Original subtitles

LET'S GET DIVORCED

Remember when we went and got our marriage license?

Yeah, I remember.

We fought over it, and we ripped it.

The guy at City Hall taped it together.

I think us ripping it was bad luck.

It was fate.

What?

Hmm?

What'd you say?

It's low tide.

I'm going right to sleep.

You're not telling your mom?

Right now?

I think if you tell her now, it would really be ready for everyone.

But she's sleeping.

Just wake her up.

Are you really serious?

Hmm, well, okay, your choice.

Fine.

Huh?

What is it?

Sorry, did I wake you?

Is Yui here too?

Yeah. Excuse me.

Actually, Taishi and I

have gotten divorced.

Oh, what's going on?

You lost the election, and you got divorced.

Huh?!

You're divorced?

I know there wasn't much we could do about your divorce.

That occurring couldn't be helped.

However, the unborn child is of the Shoji bloodline,

so you must hand it over.

No, I'm going to raise the baby.

If I give you our child,

you'll only raise it to be a politician, and that's definitely not what I want.

I mean, with Taishi,

when we first met,

he was a normal, kindhearted man.

If you hadn't forced him into a life in government,

he wouldn't have ended up so weird.

Am I weird? Wow.

He wanted to get free from the future that was forced on him.

I mean, Mimata was a part of all that.

Really?

I don't want this child to be born under that kind of pressure.

I want my baby to choose whatever path that they want to follow.

- And I agree with her. - Taishi!

You know better than to say that!

Um, well, I want our baby to be raised with freedom too.

I want the baby to be with Yui

and to be able to become their own person.

- Thanks. - Don't you thank him!

Go get married again! Do it right now!

I recall you pushing us to get this divorce.

Oh! I can't do this anymore.

I'm going back to Tokyo. I'll go crazy if I stay here.

- Saotome, arrange a flight for me. - Yes.

- Yes, right away, ma'am. - Oh!

Morning! Excuse me.

We're not open yet.

Hello. I'm Taishi Shoji's mother.

Ah!

Those were very exciting proceedings.

Good job with that.

We're definitely going to take back that government seat. We're expecting it.

Ah.

I'm here for another reason. It seems that...

Yui said she won't be asking for alimony or child support.

She said she can't take anything from her now-unemployed ex-husband.

I regret to tell you that we'll also be stopping

the rent support payments we've been sending you monthly.

That's fine.

My daughter has a lot of financial power.

This should be the point when you're saying,

"Thank you very much for supporting us all."

Is that so?

Have you forgotten? I support all of you!

Isn't that a bit of a give-and-take, though?

You said that you wanted to support us, so we took your money.

Wow!

You benefit from Yui Kurosawa being his wife, don't you?

So don't be so patronizing.

Even with your Yui as his wife, he still lost.

That is exactly the reason why you should be grateful.

You really don't get it, huh?

If this is about money,

you can leave.

Well, all right, then.

I will take my leave.

Even just this morning, when they came to talk to me,

what I didn't know was how to process

why your Yui had become such an ungrateful person.

But you have answered that.

Now I'll take my leave.

- That's all. Thank you. - We'll take care of it.

Thank you very much.

Thanks also...

...for your support.

Ah.

Your mother and you are very different.

Well, I really wanted to be like you.

I suppose, though I tried, I wasn't quite able to do it.

I really love

all the people in this family.

After just one marriage interview,

without knowing if I liked him,

I became a Shoji.

The elections every few years were so stimulating for me.

I felt so passionate then.

At those times,

my connection with Kiichiro would become so much deeper.

I know that experience a bit.

And my husband...

...was wonderful in bed during the elections.

Oh! It made up for a lot.

I thought to myself often

that I'd be happy for the rest of my life

just helping him win elections.

I can't believe he died so young.

Mm.

Anyway, take good care of yourself

and have a healthy baby.

Yeah.

Also, um, I should say goodbye to your husband here at his altar.

Is that okay?

Yes, of course.

The next time I saw Yui

was four months later.

What did the doctor say?

I haven't spoken to the doctor yet.

Next week. That's right.

- Oh, uh... Hello. - Oh!

- The delivery room? - Oh, it's over there!

- Ah, okay. - Uh, but Yui's in her own room.

What?

Mm.

Oh! Taishi!

Ah.

It's been a while.

Mm. The birth?

Mm! It's done.

What?

It was a totally painless birth.

The baby just slid right out.

- Ah. - It didn't hurt one bit.

And I've done a lot of TV birthing scenes,

but the real thing was easier.

Oh. Yeah, that's good.

Well, nice going.

Why'd you come?

Oh, Sassa called me.

Uh, sorry.

I was there when my wife gave birth,

so I impulsively called you.

- I suppose you didn't need that. - Not at all.

More importantly, did you read it?

Mm.

I wonder about it. On location?

They're aware that you won't be doing any overnights.

Plus, you can always sleep through it.

Hello. Ah, so... the baby?

Oh, it's a boy.

I heard, but where... what... where is he?

You can't meet him until his tests are done.

Oh, I see.

You got here too soon.

Huh? Oh.

Ms. Kurosawa, I have your baby here.

Great.

If you need anything, just let me know.

Thank you very much.

My little boy

was sleeping so peacefully.

I wonder who he looks like.

Guess we don't know yet.

What's this? I'm not feeling it.

Aren't I supposed to be so moved that I hug the baby and cry?

It's my fault

that I don't feel it.

I'm sorry.

So, um...

Mm!

- Did you name him yet? - His name's Yoji.

Yoji?

Uh-huh.

I chose that name

because I wanted his life to be free and happy.

See!

YO (HAPPY) JI (FREE)

Ah, how cool. Look at that. Ah, wh...

Hey, just what is all this?

Uh, wait

Aijiro, Aita, Ainosuke, Himeko,

Himejiro, Himeya, Himeo.

Himeo? That's an awful name.

It's fine. Good name.

But Yoji, Yoji, that's a great name.

Yoji.

Ah, Yoji.

Yoji!

Hello.Yoji.

2026 EHIME

It's been three years since I choked on the tears

of my hundred-vote defeat.

Good morning. Hello, I'm Taishi.

How are you?

I hope all 25,000 of you voters in this district find happiness.

- Taishi Shoji. Thank you very much. - Good morning. Good morning.

Ehime's great. I loved it a bit too much.

- And now I'm unemployed. - Good morning.

To prepare for a comeback,

I stand in front of the station in Ehime for half the week.

Hi, Taishi Shoji.

For the other half,

I attend study sessions at the party headquarters in Tokyo.

At night, I make connection with party leaders.

I've become more like a politician since losing the election.

Thank you very much.

Financially, things are so tough

that there are months when I can't pay Saotome's salary.

I show my face on TV once in a while

as the former handsome house member.

Well, thanks for asking,

but I'm actually busy studying.

Right.

Okay, then, I'll tell them.

Not this guy again.

Henry usually does the jobs I turn down.

All right! I'm in Yamanashi, and I want some hoto noodle soup.

Okay, Chief Secretary Soda.

What do you personally think Japan should do now...

Reformation Party member Go Soda beat me, but he never goes to Ehime.

And do you agree that this is a pressing issue?

I do, which is the reason we need a virus research center.

Huh?

When you say that, what exactly do you mean?

Japan is an island. However...

We cannot just rely on our border control measures

to protect us.

To stay ahead of the speed of mutation...

Modern technology is...

We need to have research.

Uh, yeah.

- Wow. - Are you listening?

The fact that Soda is saying all this is shameless.

Because it's handled by the state!

If we let the private sector take charge of this,

it will create a sense of competition.

Ehime BSL-4, my father's life work,

was downgraded to a level 3,

and a private pharmaceutical company bought it.

Does it have to be a level 4?

Is level 3 no good?

A level 3 is enough.

Because COVID was a level 3 virus, right?

I heard a rumor they're going to buy up our land.

- Seyo Pharmaceutical? - Mm-hmm.

They are buying up it up to turn around and sell it for a profit.

Mr. Soda, how will you explain this to the people of Ehime?

Uh, the district will become richer.

It will increase employment also.

Two birds.

I guess you could say I'm showing my love for Ehime.

Well, I guess I...

we should consider a retirement home finally.

Oh.

Oh, well.

To make ends meet, Saotome started working a part-time job.

On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

when I'm in Tokyo, he works for a moving company.

That's enough, Mr. Saotome!

You're going to hurt yourself.

All good. I got it.

I'm sorry.

Sakurako became the vice minister of the new equality for all office.

Just yesterday, for example, in the Shukan Fire,

"Hottest female announcers."

People still write articles like this all over Japan.

So what's the problem?

- I'll give you a vote! - Yeah, TV girl.

Which of you said that?

Whoever said that deserves a reprimand.

My ex-wife's rise to the top couldn't be stopped.

And the best actress award goes to...

Yui Kurosawa!

You did it!

She's done it! Yui Kurosawa had won for her role

in When the Wife Chucks Her Husband.

Congratulations!

Look at her back.

I guess Yui looks more womanly now,

because she's definitely out of my league.

Guten Morgen. Guten Morgen.

"Thank you" isn't "guten Morgen."

It's "danke schön," Yui.

To my director, the crew on set,

the rest of my cast,

and finally, my beloved, adorable son.

I appreciate everyone who's helped me.

Guten Morgen!

What about me? Huh? Huh?

Where is my guten Morgen?

Why did I cheat on Yui?

Why did we divorce?

KYOJI KANO VICTORY! PACHINKO ELECTION BLOG

Yui's ex-boyfriend, Kyoji Kano, I don't know where he is,

but he's now a blogger covering elections.

His stuff's pretty interesting.

Kyoji's gone to Okinawa.

Everywhere in the country,

no matter how remote or obscure,

there will always be elections.

- Mayoral candidate for... - Please vote for me. I'm Gushiken.

And pachinko parlors.

What got me hooked on politics

was the House of Representatives election three years ago.

I lived like I was dead

and fell in love with a woman who I chased to Ehime,

a place that I had no connection to.

Hey, kid!

Hey, you're getting good results here.

At first I couldn't understand it,

the candidates who bowed their heads,

groveling in order to get just one more vote.

...my husband.

And the voters who cheered for strangers,

raised their voices and supported them.

How are they able to immerse themselves in this?

Is this a festival?

Or are they just making sure that they're alive?

Agreement and disagreement,

conservatives and liberals,

trying in their quiet desperation to outthink and outspeak each other.

The candidates are the victims.

...standing up for the Henoko area of this island!

No more American bases!

Life is a boring thing,

everyone living every single day as if they're already dead.

Say it louder!

When you get bored with your life,

I highly recommend going to see an election somewhere.

It doesn't matter how small the village is.

It doesn't matter how small the election is.

It's a do-or-die contest.

Once you experience an election yourself,

you will feel excited and anxious.

Hey.

Hello, hello! Please vote for me!

- You're such a handsome man. - Hello. Thank you. Please vote for me.

Sugarcane? I'll do my best.

I remember there was a candidate

who once saved a man from drowning in Ehime.

- Help me! Help! Help me! - Are you okay?

Are you okay?

Voters will see right through the candidates

who aren't considerate of others,

even if they make enticing promises to the public.

If there was a prime minister who was genuinely nice,

who was honest with himself and with the public,

then I'd be able to relax and entrust the future of this country to his care.

What? No...

This is praising me way too much.

But, uh... thank you, man.

Baba.

Baba is not it.

Ba-ah-ba. Mm?

Baba.

Mm. Oh.

Oh.

Baba, boo-boo, good one.

What did you just say, Yoji?

Yui has custody of the child, but my mom is the one

who really takes care of him.

I got you, I got you!

Oh, oh.

Come in.

We met downstairs.

Oh!

Yoji, your mom and your pop are here.

They're back from Ehime and Berlin!

Thank you for watching him again.

It's fine.

I'm happy to watch Yoji. He's this family's future.

That's just her go-to.

I watched that awards show in Germany.

It was great. Congratulations.

Thanks.

You looked pretty in that red dress.

I thought you might be watching it

and, uh, having that opinion.

Here you go! Whole tangerine daifuku desserts.

That's for Yoji and Grandma.

Ehime!

Huh? Did you actually say that?

Ehime!

That is amazing, Yoji!

Well, the first word he learned was "ba-ah-ba"

and then "Ehime."

"Mama" and "Papa" are next, I'm sure.

Well, let's eat some whole tangerine daifuku, then.

Here, I got you a Fendi wallet and a German Baumkuchen cake.

Wow, thank you. Fendi's Baumkuchen?

Fendi wallet, Baumkuchen cake.

Yes, I know.

German wine.

- Huh? It's for me? - Mm.

- Thank you. - Yeah.

And for Yoji, a bear.

It's from Berlin!

Ooh!

That's so great.

Ah. The car is waiting downstairs.

We should go.

- Okay. - Okay, Yoji. Time to go.

- No! - Ooh!

Oh! Remember?

I told you this morning

that you would have to go home when your mom comes to get you.

Mama's here.

It's time to take you home, okay?

There.

Oh, goodbye.

Oh!

Ain!

Uncle Sassa is so funny.

- Goodbye. - Yeah.

All right.

Here we go. All right.

Okay, bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

- Bye-bye. Bye-bye. Bye-bye Yoji. - Bye-bye.

- Bye-bye. - Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

Mm.

Get your custody back, okay?

You're back on that again?

Mm. She just leaves the child with me

and struts the red carpet, showing off her back.

How can she have custody of him?

Well, you're the one raising him most of the time, see?

Aren't you glad it's going your way even if it's not official?

But what if he decides he wants to become an actor?

Oh.

If we had a girl, she could be an actress.

If you had a girl,

she would become a politician's wife and would support the family.

All the children in the Shoji family, boys and girls, have the same fate.

Well,

it's not like there's a chance of you having a girl now.

I do wonder about that.

Come on, Yoji. Let's go eat upstairs.

Here, you eat too.

- Customers will show up later today. - Hmm.

How do you know that?

I can tell from the temperature and the humidity.

Anyway, how much was the prize money?

There's no prize money. All you get's a bear trophy, Mom.

What in the hell? You got my hopes up.

It isn't about the money.

That was so cool.

I saw you on the news, walking the red carpet.

And I thought to myself, "Did I give birth to her?"

I'm sure Taishi thinks of you as the one that got away.

Mm. You think so?

I know the hearts of men even more than my customers' foot traffic.

A question.

If I keep on asking Taishi's mom to watch Yoji,

I'm afraid he'll end up a politician. So, what should I do?

How many times have I said that you can leave him here?

Give him an allowance, and I'll grab him from kindergarten or wherever.

Mm.

I worry that if I leave him here, he might end up being somewhat uncouth.

What do you mean by that?

That's insulting!

Children will grow up even if you leave them alone.

Don't worry so much about everything.

Let things run their course.

He'll be an adult before you know it.

I don't want him to become just a regular adult.

I want him to be well-educated.

Well-educated?

Taishi didn't go to a good university.

Yeah, but he studied abroad in the United States, you know.

But he doesn't speak English.

Yui, dear,

it's possible you've been brainwashed by that mean old lady.

The things you're saying

are the same words as that monster mom.

No, they're not.

You're not getting enough physical contact.

Not with men or your child.

If you were, everything in your life would just be fun.

But Yoji and I do have physical contact.

What do you think is the reason for the award?

Uh-huh.

It was the foresight of the director's vision,

the excellent script, as well as the entire production.

And who is most pleased with this achievement?

There's a saying that older men love single mothers.

What does that mean?

They're so spicy.

Keep her clear of men.

Sure.

From here on, her role is the competent, sexy leader.

No distracting men.

The thing you asked me about yesterday

would be quite difficult.

I figured.

If you're able to actually prove that he's at a disadvantage with her,

that is the only way to change your agreement.

Oh, I see.

And your ex-wife has more economic power than you do at the moment

now that you are unemployed.

That makes sense.

Here's the question for you.

Would you be able to raise the child

if you got custody?

We don't know how long your mother will remain healthy.

That's true.

Wait, are you trying to get back together?

No, it's not about that. This is a question from my mother.

I just wanted your opinion.

Please don't get angry.

I'm not angry.

A lawyer has a lot of responsibility

in a divorce proceeding.

But you don't need my advice to reconcile.

Of course. That's right.

I'm sorry to bother you.

Ah, I see. So, Taishi Shoji still relies on you, Kaoru.

Hmm. Yeah, but I'm not getting a single yen for it.

Yui Kurosawa never calls me anymore.

Maybe she thinks you're unreliable since you're under her at the office.

I'm thinking about moving on from there.

The CEO thinks only about Yui.

And everyone else is really unsatisfied.

Well, that makes sense, Henry.

Yui Kurosawa represents all of Japan.

She's on a different level than the rest of you.

Wow, this is not like you, Henry, to be jealous.

You've become such a...

a regular sort of guy, haven't you?

Now that you're strong, you're amazing.

So charming I want to marry you.

- Sure, let's get married. - Hmm?

You don't have to look so surprised.

You're the one who said it.

Mm.

You're right, I did say that, but...

Hmm?

What is marriage?

- You're still a bachelor? - I am.

Well, you're in for a disappointment.

But I feel, if it's with you,

I'm quite sure I can afford some disappointment again.

Don't act like you'd really marry me.

Today is the one day every two months I visit with my son.

- Yoji! Look, it's a pirate ship! - Wow! A pirate ship! Amazing!

- What? - Pigeon! Pigeon!

Yoji, there are pigeons in Tokyo.

Why don't you look at the pirate ship since we're here?

- Look, right there. Yoji, take a look! - Pigeon, pigeon, pigeon, pigeon...

I do see him often because my mom looks after him,

but when Yui's with us too, it's something special,

because this would be a family trip if we weren't divorced.

- Excuse me, can we please take a picture? - Yes, please!

Ah, I'm so sorry. It's a private outing.

I'll take it.

Yes? Oh, thank you so much!

Wow, she's so cute. Oh, her face is so small.

- Okay, here we go. - Thank you.

I'm so tired.

It's like we went all the way to Lake Ashinoko to see pigeons.

But it was fun.

Hey, make yourself comfortable. I'll make us some tea.

Oh. Thanks.

Oh! Yoji loves that thing.

For some reason, he's always picking it up

and playing with it.

Pachinko artist.

I wonder why a kid would be so interested in that.

Mm-hmm.

Right. Kyoji is a reporter these days.

Huh? A reporter?

He goes around the country writing about elections. He's quite popular.

So they really exist, people who wake up to their calling.

- Are you guys friends? - No, I just read his stuff.

So, is there a new film?

No, a streaming show. It's a yakuza one.

Oh yeah? Wearing a kimono?

Do you have a catchphrase?

Why are you teasing me?

No way! I'm not teasing.

I always support you.

You can just act normal.

I'd really like that kind of support.

You don't need to offer to take pictures like you did.

In front of my son,

I'm just his mom.

And me?

What?

In front of me, who are you?

Stop it, now.

Sorry.

So what do you want?

Pigeon.

What is going on? Someone's horny.

Isn't there a Mimata around?

Not when I'm always thinking about you.

Mm-hmm.

Mm.

How did we so casually sign those divorce papers?

I don't know.

You don't?

No double-checking or anything.

The guy at reception desk

could have asked, "Is that your final answer?"

My answer...

I discovered you're the one I love.

So if I...

ever got married again,

I'd like it to be you.

But we shouldn't.

Why not?

'Cause you'd go and cheat again.

It's not that I made the wrong choice.

What was wrong was marriage itself.

I think, if we married a second time, it wouldn't be as much fun.

All of this is just how I feel, but...

things will go better if we don't remarry.

We should have ripped them up.

We should have ripped up those divorce papers.

What do you mean? It's great the way we are now.

Yes, and I'm busy with next year's election.

- Huh? - Hmm? What?

The election? Office terms are ending?

Uh, has it been four years?

Well, Yoji's almost three, so four is soon.

Well, you better win!

You really gotta do it. Beat Soda this time!

Yui!

That last election was so fun.

Yeah, that was fun.

Hmm?

What's this?

That's your "I can do it" face.

Will you or no?

- Ah! - Oh! Yui!

Yui Channel!

Oh. So, I'll help you.

Good evening.

It's Yui Kurosawa, international actress.

Today, we have a surprise guest visiting.

A mystery guy!

Uh, long time no see.

I'm the former representative for Ehime's fifth district...

Come on! Don't be so stiff. Loosen up!

I guess I forgot how to do this.

Ah! We're not getting back together.

You have my promise that is not happening.

- Kashikomi, kashikomi! - Kashikomi, kashikomi!

We should have ripped up those papers.

Papa!

- Papa! - Sorry.

Papa!

He woke up and didn't see you, so he started crying.

Ah! Yoji.

Ah, Yoji.

Ah, I'm sorry!

Papa!

Sorry I didn't say good night.

- Papa! - Don't cry, Yoji.

Look. He's right there.

I'm right here! I'm right here!

- Look, he's right here. - Papa's right here.

- Yoji. - It'll all be okay.

- Papa! - I'm sorry I left. Don't be sad.

Ah! I feel bad.

Papa!

Good morning to all you hardworking people!

Japan is the country of rice!

When I, Taishi Shoji, am once again a government representative,

I will promote a local product. That's priority one.

Himenorin, I'll make Ehime's rice the top one in Japan.

I hope that you'll all do your best growing delicious rice.

It's always nice to come see the rice.

I'll keep on working hard along with everyone.

Thank you all very much!

I'm back again.

Hi, welcome.

Taishi, you got tan again.

I guess I did.

Hey there! It's you, Shingo.

It's been a while.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

What've you been doing?

Mm.

Ah, still unemployed, right?

Shingo got a new job driving for a guy at Seyo Pharmaceuticals.

The company that Soda let buy BSL-4?

I'm sorry!

Hey, don't worry about it.

Everybody's got to work. It's fine.

It's my job to pick up and drop the manager off.

Every month, when Soda comes to Ehime,

I'm also the one picking him up at the Matsuyama Airport.

Soda comes to Ehime?

From there, I take him directly to the research center.

He's given a paper bag

then goes back to Tokyo immediately.

A day trip?

Right.

And Soda always has that paper bag with cash inside it!

If it was a bank transfer, people would find out.

That's why they do the cash in person.

The district will become richer.

It will increase employment also.

Two birds.

I guess you could say I'm showing my love for Ehime.

So BSL-4 gets sold off

by Soda for next to nothing, and he pockets part of the profits?

Well, I'm a pretty dumb guy, so I don't recognize all those big words.

But I can tell you that Soda gets a whole lot of money

every single month from them.

But you never saw this bag of cash, did you?

I did!

He went to the bathroom, so I had a peek inside.

Here's a picture I took.

Isn't this about Seyo Pharmaceuticals?

Shukan Fire is going to write on it.

Seems like there's been a lot of rumors.

Because Shingo can't keep a secret.

Go Soda's career is probably done.

Back when you were running against him,

I thought he was honest and for real.

But he's sure not that.

And so you know someone who writes at the Shukan Fire?

Maybe.

An old enemy is a future friend.

Is Yui doing okay?

Yeah, she is.

Her baby too.

That's perfect.

What's perfect about it?

It means that I never had a real place in her life.

Sorry, that must hurt.

That machine won't give you anything. Shouldn't you go home

and have a meeting with Mr. Saotome about that special election?

I'll write something passionate about it for ya

so you'll have a decisive victory.

Whoa!

What a race Ehime's fifth district is in for!

Kyoji no longer seems like a guy who's alive but dead.

DID SECRETARY GENERAL SODA TAKE BRIBES FROM SEYO?

Chief Secretary, there's news that you cheaply sold off BSL-4

to Seyo Pharmaceuticals to get a payout. Care to comment?

We criticized the previous government's corruption

for the sake of Japan's progress.

So how could we be after money now?

Tamai from Iyo Maicho.

Are you claiming these are false accusations?

I'm not sure who's been spreading all these lies around.

But those individuals who have something to gain from this

might be the ones to consider.

But aren't you the one gaining something?

What I'm telling you is that you're wrong.

Soda got defensive and denied everything.

What am I going to do?

It's so heavy. How am I gonna carry this?

Should I take it to Tokyo by car, then?

Tokyo or not, we can't go anywhere if it's this heavy.

What should we do?

Just... just make it small enough

for me to take on a plane.

He would take home a paper bag with 20 million yen inside

on each trip.

Yeah.

He would come into town about once a month.

MONEY-GRUBBER, MONEY OVER PEOPLE SODA, GO TO HELL!

Each time, I would pick him up at the airport in a car.

CHIEF SECRETARY ROOM

It's not like I'm trying to rub salt into a wound.

But Soda was completely beaten to a pulp.

Soda left the Reformation Party and resigned his seat in the house.

Mr. Soda!

I always respected and looked up to you.

I'm so disappointed.

Please leave the fifth district of Ehime

in the hands of Taishi Shoji one more time.

I'll do everything I can.

Ehime, vote for Taishi.

Everyone, please send Taishi Shoji

back once more to represent you in the fifth district.

We're counting on you!

Thank you very much. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much.

I promise to work my hardest for you!

Please vote for Taishi.

Thank you very much.

Thank you all. Thank you very much.

Hi, everyone! Thank you for being here.

Good work.

How did it go?

This election is much easier. Your rival's just a Red Shirt.

I'm so hungry.

- Saotome! - Yes.

How many decades have you been doing this job?

We do not predict what's going to happen here.

- You should be buckling down. - Yes. I apologize.

- And you too. - Oh.

Do not start getting cocky.

Your father never said, "Ah, I'm hungry," not a single time during an election.

Yes, I'll get buckling.

You too, Karakida!

Uh... Mm! Right.

I promise to work for you. Thank you.

Thank you all.

Thank you very much.

Thanks so much.

I appreciate it.

It's time for us to do the dance

for Ehime one more time.

To end this election campaign.

Mikochan's here.

Let her through!

She's here.

So, Taishi wasn't...

really that great

husband material.

But as a candidate,

he's the best.

So, then,

you should vote for my great ex-husband.

Vote for Taishi, please!

Kashikomi, kashikomi!

Kashikomi, kashikomi!

Yui.

Thank you.

This looks so good.

Look!

ELECTION FIFTH DISTRICT OF EHIME TAISHI SHOJI PROJECTED TO WIN

- Hooray! Yoji, your dad just won! - Taishi Shoji is projected to...

- Look, bud! Papa! - Banzai!

And here's Taishi Shoji at his election office.

- Banzai! - Congratulations!

Papa, Ehime.

Ehime!

What a smart guy you are!

Papa, Ehime. Mama filming.

Great!

- Banzai! Banzai! - Thank you! Thank you.

- Thank you very much. - Banzai!

- Banzai! Banzai! - Thank you very much. Thank you very much.

Banzai!

Thank you very much.

- Thank you, everyone. - Thank you!

- Thank you very much. - Banzai! Banzai!

You did it! Congratulations!

Everyone, thank you so much.

Thank you very much.

- You did it, Taishi! - Thank you.

Saotome, you're crying a little.

I feel...

...so happy.

Happy for the young master.

It's all because of you, Saotome.

Ah, thank you.

It's been so many years since we promised no more waiting lists

for nursery schools.

- What's going on? - Ms. Mimata!

The local governments are doing their part.

- They have lists of waiting children. - I look forward to working with you.

We have to count them all if we want to solve this.

People will have to quit their jobs if we don't fix this.

Taishi Shoji.

Returning Congressman Taishi Shoji.

Being back here fills me with so much emotion.

It's been over three years.

And this is my first time as the opposition party.

Getting divorced made me realize my wife has always been great,

just as losing my seat in Congress made me know

how truly important this seat really is.

Must you talk about your wife? We don't have time!

Excuse me. On to the main topic.

Uh, a question for Ms. Arita, who runs the parental support committee.

This is in regards to the childcare initiative,

which has not been resolved over the past three years.

I spent my whole life

falling in love with that man.

Perfect.

Nice.

You really shouldn't

be carrying around a katana!

Enough talking.

Is this set in Hiroshima or Kyushu?

Saitama.

If we're apart

or hate one another

or even see other people...

Left eye.

...I'm still saving

all my love for you.

- Oh, so good. - Well-done.

Hey, Mom. Sorry to be a bother.

Tell me, what's wrong?

I might finally understand

what you were always trying to tell me about life.

Let's just say I feel awesome.

So what did I say?

That life is just too long.

And it's impossible to only love one guy for all of it.

Well, so you turned out to be right.

Did I say something like that?

I might have.

Sounds like a good time.

Who's your new guy, then?

No, no one serious.

Goodbye.

I'll be bringing Yoji by this weekend.

Thanks for waiting.

Great job.

So what kind of food?

Meat!

My ex-wife works full-time, and I live with my three-year-old son.

I take care of him four days of the week.

You don't understand until you try it.

And it is very difficult.

Oh no! This is permanent Magic Marker!

I said, if you're going to draw, then draw on paper.

- Stop that, Papa! - Ouch, ouch. Ouch.

Even if we're apart or even if we see other people.

Huh? Where'd that come from? Is it your mama?

- I'm saving... - Ouch! Ow, stop it!

- ...all my love for you. For you, for you. - Ah!

- Oh! - All my love for you!

- Ah! No! Not another mess. - All my love for you.

- Yuck! - This is boring.

Okay, let's go to the bathroom.

Why not? You said you wanted to poop.

Come on, it's time to go.

Yoji, come on.

- Mr. Shoji! - Yoji, Yoji.

Huh?

- See? - Sorry, sorry, sorry.

- Oh my gosh, it's Soda. - Uh-oh, what's the problem?

- I don't know what to do. - Hi!

I can't fold the stroller.

Yoji says he has to poop, but there's no toilet around.

I can't get a taxi, and there's no bus coming.

Plus, we got lost walking.

I go into a café, and Yoji starts to cry, and everybody just gets so mad!

Society is not nice to fathers!

Calm down.

Here, try some of this bread.

No one else has tried to be so understanding.

No need to cry. Why don't you have a coffee instead?

- Oh, thank you so much. - Hmm. And for you, juice.

- Juice is nice. - Oh!

That's just your life story.

Yeah, we don't care.

What are you trying to say?

I'm saying that we can't judge until we do it.

Kids as well as this work.

Do you agree, Ms. Arita?

I remember you.

You criticized my misogynistic remarks when you were on the opposing side.

I didn't forget that.

I figured an accomplished cabinet member like you

would want to make society easier for the people here.

What do you think?

Now that you're in control, you've gone quiet.

So do something to change things.

We've had no progress at all in terms of the childcare initiative.

I'm not trying to attack you.

It's important to be able to fail.

People make mistakes,

get married on a whim, divorced on a whim.

No one knows that when you divorce,

you end up with an X marked on your record.

An X.

Huh? That's not great, an X.

Have an open mind.

An X or not,

you can rebuild your life.

Please listen,

including you, Mr. Prime Minister.

Don't be stopped by your fear of mistakes.

We should be tolerant of the opposition.

If we can manage that,

it will improve things.

That's my thought.

I'm sorry.

That's all.

For Ehime's fifth district, that was

what they really want.

Thank you for your time today.