Original subtitles

The Ballad of Narayama

What are you going to do at Shinyashiki, Tatsuhei?

Nothing.

How's your Dad?

Not so well, and not so bad

Arlue, give me the axe

Grandma, how old are you?

Your teeth look so healthy

There should be no problem even eating pinecones and dried beans

I haven't eaten such things before

Grandma has about 33 teeth.

Don't be silly, only 28.

You stop counting after 28.

Surely more than 28.

Kesakichi, stop talking and go to work.

Is that smelly boy still sleeping?

Risuke, Risuke...

Harumatsu's hungry.

Did you go to Shinyashiki last night?

Did you go to that bitch's house by stealth

with the farmhand in the country?

No, I didn't.

They treat that dog like a sweet girl

The ex-master has killed

the farmhand who maltreated his daughter

I said I didn't go there.

Though a farmhand, you are still my brother

You would be disgraced if you caused some scandal

It's so smelly here, let's go over there

Uncle! I...

What happened? Don't scream

It doesn't seem so sweet now.

Where is grandma?

Mum! Mum!

You all right?

It looks like Misuiko in the paddy field there

really trouble to face her at that moment

To meet Misuiko?

She is so fat it would be impossible to make a mistake

Really?

My daughter-in-law will send me to the grave.

When?

Within 10 days I think

You must send me there

Risuke, where's Misuiko?

Where's there?

Wash your face a little next time, ok?

I barely can breathe now....

Your Misuiko is at the field

So what, at the smelly field?

She will be smelly soon

So I don't have to go there to handle it yet

Thanks for telling me

Then go there to handle it

or it will hinder my work

She is not smelly yet

However, go there soon!

You idiot!

Why are you so nervous? However smelly she gets she cannot compare to you

OK, I won't butt into your business!

Anyone in the country knows it

So smelly!

If I finish this

I will go to the field then

What the hell is that?

Isn't that what you want?

It's without measure

Isn't that Shioya?

Oh, Suzuba, long time no see

Haven't seen you for a year, the girl is cute

But her mother

Tatsuhei's wife...

I've heard about her. So miserable...

After her childbirth, she went out picking chestnuts

and fell down from the cliff

Get up! get some drink

Has Tatsuhei gone to the hill to work?

No, to the field.

I thought I met him at the western mountain on the way here

Saw Tatsuhei?

I maybe mistook him, as I was so far away

Suzuba, my purpose coming here today is nothing else but..

Isn't this salt?

I've not made a decision to buy it

Not for business

It was Mr. Matayan of the neighbouring country who told me to send it to you

The neighbouring country?

I beg you to do me a favor for Tatsuhei's remarriage

It's so cold

The madam is coming from the neighbour country

She is called Tama

Just became a widow the day before yesterday

She will come here after the 100 days of mourning

She is 37, 8 years younger than you

I needn't make a selection for my plight

Smelly boy, don't come near me

Risuke, don't come near him if he told you not to

Kesakichi will inherit from Tatsuhei to become the master of the family

Tatsuhei

Did you go to the western mountain this morning?

No

Shioya said he saw you

You are getting more and more like Ribei now

He said he saw the master?

It is impossible for a man who got lost 30 years ago to be still alive

Oh, a mistake

Don't cry

Mum

You really don't know about Dad's disappearance?

It was when you were 15, and Risuke was 5

Very bad harvest that year

The girl who just gave birth was sold to Shioya

and Ribei's mother and me both are 69

That's the age to go to the mountaintop

and bad things coming together, Ribei's very disappointing

for failing to bring his mother to the mountaintop

Well rules are rules, kindness is not the issue.

and he just felt himself running away so painful

so disgraceful

you are the same

I am different, different from Dad

of course

Matsu, how many pubic hairs do you have?

I don't know.

Let me count them out for you

No, Kesakichi

No

I don't want it at such place

bracken

it doesn't matter

I'll pick up twice quantity of bracken for you

I'll pick up everything for you

Pick up many many things for you

Oh, so painful...

Come to my house!

Come to find how many teeth my mother has

Tatsuhei, I don't mean this

I'm just imitating your Kesakichi's song

Is that Kesakichi?

Yes

Though don't know who is that, come helping me

My son is a devil, he doesn't let me eat

even kill me

who is that outside?

Dad, he's Neeko's Tatsuhei

Oh. I see

He wanted to die last night

He had done that once before

We thought that he would go to the summit this winter

because he's already 70

So did your mother.

Kesakichi, are grandma's teeth ghost teeth?

Wretch! she likes you so much

No longer let you eat

I envy you

Why?

I won't live for long

but it isn't good either, to be like me, so healthy

able to eat but nothing else

I also want to come to the summit

I don't want to die in my bed and be buried near there

The result is same

All our souls will come to the summit in the end

All of us will meet at the summit together

Really?

Sure

Your husband is also waiting for you

Though I have no idea about my husband

No one knows where Ribei went

He only left his gun at the valley

He died long ago

though he was a bit thick

but not a bad man

I have no idea

you are so wretched

Wretchedness does not matter, but humiliation does

Kinba is almost dead

When will she die?

Maybe in 1 or 2 days

The woman will come in two months

then mother could relax

it doesn't matter whether she comes or not

I don't want this woman. If I would remarry

my wife will look after Yuki

I don't care.

What?

Furthermore, we can't afford additional two people

Wretch, don't eat

Your brother will marry Ameya's Matsune

Wretch, shut up!

Is it too large?

Not serious

A great coffin!

How about Kinba

She just died

Really? Hurry up

Mum, still alive?

Not yet, I got well after eating the baiqiu

It's baiqiu

Idiot

Baby

The harvest is bad this autumn

The grass grows too quick

Are you coming to worship

Is this Tatsuhei's home?

Aren't you Tama from the neighbouring village?

Although I could worship there

But they tell me to come here

Because they said there are good things to eat here

So I come here stealthily at midnight

Oh, you must be hungry

Baby

Come in, quick

Why are you there?

You should come in early

Because I'm alone, that's not good

though brother said he would take me here

He was in drink while worshiping

Shioya said grandma was kind, told me come here early

it's my duty to take you here

that would be fine, I would follow you

though I would tell Shioya

I'll come to the summit soon

It also will be OK later

No, no, God will cry if I go early

These trout were all caught by me

Are you able to catch a trout?

No one could catch more than me, in my home or village

I know where they are

I will tell you later

You can eat all these things

There are many sun-cured, too

I go to call Tatsuhei

Help yourself

Only two?

Don't tell anyone else, Risuke

What did you pick up?

Nothing

Give me some

There's nothing

Give me

This smelly boy, smell ugly

You are also a farmhand, I'm a farmhand of your uncle's generation

Don't be too exalted

Beast!

Eat slowly, call Tatsuhei now

I'm of the age to come to the summit, my teeth all broken

better than before

so do I

Reichu is moving, Reichu?

He is greeting you

Baby Shiro

Baby, come here

Shiro! don't move! freeze! Shiro!

Shiro

Aen! Aen!

Aen, very efficient

The snake has been done

This new house has something strange, like a ghost

There was a barn before near the doghouse

and a farmhand lived in it

He assaulted my daughter

finally he was killed by father

I was sick, haven't die when come to the mountain

the farmhand that was killed by father haunts us now

After I die

you will serve as the one-night wife of the farmhands by turns

One farmhand each night?

Yes! then come to worship the God

also let the farmhands worship the God

if you don't do this

the farmhand will make trouble in this house forever

Aen! it's your duty! you must do penance!

I know, don't be anxious

Screw up, I know

I will do certain penance

You are lying

I'm not lying

Who told you?

The lord of the new house

it was his last words last night

to whom?

Of course Aen

Then why how you know?

From Aen.. I just passed by

Wretch! you must have gone to tempt Shiro!

Wretch! I didn't

The stinky guy gets crazy, because too stinky

He was abandoned by Shiro, he's mad

Mad! mad!

Beast!

they have the impertinence to disdain me

God, please let me cure the stinky sickness soon

Let Aen's husband die soon, and..

Wretch! you cheat me

I know all the things that occurred yesterday

You spied on brother and his wife?

Did you seek?

Are you talking about mother's teeth

Teeth?

Mother said don't tell anyone else

I'm talking about Shiro at the new house

Wretch, what about mother's teeth?

Brother

You know?

Come here

Let me give the guy a lesson

Brother

Always perpetrate a fraud

Brother.... mother

I like your teeth, like stone, solid and big

I want to kill you

If I go, what about you?

Be law-abidng

I'm a pig, in front of brother

Yes, listen to me, all will be OK

Don't you feel stinky?

What will happen to Stinky?

I think mother doesn't care about my stench

It feels like a sword

Now it's raining inside me.

The baby seems much bigger than before

When will it be born?

Next year.

Would the baby's face be like me or its father?

Like grandma

Grandma said he would be premature

What sin does a premature baby have?

It is from procreating too young

Grandma dislikes me

She said I am like Arha in the song

who is helpless

Come to my home to eat tomorrow

Really?

We will limit one bowl per person from tonight

Yes!

Matsu, you are excellent in that aspect

but are awful at making a fire

I'm sorry every time

Anyway, there are many in mother's home

Penance to the mountain God

What can I do to help them?

Then don't go!

The unborn child is so bothersome

How can we prevent them from occuring?

Everybody must make a decision quickly

I want go to bed

Everybody get up!

Hurry up!

Where are Tatsuhei and Kesakichi?

They have gone

Where? the rain-house?

Your home, you have no need to go

You go look after Yuki

The sound heard just now is rain-house

He had the impertinence to steal the beans harvested ten days ago

I caught him

Then appease the mountain God, follow the rule

Go search!

Find! Find!

It's a bit thick, it's in Ameya's potato field

Less than half of this

No wonder we harvest so few this year

It's been picked back early

Look, so many!

Ameya's father had also been sacrificed to the mountain God

Forgive me!

Because there are so many people in my home, we are hard up

Many persons? Who sired them

one by one?

I'm wrong, I know I'm wrong

Kesakichi! Kesakichi!

Kesakichi! I beg you!

Isn't Matsu your wife?

this and that are two different things

Everyone's house is hard up.

The daughter of Ameya has theft in her bloodline

Two generations must be sacrificed to the mountain God

Where's Aen?

This time you could just apologize

We must have a plan

Aen's father died just now

Everyone come to distribute

The beans are good, let me eat some

Don't simply eat, come to the mill

Why?

The food in the pot is just enough for one bowl per person

Really?

Winter will come

The woman has come after all

The food supply is enough for five months

I hope so

Is our food going to be enough for the winter?

No, we must find a solution

Otherwise I won't be able to sleep

I don't care about him, he would steal again

Then what do we do?

That is why I called you to come to discuss

We will gather at Makichan's home

You also should go

I will come to each house to summon them

You are working hard

We must make a decision tonight

If we decide to eradicate Ameya's home

We can't let Matsu escape

You must realise this right now.

But she was married here,

The baby in her womb belongs to Neeko's home

That would not be reasonable.

Tatsuhei, it's because you are like this

that others say you are soft like Ribei

Who says? Who says I am like my father?

Oh, you hurt me...

Let us discuss with grandma

Let's gamble tonight

Really?

Then divide it into three parts, is it ok?

One person just loses out, is it ok?

I take it

Too many! too many!

I'm so sorry

It would be good if it's a girl

A girl does not need to be killed, and could be sold

Matsu, Matsu

Hasn't Ameya eaten tonight?

You bring these to them

Tonight you should sleep there to look after them!

Well

Too hot!

Tatsuhei--

Come quick

Kesakichi had better not go

Why? Don't ask why.

Does it taste good?

Let me go!

Help!

No!

Wait! Matsu

Matsu

Kesakichi

Kesakichi

No!

Wait! Bastard!

There's my baby in Matsu's womb

Matsu

Kesakichi

Go back

Grandma, where is Ameya's daughter

Where is Matsu!

Arlue, don't mention anything about Ameya

Go to sleep! quick

Kesakichi, come in to warm yourself

Grandma, you cheated me

Kesakichi

It was you who asked Matsu go back to Ameya

Why? Why did you ask her go back?

You got her killed, grandma!

You beast! You devil of a grandma

Mum, why didn't you tell me?

Mum

I will go to the summit this winter

My mother's home's grandma has gone to the summit

I also should go, since the grandma has gone

Living here is very hard

I can meet Matsu at the summit

Meet Matsu

Never mind, the household is already reduced by one

Her unborn child has also died

We can get through this winter

There might be another child born soon

Idiot! Don't worship there

Worship the Shinyashiki God later, quick!

Bastard! put off your underwear

Move up, quick

Wrong! Not there. bastard

There! Move your waist there

The day before yesterday is Shouzo's turn, last night is Gen's turn

We take turns from the west

Then it will be my turn tonight

Bastard

Bastard

Stinky guy! serve you right! You have been passed over.

so do you

Your wife has been killed, you can no longer have a woman

better than you, no wife

you laugh at me, Harumatsu

you look down on me, bastard

well, I can't bear anymore, wretch!

wretch! Harumatsu

it is said Aen have abandoned you...

I don't care about those things

how can I lose sense because that?

let you become a bridegroom

is that Aen meet me?

idiot! not she

listen! only one night!

no later

really? when?

won't be long

but you must start with a clean slate

don't play the field and bait Harumatsu

like a fox

only one night

just like what I said last night

bear only one night!

what should we do if he killed Harumatsu?

Then we would be hard up this winter

What will happen if he plays the field

You ought to know!

I beg of you! Only one night for him!

He is so stinky, and has no money to give others

and no potatoes

It's whom stolen the potatos slinkingly

though reluctant, can't you bear?

you are so boring! I see

because you abandoned Risuke

he has no mood to work any more.

Can't you bear only one night? even though he is stinky...

I'm very sorry, but not him...

I would die!

But it was your late husband's last words

Maybe he said it was all right to skip Risuke

I went to the grave this morning

to beg not to have to couple with that stinky guy

Suddenly a butterfly as big as this arrived

though it's autumn now.

A butterfly?

Yes! fluttering there happily

It seemed very happy

So I come back reassured

My nose is not so sensitive, I can't smell him

so I don't mind this

Are you saying ok?

Though I'm not unwilling

I haven't been used for a long time ....

Don't worry, it's his first time ....

I will go tomorrow

Tonight we could invite all the people of the mountain

and it's not too early now

Go and call everyone together, quick

Mum

Hurry up

Otherwise they will have gone out to work

I saw Ribei

Where?

Just now at the grassland of the mountain

I go to call every one

you... Ribei

It's the soul

Now your soul could not be forgiven

So you linger there

I want to go to the summit

I won't call you, idiot

I went to hunt for a bear with father when I was only 15

and killed him here when I came back

I said to father after considering

"It's better to carry grandma to the mountain"

And he said "What do you know?" and got angry suddenly

We began to fight. I killed him with my gun then laid his bones there

Tatsuhei

I liked Ribei, but he made me ashamed.

It was not you who killed him, but God

Don't tell the others, understand?

Tama, you'd better put out the fire

Kesakichi, when finished there

bring the cloudy wine here

Shake it well

Tatsuhei, though it's early, go and wash

Arlue, that's ok

Tama, come here

Grandma, wonderful!

If you watch carefully during the day, you can see the trout playing

close it stealthily in the night

you have a try

Tatsuhei told you to lend your body to Risuke, is that true?

Don't do that, reject him

Spread your hands

Caught

Yes, just like this

Now I have taught you all the things

Don't tell anyone else about this place

You can only come here by yourself

Though it's hard to go to the mountain, toilsome

The wine is good, Suzu is so crackerjack

You must obey the rules of the mountain

1. You must not talk on the way to the mountain

2. Don't let yourself be noticed by anyone when you leave home

3. The road to the mountain is the piedmont of the other side of the mountain

Pass the winter-tree, climb over a second mountain, there will be a pool

Walk around the pool three times, then walk over the ladder

Make your way over a mountain there will be a ravine

Cross the ravine, then proceed two miles and a half

On your way there are seven bends, that is Seven-Valley

When you pass through Seven-Valley you will arrive at the saddle back...

From there is the road to the God

There's a road to the God, but sometimes it is hard to see...

The higher you climb, the better. God is waiting for you there

You mustn't look back while you go back from the mountain

There's no need to go up to the mountain if you are unwilling

You can also return from the saddleback.

Also don't let others know this

I'll tell you what you ought to know

Here

It can be used if necessary

What do you want to do?

Tatsuhei

Ba!

Tie him up

Do not want to go to the summit

It would not be long

We would meet at the summit

For the sake of God, for son, you'd better go now

Don't worry about home

Dad! let's go home!

It's a rabbit's tooth! it's a amulet

Do you want to go back?

Mum! are you tired?

I don't want to, how about Mum?

Our ancestors have gone to the summit for hundreds of years as we do now.

There will have been thousands of persons like you

25 years from now I will go there too.

Kesakichi will carry me

And another 25 years later Kesakichi must go too.

We have no means but this to survive.

Is the God waiting for you at the summit?

If it's really there

It ought to snow the way it says in the ballad.

Dad

Dad! go to the summit!

Snow

Snow, it's starting to snow.

Mum! it is starting to snow

Mum! it's so cold!

Mum! you're very lucky, as it is snowing while you go to the summit

Mum! it is really starting to snow

It's so cold!

It is just starting to snow

Wonderful, are you hungry?

What's the matter

Grandma is so lucky

Just like in the ballad.

What a savory aroma!

Let's all eat at home starting from tonight.