Mom, will you go pay the taxes?
Leave it to me.
You hand it to the clerk, got that?
I know. Don't treat me like a child.
Oh, dear, what a terrible calamity...
I'm really going senile.
Nice to see you.
Take care, bye.
I put it in the mail box!
Why, Shige... Thanks for coming to visit.
Well, I heard you were suddenly hospitalized.
You'll never believe it...
Have a seat.
You see...
Yes.
Look.
See the guy visiting that patient over there?
I'm sure they're having an affair.
What!
Are you...?
They definitely look suspicious to me!
Suspicious, right?
This is a special room.
That notorious city councilman accused of corruption is in there now.
I occasionally come up here for a breath of fresh air.
These noodles are pretty good, right?
They are.
But the coffee's really lousy here.
By the way, why are you in the hospital?
Oh, Shige...!
No sign of death's approach In the ciccada's voices - Basho
Why, mother.
Turn on the light.
Oh, I hadn't noticed it getting dark.
Noboru! Turn off your light.
I'm not asleep!
Age Comes More Easily Than Wisdom
Five problems left. I'm so sleepy.
A hot bath will wake you up.
In you go.
Feel better?
Yup! I'm wide awake.
OK, here goes!
Here goes, here goes...
Here...goes...
You're as limp as a noodle.
Don't give up.
In a fire, the first 5 minutes count. In a test, it's the last 5 minutes.
Time's up. Turn in your papers.
Ma'm!
Tanaka felt sick and had to go to the nurse's office!
Yes...
We deserve make-up time!
Forget it.
Put them in the upstairs closet?
Sure.
Noboru's studying like a demon.
But the exams are over.
He did miserably.
About Noboru's tutor.
He really needs one?
He's my son, after all.
You've got a point.
But isn't it expensive?
$300 for 2 sessions with a university student.
What!
For $300, I'll teach him.
I'll teach him for $200.
Pay me $100 and I'll work harder!
This is getting us nowhere...
Fleeting dreams An octopus making its home in a trap A summer moon - Basho
I'm home!
Look, chocolates!
Mommy! Noboru bought chocolates!
They were a Valentine's Day present!
Adolescence
Gone!
Gone, gone, gone!
I'm home!
Where are those cookies, Nonoko!
I ate them.
What! I got them for a girl!
But...
No ifs ands or buts!
Mommy already ate half.
Mother...?
Damn...I forgot my umbrella.
Hey, Yamada!
Use my umbrella.
How'bout you?
I'll be fine.
Say, Tanaka, I forgot my umbrella!
Too bad. Don't catch cold.
Rejected.
No!
Give it back!
Not after that.
But it's mine.
Thanks for the favor.
Give it back!
Guess it's a rain date.
Hey, Nakamura.
Back to sock the teacher?
Don't be stupid. I came to tell him I got into college.
Wow, you made it!
Sir...?
No need to run...
from Nakamura.
Idiot! Don't believe the rumors.
Hey, Yamada, Yamashita,
let's buy some dirty books.
Hey!
Shoot!
What a coincidence.
Tragedy in Bosnia...! You've got serious taste.
Well, Japan's part of a bigger world.
Can I borrow it later?
A real tragedy...
I'm home.
Noboru,
the textbook?
This?
I gave you $10 for it.
I want to see it.
'F-1 Racing for Students'
What is this!
'Formula-1 Racing for Students'?
It'll help my English and my geography.
You idiot!
You're the one who gave me
'The Power Ranger's ABC' when I was 3!
Noboru, there's a girl on the phone.
What!
Oh, hello...
Oh, yeah, it's me...
Go away!
Oh, no, nothing.
Yeah, yeah, OK.
A girlfriend...with his looks?
A real girlfriend?
His face is red.
Yeah, OK.
Bye, then.
It's pounding away!
An irregular heartbeat?
Let's see.
Do you think he's upset?
You insulted him, mother.
This, from the paragon of motherhood?
The scent of plums On a mountain path Suddenly dawn - Basho
Yamada Family Chronicles
I'm home...
Welcome back.
An Autumn Night
I'm hungry.
Anything to eat?
Coming right up.
Red bean cake or banana.
Who the hell would want to come home to bean cakes
after working hard all day!
OK, a banana.
What a jerk! Who wants a banana!
Turn towards me I'm lonely too The autumn dusk - Basho
Mom's down with a cold. We'll get take-out tonight.
Seaweed-rice special.
Me too!
I'll have the salmon-rice.
How'bout you, mother?
The combination special.
I'll go get it!
Not so fast!
Tempura-rice for me!
Going My Way
Croquet Tournament
That's good.
Hey, hey, lady...
You can't do that!
What? But this is...
It's empty now, but someone may put a poster up. There's an election.
But, mister...
This was the only thing underneath.
If it isn't old Saburo...
This is my territory.
Oh, it's you, Shige.
We might as well work together, we're volunteers.
You're on that side, I'm on this.
Don't cross over.
Oh, boy, she hasn't changed a bit in 60 years.
Oh, no, I forgot to take out the garbage...
Oh, well, I'll have to sort it!
Why sort burnables?
Trash can at the station,
Nonoko does the park, Noboru does the store.
You can't do that!
Why not? It's a great plan.
Off we go.
See you later.
Ouch!
Here I volunteer cleaning up the park and you dump trash there!
I'm not dumping, just using the public trash cans.
That's the problem!
Mom...
The Fight for Justice
Excuse us!
Our ball fell in...
This new one or this rubber ball?
The rubber ball!
Honesty's the best policy. Don't ever lie.
OK.
Take this one too.
Wow! Thanks!
Excuse me... Our ball fell in yesterday...
But you weren't here.
Didn't see any.
I see...
I'm sure this was the house.
I beg you, please tell those boys to give him his new ball back.
Oh, poor things.
You're right, they're all wilted.
Not the flowers! The accident!
Oh, I see.
It was a motor cycle gang.
The poor guard rail.
Mother!
It was the poor child's parents who suffered...
They're so loud, has to be a motorcycle gang.
They're by the park.
They're the litterbugs!
I'll go scold them.
That's dangerous, mother!
Someone was recently murdered for that.
Senior Citizen Murdered
Hmm, I know.
That's worse!
Mm...mother! Why the get up?
Says she's scolding the motorcycle gang.
Won't you stop her, please.
You can't wear that hard-hat. It's a momento from when we built the house.
Oh. Well that's too bad.
I'm sorry, but you can't.
In that case,
you wear it and go.
I go!?
They're not vicious. They'll go home eventually.
Then you have nothing to fear.
Give them a manly scolding. You're older.
Manly...?
But mother...
I know, let's report them to 911.
The poor kids. They don't deserve a criminal record for making noise.
A record!
See, they're gone.
You think?
What did I tell you?
We're relying on you.
All right, I'll just go look.
Be careful, dear!
Um, excuse me...
What do you want?
It's awfully late.
Yeah? So what?
Got a problem?
N, no, we can work this out. I don't have a problem...
I don't have a problem, but I do have a request.
Spit it out.
Ask away, old man.
Would you mind turning off your headlight.
So that's your request, then?
Um, n, no.
Whaddya want then?
Come, come fireflies, this water's bitter, this water's sweet
What is that!
That old bag's nuts.
Mother, are you all right!?
An old bag, huh?
At least turn down that putt-putt. You're a neighborhood nuisance.
M, mother, you can't talk to these low-lifes.
Who you calling low-life!
How exciting!
What a great voice, you have.
Mother!
And a fine face and physique to go with it.
I bet people shut up when you talk.
Get to the point!
Really scary. You sure shut this guy up in a hurry.
A cinch.
When you yell at people, it reminds me of a snake staring down a frog.
It sure must be fun shutting people up and ordering them around.
It's OK.
I know, why don't you employ your venom in the cause of justice?
What?
Don't you like fighting for justice, that Masked Rider stuff?
Way old, granny.
Of course, it's not exactly cool, is it? Nowadays,
we turn a blind eye to every kind of misdeed.
But I know you could do it. Because you're fearless.
Someone tosses a cigarette butt or can from their car,
you use that voice of yours, make'em pick it up.
You see a kid causing trouble on the subway,
you gently tap him on the shoulder.
I'm sure anyone will do whatever you say.
We'll all be so happy, we'll cheer you on.
It's nice to be appreciated.
While you're at it, scare off thugs,
and take the bad guys' money.
What do you say, will you heed an old bag's plea and fight for justice?
It'll be a whole lot better than listening to me rant and rave.
I think this old lady's nuts.
No go?
What a shame, with your godly attributes.
Outta here!
Think about fighting for justice!
Hey, you forgot this.
Did he get it?
Mother!
Noboru! Nonoko!
Mother!
It's the Masked Rider!
The Masked Rider!
Help...
Mother!
Noboru!
Nonoko...
Thank you, Masked Rider!
How cruel A grasshopper trapped Under a warrior's helmet - Basho
I'm home.
Did you bring your umbrella home?
Your husband's home from work, exhausted, and
all you can ask is'did you bring your umbrella home!'
OK, OK. Welcome home. Have a hard day?
Where's your umbrella?
I forgot it.
Welcome home.
Look, I remembered to bring it home, so there, ha!
What? Got a problem?
But you didn't take an umbrella today.
See?
Section Chief Yamada
I bought a cake.
Really?
Once in a blue moon...
Guilty conscience?
What was that!
That's going too far. Here Takashi's thoughtfully gone and...
I even bought custard.
Now that's suspicious.
Nonoko! Noboru! Your father got cake!
Where's Dad?
On a business trip.
But his briefcase...
Oh no, he must've forgotten it.
And his scarf and train pass.
What? Oh, no!
He was supposed to leave early.
Father!
Dear!
Section Chief Yamada
Mom must've overslept.
She woke up late and thought Dad had already left.
Oh, I see.
B...b...briefcase!
H...h...here!
I'm off!
Have a nice trip!
Be careful!
I can still make it.
Are you OK?
Phone, phone...
I suddenly feel terrible...
I can hardly breathe...
Yes, yes, I'll get there.
I'll crawl there if I have to...
Please tell the client...
Yes, yes, I'm terribly sorry...
A slight fever.
You should stay home.
Before it gets worse.
The company won't take care o you.
You know, maybe I will. Make a long weekend of it.
You should, you should.
It's good to relax and enjoy some time at home.
...What is it?
I started feeling better, the minute I decided to stay home.
I guess I'll go in after all.
Take care, dear.
Next, Mr. Yamada will offer his congratulations.
Your notes, dear.
He's wound tight as a spring!
Um... This is a fine, auspicious day...
Cucumber, garbage bags, light bulbs
Life is full of surprises...
Now...that is, up until now...
things seemed to be just fine...
then suddenly, you're shoved off a cliff!
By...your trusted spouse,
of all people!
He means you.
But Ichiro and Kazuko...
You have to accept life as it comes.
Acceptance is the key to surviving
the worst situations, without losing heart or breaking up.
Breaking up?!
Even the worst behavior...
can be accepted and forgiven if there is no malice.
In fact, must be forgiven so one can go on with life!
Gutsy speech!
It's not necessarily bad to resign yourself to a situation.
In fact, it's essential.
A must for a happy family.
A must for facing life and getting on with it.
Though it may sound negative,
'acceptance'
is the only way out of totally unacceptable situations.
I didn't know he had it in him... What a man.
Um, well, that is, I mean.
So, my dear Ichiro and Kazuko,
congratulations on your wedding.
May you be a tough, harmonious couple.
When I grew up and fell in love I asked my sweetheart, what lies ahead?
Will we have rainbows day after day? Here's what my sweetheart said
Que sera sera, whatever will be, will be
the future's not ours to see que sera sera, que sera sera
A skinhead cut would disguise your baldness.
Who asked you!
Don't you need dentures, mother?
Who asked you!
Cut it out! Both of you!
You're starting to look like a sumo wrestler.
You tell her!
How dare you!
You're setting a terrible example! In front of the children.
I can't hear the TV!
I know why we're so peaceful.
Because all three of you are nuts.
How dare you!
If even one of you were normal,
it'd throw off the balance.
What's your motto?
Getting married?
Change jobs?
Be quiet...
This.
DON'T OVERDO IT
Hey, everybody's in the picture!
Let's see.
Everyone's so tiny.
It's a stick-on picture.
Time to get some dinner...
Let's have pork cutlets.
I want pizza!
Tempura.
Spaghetti!
Quiet! I decide!