Original subtitles

TOEI

~ ECHIGO TSUTSUISHI OYASHIRAZU ~ ( A Story From Echigo )

Producer Hiroshi OKAWA

Based on the Novel by Tsutsumo MINAKAMI Screenplay: Yasutaro YAGI

Cinematography: Shunichiro NAKAO Art Direction: Mikio MORI

Music: Sei IKENO Editing: Yoshiki NAGASAWA

Starring

Yoshiko SAKUMA Shoichi OZAWA Rentaro MIKUNI

Shitanie KITABAYA Nijiko KIYOKAWA Haruo TANAKA

Director Tadashi IMAI

Fushimi, in Kyoto, is an old sake-brewing center.

Sake is made by...

the head brewing technician and his assistants.

These assistants have always been seasonal workers.

They come from farming villages to earn extra money.

The breweries of Fushimi hire men from Tanba and Tajima.

But some of them use men from the far province of Echigo.

The Yamato Brewery hires peasants from Echigo.

This story takes place in 1937.

It was the year the Sino-Japanese War broke out...

Let's take a break. There'll be no end to this.

Hey apprentice... You're too young... no break for you.

Learn how to carry a keg.

Don't you ever watch how the rest of us work?

Use your hand and shoulder.

Why such a position?

Now run.

Get steady first, then run.

Be brave and run.

Gonsuke... this telegram came for you.

Telegram for me?

What is it, Gonsuke? - My mother's sick.

I have to go home to Cliff Town right away.

Oh, I'm sorry. - Tome, any message to your folks?

Actually... I don't think so.

You two both come from the Cliff.

Hey!

Tome, are you sure you've got no message for Oshin? - Well...

Tell his wife Tome will be promoted to foreman in January.

She'll be pleased.

Will he be a foreman? - Yeah...

He's worked well for two years, so I spoke with the boss.

You should work hard, too.

Well, so long. - Take care of yourself.

This will be a lousy trip.

I can't get married till my mom dies.

I want a pretty one like your wife.

Tome get's all the damn luck!

When Sabu Gonsuke left Yamato's with the telegram...

about his mother's illness, it was late on the afternoon of December 12th, 1937.

He took a train from Kyoto Station, then transferred at Maibara.

He was delayed by the snow and reached Cliff Town the next day.

Bring me some good sake.

Good sake, huh? Well... all we have here is the local stuff.

No sake from Fushimi? - No, sorry to say.

It can't be helped.

Make it hot, will you?

Pretty cold today, ah?

Are you from Utaai Village?

Yes, I'm Isuke's younger brother.

So you're Isuke's brother?

Did you go to work at the brewery?

I'm working for Yamato's in Fushimi. - Fushimi, huh?

You get to drink a lot of the good stuff then.

I'd say... a couple of quarts a night.

Well then... you won't think much of the local brews.

Not much compared to our stuff.

I had a friend once... he was called Sabu Isuke too.

Sabu Isuke is my elder brother. Where did you know him?

We were in Siberia together... served in the Niigata Regiment... old war buddies.

Is that right?

Your brother was a real ladies' man when he was young.

Back in Siberia, he used to get lucky with those Russian girls!

I was in that regiment, too...

The Manchurian Incident broke out, so I was there for two years.

I miss China... - That was in 1931, wasn't it?

Yes... When did you go to Siberia?

In 1919... It was during the Russian Revolution.

The White and Red Armies were fighting.

I was a private, so I didn't know much about politics...

but the Japanese Army fought against the Reds.

But then... the Bolsheviks among the Reds were really strong.

Our regiment was stuck in a village for a year...

so we got real friendly with the local girls!

It was okay, see?

In summer, the wide sea-like Siberian plains...

were covered with fowers, like our evening primroses... right to the horizon.

We slept with the White Russian girls there. It was wonderful!

Another warm bottle.

Have a drink. - Ah, thank you.

I still remember it so clearly...

The Russian girl who fell for Isuke...

came each Sunday with a pail of fresh milk and eggs.

She fed him in the flowers until he couldn't eat any more.

Isuke began to kick up just like a young stud-horse!

You might not know...

but their skin is white and smooth, as soft as rice-cakes...

with hair as smooth as cornsilk.

At first, it seemed strange, but then we began to like it!

Your elder brother liked to keep count of every one he had!

Sabu Isuke was a greater Japanese man...

than the Commander-in-Chief of the Siberian Army!

How I wish I could see him again...

Kazuo, Granny isn't breathing. - How come she isn't breathing?

Not yet? - What's the matter with him?

I hope he got the telegram...

Granny stopped breathing. - She stopped breathing?

Granny! Granny!

Gonsuke? Is that you, Gon?

I'm Isuke. Can you see me? Gonsuke will be here any moment.

Don't give up, Granny. He'll be here any minute.

Who is it?

It's you, Oshin. - You surprised me.

Did you come to see your sick mom?

I got a telegram.

She must be very sick then.

I didn't realize.

Where have you been?

I'm weaving straw matting for the lime company, lately.

In Cliff Town? - Right.

- Alone? - No. Hanako and Tarosuke's mothers work there, too...

only they caught colds and didn't come in today.

How's Fushimi? Is my husband all right?

Yeah, he's quite healthy...

Tomekichi's getting promoted to foreman in January, too.

Tomekichi's getting promoted? - He'll get paid more.

You must be really pleased.

My husband's a hard worker.

How long is it since you married Tomekichi?

It's been two years now.

- You've become prettier. - Stop joking around!

You must be worried about your mom. You'd better go on ahead.

Oshin, I envy the fact that Tome's sleeping with you.

No one's looking at us!

Damn!

Granny! Granny!

She's dead.

Is she dead? - Is Granny dead?

Granny is dead.

Where's Gonsuke?

Listen. Don't tell anyone about this...

No one'll know, if you keep it secret from Tome.

Leave me alone!

Why are you so late? Granny's dead.

Is she dead? - She wanted to see you!

It was snowing so hard... the train was delayed.

I'm going to get the doctor.

If she's dead, what's the use?

We need a death certificate. Without it, we can't bury her.

HeIIo. Are you coming home now? It began snowing again.

My mom is dead. Would you mind telling everyone about it?

Oh, is she? - Yes, just now. I'm counting on you.

Uncle, look. - Uncle, look!

You good-for-nothing brats!

Get out of here.

Mom! Mom!

Be quiet!

I'm home now.

Hello. You must be tired.

Ma, Isuke told me Granny passed away.

She's dead?

He asked me to tell the villagers about her death.

She's dead, huh?

So I'll go tell them.

Sprinkle sake on her body now.

Don't be stingy. Use it all. - That's enough.

Let us living drink the rest of it.

Come on. Mix water to wash her.

Should I pour in cold water first? - Cold water first!

The shroud is even folded to the left.

It's back-to-front when you handle the dead.

Don't make it too hot. She'll cry out!

How can she, when she's dead?

What's the matter with you?

It's your own mother. Go, wash her body.

Thank you for coming.

Oshin, would you mind washing a few more radishes?

We don't have enough.

Tome found a nice girl. - It seems like it.

We thought the only a cripple, or one-eyed girl would marry him!

But she's so pretty and a hard worker, too.

Hard work, huh?

Why are you shouting? You surprised me.

Seems December a dying month. - So it would seem.

What brought you here? - Me?

I came to speak with you. - With us?

Yes, about the straw matting.

Luckily, they're all here today. - Look, Oshin...

We'll rent the barn here for you to work in...

so you don't have to go all the way to Cliff Town.

Oh... would you do that? That'd be a big help.

Does it remind you of your man in Fushimi when you hold those?

Why would it? - Don't you understand?

The size... you should know, eh...

Listen. Don't tell anyone.

No one'll know if you keep it secret from Tome.

Did many come to the funeral?

Yes, it was very crowded.

It will be my turn next.

Mom, don't be silly. You're not that old.

Good evening.

Isn't it terribly cold?

Look here, Auntie.

I'm going back to Fushimi in the morning.

You want to give your son any messages?

You must be tired, after helping out at the funeral.

I don't like the smell of sake!

How old was your mother this year?

She was 75.

It's your turn next, huh?

When will I go to paradise?

When did Tome's father die?

That was so long ago I've forgotten.

How did he die?

Was he killed in the war, like my old man?

He went, but he wasn't killed then.

His horse ran wild...

he fell off the Cliff and drowned.

Oh, yes... I think I heard about that when I was little.

It was a snowy night...

His horse was spooked by a truck and...

slipped on the ice.

He fell off the Cliff with his horse.

No one could survive a fall like that...

it must drop at least 300 feet to the sea.

Yes, that's what they say.

The fire has died out.

Your charcoal sputters a lot. It burned my foot!

We didn't make much charcoal last year,

so we burn charred firewood in here.

It doesn't sputter.

Well, it burned my foot just the same.

Isn't yeast-making tiring?

It must be because of your vacation.

Have any fun down there? - Of course he did!

It wasn't without fun...

You must've had fun... the way you're grinning.

What kind of affair gives the greatest thrill?

One with a girl you're in love with.

First ''To, '' second ''Hi, '' third ''Sho, '' fourth ''Sai. ''

That a proverb? - Unless you know, you won't understand.

It's no proverb at all. I learned it in the army.

First comes "To". - What do you mean? What's "To"?

Idlot! "To" is the Chinese character for "steallng."

Tome. - Huh?

As I was making yeast all day long, I didn't get chance to talk to you.

I found your Oshin in high spirits.

Yes? Was she in good health?

Ya... she came to the funeral, too...

so I told her all I knew about you.

She's going to the lime company to weave matting.

It's a long, hard walk in the snow...

so she said she's going to weave in our barn.

Really? That'll be a bother for your folks.

By the way...

isn't Oshin becoming prettier lately?

I don't think so...

but she takes good care of my mother, so I'm very pleased with her.

But then...

you must be worried leaving her there?

I'm not worried at all.

But... you know what the song says?

"A wife back home is like the distant woods...

"You never know who might poach or steal the goods... "

A wife back home...

is like the distant woods...

You never know who might poach...

or steal the goods...

Listen. Don't tell anyone.

No one will know if you keep it secret.

The Yamato Brewery was originally a brewer of "white" sake.

The third master started making ordinary sake from 1772.

The present brand is called "Shotoku",

in remembrance of the founder's ingenuity.

They made the Girls Festival its anniversary,

and celebrated it with ceremony.

The hardest work was also over by this time,

so they would usually select the best worker and...

honor him with a letter of commendation and a bonus.

This year, Segami Tomekichi was chosen.

A model worker, huh?

You're different from us.

While guys like me are boozing... you check the sake-cakes.

But I can't drink.

Look here, now listen...

The boys are anxious to celebrate with you in Yoshiwara.

Why don't you throw a party for them?

Who, me?

Yes, you!

You've been promoted to foreman...

besides which you got a bonus tonight. Why not show some generosity?

I'm sorry, but I can't afford to spend money left and right.

It wouldn't be fair to Oshin.

You really are a sorry fellow!

Why am I sorry?

Don't you know anything? About Oshin, I mean. - What's that?

People back home say she's found a lover lately.

Oshin's got a lover?

Listen, Tome, I meant to keep it a secret...

but I've changed my mind.

When I went home for Granny's funeral...

I saw a man and a woman beside a lonesome road.

Even when I saw their faces with my own eyes, I could hardly believe it...

It was your Oshin and that lime company clerk.

Then, on the night of the funeral...

someone saw the lime company man and Oshin in our barn.

They were in each other's arms.

I decided not to mention it as long as I lived...

but you seemed so miserable tonight...

I had to tell you the truth.

No hard feelings, eh?

We're friends, right?

No! No!

Why not? You're an idlot! You'll get nowhere holding on to that.

Come on, stop worrying. I'll tell your date, it's your first time...

so don't worry. Nobody likes a coward.

Now, let's go.

Okay, go home then...

But give me your money. I'll spend it for you.

Now what do you say, Seikichi?

So give me your money, or come with me.

Answer me quickly.

I can't do that.

Then you'll come with me.

You're going to be a real man now.

I'll tell you what...

give me your money.

I'll make sure you have a good time.

No more. Go away!

You really don't know anything, do you?

Stop it, will you... you're hurting me.

Look, now watch me and you'll get the idea.

Excuse me...

Close the door. I have business to attend to.

You have?

Then I'll give you inspiration.

Get on with it, will you? Seikichi?

Are you ready?

The most important elements in sake-brewing are yeast, rice and boiling water.

The quality of the water used is also important.

The breweries of Fushimi have long used the water of Tateishi.

The work of pulling these water-carts is done by...

another group of workers.

But Tomekichi pulls the water-cart while...

others of his group are at rest.

Each night, he would go to the Inari Shrine to pray.

Then he took to drinking.

Such changes in his daily routine, made his fellow workers wonder.

But only Gonsuke knew the reason behind them...

Weave this much again by the time I come back.

For a good-looking guy like you... we'll be happy to do so!

You're lucky to make money while talking so dirty.

- Did you ever pay us anything? - Never. - Still, you're very lucky...

I know a young wife whose man is at the front.

There's one here weaving matting whose living far from her husband.

Yes, indeed: you mean Oshin.

Well, work hard. So long.

Take care of yourself.

Don't let the Cliff Town foxes seduce you!

Look here, Oshin!

Are you in the family way? - Yes, indeed. You look it.

But I'm not.

Why hide it as if it was your secret lover's?

Tome must've done his stuff before bidding you goodbye.

How many months are you, Oshin?

Wasn't it November he left? - That's right.

If it happened in November...

December, January, February, March... five months.

Isn't it small for five months? - Tome's a small man.

Since it's Tome's baby, it'll grow into a hard worker.

Quite right.

If anyone wants a good baby... ask Tome, the wonderful seed sower!

Oshin would never forgive her though!

We're all fellow weavers, so maybe she'd occasionally lend us his services!

Do me a big favour, Oshin...

Won't you lend me your Tomekichi... only one little time?

Are you sure just once would be enough?

Sure... cause I know a few things too!

After the incident, Sabu told Oshin...

to keep her mouth shut, so nobody would know.

That's what he thought, anyway...

After awhile, Oshin's body began...

to confess what had happened.

Is that you?

You'll catch cold, sleeping without a fire like this.

Has it died out? It's not so cold, now it's spring.

But it's still needed for mornings and evenings.

I'll make a fire for you now.

Did a letter come from Tome today?

He came back around this time, last year.

He hasn't written...

but I hear he'll be late, because they're brewing more.

Did Isuke get a letter from Gonsuke, then?

Seems like he did.

Why doesn't Tome write to us at all?

Now that he's a foreman, he's probably too busy.

It's spring...

It's about time he began thinking about the farm. Potatoes, you know?

You're right.

If he doesn't come soon, I'll quit weaving and start farming.

That reminds me... you look different.

Are you sure you didn't catch a chill weaving?

I'm feeling all right.

My eyes aren't so good.

This thing in my belly is what Gonsuke left that day.

I must get rid of it...

They say lifting a heavy weight will do the trick...

Die! Let go!

Gonsuke's baby, let go!

If you get very cold, it'll bring on an abortion.

Come out! Come out!

Come out, Gonsuke's baby.

Come out! Please!

Oshin had many dreams of her childhood.

Each time she dreamt, she would awake feeling relieved.

It was the only comfort she had.

Oshin could remember nothing about her father,

on the other hand, she remembered her mother well.

The young women of her district used to...

go in small groups to warmer places.

They would cross the snowy mountain range...

when their villages were frozen with winter's cold.

They would see green wheat fields...

dotted with flowers and hear the larks singing cheerfully...

Would you like some today?

I'm selling at a very good price.

I'll come again.

Here, her memory abruptly came to an end.

The girl sleeping on her mother's back...

found herself carrying another mother's child.

Some said she should have been sold to a circus or a geisha house.

For repeating this, her master scolded Oshin every day.

Of course she had no idea where the child had come from.

In her memory, she often wished she'd been sold to a circus...

or a geisha house.

Each time she was scolded, she envied circus acrobats.

She yearned to be a geisha who became famous as a singer.

In those days, the snow here was much heavier.

Many became permanently snowblind.

Those ill-fated women learned ancient folk songs...

and joined minstrel groups wandering among the warmer towns.

These blind bands required a guide, when on the road.

Oshin remembered that...

she had been hired to lead them to far-off, strange towns.

Why did it have to happen that one time...?

The brewery paid off the workers on March 25.

Having worked diligently for almost half a year...

they now paid a visit to the Shrine of the Sake god...

in gratitude for their protection during that time.

Before their homecoming...

they wanted to enjoy springtime in Kyoto.

Regardless of his fellow-workers...

Tomekichi insisted upon leaving for home at once.

Gonsuke was frightened, because he knew what worried Tomekichi.

It was natural, having told the lie about Oshin so foolishly.

So Gonsuke told his co-workers that...

he'd go home with Tomekichi.

Gonsuke...

What you said was true, eh? - What do you mean?

About Oshin... about her and the lime company guy.

I never told a lie in my life.

Welcome back.

We were worried because you hadn't once written to us.

Oshin!

Is it...

Tome, why on earth didn't you write to us?

We thought you weren't coming home at all.

I was busy the whole time.

I didn't bring any souvenirs.

That's all right. We don't expect such things.

Look... they gave me some sake lees at the brewery.

Give it to our neighbors.

It's a waste to give anything to them.

If we give... they'll give something back.

Give it while it's fresh. - Yes, you're right.

How good it smells.

Oshin... here, try some.

Oshin!

Oshin, come here. It's important!

What are you waiting for?

Come in.

What is it?

I heard you slept with the lime company guy. Is it true?

How dare you!

While I was away, working like a dog.

It's not true. - Liar! - It's not!

Who in the world told you that?

Gonda... Gonsuke told me so!

Gonsuke...?

It isn't true?

Gonsuke's been telling lies about you?

He was. Yes, he was!

Really?

It was in 1935 that...

Oshin came to Segami Tomekichi as his bride.

The go-between was Okinaka Senzo.

He was a sake expert and a friend of Tomekichi's brewery boss.

Hearing what kind of a man Tomekichi was...

he recommended his distant cousin Oshin as the bride.

Congratulations to the blessed couple!

Oshin! Nice weather we're having.

Made to order for planting potatoes.

You've some fine seed potatoes there.

Look, Oshin... Could you lend me some?

Sis tells me they ate all our seed spuds.

I'll pay you back twiceover from our new crop.

Hey there. I didn't see you.

How dare you show your face here! - I need some seeds.

Get out of here, before I beat you up!

What? Oh, about the lime company man, eh? My mistake!

I hear someone. Who is it?

It's only Gonsuke. - What does he want?

He's looking for seed potatoes. - Seed potatoes?

I just came to ask for some seed potatoes.

I'm sorry.

Is that so? I'll try someone else.

He's got a nerve, to come to us for help!

Look...

Don't speak with Gonsuke from now on.

I won't!

Isn't it awfully warm today?

This is all we have today. - Only this many?

My chickens are running around with my neighbor's rooster...

and hardly come home at all.

They must be laying their eggs down there.

Really? What wild chicks they are!

I'll buy at 2 and a half sen each.

Six by two is twelve. Six by five is thirty, so exactly...

fifteen sen, right?

Ah, that's right.

Lots of our village boys got called up. Will your son be safe?

You mean the army?

Certainly the army. I hear they get sent straight to the front.

My son's safe... he's too small for a soldier.

Yes, he sure is. Has he any children? - No, not yet.

You must want a grandchild. - It's about time they had one.

They've been married for three years now. - No, only two.

Working hard, huh? Planting rice?

We've been so busy that we're already late.

What wrong? Feeling sick?

Stomach ache, huh?

Did you eat anything bad?

Are you pregnant?

That's it!

You must be with child!

Foolish chickens! What do you see in that rooster?

Stay away from him, or else...

Oshin's pregnant! - She is? - Yes!

Aren't you?

I'll take her to a midwife, a real good one.

A good midwife, huh?

You'll have to go to town.

Let me rub it. Where's my baby?

Come on, Oshin. Let me feel it.

It's my baby... isn't it? - Don't, you'll wake her.

Don't!

Oshin experienced her first love...

when she was 16.

She was hired as a maid by an Echigo granary owner...

Hey...

Eat this.

Young Master...

Young Master...

After that, Oshin began to have a woman's secret.

This young master, after going to school in Tokyo...

forgot all about Oshin.

We've been to the festival. - We enjoyed it very much.

Well, go to bed then. You can sweep up tomorrow.

Isn't Oshin old enough to be married by now?

It's still too early...

maid often don't get married until 25 or 26.

Yes? That's the custom, is it?

Besides, Oshin's an orphan...

it'll be expensive to get her married off.

How could you do such a vulgar thing!

Aren't you ashamed of yourself?

From this shore...

you can see Sado Island in the distance.

Oshin was working in the granary.

Around that time, a Sado-born geisha sang a hit-song:

"Island-born."

"At 16, love was born. How I long for a night with my beloved."

Oshin loved to sing this song.

Then, one winter, storm waves washed away her employer's home.

So she went to work at an iron-sand mine nearby.

It was here that she came across her distant cousin.

How she married Tomekichi we've already explained.

Take care of yourself.

The midwife told Oshin...

that she had conceived last December.

It was frighteningly clear...

Tomekichi had still been in Fushimi last December.

It was impossible that the child she was carrying was his.

Tomekichi's father fell from this cliff many years ago.

His horse had slipped on the ice here.

Oshin came here because simply she wanted to die.

But... even if it was Gonsuke's,

a new life was growing inside Oshin's body by this time...

so she gave up the idea of suicide.

Sake God in heaven...

The midwife on Ome Street...

I pray to you, give us a big baby.

Give us a boy. A girl will do, too.

A girl like my wife. A good-looking girl...

Damn it!

A couple of days, maybe longer... - Possibly three days?

I wish I could say so...

But, seeing as you came all the way down here...

I'll have it mended for you... in a couple of hours .

You're going to have a big, healthy baby.

But not until September, mind you...

It was conceived in mid December.

December? - Exactly right...

Your wife must have a bad memory.

it was definitely in December.

Are you quite sure?

Listen. I've delivered almost a thousand babies...

and they all arrived on their expected dates.

Then... - Then what?

Sorry for taking your time.

Oshin! Oshin!

Are you crazy? She's up in the fields... you know that.

The midwife... the midwife told me!

The baby was conceived in December!

Whose baby? Whose is it?

How could you deceive me?

Tell me the truth, Oshin! Confess!

Hey Oshin! Won't you say anything?

Damn!

That lime man's baby, Oshin?

Whose baby, if not his? Whose?!

You can't deceive me with tears.

Gonsuke's baby? Was it Gonsuke, Oshin?

He came back for the funeral in December.

Was it then?

Oshin, speak!

Where did you do it with Gonsuke?

Speak!

Where did you sleep with Gonsuke?

Who is it?

Is that you, Oshin?

Tome?

It's me.

Oh, Tome...

What happened to Oshin?

She got sick, so I took her to the midwife.

You did? I was worried when you didn't come home.

I'm very sorry.

How is she doing? Very bad?

Nothing to worry about.

She sent me here for a kimono.

Are you going back there now? - Yes, I am.

Then, take some eggs with you for Oshin.

I'm in a hurry. I'll come back for the eggs.

Take them with you... be a good boy.

All right, then.

Tell Oshin to take a good rest down there.

Take care...

and don't break the eggs!

Well, I'm leaving now.

Tome! Listen, Tome!

Gonsuke got called up for the army!

He didn't hear me...

What Tomekichi was afraid of came true...

Oshin's body had begun to decompose.

Gonsuke! I killed Oshin!

I'll kill you, too!

Are you mad?

- THE END -