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Episode 216

Welcome home. How did it go?

The factory where you both work are gone...

I guess I'm unemployed.

What will I do now?

That should be the least of your worries.

Our factory's destroyed?

It couldn't be helped...

All the factories in the area burnt down.

We're lucky we still have this house!

It's all Mother's doing!

I'm impressed by her courage.

I almost gave up.

But I didn't want to have regrets later

if I ran away without doing anything.

I wanted to do my best. Just in case.

Now Yuu and Hitoshi will have a home to come back to, won't they?

I'll go to help out the other victims.

Let's eat white rice tonight, to celebrate our survival.

We shouldn't eat all our stock of rice!

I know, but we should eat while we still can.

- Mr. Tanokura! - I'll be right there!

- Bring that over here. - Okay.

Here.

What is it?

Ryuzo...

Ryuzo!

Let's offer some incense and water for Yuu...

Let's put an offering for him, too.

What is it?

Yuu... has been killed in action.

It's a lie...

This is just a piece of paper.

It's an official notice.

He died in the Philippines. It's an official report from his unit.

It's only a piece of paper! He can't be dead!

I won't believe it.

Not until I see his body or his ashes!

The draft notice was just a piece of paper, too.

And it's the same when you die!

Nozomi!

Please get Yuu some water, and some flowers, too.

Look at this! Do you believe this?

Look at this!

Hatsuko... Don't believe this.

Believe that Yuu is still alive. Wait for him!

That's what he's looking forward to.

Mother...

We'll have a wake for him tonight...

I will get the neighbors to join us...

I don't want anyone here.

Yuu is still alive!

I'll believe that until there's proof that he's dead!

I don't want anyone to offer incense!

It must've been so hot in the Philippines...

Did you have enough food?

I'll be the first one to attack our enemies if Japan is invaded.

I'll be joining you soon...

You can tell me your stories then...

I'll be looking forward to it.

You're still up?

Shall I help you?

No. It's not urgent.

Besides, you didn't get much sleep last night.

And you worked hard all day. You just rest.

That kimono...

It's Yuu's. It got wet last night.

I'd better wash it and restitch it.

Yuu loved this kimono... And he looked so good in it.

You can help me restitch it later.

Oshin...

I remember when Yuu was born.

Your mother was there. And Old Gen, too.

We were all so happy then...

We promised to do all we could for Yuu.

Even when we lost everything in the earthquake...

Having Yuu with us kept us going.

But going to Saga was a disaster for us...

Yuu and I had to live apart from one another.

Let's not talk about the past.

Even when you took Yuu and left Saga,

I never forgot about him.

It was he who gave me hope.

He made it possible for me to go on.

He kept you and me together.

That's right.

I was able to come this far because of him.

He and I were always together.

I never let him go, go matter how bad things were.

It was always Yuu and me...

Yuu knows that, and he'll be back...

He'll come home to me...

I'll wait for him...

I'll keep believing that he's still alive...

Oshin was determined to keep Yuu alive within her.

That was the only way to keep herself going.

It was reported that a new type of bomb

was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Then one August day...

I hear that those new bombs are terrible!

Can we really fend them off with this?

There's a flash of light,

and if you are exposed to it, you'll die.

They say white clothing will protect you from that flash of light.

It's hard to believe...

- All this seems so silly... - Mother!

You said you'd hang in there

until Yuu, Hitoshi and Tei can all be here with us again!

Mother, it's a letter from Hitoshi!

I have good news.

I've been named to the top of my flight class.

This is a great source of pride for me.

Give my best to Hatsuko, Nozomi, Tei and to my brother, Yuu at the front.

Hitoshi is going out on a mission, too?

There's going to be an important radio announcement today.

I think the war is finally ending.

The war was coming to an end.

But what would that mean? Oshin had no idea.

Episode 217

At noon, on August 15, 1945...

Oshin heard the Emperor's speech on the radio.

He was announcing the end of the war.

The 15-year war that had begun in Manchuria was now over.

Neither Oshin nor anyone else had any idea as to what that meant.

So that's what our Emperor sounds like.

I've never heard him before.

This is a great honor for us all,

to be able to hear the Emperor's own voice.

Now that the Emperor has said it's all over,

does it mean we can all stop fighting?

Of course!

The military can't overrule the Emperor, no matter how powerful they are.

The military must follow the Emperor's orders.

That's why the Emperor broadcast his message to the whole country.

The war is really over.

It just means that Japan lost!

What happens now that we're defeated?

Will Japan cease to be?

What will become of us?

At least there won't be any more air attacks.

And the soldiers at the front can stop fighting.

That means they'll all be able to come home?

If Yuu is alive, he'll be coming home?

We can get Tei.

We can all live together again. Hitoshi, too.

Hitoshi...

Hitoshi is supposed to be on a mission today.

He must already be in the air!

No, he can't! The war is over!

Maybe he didn't have to go. Maybe they got the news, too.

If he flew off on a mission, he'd be dying for nothing!

I'll go to his squadron. I will find out.

The trains must still be running.

- What's the use in going? - But...

You don't know what it means to lose a war!

Japan no longer has a military.

Who knows what happened to the air squadrons.

You're still up working?

Candlelight isn't good for your eyes.

Wait until it gets light.

The war is over. Why don't we have electricity yet?

We can't work at all in the dark!

I never thought that Japan would lose...

We were supposed to win!

No use talking like that now.

I'm not regretting it.

I believed in the war, and I did my part.

The military gave me a chance to succeed.

As a man, I'm proud of what I've done.

I'm grateful for having lived life to the fullest.

But...?

But many will say that I did wrong...

I worked side-by-side with the military.

And as the head of our neighborhood committee,

I helped promote the war.

Boys signed up for the war at my urging.

Some of them have died...

I made people buy war bonds, too. Now those bonds are all worthless.

It's not your fault.

The boys and the bonds. The government ordered you

to push them for the sake of our country.

I could've refused.

But I didn't do that...

I believed in what I did.

I have no regrets. But I'm responsible

for having gotten people deeper into the mess of the war.

You couldn't help it... It was the war.

People all thought this war was just.

You can't sleep?

You, too?

Oshin...

How many years have we been together?

Let's see... I'm 45 now. I married you when I was 22.

It's been more than 20 years.

It seems like yesterday...

But then again, it feels like ages...

So much has happened.

I've given you nothing but hardships.

I'm a worthless husband, I'm sorry.

Why?

You did your best.

You built up our clothing business.

And you worked hard at running our fish store.

Then you began selling fish to the Army.

And you eventually ran a munitions factory, too.

You did it all on your own.

You're a real man!

You did well...

Thanks to you.

The most wonderful thing in my life...

was having met you.

Why are you talking like that now?

I've always wanted to tell you so...

Thanks to you, I was able to do a man's job.

You gave me wonderful children, too.

You made my life full.

Thank you.

The same is true for me, too.

I was able to persevere because of you.

No matter what we have to face, I can manage if I have you.

I love you...

I don't have to wear a uniform anymore.

I'll go say goodbye to all the Army people.

You look good in a suit. It looks good on you!

Thanks.

I hadn't taken a morning bath in ages.

I've washed off all the dirt of war.

I'm glad.

- I'll be going. - Take care.

That was the last time Oshin saw Ryuzo...

Episode 218

Tei?

Father!

I'm so glad. Now I can go home.

What are you doing here?

I was hoping one of you would come to get me.

Tei...

The war is over, isn't it? No more bombings.

They said I could go home now.

Yes...

You can go home to your mother.

She'll come to take you home.

I'll go home with you!

I just came to see how you were...

I'm glad to see you're well.

You did well. You persevered.

You're not here to take me home?

Japan lost the war... The Americans will be here soon.

If they harm you now,

surviving the bombings would've been for nothing.

So just stay here for now.

You understand, don't you?

You were able to bear it this long. Just a little longer.

Are you sure she'll come for me?

Yes.

Once you come home, take good care of your mother.

You're our only daughter.

You need to be a good friend to your mother.

Do that for me.

Your hair is just like your mother's...

Such nice hair...

I wish...

I wish I could have seen you get married...

I'll bet you'll be as pretty as when your mother came to me...

Tei...

Be a good, sweet girl.

Be like your mother, and be good to everyone.

Live a happy life for me...

That night, Ryuzo did not come home.

He failed to return the following night, too.

Welcome home!

Ryuzo?

- Mother? - Is Father home?

That's strange... I heard his voice.

And he was pounding on the door.

- I heard him! - Maybe you were dreaming.

- I was awake. - I didn't hear anything.

It's because you've been worrying about him.

Oh, it's you.

Did you find out anything?

I went to the regiment, but no one would talk to me.

They're all too busy burning documents.

I guess they're too busy to worry about Father.

This letter from him was in the mail box.

See, he sent word! We were worrying for nothing.

I know you'll be shocked to read this,

but I'd been thinking about this for a long time.

I always believed that Japan would win.

I did my best to realize a victory.

You all know that to be true.

But my convictions have caused us to lose Yuu and Hitoshi.

I caused our neighborhood boys to join the fighting,

and one was killed in action.

I must've caused everyone so much pain.

I feel responsible.

I know my death won't resolve anything.

But as the one who caused one's own children to die,

and as a human being,

I'm guilty of the crime of cooperating in the war effort.

That's why I must die.

I firmly believe that I should die.

It would be harder to live a life of guilt.

I'm not that strong.

And I couldn't live under foreign domination.

I lived through a generation. I have no regrets.

I'll go where I can be with Yuu and Hitoshi.

Thank you, Oshin.

Thank you for everything. - Ryuzo

Mother...

He is... dead...

Mother...

That night, the night the war ended...

We talked about a lot of things...

I guess he'd already decided then...

And I had no idea...

We were together for more than 20 years...

Yet, I still had no idea...

I can't believe Father killed himself!

How could he leave you and Tei behind?!

Ryuzo...

I'd better find him...

Mother!

Excuse me.

- Is this the Tanokura house? - Yes.

- Does a Ryuzo live here? - That's my father.

- And you are? - She's my mother.

Good. I've been searching for you. Please follow me.

I work at the village office near here.

The phone lines are down,

and the police force has been disbanded.

So I came here myself.

My father...

I found his name and blood type listed on the papers in his wallet.

That's why I'm here.

I may have the wrong family...

So could you come to identify the body?

Yes, that's my husband.

I see...

I hear many have died by their own hands,

after the news of our defeat.

I suppose your husband felt the same way...

The villagers found him in a sitting position in the forest.

He showed great composure.

They took him to a doctor,

but he'd already been dead for a day.

He had stabbed himself in the heart.

Episode 219

Ryuzo had committed suicide, the day after the war ended.

It was two days later that Oshin learned of his fate,

and went to identify his body.

Oshin returned home with his ashes.

Dear... We're home.

Don't tell me he's already been cremated!

I wish you could have all been there

to offer him your last farewell...

We couldn't find a car or anybody to bring his body home.

Father...

I'll go and get Tei tomorrow.

What about the funeral arrangements?

They found his body in the mountains...

It was an out of the way place.

He planned on dying quietly...

Where no one would find him.

That's what I think.

He wouldn't want a big funeral.

Tei will be so sad when she finds out...

Tei was his favorite... She was very close to him.

He was selfish!

He'd lived through this terrible war.

Why did he have to waste his life!

What about those of us who are left behind?!

Hatsuko!

Didn't he think of you and Tei?!

Yuu will be so sad when he comes home...

Your father believed that Yuu and Hitoshi were dead...

They say it's easier to die than to live...

He must have been determined to die.

He wanted to die... To be with Yuu and Hitoshi.

That thought is my only consolation.

Maybe the three of them are happy together now.

No!

Yuu and Hitoshi are still alive!

Let's just have a family funeral for him...

We'll keep the suicide a private matter.

I'm sure that's how he would've wanted it.

Oshin, it's me.

Oshin!

Good. You're home.

I have brought my mother with me.

Okiyo...

She insisted on coming.

You fool!

Mother!

What's this about taking responsibility

for cooperating with the war effort!

Your primary responsibility was to your family!

You took the easy way out! You coward!

How will Oshin and Tei make it from now on!

Okiyo...

You're such a coward!

You were afraid of starting anew!

I feel so badly for Oshin...

Okiyo...

I'm very proud of Ryuzo.

There are too many people

who never spoke up against the war while it was going on.

And now that it's over,

they have the nerve to criticize the war.

I'm one of them, too.

I said nothing about Ryuzo's work,

because it was making life better for us.

Only now, do I really hate the war.

I hate the war that took my Yuu and Hitoshi away...

Compared to people such as myself, Ryuzo was great!

He was true to himself until the end.

And he never wavered. He put an end to himself.

I love him for that.

I love him very much.

Much happened in our marriage...

I tried to leave him many times.

But now, I'm glad that I married him.

I was his wife for more than 20 years.

I'm very proud of that fact.

Ryuzo was lucky to have a good wife.

You understand him better than I do.

In his last testament,

he said that meeting you was the best thing to happen to him.

I understand that now...

I'm glad I took the trouble to come.

I won't cry for Ryuzo anymore, but I'm concerned about you now.

Father wants you to come back to Saga with Tei.

You can't get enough to eat here.

Thank you.

But I have Hatsuko and Nozomi to think about.

And I haven't given up on Yuu and Hitoshi.

Until I have proof that they're both dead,

I'll continue to wait for them no matter how long it takes.

And I want to be here for them when they return.

That's how a mother should feel.

Thanks for putting up with Ryuzo for so long.

Thank you very much...

We'll probably never see each other again...

I'm glad I got the chance to thank you.

Okiyo left the next day with a small portion of Ryuzo's ashes.

On August 28th, the occupation forces arrived at Atsugi Field.

The people were all afraid.

Let's have some tea.

Hitoshi...

Episode 220

Hitoshi is home.

He's here sleeping.

Mother...

He's snoring!

Are you all right?

What do you mean?

Get ahold of yourself!

I'm sane! It's true!

And he's so dirty!

It's Hitoshi!

He's alive! He's come home!

Hey, Hitoshi.

Let's let him sleep all he wants to.

You should've written us and told us!

He's so carefree.

See, he came back.

Let's make him a bath.

He smells. I'll go heat the water.

And I'll make some food.

We have mochi rice and azuki beans from Saga.

We'll make him red rice and beans.

But we'll make some dumpling soup first,

so he can eat it as soon as he wakes up.

The bath is ready, but he's still asleep.

The dumplings are ready, too.

He must be dead tired.

Smells good. Is it udon?

You're awake!

That's right... I'm home.

Why didn't you write us?

I didn't have the time.

As soon as the war ended,

we got busy burning all military documents.

We even talked about fighting the occupation forces.

Then we got thrown off the base.

The Imperial Navy just collapsed.

I thought you'd flown out on a suicide mission.

You sent us that postcard.

I was selected as the first flier to go from our class of junior fliers.

I was to go to Kagoshima.

But unfortunately, my plane broke down.

I couldn't even get to Kagoshima.

Then the war suddenly ended. That really angered me!

You weren't unfortunate.

If your plane had not broken down...

I was ready to die! If I had died,

I wouldn't have had to face our nation's defeat,

or this American occupation!

I'm ashamed to be alive!

Hitoshi...

What will I do now? I have nothing left to live for!

Welcome home.

I'm glad you came home to us safely.

Mother...

What was all my training for?

Why did so many of us have to die?

All for nothing... It doesn't make sense.

If the war was wrong, what did all of our men die for?

What are we supposed to do now?

I was ready to die for my country...

I believed it was my duty to die for the Emperor.

But they told us it was now our duty to live on.

Then they sent us all home...

What am i supposed to believe in now?!

I don't want to talk about how right or wrong this war was.

No matter what this war was about.

You devoted yourself to a cause. And that's enough.

You're lucky to have had such a chance.

You can cherish it as a memory.

You'll think back on it one day. Keep it with you always.

Your father, too.

He never had regrets about having cooperated in the war effort.

He was proud to have lived his conviction...

And he died a satisfied man.

Mother...

Go and tell your father that you're home safe.

I know how you felt.

We both believed, and we were both betrayed.

The Japan we believed in is gone,

and a new Japan is about to emerge.

I know how you felt about not wanting to live in such a place.

Hitoshi...

I wish I could die, too.

I want to die for my convictions like you!

But I don't have the courage like you.

I was ready to crash my plane into an enemy ship.

But compared to you, I'm just a coward.

After seeing Mother's face, I'm glad I'm still alive.

I'm prepared to live on with the shame!

It's all right. That's how it was supposed to be.

The American occupation will change everything.

The main thing is to keep living.

I don't want to be told what to do anymore.

I don't want to be forced

to believe in things that can change overnight.

From now on, I want to live for myself.

To hell with love of the country!

Nozomi.

One has to think like that in order to survive!

Sure... I'll be a coward and live on.

My beliefs have been betrayed.

I'll never belie in anything again.

I've died once. Now I'm afraid of nothing.

I'll face up to anything!

- Here you go. - Let's eat.

I know you hate dumpling soup,

but I'll make you red rice and beans for dinner.

Is this what you still eat?

We don't eat like the soldiers do.

The food wasn't good in Oita,

but they fed us white rice everyday.

Dumpling soup is a luxury!

People have to eat potatoes and vegetable tops.

I have sugar and canned foods from the Navy.

I'll trade them for some rice.

Then I'll sell the rice in town, and buy more goods to trade.

You want to do that?

That's black marketing!

Who cares! There's no more military or police here.

Our country can no longer protect us.

We each have to find our own way to eat.

I will work hard, and I'm willing to do anything!

I'll be the man of the house until Yuu returns.

More, please!

After losing Ryuzo at the end of the war,

Oshin was glad to have Hitoshi come home to her.

It gave her more hope about Yuu.

The very next day, Hitoshi went out to trade.

Where is he? He's been gone a long time.

He didn't even say where he was going!

What's he up to?

Remember when Nozomi took some of your kimono to trade for rice?

He failed, and he never wanted to go again.

They both talk big,

but those boys are only 16 years old.

He could never become a black marketeer.

I guess it doesn't hurt to try...

We can't wait for him forever. Let's eat.

Yes.

You're back!

I got rice and soybeans. This is for us.

You didn't...

Everybody wanted my sugar and canned foods.

What I took was gone in no time.

You just approached strangers?

Of course! I didn't know those villagers.

I told them I'm a survivor of the suicide squad,

and told them if I didn't do this,

we couldn't survive. They all felt sorry for me.

They told me to come back.

They want soap, towels and children's clothes.

So I went to town and traded the rest of my rice and beans for such goods.

Where did you go?

I'd just walk into the shops that were still standing.

I'd explain myself and trade stuff.

I did fairly well.

Do you need soap? I have towels, too.

No, we still have some.

I'll deal with the same people I dealt with today.

Then I'll expand.

I can earn enough for us to eat. We can go and get Tei, too.

There hasn't been any problems with the occupation forces.

Will you go and get Tei tomorrow?

Tell Tei that Father died from an illness.

She wouldn't understand why he committed suicide.

Who did you take after?

I never thought you'd be good at such things.

Once you consider yourself dead, you can do anything!

What good would it do to be embarrassed?

It sure is nice to eat with family members!

Eat all you want.

I'll make sure that you never go hungry again.

The meals were meager,

but Oshin was happy to be able to eat with her family.

In September, the schools reopened.

Oshin had to think of what to do about school for Nozomi and Hitoshi.

Episode 221

Are you all right?

I'm worn out!

Oh, come on! Let's go.

One of my customers wanted a bridal gown.

Her daughter is getting married in November.

It's beautiful! People still have such things?

People that didn't lose their homes have a lot to trade.

But since those people are women or the elderly,

they can't go around trading for themselves.

You really impress me.

You certainly have a knack for dealing with strangers.

You're too unfriendly for the trading business.

All I have to do is tag along with you to help carry things.

I got you some dried sweet potatoes.

Some farmers gave us that with tea.

Nozomi didn't eat his and saved it for you.

Thanks.

When you are ready to get married,

I'll get a wedding dress for you, too.

I don't know when Yuu will be coming home.

Don't worry.

Many men believe to have been killed have come home.

Who knows what happened in the Philippines.

The government has started bringing home soldiers.

And civilians from Manchuria and South East Asia.

There must be many people over there.

I'm sure Yuu will be one of them. It won't be long!

Pack up all the things we need tomorrow.

I'll bathe.

Hitoshi.

Stop this black market business, and go to school.

Both of you.

School?

The schools are reopening!

No way!

I'm done with middle school. That's enough!

You both haven't gone to school

since your third year of middle school.

You'd both better finish up your education.

What good will school do?

What's important now is to work and eat!

I'll take care of that.

What can you do?

You can't just open up shop again.

Before you were born, I used to peddle fish.

I've been thinking...

Now isn't the time for opening up a shop.

I'll take over where you boys leave off.

Mother!

You're too old for it!

We carry loads that are too heavy for us.

And we hang from the sides of the trains.

Don't take me lightly! I'm used to hard work.

But you haven't worked in a long time.

It's not strength alone that you need to carry heavy loads.

There's a trick to doing it.

I'll go with you to help carry.

I'm just getting used to this work.

I can't just quit now.

Hitoshi.

I'm not going back to school.

There's no need to. I won't go!

You'll just be a black marketeer for the rest of your life?

Once I get enough money, I will open up a shop.

I don't mind you working,

but it's my duty to see that you and Nozomi get a decent education.

You'll go back to school!

Society is in confusion,

and you might not be able to see any sense in going to school.

But once things settle down, you'll need a college education.

College?

Of course! A man needs a college education.

You refuse to listen to me?

I won't allow you to continue black marketeering.

If you're not going to school,

you'll have to leave this house, and be on your own.

I don't need you feeding me this way!

Mother!

Oshin and Hatsuko took over as black marketeers.

In October, Hitoshi and Nozomi re-entered school

as fourth-year middle school students,

and Tei was a fourth grader in primary school.

Oshin began trading with the villagers she had known

when she was a fish peddler.

She'd trade and take goods to market in down.

There were people in town who were customers at Oshin's fish store,

and things were beginning to go well again for Oshin.

If only it weren't for that war...

I'm running out of things to trade.

How much longer will this go on?

But I'm glad you come to help us out.

Grandpa is sick, so I want to feed him white rice.

But with him being sick,

I haven't the time to go to down and buy some.

Prices keep going up, too.

It can't be helped...

Rationing isn't enough to go around.

You used to be so well off,

but now you've had to go back to peddling again.

My old customers really help me out now.

At least the war is over.

And the soldiers can't act big anymore.

I was really worried about the American occupation.

But there haven't been any problems.

It seems silly that we were all so afraid.

That's true. When the war ended,

none of us had any idea what was going to happen.

At least, we're all able to make a living.

Yes. You're lucky your house didn't burn down.

So many people are still living in shelters.

Yes. I feel so lucky.

People being repatriated from abroad

are coming home with nothing but the clothes they wear.

It sure is pathetic to lose a war...

- Are you okay? - Yes.

There's somebody here fighting with Hitoshi!

He says this is his house!

Where's the proof that this is your house?

Do you have proof that it's yours?!

You're just squatters! I'll go to the police!

Go ahead! We're doing nothing wrong!

Mother...

You are the one who took my house!

What's going on?

That's what I'd like to know. This is my house!

I left my house for the military to use when I left for Korea.

The agreement was that I'd get it back when I came home.

Now I'm back, so leave!

You're that man who went to Pyongyang?

You've been repatriated?

You seem to know what is going on.

My husband bought this house from the military.

They told us that you wouldn't be coming back to Japan.

We paid for it!

That's nonsense!

Here it is. Here it is! It was in my bag!

Look!

This is the rental agreement we had with the military!

My husband's name is Ohata Bunzo. See!

That boy had the nerve to ask us for proof!

They're like thieves!

You tried to take our house just because we were in Korea!

All your favorite plants in the garden are gone...

They dug a shelter and planted vegetables!

It's terrible! Fix it up the way it was before!

We planted a garden because it's our house!

We protected this house from fires during the air raid, too!

We did it all because the house is ours.

Do you have a deed to this house?

If you do, let's see it!

Actually, my husband died after the war ended.

So I can't tell you about the particulars of any agreement,

but he left the house to us.

I believe what my husband told me!

What counts are legal papers.

Bring out your papers if you have them!

Here, these are it.

What's this?

It's the receipts for payments we made for the house to the military.

It bears the regimental commander's seal.

But these papers aren't worth anything.

You had asked the military to sell this house!

I went abroad on military business.

So I'd asked them to rent it out for us.

I never asked them to sell it!

If you were moving permanently to Pyongyang,

you had no use for a house here in Japan.

We didn't say we were going for good!

The military is finished. Their papers are worth nothing!

I never signed any papers to sell!

What about the money my husband paid?

That's not my problem.

You didn't receive any payment?

You think we're lying?

Then where did this money go?

Maybe the military stole it.

They're all no good. That's why we lost the war.

We had to leave every- thing we owned in Korea.

This house is our only remaining asset!

- Mother. - Yes.

We're hungry.

When is dinner going to be ready?

Please make by bath, too!

Have rice and charcoal delivered.

All the shops are gone.

Then go find some. We have money to pay for it.

Mother...

I'll make you dinner.

Wait!

You're planning to stay here?

It's my house. I'm not leaving.

Do you have food?

I'm sure you haven't gotten ration papers.

Having money won't do you any good.

I'll feed you some dumpling soup tonight,

but don't complain about its meagerness.

Never mind!

You can't get away with this!

Let's let them stay for tonight.

They probably don't have anywhere else to go.

Please find a place to move to as soon as possible.

Episode 222

The former owners of Oshin's house

suddenly returned from Korea to reclaim it.

Oshin had no intentions of leaving the house

that she believed rightfully belonged to her.

As a compromise,

the two families began living under the same roof.

How did it go?

Nobody at the regiment knows anything about it...

The regiment's commander put his seal to the document!

The military has been disbanded, and the commander's subordinate

who actually worked on the papers is gone.

Does that mean we have to give the house up?

It can't be helped...

It's one big confusing mess now that we've lost the war.

- Keep it down! - Hitoshi...

If you don't like it, leave this house!

You are lucky we let you stay.

- What's that! - Stop it!

They're so pushy!

We let them stay only because they have nowhere else to go.

Squatters should not say anything!

Don't fight with them!

How much longer must we live like this?!

If we're not going to chase them out, let's just leave ourselves.

I'd rather be homeless than live here with them!

We can't leave until Yuu comes home.

He must return home to us here.

Never mind what they say.

We're lucky that we have a roof over our head.

It doesn't bother me. Your father paid for this house.

And we kept it from burning down in the air raids.

We have no reason to leave here.

They're cooking mochi again...

Where do they get it?

Tei.

It sure smells good...

Oshin knew how the children felt, and she felt very badly for them.

However, if they were to leave, they'd be without a house.

Oshin had no relatives to count on,

or any money to rent another house.

Oshin's task now was to keep working

as a black marketeer to keep her family fed.

Six months passed quickly...

Be careful. The police are cracking down.

If you get caught, just toss everything and run away.

If you get caught with the goods,

they will use it as proof against you.

It's the cops!

- Run! - Hurry, Mother!

- Mother! - I'm not committing any crime!

Open your bags!

Let's see what you have.

Rice is a rationed goods.

You can't buy and sell it on your own!

I know that. That's why I'm in business.

My husband is dead,

and my son isn't home from the war yet.

I have five people to support in my family!

I can't get a job, so this is all I can do!

If you arrest me, my family will starve.

People without money have to die?

Come to the station!

Tell me how we're supposed to live!

Show me a way that I can make a living.

The government has to figure out how all of us

can make an honest living!

Tell your story at the police station!

Tei...

I have some steamed potatoes left.

What is taking Mother so long?

She'll be home soon.

Oh, hello. How are you?

A charming little face.

Look, I have something for you. Some chocolate.

Come on take it.

Go on take it. Jimmy is a nice man.

No!

How rude of you.

Don't you realize what the Americans have done to us!

They killed millions of civilians with bombs!

They even dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki,

and killed countless innocent people!

We'd rather starve than take handouts from them!

How dare you!

Welcome, Jimmy!

You people are trash!

You are fraternizing with the enemy.

You're whores!

Don't you dare talk like that to us!

I'm just calling you what you really are!

We let you stay because we felt sorry for you.

Now we want you out! Leave first thing tomorrow!

Welcome, Jimmy. Come inside.

We were waiting for you.

Mother...

American soldiers have everything.

The other day, he brought over a big piece of meat.

And their sugar is white and powdery!

Tei!

I should have accepted those chocolate bars...

Hitoshi...

I'm going to Yamagata tomorrow.

What for?

The trains don't run on schedule. It'll take you days to get there.

I want to leave here.

If we don't, our lives will be ruined.

Really?

Maybe I can borrow some money in Yamagata.

We need money to move out of here.

I will quit school and help you work!

Oh, come on...

I want us to leave here so that you kids can study.

I think farmers have it better now.

Maybe they can help.

I don't have anyone else to look to for help.

Thank you very much.

Please come again.

Oshin!

It's been a long time.

I'm glad you came.

It must have been rough getting here.

It's good to see you! Things must be tough in town.

People are coming out here to buy rice.

I've been poor a long time,

but I'm sure glad that I stuck it out!

Soon there won't be any big land- owners or sharecroppers anymore!

Land reforms are bing done under MacArthur's orders.

Is it true?

The farmers are finally winning their freedom.

I'm so glad.

We'll get to buy our own land at low prices.

If you're here for money, we can't help you.

I'm taking out a loan to buy my own land.

Our eldest son is getting married, too.

So we have to build him a new house.

We don't have enough money as it is!

We will be cutting down cedar trees to sell.

Sell the trees for lumber?

Yes. Some trees are more than 40 years old.

It's been 40 years?

I was eight when I helped carry seedlings up here...

We planted trees every day. It was hard work!

I wanted those trees for myself...

I didn't want others to reap the profits of my hard labor.

But now I can't even buy a single tree...

I came here to borrow money.

- Oshin... - Shoji.

Will you loan me ¥1,000 when you sell those trees?

I stayed and suffered here for years...

I wanted to leave countless times.

It was a long rough haul...

But now the cedars and the fields...

The land I paid for with my sweat and blood will be mine!

Everything I have, I paid for with my life.

Come on inside!

Stay with us, and eat your fill.

That's all we can do for you now.

Oshin had a lot to say to her brother.

But she kept it to herself.

She was sorry to have even considered depending on her brother.

She returned to Ise with only the memories of their hospitality.

Sadness dwelled within her.

Episode 223

It must have been a rough trip.

You rode a freight car from Ueno?

The trip wasn't a problem.

But I regret having gone all the way to Yamagata.

Mother...

I'm not begrudging them for refusing me a loan.

I hate myself for having had to ask for help.

But I feel better having gone through it.

We just have to work it out for ourselves.

That means we'll have to stay here longer?

I'm going to keep working. As a black marketeer.

I don't care how many times I get arrested,

I'm going to keep at my trade!

I'll save my money and move out of here.

We'll get a house for Yuu to return to.

I'll do all I can to help!

Yuu...?

Yuu!

Mother!

Yuu!

I'm sorry...

I thought you were my son.

It's been a long time. I'm Kawamura.

Remember him? He was in the regiment with Yuu!

You're his army buddy?

I remember you fed us ohagi on visiting day.

I'm so glad you're safe! When did you get back?

I arrived in Japan about three days ago.

I came straight here.

Please come inside.

Come inside!

I brought you back Cadet Tanokura's belongings!

He died in action on April 18, 1945!

It was an honorable death in Luzon!

This is all I could manage to save...

It's his diary. I knew that you'd want to keep it.

You can read it for yourself.

I won't glorify his death.

He starved to death.

Starved?

The military knew the war was a lost cause.

Yet they sent virtuous, promising people like Tanokura there!

I can't forgive the military, and I hate war!

That's why I'm telling this to you now.

Tanokura shouldn't have died that way!

He was killed slowly, but surely!

Stop it! Please...

Hatsuko...

He talked about you a lot. You meant everything to him.

If you don't keep him alive in your memory,

he will never rest in peace.

You must hate those who killed him!

Otherwise, his death would have been for nothing.

He kept saying

that he promised his mother that he'd come back to her.

He would've crawled back to Japan if he had to!

But...

Malaria finally got him...

Then the American patrols fell upon us...

He was too weak to escape...

I offered to carry him on my back.

But he refused... He said he was tired of running.

He gave me his diary to give to you...

He said he was sorry he couldn't fulfill his promise to you...

But he was happy to end his suffering...

The other soldiers all perished, too.

They all starved, too!

It hurts...

It hurts me to remember...

We weren't living as human beings!

I couldn't even...

...bring his ashes home.

Please forgive me!

Kawamura...

Thank you.

I know it was very hard for you to tell me about Yuu.

I'm so full of regret...

Why did we have to go through this?

Why were we sacrificed in a senseless battle?

No more wars...

Never again!

Mother... It's true that man can live on water alone.

We've been marching along a mountain stream,

and we have lots of water to drink.

We've been living on weeds and water.

I have no more body tissue to lose.

I want to eat the curry you always make.

As a child, whenever we had curry,

I'd loosen my belt before sitting down to eat.

I realize now, that was true happiness.

Will those days ever return?

How happy I was...

I realize it now, but it's too late.

I could really enjoy your curry now.

But it's too late...

Mother... I remember the rice balls you used to

make with burnt rice and soy sauce.

The gomoku rice you used to make with all the trimmings.

The ohagi rice cakes with bean jam.

Everything you made was delicious.

I'm not very manly.

But I sometimes wonder why I'm here in this tropical hell.

Why must I wander aimlessly in the jungle, half-starved?

Why? And for whom?

Mother... Please tell me.

Before my country. Before the Emperor.

My first responsibility was to you!

Mother... I'm sorry.

That night, Oshin played the harmonica

that Shunsaku, the deserter had given her.

She hated herself for having been taught about the horrors of war,

and not standing up against it.

The music was also a requiem for both Ryuzo and Yuu.

Oshin finally understood the pain

that Shunsaku experienced whenever he played the harmonica.

Episode 224

Mother... Japan is so far away.

I don't think I can keep my promise to you.

I'll have to break the promise I made to Hatsuko, too.

Please tell her to forget me, and have her find happiness in life.

If I could be reborn,

I'd like to come back to a world without war.

But I'd still like to be your son.

And meet Hatsuko again.

I'd be a filial son to you.

And Hatsuko and I could be happy.

I can't take it anymore!

Let's leave this house. Right away!

Hitoshi...

Father and Yuu won't be able to rest in peace

if they have to put up with that music!

Don't you feel badly for them?

It can't be helped.

I'll work hard and earn lots of money.

Father is gone, and Yuu isn't coming back.

It's all up to me now.

I'll never count on anyone ever again!

I'll regain everything that this war has taken from me.

I'll get it all back, on my own!

I will help.

I don't need to go to college. I don't want to live like this.

I don't want to be hungry anymore!

We'll be miserable forever if we have no money.

Hitoshi.

Isn't that so?!

Those who have money rule the world now!

Think about it... We have to go to farmers,

whom we used to look down upon for our food.

The successful are those with a full stomach.

To be a starving college graduate is meaningless!

He's right. I'm not taking my entrance exams!

You, too?

Please let me do what I want to do.

You both just want to get out of studying for entrance exams.

What is it that you want to do?

I don't know yet,

but I'm talking about after I'm finished with middle school.

Had I the chance to pick my own fate,

what would I have become?

I don't want to take over Father's business.

A historian? Or a college professor?

Maybe a teacher or a novelist.

If I could choose,

I'd have a difficult time deciding.

I long for freedom, but freedom isn't easily gained.

Is it because we're not used to freedom?

Just once... I wish I could have lived freely.

I told you to take the day off.

You haven't slept, and you haven't eaten.

You'll wear yourself out.

I'm sorry to make you worry.

Hatsuko.

I never talked about the two of you getting together,

because I thought it would be hard on you.

But I still think of you as my daughter,

and not just because Yuu is dead.

You give me so much strength to go on.

But for you to remain with us

would mean that you'd constantly be reminded of Yuu.

It would be painful for you...

Maybe it's best that you return to Yamagata and forget Yuu.

Find a nice man to marry.

Yuu wrote that in his diary.

And that's how it should be.

That would give me a sense of relief, too.

You're still young!

But I don't really know what to do to help you now.

If you're helping me out of a sense of obligation,

it's not necessary.

Going home to your parents can help you to forget Yuu...

I'm saying this for your own good.

You understand, don't you?

Hatsuko...

Hatsuko.

Hatsuko?

Hatsuko is gone. Where could she be?

I found this note under her bedding.

It's a letter from Hatsuko.

Dear Mother, I've decided to leave you, after all.

I've lived a life, and that life is over now.

I was very happy.

I'll never forget what everybody did for me.

I know I should tell you this in person,

but that would've been too hard on me.

Please forgive me.

Why did she do this?

She's deeply hurt by Yuu's death.

Where could she have gone?

She has gone home to Yamagata...

I told her to go.

Then why did she sneak away?

Now that she knows that Yuu will never come home,

she just left us!

You don't know how she really feels!

I know!

But it was her duty to put her personal sorrow to rest,

and help you!

She knows how hard you have to work.

Now she all of sudden leaves for Yamagata!

I didn't take her in so that she could help me.

That's not why I raised her.

Hatsuko has done so much for us...

I'm happy for all that she's done.

- Mother! - We're home.

Did a letter come from Hatsuko?

She could at least tell us that she arrived home safely.

You have a visitor. She insisted on waiting.

Who could it be?

Oshin.

I'm so glad to see you!

When did you get back?

Four or five days ago. I couldn't wait to see you!

It's been such a long time.

The world was in turmoil all around us.

We each had to survive on our own.

But I'm so glad you're safe!

When you're little girl showed me in...

I saw the picture of Ryuzo and Yuu on the altar...

It came as such a shock to me...

Thank you for all you've done for us.

You took such good care of my Yuu.

How is everybody in your family?

My son's house in Tokyo didn't burn down.

They're all safe.

Why are you here?

I'm back to stay!

We can put boats out to fish again.

Because of the food shortage,

they have a gasoline ration for fishing boats.

Then it's like the old days?

Yes.

None of my own boys want to be fishermen.

So it's all up to me again!

I see.

You're back to stay?

Ise is so nice... I love the sea!

My house is still there, too.

I miss that house on the seashore...

I've been wanting to go there, but I've been much too busy.

Come home with me.

Tei has told me about your problem.

Is it true that there's a deed dispute?

There's been so many misunderstandings...

They want you out of the house?

Tei has told you all that?

So it's true...

Then why stay where you're not wanted?

Let's all live together again.

It would be good for me, too.

So come home with me!

Hisa...

Episode 225

Thank you.

This is the last bundle.

We're leaving the house that your father bought us...

Mother!

I know. We'll soon be able to buy another one.

I'll build us a bigger, better house!

Mail for you.

Thank you.

It's from Hatsuko!

Oh.

What's all this money?

I'm doing well, so don't worry.

Please make use of the money enclosed.

I'll send you more soon. - Hatsuko

What's going on?

That's all it says.

Where is she?

There's no return address.

What is she thinking?

All this money!

She didn't go home, and she's working somewhere.

Then why doesn't she tell us where she is?

Sending us money like this!

Look, Hitoshi.

The postmark says Tokyo. She's in Tokyo!

What could she be doing in Tokyo?

I'm sure there is a lot of work in Tokyo.

Maybe she'll write to us again soon.

Let's finish up before it gets too late.

Mother...

Mother...

Oshin.

I never thought we would meet again.

You seem well. I'm so glad.

Is your husband well, too?

It's hard to believe that your husband and Yuu are gone...

Ryuzo committed suicide.

He didn't die of an illness?

Why?

He felt responsible.

Responsible?

What did he do that he had to pay for with his own life?

He cooperated in the war effort.

He sold fish and goods to the military.

He even owned a military uniform factory.

That wasn't much. If everyone felt that way,

there wouldn't be a single former military man left alive!

Everybody is a war criminal!

Everything he ever believed in collapsed around him...

He didn't want to keep living anymore.

It was his way of life. That's how I've accepted it.

That's true.

There are those like me,

who changed their convictions along the way

in order to keep living.

Compared to me, he was honorable.

We had our share of problems...

But I don't regret having been his wife.

I'll always be proud that I was his wife.

Oshin...

Thinking back... My life seems so empty.

I'd given my youth for agricultural land reforms.

And as soon as Japan loses a war,

all that we worked so hard for is suddenly a reality.

What was it that we worked so hard for?

We were called traitors and criminals,

for not having actively supported the war.

Now everybody is anti-war!

I'm the same way.

I let my husband and son die, because I didn't do enough.

I won't be fooled anymore.

I'll live my life as I see fit!

I lost my shop in the bombings.

I sell things out of a shack now.

If I can be of help to you, please let me know.

I'm a coward who changed my life so that I could live.

My duty now is to help others survive.

Thank you.

Hisa!

How did it go?

We caught so much fish! We were only out on a trial run.

Really?

We'll surely bring in great catches for a couple of years!

I'll be right there!

I'll go see what they caught.

But we'll start selling fish first thing in the morning!

- Okay? - Yes.

Yuu and I often walked along this beach...

Yuu is now dead...

but I'm about to start selling fish again, pushing a cart.

Oshin...

It's hardest on those who are left behind...

But we've survived.

It was time for Oshin to start over again.

She vowed to regain all that she had lost in the war.

It was the summer of 1946, and Oshin was 46 years old.

Translation: UTB Channel

Thanks to Avallac'h and XrayMind at D-Addicts.