Original subtitles

The dreams that I have created

And the place where I am now

As I look and compare these two landscapes that I see

They begin to change their shape

And I find that here and now

There is one single thing that I know

I watch springtime fade away

As our summer comes to play

I begin to understand a little bit of this and that

Fall comes and something's lost over winter

And in a mountain of trash

I find that dream that I had

Hear this voice!

Hear this heart!

Until my tears run dry

I will search for the answer I still haven't found

Until my tears clear up

We will always strive, sometimes losing our way

I build my own present

Carving, proving, with my own hands!

I Hate You, Daddy! I Hate You, Daddy!

Five bases in ten games... That's three out of four...

I'd say he's got it...

Wohoo! Out-of-the-park home run!

I told you to stop hitting it so high!

That was our last paper ball!

Now we'll have to go home and rip up more newspapers!

Sorry!

It's getting kinda boring playing with just the two of us, though.

I realized something while watching TV and playing baseball games...

There's supposed to be nine players, right?

Can't we get a bunch of friends together and play real baseball?

That's not gonna happen...

Huh?

It took me a long time just to find you, Toshi.

And my friends at the nursery school would rather play football or dodgeball.

Oh...

Why don't we join a team, then?

I saw some kids in uniforms playing baseball at the field on the other side of the track!

Really?

What are we waiting for? Let's join them!

Sure!

I have to get back to the team proper... for Goro's sake.

Just you wait, Goro!

Ooh, they're playing!

Hey, can we join in?

What are you kids doing here?

You're interrupting practice!

Hey, mister, let us join in!

We've been looking for friends to play with!

Go away.

This isn't a playground.

Let's go, Goro.

It looks like they're all older boys.

They aren't our age.

It isn't just a matter of age.

This is the sacred grounds of the big-name Little League team, Mifune Dolphins.

It's no place for talentless neighborhood brats.

Goro steps up to bat!

You impudent brat!

If you really want to join the team,

wait until you're nine years old and take the test.

Why?!

As long as I'm a good player, I don't see why age should matter!

I mean, you call that a pitcher?

I could throw better than that!

What?

Stop lying!

I'd be surprised if you could even throw the ball all the way!

What a bother.

Continue the game!

Are you okay, Goro?

Enough, okay?

Let's just go back and play by ourselves.

No way.

That's the spirit, Ando!

Takahashi! Calm down!

He's good...

What is with that pitch?

And the four-eyes is actually catching it, too!

Come on, let us join the team!

How old are you?

We're five years old!

Five?!

Amazing...

Pitching like that, at age five...

This might be a real find...

All right, we'll let you join!

Really?

Wohoo!

Now we can play real baseball!

Coach!

Little League is for age nine and up, isn't it?!

Who cares?

We can't use them in games,

but if we get them used to hardballs early,

they'll go far!

We might be looking at the first professional players coming out of Mifune Little!

I'm still intending to go pro, you know.

Oh yeah...

That's true.

A hardball?

That's right.

From now on, you'll use this ball.

It's the same ball the pros use.

The same ball daddy used!

Hey, somebody bat!

So the kid's five years old...

Imagine the embarrassment if he strikes you out, man.

It's almost like I'm daddy!

Incredible! And that was his first pitch with a hardball!

I knew it! This kid will go far!

Let me bat.

Bring it on!

You're not hitting this!

I'm not so lame I'd lose to a five-year-old!

See?

Dammit!

One more time!

Now, now.

He'll be in Junior High next year.

It's no wonder he hit.

But...

But I know a good way to beat him...

You do? Teach me!

Let's train over here, then.

Yes!

The rest of you guys, continue the game!

The coach sure seems to like that boy...

A curveball?

You hold it around the stitches like this, and throw like this.

You try.

Here I go, Toshi!

Ready when you are!

It curved!

I didn't expect you to get it right on the first try!

So that's what a curveball is like!

This guy's amazing!

He's teaching me stuff even daddy hasn't!

I'll get really good if I let him teach me!

That was so much fun!

He said we could come back next week, too!

But I can't catch that curving ball...

I can barely keep up with your fast throws...

That's what training is for!

We'll master it in time for next week and give them a big surprise!

You?!

What's your problem?

You wanna challenge me again?

I wouldn't be so happy about pitching hardballs if I was you...

What did he mean?

No idea.

What? Little League?!

Yeah, and he said I was really talented!

That I can easily become a pro!

Wait a minute!

He let you join the team, at your age?!

Yeah, and I was using the same ball as you, too!

Same ball? You mean a hardball?

Yeah! And he taught me how to throw a curveball, too!

You idiot!

What's wrong, daddy?

What team is that? What's the coach's name?!

I don't know about the coach, but...

the team was Mifune something or other on the other side of the tracks...

Mifune, was it?!

Daddy? Where are you going?

Why?

What's wrong with the Little League?

Excuse me...

Yes?

I had no idea Goro was your son, Mr. Honda!

I heard you injured your hips last year?

How are you doing now?

Excuse me, but it's Goro I want to talk about.

Oh, Goro? Well, don't worry!

I can see he's the son of a pro!

He'll do very well!

But still...

How could you let a boy of five throw hardballs?

Well...

Little League starts at age nine, doesn't it?!

That rule was created because younger bodies can't handle a hardball!

Yes, yes, I know!

But Goro has such talent!

If we start him now...

Bullshit!

His baseball life has only just begun!

I'm not letting you ruin him!

I guess it's easy for you to take risks with someone else's kid!

If he was your son, wouldn't you be more careful?!

I know...

I just got so excited when I saw how talented he was...

I'm repeating the same mistake I made with my own son...

Your own son?

I wanted him to do what I couldn't... To become a professional pitcher...

So I trained him hard from a young age...

But that backfired... My son ruined his shoulder...

The boy hasn't said anything... But he must blame me...

It must be hard on him...

Dad!

Takafumi?

I don't blame you, dad!

If I can't be a pitcher, I'll just become Japan's best batter instead!

So stop working the other kids so hard!

I can't be a pitcher... but I'll become a professional player! I promise!

Isn't that enough?

Takafumi...

Yes, that's enough...

That's plenty enough...

All right then...

I would love to train Goro properly when he turns nine...

That's up to the boy to decide.

That's true.

Do your best, Takafumi.

I wish you luck in your attempt to switch to batting.

Yes!

I'll have to do my best, too.

I will be away with work for the next three days.

I spoke with the Little League yesterday and canceled it.

It's still too early for you.

Work hard, but take your time!

Ta-daah!

Look, Goro!

I went and bought a mitt!

I figured I'd try to take this a little bit seriously.

Miss...

I wonder if daddy doesn't like me anymore.

Did something happen?

Daddy doesn't want me to join the Little League.

I thought I could improve...

I thought...

I thought...

I thought he would be happy!

I want to become a pro as soon as possible!

Daddy probably doesn't like baseball anymore!

Now that he can't play himself anymore,

he can't stand to watch me having fun!

He hates baseball now and he hates me!

I just know it!

Hiroshima - Yokohama

Manager's Office Huh?

You can go back to Yokohama!

Starting tomorrow, you'll be playing in the first-string team!

Yes!

I'm in the team proper!

I finally did it!

Hey, Goro!

Daddy's home!

Oh, he's in the bath?

Goro!

I'm sorry!

I helped him take a bath and put him to bed...

Oh, that's why you were cleaning up?

I'm sorry to presume like that...

But what's the matter?

Goro said you were away working.

I've just been promoted to the team proper.

Proper?

Well, I haven't told Goro yet,

but actually...

I haven't retired.

I've been playing in the second-string team for a while as a batter.

Really?

Yes...

I just didn't want to tell Goro until I made it back to the team proper.

This was a bit of a gamble.

I didn't want to hurt his feelings in case I failed again.

Thank God.

So that's what was going on.

Goro was saying today that you didn't like baseball anymore, or him either.

He didn't understand why you didn't want him to play in the Little League.

He said he wanted to become pro, to make you happy.

That you didn't like watching him play when you couldn't play yourself.

Goro said that?

Miss Hoshino!

I have a request!

Goro!

Ta-daah!

Now what could this be?

Ooh!

Tickets for today's Oceans vs Warriors game?!

Wanna come watch it with me?

Can I?!

But I'd have to tell daddy...

Don't worry.

I got these tickets from your father.

You did?

The final stages of the pennant race are approaching!

We have the Warriors facing the Blue Oceans!

With Fujiwara and Muto both in fine pitching form, the game is still scoreless!

The Blue Oceans are fighting hard to keep the Warriors from getting a third straight victory!

Here you go.

Thanks.

No problem.

So, how many points do they need to win?

Miss...

Why isn't daddy coming?

Well...

I guess he really doesn't want to watch baseball anymore...

Don't be silly!

Nothing could be further from the truth!

He said he didn't have time to come because of work!

Mr. Honda!

I've only just made it to the team proper,

so I can't be sure they'll use me in the game tomorrow.

These are tickets for the third game.

Could you bring Goro to the stadium?

Please!

And it's outta here!

Sakamoto's 42nd home run!

Muto finally lets up a run!

The Warriors get that all important run in the top of the ninth!

Let's leave...

There's no point watching anymore...

The Oceans will have the bottom batters in the last inning,

and Fujiwara won't be able to get a hit.

You can't be sure of that yet!

I'm not giving up!

Go Oceans!

We've reached the bottom of the ninth,

and the Yokohama Blue Oceans have their last chance to score.

Hiroshima has already lost their game, leaving the Warriors in the lead!

Is this checkmate?

Out!

An easy first out for the Warriors!

Two batters left!

Ball four!

An opportunity for the Oceans!

Coach Okita leaves the dugout!

They're sending in a pinch hitter!

We have a change of players.

Miyaburo will be replacing Muto.

Daddy was so cool... and now he's gone.

He's left baseball... and changed.

The man I wanted to become is gone.

Strike! Batter out!

Miyaburo strikes out swinging.

It's down to two outs with a runner on first.

Fujiwara needs one more out for a shutout.

We have a change of players for the Blue Oceans.

Goro!

Honda will be replacing Namisuma.

Honda? Who's that?

Didn't he use to be a pitcher?

A pitcher, pinch-hitting?

Daddy? How come?

Your father didn't retire, you see.

How could he?

Goro and baseball mean everything to him.

Strike!

He didn't tell you about it

because he didn't want you to be sad

if he didn't succeed.

He said he didn't want to see you cry again.

And as for the Little League thing...

Nobody knows better than me

how harsh it is to lose your ability to pitch due to injury.

I never want Goro to have to experience that.

Him becoming a first-rate player is not what's important.

He has his own life to live.

I just want him to be happy.

For that...

I will do all that I can, to make him happy!

Strike two!

Fujiwara has him cornered!

It looks hopeless for Honda!

Man, what a loser!

What kind of an idiot uses a pitcher here?

How could he...

becoming a batter, without telling me...

Working hard, all by himself...

Goro!

The Warriors need one more strike to win!

Will the next pitch end the game?

It's over!

Daddy! Hit it!

It's in!

A walk-off sayonara home run!

Honda comes through big-time!

Miss...

My daddy is the best in the world!

Preview

Daddy's the best!

Don't you agree, miss Momoko?

I wouldn't mind you as a new mother.

Next time on Major: A Birthday One Day Late.

Head for the stage of your dreams!

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