Original subtitles

A SHOCHIKU PRESENTATION

Hajime Hana and Shima Iwashita...

...in...

THE IRRESPONSIBLE FOOL

Tokue Hanazawa, Hiroshi Inuzuka Tatsuo Matsumura, Tatsuya Ishiguro Taiji Tonoyama

♪ The mountain where I once chased rabbits

Keiko Mizushina, Masakazu Kuwayama Kunie Origa, Takanobu Hozumi Chieko Seki, Kin Ishii

♪ The river where I once fished carp

Akira Tani, Kyomi Sakura Toyoko Takechi, Chinpei Hayashiya Choji Oka, Yonemaru Katsura

♪ Dreams still go round and round

Hajime Shoji, Yukie Yamamoto Shinji Tanaka, Kamon Kawamura Osami Nabe, Joji Yanagisawa Kazumi Kubo

Mitsuyo Mizushima, Yoji Toki Kanji Osugi, Eiko Hikari Kenichiro Kozai, Aki Minamikawa

♪ At my unforgettable hometown

M.E. Life, Taku Kido Kizo Takahata, Ryoko Mizuki

Teruko Higa, Keiko Onodera Hironori Koizumi, Masakuni Araki Yoshiaki Kurihara, Shizuko Nakanishi

Sumiko Katayama, Kiyo Murakami Yasuko Goto, Hideo Asami

♪ Father and mother ― are they doing well?

Yoshiko Togawa, Manami Hori Naomi Kawamura, Haruko Chichibu Kenji Sonoda, Yoshio Sakata

Rie Matsukawa, Etsuko Yamamoto Chieko Suzuki, Shosuke Oni

♪ Is everything well with my old friends?

Cinematography: Tetsuo Takaha Art Direction: Tatsuo Hamada

Music: Masayoshi Ikeda

Lighting: Yasukuni Toida Editing: Keiichi Uraoka

♪ When the rain falls, when the wind blows

Audio Recording: Takashi Matsumoto Tuner: Shotaro Yoshida

Set Designer: Katsutaro Shimizu Assistant Director: Isao Kumagai

Written by: Yoji Yamada Isao Kumagai, Shunjun Omine

♪ I stop and recall of my old country home

Produced by: Shigeru Wakita

Directed by: Yoji Yamada

1944

After the Tokyo air raids intensified,

my mother took me to the small island in the Seto Inland Sea where my father was born.

I still remember the dreamy feeling of being in a faraway land

after a long journey, experiencing sights I'd never seen before.

Oh, it's so good that you're here!

It's been quite a while...

The train must've been crowded!

Say hello, Yumiko.

Hello!

Oh! What a nice girl!

Do you remember me, Yumiko? I changed your diapers in Tokyo!

You were too little to remember, weren't you, Yumiko?

Sorry I'm late!

- Oh, Gen! - Hello.

Thanks a lot...

Nobuko, do you remember Gen?

- Sure, you gave us that big red snapper! - That's right!

Hello, thank you for your help.

Welcome back.

Yumi, this man is an expert fisherman!

Nice to meet you!

Likewise!

Hey, c'mon...

This is my brat, Yasukichi.

Well, I hope you two get along.

He's filthy...

- Yumi... - Say hello.

Nice to meet you!

Hey! Greet her properly!

Oh well!

I now think back fondly on the day I first met Yasu.

The countryside sure is quiet. Right, Nobuko?

Yes, it's like a dream compared to Tokyo.

And there's no reason for American planes to pass by an island like this!

Hey, hey!

- What're you doing?! - I ain't doin' nothin'!

♪ Grin and bear it, little stink bug!

You callin' me a crybaby?!

- Orphan beggar! - Orphan beggar!

That's enough! You twerps!

Jerks!

Give me that.

I said, give it!

I don't know if Yasu's parents were beggars or not,

but it is true that he was an abandoned child.

Old man Genta found him on the Water God shrine's stone steps,

and raised him on his own.

So, that girl is a foreigner...

No, stupid. She's Japanese.

Really? She smelled so good.

Well, she doesn't need a filthy brat like you hanging around.

You're just as dirty as me, Papa! You reek of fish!

I had a hard time making friends.

You sure smell nice!

City girl!

Get your rotten nose away!

Well, you've got rotten eyes!

You stupid pumpkin!

Why I oughtta!

Stupid!

Pumpkin!

Jerk!

Hey! Cut that out!

Leave her alone!

You're always up to no good!

Hey! What are you doing?!

Misbehaving again?

I was not!

You liar! Hey!

Suck an egg!

Come here. Don't cry.

One day, I was suddenly called back from school.

My ailing mother had collapsed from heart failure.

That night, my mother passed away.

Wow, pretty!

There's plenty out there.

- Where? - The Sanshiro Islands.

There's a lot?

Yeah.

Wanna see?

Oh, scary!

I found some!

Really?

There, see?

Yep!

The beautiful and mysterious things I'd never seen before

made me lose track of time.

Oh, no!

Oh, no, our boat!

Help!

Hey! Our boat is washing away! Somebody help!

Hey!

Somebody help!

Hey!

Fortunately, a passing boat was able to save us,

but I'll never forget how helpless we felt back then.

Papa! Let go! It hurts!

Let me go...

Ow! Ouch!

You imbecile!

If anything happens to that girl, I'll do more than strangle you!

- Foolish brat! - It hurts!

Papa, you jerk!

Ouch! Let me go!

I won't do it again!

Fire!

It's not fire. It's Gen's kid, Yasu. He took a boat out to sea.

Yasu?! What is he doing?!

I don't know. Gen must have scolded him for what happened earlier.

I'll go see.

The entire village searched for him,

but Yasu's boat was nowhere to be found.

Mister...

Ah, young lady...

What is it?

Where did Yacchan go in his boat?

I don't know...

Why did he go?

That damn Yasu...

He's a bad boy who put you in danger.

God must have taken him somewhere.

Gen!

Thank you for your hard work!

I filed a request with the main police station this morning.

I'm sure he's fine on one of the islands around here.

He's a rambunctious kid. Don't worry about him.

I'm sorry to have bothered you all...

The sea was calm last night.

I thought of Yasu

weeping and rowing his little boat on the moonlit sea.

And, suddenly, I felt sad.

Thinking that I'd never see him again,

I reflected on how cold I'd been to Yasu.

Even as a child, I felt so much pity for Yasu that I could not stop crying.

That was spring, more than a decade ago...

Oh, hey, Yumi!

Yoo-hoo!

Tomo!

Yumi, what's up?

I got in!

Congratulations!

Are you the only one who got accepted to Okayama U.?

The boys must be ashamed!

Hey, hey! Are you happy now?

Of course I am!

Will you commute?

I'm thinking of staying at a boarding house.

Will you major in English? French? Work at a Tokyo women's magazine?

Oh, who knows!

Oh, so nice!

I will never forget the day I received my college acceptance letter.

Because that is the day I saw Yasu again.

♪ The mountain where I once chased rabbits

♪ The mountain where I once fished carp

You're loving it, man!

This is my island! I'm feeling nostalgic!

- You got a nice girl there? - Well...

Hey, come here.

♪ Dreams still go round and round

♪ At my unforgettable hometown

Great work! Thank you!

- Help! Quick! - Whoopsie!

Go right ahead!

It's too heavy!

Great wor... Oh! Watch out!

I believe the inn is at the end of the road on the right...

Hey, show her, will you?

Thank you, thank you.

Hey! Good day! How're you?

Uhm... Who are you...?

Me?

I'm Yasukichi! Yasukichi Unno!

Unno...?

You mean, Gen's...?

That's right!

You're alive!

And you are...?

Hiroshi!

From the oil shop!

- The oil shop kid? - Yeah!

It's been a while, huh?!

How's your sister? About to get married?

- She's already got kids! - What?!

That snot-nosed brat?

Hello! Keep up the good work!

Hold this a moment...

Alright!

You guys okay?

So, at the Mizukami house in Nishihama,

there was a little girl from Tokyo who looked like a doll...

- Yumi? - Yeah, Yumi!

Did she go back to Tokyo?

She's still here.

Really? Is she married?

Not for 4 years.

4 years?

She just started college!

You should've just said that, you fool!

♪ If that's the case, then just say so

Here we go...

Who's the mayor now?

Oriental Productions Director, Yasukichi Unno

Gen's son, huh?

Now that you mention it, I remember that day,

the whole village sailed out looking for you.

I really am sorry about all that!

But I never forgot about this island.

I've been worried about how everyone was doing,

but I couldn't come home empty-handed.

So, you know...

I see.

But you can see what it says on my card...

Well...

"Orchestra... Copaca..."

"Copa..."

Copacabana!

Show business, huh?

Yeah...

Are you here to put on some sort of exhibition?

Mayor... You say that

like you're thinking of some sort of circus or old timey stage show.

I'm here with a real "Show"!

My dream is for these islanders to hear live jazz for once in their lives!

We're the Copacabana Orchestra! From Tokyo to Osaka!

We're very busy and in great demand!

But I brought them here in between broadcasts,

so even a lowly guy like me,

can enrich the culture of this island!

Okay...

Copacabana Orchestra Live! March 15, 6:00 Elementary School Auditorium

There!

Yumiko!

Yes?

Come here a moment! You won't believe who it is!

Coming...

Oh...!

Is it really you?!

Yacchan!

My goodness!

What a shock!

Yeah...

Yasu! This is Yumiko!

Y-Yeah...

Remember?

Well, I guess...

You used to play together all the time!

Did we...?

You took her on a boat to the Sanshiro Islands and it was a big mess!

Well, I dunno... I'm pretty thick-headed...

Surely, I didn't do that...

Nice day, today.

Oh, you have a guest...

I thought I'd get you a big snapper to celebrate your college acceptance,

but these days you can only catch so much.

Gen...

- Huh? - You see, that man...

It's Yacchan!

Yacchan!

Papa!

It's me! Yasukichi!

Remember me?

Wow...

You're getting so old!

Anyway, I've been thinking

I wanted to come home earlier, but I've been so busy...

So, you're still fishing?

That can't do much for you these days! You're lucky to still be alive!

What...?

Lost your hearing?

You damned fool!

What are you...?

I was so worried! And you didn't even send a letter!

Get your big face off of my property!

Stop!

Stop that!

Get lost!

Gen!

Damn it.

Uhm...

Yeah?

Maybe you should go back and apologize.

Yeah, right!

This is what I get for coming home... Ouch!

Same old punches!

Oh, that's mine, isn't it? Thank you!

Here.

Actually, this is tonight!

Oh?

I manage this orchestra.

Give this at the door. Free of charge!

I'll look for you!

Thank you!

See you tonight, then!

See ya!

Wow, she hasn't changed a bit!

Just like old times!

♪ Father and mother ― are they doing well?

Good evening, Harugashima Island.

Welcome to the Copacabana Orchestra's Los Asparagus Dancing Team Spectacular.

Please, enjoy!

First up, "Mambo Tokyo"!

These guys are great.

That's Sally Matsuoka, who's been in some movies.

Enjoy yourself! Excuse me.

♪ Mambo Tokyo!

Oh, there's Dad!

Tomo's father was head of the fisherman's union.

He and his colleague, the village mayor, are always on bad terms.

Even after the fishing industry had fallen on bad times,

they're still at each other's throats.

♪ Mambo! Mambo!

♪ Mambo! Tokyo Mambo!

♪ Mambo! Mambo!

♪ Mambo! Tokyo Mambo!

What the hell is this?!

Is the mayor really going to allow this indecent dancing on stage?!

As mayor, I gave it careful consideration! Don't be alarmed by a little skin!

What?!

You'll allow this sacred hall to be defiled by a strip show?!

This isn't a strip show! Don't be ignorant!

I know a strip show when I see it! I saw one in Osaka before!

Dad! Stop!

Sure, you've seen one! Don't make me laugh, you old perv!

Dirty old man!

At any rate, Yasu's concert night came to an end,

but, unfortunately, that wasn't all there was to it.

Better eat now or you'll miss the boat.

Don't leave anything behind, we gotta make a clean break.

Morning!

Where's the boss?

He's in the other room. Over there.

Great.

You idiot...

Huh?

This is gonna be bad!

I'm coming in!

Oh, uhm...!

Dear! You're...!

No, no! Sally!

Dammit!

Hey! Put that down!

What's going on?

- You damn vixen! - Help me!

- Damn you! - Stop it!

Wait!

Oh! Hey!

You bitch!

Help!

Wait!

Come back here!

Hey! You!

Stop right there!

Wait!

She's the one you want!

What?

Her!

Go! Go!

According to the village elders,

there hadn't been bloodshed on this island since the Meiji Restoration.

Hello! Police headquarters?

This is the Harugashima police station! Ha-ru-ga-shi-ma!

Yes! Hello!

We had an assault with a deadly weapon!

Assau... Yes, assault with a deadly weapon!

Huh? No...

Stop! Stop!

I said stop!

Get off me!

Mr. Unno!

What?

This is for you!

- What is it? - The bill from the inn!

Take that to the boss! I don't have any money!

He said to give it to you!

You must've heard him wrong! Go talk to him again!

He's already on the ferry home!

- What? - He left!

He left?!

You moron! I told you to keep him here as a witness!

He said he had to go!

What?! Did he really leave?!

You trying to skip out on the bill?

You scoundrel!

Soon, a detective from the main precinct arrived, and the knife incident was over.

But Yasu was completely humiliated.

That show was sponsored by you, the mayor's office.

Yeah, we rented the auditorium, but I wouldn't say I was a sponsor.

Then, what about my inn fee?

That's not on me! Why don't you sue Yasu for it? Officer?

Sure, an eat and run. I can file a report and arrest him.

But if Yasu can't pay, you still won't get a penny.

Well, that doesn't do me any good!

Then, you'll have to settle out of court.

Basically, you gotta get Yasukichi to pay up yourself.

And that's how Yasu came to be held hostage at the inn.

Outta my way!

Move it! Move it!

Asshole!

I said to move!

♪ Some day when I have done what I set out to do...

Ya bastard!

Keep it down!

Gotta problem?!

And you?!

Yasu was turning more raucous by the day, and the islanders were becoming fed up with it.

Papa, you home?

Papa!

Hey! Open up!

Stubborn old coot!

Open up!

Hey, Papa. Let me in.

Who's out there?

What?!

Can't ya see? It's me, Yasukichi!

Your son...

I had a disgraceful son named Yasukichi.

But he rowed his boat off this island long ago!

Perhaps that foul brute died with the tide!

Don't say that!

Shit!

You goddamn fool!

I thought you'd be lonely and came here to apologize!

Who would ever wanna come back to this pigsty?!

Hiroshi!

Hey!

Just a minute!

Hiroshi and Tomo had fallen in love.

He was the youngest son of a poor fisherman.

He was afraid that her old-fashioned father

would object if he found out.

Tomo said to meet her in front of the Water God shrine at 3:00.

Really? Okay, thank you!

Who told you that?

Shige did.

Oh, he just said that he was going to work at a shipyard in Kobe,

and I was like, "I wish I could, too".

Really?

Yeah, really!

I wish I could go out and work!

I'm stuck on this tiny island,

catching octopus and measly fish,

but there's nothing I can do about that!

Fine!

What about us, Hiroshi? Don't you care about that?

What do you mean?!

If you weren't here,

I'd have left this island ages ago!

Good show!

Who's there?!

Yay! Boy and girl! Goo-goo-ga-ga!

It's you!

Get it, man! Go big!

Kiss, kiss! Yeah! You sonnuvabitch!

Dammit...

Come on, Hiroshi. Let's go.

You'll be sorry!

Whuzzat? You asshole!

Begone!

Tomo told me all about this, crying her eyes out.

♪ Sneak a kiss

♪ Oh, come on

♪ I don't have a girlfriend

Yasu!

I know you're in there!

Mornin'.

Tomo was sobbing! The poor girl!

Making fun of them for being in love? That's horrible!

Watch out! Are you okay?

You know, I was feeling sorry for you.

None of this fuss was your fault...

That's right!

I brought a top-notch band to this island!

"Top-notch"? Those were third-rate hustlers!

Well… I guess you're right about that...

But I could see how hard you were working.

That's the thing. The islanders are so narrow-minded.

I hate that they blamed you for everything.

I appreciate that.

That's why you got to work diligently!

I want to see you pay off your debts, and redeem yourself as soon as possible!

Thank you.

And yet, these days I've been hearing things...

About your wild, drunken, misbehavior!

Yeah...

Actually, there's something I want to talk to you about...

Long ago, when you left this island...

You took me to see the ocean scenery.

And then, Gen scolded you, right?

Yeah… That's what happened.

I remember it well!

I felt like it was my fault,

and my heart ached when I thought back on it.

Oh, really?

So, I've been meaning to apologize to you since we met the other day.

No need for that!

I think you're a good man, Yasu.

Do something good, so the people of the village will thank you for it.

Yes! I see the error of my ways!

I'm going to college in Okayama tomorrow. So, I won't see you for a while.

I guess I won't see you for years...

I'll be back every Saturday!

That's all I wanted to let you know!

Okay! But wait!

There are a lot of bad guys in big towns. You have to be careful.

Oh, come on! I'm not a child!

- Excuse me, excuse me! - Ouch!

Sorry!

One day, a suspicious man appeared on the island.

Fishing wasn't as good as it could have been,

and he was a villain who sucked the lifeblood of the struggling islanders.

The village's economy must be suffering as well.

I know your pain!

Fortunately, our company

serves many people from fishing villages!

They are truly satisfied

and grateful for our services!

Female Employee Recruitment High salary, dormitory, welfare facilities

Hello, come on in.

Welcome! Thanks for your hard work!

Hello, Ma'am. Let's discuss this over a meal.

This way, please.

This way.

What shall we have for lunch?

Who's that guy?

The HR Manager at Hanshin Industries.

When you send your precious daughter away,

it's only natural that her parents would worry.

Yes.

I understand, Ma'am. Big companies are very safe in that regard.

When a company gets to our size, the public trusts us.

We have a strong labor union.

And your daughter is...?

She's our only one.

I see.

Sir... We've met somewhere, haven't we?

Really? You must be mistaken.

I'm often confused for someone else!

Just one of those faces, I guess!

Oh! That's it!

Sir, a moment...

What? I'm in the middle of...

C'mere!

Excuse me!

What is it?

W-What is this?

I thought I'd seen you before, but I remember that laugh!

"The HR Manager at Hanshin Industries," huh?

You're a barker at Minami Nude Studio!

Hello?

Think you can just come in and trash my island?

Oh, how rude! I'm sorry I didn't greet you properly.

I'll make it up to you later, buddy.

Don't try that crap with me!

W-Wait!

So, you admit it! You rat!

I'll get you!

Wait!

Wait right there!

You!

Welcome home!

You worm!

Yasu! No violence!

This fat bastard was about to sell off the island's daughters!

I'm gonna roll you up in a bamboo mat, and throw you into the sea!

- Yasu! - Wait!

Yasu!

Skipping town, huh?!

You weasel!

Hey! Wait!

Yasukichi! Yasukichi! Don't be violent!

What are you doing?!

No! Stop!

According to the village elders, that was the first time in history

that a gunshot had been fired on this island.

But, anyway,

this incident repaired Yasu's reputation.

If I was scared of a punk like him, I wouldn't be able to walk around Tokyo or Osaka.

Nowadays, every little yakuza is packin' heat!

You can't be too careful.

I feel sorry for you guys! I really do.

In Tokyo or Osaka, right? There are phone booths

that have little slips of paper with women's phone numbers.

You put in your 10 yen, turn the dial,

and make an arrangement for you-know-what.

But you don't know how they're gonna look!

So, I tried it, and some lazy-eyed old hag came up to me!

I just about flipped my lid!

At a Tokyo university, they put fish eggs in a machine,

and they grow huge in a week!

So then, what will happen to fishermen?

When the time comes, they won't care about your tears!

"C'mon! Get it together!"

Go on, drink up...

Even if Yasu was telling somewhat tall tales,

he was stoking the fires for the young men's

dreams of going far away.

Welcome, Mr. Mohei Unno

The island received a rare visitor.

Gen's younger brother, Mohei, who returned from Brazil after 40 years!

Hello, Mohei. I'm Shinkichi Kaijinmaru.

Shinkichi?

Remember me?

Of course I do! Great to see you!

Gen, get over here!

Here he is...

Brother, you haven't changed!

I'm his son, Yasukichi.

Oh, you have a kid?

Margarida, este é o meu irmão. (Margarida, this is my brother.)

This is my wife.

Como vai? (How are you?)

Este é o filho. (This is his son.)

Como vai? (How are you?)

Este senhor é o Prefeito. (This is the Mayor.)

Como vai o senhor? (How are you?)

N-no!

You're my brother! But no matter how much I'd write, I'd never get a reply!

So, I finally bit the bullet and came here to see you!

So, how about it? Come to Brazil with me!

I've done what I wanted without much regard for family.

I've gotta do something to make up for it!

Oh, I'm just a lowly fisherman.

Don't be like that!

In the Amazon, you can kick back and fish for carp!

The Amazon? Wow, I bet those carp are huge!

Get outta here!

Just think about it! We've got a few days until we have to head back!

"Save me!"

He screamed!

I looked in the river and was surprised to see

there were thousands of fish nibbling around his body.

As I later found out,

these were the Amazon's "Vampire Fish", the Piranha!

I grabbed him by his cold hands,

and dragged him on deck with a shout!

From the neck down… Only bones!

Yes, Brazil is a big country!

It's not all terrifying stuff like this!

In that land, I made 50 million cruzeiro this year,

which amounts to 10 million yen in Japan!

However, there were quite a few who came over with me

that couldn't hack it and ran back home!

Oddly enough, the guys who fail in Brazil and run away

are seen as role models in Japan!

A young man who kowtows to his superiors

cannot survive in a place like Brazil!

As Mr. Mayor here can attest, I was quite the brute in my youth!

In other words, a hooligan!

But, in Brazil, you have to be a hooligan to make it!

He's just like you, Yasukichi! You must be relieved!

That's why one has to be prepared to go to Brazil!

But young men should be ambitious!

The new world of Brazil awaits brave young men and women

with open arms!

Vamos ao Brasil! (Let's go to Brazil!)

A new, uncharted world, huh?

Screw that...

You can't go. They want strapping young men.

Watch your mouth!

What a shirt! Is it from Brazil?

I've thought about it a lot.

I'm stuck on this tiny island...

I mean, I'm worried about you guys!

You know, the way I see it,

unless somebody goes off and does something big,

this island will always be poor!

I'm gonna take my uncle's advice.

But, Yasu...

That's enough. Please.

So, what will you do?

I'm...

Going to Brazil!

Hey, now! Don't stop me.

Yasu, what's going on?

I'm going to Brazil. So, I need the proper paperwork.

Thanks, man!

So, how much is it?

Well, you see...

The family registry!

That's the thing. You don't have one.

Huh?

It's unfortunate.

Hey, you gotta be kidding! Did you look everywhere?

I'm afraid I did.

Your birth parents are unknown.

Gen should have reported you for adoption when he picked you up.

What are you saying?!

This is town hall's fault! What are they doing?!

I ain't paying taxes for nothing!

Unregistered citizens don't pay taxes.

Hey! I can grease the wheels a bit, just do what you gotta do!

Just do something!

Hey! You hear me?

Gen turned down Mohei's invitation to go to Brazil.

He was determined to die on his island.

I'm sorry for making you worry.

If you change your mind, just send me a letter.

The real issue is Yasu.

Yeah.

Can't you take him with you?

It's impossible without the family registry.

Why didn't you take care of that when you took him in?

I think it would've been better if he had struggled in a place like Brazil.

Soon after, Mohei and his wife left the island.

Boa tarde, senhorita! (Hello, miss!)

Yasu seemed to be in high spirits.

Look. This is Rio de Janeiro.

This is São Paulo. I'm gonna go there.

And right here is the great Amazon!

This area alone is 22 times the size of Japan!

22 times?

Dang!

People have never been here before.

They say if you go in, you never come out, Senhor!

Why?

Cannibals will eat you up, Senhor! Got it, Senhor?

The first day I came home...

When the time comes that I leave Japan, my heart will be full of joy!

But the water is bad in foreign countries! There are all sorts of diseases...

If you're afraid of water, you'll never make it in the world.

What about the language?

I've been studying for the first time in my entire life!

Bom dia! (Good morning!)

Adeus! (Goodbye!)

Pirâmide! (Piramid!)

Senhorita! (Miss!)

You have to be careful with what you say!

Oh, it's fine!

Well, it's none of my business, anyway!

Yasu has been through a lot...

He's not like the others who only know this island!

She's such a worrier...

No, I'm sorry for making her worry.

But...

You've made up your mind, right?

That's great.

It's nothing...

I wish I could travel abroad!

This place won't be the same without you.

The young guys tried to keep me from going.

I've got more regrets than anyone else here!

But, you see...

I've made up my mind!

Besides...

I'm just a lowlife.

It's better for the island, y'know?

If I'm gone...

I figured I'd give you something as a parting gift.

Here. They say foreigners appreciate silk.

For times in need...

Wow! Thank you!

I used some of it myself.

It sure smells good!

Bon voyage!

Stay healthy!

- Good luck! - Take care of yourself!

Thank you! Thank you!

Let's all live our best lives!

Keep it together!

Let's hear it for Yasukichi Unno!

Hooray!

Hooray!

Hooray!

And then, one day, less than half a month later...

Young Stowaway arrested! Ship bound for Brazil off the coast of Busan!

"According to a report from the Japanese cargo ship Santos-maru,"

"on the morning of the 21st, a young stowaway was found"

"hiding in the hold off the coast of Busan, South Korea."

"The man named Yasukichi Unno, while being treated for malnutrition,"

said, 'I wanted to go to Brazil'."

He should've been in Hawaii by now.

He got on the wrong boat and went to Korea!

He couldn't ask where he was going!

The island was quiet without Yasu around.

The coastal fisheries were in a slump.

Without the funds to switch to deep-sea fishing,

the island's economy suffered even more.

Mr. Ryuomaru was elected mayor.

From a global standpoint, we...

His plan was to promote tourism

to take advantage of the "Leisure Boom".

But no one came to see our obscure island.

We can't wait forever! We gotta get off this island!

That's impossible...

If we don't, we'll just...!

Please wait a little longer! Soon, I'll ask my dad for permission!

He'll never allow it! You're the daughter of a poor fisherman mayor!

A year passed since Yasu left the island...

♪ The mountain where I once chased rabbits

It hasn't changed one bit!

There?

Same as it always was!

You missed it, huh?

That's my hometown, you know.

♪ The mountain where I once fished carp

I'm tearing up! Seriously!

Hey, man! How's it going?

Mornin'!

Yasu! You're back from Brazil?

Brazil? I dunno about that...

Don't play dumb! You got caught in Busan!

Oh? You know about that?

That really blew up in my face!

I'd packed rice balls, but forgot water.

Five days without water!

I ended up looking like a dried up fish!

By the time I was caught, I was a mummy!

Hey, hey...

Yessir.

I'll tell you some funny stories later.

Popular guy, huh?

- Oh, those're just some guys I used to know. - Alright...

Papa, you home?

It's me!

Hey! You're looking well!

So, the Brazil thing fell through...

We'll talk about it later.

These guys I met on the train today

said they couldn't catch any fish on Ushijima, so I told them to come here!

Can you get the boat out for us?

You idiot!

What? Still mad at me?

How dare you come back after humiliating me so much?

I said we'd talk about it later...

Get out!

Sir, we're not asking for a free ride...

Absolutely not!

So, bad relationship with your dad, huh?

That's how he always is!

But, Boss, are you really a novelist?

More or less.

Can you write about this island in one of your novels?

That'd really save my buns!

Don't get cocky!

Sure, the scenery on the island is pretty amazing.

Isn't it?

It's crazy that people don't know about this place.

It's the middle of nowhere... There's not even a pachinko parlor!

That's good, though!

I suppose you're right.

All it's missing are beautiful women...

H-Hey! What are you doing?!

Sir, take a look!

- Oh, a rare countryside beauty! - She's pretty, right?

It's Yasu!

Oh my!

Well, hello! It's certainly been a while!

Are you on college break?

Yasu! Why, you...!

I'm with the novelist over there!

I brought him to the island.

Yasu! What happened with Brazil?

Oh, it's a long story...

Some other time!

Sorry, I gotta go.

Whoops!

Can you believe it? A novelist?

I'm pretty sure that's Kazuhiko Funayama.

Huh?!

Kazuhiko Funayama was the writer of the popular radio drama, "Meeting You".

I vaguely remembered his face from a magazine.

This is huge! I gotta go tell my dad!

This was a big deal for Tomo's father, who had been focusing on tourism.

Yasu? This is Mayor Ryuomaru.

Nice to hear from you!

You brought a famous writer here and didn't call me?

Hey! Call five geisha!

Yessir!

What? Don't go around telling everyone?

- You idiot! He's clearly testing us! - Hello?

Quiet! Hey, I bet you guys haven't eaten yet!

Wait until I get there, got it?

Which room is it?

Wait! The meal can wait!

What are you doing?

The mayor is here to see you.

Mayor, this is him.

Hello! I'm sorry to bother you.

I'm Kujiraoka, the village mayor.

I am aware of your fame on the radio, in the newspapers, and elsewhere.

I apologize for the delay in greeting you.

No, that's very kind of you.

I'm his assistant. Welcome to our island.

I am Tourism Division Chief Ebihara. We'd love for you to write about our island.

Nice to meet you.

As you can see, there is nothing to entertain you on our small island.

There's the beautiful scenery and fresh fish...

I'd hoped for people of your stature to visit,

but fish alone do not make a village prestigious!

We immediately brought in some beauties on a high speed boat from Okayama!

Good evening!

You're here! Alright!

Give our guest service worth writing about for the radio!

Sir!

Sir!

Thank you, Yasu! You brought in a great man!

I just thought I should do something for the island.

Let's go!

I never miss an episode of "Meeting You"!

Hell yeah!

It's on every Friday, right?

After 8:30...

I'm closed for business!

Hey, what's gonna happen to Fuyuko Natsuhiko?

After this, can I get your autograph?

Me too! Me too!

Got it? Tell me how much this costs, and I'll bring it up at the meeting!

That birdbrained Ryuomaru was fooled!

You think a famous novelist wears rubber boots like this?

Sir! Come here!

Sir!

Thank you! Thank you!

More beer!

Deceived by a conman! Are you blind?!

Where is this novelist who wears the same rubber boots as a fisherman?!

When you listen to him, you can tell he's a learned, honest man!

An honest man, huh? Why don't you ask this witness?

Akiko! When you made the guest's bed, what did he do?

Well, my hand...

He grabbed it!

And, Sumie, what happened with his assistant?

He drunkenly... Well, he...

He almost kissed you!

How about that, Mayor?

Are these the actions of the great artist behind "Meeting You"?

And you still insist he was the real deal?!

This just shows that even great men are still human.

What?

- Yasu! - Yeah?

Where did you meet this writer?

On the train. He had just been fishing on Ushijima...

Enough! We were swindled!

No way! I was doing this for the good of the village...

Shut up! You're an accomplice!

Who's an accomplice?!

Don't shift the blame, Mayor. You're the one responsible here.

Mr. Kaijinmaru!

Stuff it! How will you take responsibility for wasting our precious tax money?

We'll discuss this at the village meeting!

When did I ever spend tax money?

What the hell? How did you pay for the geisha last night?

Who said I paid anything?!

What?

Mayor...

But the payment was from the village's...

I never said town hall would pay that bill!

Never said...? But the guests didn't even pay for their stay!

See? He's in on it!

Oh, the village is...

When did I say we'd pay?

Mayor! You can't just say that now!

Yasu, you're not needed here.

Move away! Says who?!

- You wanna go?! - Bring it on!

In the end, the dispute was taken to the police...

In the case of an arrest for dining without payment,

if Yasu can't pay his bills, Mr. Kaniya still won't get a penny.

That really puts me in a bind!

You'll have to settle out of court. Just like the case with the orchestra.

Ultimately, the village office paid for the geisha.

The inn's payment was Yasu's responsibility.

And Yasu once again was held hostage.

Some time later,

Tomo and I invited Yasu to meet with us.

- Yasu, we're sorry! - Yasu, we're sorry!

You got in trouble because we stuck our noses in!

Please don't think of it like that!

I don't know how to apologize.

I thought for sure that was Funayama!

And my dad is a coward!

If only Tomo's father and Mr. Kaijinmaru

could think of the village without getting so worked up!

That's right! My dad is a cancer on Harugashima's development!

Please don't talk about your parent that way!

Why not?! Don't be so old fashioned!

In all of their hearts, they're doing it for the good of the island.

You're so stupid!

- Stupid? - Come on!

You have a good heart, Yasu.

Tonight, as an apology, I bought you a drink. Go ahead.

That's upside down!

Oh! My mistake!

Bottom's up!

Good, isn't it? Especially when Yumiko pours it for you!

Don't be silly!

This was my first time pouring a man a drink.

- Here you go. - Thank you...

The moon is pretty tonight...

What are you saying?

Hey, Yasu...

You never told me what you did for a living off the island.

Oh, nothing much...

Do you think of the island whenever you're away?

Or no?

Well...

The thing is...

That's right… I'm sure you have some bad memories.

Hey, do you know this song?

"Hometown is What We Think of When We're Distant and Solemnly Sing."

Miss...

Could you repeat the name of that song?

"Hometown is What We Think of When We're Distant"

"and Solemnly Sing."

That is so right!

It really is!

"Hometown is W-What..."

Sorry, could you write that down for me?

No problem.

That's well said.

It's starting! It's starting!

Oh, is it?

Yasu, this is "Meeting You"! Please listen.

It was raining outside.

Natsuhiko's heart was dark and heavy.

He wanted to escape to the far end of the sea.

And he wanted to bury his face deep in the sand and cry.

Natsuhiko aimlessly boarded a boat.

It was a small island-going ferry with few passengers.

Here!

Thank you for this and the meal!

- Good night! - Bye!

"Hometown is..."

It was headed

for an island with a beautiful name, Harugashima.

What did he just say?!

It was one hour away from Okayama port.

Harugashima was quiet as if asleep.

And...

As beautiful as its name.

That was really him! Kazuhiko Funayama!

I gotta tell my dad!

He was pulled in by the beautiful name of "Spring Island" Harugashima.

"Hometown is..."

"...What We Think of When..."

"...We're Distant..."

"...and..."

"...Solemnly..."

"...Sing."

Oh! Yasu!

W-Wait...

Sit down...

We're sorry! Please forgive us!

Thank you! On behalf of the town hall.

What's this all about?

The other day, that was really Mr. Funayama!

Just now on the radio! They mentioned our island!

So, Yumiko was right!

Yes, she was!

Yasu! Well done!

Well done!

And as for the inn's bill...

What are you talking about?! Now's not the time for that!

The broadcast just aired from northern Hokkaido to southern Kyushu.

People all over Japan were listening!

Everyone in Japan has heard the name Harugashima!

We can't thank Mr. Funayama enough!

That's right!

Finally, all the effort I put into tourism on this island has been worth it!

Right, Yasu? Right?

Well done!

After that night, Yasu became a venerable member of the community.

Ah, busy, busy!

Working hard, Yasu?

I've been runnin' around all morning!

Let's see...

Town hall!

- As Mayor, the islanders... - The welcome party plans have changed!

So, first we were going to have you greet the actors and then give them flowers.

Now, you will present the flowers as part of the greeting.

- Hey! - Yasu! Yasu!

Did you get that?

They're almost here! Got the rooms ready?

Look there.

The director's in the best room? Yeah, yeah. Good.

It's about to get busy! I'm counting on you!

Finally, the island film shoot was about to begin!

Welcome, "Meeting You" Film Crew!

Stand back!

Get down!

Quiet down!

On your marks!

Stop that!

And...

Action!

You'll be happier marrying a Tokyo girl.

Haruna!

The film was a huge hit and Harugashima became nationally famous.

The island was on its way to becoming a tourist destination.

Okay, ladies and gentlemen! Let's have a hand!

Congratulations!

After a tourism company built a hotel on the island,

the Kaijinmaru and Ryuomaru families

settled their conflict that had lasted generations.

Welcome! Harugashima Tourism Association

Hiroshi?

Welcome back.

- Going somewhere? - I got a job in Osaka.

What about Tomo?

Ask her yourself!

Hiroshi says that if we both work, we can stay afloat.

But I'm not so sure!

That won't work forever!

Or do you have a better chance of getting your father's blessing?

Well, you know, Dad is sending me to a dressmaking school in Tokyo next year.

So, after that...

Poor Hiroshi!

But...

We were never going to make it!

Oh, welcome home!

Thank you.

You're prettier every time you come back!

What's going on here?

We're building a deluxe hotel.

There will be a road here, and the view's great.

Can you think of a modern name for it?

I'd really appreciate it!

Excuse me.

I'm home!

Welcome!

Greetings!

They're building a hotel over the Jizo statues?

They are! It'll be a shame when those elms are cut down.

The island's going through a lot of changes.

First of all, they're building that deluxe hotel!

There'll be a new tourism department store, a coffee shop, and more!

From here on out, it's all about tourism!

Actually, I'm planning various tourism projects myself.

You've come a long way, haven't you?

I guess this will be a tourist attraction as well!

As long as it makes the island richer, huh?

Yes, that's right.

But they have to cut down the elms,

and put up ugly signs to do it!

Yeah...

Don't you remember?

You used to ambush me under those elms.

Why can't they just leave the island as is?

The people who come here would be better off that way!

You have a point!

Remember when you put on your swimming goggles and took me to the Shanshiro Islands?

Yeah...

I'll never forget that view from the ocean.

The people here don't even notice

how beautiful their own island is.

I'm sure of that!

At that time, I thought there was no way Yasu would understand, anyway.

I never dreamed of what would come to pass...

♪ Some day when I have done what I set out to do

♪ I'll return home one of these days

♪ Where the mountains are green, my old country home

♪ Where the waters are clear, my old country home

Excuse me! Good evening...

Oh! Yasu!

Sorry to bother you! Is Yumiko at home?

No.

Oh... Tomorrow, then?

She said she'd be gone for about a month, working on her thesis.

A month! Really...?

Did you need something?

Nothing really. I just made something I thought she might find interesting.

Interesting?

I guess. It's childish, really...

Well, I can show her when she gets back.

Please let her know!

Okay, I'll tell her.

Thank you!

Sorry to bother you.

Now that I think about it,

Yasu probably wanted me to be the first one on that boat.

Come and see! The launch of Harugashima's famous undersea viewing ship!

See the majestically beautiful ocean floor with your own eyes!

Hurry up! Quickly!

Wanna go?

Hey, Yasu! Is that really safe?

Sure! Just leave it to me!

Ready?

I wouldn't trust it...

Off we go!

Thank you for coming aboard the Brazil-maru!

Be careful!

The Brazil-maru, Japan's first undersea viewing ship,

was designed by Captain Yasukichi Unno...

That guy is acting crazy again...

- That is a violation of The Ship Act... - He'll be taken away sooner or later.

What an embarrassment.

What's that?!

A huge sardine!

Huh?! Really?!

It was like this big!

See that?!

I was right! You saw it?

It cracked!

Emergency!

Hey! Send out the boats!

It's sinking!

Come on! Hurry up!

Whose boat sank?!

Please hurry!

I told him so!

Mr. Kaniya! Please help!

A change of clothes! Something warm...!

Come on in!

What a disaster!

Anyone injured? Are we all accounted for?

How are you gonna make this right?!

Where's the captain?!

I wanna speak to a manager!

I am the mayor!

My deepest apologies!

We're so sorry!

The village takes full responsibility for any loss or injury!

Truly!

Don't worry about a thing! Now, change clothes. You'll catch a cold!

Mr. Kaniya! Are the baths ready?

Okay, we'll trust you, Mayor!

Thank you.

Let's change, then we can discuss it.

Please, please!

Officer!

Yessir!

What are you doing here? Go arrest Yasukichi!

Yessir!

If the papers get wind of this, our island will be finished!

Hey...

Hey!

There you are! Yasu, come to the station with me.

This is gonna be trouble for you, too.

Well, the good news is that no one died.

Yasu, c'mon.

See ya, Gen.

Thank you, Officer.

Papa, you're a real stand-up guy.

Damned fool. Now, you talk like an adult...

The next day, Yasu was taken to the Okayama police station.

It was rumored that he was sent to the Marine Accident Tribunal in Kobe,

and was never heard from again.

In the years since then, the island has changed completely.

They took a cue from Yasu's boat and built an undersea spectator ship that doesn't sink.

The island became just another noisy place.

However, I decided this was where I wanted to work.

Kiyoshi!

Stop that, Kiyoshi! Cut it out!

What's wrong this time?!

He stepped on my foot!

You're always fighting! Stand in the hallway!

Sorry, sucker!

Why I oughtta!

I'll get you!

Kiyoshi! Stand there quietly.

How many times a day do you need to be scolded?

I'm getting so tired of this, Kiyoshi.

For some reason, every time I scolded this child, I was reminded of Yasu.

I will never forget what happened that day...

Teacher!

Where are you going?

- To go visit Gen, who is ill. - I see!

I'll hold that for you.

Thank you.

Gen...

Hello, it's me.

How are you feeling?

Kiyoshi!

Get the doctor at Matsuzaki Hospital!

Okay!

Miss...

Yes?

Please...

That damn Yasu...

Go see him...

I want you to see him one more time...

Will you tell him...?

Tell him I said I'd go first...

What are you saying?! Don't give up!

Miss...

Fishermen who die on their tatami mats...

...are truly happy.

Ain't that right?

I think so...

Don't be sad...

Dad! Gen died!

Really? We'll go there later.

Hey, did you hear that Gen died?

Gen? I'm sorry to hear that.

Hey, Gen just died!

- Oh really? I'll come to the wake. - Please do!

Come back, twerp!

Some time after that,

we went on an overnight school trip to Osaka.

Kiyoshi, come along.

Just a second...

That night, during free time,

I was walking around town with Kiyoshi.

You're impossible! It's after curfew!

Get your dirty hands off that chocolate!

How old are you?

Here we've got a big sale on underwater goggles!

You might be surprised that these are from a top rate manufacturer!

It's the same as what they sell in department stores! But at a third of their price!

Souvenir goggles for little boys and girls!

A peek under the sea! It's beautiful!

Blue and red fish swimming to and fro!

You won't be able to put 'em down! Buy now while you can!

They won't sell at this price come summer!

Buy them up! You know you want to!

Can't believe no one's buying... You all must be very poor!

You and me both! Alright, I'll cut you a deal!

Only 100 yen! What a steal!

Come on! Let's all look underwater with these amazing goggles!

It's nature's aquarium! Right?!

There's nothing more beautiful in the world! How about it?

My god...

Yumiko!

Is that you? You're a teacher now, right?

Wow...

You knew?

I sent a letter to my old man the other day.

I got a reply with unusually bad handwriting.

He said that you'd become a teacher.

How's the old codger? Still out there fishing?

How's the gang out there?

I'm worried about you all, but I'm too busy to come home.

Bro!

I have to take care of this.

What's going on?

Really takes me back... Thinking about the island...

I learned a lot from you.

"Hometown is What..."

"Hometown is.. Is What..."

"What We Think of When We're Distant."

That's it. That's exactly it.

That's absolutely right.

Hey, kid, you don't look too smart.

Listen to your teacher and you'll turn out great.

Bro!

Say hi to everybody for me!

You bastards! There they are!

Yasu has yet to return to the island.

He couldn't live there after the ways it's changed, anyway.

Where in the world is he now?

I wonder if he actually made it to Brazil,

and is causing a fuss there just as always.

I'm sure he did!

THE END

Subtitles by PPC Proofread by kagetsuhisoka