by the Mogami river.
In the spring of her seventh year,
she was sent off to work
in a town down the river.
She had to go to help her family out.
Her two older sisters
had left home for the same reason.
It was in 1907,
two years after the Russo-Japanese war.
This wasn't unusual
for the farmers' families in the north of Japan.
Mummy...
Give them some food quickly.
They've been crying with hunger.
I gave them some pickles, that's all I could find.
Poor things.
I'm sorry...
to make you work on your last day home.
I'll take over now.
Daddy!
This is for us.
It's advance payment for my work.
It must take a lot of work to earn a bale of rice.
Oshin...
I'm sorry. I really am.
Do forgive me.
Aren't my sisters working too?
I don't want to lag behind.
What's that? It's not a feast day.
Why did you cook white rice?
Grandmother...
Tonight is Oshin's last night at home.
You've been so close to Oshin.
It's her rice, I want you to eat it.
Oshin...
Eat as much as you want.
You don't think ahead, do you?
This should have been exchanged for cheaper rice.
We must save each grain, and you go and waste it.
It's not just anyone's.
This happens to be a year's pay to Oshin.
Why not let her eat it?
What did you say, you...
Daddy!
Shoji...
Thanks to Oshin, we can eat white rice.
You must appreciate it.
Isn't white rice delicious?
You know, Oshin, working isn't easy.
Eat now, so you won't regret it later.
Oshin doesn't know what work is.
All she can think about is the white rice.
She's still young.
It's so cruel.
Grandma...
Oshin's going to work for a big timer merchant.
They... They're aware of her age.
They wouldn't mistreat her.
I wouldn't trust what that middleman says.
If we didn't trust him,
we wouldn't be sending Oshin away.
Mummy...
- Are you still up? - Not for much longer.
Look, it's already light.
You have to sleep in order to work tomorrow.
I must finish this tonight for you to wear tomorrow.
- Is it mine? - Yes.
I couldn't make a new kimono for you.
I can't let you go wearing a patched kimono.
This one is...
the kimono I wore on my wedding day.
I'm altering it for you.
Such a precious kimono!
I knew you'd wear it one day,
so I kept it especially for you.
When your sisters left, they got my kimonos too.
It's yours, Oshin.
But...
I never expected it to be so soon.
Mummy...
Here, try it on.
You look great!
Fine feathers make fine birds.
I...
I was always too busy to take good care of you.
Ever since you were little,
you've had to look after yourself.
You've always helped me around the house.
But from now on, you're on your own.
There'll be no one to help you.
Don't rely on anyone but yourself.
Remember this.
In difficult times,
when you're homesick, be patient.
But if you can't put up with it,
just come back home.
I'll be happy to have you back.
Mummy!
Take care of yourself.
Come back safe and sound.
Nakagawa, the timber merchant, sent me.
I've come for the girl who's to be nursemaid.
Thank you for coming.
Hurry up!
There's a change of underwear
and a kimono.
I have nothing else to give you.
There are some riceballs, too.
What's going on?
I hope they will treat you well.
Grandma!
Don't tell anyone.
Take it.
That's all I can do for you.
I'm sorry.
Well, let's go.
We're going on a raft, so wear a straw coat.
You might get splashed.
A raft?
Aren't you going by boat?
The boat costs money.
We happened to be transporting some wood,
so the raft's free.
But she's so young... It's too dangerous!
- Fuji! - I'll look after her.
- No, It's too dangerous! - Fuji!
Really, we were supposed to pay the fare
and take her there ourselves.
But they kindly offered to pick her up.
- Don't you dare complain! - But...
We've made an agreement and have been paid.
You've no right to complain.
Thank you for your time.
Oshin...
No thanks. If I take it, Mother can't use it.
Oshin...
Fuji!
Your daughter is leaving.
Aren't you going to say goodbye?
What kind of a father are you?
For whose sake is Oshin going to work?
Hold on tight! Don't you stand up!
Would you please look after her?
Yes.
Oshin!
- Sit still! - Mummy!
Daddy...
Daddy!
Oshin!
Oshin... I'm sorry.
"Father is suffering."
"He's suffering more than anyone."
Never before had Oshin seen her father like this.
Now she understood his feelings.
For only a bale of rice...
you were sold and put on a raft.
It wasn't anyone's fault.
All share-farmers had a hard time.
All farmers in the north
had to do it in order to survive.
When I look back now,
I see that Father did all he could to support us.
He always shouted at us because he couldn't admit
that he depended on his daughters.
I think I understand.
Even nowadays, there are lots of poor people about.
But compared with the past, life is much easier now.
I've forgotten the hardship myself.
But when I do remember, I can cope with anything.
Nothing could be worse
than the hard times of the past.
Grandma...
Kei wondered what the 83-year-old Oshin
was thinking about.
Kei became silent.
Oshin was looking into the past
and Kei followed her eyes which were dark with gloom.
Pull yourself together.
This is the house.
Damn it.
Has the nursemaid arrived?
- Is that her? - She's sea-sick.
If she's like this, will she be of any use?
She's too frail.
Besides, she's too small for a nine-year-old.
- Should we send her back? - Well...
The raft might have been too much for her.
When she gets over it, she'll be fine.
I'll train her.
Hey, take her inside.