Original subtitles

What about breakfast?

No thanks.

-Get the newspaper before you go. -Do I look like I've got time for that?

Who am I?

Why did I die?

Morning.

Good morning.

-Hey. -Hey.

Hi.

How was it?

It certainly is a suspicious death. It's a mysterious body.

I won't know the cause of death until I open it up.

Right. Here you go.

Thank you. See you later, then.

See you later, then?

-You're getting on well, I see. -Yes, I suppose so.

Good morning.

Morning.

Good morning.

The body was discovered around 7:45 this morning.

The male resident said he didn't see him when he came home about 11:00 last night.

He must have either died here or been dumped here in the meantime.

Estimated time of death is between midnight and 3:00 a.m.,

so the timing matches.

-What about his identity? -Unknown.

He wasn't carrying any identification

and only had a handkerchief and coins in his pockets.

Nothing to indicate his identity.

No sign of a mobile phone?

No.

So the question is whether it was stolen or whether he wasn't carrying one.

Apparently...

there's evidence of bleeding on the side of his head.

He may be a victim of the "Knockout Bandit".

There have been a lot of attacks in Kannai recently.

He's wearing a wedding ring.

Quite likely his wife has alerted police that he's missing.

One case I had, the wife was so caring,

she took three months to file a missing persons report.

And some divorcees are unable to move on, and still wear their wedding rings.

He'd had more than a few drinks.

There's the possibility he was drunk and seen as an easy target.

If he was a regular at a bar around here it should be easy to find out who he is.

Any connection to this house?

We asked all the family members but they say they don't recognize him.

Could it be that he was mugged, randomly came to this house seeking help,

but died of his injuries?

Do you think it's as simple as that?

For now, we wait for the autopsy report.

All right.

What's wrong?

Oh, nothing.

What on earth could have happened?

That's what I want to know!

Who are you?

I can't remember a thing.

What's he up to?

It's because of the bullet in his head.

Not long now until he leaves the field for his surgery though.

Don't say such things!

Sorry about that.

I feel like I'm forgetting something important.

Please help me.

I'm not going to leave your side until I find out who I am and why I died.

Where do people go when they die?

I got involved in a case and ended up being shot in the head.

The bullet traveled halfway through my skull

and I miraculously survived with it lodged against my basilar artery.

But...

the operation to extract the bullet would be high risk.

So for now, I'm stuck with this bullet in my head.

As a result...

I...

can talk with dead people.

She's examining me so closely, it's making me self-conscious.

I can't believe such a beautiful woman is touching me.

It's making me feel aroused.

Keep quiet, like a dead person should be.

Scalpel.

This is graphic!

This is too much for me. Do you mind if I don't watch?

Whatever pleases you.

Poor little Ishikawa!

What was the cause of death?

Dissecting aortic aneurysm resulting in acute cardiac failure.

In layman's terms,

the main artery that carries blood out of the heart ruptured,

compromising circulation, and causing the heart to stop functioning.

What caused that?

Based on the bruising to the chest, my guess would be

that it was caused by the impact of a cylindrical rod-like instrument.

The diameter is about 10 cm, so something comparable to the end of a baseball bat.

So maybe it was the Knockout Bandit.

Based on the injury to the right side of the head,

that does seem to be a likely explanation.

So we're saying he was hit on the head,

then rammed in the chest in such a way that it lead to his death.

The size and shape of fingerprints from the victim's right hand

found on the gate of the Nomoto home, which is the crime scene,

indicate that the victim opened the gate and entered the grounds of his own accord.

Nothing further.

Right. Next.

Yes. We showed a photo of the victim at businesses in Kannai...

All these people are here for me?

Working on my case.

...missing persons fitting the victim's...

I hope I can get my memory back soon and help with the investigation.

Right. Next.

It can't be easy for you either, constantly being followed by dead people.

Well, it's not all the time.

I've never had anyone like you before.

Really?

Sometimes the dead person doesn't appear at all.

I don't know why.

I suppose you can't talk to anyone about all this.

It must be overwhelming at times.

I guess.

But I'm getting used to it.

I don't know if that's a good thing or not.

But seriously, at a time like this, how can you be worried about others?

Haven't you remembered anything?

I'm racking my brain trying to remember.

Can you visualize anyone?

You were wearing a wedding ring. You may have a wife and children.

I can't remember a single soul.

If I do have a wife and children

I must be one cold-hearted man.

That's not true.

There's nothing to be done about it.

Don't let it get to you.

You're such a good person.

So kind...

and handsome as well.

Look at me in comparison!

I'm a useless, depressing, middle-aged man.

You're not going to get anywhere by sulking.

I guess it's like that beautiful doctor said.

My memory won't come back unless something triggers it.

I know!

Maybe all my memories would come back if I heard my wife's name.

Can you say some random women's names?

Out of the blue? How am I supposed to...

Please, to help me.

Junko.

Kanako.

Kasumi, Yukie.

Are these all your girlfriends' names?

You're not even trying to remember.

I am! I just couldn't resist the temptation.

Forgive me, please.

Hello?

Okay, I'll come straight back.

It's the Knockout Bandit.

It seems he was caught in the act by an officer on patrol

and escaped without finishing it off.

This might be the man who attacked you.

I'm going to take over from the patrol officer now.

This is nerve-racking isn't it?

Was the morning always this beautiful?

Height about 165 cm...

Black sweater...

and cargo pants.

He's not wearing a knitted hat but he could have dumped it.

Or it's in his pocket.

Cool!

Well done.

You just stood back and enjoyed the show!

Don't know him.

Whoever he is.

Likely story.

You attacked and killed him, didn't you?

I really don't know who he is.

Check my alibi for the day this guy died.

If you do, you'll know I didn't do it!

He doesn't look like he's lying, does he?

And?

It checked out.

He's in the cinema complex's security footage.

Seems clear he was in the cinema at the time of the crime.

Just as I thought...

He may be a bad guy but he wasn't lying.

So we're not on the trail of the Knockout Bandit after all.

If we had an ID on the victim, we'd have known that long ago...

I'm sorry.

A wallet, believed to be the victim's, has been found

in a convenience store trash can about two km from the scene.

Really?

The wallet contained his license and staff ID.

The family and workplace are being contacted as we speak.

By the way, the victim's name is Yoshitake Okabe.

43 years of age.

-Any cash or credit cards? -Okabe?

None.

So was it the Knockout Bandit after all?

Ishikawa, Tachibana, take the convenience store.

-Yes sir! -Yes sir!

Okabe?

Look, it's a baseball bat case.

Can I get you to rewind this a bit?

All right.

Stop it there.

-Bingo! -Bingo!

Do you know these two?

Yes. They're from the local high school's baseball team. They're regular customers.

They always come around 10:00 or 11:00 at night.

Shut up!

Two nights ago you threw a wallet in this trash can.

I don't know about that.

There are fingerprints on the wallet. So lying about it won't do much good.

What if we did throw it in there?

Read the newspapers, kid!

The wallet's owner is dead.

Use your common sense.

Who do you think is our prime suspect?

We didn't do it.

Then why did you have his wallet?

One of you needs to be a good boy and start talking. I don't care which.

Dragging this out is no benefit to anyone.

On the way home from school,

there was a man in a business suit lying on the ground.

So we just took his wallet on an impulse.

He looked drunk, so it seemed so easy.

You sure you didn't attack him with a bat?

We didn't do anything like that! He really was on the ground.

When we took his wallet he was definitely alive.

You have to believe me!

These kids don't seem to be lying either.

You look like a ghost full of regret who can't move on.

I don't find that very funny.

Sorry.

So, you still can't remember anything?

Nothing.

It's so depressing.

What on earth happened to me?

Tomorrow, your wife is coming in to identify your body.

If you see your wife...

perhaps that will jog your memory.

What do we do if my memory doesn't come back?

It'll be okay.

We'll do our best.

I don't think this is one of those things where doing your best can help.

He just tutted at me!

Feeling a bit nervous?

Of course I'm nervous.

I may not remember anything but I am just about to see my wife.

Let's hope this triggers the return of your memories.

What if she's ugly?

She is beautiful.

-Are you from the police? -Yes.

I'm Mr. Okabe's wife.

This way, please.

In the unlikely case that this is not someone you recognize,

please say so immediately.

All right.

It's my husband.

Your husband passed away three nights ago.

That means he didn't return home for two days.

Why didn't you contact the police to initiate a search?

My husband left that morning, saying he had a business trip.

He was supposed to get home tonight.

-Where was he traveling to? -Nagoya.

Lately...

was there anything strange about your husband's behavior?

I didn't notice anything.

I see.

My husband was such an earnest man.

So hardworking.

He hardly ever complained about a thing.

I believe he wanted so much to give me and our daughter a happy life

that he put up with personal suffering and worked as hard as he could.

I guess I relied on his strength.

Maybe that's why I didn't notice if he was struggling emotionally.

If he died because he got caught up with the wrong people or something,

it must be my fault.

What about your daughter?

How old is she?

She's almost seven.

How can I explain what's happened to my daughter?

She loved him so much.

Isn't there anything you'd like to say?

The way things stand,

we'll have to dig through all the relationships in your lives

and your wife is the one who will suffer.

Your memory...

it's come back, hasn't it?

If I can hazard a guess,

I'd say your memory came back the moment you saw your wife.

Your behavior has been strange ever since.

Why don't you tell me what happened that day?

As long as you're not involved in a crime, I won't hold anything against you.

There's a place I want to show you.

I think it's about time you explained why we're here.

I can't stand everyone staring at me.

My wife worked in the same company as me.

I fell in love with her at first sight.

At first, she wouldn't even give me the time of day.

But I persisted and kept telling her how I felt.

And eventually she agreed to go out with me.

I have a feeling I understand how you fell for your wife.

This place is where we came on our first date.

She wanted to come here.

She said a first date should be memorable, not just going out for an ordinary meal.

All we did was walk around, sort of like we're doing now.

But to me, the whole world seemed to come alive and sparkle.

We only had 30 minutes before closing time,

but to me,

it felt like time stood still for us.

The company merger happened one year ago.

The company I was in was absorbed by another company.

They restructured straight away

and I was sent to the inventory control department.

I was stuck sitting in front of a computer almost all day long.

Coming from a sales job where I was constantly out and about,

I have to admit it was a tough transition.

I felt as though my future in the company

was completely destroyed.

If I considered my responsibility to support my wife and daughter

and our home loan,

quitting my job was not an option.

But at the same time,

I was beyond the age when one can easily find a new job.

The only choice I had

was to hold on for dear life to the place where I was.

That was my only option.

Didn't you think about telling your wife what was on your mind?

At home,

I wanted to remain the strong man I'd always been.

I wanted to be the husband and father who could always be relied upon.

You lied that you had a business trip, and you didn't go to work.

What was the reason for that?

I...

I'd never been to a prostitute before.

What?

Prostitutes.

I heard you the first time.

I got a shock, wondering what you were about to say.

I suppose my emotions were a bit erratic.

I thought going to a brothel might cheer me up.

And if I was going to do it, I might as well go all out.

So I thought I'd take three days off work and go brothel hopping.

You're disgusted.

Who wouldn't be disgusted?

I'm disappointed in you.

This completely spoils the romantic story you just told me before.

How could I expect someone like you to understand how I feel?

Look at you.

Elite, handsome, kind...

Don't think you can get out of this with a "poor me" speech.

So...

did you go brothel hopping?

In the end I didn't.

You'd better be telling the truth.

There's no point trying to make yourself look good now.

It is the truth!

Please believe me.

I did walk around the red light district.

But in my mind's eye all I could see was my wife.

I couldn't bring myself to go into a brothel.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.

I'd like to hear what happened after you gave up on the brothel idea.

I was feeling down about how pathetic I was.

So I started drinking.

I went to several bars.

After I left the last bar...

What happened?

Before I tell you...

I want to ask you a favor.

What is it?

Will you promise that you will grant my wish?

That depends, doesn't it?

There are things I simply can't do.

Then I'm not talking.

Are you trying to blackmail me?

You're more than welcome to interpret it that way if you wish.

If you want to solve this case you'd better grant my wish.

Very well then.

I will do all that is in my power.

If you don't honor your word, I will put a curse on you.

You really were a piece of work, weren't you?

Well?

What is this wish of yours?

Wouldn't it be more efficient to start at a larger hotel?

Or at train station lockers?

I have a feeling this is the kind of place our guy would have stayed at.

According to his wife's description of him, you mean.

Here it is! This hotel.

It's a 15-minute walk from where the body was discovered.

If he were on his way back here when he got caught up in some trouble...

I suppose that would add up.

These are the things left by the guest you asked about.

How many nights were reserved?

Two nights.

I don't suppose you could lend me a charger for this?

Of course.

-Have you found anything? -No. Nothing of interest here.

How thrilling is this?

I wish I could have a coffee.

I should have had one last delicious coffee before I died.

I see you've come as a salaryman in between sales calls today.

Today's character is a salaryman on a health kick.

Hence the orange juice.

Exactly.

Use the handwriting in here as a reference.

Will do.

This is what I want you to write.

This is the strangest request I've ever had.

More importantly,

make sure no one can ever suspect it was forged.

If only you knew my history as a handwriting fraud.

Spare me. If I heard it, I would want to arrest you.

-I'll provide a receipt. -Save yourself the trouble.

Your request will be fulfilled within half a day.

I'm going to walk to the second station from here.

Would you care to join me?

Come as an unhealthy character next time.

I'll be off then.

He really gives the impression of being a professional doesn't he?

By the way, how much did you pay him?

Don't worry about it.

Thank you.

Now that that's taken care of

you'll tell me what happened, won't you?

Yes.

But don't get mad at me when I tell you.

That night, I went from one bar to another

and when I headed back to my hotel, I walked along here.

I drank and drank, but it didn't cheer me up at all.

If anything, it made me more frustrated.

That's when I saw this.

Do you mean to tell me...

the bruise on your chest was from crashing into this?

Yes.

But...

how did you manage to crash into this?

It's really embarrassing.

It's a bit late to worry about that. Come on, tell me what happened.

You absolutely cannot tell my wife or daughter.

When I spotted this...

I got the urge to try and jump it.

I may not look it, but in my university days I was a hurdler.

I got the idea that if I could hurdle this,

I could prove to myself that I was still young.

That I still had what it takes.

Here goes!

It was excruciating.

For quite some time,

I couldn't move at all.

Then...

once I recovered from being winded I got up and started walking.

But then all of a sudden I was overcome by dizziness.

I have no recollection of what happened after that.

I don't mean to be rude, but...

it sounds like the plot of a comedy film, doesn't it?

Well, you could at least laugh, then.

But even so,

whatever you do say,

you can't tell my wife and daughter that I tripped trying to hurdle the chain.

Understood.

I have no way to prove it anyway.

I can't exactly say that you told me.

I expect the case will be closed based on the assumption you were drunk

and tripped over.

Thank goodness.

After hitting your head on a pole,

you lost consciousness and collapsed.

When you regained consciousness, you had lost your memory.

Probably unaware of what had happened to you,

you wandered about 200 meters from here

before your aorta ruptured, and you died.

I see.

So it wasn't that he got involved with the wrong crowd after all.

No, it was an unfortunate accident.

It seems there was no deep secret behind his lie about the business trip.

Rather he wanted to escape from the stress of the situation at work.

This may not be the most appropriate wording but...

basically he just didn't show up to work, like a kid playing hooky.

I just wish I had realized.

I could have shown him I was there and let him get it off his chest.

I wish I were there by his side in his final moments.

There's one thing I need to confirm.

What is it?

I'm wondering if this gate looks similar to yours at home.

Yes, it is similar.

The shape of the gate is the same.

This photo...

is of the house that your husband was found outside.

I believe that in his last moments...

he wanted to go home to his wife and daughter.

This is evidence that even as he took his last breaths,

he never forgot you and your daughter.

I wonder if she'll find what's in the pocket of the suitcase.

How could she not notice it?

You're right.

Dear Aya and Mika,

I suddenly felt the urge to put pen to paper,

and am writing this in a few spare moments at work.

I'm not good with words

and I have the feeling there's something important

that I haven't said to you both.

There's something I want you to know

and that's why I decided to put it in a letter.

I love you both.

I love you so deeply.

Within my ordinary life

you two, and you two alone, are always sparkling.

If, for example, I were to lose my memory,

I'm sure that seeing your sparkle would be all it would take

to bring all my memories back.

I'm about to head home to give both of you a big hug.

Knowing me, when I see both of you in front of me, I'll get stage fright,

and be too shy to actually hug you.

But this is how I feel, and my intention, as I head home to you now.

Please wait for me.

When are you going to stop haunting me?

Don't be so heartless,

after all we've been through solving this case together.

Yeah, the case of your self-destruction.

Couldn't you word that a little more kindly?

Look at it from my perspective. I'm a dead man.

I might go and get a spiritual cleansing tomorrow.

Would you really stoop so low?

You're going to lecture me about stooping low?

Okay, point taken.

I'll try not to appear from now on, unless it's absolutely necessary.

In exchange, I need to ask a favor.

Again?

This is my last request.

I'm so close to freedom now.

So close to dragging me down with you, I'd say.

It should be under there.

I'm home.

Here we go, breaking and entering...

Oh! That's it!

We've got about another two hours

until your funeral finishes and your family arrives home.

-No time to get too relaxed. -I know.

River?

-A river? -No, it's not a river.

A river ocean.

A river sea?

This day...

was the first time my daughter ever saw the sea.

A momentous occasion.

It really was.

-Go on! -You can do it!

Try splashing in the water.

She got scared, and we couldn't get her to venture any closer to the water.

Don't be scared!

When I saw that smile...

that was the first time I felt like I understood the word "forever".

I think I understand what you mean.

Mr. Ishikawa,

I can't thank you enough.

What's come over you?

So formal all of a sudden.

By the way,

where is this beach?

About now...

he's probably being cremated.

I'll just watch a little bit more

before I go.

Subtitle translation by Anna Berry Fukuda

It's a suicide.

Did you kill yourself?

I didn't kill myself!

She wanted to live.

Someone did this.

Whatever it takes, I'll get him.

A HIDDEN MOTIVE

A SHOCKING ENDING AWAITS

Come out.

Tell me why you died.