Original subtitles

(Ominous music)

(Static crackling)

(Geiger counter clicking)

(Electronics fizzing and popping)

(Radio hissing)

(Distant thunder rumbling)

(Electronics crackling)

(Siren wailing and echoing)

(Discordant music crescendos)

(Distorted speakers fluttering)

(Music stops suddenly)

(Logo pings brightly)

(Musical motif plays)

(Hiphop music) - My name's Eric Kage,

and on this show, we discuss all things video-related.

So whether it's camera reviews

or tips to building better content, we cover it here.

This is video vlogger pro.

(Upbeat instrumental)

As a videographer, your website is your screening room.

If you need a great-looking page,

head to webspinner.com for a free trial.

(Chilled music) Hey, vid-fam,

welcome to episode 34.

I am your humble host, Eric Kage.

Now I know most of you guys are tuning into this episode

today to hear about my review

of the beautiful blackbird 4k mini.

And I promise you,

I will get to that review in just a little bit,

but for now I wanted to talk about something

a little bit different,

because I do think it's important that we talk about other

things than just camera reviews on this channel.

A few years ago, I was a pretty unhappy guy.

I had no direction, really.

I was drinking all the time.

I dropped outta college and I was diagnosed

with severe depression.

I really had no reason to get off the couch other than

working on my buddy's documentary.

So when that documentary ended,

I was pretty lost and I knew that I had to pursue my passion

for video-making and cinematography and cameras.

I used my leftover tuition money and I moved to la and I

started working on the studio that you see here behind me.

And I'm not gonna say that that magically cured my

depression.

I still have to take my medicine,

but for the first time in a long time,

I don't drink and I can actually see a future for myself,

which leads me to my big announcement today.

On Tuesday, I learned that my great uncle

on my mom's side left me a property in his will,

which is wild because I never even met him,

and he lived in Japan.

But with this life-altering situation,

obviously I gotta fly to Asia

to check out this property, right?

With me, I will be bringing the beautiful blackbird mini

and I will be documenting my trip

and obviously giving you a full camera review.

That concludes today's episode.

And my next episode will be airing live from Japan.

So make sure you check it out.

Until then, guys, keep shooting.

(Japanese-style instrumental)

(Japanese-style instrumental continues)

(Plane whooshes)

(Motion graphics whip)

(Motion graphics whip)

(Logo pings)

- Okay.

I am finally here in my hotel room in Hiroshima.

It has been 24 hours since I left Los Angeles,

but I made it and, um,

yeah, I got a bed and I got plenty of sake,

which I will not be drinking, but thank you anyways.

And then I got some interesting little knickknacks.

I don't know if these are q-tips or toothpicks

or earbuds, razors.

Thank you for all the goodies, hotel.

Um... (Chuckles)

All right. I'm gonna charge my batteries now,

but I gotta say I'm very, very impressed

with this blackbird mini so far.

Obviously over the next few days,

I'll go over all the details and the,

the the features of the camera.

But, um, for now, I'm gonna go to sleep,

so goodnight

or good morning or whatever,

whatever it is.

Hey guys. So I am here on the rooftop

of the Hiroshima garden hotel.

So one of the cool things about this camera

is the 360-degree, tilting lcd screen.

This makes filming selfie-style no problem for vloggers.

(Motion graphics whooshing)

This is a nice little garden up here.

As you can see, the camera is doing great

in bright light as expected.

Color science out of the new Apollo sensor,

really pleasing to the eye.

- Kage-San?

- [Eric] Yes!

(Nori speaking foreign language)

Welcome to Hiroshima.

- [Eric] Wait, you're American?

- Guilty as charged.

I'm from orange county, but I live here now.

- [Eric] Um...

I'm the estate rep, from Sakai & associates?

- [Eric] (Laughing) I'm sorry! I was just-

- expecting someone more male?

More Asian? I know.

- [Eric] No, no, that's not what I meant.

- It's fine. I get it all the time.

Just call me nori.

- [Eric] And you don't have to call me "kage-San".

I was adopted.

I don't even speak Japanese.

- I'm only half, so we're both (speaks Japanese).

(Eric speaks Japanese) - Outsiders.

- My Japanese sucks, guys.

- Who are you talking to?

- Oh, my bad. I should have told you.

I'm, um, I'm filming a review for the camera.

- It's fine.

Just make me look good, kage-San.

Okay. So, the paperwork is in order.

I will just need a signature on every highlighted line.

- [Eric] When can I see it?

- Signatures first, then I'll take you there myself.

- [Eric] Wait, what is this?

- Yes, you'll need to bring your things with you.

Hiroshima law requires you to occupy the space

for at least 24 hours,

for the transfer to be legally binding.

It's an old custom,

but your uncle insisted on this condition.

Don't worry. You're gonna love it.

- [Eric] I guess I won't be needing a hotel tonight, huh!

(Surveillance camera hums)

- [Nori] Ready?

- Yep.

Are you sure this is it?

- The house has been here since 1918.

It even survived the atomic blast.

(Camera audio glitches)

- [Eric] You don't think there's still radiation here?

- No, the radiation levels in Hiroshima today

are completely normal.

- [Eric] Okay, good.

That's what I thought.

- Let's go see your new house.

(Surveillance camera hums)

- [Eric] What does it say?

- "The dead are not gone."

- [Eric] Really?

- It sounds worse in English.

It's about remembering loved ones.

- [Eric] Okay.

I gained some fans today.

- Those are called Sensu.

Japan's original must-have accessory.

Whoever owned these had excellent taste.

Vintage Sensu are very collectible.

I'd be careful with that one.

- [Eric] Hmm.

- Okay. It's 3:06 pm,

so we can do the final signature at this time tomorrow.

- I feel like I'm on a reality competition.

- I was told not to touch any of the items you see.

Your great uncle left very specific instructions

in his will.

Only a family member may handle the bequeathed objects.

(Music box plays out-of-tune) - [Eric] Oh, I'm not, really,

(surveillance audio glitches) I mean, tech

technically I am, but...

- [Nori] Sometimes it's best not to question these things.

You've been given an honor.

- Yeah, you're right.

(Music box stops playing)

- Kage-San? (Eric coughing)

Are you okay?

- [Eric] I just need some water.

- [Nori] You're sweating. You need a minute?

- Yeah. Can you excuse me? (Cell phone vibrating)

Where's your bathroom?

- You go outside and it's in the little building

on the right.

- Outside?

(Cell phone vibrates)

(Surveillance audio glitches)

Hai?

(Eerie music)

- [Eric] Hey!

Where did he go?

(Bag unzips)

- We did.

He wants to stay.

I'll just tell him we don't have it.

(Surveillance camera hums)

No, I didn't touch anything.

Hai.

Consider it done. (Ominous screeching)

(Surveillance footage fizzes and crackles)

(Electronics beep)

- Well, how was it?

- [Eric] I thought I would at least have indoor plumbing.

- Where's the fun in that?

I like this, don't you?

It's like living in a tree house.

Just needs a woman's touch.

- [Eric] I don't know.

It would have to be a special woman.

- Absolutely.

- [Eric] What's up there?

- It's a loft. Obviously.

Maybe an attic, but it's locked.

Unfortunately, I don't have a key for you.

I'm sure it's down here somewhere.

Like I said, I couldn't touch anything,

otherwise I would've.

- No. It's okay.

I can look for the key tonight.

- Let me know what you find up there.

We took the Liberty of stocking the refrigerator

with a few things.

Just to see you through.

Hope you like beer.

- Oh.

Wow!

Yeah. That's too much for me.

- [Nori] Try Ichiban. It's the one with the blue label.

- You drink beer?

- Sometimes.

- You wanna help me out?

(Nori exhales)

(Video camera beeps)

- [Eric] So who owns all this?

- You.

- [Eric] Really?

(Camera audio glitches)

So I own this guy right here?

- [Nori] Yep.

- [Eric] This is sweet.

Let me do a quick take.

Hey guys, check out the statue here on my property in Japan.

As I zoom in on this, uh, this pot,

the rocker function on the camera is smooth and predictable.

The blackbird mini has a 20x optical zoom, and-

- [nori] That's an urn.

For fermenting soy sauce?

- [Eric] I see.

- Oh, I forgot.

I'm not supposed to talk.

- [Eric] No, it's all good.

Let's keep going.

Whoa.

Wonder what caused this.

Hey, nori, come look at these birds.

(Instruments crash loudly) (Eric startles)

(Eric panting)

Didn't I see you earlier?

- Uh, kage-San,

this must be one of the neighborhood children

let's see, you must be-

- [child] Yoshio.

- [Nori] Oh, (speaks Japanese).

(Child speaks Japanese)

- [Eric] Something about his mother?

- He says, "welcome to the village."

(Eerie music)

- [Eric] Cheers.

- Thank you. Cheers.

- Thank you, uncle.

- [Nori] Can I ask you something?

- Sure.

- The house, is it really why you're here?

- Now that I've seen it?

Maybe not the house, exactly, but what it represents.

- And what is that, for you?

- A way to fund my video business,

maybe become more self-sufficient,

help my dad out from time-to-time.

He thinks I'm totally nuts for living in la.

- Are you?

- [Eric] What, nuts?

- Maybe?

- [Eric] I mean, I hope not.

I don't think so.

I mean, when I was going to school,

a school that I hated, just to please my dad,

that was crazy.

And then when I was drinking just to get through those days,

that was even crazier.

But now I just love capturing life on camera.

- You must get your creative side from your mom.

- [Eric] Yeah, I think so.

She was always inventing games to play with me and coming up

with secret names for me.

- What's your secret name?

- When I was little, she would call me "cricket",

but in Japanese.

- [Nori] "Kuriketto." - Yeah!

- That's funny because...

- [Eric] Oh, no shit!

Yeah. She had one just like that.

- In Japan, crickets are-

- [Eric] Annoying.

- I was gonna say "good luck".

(Eric chuckles awkwardly)

So mom, she understands your career path?

- I think she would have, yeah.

She died when I was 13.

So it's just been me and my pops for a while now.

He's actually from Colorado,

that's why my Japanese is so bad.

But, he's retired now.

Army.

He met my mom right here in Hiroshima.

- I ask too many questions.

- No, no no, it's fine.

I was only 11 when she was diagnosed,

so I was clueless about radiation therapy

and what it means to be that sick.

But now I hardly remember the sound of her voice.

It sucks.

Wasn't even there when she passed away.

- [Nori] I'm really sorry.

- Well, if I could go back and do it differently, I would.

- You were just a kid.

- Yeah.

Well, what about you?

I mean, you're, um, you're in law school?

- Psychology.

- [Eric] Should have known.

- (Giggling) I only took this job so I could bank

a few commission checks before starting

my clinical internship.

I go back to Irvine this fall.

- [Eric] So you wanna be a therapist?

- Forensic psychologist.

- So I'm technically helping you with that.

- Well, you've still got 20 hours to go here,

but yes, I'll get paid by your uncle's estate.

- Okay.

Well, someday when you're analyzing all those insane people,

I want you to, I want you to think of me.

- [Nori] Oh really?

- Yeah, I guess that's, uh... (Laughs awkwardly)

- Okay. Well, I hope you'll be comfortable tonight.

If you have any problems or questions, you have my card.

- Oh no, there won't be any problems or questions.

I'll be fine.

- Can't believe I interrogated you.

- No, it was nice to actually get to talk to somebody here.

Thank you.

- It's really nice to talk to you too.

You know, someone from back home.

- No, it really is.

- I better go.

- Wait, um, before you go,

I wanted to actually give you something, almost forgot.

I know you like it, I saw you looking at it earlier today.

- It's beautiful, really,

I just don't think I should. - No, no, take it.

Yes, it's a token of my appreciation

for going above and beyond.

(Ghostly breaths and rumbling)

I thought maybe we could get lunch tomorrow.

Visit the peace museum?

(Rumbling crescendos)

(Rumbling stops abruptly)

- Oh,

I think it's been really great getting to know you,

but I also need to keep things professional

while we have a business relationship.

- [Eric] Okay, well, what if I fired you

after I spent the night here?

Would that make a difference?

- I don't think that's how it works.

- Um.

Okay.

- I'll need one last signature from you tomorrow, okay?

- I, uh, I don't understand why you, you can't keep this.

I mean, we're having a good time, you know.

After tomorrow we're not gonna be

technically working together, so-

- I'll just need one last signature from you tomorrow, okay?

See you then.

(Camera plays electronic tones)

- Well guys, where do I start?

The, uh, estate rep is super cute

but the house, not so much.

What did I get myself into?

(Camera audio glitches)

(Camera audio glitches)

The blackbird mini seems to be doing well in mixed light.

Auto-exposure isn't blowing out the highlights

and it seemed to be preserving the details in the shadows.

So overall, still a clean image.

What is under here?

(Eric coughs and splutters)

This is why we use a lens filter.

(Ominous music)

Let me just grab my lens cloth.

Shit.

(Camera plays electronic tones)

And I'm back, sorry guys.

I get super ocd about my lenses, but we're all good now.

So let's see what we got here.

Um...

This looks like a lot.

I'm gonna need a beer first.

(Insects chirp)

(Wings flutter) (Bird warbles)

Hello?

(Bird cooing)

(Wind chimes clatter gently)

(Eric sighs)

If you can hear me, I don't like kids!

(Whispers) Especially you, Pinocchio.

This might be a good time to test the night vision.

(Surveillance audio glitches)

(Wind chimes clatter musically)

(Sinister dramatic music)

(Tense ethereal music)

(Eric breathing heavily)

(Cloth rustles)

(Eric panting)

(Camera beeps)

(Whispers) That little shit.

(Ghostly voice echoes)

(Camera audio glitches)

(Footsteps crunching) What the hell was that?

(Camera audio glitches)

Hey, hey you stay right there.

(Footsteps crunching)

(Panting) Oh, you wanna play games, huh?

Okay (grunts)

He may be small but we can see in the dark.

(Eric grunting)

And this is why technology always wins.

(Sinister dramatic music)

(Eric grunts) (Branches crunch)

(Eric breathing heavily)

(Eric straining)

(Panting) I give up.

(Sinister music)

(Camera beeps) Well, I can tell you

the night shot mode on the camera

works pretty good.

And if you are a first time viewer,

this probably looks like one of those ghost hunting shows,

which it definitely is not.

So let's, uh, let's lighten the mood a little bit.

(Discordant Japanese music plays)

That really helped.

(Record player continues playing)

Oh, looks like a geiger counter.

(Record player stops abruptly)

Batteries must be ancient.

(Geiger counter crackles loudly)

Holy shit.

Radiation levels look pretty good, actually.

That's good.

(Ominous music)

Key's gotta be in here somewhere.

(Whispers) What the...

Eugh.

(Geiger counter crackling loudly)

This looks like a letter from my dad.

"Yamahura-San, I regret to inform you that

"your niece's condition has worsened.

"She received your last letter on the 18th

"and it was truly disturbing.

"She's too ill to read your morbid stories,

"or to worry about your mental state.

"I recommend using your government settlement money

"for professional help.

"Please do not contact us again.

Respectfully, Fred"

"settlement money"?

(Record player restarts)

(Discordant music stops)

Eugh.

(Cloth rustles)

I swear I'm not losing my mind, guys.

(Insects chirping)

(Faucet gushing)

(Eric choking)

(Eric retching)

(Eric spewing)

What the fuck?

What the fuck?

(Eric panting)

(Whispering) Relax, this is in your head.

Stop.

(Ominous music swelling)

(Child's laughter echoing)

(Camera audio glitches)

(Camera audio glitches)

(Record player restarts)

What the hell?

Shit.

(Eric knocks on wood)

Hello?

Anyone up here?

(Surveillance camera hums)

(Cloth rustles)

Weird.

(Hand drum clatters)

"Dear Mr. Yamahura,

"enclosed is the video footage made

"during our in-person interview.

"Regretfully, the BBC will not be including your story

"in the upcoming Hiroshima: 25 years later special.

"At this time, our producers feel that the inclusion

"of testimony describing phenomena

"beyond the scope of natural understanding

"is better left for another program.

"Sincerely, Margaret Miller,

assistant director of programming."

(Camera audio glitches)

(Clapperboard cracks)

- [Journalist] I'd like you to revisit the morning

of August 6th, 1945.

How old were you?

- I was a grade six student, 11 years old.

The day of the attack was my birthday.

- [Journalist] And how did that day start for you?

- When I woke up that morning,

my father had already left for work

at the radio communications headquarters,

maybe three miles away.

Earlier that day, I hear air siren.

And, when all-clear was given,

my mother insisted that I need to stay at the house

so she can go get some rice,

eggs and beans and so on.

I was angry at that time because

I didn't want to stay at the house on my birthday.

But that day my mother gave me a talking.

She say,

I need to stay at the house with my little brother

and work on the radio pieces

that my father left on the table.

(Dramatic ethereal music)

You see,

those days Japan was losing the war

and the government was using every able-bodied people

to assist the army,

even the children.

Can you imagine, 11 years old building radio for army?

But I learned it, to help my father

and to show loyalty to our emperor.

(Camera audio glitches)

- [Journalist] What time was that?

- My mother left for town right after 8 o'clock.

I gave my brother rice cakes, some mochi

and I wound up his toy, so it plays the song

while he was looking outside the window, there.

And then I sit down with my first radio piece to repair.

And that moment I saw a bluish, white flash

all over the window.

It was so bright, I covered my eyes.

And I could see every bone and blood vessels under the skin.

Next thing I know, I'm flying towards the ceiling.

Just floating in the air,

as the heat passes through me, like a furnace door opening.

It felt like other-worldly,

it moving right through my insides.

When I regained my consciousness, I opened my eyes

and it was so dark I thought it was night.

I stand up.

(Owl hoots)

And all the furnitures are just scattered.

And then I start to look for my brother.

I climb up, broken woods, picking up, grabbing things.

But no brother.

I cry out his name.

Nothing.

And then I look up.

I saw a corner of roof totally blown away.

Through the opening I saw the glowing orb.

The fires in the sky.

Black clouds swirling higher and higher.

There's lightning inside the clouds.

Oh, and the crazy thing, birds

start falling out of the sky.

Just sparrows, thousands and thousands of them.

Just falling, falling out of the sky.

- [Journalist] And, uh, what did you think had happened?

- I thought I was already dead.

I think of what my father told me about Americans.

He said maybe, you know, maybe they find another way

to attack us.

Some kind of a new bomb.

And then, that's the time I heard muffled sound

coming from rubble.

I follow the sound and finally I see

the top of toy animal.

My brother's little hand holding onto it.

I crawl to him and, lifting the debris,

(distant infant crying)

Shh

(eerie dramatic music)

(Music box playing) - Jesus Christ!

(Eric panting)

Hello?

Who are you?

Oh, god!

Come on, kid, look I'm gonna call your parents, okay?

(Camera audio glitches)

This does not belong to you, okay?

Does not belong to you.

You want some water?

Water?

How did you even get up here?

Do you have a key or something?

(Child imitates explosion)

Huh?

How did you?

Okay, it's time to go home.

Home? Home.

(Music box slowing)

Home!

Home!

(Geiger counter crackles)

(Camera audio glitches)

Listen, little guy, I'm sorry, all right?

Here's the deal, you can have as much water as you want

but I am going to need that key back, okay?

Kid?

(Surveillance camera hums) (Music box plays)

(Tense ominous music)

Hey, nori, uh, this Eric.

Eric kage? Um. (Laughs nervously)

I'm here at the house and everything's fine.

Um, at least, I think it is,

but, uh, some strange things have been happening here

and I was just wondering if maybe, um...

(Lights click and buzz)

I'm pretty sure I saw

something crawl under the house earlier.

And just now I, I, caught yoshio upstairs

and he was covered in a sheet.

I'm pretty sure that kid has some mental issues.

Maybe he's fine, I don't know, I just-

(lamp crackles and fizzes)

Okay, uh,

(lamp crackles)

I thought maybe you could come over later, you know?

We could, um, could watch a movie or something?

(Lamp crackles)

Hey, maybe you could bring some candles

'cause something weird is going on with the power now, too.

I mean, if you can't, it's fine, I understand,

but if you could just call me back that'd be,

that'd be great.

(Lamp crackles) (Electricity hums)

Okay, bye.

(Bulb pops) Fuck!

(Geiger counter crackles) (Floorboards creaking)

What the fuck is that?

(Surveillance camera hums)

(Eric panting)

Shit!

Let's try

this.

(Crawler roars) (Sinister dramatic music)

(Camera plays electronic tones)

"Media card unsupported," are you serious?

Oh come on.

(Telephone ringing)

Moshi moshi?

- [Nori] Your Japanese needs more work, Eric.

- Nori? (Camera audio glitches)

- [Nori] I wanted to check on you.

Are you all right?

- No, I'm not doing so good.

- [Nori] Why? What's wrong?

- Like I said, I'm seeing things, under the house,

and now I'm hearing things.

And I know it doesn't make any sense,

I mean, maybe I had too many of my pills, I don't know,

but I'm just kinda, like, freaking out over here.

- [Nori] What did you see down there, Eric?

- It kinda looked like an animal.

I don't know, it seemed more human,

I'm trying to review the footage on my camera

but I'm having problems with it, of course.

- [Nori] You need to calm down.

- Yeah, I'm trying.

- [Nori] Are you safe?

- I think so, I don't know.

I just caught yoshio upstairs hanging out

like he owns the place.

That kid is weird, okay?

I'm sorry.

Then I started watching this tape

of my uncle talking about the atomic bomb.

I just have this feeling that some pretty fucked-up shit

happened here.

(Camera audio glitches)

- [Nori] You sound jet-lagged, Eric.

(Camera audio glitches) Maybe even dehydrated.

- (Exhales) Yeah.

Things are a little blurry.

Having some trouble focusing.

- [Nori] Those can be side effects from the ativan.

- How did you know that I take-

- [nori] I'm coming over.

I'm about an hour away.

(Camera audio glitches)

(Eerie feedback)

- Yeah, um.

Yeah, okay, that's fine.

Um, can you bring a flashlight

and maybe some candles or something?

- [Nori] You should lie down.

(Surveillance camera hums)

Try to get some rest.

- Yeah, okay, but listen, I know this sounds crazy,

but something about this house feels very, very wrong.

(Surveillance camera hums)

Nori?

Nori? (Phone call disconnects)

(Camera plays electronic tones)

Update, guys, the camera took a major dump,

so I can't review any of the footage,

I don't know if it's a problem with the media

or maybe the moisture, but I need to review

what I recorded, so-

(cell phone bleeping)

- [Nori] Kage-San, it's nori.

Hey, it sounds like you saw a ghost (laughs).

I'm sorry about your little neighbor.

He seemed pretty harmless though.

Call me back, or, better yet, uh, let me call you

in a few and we can talk about things.

Bye.

- What?

Anyways, there's a new battery in the light

and we have a new card in the camera.

So, everything seems back to normal now.

That is strike one for the blackbird mini.

Let's hope it doesn't happen again.

(Camera plays electronic tones)

(Ominous music)

(Owl hoots) (Frogs croaking)

(Quiet sinister music)

(Bedsheets rustle)

(Books clattering)

Are you watching me?

(Sinister music)

(Voice whimpers)

(Microphone flutters)

(Alarm clock ringing)

(Floorboards creaking)

(Frogs croaking)

Nori?

- (Imitating ghost) Ooh, yoshio!

- [Eric] Okay, yeah, you're hilarious.

I'm not as paranoid as you think,

all right? (Chuckles nervously)

It is a really good look on you, though.

Okay.

Come on, take that thing off.

- (Imitating ghost) Woo-

(floorboard clatters) Ooh!

- [Eric] You done now?

Are you okay?

(Eric gasps)

(Child giggles)

(Wood crackling and hissing)

(Electronics humming)

(Video player starts playing)

- When I found my brother, he had no face.

One eye is lost, black liquid running from his sockets.

He burned and blackened.

Only a red hole for his mouth.

I tell him, "hey, yoshio, your brother is here!"

And he makes a small cry, he says, "water."

I went to get water from bucket and I gave it to him.

But he start choking, vomiting.

When he stops, I wasn't sure if he was breathing.

I wasn't sure if he was dead or alive.

So I wrapped him in his blanket with his toys,

and he's laying right over there.

- [Journalist] What else did you do?

I need to see what happened, so I went outside.

And right away there was a fire in the sky.

All the smoke being sucked up in the mushroom cloud.

And there was a metallic taste in the air.

Everything around me is burning.

(Ethereal dramatic music)

And that's when the sadness hit me.

I think my mother and father gone.

How can anybody survive this?

At that's the time I hear faint sound coming from woods.

At first I thought it was a swarm of insects buzzing,

but then as it gets closer it sounded more human.

Something is coming towards me and then I see it.

A ghostly procession.

I say "ghostly" because they didn't look like human beings.

Their hair was all standing up, they all blackened, melted,

their skins hanging off from their bones.

I wasn't sure if I was looking at them from the front

or from the back.

This one person, I don't know if that was man or woman,

but that person was walking on just leg bones, no feet.

In arms is a baby dangling down.

The sound that they make worse than screaming.

- [Journalist] Can you describe it?

- It was a hissing, squealing,

like air escaping from balloons.

And at the time I saw a small woman in a tattered dress.

She's staggering forward.

I didn't recognize her, except for one thing.

She had a Sensu burning, melted and stuck in one hand,

and then I knew this was my mother.

I screamed.

I screamed and she stopped.

In a daze, she's looking around, her glasses broken,

her eyes clouded white.

I moved forward and I speak.

She grabbed my arm.

Even though I was terrified by her appearance,

I know I need to get mother inside.

I hear the hissing sound from others.

They're shuffling faster and faster towards us.

Oh, the crazy thing I never forget,

their bodies so burned it caused their arms to shrivel

up to the chest like some kind of alligator.

And I hear them say, "water, water, please."

They're begging for water.

- [Journalist] Who were these people?

Did you know them?

- Villagers, neighbors.

Some of them so desperate,

they drink the soy from broken urns like animals.

But I know I need to help my mother inside.

(Footage audio glitches)

My mother collapsed on the floor and she says the first word

since I met her, she's asking for my brother, yoshio.

I didn't know what to do, so I went to grab my brother

and I said, "mother! Yoshio is here!"

So I put my brother on her chest

and she put her arms around him.

I did not know if he was dead or alive.

But I let them be together.

And then I hear the pounding.

(Footage audio glitches)

"Water, water, please."

Oh, I know, if I let them in, there's nothing left

for my brother, for my mother and myself.

So I kept them out.

- [Journalist] (Clearing throat) I see.

And how did you stop them?

- I don't talk about how.

- [Journalist] Are, are you sure?

Your story is very compelling.

They tried to get in, but I protect my family.

- [Journalist] Could you say, uh, a bit more?

(Fly buzzing)

- I'll tell you something I never say before.

When the wind comes, so does the heavy rain.

Everybody trying to catch water with mouth open.

It's radioactive, but they didn't know that.

They're just trying to soothe burns.

But this rain, heavy, black rain.

It flow under the house.

It makes a big puddles.

And those people, they crawl underneath the floor

so they can drink the water.

I hear them, down there, writhing in the mud.

- [Journalist] And what happened to those people

under the house?

- They eventually drown in a few inches of water.

- [Journalist] That memory, it must be incredibly difficult.

Have you managed to put it behind you?

- "It behind you."

- [Journalist] As in, "move on".

- It behind you now.

(Ominous dramatic music)

(Surveillance audio glitches)

(Footage audio glitches)

- [Journalist] Sir?

Would you like us to leave you?

(Glass clinking)

- Not yet.

(Footage audio glitches and distorts)

After I close the house, I go to the living room.

Mother, brother are gone.

That's impossible.

How do they move?

And then I hear the sound coming

from mother's bedroom, upstairs.

As I climb up, I find her broken glasses on the stairs.

Inside, the shape of mother, sitting in rocking chair,

back turned, my brother yoshio's arm dangling down.

Somehow, she carried him to where she nursed him as a baby.

All I hear is breathing, chair rocking slowly.

I struggle to see my mother's face, her head hanging down,

her hairs covering her eyes, so I kneel close to her,

and I say, "mother, what can I do?"

She hears this, lift her head up,

and she says-

(eerie dramatic music) (Footage audio glitches)

Somehow, she knows on bone-deep level that

her husband murdered, beauty gone.

Her time with baby almost over.

Inside, she's feeling rage and sadness.

All of a sudden, she start to reach for me.

She's grabbing my hair, my neck.

Her arms going, going everywhere,

Sensu welded and stuck in one hand,

I think the burns causing muscles to spasm.

I try to calm her, and I'm begging her, "mother!

Please stop!

Please, mother."

But she's getting up and trying to walk

and now I'm afraid she's gonna fall and hurt yoshio.

So I lift yoshio off from her and put him on the bed.

And she's very angry, so I wrap her with the blanket

and she's fighting me, making the horrible sound.

I didn't want to hurt her, so I tie her to the chair

and at that moment, I don't know what's under the sheet.

But it was not my mother.

(Footage audio glitches)

Took me years to understand what followed me

to the house that day.

It was not a human.

It was never a human.

It once lived outside, in nature,

but when the bomb dropped, everything burned.

The trees, the land, everything.

The only thing left was the human suffering.

It was the suffering that attracted it, brought it to us.

This kodama, it's a parasite that feeds on pain.

- [Journalist] Let's be clear.

Are you talking about a ghost?

- Oh yes, but this kodama is much worse.

It can look like, or sound like, the person you love,

(footage audio glitches)

But it's not them.

That's why mother do all these things.

She no longer have memories, only nightmares.

- [Journalist] I see.

Well, that is something different, and some of what you say,

well, perhaps we should, for the record at least-

- I give interviews, you record.

Some facts, no need for you to understand.

- [Journalist] I want to know more about your brother.

What was his condition?

- My brother, he's still breathing.

He's somewhere between life and death.

I hold him, keep warm, give some water.

Hour pass.

I, I notice the rocking stops.

The hissing stops.

It's all quiet.

I believe my mother had passed.

That first feeling of being alone,

the most frightening moment of my life.

But later, being alone, sometimes better.

- [Journalist] You were just a child.

How could alone be better?

- Just because something dies, doesn't always mean gone.

(Sinister music)

(Footage audio glitches)

(Radio hisses and squelches loudly)

- [Distorted voice] Kuriketto.

Can you hear me?

- What? What is this?

- [Distorted voice] Kuriketto.

You talk to mama?

- Hello?

Mama?

(Voice distorting loudly)

- [Distorted voice] Why you not come see me?

(Distorted voice wails and distorts)

(Distorted voice sobs)

I know, mama, I,

I should have stayed with you.

- [Distorted voice] I only want to see my baby.

Say goodbye.

- I was scared.

I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.

I couldn't see you like that, I didn't want to see you go.

- [Distorted voice] You were weak,

but this time you will be stronger.

(Distorted voice bellows indistinctly)

- Are you scared, kuriketto?

You don't want to hear me scream?

You don't want to hear me cry for you?

(Distorted voice wails and stutters)

- [Eric] Stop!

Stop! (Distorted voice laughing)

You aren't my mama!

- [Distorted voice] Are you sure?

- [Eric] Jesus.

- [Distorted voice] Do you want to play a game?

- [Distorted voice] It's a surprise.

(Electronics fizz and hum)

(Thunder rumbles)

(Sinister voice wails)

(Geiger counter crackling)

(Radio voices distort and screech)

- [Distorted voice] Run away!

Take cover!

(Distant air raid siren wailing)

- [Eric] Get me out of here!

(Eric panting)

(Eric straining) (Door rattling)

(Panels thud) (Floorboards creak)

(Eric breathing heavily)

(Floorboards creak)

(Clothes rustle)

(Voice whimpers)

(Eric gasps)

(Eric breathing heavily)

(Eric gasps)

(Distant voice wails)

(Soft piano music)

(Voice whimpers and sobs)

- [Eric] It's okay.

I'll bring him to you.

It's time to be together again.

(Sinister dramatic music) (Distorted screeching)

(Ominous music)

(Fly buzzing)

(Eric coughs and splutters)

(Eric speaks Japanese)

(Door knocking)

- [Nori] Kage-San?

(Door knocking)

Kage-San?

(Door opens)

I'm coming in.

Jesus!

Didn't you hear me knocking?

I'm sorry I didn't call you back.

Office emergency.

- [Eric] You brought your things?

- Yeah.

I need your signature on this page.

- [Eric] It's too early.

- Close enough.

Just one more signature,

then we can talk about our situation.

- [Eric] You're going to stay?

- Business before pleasure.

- [Eric] You can put your things over there.

(Eric coughing and spluttering)

- I can only stay a few minutes.

I'm going back to la.

- [Eric] Wait, you're leaving?

You haven't even met mother.

- [Nori] You told me yesterday your mother is dead.

Remember?

You were pretty clear about that.

Are you drunk?

- [Eric] All mothers are the same, really.

They love you, they get worried about you,

and they get upset when you don't do as you're told.

I don't think you could go back to la.

- [Nori] Not really sure I have a choice.

The cleaning crew found my boss in his office last night.

Dead, heart attack.

He was watching surveillance video

of this house when it happened.

There are hidden cameras everywhere.

I knew about them but I didn't tell you.

Sorry about that.

- Like this.

- How'd you find that?

Why are you filming right now?

- It's important to say good bye.

- How many beers did you have last night?

- [Eric] Oh, I'm sorry, are you, are you thirsty?

I can get you something to drink if you're thirsty.

- No, no, just stop, whatever this is that you're doing.

I can't tell if you're upset with me or what

but you're acting really weird.

I'm flying home tonight but you live in la too.

We could just start fresh when you get there.

- Yeah, you could take me out to dinner

with your commission check.

- You are upset.

Kage-San, this was arranged long before we ever met.

Five years before his death, in fact, your uncle chose

to leave his entire net worth, minus this house,

to my boss, my former boss, based on one condition.

- [Eric] I spend the night.

- He was watching last night to make sure of it.

But none of it makes sense to me.

Why would your uncle leave his money to a lawyer

he didn't even know just to get you to spend the night here?

Who does that?

And what did my boss see on these cameras last night?

- [Eric] She'll show you.

- Who? Who will show me?

- [Eric] No! I'm not going back there.

- Who are you talking to?

- I have to stay here.

It's what they want.

(Fly buzzing)

- Okay, listen to me.

There is nobody here except us.

Do you take some kind of medication?

You look different.

You aren't the same person I met yesterday.

- [Eric] You know I do.

- I didn't.

- No?

Then what about this?

Is this a coincidence too?

You seem to know everything about me.

You pretended to like me so that I would stay here

so that you could get this, this big check.

- I'm only gonna say this once.

Let go of my fucking wrist!

You know, I came here today to apologize

because I thought I liked you.

Can you believe that?

You clearly have big issues.

Big issues.

Give me the contract, I'm out!

- [Eric] Sorry, I can't let you go.

- The contract!

- You have something that she wants.

- God, this is insane.

What'd you do, look it up on eBay?

Need the cash?

- She wants it.

- Give me that contract, we'll call it even.

Is this a joke?

You didn't sign it.

Is this supposed to be us?

Uh-uh, you're gonna sign this damn paper.

- I already made my deal and so did you.

- I swear to god, Eric, I'll burn this to a crisp.

(Air gusts) (Floorboards creak)

(Distant voices wailing)

(Shrieking discordant music)

(Eerie dramatic music)

(Surveillance camera hums)

- [Mr. Yamahura] The sound of the dead is a terrible thing.

Can you hear it?

It's still here.

But yoshio, he doesn't remember before that day.

All this, like a strange dream.

(Camera audio glitches) What left of mother

is locked away with antique silks she cannot touch.

Broken by a nightmare that bites.

And never stops biting.

One day, I'm not gonna be enough for her.

Somebody must take my place.

(Surveillance audio glitches)

A person with enough pain and regret to satisfy her.

And then, I may rest in peace.

(Music box music finishes)

(Shrieking discordant music)

(Material flapping)

(Somber music)

(Geiger counter crackling)

(Title clicks and whirs)

(Stringed instruments screech)

(Eerie music crescendos)

(Eerie music continues)

(Eerie music continues)

(Music box music ends)