But you've got talent
Hang in there
I...
I can't take it anymore
New Age Fair
You're from that art class
I'm so hungry... I can't take it
Hey, how have you been?
Where are you?
Sorry, I don't have enough change to talk for long
I can't reach my mother
Your mother's hospitalized with cancer
She nearly lost her voice
Hey! Are you listening?
It was just a small cancer on my thyroid
They said my vocal chords would be fine, so I let them operate
I'll have to be on hormones that rest of my life,
but I'm lucky I saved my voice
The operation tightened some wrinkles
What really upset me back then
was having to give up my restaurant
But you really hung in there, Mom
You really hung in there, all on your own
But some things are beyond Hanging in there
Don't talk like that
Why look, it's 3 o'clock
The test results will be ready
The nurse told you?
Yes, go talk to the doctor
Sure
May her condition be operable...
Come in
No loan shark would talk to me,
and even illegal dealers turned me down,
but somehow Enomoto and I managed to cough up the security deposit
on a room in Omotesando
Enomoto
I'm going to work
Maybe in reaction to years of slacking,
I started drawing and writing
Sorry to keep you waiting Yours will be right up
And Mom didn't give up either
Hey, this is good
Nakagawa, you can write erotica, want to write a column?
Sure, I will
Yeah, you're right
You're definitely right
But you hear that a lot
Like instant fried noodles are actually just steamed
They don't get fried at all, you just pour water over them...
I had my hands full living day to day
Nothing in my life felt secure
I took any job that came my way
Moon's out, moon's out,
moon's out, it is...
Eiko san, you came back
Yes, hello
Yes, it's been a while since I heard this song
A package from your son
See you
Wow
30,000 yen more and we're debt-free!
Hello
Hey, Mom
When did you find the time to write a book?
I haven't read it yet but you're doing great
I'm so happy
I'll read it carefully
There's nothing in it worth reading carefully
Oh, I'll buy a beeper soon so you can reach me anywhere
Don't you worry about me I'm moved back to Grandma's
I'll always be home
What? Why?
The diner fired me
I keep going to the hospital I take too many sick days
There's still some cancer on my vocal chords
I thought you were completely cured
There's still a small cancer that needs treatment
They need to keep it under control with radiation therapy
I see
But your book will raise my spirits
Thank you so much
It's a real book
Wonder how much it'll make
Sister, time for a drink
Here's to Maestro Nakagawa getting out of debt,
getting off part-time work...
Don't forget the important thing
And to the opening of your bar, House of the Rising Sun
Cheers!
Next thing I knew, life had improved a little
Even Hiraguri had found his way and opened a bar
I always believed in him
What do you mean Believed?
I'm just barely out of the red
Do you know how many people in Tokyo stay in the red all their lives?
Welcome
We showed up as promised
Thank you
You really opened it
- Impressed? C'mon in - Oh, thank you
May I sit here?
Sure
It's not so unusual
Meaning?
And I found a new girlfriend
I talk about Mom a lot, don't I?
Sure, why?
Isn't it depressing?
Not at all, what a funny question
I don't have a mom so I never tire of it
I wonder if she'd come
What do you mean, come?
I wonder if she'd come to Tokyo
To live with you?
But it's not like she's divorced my father, either
But your mother, I'd like to meet
Really?
Because it's obvious she'll be sweet
What?
No, I just feel so happy
My happiest moment since coming to Tokyo...
Weirdo
Do you really want to meet my mom?
It's really all right to go?
Is it really all right for me to go to Tokyo?
Yeah, sure, it's fine, you should come
Thank you! Bye, then
Right
What'd she say?
Are you really sure it's all right?
Yeah, it's fine, you should come
That means I'll live with you, right?
That's right, that's right
Maybe I'll go, then
Um...
It's fine that you're coming, but...
Your father?
Your father's living with another woman
He's been living with her a long while, now
In that case...
In that case, you should live in Tokyo until you die
Moon's out, moon's out,
moon's out, it is
Moon's out over
the Miike Mines
The smokestacks are so high,
the moon must be all smoky
If you really, really feel that way
I'll make up my mind, to leave you
If you give me back
the 18 year-old girl, I once was
I'll leave you
Wait here, OK?
Mom
Sorry
The station's so big
We're going to live in this town
Yes
We're going to live together forever, OK?
Yes
Fifteen years after I left my mother's side at age 15,
I wound up living with her again,
in a nondescript building in Tokyo
You moved for me? I feel bad
What are you saying?
This is just the prologue
Time for me to pay you back now
What's that?
There's a bowling alley downstairs
Oh, this is it
Here it is. As long as I have this,
there's nothing to fear
There it is, that smell
Pickle brine...
Dear
Are you sure it's all right for me to live here?
Right or not, you're already here
When I die...
Don't sound so morbid You're not going to die
You can just live here forever
In that case,
I hope you'll take good care of me
I'll take you
to all kinds of places you've never been
Sounds like a strike ball down there You'll get used to it
Don't you worry about me
Good evening
Smells so good
Tonight is curry and tempura
A nice combo
A gift for you
Let's put it in the curry You're so thoughtful, Mizue
Hey, check this out!
A rabbit! Cute!
Why, Dear?
I suddenly remembered my pet rabbit when I was a kid
What's this?
The white one's Bread, the black one's Grape
I'm allergic
You're so weak
- To rabbits? - You OK?
OK, time to eat
Thanks for the food
All my friends gathered in our kitchen,
seduced by Mom's cooking
And Mom befriended them, one after the other
Mom cooked rice for 10 people
though only the two of us lived there
In the old days, they had places called Dance Halls
That's where we went to dance
That's where I learned to dance
"QUISAS, QUISAS, QUISAS"
That's where you met Dad
That's true, but...
He couldn't dance
Tell us more
He seduced you? That's so hip
Your father had come by himself and just kept staring at me
That's creepy
That's right, so I went to scold him,
but he apologized so sweetly,
and bought me a drink
I don't remember our conversation,
but I guess I gave him my address
A few days later, without saying a word to me,
he brought over a betrothal present
What! Cool!
I was so shocked, I just nodded
But enough of my story
I want to hear what's going on with you
You don't need to hear about us, we're just fine
How about you?
I'm not...
Mom, you bought me that bed the other day,
but you must be out of savings
It's all gone
What about your pension?
My pension...
After things got tough I couldn't make the payments anymore
I had to give it up
I see...
I spent all my savings and everything on this
This is my entire estate I've got nothing else
I've lived here a dozen years, but never been up to the observation deck
You either, right?
I bet it feels great up there
with the beautiful view
Too late now, I'll bring you next time
I'll look forward to it
You come, too, Mizue
Yes, the 3 of us
I bet we'll get a discount
A group discount?
They don't give discounts for 3
You're right
I felt like things were moving in the right direction
And as usual, everyone around me
kept coming to eat Mom's food
The happy times
sped by, leaving sweet echoes behind,
like a bell rolling down a hill
How were the test results?
He said they can't operate
I'd better tell Mom
Can I be there with you?
I see
So they can't operate on me?
They say you're not quite strong enough
Gastric cancer
is the same kind that killed that news announcer
It won't be easy but we have to try,
so they'll put you on chemotherapy
Right
Try everything that might work
I wonder if it'll work
A vaccine cured some people
It's not government-approved, but you should try it
It must be expensive
Don't you worry about that
Mom, let's hang in there
If something happens to you, it won't just make folks back home sad
How many friends have you made in Tokyo?
All of us love you, Mom
Do you know how impossible that is?
I wonder...
Maybe I should try...
Will you try the chemotherapy?
The chemotherapy... Yes
When I asked her what she wanted,
she asked me to bring my graduation certificate
She was smiling
What an amazing person
Thanks for being there
I couldn't have encouraged her that much alone
You haven't told her we split up?
No
She still thinks we're getting married
Before you came today, she gave me this
The ring your dad once gave her
Oh, I see
I don't know,
if it's right for me to keep it
Please, keep it
Um, that...
You can wear it and not wear it
Weirdo
Good morning
Morning, Mom
Morning. Did you bring it?
Yeah
But don't put it out, it's embarrassing
Of course I won't
Hey, Mom
No, nothing
If you've something to say, say it
Dad's coming
He's coming all the way from Kokura but I can't do anything for him
You don't have to
It's been so many years
I'll go meet him
OK, be careful
When do they start the chemotherapy?
Day after tomorrow
Can you take it?
Can I smoke?
Nope
I have to meet a real estate agent
A real estate agent? For what?
Thinking about you recuperating at home,
I figure I might as well find a bigger place
I'm off, see you
You know, my hair's grown back
That hair-growth drug actually works
That's wonderful
I'm having trouble swallowing food these days
You're keeping your doctor's appointments?
He says he'll take X-rays if the drug
doesn't work after a week
Right
Have him take a look at you
I threw upjust a little yesterday
I guess it's my stomach
Maybe it's metastasized
Don't worry so much
You can't keep getting cancers like that
I know my own body best
I often worked late
or stayed out all night drinking
Conversations with Mom became strictly business
We had gotten used to this and were simply numb
It's been 7 years since Mom moved to Tokyo
Grape, the rabbit, died on the veranda
It's grown quite big
His tone of voice was of casual surprise
And now,
Mom was about to start her final hospitalization
This is the gastric cancer
Remember to feed Bread
while I'm in the hospital
Animals can't talk
I feel so bad about Grape
He must've been so lonely
And after I die...
You won't die
If something should happen to me, you open that box up there
What is it?
Don't open it now
What is this? When did you do this?
Open this after I die
This was the first time
I was leading Mom by the hand
You can pass, you can pass
Who's narrow path is this?
This path belongs to the gods
This is how a hospital at the foot of Tokyo Tower
became my mother's final residence
Illustrator, columnist,
and disc jockey
What exactly do you do?
I'm ajack of all trades
Ajack of all trades?
You're going to live with your mom?
Yeah? The rent's high Sure you can pay it?
It won't be a problem
It gets lots of sunlight Your mom will like it
I know it belongs to you,
but this may be the last house my mother and I live in together
That's it
It's yours to rent
Hello, it's me, I found a tenant
No, no, that's fine
Excuse me
Your mother went to the shop With her husband
Oh, I see
We don't need so much
Not to worry
It's not for you to eat
Oh, thank you
This too, and this?
Oh, thank you, that's enough
Dad went home the next day,
and then Mom started chemotherapy
I feel... sick
Mom
Are you OK, Mom?
Maybe Mom had an especially bad reaction,
maybe others suffered equally
But her suffering was far beyond what I had imagined
In pain,
suffering,
yet Mom never asked to stop it
Mom was desperately trying to stay alive
The second round of chemotherapy
took a real toll on Mom's body,
already weakened by the first round
How long?
How long will this go on?
Mom...
You're hanging in there,
but what am I supposed to do?
You're a grownup
Think grownup thoughts
I want to stop
I want to stop this, Ma
Let's stop
Let's stop this
You worked so hard
It's not like the old days There must be other treatments
You want to stop it?
Yes
She's got 2, maybe 3 months left
After the chemotherapy,
Mom temporarily regained her strength
Can I put this here for now?
Sure, fine
You'll be able to work and take care of your mom here
Yeah
Time for lunch
Over here
The cherry blossoms are in full bloom
Really...
Already cherry blossom season
Thank you all for coming
We made it here all right, but the subway's hard to manage
The map's just shows a bunch of lines snaking around
We brought your favorites
Don't spread that out here
Can we take your mother to the hotel we're staying in?
Sure, it'll be a nice change for her
Let's take this
Enjoy yourself, Mom
I'm off, then
Don't you worry
It's been so long
Hey, Bread
Hello?
Hi, Auntie, how's it going?
She vomited?
Guess you enjoyed yourself a little too much
Mom
When... Did you come back?
Me? I've been here a while
It's so much nicer being at home
Yes, but...
Listen, Dear
There's some sashimi in the refrigerator,
and there's also
some eggplant miso soup on the stove
Heat that up and eat it
Eggplant miso soup...
Mom...
What are you saying, Mom...
Mom
It's snowing
Eggplant, you know...
It snowed that day, though it was already the season
for cherry blossoms
It was like an April Fool's joke, when you never know
what's true and what's not
Look, an omelet Mom-style
They moved Mom into another room
and as of that day, I slept on a cot in her room,
to nurse her every night
Here, Dad
Feels like we're all back at home
I'll still be here
when it's his turn
Thank you
Mom was no longer able to eat any food
If you're going home tomorrow,
why not sleep near her tonight
How much does that room cost?
40,000 yen a night
You can afford that?
Amazing
My hair's grown back,
from that hair-growth drug
Right
Your mom,
may not make it
Daddy
What is it? Need the toilet?
The radio
The radio, radio
The radio
Ma's show Thursdays from 1:00 - 1:30am
It's like jerking off with Devil's Tongue
Miso's a favorite, now
Wow, Miso Devil's Tongue?
Miso masturbation?
Disgusting
These days, they recommend the combo
The combo?
The combo miso Devil's Tongue masturbation
What is this?
Have you been listening to this all along?
If you've got any jerking off tips, send them my way
So, it's time for a tune
I dedicate this to someone I love QUISAS, QUISAS, QUISAS
The night that Dad was to head home,
Mom was in pain like never before
You'll be OK, calm down
Do you recognize me? You'll be OK
Does it hurt?
I feel so bad, I just feel so bad
I'm so sorry
What is it?
A sudden change
Her vitals?
Blood pressure 146 over 103, heart rate 138,
oxygen saturation is 91
You'll be OK
Give her an oxygen mask
A shot of tranquilizer
In her side tube?
That's fine
What are you saying, Mom?
What, Mom?
What is it?
The phone for you
Your publisher has to talk to you now
Give me a break! Now's not the time!
Be quiet
We gave you some medicine
What happened?
A turn for the worse
It suddenly occurred to me,
Mom didn't want Dad to leave
Eiko!
Hemostatis
What are you doing, Mom!
You can't do that! Be strong, Mom!
Be strong!
It's me, can you tell? Eiko!
Mom!
Eiko!
Mom!
Don't die!
Dad, Dad
Mom's awake
I'm sorry, Mom
I don't know what you're saying
But I know
You're worried about us, right?
You don't need to worry anymore, now
You're saying, Thank you?
What's wrong, Mom?
You were so strong
You don't have to worry, now
You were so strong
Mom
What do you think of the house?
It's big, right?
It fits about as many people as Grandma's house
Nakagawa san
About a column deadline...
Hello
I hear your mother passed away
When was it?
This morning
I'm sorry for your loss
You called me at the hospital?
I know this is a bad time,
but we can't push this deadline What do you say?
What do I say?
Does it have to be today?
Tomorrow and we have to print blank column
Could you write, staring at your mother's corpse?
I don't need to write today
You should write
I hardly have any time left with you
It's not the time to write a stupid column
You don't want to cause trouble for that man
Write
But they're going to burn you soon You're going to disappear
Didn't I tell you before? You don't remember
When you're working,
I feel better
This is my last chance
Show me
You just watch, Mom
I'm going to make you laugh so hard
My writing will be funnier than anyone else's
I'll leave this here
Thank you
Please
Hey, Bread
Bread?
Lts name is Bread
But it's a rabbit
I see your point
Done
Fast!
I'll go fax it
A drink for you
Tamami
Would you like to inherit my mother's 100 year-old pickle brine?
That's,
too much for me
Right
Then carry on her routine
All right!
I'm so sad, so sad!
I'm going to drink, too
There's an illustration, that goes with it, right?
OK
Everybody, drink and carry on
So that Mom can hear you upstairs
OK!
We'll drink!
Tamami
Mom
I'm really...
Wiped out today
Sorry
Can I have a moment?
A while ago,
Mom told me
The first year she moved to Tokyo,
you took her all over the place
and fed her lots of great food
She felt like in that 1 year,
she had a lifetime
of being looked after by her son
I never told you that
OK
That's all
Dad, here
You're the chief mourner
I won't make a speech
The chief mourner
will address the assembled mourners
Eiko...
and I...
That day,
I saw Dad cry,
for the first time in my life
I'll be back to observe her first mourning rites
Want to see this?
She left it to you
I'll say good bye to the rabbit and go home
Dad
When you get home,
can you send me your drawing of Buddha?
As soon as I finish it
It's nearly done
See you
Open this after I die
To Mizue san
Dear Ma
Thank you for all these years
I so enjoyed living in Tokyo
I failed in my marriage,
but I was blessed with a sweet son,
so I can die happily
You were a sickly boy and cried a lot,
so when I prayed to the gods, it was first for your health
And also that you'd be open-hearted
As you grew up, your health still came first
but also business success
These days, I'm greedy
and pray for you and your girlfriend's safety
She really felt like my own daughter
She made me so happy, calling me Mother, mother,
like she really meant it
I'm so very fortunate to be able to bid good bye
to life in a state of happiness
Good bye, Ma
Mom
Let's climb it together, just like we promised
Mom
I'm still sad, now
I can't believe how much of your hard-earned pay I begged off of you
My work situation is a little better,
but my life's hardly settled
I still bring people trouble I've a long way to go
I've hardly made any progress
Sorry I'm late
Where's Mom?
Amazing, right, Mom?
Amazing
It's a little late, but it's from Mom
Mom, you wrote me Good bye
but you shouldn't have
You'll always be my mother, I'll be your son
Don't talk like that
Mom,
I'm so sorry for everything
And thank you
Mom,
it's a beautiful day, today