I'll take that.
Thanks, Tatsuya.
You coming in?
Not today?
Why not?
You've been gone four months. Have some time to yourselves.
Mom...
...I was thinking...
...I'd like to try a tea-ceremony bowl.
The 'view of heaven' shape...
Ken-ichi...how'd you like to go on TV?
TV?
I don't talk all that good...
...and I'll be up there with leukemia for all the world to see.
I don't want that!
Yeah.. .
See you.
Why did you say no?
Well...because.
They're all out working for you, and you just sit back and watch?
Embarrassed or not, if you want help, you should be out there.
Going on TV doesn't mean I'll find a donor.
You want to die?
Fine, then.
Hurry it up.
We'll all feel easier.
If I...
...well, if I 'die', I guess...
If that happens...
...then everything I've done means, like, nothing...
Um...
It can be treated.
If there is a chance, you want to live.
Anyone would want to.
For that, we need the love and the courage in our hearts.
That's why we're raising funds, to find some heathy bone-marrow.
Mizuka Ushiama Tokyo
Excuse me...
Would you know where the Zungoe Kiln might be?
Up there on the right.
Thank you.
I'm Mizuka Ushiama. How do you do.
Here I am.
Put down your things and load some wood.
What are you here for?
All right.
Take some wood...
It's hot.
Throw it in.
Throw the wood in! Put your back into it!
Not such a cool job, huh?
'Mi'...'Mi'...what was your name?
'Mizuka'.
Mizuka...
Can you hold the fort here?
When this is done, we have to go to Niigata.
Uh...yes.
Um...
...does that mean I can stay?
A little kiln like this doesn't pay much...
Thank you.
I hope to learn from you.
And from you, Ken-ichi-sensei.
Don't call me sensei. I'm not one.
And you're older.
Nice nails!
She can't even give you a drop of blood.
Please understand how hard that is for a mother.
Whoops! I made her cry.
I'm sorry!
Noriyku...
We'll find donors. Keep your hopes up.
What is it?
We've got lots more people being tested...
...but each test costs Hibi. ¥ 13,000.
A thousand people is ¥ 13 million, three thousand is ¥ 39 million.
We're way over our funds.
How much are we short?
¥ 10 million?!
We're beat.
I'll do something.
I've put you all to so much trouble...
I'm very grateful.
I'm sorry!
I feel horribe!
Thank you, Tatsuya.
Kiyoko...
...we couldn't do it. I'm sorry.
The government's going to have to do something.
We'll all be broke and he'll still be sick.
There goes the committee.
And that closes the book for me.
I'll think of something.
Where will we get ¥ 10 million?
Hi.
Here we are.
Yushi? I'm your uncle.
Come here!
Why are you crying?
I had your grandson...
...and you didn't say a word, or even send one diaper.
A little New Year's money for him, and that's all.
You didn't even come to my wedding.
Oh, shut up!
This is what I spent on you.
Tuition, entrance fees, bicycle, room and board...
...train fare, clothes... at least ¥ 4 million.
Pay that back, and then you can complain.
Then I'll send a hundred diapers, and ten years' New Year's money!
And how much have you spent finding a donor for Ken-ichi?
¥ 20 million? ¥ 30 million?
What's ¥4 million beside that?
You put a price on your brother's life?
Then how much is Yushi worth?
'In Kyushu I was born...
'...in a place called Shimabara...
'...and raised among pear trees.
'What kind of pears?
'Juicy ones, and sweet.
'Quickly, go to sleep, don't cry, ororonbai...
'Or Kyusuke from the Demon Pond will take you away...'
I think we're a long way from having a bone-marrow bank in Japan.
It might not be in time for me.
But...but...
...but even if my life ends...
...I'm working to have this bank established quickly...
...so it might save those patients who come after me.
Everyone, please do what you can.
Young people whose lives are vanishing want to hope.
We want our lives to be of service to society.
All that energy! Shouldn't you get some sleep?
I want to leave proof I was alive.
Are you really sick?
Ken-ichi.
...let's do a show.
I'm back.
Hello.
Ken-ichi.
I'm trying natural glazing.
If you die, who'll carry it on?
Listen to you!
Don't press when you roll it forward.
He's sinking rapidly. There's no time to lose.
I strongly suggest...
a transplant of bone marrow from his Aunt Sachiko.
But didn't you say my sister's HLA...
...didn't match his?
It suits five of the six conditions for a match.
Mismatches of that kind have been known to succeed.
Is that the only way?
It was nice of Aunt Sachiko to agree.
Yep.
A lot of people who say they'll donate end up changing their minds.
Yes?
How are you?
Well, I feel kind of weak...
Nauseous, too.
I'll give you a shot for that.
What?!
I have to go to Niigata right away.
Why?
Don't tell Ken-ichi...
Noriyuki's mother...
...drove her car into the sea with both of them in it.
Why?
You fool!
How are you feeling?
Not great.
Your aunt's blood tests come back today.
Say something!
Sometimes you have to say what you want said.
What's so funny?
At the last hospital...
...they said I would't understand the dialect here in Nagoya.
Nurses are trained to speak standard Japanese.
Ken-ichi?
Aunt Sachiko...
It's been ages!
You still hanging in there?
More or less.
'More or less'? That's great!
Isn't it!
Yes.
Thermometer...
Aunt Sachiko... it's nice of you to say yes.
I'm grateful.
What are you talking about?
I'm happy to be able to do it!
I owe my big sister my life!
Now I can help her a bit.
You do?
When we were kids back in the war we had to flee from Kyushu.
We hadn't eaten in two days. I was about to faint...
...and Sis got some sweet potatoes from somewhere for me to eat.
Those potatoes brought me back to life.
I bet she stole them...
Hey, times were hard!
Right?
And here she got mad when I did the same thing...
You did it, too!
Um...this is a hospital ward...
Oh, what the hell...
Ken-ichi.
...before we start prepping you for radiation...
...thinking about the future, we could keep some of your sperm.
What do you think?
No, thanks.
Mom, were you hoping for grand-children from me, too?
Whatever you decide.
Even if the transplant works, I don't know how long I'll live.
If I want kids, I'll find a woman with children.
Time for a haircut.
Mom...
...I'm back.
24.5 centimeters.
41.
There.
Got it.
Now the tea bowls...
12.3...
Seven.
There.
Ken-ichi's bowl!
Ken-ichi-sensei!
Oh, no!
Settle down!
Things with a shape get broken. You just make another one.
But once a heart's broken, you can't make that again.
Back soon.
Thank you.
All right, gentlemen. Let us begin.
Yes, Doctor.
Ken-ichi...it's your aunt.
She's here for you.
Welcome. If you'd like to sign here...
Well?
It's all been done.
Thank you.
Are you OK?
I'm fine!
Is he asleep?
No.Whe can phone in...
Ken-ichi...how are you?
Aunt Sachiko...thank you.
Make sure you get better. My marrow works hard, you know.
So I'll be mad if you don't.
Ken-ichi-sensei...
It's time for your medicine.
Take your medicine.
Please!
Take your medicine!
Ken-ichi-sensei... take your medicine!
What's all this about? Take your medicine!
If you let yourself get down, you'll never get back to your kiln.
The inside of my mouth hurts.
Stomatitis. You'll get that.
Your aunt's marrow's fighting the old cells right now.
So come on...
Ow!
My dick's burning!
Enough!
Get me out of here!
I want to go home!
Get me out of here!
Hello!
Welcome back!
Your thoughts on surviving?
I want to go out on the town and eat some noodles.
I'm Ken-ichi's mother. How do you do.
Oh, thank you...
How do you do.
The packages are disinfected.
Thank you.
You'll be seeing a lot of us... have this.
Thank you...
...'very much'.
You're very welcome!
Say hello.
I'm Kohyama. How do you do.
Hello.
Bone Marrow Donor Bank To Begin Operations Today
Great!
Really.
An early activist in establishing donor registration...
...was Masami Ihara, of Japan's National Soccer Team.
Welcome, Mr Ihara.
Thank you.
The bone-marrow donor bank has been established at last.
How do you feel about that?
Well, 'at last' is the feeling I have.
While I'm very happy...
...the way is open now for lives to be saved...
...this is just a start.
I'd like more and more people to find out about it...
...and I want to keep working so that the whole country...
...is aware of it.
Happy New Year!
I guess everyone's home now eating New Year's rice-cakes.
Right!
I'll go find us some New Year's food.
No.
Why not? This stupid hospital should have thought of that!
Don't!
Mom, I mean it!
Please! Just let me give him...
...a little New Year's food!
I don't know what to say... I'm sorry.
OK...
Maybe this one...
What do you think?
A foreign car?
Sure, after I sell that urn of yours for your doctor bills.
Hey, I can dream, can't I?
You do that!
A powerful woman, your mom.
Yeah, she's not normal.
Unfortunately, the symptoms have recurred.
Recurred?
So that means...
Huh?
I can't move my legs...
Guess there's no hope, eh?
Gee, Mom...thanks!
Sensei...there's a call for you from Arts Publishing.
Sensei...
Arts Publishing's on the phone.
Let's fire up the kiln, Mizuka...
...and bake Ken-ichi's urn.
He fought a good fight.
Do something for me.
Would you sign this?
'Donor form'...
To donate your body...
I can apply, but I need a relative to counter-sign.
Maybe this way even I can help someone.
It's me you mean, isn't it.
Ken-ichi Kohyama
If Mom wasn't so damn proud, we could get money from Dad.
She'd rather die.
Yeah, you're right. That's what she's like.
Kumiko...
...patch things up, OK?
Yeah...
Right!
Ken-ichi...your last birthday.
Missus! That's pretty harsh!
Are you trying to kill me off?
'This is the day you were born'
You'll embarras him!
'No matter how old you get...
'You will be reborn...
'...as a new you.
'The rest of your life...
'...begins now.
'So go for it, Ken!'
Hello.
Ken-ichi.
Your urn's done.
Aw, man!
You're all wrapped up in how nice it looks.
You're up against clay and fire.
Toy with the clay, and it'll toy with you back.
Then the fire will just push you right over.
The donor bank has been going for four months now...
...but it's still short of donors.
As we speak, there are many hoping for a bone-marrow transplant.
'I want to live.'
A perfectly natural wish that your bone-marrow...
...could make come true.
Sensei...
...what's that?
Yes, indeed...
The drugs aren't working.
Shall we stop them?
To tell the truth, sometimes I throw away the oral stuff.
Idiot.
Ken-ichi.
...it's a nice day. Shall we go for a walk?
Really?
That's great, Ken-ichi! You can get outside.
You two come with me.
Don't be such a suck!
Really!
I've got another symposium.
Zinnias...
You're right! I never knew these were here.
What's wrong?
Why?
Why can't I bring myself to thank people before I die?
Don't say 'die'!
Yes!
You're going back to make tea bowls in Shigaraki!
I can't...
...breathe!
I'm falling!
Ken-ichi! Hang on!
I'm scared!
Don't be.
Go on ahead and wait. I'll be there when my work's done.
What?
27 years...thank you.
I feel better now Mom.
I'll sleep now.
Sing for me...
Ororonbai.
'Those strange lights out on the bay...
'...flare and then die away...
'The flute and drum...
'...of the Padre's Festival...
'...can be heard no more.'
Sing louder!
He can't hear you!
'Quickly, go to sleep, don't cry...
'Ororonbai...
'Ororon, ororon, ororonbai...
'Quickly, go to sleep, don't cry...
'Ororonbai...
'Ororon, ororon...
'Ororonbai...
'Ororon, ororon...
'Ororonbai...
Even if you go far away...
...and become a star...
...shining dimly in the sky...
Even if you become...
...a star so far away...
...no one can tell which one you are...
Ken-ichi...we're back.
Time to wake up.
'I want to live.'
A perfectly natural wish that your bone-marrow...
...could make come true.
So please...
Even one more registered donor...
Please.
We don't want to die!
Everyone's coming to meet you.
But if, in your heart...
...there is love...
If you have that feeling of love...
...the bonds between us...
...will never melt away...
...never, never, ever.
Ken-ichi, you're home.
Welcome home.
Ken-ichi! I'm sorry!
My stupid marrow wasn't good enough!
Forgive me!
Mizuka...is that fire dying down?
Ken-ichi, wait a minute.
Check the temperature.
960 degrees!
Right!
Kiyoko Yuko Tanaka
Ken-ichi Shunsuke Kubozuka
Mizuka Asuka Kurosawa
Midori Chizuru Ikewaki
Kumiko Kyoko Tohyama
Ishii Ittoku Kishibe
Aunt Sachiko Eri Ishida
Written and Directed by Banmei Takahashi