Original subtitles

DAIEI Film Company

Shroud Of Snow

Producer - Takahito MIWA

Screenplay - Toshio YASUMI Based on the novel by Mitsuko MIZUASHI

Cinematography - Setsuo KOBAYASHI Artist - Tomoo SHIMOGAWARA

Sound - Takeo Suda Lighting - Nagaharu Watanabe

Composer - Sei IKENO Editing - Tatsuji NAKASHIZU

Cast:

Ayako WAKAO

Shigeru AMATI, Tamao NAKAMURA, Toyota FUKUDA

Chiaki TSUKIOKA, Mitsuko YOSIKAWA, Taizo FUKAMI, Yoshiro KITAHARA

Tatsuo HANANUNO, Yasuo HARUMOTO

Wataru YAMAGAWA, Tsutomu NAKATA, Naomasa KAWASIMA, Kisao TOBITA

Shinji SAYAMA, Ken HARADA, Kyosuke SHIHO, Kan TAKAMI, Shōji WADZAWA

Ken NAKAHARA, Ihati KITABA, Kenji MORITA, Xunsky Ishida

Daigo INOUE, Sachiko MEGURO, Mitsuko TAKESATO, Aiko MISIMA

Reiko SIRAI, Setsuko HAMA Mariko FUKUHARA, Ayako IKEGAMI

Wakayo MATSUMURA, Kazue HIDAKA, Natsuko AKAZAKI, Reiko KASAHARA

Michiyo YAMASHTA, Misa KOJIMA, Hiroko YOKOE, Michiko SUDO

Director - KENJI MISUMI

= SAYAMA HOUSE = GOLD LEAF TRADE

KANAZAWA

5TH YEAR OF SHOWA (1930)

Namu-amida-butsu...

Namu-amida-butsu...

Sennyo-san, your shamisen playing

is the best glory to Buddha at the memorial service.

A year has already passed since the Old Master's death. Time flies so quickly.

Thanks a lot for your efforts. Please drink to our health.

It's a shame he didn't live to see how the Young Master

having graduated from college, sits next to such a beautiful young wife.

I still can't forget the wedding that took place a month ago.

I'll never see such a magnificent wedding again.

I'll pour for you too.

I'm sorry, I must go on business. So I'll take my leave.

Thank you for coming anyway. What a pity...

- Tae-san. - Yes.

See your brother out.

You haven't seen each other in a while, so you have something to talk about.

Sanji-san, surely you have a few more minutes for your sister?

Thank you.

- Then take the opportunity. - Yes.

- Tae-san, can you talk over there? - Yes.

Sennyo-san, what do you say?

How are things going at Tae-san's house?

Well, I'm afraid it's not a very cheerful story.

Is it really so?

I heard that if things continue like this, Kirino-san will be in danger.

Kirino's wholesale sugar business was once one of the best...

But now their fortune is declining.

You know that this Sennyo was once a geisha in Yoshiwara?

I heard about that. She was the former Master's mistress.

Yes.

Ritsu-san allows her to come to the house even after her husband's death.

She has a reputation of a good person, but I don't like such sneaky people.

But Mother is very kind to her.

Of course, Ritsu-san and Kunio-san loved you so much

that they invited you into their home, despite everything.

But I was worried about you, since the Old Master's blood flows in Kunio-san.

He's long been known for his affairs. So I thought about it for a long time.

Everything is fine in my family. The Old Master is a different matter.

But Kunio-san is a decent person.

He graduated from university, and thinks quite differently.

His visits to the Red Light District are simply business meetings.

He's trying hard to figure out how to stimulate the business.

Sometimes he comes to me for advice too.

Yes, my husband was recently written about in the newspaper.

They wrote that he's an inventive and proactive businessman.

I'm very glad that I became Kunio-san's wife.

What do you say?

I specially invited you from Osaka, Azumaya-san,

to consult on this matter.

No, Kunio-san has a very young and progressive way of thinking.

No, he's so young that

he doesn't know the dangers of business, so I keep a close eye on him.

To mass-produce foil,

we'd have to purchase equipment and expand the plant.

It's all terrible.

Besides, if we can't sell all the foil

and it sits until summer, it will be fatal.

In any case, I'm against it.

Ah, thank you for the hard work.

Kunio-san, ask Guntaro what he thinks.

Your father had high hopes for him and appointed him to this position.

He's worked hard for us for 15 years.

So he should know about the business much more than you.

I suppose he'll say the same thing as me.

We can no longer rely only on gold and silver foil

since there are restrictions on the ingots.

What do you say?

I want to establish mass production of brass and aluminum foil

and seriously engage in exports to India, Siam, and America.

German foil is currently in decline,

while Japanese foil is beginning to penetrate the global market.

This is the perfect moment.

Tell me, Guntaro, what do you think?

It won't work as well as you're saying.

I think foil production will continue to grow indefinitely,

even without needing to rely on exports.

The days when gold leaf was the exclusive property

of rich people and temples are over.

It should become the property of the masses.

In that sense, I agree.

The Mistress's concerns are justified,

but the young don't want to take big risks either.

Really?

Guntaro, you understood me after all.

Well then, everything is settled. See, Mistress?

Well, I work in the finance department in Osaka.

We cooperated with the Old Master, and we have warm and friendly relations.

I'll take care of the financing.

Is that so? Thank you very much. Thank you very much.

Is that you, Young Mistress?

My name is Sei.

Ah, Sei-san? You'll be helping Mother?

Yes.

Are you from Nebu?

Yes.

You know everything?

Mother told my husband to find someone in Nebu to help her.

Glad to be of service.

I'm glad too.

Young Mistress, what happened?

You're so pale!..

- Sei, make up her bed. - Okay.

It's nothing, I'm just a little dizzy.

Surely you're tired. After the wedding and the memorial service.

Don't be shy, go lie down and rest.

I brought kudzu decoction.

Ah, thank you.

The Master left at Sennyo-sama's invitation.

He'll be back late, so he told you to go to bed early.

Yes, I'll do that.

Sei!

Tae-san...

Kunio told me to apologize to you. I'm not going to make excuses for him.

He only loves you, Tae-san.

For you this is surprising the first time,

but Kunio is also a man.

Like everyone else, he makes mistakes.

I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Sei.

Mother, you knew everything?

Has she been with Kunio-san for long?

His father had many women in the Red Light District.

I don't know how much money he spent on them.

If Kunio is destined to have an affair,

I think it's good that it's Sei.

First of all, it doesn't require money. And she works hard too.

What are you saying...

I like Sei more than any of the servants.

Then why doesn't he marry Sei?

No, that's impossible.

She's not of our class. She's a poor man's daughter, and now an orphan.

On the other hand, I can't throw her out.

I don't understand this.

I cannot accept your reasoning.

Tae-san, you must feel responsible.

If you make a scandal out of something like this,

the family's honor will suffer.

You need to be kinder.

Do you understand now?

Kunio, apologize properly to Tae-san.

Pull yourself together, Kunio...

I'm sorry... It's my fault.

Mother called her, but I'll fire her myself.

I'll definitely send her to Nebu.

Please believe me and forgive me. Please, Tae-san.

I beg you, Tae-san. Forgive me.

- May I come in? - Come in.

Young Master, please take a look at this when you have time.

Kirino-sama has arrived. He wants to talk to the Young Mistress.

All right.

I showed him to your room.

So the Kirino house went bankrupt?

Father had a large business, but it was all in debt.

I tried everything, but couldn't do anything.

So what happens now?

We're selling the house and moving to Tokyo.

I'm glad I could at least visit you before we left.

Brother, I...

Stop crying. You'll manage somehow.

Now you must live as if you have no brother at all,

endure hardships and be a beloved wife.

She looks alive...

Really? Like she's alive?

Young Mistress, your ring is about to fall off your finger.

You've lost a lot of weight.

Are you completely drunk?

How dare you say such a thing?

What happened? Why are you yelling at him?

He got drunk and started saying outrageous things.

Were you discussing business?

No, he started talking about his feelings.

- He asked to give him Sei as a wife. - Sei?

He started telling me about Sei without a twinge of conscience.

What a scoundrel, Guntaro. What a scoundrel...

How dare he?

If you want a wife, there are plenty of women around.

Are you keeping Sei for yourself?

Tae-san...

Sei and Guntaro-san would make a good couple.

And it'd be easier for you to make up your mind, wouldn't it?

Ma... Maybe you're right.

However, Tae-san...

Understand me correctly.

This woman isn't what you think she is.

She's different.

Didn't you say you'd send Sei to Nebu?

- That evening you promised... - Yes, of course.

No... No, understand me...

I feel sorry for Sei, she has no money.

She's never asked me for anything.

The only thing she asks is to let her stay here.

Do you understand?

It is enough for her to just stay near me.

I'm being honest.

If it's as you say, why can't she become Guntaro-san's wife?

If she marries Guntaro-san, she won't have to go back to Nebu.

Tae-san, you too?

But after all...

I just can't do that, I can't.

Dear...

Are you feeling sick?

It's already passed.

It's morning sickness.

Don't worry.

Young mistress!

Young mistress!

Young mistress!

Young mistress!

Young mistress!

Young mistress!

Don't die!

Don't die!

Please don't die!

Please don't die!

Please don't die!

Young mistress!

Young mistress!

Young mistress!

Young mistress!

Young mistress!

Young mistress, are you awake?

How wonderful! Everything will be fine now.

Everyone in the house was alarmed, when they saw that you had disappeared.

But I knew you went up the mountain.

And I ran here hoping to find you in the snow.

Let's go to the foot of the mountain. There's a warm house there.

Well...

I see you're feeling better.

Young mistress, did you really want to die?

If so, then it's better not to return right now.

Everyone has moments when they want to die.

In any case, for today, please rest here.

I understand you well, so please rest.

I haven't told Sayama anything yet.

I even told the owner of this place to keep quiet.

I'm not going to tell anyone anything.

I hope you won't go anywhere now.

No, sorry, I've had a bit to drink.

Young mistress, this isn't drunken rambling, please hear me out.

If you tell me to be quiet and turn away, that's fine.

When I had just finished elementary school,

I saw a sign at Sayama's shop that they needed a boy.

I came here, and stayed ever since.

My father was a poor merchant from Noto.

And one day he hanged himself

all over just one yen.

He was that poor.

There are people who hang themselves over just one yen.

But I was afraid of such poor people.

I only thought about how to work as hard as I could.

No, I'm still afraid.

I'm already 30, but I've never known a woman.

And then...

For the first time in my life,

I met someone, for whom

I wouldn't hesitate to give my life.

As if that weren't enough,

that person turned out to be the Master's young wife.

- Guntaro-san... - No, please listen.

I wanted to take O-Sei-san away from the Master.

But that's because I saw how you were suffering.

I couldn't watch you being tormented, Young mistress.

And now you've run away from home.

I saved you.

I carried you on my back.

Young mistress,

I've saved up a little money.

Let's run away together to Osaka.

I will surely make you happy, I promise.

I'll do better than Sayama.

Please, run away with me.

I'll go anywhere.

So...

Thank you so much.

Young mistress...

I'll be right back, I just need to stop by the house.

I'll be right back.

Who's there?

Tae-san!

Guntaro!

Guntaro!

I shouldn't have told you?

No, I'm glad I did. Thank you.

If the owner here hadn't called me,

who knows what would've happened?

Guntaro is a real scoundrel!

I didn't give him Sei, so he stole you.

He's a real pervert.

He always has his eye on what belongs to me.

Guntaro is just a scoundrel!

If it weren't for this, he would surely

want to take the Sayama house from me.

Guntaro isn't such a bad person.

You don't know.

In any case, I'm glad you're safe.

Well, shall we go home? All right?

No. I'm not going home.

It's over.

It's all because of you and Sei...

Is that so?

So that's why you ran away from home.

I'm sorry.

It's all my fault.

Actually, Sei also

searched for you all night.

I don't know, but it seemed she had a miscarriage.

When I was taking her to the hospital,

she kept repeating "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

I understand I've committed a great sin.

I'm truly sorry.

I don't think you'll forgive me now.

So please, Tae-san...

come home with me.

Let me atone for my sins.

That's the only way I can do it.

Well, well, let's have a look.

Such beauty...

Yes, what could be better for a baby than flowers?

My treasure...

Tae-san! Hikoichi!

Look.

I bought a horse.

Look how great it is.

Hikoichi, come to me.

He can't ride a horse yet.

Really?

Mistress, is this what you needed?

Thank you.

It came out well.

Sei works very hard.

Young mistress, please let me help you.

Thank you.

My dear one...

Let's eat sweet mochi.

Ate one.

And didn't notice.

The human heart is insatiable.

Sei.

Yes.

Are you carrying a child in your womb?

It's my fault. I'm the one to blame.

I know this is wrong.

But I can't do anything about it.

I wish I could just die.

Do you want to stay here forever?

You must give birth to a healthy child.

Take care of your health.

Young mistress, really?

I was thinking of asking you for time off any day now.

Thank you so much.

Sei, you know the Master is a good person. He's a good person.

I understand why you can't leave him.

Young mistress, you're even better than the Master.

Sei loves the Young mistress more than the Master.

Thank you for letting me stay here for the rest of my life.

Your hair has grown out in the back.

Let me shave it off.

Come.

I was so scared. Forgive me, Young mistress.

Like this. Hold on tight.

AGAINST ILLNESS AND EVIL SPIRITS

He's better now, I'm so glad.

Grandmother hung up a handprint of Hikoichi and recited some incantation.

But he caught a cold anyway.

When I heard he was between life and death, I was so frightened.

You took such good care of him. It seems the worst is over.

It wasn't me at all. Young mistress, you stayed up all night caring for him.

Hikoichi is so frail and gives the doctors quite a bit of trouble.

But your child is always healthy.

That's because you know how to care for children.

No, I have nothing to do with it.

It's just that Kyota was born strong.

True. I envy you.

- Sei, is that you? - Yes.

I'll go get some medicine for Master Hikoichi.

Yes?

Hey, boy, make sure you don't catch cold.

Kyota is strong, so he won't catch cold.

Really? How are you? How are you?

Are you alive?

Dig quickly! Get out!

Thank you so much. You saved me!

How terrible! My boy is dead! What's wrong with him?

Are you all right? What happened?

Kyota! Kyota...

Kyota! Kyota...

Kyota!

Kyota!

Kyota!

Kyota! Kyota...

Kyota!

Kyota...

Do you really want to return to Nebu?

The first pregnancy ended in miscarriage.

Kyota was born strong, but died so senselessly.

It's all my fault.

I dared to come between a happy couple.

For this I was punished.

Kyota died in place of Hikoichi.

No, this child received the punishment

that I should have received.

The child showed me the depth of my sin.

Sei...

I should no longer be near you.

Now I'm deathly afraid of snow.

Kyota died in a heavy snowfall.

It always snows when someone from the Sayama family dies.

How strange...

= HOKURIKU LINE = KANAZAWA STATION

All the store workers have left for the holidays,

yet you're seeing me off like this.

That's from the direction of our house.

I'll run and check. You watch the child.

The Mistress is there...

- Fire at the Sayama house. - At the gold leaf shop.

Beautiful...

Mother! Mother...

AZUMAYA — GOLD-COVERED SCREENS

- No, I cannot lend you money. - Is that so?

If you, Sayama, go completely bankrupt and fail, we'll lose everything.

I don't think a new war will start anytime soon.

But we're wary of business involving luxury goods.

We need to think carefully about this.

When Azumaya-san refused to lend me money

and suggested I come to Osaka and work at their shop,

I felt so hurt that tears welled up in my eyes.

I felt terribly miserable.

But I have no other choice.

What do you say?

We'll live there for a while and see, then return to Kanazawa.

All right?

We will certainly restore the Sayama house.

Sei, do you understand? The Master speaks sense.

Let's all go to Osaka together.

I'm very worried and can't let you go to Nebu in this condition.

Come with us until you recover.

Tae-san is asking you too. Please come.

Sei, do you hear me?

I won't go. I'll stay here.

What are you saying, Sei?

I'll stay here and take care of the Mistress's and Kyota's graves.

Since you're all leaving for Osaka,

I'll stay here and watch over the graves.

We can visit and look after the graves even if we live in Osaka.

Think it through. Pull yourself together.

If you stay here, you'll be all alone.

How will you earn a living?

A fellow countrywoman of mine works at the ryokan across from the station.

So I'll go there and help out.

When Kyota died, I should have left you.

But the fire happened, and everything started over.

Please, let me do as I say.

And you can start living as if nothing happened.

Master, Young Mistress...

You have been so kind to me until now.

I have no regrets.

Destroying injustice in the name of heaven,

Our soldiers are loyal and brave.

With enthusiastic shouts

We send them off from our ancestral land.

Until we win, we won't return alive.

We pledge with all our hearts

Hidden in the grass.

Or under cover of water.

Brave scouts will uncover all secrets

And return alive,

To ensure the army's safety.

Hurray... Hurray... Hurray!

- Sayama! - Yes.

- Come here! - Dear, the draft notice came...

Thank you for working for me.

Be strong, you have Hikoichi to take care of.

Hikoichi, your father is going off to war tomorrow to defend our homeland.

While I'm gone, obey your mother and study hard.

Yes.

Since it's war, I may be wounded, and I may die.

Dear...

Of course, I want to return alive.

But since it's war, there are no guarantees.

Of course. I understand that perfectly.

But please, don't say anything more.

From now on I'll consult with Azumaya-san on all matters

and will do everything possible.

Is that so? Thank you.

After coming to Osaka, it was finally just the three of us.

Despite the poverty, I was very happy.

Sayama-san, telegram.

Yes.

Thank you for your work.

"Praying for your long life. Sei." This is from Sei?

Tae-san, did you tell her?

I thought I'd keep quiet and surprise you.

I was afraid you'd forget everything and go to Sei-san.

Is that so? I'm sorry.

Let's not talk about Sei anymore.

It would be better if you went to Sei-san.

- Mother, more. - Yes.

Tae-san, I love you.

Please, come back. Don't die! Be sure to return.

I'm not planning to die.

- Come in. - Yes.

I bought this from your shop a long time ago.

But I've decided to part with it.

As expected, Sayama gold leaf is the best in Japan.

The color hasn't changed at all.

Sayama-san, if things get hard for you, you won't perish.

This screen was bought by Guntaro Kusaka.

Guntaro?

One man's disaster, another's success.

The head clerk of the Sayama house is now president of a military company.

These days military companies are the only ones prospering.

Tremendous success.

Indeed.

Actually, my shop is closing after all,

so I asked Guntaro-san to find work for you.

What?

I'll be working for this man?

Of course.

Don't get stuck in the past.

Everyone has ups and downs. Just give it a try.

But still...

I don't mean to say anything bad, but let me buy you a kimono.

Yes, it's been 10 years.

And here I am meeting the Mistress in Osaka.

I never thought we'd meet again. It must be fate.

I was very surprised when I heard about you from Azumaya-san.

I'm the one who should be surprised.

Well, please, help yourself.

Yes, with pleasure.

Yes, Azumaya-san asked me to help you find work.

I'll certainly take care of it.

Here's my business card.

No, if it's about that, there's no need.

Really? Why not?

Actually, I already have work at a factory near my house.

I got the job yesterday.

Is that so?

I'm sorry to have troubled you.

Well, I'm glad to hear that.

Yes, it's difficult to find work now.

I understand how hard it is for you.

And where is your husband now?

Somewhere up north. There's been no word from him for a year.

Yes, there's reason to worry.

Yes, we're not fighting, so we work here.

I understand how terrible it is for those on the battlefield.

The war keeps expanding.

They have to survive there.

He's really been unlucky.

No, a man forges his own luck.

I don't know, maybe.

But my husband doesn't have your talent, and he's bad at business.

He's the type who lives by his own rules.

That's why he always has his own ideas, and he's so uncompromising and stubborn.

Of course. That's true.

However, Madam...

This business attracts me.

Foil... Gold leaf...

When the war ends, a lot of foil will be needed.

Actually, I've already built a house and a foil factory.

Where do you think?

On the site of Sayam's former house.

I bought the site of that burned building and built them there.

Right now they're disguised as military supply warehouses.

But as soon as the war ends, I'll open my business there.

Gold and silver...

After the war all these shiny, luxurious things will be in fashion.

The whole world will want them.

You've changed so much, Guntaro-san.

Changed?

Yes, I know myself that I've changed.

I've become something as repulsive as war itself.

I told you then that poverty scared me the most.

I'm certain that in any era

it's impossible to defend your rights and life if you don't have money.

Yes, Young Mistress...

This is probably just my beggar's nature that I was born with.

Young Mistress, you won't accept even the smallest thing from me,

just like back then?

Unfortunately, I...

Young Mistress...

At least have a drink with me.

Just one glass.

Young Mistress...

10 o'clock. Blackout! Blackout...

Turn off the lights!

Blackout!

Excuse me.

10 o'clock. Blackout.

Should we leave?

Yes, we're strict about that.

I'll bring the bill now.

Well then, I should be going.

- I'll escort you. - But...

No, please let me escort you.

I'll go alone, after all.

I understand.

Tae-san.

Tae-san!

Dear?

I see you're all right.

They found I had a lung disease.

I was sent home for treatment and demobilized.

Lung disease? Really? You must have had it hard.

You should have let me know.

I wrote a letter, but it didn't arrive.

I haven't received any letters from you for over a year.

Really?

I didn't know things were like this for you.

Yes.

You work a lot.

Did Hikoichi start school?

Yes.

Oh, you need to change clothes.

Please.

Tae-san!

You...

I missed you so much...

Dear... Are you really back?

Really.

What's going on there?

LETTER FROM SEI

That's all for today! Leave! Leave!

Sei was lucky.

The previous owner of the ryokan died and left the entire business to her.

Sei-san is a hardworking person, they recognized her talents.

Yes.

She's suggesting we evacuate to Kanazawa. What do you say?

She says she'll find us a room.

But I don't want to be a burden to Sei.

I think we should evacuate.

Sei-san writes that her business allows to get as much food as she wants.

Here in Osaka even curable diseases go untreated.

Even healthy people on such rations lose their health.

In any case, we need to go somewhere where there's food.

Listen, let's go back to Kanazawa.

If we become a burden to Sei-san, we'll move somewhere else.

We can support each other.

Right now, the most important thing for me is to restore your health.

Please let us through.

Master!

Young Mistress!

Master!

Hello...

Here we are.

Well, come in.

All rooms are occupied by evacuees, so here's this room.

You must be tired from the journey.

I've reserved a separate room for the Master.

This room gets a lot of sunlight.

- Kiyo-san, check the bath. - All right.

Sorry, I couldn't free up the "suzuki" room.

Well, come in.

Yes, it's bad.

What?

No, nothing.

I'm talking about myself.

I have no one else to rely on.

We came back with nothing and can only count on Sei.

No, Mistress, you shouldn't...

It's all right. Let me. I want to work too.

That won't do.

Let me help. I don't want to burden you with everything. Please...

- Mistress. - Yes?

Our neighbor's husband is asking you to come over.

Yes?

Our neighbor is moving to the countryside,

so we're asking him to give us his plot.

We'll have 200 tsubo (0.16 acres) of land.

Are you expanding the ryokan?

Yes.

But that will be after the war, right now we can only buy the land.

Amazing.

We can't even dream of such a life.

In my situation, I can only rely on myself.

Mistress, is it time to pick up the Master from the hospital?

Yes, that's right.

Then I'll go to the neighbor.

Sorry I'm late.

You and I are like a couple in love.

You avoid Sei too much.

Sei-san was reading sutras at dawn.

Surely for her late son and Grandmother Sayama. She's still grieving.

It hurts her to look at happy people like us.

Maybe we should find a small rental house and move?

Yes, we should do that.

- Shall we go? - Yes.

That's Guntaro!

He took possession of the Sayam family's land.

The other day I went there

and saw a mansion and warehouse with a sign "Guntaro Kusaka"

If you try hard, you too can restore the Sayama house.

I don't have that strength anymore.

Dear, pull yourself together.

The illness will pass, and strength will appear.

END OF THE WAR

Everyone, please turn on the lights.

From today, the blackout is lifted.

Really?

Yes. After all, the war is over.

Yes, even the mood is better.

Yes, indeed.

Well?

Can you do it exactly as I said?

I'll draw up a project and show it to you right away.

I'd like to start next spring, so please do your best.

Mistress, are you unwell?

I have a weak heart, so sometimes I have palpitations.

But it will pass soon.

KUSUMOTO RYOKAN

I'm sorry I called you here.

It's all right.

I need to say just one thing.

Everything here belongs to you, Master.

Both the house and land are registered in your name.

Please sell the ryokan and start your own business.

Go into gold leaf sales.

Actually...

I'm not the kind of woman you think I am.

Actually, this ryokan

was bought for me by Guntaro-san.

When you were in Osaka

he took care of me for about two years.

Really?

I'm not asking you to forgive me.

I'm saying this just for my own peace of mind.

At that time, I thought that it would be nice

to write to an old acquaintance.

I was very worried about my future, since I was alone.

So I wrote to him.

Sei, are you feeling better?

Yes, I'm better, Master.

You absolutely must...

open the Sayama gold leaf house.

Sei!

Pull yourself together! Hey, don't die!

Sei!

Doctor! Doctor!

Hey, call a doctor!

SEI KUSUMOTO

Thank you for taking care of us for so long.

I'm sorry I couldn't do everything.

Never thought the Mistress would die and we'd have to say goodbye.

Please visit when you're in our area again.

Thank you very much.

- Goodbye. - Goodbye.

- I'm coughing up blood... - My God.

Father! Father!

Don't come near me!

- Dear! - Father...

Mother!

The Mistress is outside.

- I'm off. - Be careful.

- Don't do anything dangerous. - I know.

- Good luck. - Bye.

- Clean up Hikoichi's room later. - All right.

Excuse me.

Long time no see.

Guntaro-san?

We live in the same city of Kanazawa, yet I never visited you...

and came so suddenly.

There's one thing I really wanted to offer you.

You probably know? I bought that golden screen from Azumaya.

Yes, with Sayama gold leaf.

You could use it here.

It would be very good for the ryokan,

but we can't afford to buy such expensive things.

No, I'm not going to sell it. I'd like you to have it.

But why should I take it?

Sometimes people do things without any reason.

All my property also burned during the bombing in Osaka.

I decided to start from scratch in the gold leaf business.

But this gold screen survived because I moved it to Kanazawa.

It survived both the Sayama fire and the winds of war,

and still shines beautifully.

I think this screen would be better with you, Mistress, than with me.

What do you say? Will you take it?

Well...

Let it be encouragement for the Lady who runs this establishment alone.

Then let's do it like this. I will buy some of your gold and silver caskets.

Of course, cheap Western boxes will do too.

I want to install fusuma sliding doors and place them in all the rooms.

That will be wonderful.

After all, a ryokan isn't just a place to sleep, is it?

Besides, a ryokan is a kind of fair.

The sliding doors and boxes will be good advertising

and you'll be able to sell more.

The other day I sold tatami to an establishment in the disaster area.

In exchange, I got 100 tatami for free.

You're enterprising.

You really are a strong person.

I didn't even notice how you became

a wonderful mistress with business acumen.

You've changed so much...

Changed?

I'm just trying to survive and raise my son after my husband's death.

Sei-san desperately clung to this ryokan.

However, now that I'm left alone without any support, I feel

that I have taken on the mission that Sei-san stood for.

My Lady, you really are a strong person.

All right, you absolutely must accept that gold screen.

Will you accept it from me?

TAEKO SAYAMA

Telegram.

"Hikoichi-kun is ill. Come quickly"

Is Hikoichi dying?

He's in the upstairs room.

Mother?

What are you doing here?

"Sick! Sick!" Are you already well?

Ah, I see.

So he sent a telegram?

I told him not to. But he thought I had pneumonia.

But as you can see, everything's fine this morning.

Everyone went skiing.

Really? And I was so scared...

After all, the telegram came just when there was heavy snowfall.

You again, Mother...

You find it funny,

but in the Sayama family everyone died on days of heavy snowfall.

Father, Grandmother, and Sei...

Mother, what relation does Sei Kusumoto have to our family?

Just remember that she's an important member of the Sayama family.

However, Mother, if you stay overnight, the snow will probably stop tomorrow.

You can warm up in the hot springs and rest well.

Yes, I'll do that.

It's settled.

Then I'll go and tell them.

Hikoichi, you've become so big.

I don't like it. It's like you've gotten smaller.

You rascal...

Did you say something?

No.

But I definitely heard it.

"Young mistress..."

Young mistress?

I would never say that.

You're just tired, Mother.

20 people arrived from Osaka at once.

That's a bit much.

In any case, I said I'd call back as soon as the Mistress returns.

I can't refuse Yamamoto-san. That's a problem.

Kiyo-san, did Kusaka-san send this?

Yes. It was delivered right after you left.

Really? It's the gold screen.

Let's unpack it right now and put it in the parlor.

Yes.

Oyae-san, Chiyo-san, come here!

Yes.

When they brought this screen, did Kusaka-san come too?

Yes, he was here.

He was very upset when I told him about the Young Master

and said he'd come again.

Kusaka-san died.

What?

He was walking and on the way home he had a brain hemorrhage.

He fell on the roadside and was found covered in snow.

Let me be alone for a while.

Yes.

I want to send flowers to Guntaro Kusaka's memorial service.

Yes.

I have an order for a bouquet.

Roses, red and white, tulips, chrysanthemums, carnations,

amaryllis, freesias, sweet peas, poppies.

What?

All the flowers given at weddings, you want for a funeral?

It's okay. Let it be so. Please deliver them without fail.

Sign it "Sayama".

Just "Sayama" is enough.

END

Translation from Japanese - дед_сто_лет © 2025