Nice guitar man Was it steep?
Yeah, well
Like pearls before swine
I like to look my part But I don't always come through
You walked to school with the baseball club manager. How're things?
She and I are both satisfied emotionally and physically
Physically too, huh?
Looks like it was some fight
Here's the money I owe you
Excuse me
Please treat it gently
What a shock
Sorry, I just can't turn Kenji down
Excuse me?
You know can't afford to pay you Consider it a loan
A loan? You'll owe me 400 more payments
Yeah, I know Let's hang in for all 400
Mambo Cafe
- Hello - Welcome
Not again, brother
Hello, wanton noodles
You're ravishing, Kyoko
Huh?
She's calling you
- What's that about? - No big deal
I don't want that school to call me in again
Just ignore 'em if they do
Nobody bothers about a kid who's given up on college
They just want me out of there
You have to finish high school
You need a high school degree on your resume
You think I'll need a resume where I'll be working?
Got enough hands here?
You're not working here
Room and board and good food it's the perfect job
Working here's hardly gonna improve your future prospects
It's not nice to discriminate Seconds on the rice
400 Loan Payments
I keep my promises
Finished
The long path connecting me to your heart
always filled me with courage
It was always a steep and narrow path,
but I'm ready to welcome you now
Following the path from my own dreams...
You don't look so good Getting old?
Wedding Ceremony
- Ryosuke - Hey
You really made it
I RSVP'd didn't I?
But we weren't sure you'd really come, right?
Right It's been a while
Been a while
Will you sign the guest book?
Oh, first, please sign here
Oh, sorry
Thank you
Ryosuke! Thanks for coming today
You came all the way back for me! You've really made me happy!
I thought you were happy already
I'll be as happy as I want
barely got to see him when he came home at New Year's
You glad I'm so happy to see you?
You're drunk
Drink the drink, don't let it drink you, huh?
But I'm the groom, I'm the star
You're just jealous, Shinji
If you hadn't split up with her, we could've had a double wedding
Find a new girl, quick...
There's no need to rush into marriage
Unlike fruit, marriage is never out of season"
Who said that?
Tolstoy
Isn't he a gas?
Honey... I'm sorry
You hear that? Already so wifely, huh?
Oh, man how embarrassing
You've got your work cut out for you
That's right I'm not a bad guy
- Ryosuke, hey, you drink up, too - Oh, thanks
You nut...
Man, you're hopeless
Doctor Look after me if I get sick, OK?
Look after you?
Be my attending physician
You're a doctor?
Well, a veterinarian
Huh?
Humans are animals, too What's the big difference?
Well, maybe there is
Of course there is
But we were all surprised you actually became a vet
Meeting Kuro got you started?
Yeah, looking back, see it
That's right, Kuro cured me of my dog phobia
That's right, 'Kuro is a dog who understands human emotions"
That's what Koji used to say
He was a keen judge of people,
to say nothing of dogs
Don't you think?
I do
The thing is...
More sake!
That's enough, we have an early morning
Ryosuke, are you going to let Yukiko live like this?
Hey!
Yukiko, you're divorced, now
Oh, no, he's had it, let's go
You can start all over if you want! Isn't that so?
Ryosuke, what do you say?
I've got something to say to you both
Hey, let go of me!
- You OK? - Fine, fine
I'm saying wait!
I'll be in touch
Thanks
Ryosuke, Yukiko, you listening?
Thank you so much... for coming today!
You living with your family again?
It got too cozy after my sister-in-law had a baby, so I moved out again
Still working at Town Hall?
I'm an old hand at Family Affairs Registry
Right
Seems like you're doing well
It's just a small clinic but I'm hanging in there
Maybe you have a cute girlfriend?
Oh, I get by
I see
Good bye, then
I'll see you home
No, this is fine
You haven't seen your folks n a while. Spend the time with them
Bye, now
Call me I'll be around for a few days
What do you say?
Hello
I'm Kimura, an alumnus
Oh, yeah?
Kuro, how've you been?
I came home and wanted to check in on her
I was a student here when she first moved in
You've kept it
Oh, that s who you are...
Here, have a seat
Must be her carefree lifestyle, she never kicks the bucket
She's picked up extravagant tastes recently, getting picky
Doesn't finish her meals
I see...
I'm sorry to call so suddenly
We don't need an ambulance?
- What? - For Kuro!
Ambulances never pick up dogs
Will she be OK?
Yeah...
I'm just a little worried
Let's try getting her up
OK, nice and easy now'
That's a good dog, Tora
You can go home tomorrow
Man, I'd like a drink
No! You just got over the shakes
You couldn't even give a shot, dammit!
Oh, don't worry, he knows what's what
We handle precious lives here, he won't just kill them off
You make me sound like a monster
In the old days, you never brought cats or dogs to the hospital
OK
They'd get sick and that was that
It's better for our business to keep them going a long time
Please come in
So what's up?
Kuro seems under the weather
My visual diagnosis suggests her ovaries
I found some pus
Traces of PUPD, too It s probably a uterine infection
Honey Mamiko and Sanae at the Fujikawas' have bad diarrhea
The other cows? Is it an epidemic?
No, they're fine
Good, I'll visit later
You know your stuff
He's a vet, in Tokyo
Just starting out
- Put Kuro down here - OK
Sew it up yourself
I can't keep up with you two
I'll discuss it with the Principal
Sorry for the inconvenience
How is she?
She needs surgery
- It's that bad? - Yes
Somebody in trouble?
What?
It's Kuro
An alum who's a vet now stopped by and noticed she's sick
You can go. You' I just start fighting again, so suit yourselves
I'm sick of mediating for you
It's Kuro I'm worried about
You care more about a dog?
Of course. Whatever happens, you'll both graduate
But Kuro can't graduate
She s lived here all her life
In her way, she's protected this school
How dare you
What do you think about Kuro?
Nothing we can do about it
Right
Maybe her time's up
You worried?
Our dog was one of her puppies, 10 years ago
So what?
So nothing
You owe me for my uniform
You happy in that apartment?
You get used to anything
What about your future?
I'll just... go on living
Forever?
You don't need to worry about me
I'm not counting on my folks I can make it on my own
I went and visited Koji's grave today
There were fresh flowers
I can't believe it's been 10 years
It was my fault
What?
That day...
I was probably the last person to see Koji alive
He told me he liked me and then...
That's got nothing to do with his accident
As his motorcycle faded away,
I wondered if I'd ever see him again
And then I really never did
I'm so cruel
You couldn't have done anything
Stop blaming yourself
I'm sorry I reminded you
Oh, no It was awful tough on you, too
Say, when are you going back to Tokyo?
Tomorrow, the afternoon train
I see
Take care
You, too
In laymen's terms, there's an accumulation of pus
Kuro's ovaries are swelling with pus
Which means you have
to drain it away, yes?
Yes, but it's a tricky procedure
When you remember Kuro...
Well, she's no spring chicken
She's been at the school 10 years now
That's why we should give surgery serious consideration
Don't just give up on her
Why go to all this trouble for an old dog?
We regard Kuro as a worker here
All the new students are introduced to her
She's not just some dog
She's too just some dog
I can't see the point of all this special treatment
But you can't just abandon her
And if this difficult operation should kill her?
And think of the expense involved
This is not about the money
Who's going to pay for it?
Tightwad
Now, now
How shall we leave things, Principal?
Let's take a few days
to consider what's best of or Kuro
Thank you for taking the time to join us today
We'll discuss it with our local vet and make a decision
Sure
Um...
Are you the alum?
Yeah
I'm a student here
That's pretty obvious
About the dog Will she be OK?
She might be, with an operation
She'll get better?
Operation, huh?
When?
They haven't decided, yet
It's not that simple
But she'll die if you don't
Then hurry up and operate
You're a vet right?
Not sure you can do it?
Give me the knife
- Sure - Thanks
Our School Mascot, Kuro is very sick Let's all work to save her! Please
Donations to Save Kuro
Excuse me That donation box is pretty cool
I knew you'd get it together I'm a good judge of character
Where's your evidence?
The handwriting knew it was familiar
I happen to be well acquainted with his writing
What motive?
Why natural human sympathy, of course
Natural human...
Hey, you re right, that handwriting is awfully similar
No way
It must be true You can always tell when he's lying
Who asked you?
Don't act so cool
Why not come clean and admit it
I need money fast Hey, donations here
But strictly voluntary
Well, a little compulsory
Just a little
Idiot, it's not for me Put it in the donation box
It's not a shakedown
Get going
Give generously, from your heart
Can you help us out?
Please help us out
Thank you
Yukiko
Sorry to disturb you at work
The students started fundraising for Kuro. Want to help out?
For Kuro?
What's wrong with her?
Oh, haven't you heard?
No...
And that Ryosuke's going to operate?
What?
But why do it at midnight?
The donation box appears mysteriously one day and then suddenly disappears
Otherwise, it's not cool
Are you crazy?
Well, it s more fun in the middle of the night
Shhh
Let's go
It s pretty heavy
Hey, Morishita, it's your job
Morishita
Hey, not bad
Hey, not bad at all
What's this?
"I know I should give money, but I'm broke now
I can only give from my heart Kuro, please get better"
Another one
"It's so strange without Kuro Can't wait to have you back"
Here's a good luck charm
"bought this when Grandpa had surgery. It's super strong"
OK, let's see what we've got here
I'll start all over again
400 payments to go...
Let's start counting
Take this
Gratefully
I kept wondering what I could do for you
I know we all die
But want you to live a little longer
I'll do my best,
but you do your best, too
OK?
We know Kuro will return We raised over 30,000 yen! Peace!
Fever, tummy ache, anemia And you?
Well, I just...
Dizzy suddenly?
Yes
You're too worried about the operation to sit in class?
If you want to be blunt about it, yes
- I'll get more raw cotton - Right
Come inside
When Koji died,
I lost my head
When I came to, I was at school
And then...
I opened the window
and was ready to jump
That's when Kuro appeared
and stood by me
I owe my life...
to Kuro
But I can't help her
Please save her
I understand
Leave it to me
Shall we begin?
I'll start the incision
- Please - Thank you
That's right, slowly
If the incision's too small, enlarge it
Yes
I got the peritoneum Now, the subcutaneous tissue
Good, nice and clean now
- How is she? - I need a drink
Ah, it was a success, then I'll get you a drink
He is a fine surgeon
Well...
It's all up to Kuro now
You did a wonderful job What a good dog
She can go home in 10 days
I'll keep in touch with the doctor, too
I'll look in on her, too
When you told me what happened with Kuro
swore I'd make the operation succeed
So you're the one who saved her, Yukiko
No, I didn't
But thank you
Um...
What?
Take care
- You, too - Yeah
Yukiko...
Listen...
I...
I love you Yukiko
always have
What are you up to?
You going to apply to college?
I'll work during the day take classes at night
Oh, that doesn't matter Want some fried rice, too?
- Extra large, please - All right
- Don't celebrate till I get in - All right
Kuro spent many more quiet days In her beloved school
Then one day, I heard she was dying
Even after surviving surgery Kuro couldn't escape old age
Thanks to you
I never felt lonely, making my rounds or eating my meals
Because of you
this room was always warm
Thank you
That day, the whole school learned of Kuro's death
Word spread quickly among those who had donated to her operation
Dear Kuro,
As the swings sway in the fading light
the students make their way home,
just as the teachers do
Having only you left behind,
the old stairways creak
and the hallways sigh
But you're a brave dog,
not given much to yelping,
so you lie quiet in the darkness,
patiently waiting for daybreak
When it comes, it finds you waiting for us,
as always, at the gates
You have no idea what
strength this gave us
Kuro, thank you so much
"Gazing at the sky unto my death,
It pains me only that I have
nothing to be ashamed of
even as the wind strokes the leaves
In the spirit of rejoicing in the stars,
I must cherish each little living being
and can only cleave to
the path of my own destiny
Tonight, once more,
the windswept stars"
Kuro,
thank you
She died peacefully Don't cry
I'm crying happy tears So many people came...
I was shocked when I heard they were holding a real funeral
Guess the black suit was a little extreme, though
You think so?
I mean, who's ever heard of such a big funeral for a dog?
So, what if we haven't
Bet people thought it was ridiculous
So let them think so
I never knew Kuro but I'm so glad I went
Kuro lived well right to the end
Yes, all the way to the end
I'm impressed
She never had any regrets
Nope, she was too busy living
She was happy
I think I'm ready to be happy, too
And you, Ryosuke?
The long path connecting me to your heart
always filled me with courage
It was always a steep and narrow path,
but I'm ready to welcome you now
Following the path from my own dreams
was my only goal,
but from now on,
your happiness
Is my only sign of life
Growing in love, the tears flow,
and when they dapple your cheeks,
the thrill of Infatuation
turns into the reality of love
Standing there in the wind,
you finally discovered,
that by surrendering your tears,
you had become a woman
Cast:
TSUMABUK Satoshi
ITO Ayumi
ARAI Hirofum
KANAI Yuta
Producers: LEE Bong-ou, TO YA Nobuyuki, SHIKAWA Tomiyasu
Based on the book by: FUJIOKA Kaizo
Music producer: IWASHIRO Taro
Director of Photography: KAS AMATSU Norimichi
Director: MATSUOKA Joji
English subtitles: Linda Hoaglund