Between the Peace Treaty of 1951,
and the Security Treaty of 1960...
as Japan regained its independence,
my motherwas growing up in Osaka.
While the Osaka Expo was drawing millions,
and that strange anti-hero 'Tora-san'...
first took the screen,
she came to Tokyo to study Pharmacy...
met my father, and fell in love.
They married, and ran a pharmacy in the suburbs of Tokyo.
In time, I was born.
I remembermy mother in front of the TV, delighted...
when herbeloved Hanshin Tigers won the baseball championships,
first time in 21 years.
There was also,
the tragic airplane crash...
and the National Railways going private.
Through those bewildering days...
I sat before the TV, as if nailed in place.
My father, who was always frail passed away when I was still small.
My mother's youngerbrother, a farwilder Tigers' fan than she was...
who celebrated theirvictory by jumping into the Dotonbori Canal,
started coming up to Tokyo to help look afterme.
He called himself an actor, and was very funny.
I loved him when I was small...
but as I grew up and he never changed...
he became annoying.
The relatives disliked him forthe problems he'd cause...
and five years ago, at my father's 13th-yearmemorial,
he got drunk and disorderly.
My mother had harsh words with him.
Afterthat we lost touch.
About HerBrother
Takano Pharmacy
I'm back!
A gift from the beauty parlor.
Isn't that nice! Put them in some water.
We finally got an answer to youruncle's wedding invitation.
I saw it. It's not an answer, it was returned.
'This item was delivered to the specified address...
'but the presence of the addressee could not be confirmed...
'so it is being returned.'
I told you there was no point inviting him.
I guess not.
I'll get it.
Coming!
Oh, hello.
We've brought a gift.
What? Just a minute.
Mother! Come here!
It's DrEndo and MrMaruyama.
Coming!
What brings you both?
They gave us this.
Congratulations...
on behalf of the Area Merchants.
You didn't have to!
Time goes fast.
It seems like only yesterday Koharu said she hated dentists...
and bit my hand.
Thank you for everything.
Not at all.
We're losing a pretty girl. Everyone's disappointed.
'Everyone'?
Us two.
It can't be helped, though.
As long as you're happy.
We shed tears overit every night.
And you shed hair.
Hands off!
Thank you.
Be happy.
Wasn't there anyone local?
Forwhat?
Ayoung lad to win Koharu's heart.
No.
You've got a son, don't you?
Forget it.
A high-school dropout against a university hospital doctor?
No, huh?
Nope.
Did that new bell come in?
Can't you talk?
Knock, knock.
Grandma...
Grandma!
I hearyou.
Dinner's ready.
'I hearyou.' Then why can't she answer?
Give that to her son.
You know what your dad said when you were born?
'Lt'll be a sad day when she goes as a bride.'
He's weeping in his grave right now.
Father, I'm sorry.
Stop doing that. You're not a child.
Mother, shall I help you with yourkimono tomorrow?
No, thank you.
Koharu...
That woman's brother from Osaka...
Your crazy uncle...
Is he coming?
No. We couldn't find him.
Oh, that's good.
I can't abide that man!
That ill-bred lout!
I know that.
Well! Afeast!
That smells good!
There.
We're celebrating. This is once in a lifetime.
Well, everyone...
There's only three of us.
So what?
All three of us, then...
To Koharu's happiness.
Thank you.
And Grandma, you get along with Mom, OK?
You said that last night. You're going senile.
Look who's talking!
Well, let's eat.
Shohei...
All done?
Koharu, you're beautiful!
This is Koharu?
It seems like only yesterday you were on my knee.
Shohei, thank you for all you've done overthe years.
It's nothing. As long as you're all happy.
There you go.
Beautiful!
Koharu, thank youruncle.
I don't need it. Thank yourmother.
'Thank you for all you've done,' is what you say now.
Oh, that's all right.
No.
At times like this you need to say things properly.
This is one of life's turning points.
Especially after all Ginko's gone through...
raising you alone.
Yes!
Go ahead, say the words.
I will, then.
Mother...
Yes?
For all you've done...
over all these years...
I thank you.
Very good!
What are you crying for?
Quiet!
Congratulations!
If only Kazuo were here...
Yes.
Where's Koharu's wedding at?
'Koharu', sir?
My niece!
I'm sorry?
I'm heruncle, stupid!
Nevermind!
Away with you!
The groom, Yusuke Terayama, and the bride, Koharu...
have just been married in the hotel chapel.
I thus inform you...
that the ceremony took place in a most dignified manner.
I was Yusuke's professor in medical school...
Excuse me. Mrs Ginko Takano?
Youryoungerbrother asks to speak with you.
He's here?
Where?
In the hall.
Tetsuro? What does he want?
To celebrate, of course.
Get rid of him.
We can't do that!
This way.
Tetsuro?
Hey Sis. So Koharu's getting married?
Congratulations!
How did you find out?
Who do I run into but Auntie from Suminoe, and she says...
'Are you off to Koharu's wedding? You named her, after all.'
Well, blow me down! That was just two days ago.
Hi, Brother.
So I raised money forthe train, but I didn't know the hotel.
I just jumped in a taxi.
Tokyo taxi drivers are just plain rude!
Right, Brother?
Forget taxis.
Aye.
But that's why I'm late.
Am I in time forthe ceremony?
He can come in, can't he?
We can't send him away now.
But I ask one thing.
What?
Oh, a speech?
I'm no good at that. No, thank you.
I wouldn't be asking you for something like that!
I mean this!
No drinking, you mean.
Remember Kazuo's 13th?
You got right disorderly.
Don't bring that up again!
Today is a happy day.
The groom's from a good family, so there's important folk here.
You keep that in mind.
Don't you worry, Brother.
I know what a fool I get when I've had a drink.
You're a fool to start with, and you just get worse.
You'd say that to a brother?
Brother orno, a fool's a fool.
He's no fun at all!
I've asked them to set you a place. You wait here.
This way, please.
Hey, Koharu!
Boy, did you get old!
Who are you?!
Come on, let's go.
Whoops! Wasn't that something!
Congratulations!
Bite me!
I was in university with Dr Terayama, the groom's father.
Togetherwe attended lectures and honed our skills.
And we often drank together.
I remember one day for some reason he suddenly said...
'One day I will have a child.
'Propose the toast at the wedding forme.'
And today that has come to pass.
No joy could be greater.
I keep my promise!
Here you are.
Oolong tea forme.
Just forthe toast.
It's more than my life's worth.
Everyone...
raise your glasses to a long and happy life...
for Yusuke and Koharu.
Cheers!
Thank you, DrFujiwara.
Please be seated.
Give her a kiss!
Shut up!
Get closer!
They're cutting the cake.
Is that all cake?!
Just part of it.
DrFujiwara's leaving.
Give me a whisky.
Thanks.
Ah, that's good!
I'm sorry I have to go.
Thank you for coming.
A splendid reception.
Thank you.
Where's Tetsuro?
Congratulating Koharu.
I tried to stop him.
Koharu! Best in the land!
Darn right!
He's my uncle. My mother's youngerbrother.
You make Koharu happy, you hear?
If you go cheating on her...
I'll come from Osaka and beat you black and blue!
He's joking. He's always like that.
Right?
I'm not joking! I'm serious!
Don't forget!
Aunt Ginko says to come and sit down.
She does, eh? All right.
I beg yourpardon.
Don't forget.
You're related to him?
I'll tell you later.
How embarrassing!
Why didn't you bring him?
Look!
He's chugging.
Down it! Down it! Down it!
One more!
One more?
All right, one more!
That fool!
To celebrate the wedding...
of Yusuke Terayama and Koharu...
we will raise a cheer!
Hurra-a-ah!
Yusuke!
Hurra-a-ah Yusuke!
Hurra-a-ah!
Koharu!
Hurra-a-ah Koharu! Hurra-a-ah Koharu!
Thank you very much!
A big hand for Yusuke's friends!
Thank you thank you thank you!
He's blind drunk!
I told you so.
We have a surprise speaker. Yourname, sir?
I am Tetsuro Tanno, uncle of Koharu.
Herfather asked me to name her.
And I decided on Koharu, meaning "Early Spring"...
afterthe beloved wife of a famous Shogi chess master.
Thank you.
Quiet!
I'm just getting started.
The night he finally beats his lifelong rival,
he speaks quietly to Koharu.
'As I stared at the board, the rooks wept.
'They wept while I thought which one I should move.
'Lt's true. I did not win.
'I lost.
'I won the game, but the game beat me.'
Somewhere a flute begins to play.
'You know, Koharu... '
'Yes? '
'Should I have sent all my students away?
'A betterlife would not be bad...
'but I can't be thinking of others...
'when I've yet to find myself.
And what does Koharu say?
'I am used to being poor.
'No matterhow poorwe are...
all you need to think of is Shogi.
'How wretched you must be with a husband such as me.
'I am not wretched at all.
'Lf you are content, then so am I.
'Koharu, be here forme while I still live.
'Promise to become a Master of #Shogi#.
'I will, if I have to eat the very chessmen themselves.
'Koharu...
'Yes?
'Live forme.
'Live until I die.
'I will.
'With a heartful...
'of worries on all sides...
'in a run-down tenement...
'anotheryearhas gone.
'With no word of complaint...
'his wife, Koharu...
'She forces a smile...
'so painful to see...
Thank you! Moving right along...
Wait! There's still Act 3!
Let me sing!
Hey!
I'm sorry!
'Tomorrow I go to Tokyo... '
Tetsuro, come on!
I want to sing!
Come on!
Please!
Cut the mike!
Now, speaking forboth families...
the father of the groom will address you.
I am most humbled...
that you have taken the time to attend the wedding of my son Yusuke...
and his bride Koharu.
They both still have much to learn.
I hope you will all provide them with leadership and guidance...
through theirlives together.
Excuse me.
That I most humbly ask. Thank you very much.
That was the father of the groom. Thank you very much.
Change? Keep it!
They're here.
We're back.
Hello.
He went to sleep?
What did the Terayamas say?
A lot.
They said we should have told them about a relative like that.
And?
They don't want their grand-children with DNAfrom a drunk.
His mother said that.
That's awful!
Ginko, I'm cutting my ties with him.
He's no brother of mine. I've had it.
You do that, too.
Don't talk like that! This is a day of celebration!
You keep out of it. This is between us!
But Ginko practically raised Tetsuro! Yourmotherwas too sick.
Ginko did everything forhim!
When he was caught smoking, she went to his school.
When he was caught shoplifting, she went to the police station.
She spoiled him. That's why he's a fool.
Quiet, will you? I'm trying to sleep!
Shohei, I'm sorry. It was my fault.
But in his defense...
he only came because he wanted to celebrate.
You don't need to defend him.
Shohei, stop it!
I'm going.
He can die in a ditch for all I care.
I don't want him in ourtomb.
We'll see ourselves out.
Good luck with him.
Good night.
Ow!
Good morning.
'Morning.
Congratulations.
Thank you for coming back to work.
You're awake?
Sis...
I was bad, wasn't I.
You promised you wouldn't drink.
Yeah, but Sis, they were drinking all that nice bubbly stuff.
I wanted some so bad, and suddenly I was drinking it.
It's all this hand's fault!
Do you rememberwhat you did?
Well, I sang the Sankichi Sakata song...
And then, uh...
How'd I get this? It hurts!
What did I do?
You ruined Koharu's wedding, that's what you did.
You went on a rampage, and spoiled it for everyone.
Shohei and I had to apologize to his parents.
They had a lot to say before they settled down.
You're not a child any more.
I'm appalled I have to apologize for a man of your age.
You don't say!
So I did it again...
Drink this and wake up.
What are you doing?
Drinking water.
I mean forwork. How are you earning a living?
There's not much work in my line.
You mean acting?
'Tetsu! '
'Aye.'
'Tonight I leave Mt Akagi.
'I leave my territory, my land, and also...
'you who follow me.
'Caw! Caw! '
The ones like me without a name...
are lucky to draw 40 or50 people once a year.
You can't live on that.
So I've been making Osaka's famous fried octopus dumplings.
Fried octopus?
That's hard work.
It's fine in the winter, but it's bad in summer.
You sweat and you sweat.
You get the rhythm with the skewer.
It's that rhythm that's important.
It takes five to ten years to get the trick.
It's a hard life!
So you've been working hard...
Look!
Inflamed tendon. An occupational hazard.
I'll give you something forthat.
Thanks.
Whose outfit's that?
A comedian friend's.
You wore that on the train?
Yep. First thing in the morning, and I needed a dump.
I couldn't get my arse out of the culottes.
So I...
I don't want to know.
No, listen! I didn't want to get anything on them, but...
Don't tell me!
There's a toothbrush and towel in the washroom.
I made herlaugh.
Hello.
It's been a while.
Yes, I'm back to work again.
The Missus?
She's gone to thank the go-between.
Did you hear about the trouble at the reception?
Herbrotherfrom Osaka caused quite a scene.
Oh, dear!
You think all's well...
but every family's got a black sheep ortwo.
Even I've got a distant cousin in prison.
Oh, dear!
Has he gone home to Osaka?
No, he's still here.
He's here?!
He went out to play pachinko pinball.
Gambling, huh?
Oh, I almost forgot...
I want to order some more hairrestorer.
The Missus'll know what I mean.
Yes, sir.
Keep quiet about what I said, all right?
I will.
It's pouring!
There's all my money gone.
Now how do I get home?
Watch out, buddy. The rivermight flood afterthat rain.
You live here?
Sis? I'm back.
Sorry I'm so late.
I was wandering around and I came to this river.
I met this homeless guy and he gave me dinner.
He lives betterthan I do!
That's Grandma's cardigan.
What are you doing?
I thought I'd give you some of Kazuo's old things.
What?
But those are keepsakes...
It's all right. It's been nearly 20 years.
Hey, this is brand-new!
That sleeve's frayed. We should fix it before you return it.
No, I'll get that done.
Who by?
Well... a lady.
Is she nice?
Well, you know...
She works hard, and she's sweet.
Why didn't you tell me!
When did you get married?
What?!
Sis, you're so serious! It's not like that.
But you love her...
Don't be so serious about it!
Don't you?
Give me a break, will you?
Talk about something else.
This homeless guy, he had a...
Tetsuro! Listen to me.
I'm very happy to hear that you have someone.
Does she work with you?
Yeah.
Then give up acting and make fried octopus your career.
Get married and have a home.
At my age? It's too late forthat.
It's not too late at all!
If you put yourmind to it you could even have a child.
What would I do with a kid now?
A kid of mine would be miserable from even before it was born.
Why?
You might think you're miserable...
but you'd want to make sure your child was happy.
That's being a parent.
You could be a father, Tetsuro.
Afather? Me?
Neverhappen.
Sis, if you want...
Sis!
Are you angry?
If you kids want to fight, go outside.
You make too much noise forme to sleep!
At your age, going 'Sis! '
'Sis! '
Idiot!
Thanks.
Tetsuro!
Train fare home.
Thanks. I'll pay you back.
No. Just remember...
I know.
Get my act together, and become famous.
No! I don't mean acting.
Oh yeah, octopus.
I'll make lots of money, and pay you back with interest.
'Bye.
Take care of yourself!
I can't deny...
that the ruckus my uncle caused cast a shadow on ourmarriage.
The virus produces its own neuraminidase.
By interrupting the production of neuraminic acid...
About the time the wind turned cold...
I became a problem formy mother.
Stay here? But we store things in yourroom now.
I'll sleep in with Mom.
What happened?
You've married into the Terayama family.
I can't let you stay here without asking why.
You must know that.
I wanted to learn to drive...
so I asked Yusuke formoney.
And he said...
a license is part of getting ready formarriage...
and you should pay forit.
Yusuke said that?
Was there anything else?
For example...
I needed a dental implant which Health Insurance doesn't cover.
'Why didn't you get that done before you got married? ' he said.
The rich are stingy.
Take him for all he's got.
Right?
This is important, Mother. Go to yourroom, please.
Oh, I'm an outsider. I'm not wanted here.
All right.
Whateveryou say.
So Yusuke knows you're here?
I emailed him.
Yourhusband? You emailed him?
What else can I do?
We neverhave a chance to talk.
It's like living with a stranger!
Can I put out a futon?
Roast potatoes!
Roast corn, roast potatoes!
Stone-roasted potatoes!
Hello.
Man, it's cold!
Huh?
Hello.
You're back home?
Yeah, my mom was saying it shouldn't be long now.
When are you due?
Do you need something?
Yourmother asked me to look at the bathroom door.
Yeah, it catches.
May I?
Sure.
Can you fix it?
Yes.
It's sagged a bit.
I'll just reset the hinge.
Someone didn't do a very good job.
No?
The door should hang vertically...
but the weight pulls it over, so you set it a few millimeters back.
Atrick of the trade.
Carpenters play tricks?
Yep.
Take your ceiling.
Forthis room, the middle's a centimeter or so higher.
That way it looks level.
Tricks like that are a carpenter's trade secrets...
so they tell me.
That's interesting.
You're not in a hurry, are you? I'll make some coffee.
Where's yourmother?
Out.
Sorry to keep you. Let's have some coffee.
Lately we've gotten decent coffee here.
Sugar?
How's the pharmacy?
I try my best, but sales just keep going down.
It's the chain stores.
They buy in bulk, so they're cheaper.
The old stores can't keep up.
I'm not here to talk about store management.
It's about you and Koharu.
I'm sorry about all this.
How is she?
Is it true you're so busy you two can nevertalk?
With the shortage of medical staff, we're all so busy ourheads spin.
But she says we don't talk...
I don't know what she wants to talk about.
You're two different people.
Don't you need to sit down and talk, even if it's only for a few minutes?
That's what I think she wants.
Sit down and talk about what?
Talk seriously about serious things.
If she writes me a memo, I'll deal with all the points.
But just to 'talk', I mean...
If I were cheating on her, I'd understand.
Unfortunately, I don't even have time forthat.
Excuse me...
Terayama...
Oh, hello! Yes...
Shortly afterthat, we were divorced.
Endo Dental Office
Is it everhot!
Well!
Hi, Koharu. Hot, isn't it.
How's yourmom?
Fine, thank you.
Here I am.
Thanks a lot.
It's so cool in here!
Did it hurt?
Yes!
After Koharu's, yourmouth is the last one I want to see.
You know she's divorced, don't you?
I sure do.
Isn't there anyone from around here who'd be good forher?
Well, put your son forward again.
Not that fool!
He's good-looking...
Thanks. I'll buy you a beer.
Oh, hello.
Hot, isn't it.
Is yourhusband bad again?
Yes, and we neverknow what's wrong.
Here you are.
One of these after every meal...
and one of these before bed.
He should take them with his blood-pressure medication.
Koharu, take over. I have a visitor.
That's? 00.
And? 00 change.
Thank you.
Take care.
It's so hot!
My daughter.
Well!
So you're Koharu? Tetsuro told me all about you.
'I named her! ' he says.
He's so proud of you two.
You're both beautiful. You could be sisters.
Watch the store.
And you're a doctor's wife?
Lovely!
You're visiting yourmom?
As you were saying, when did you last see Tetsuro?
The cherry blossoms were out, so it was the beginning of April.
May, June, July...
It's been three months.
I see.
And the money you lent him...
How much was it?
Please. Tell me honestly.
All right, I will.
? 3 million.
I run a small store, so I've borrowed money before.
I can't believe you'd lend that much money...
without any proof.
Proof I have.
This is the IOU he wrote out.
That's his writing, right?
And it's a cheap seal, but it's his.
We took these pictures at Shirahama the yearbefore last.
He's not a bad man, but he has no sense of money.
And he drinks and he gambles.
I'm sure he gambled it all away.
That's money I sweated and saved formy old age.
It's silly with a man of his age to be asking his big sister.
I don't ask forit all...
but maybe half of it, or even a third...
It's a shameless thing to ask...
'Hitomi', wasn't it?
Wait here a while. 20 or30 minutes.
Hello.
Where are you going?
Mom?
Take care.
Thank you.