'It really really really is a lion!
'Fuj Safari Park!'
Happiness...
...depends on how you look at life.
Take this glass, for example.
From the top it looks round, but from the side it's a rectangle.
So in the end, happiness...
Demons begone!
Buddha, save me!
Demons begone!
Buddha, save me!
Out with the demons!
Demons, outside!
Ghost!
They put her in a home.
You want her dolls?
Homeless?
Yes. Catching fish to eat, the two of them.
So now she's homeless?
She’s not suited to work.
It's so nice to be alive!
The water seeps into your pores...
...and makes your whole body dance!
I wish I could just melt into this water.
Wouldn't you like to...
It's Komori, from the Clinic.
I'm sorry to bother you...
Yes?
Well...
...I heard a rumor...
...you were having trouble.
Here. This is for you.
Here.
There’s lots of stuff in there.
You’d better have the sushi and the cheesecake first.
The rest of it won’t spoil.
Excuse me.
Um...
So you're still unemployed?
You're turning it off?
You might not like it.
No, I do.
I like rain.
Sometimes when I wake up and it’s raining...
...I feel very relaxed.
You like books...
A friend has a used-book store. You can get them cheap from him.
Whenever they get a strike...
...they all go like this.
I hate that.
It doesn't have to be bowling. I just think you should get out.
You really don't believe I saw a ghost, do you.
Well, would a real ghost say 'ghost!' like that?
That's what it said!
Since then...
Maybe a hot spring would drive it away.
Let's go to one.
I can't afford it.
I'll put out.
What?
The money.
Forget it.
I’ll pay.
I don't want your sympathy! Stop looking down on me!
Now, listen...empty your mind.
Don't think about the ghost.
I can't empty my mind.
OK, then fill your head with something else.
Something else?
Like...
...love.
What’s this?
This thing's all batter.
They're cute.
You think so?
Are you a man? Don't you ever get a hard-on?
I’m not attracted to their personalities.
How can you tell by just looking at them?
That’s just another way of going by appearances.
So which one of us hits on them?
You're the one talking about love.
I was a Stoic till you got me started.
Hold this.
No personality.
So what's your blood type?
That's ¥800. Would you like a cover?
You've got till month-end for that.
Yeah, but I need this for some other stuff.
Um...
...that place, 'El' something...
'El something'?
The new Mexican place.
Oh, in the station building?
You said let’s go there when it opens...
Yeah...
That's today.
Oh yeah?
50 percent off. It’ll be packed.
30.
Yeah?
And I’ve eaten.
You have?
Just junk food. Too much of t.
Sorry. Maybe next time.
OK.
I'll see you.
Good night.
Well, that’s a relief. So you like women, then...
Thank you.
I should do it faster...
Don’t worry.
No one here’s in a hurry.
You're fine.
So what's your sign?
Getting used to it?
A bit.
Akari's doing fine.
You're friends already?
I thought we’d be casual from the start...
...and save having to change later.
You brought in someone good.
Thanks.
Akari's been teaching me things.
This weird old literary-type lady...
...wanted something-or-other by Ibuse Masuji...
...and Akar knew it was something-or-other publishers...
...and everything about it.
I guess you have to like books to do this job.
Teruo's father may have a bookstore, but Teruo hates reading.
No, I don't.
I love literature...sort of.
Yeah? You used to get me to write all your book reports.
I like books!
You know, for a long time I've thought...
...this store was kind of drab.
Mind your own business.
Why not put up some pictures?
We can’t afford pictures.
How about Ms Kinoshita’s?
Like it was a gallery. You could sell them.
Um...
OK.
You look like newlyweds.
Hey! Watch it, will you?
Is Eitaro still sending postcards?
What?
Postcards from Eitaro.
Yeah, every day...
Show me.
Happiness
Fulfillment
Fascination
Recovery
Bliss
Relief
Joy
Hope
Restoration
Oh, yeah...
This one just arrived.
Love
So he's got a girlfriend?
At his age! It's embarrassing.
It’s better than him going crazy the way he was.
He's still crazy.
If he's happy, who cares?
I'll finish this. You take a break.
What’s gotten into you lately?
I’ve got to buckle down.
I can't get married if I don't. I'm 30 next year.
You want to go full-time, then?
You mean I’m not full-time now?
No.
But what about the store?
I'll let my wife run it.
'Wife'?
A wife who likes books.
You mean...
'Future wife'.
Who is she?
Does it matter?
What?
Tell me!
What?
When?
Never mind!
I know I said you never have to rush...
...but with the porn magazines it's best to get done...
...as quick as you can.
It's an uncomfortable time.
Act like a vending machine. Don't show any feeling.
Don't look at the customer.
But don’t deliberately look away.
Act like you’re looking at them, but never meet their eyes.
Look at their nose.
That’s too close to the eyes. Look at the jaw.
That's ¥750.
¥750 exactly.
I'll see if we have another copy.
That’s OK...
No, no...
But...
Here it is! The same one.
Um...
Yes?
Are these pictures for sale?
Yes.
No.
They’re not worth paying for.
Did you do these?
Yes.
If you ever feel like selling one, sell it to me.
Hi.
I just saw a celebrity.
Filming something, by the drug store.
She used to be in a commercial for barbecue sauce.
What's her name?
Almond-shaped eyes, big wide ones...
A husky voice...
Um, could you...
...watch the store for a minute?
Uh, sure.
But they're probably done by now.
Do you want her to sign that?
I wouldn’t.
She didn’t look very friendly.
Um...
Did you see a man about this tall...
...with long hair, sort of curly...
...and a bag with a strap like this?
With a red face?
Thank you.
Here.
Are you sure...
...you don't mind?
How much?
No, it’s free. That's fine.
But...
What a cute dog.
Male or female?
It's not mine.
Oh.
It’s male.
Do dogs eat fish sausage?
Fish sausage?
Probably.
Hang on a bit.
Do you always carry fish sausage around?
I like fish-paste.
So you like it boiled, too?
And fish-paste cakes?
And fried?
Yes.
Wow!
Fish-paste...
But I like the sausages best.
I like fish sausages, too.
Would you like some?
No, no, that's fine...
Well...
It's good.
This is the second time this year I’ve had this finger bandaged.
From a dog?
I broke it. On an elevator.
You pushed the button and it broke?
Just kidding.
Do you make pots?
I restore them.
Restore them?
I fix broken ones.
No!
Stop!
Stop it!
No!
Stop!
Stop it!
What are you doing?!
Stop!
An Egyptian wrestler.
So that means...
Rikishi...
I need a word starting with 'shi'...
'Sh ', 'shi', 'shi', 'shi', 'shi'...
Right...
Shionbori...'a sad man'.
Let's see...just a minute.
How about this?
How much...
...would you pay for this?
For this?
About ¥1,000?
You got it!
That's about right.
You learn fast.
You can do purchasing, then.
Here we Go Hiromi! Time for a soup break.
Thank you.
You shouldn’t have.
How is it?
It's good.
You're looking prettier lately.
She always did. Shut up, ugly!
Sorry.
But you're different.
Like you’re in love.
What's with you?
Nothing!
Mr Yamato loves the seaside! Today we join him in the salt air.
It's like a poem.
I love this deserted winter seaside.
Hey, there's a good-looking couple.
Let's go talk to them.
Hello, hello! Could we have a word?
So you're wandering with this young lady, writing songs?
Damn, that's romantic!
I hate you!
What kind of songs?
Songs about things I love.
I sing only about those things I love.
Whoa! This sounds like confession time.
A love song to this lady?
No, I'm embarrassed to go that far yet.
Then what else is it that you love?
For example...
...rice.
Rice? The rice you eat?
Don't you like rice? Sure you do!
Uh, yes. I love it.
Then perhaps we could hear a song about rice...
It's Grandpa.
Grandpa.
All I had today for lunch...
...was rice.
All I boiled was rice...
All I ate was rice.
With nothing on the side...
Without soup...
With nothing sprinkled on top...
Eaten alone, rice is so sweet...
Sweeter than...
...chewing gum.
With the power of rice...
Excuse me...
Does this box have the most different colors?
Yes. 85 of them.
I’ll take it, then.
All right.
Could you wrap it as a birthday present?
Certainly.
She's out.
This side...
Let’s change.
Yes, let's do that.
The flame's stronger over here.
So how's the birthday fish-paste?
Of everything I've ever eaten in my life...
...this is the best.
You’re exaggerating.
No, I'm not.
Your own medicine, your own fish sausage...that's great.
No, it's not.
Yes, it is.
If your birthday's in two months...
...I’ll make something for you then.
By then I won't be in Tokyo.
You’ll be traveling?
No.
Next month I'm moving down to Nara.
To restore...
...statues of the Buddha.
My mentor's in Nara, and there's work there.
It's been settled for a while.
Are you going?
At least eat your fish sausage first.
I'm sorry.
I...I...
Come with me?
'Are you well?'
Kafe al haal?
'I am well.'
Bikhayr.
Keep your hands off my girl.
Take your shoes off!
Cut!
Are you OK?
You OK?
Teruo, go easy!
Sorry.
Teruo, that was great!
I'm sorry, Hisanobu, but there was real pass on there.
And...action!
Stop it!
This isn’t for real!
Don't stop them!
Gimme that!
Kill! Kill!
No! Don't do that!
Nara?
I went there when I was a kid. All I remember is the deer stank.
You look like a friend of mine the day before he hanged himself.
Have you ever been to Nara?
Once, a long time ago.
The year of the Osaka Expo... 1970, maybe?
I wasn’t even born.
It’s just temples and shrines.
It’s depressing. I don't know why people go there.
Hello.
Hello!
May I?
That's not tea, is it.
I'll never do it again!
Got any snacks?
These days I drink every night. Something's made me sad.
I’m home.
Want some baumkuchen?
No.
I'll eat it all.
Go ahead.
I thought I'd cheer you up.
A Year Later
The music now playing is from this CD. It is available for purchase.
So Teruo’s gone to Nara?
Watch for Deer
Ms Kinoshita, you sure can draw.
Your turn, Teruo.
'Ra'.
'Ra'?
Yeah.
'Ra'...
'Ra', 'ra', 'ra'...
Lots of things begin with 'ra'.
What will you see tomorrow?
Oh, the Great Buddha...
...Horyuji Temple...
All the things everybody sees when they come here.
Is there anywhere you recommend?
There.
What's that?
Can't you tell?
A snake?
A fat snake... the legendary tsuchinoko?
It starts with 'ra'.
Oh.
Is it a bird?
It starts with 'ra'.
A bird starting with 'ra'.
A monster...
It's a camel! Rakuda.
That doesn't look like a camel!
What other animal has two humps and starts with 'ra'?
But look at those legs!
And the tail’s wrong.
But I like the picture.
Whether it looks like a camel or not, it's an interesting shape.
It's so quiet...
Do you still have that, uh...
...that rain cassette?
Rain?
Um...
...thank you.
For what?
This must be Nara. The pickles are good.
I made those, actually.
Want some more?
Sure. I’ll take a doggie bag, if there's any left over.
Teruo Arakawa Yoshiyoshi
Akari Kimura Yoshino
Komori Hisanobu Okada Yoshinor
Turtle Food ¥100
Written & Directed by Fujita Yosuke