I would like to build a hotel with my own hands.

A hotel?

Yes.

In America, in a city called Las Vegas,

there are many enormous hotels for tourists

with theaters and casinos attached to them.

We have 81 acres of land that's right by the sea.

I wanna use that land.

[chuckles] But right now, it's all still just a dream, of course.

A hotel though.

It's wonderful.

[music fades]

[thunder rumbling]

[Hisao] Good evening.

[Kazuko] Good evening.

Mita-san, you're absolutely soaked!

- Get me a towel. - Oh, all right.

Come on in, please.

Is everything all right?

My father.

He died suddenly from a heart attack.

Oh.

I've got to go back to my hometown now.

I've also decided to quit my job.

I see.

I'm so very sorry for your loss.

I don't think I'll be able to see you again.

Um…

Thank you so much for everything.

[Hisao] Here's a towel.

- Umbrella. Get me an umbrella. - Right. An umbrella.

[car horn honks]

- [sighs deeply] - [thunder rumbling]

[Kazuko] Mita-san!

Mita-san.

Wait, please. Take this umbrella.

Would you…

would you come with me if I asked you to?

Huh?

We could get married.

And we could chase my dream. Together.

[car horn honking]

[Kazuko sighs deeply]

I apologize.

I don't know what I'm saying.

Please just forget it.

[sustained car horn honking]

[honking fades]

[dramatic orchestral music playing]

[dramatic orchestral music continues]

[dramatic orchestral music continues]

[music ends]

I didn't think that Kazuko would ever get married.

Now that I've seen this house, I understand.

I've never met anyone with so much ambition.

I guess that everything always works out for some people, doesn't it?

First, you were worried she wouldn't get married,

and you're still worried now that she's married?

[Mine chuckles softly]

- Oh yeah. [laughs] - [children playfully screaming]

- [Akiko] Oh my. - [exhales sharply]

This place is so big. I'm going to get lost.

I know. This house is amazing.

Hisao, is it true you're going to be running the club in Ginza?

Oh yeah!

And are you sure you're up to it?

Mark my words, huh?

Sounds like it's about to go under.

You can say what you want.

You know, I always imagined that Kazuko would marry someone with money,

but this is way more than I thought.

This goes way beyond a simple house and a car.

Akiko, she's really outdone you this time. I bet you're real jealous, huh?

- Shut up! - Oh.

You obviously don't understand a thing about marriage.

It usually comes with extra baggage.

[clock bell chimes]

[clock bell continues chiming]

[praying in Japanese]

[praying continues in distance]

[praying continues]

[stirring music playing]

[electronic music playing]

[Kazuko in English] On our wedding night,

I have to admit that even I was a little nervous.

And I couldn't have ever known

how things would turn out for me just one short week later.

- [electronic music continues] - [stirring music continues]

[music ends]

[dramatic electronic music playing]

[gentle melodic music playing]

[music fades]