Woman
Episode 1: "The Touching Drama of a Single Mother Who Risks Her Life to Raise Her Children"
...yama ni hi wa ochi te ...as the sun falls behind the mountains
- Eh? - The stars...
Eh?
Ah... Well...
- I'm sorry. - No...
- Um... - Yes?
What are... the lyrics for this song?
Well just now...
...you were singing them, weren't you?
I wasn't singing; I wasn't...
No... you were singing!
You didn't do it in a loud voice...
...but you were singing relatively brightly.
Excuse me.
- Couldn't you sing it one more time? - No way.
It's the end-of-day song at grade schools, isn't it?
Are there lyrics for it?
There are.
Then...
Toki yama ni hi wa ochi te As the sun falls behind the far-off mountains
Hoshi wa sora o chiribame nu A sky studded with stars appears
Kyou no waza o When you're finished with...
...today's work, your heart will be tranquil.
Kaze wa suzushi kono yuube A cool breeze comes
Iza ya tanoshiki... And the evening is fun...
...madoisen ...with madoisen
That's it.
And it was in that way...
...that your Father and I met.
"Madoisen"?
Look... You sang, "Madoisen", didn't you?
Ah... Madoisen...
What is that, I wonder?
Do you know of Chomolungma? Mt. Everest.
Ah, yes.
I'm back from having gone there.
Ah.
Have one.
Did you bring these from Chomolungma?
At that time, your father...
...would work for a year and then spend 6 months climbing mountains around the world.
And then he would work again for a year to make a living.
When I was a child...
...I would wonder, "what happens to people when they die? Where do they go?"
...and things like that...
Yeah.
When I would ask an adult, they would tell me, "they become a star."
But I thought there was no way for a human to become a star.
And then, what I thought in the end was...
...that when a person dies, they disappear.
I've waited.
You married Dad because he gave you a caramel?
Eh?
Maybe so.
"Marriage License Aoyagi Shin - Uesugi Koharu"
We got married and started living together...
I wonder if that's when I got worried?
Shin-san!
I decided I would ask your father...
...to stop going to the mountains and live for his family.
Thank you.
And then, Nozomi was born!
Were you happy?
Incredibly, incredibly happy.
Both your father and I said...
"This is the greatest day of my life."
Nozomi-chan, are you hungry?
Nozomi.
Nozomi, do you love your Dad?
- I'm off. - Have a nice day.
I love him!
Then both of us love him.
That feeling... will never die.
"A love that will never die"?
A love that will never die.
Your father will be sure to be there.
Where is he?
Hiding.
He's hiding... but he's close by.
It's best that all of us smile.
It's best to smile?
Yeah. If we're always smiling, your Father will say...
"What's this? Looks like they're having fun."
"Let me join in, too!" like that.
Eh?!
That's why I won't cry.
And I won't cry either.
Shin-san, um...
Just watch.
I will definitely make the children happy.
Here. Got your shoes?
"2010 Summer - Nozomi 4 years-old, Riku 1 year-old"
Thank you.
Mom, Riku can say "crocodile" and "Totoro."
We'll have to let Riku watch Totoro next time, won't we?
Riku. Riku, it's okay, it's okay... Shh...
Don't cry.
Nozomi, why did you hit Riku?
Because he was crying.
Riku doesn't understand...
...that crying annoys people.
Look, Nozomi. Do you know what a giraffe's voice is like?
A giraffe's voice is... "Moo..."
The same as a cow!
See if you can guess which one I'm imitating, okay?
Yeah!
Moo...
- A giraffe! - That was a cow.
Then, next.
Moo...
- A giraffe! - It was a cow!
Then next. Moo...
- A giraffe! - A cow.
Then next. Here goes.
Moo...
They're all cows!
You caught me.
- Good morning! - Good morning!
- Nozomi-chan, morning. - 'Morning.
So long, Riku. Bye-bye.
- Ah! Good morning. - Ah! Aoyagi-san.
Ah, um, starting next month, our fees will be going up.
If you would please.
Go ahead! Thank you very much!
- Is it okay if I take these? - Sure.
- Aoyanagi-san... - Yes?
Eh... It's Aoyagi-san, isn't it?
Why did you answer when I saId, "Aoyanagi-san"?
I'm sorry.
Eh? No, no, why are you apologizing?
Well, whatever.
Aoyagi-san, you're raising your children alone, aren't you?
Me, too.
At night I have these busy parties...
Ah, with doctors and dentists and such.
Aoyagi-san, would you like to tag along?
Ah, the nursery is far away, and the child care won't give extensions.
How much are they, without the subsidies?
The nursery is 38,000 yen ($377) and child care is 40,000. ($397)
Ah, that will go up this month to 46,000 yen. ($457)
You're an interesting person, Aoyagi-san.
You could call this a kind of affinity...
Like this.
We generate a good atmosphere, don't we?
Eh? We don't?
Yes... Ah, we do.
Riku, whaa...
- Nozomi. - Mom!
I'm back!
Nozomi, you're still good at drawing, aren't you?
In drawing, creating is the tough part.
Creating?
Look, do dogs talk to cats?
I don't think they can that I've seen.
How about pigeons to monkeys?
Pigeons to monkeys...
They can greet each other and ask "where's the restroom"...
- How about pigeons to alpacas? - I wonder?
I don't know what an alpaca thinks about.
- How about an alpaca to Obama? - Obama?
President Obama's a human, so...
Mom, that color on the sunflower on my clothes, right?
Put that aside already since we're about to have dinner.
That's a stain on the sunflower, right?
That stain is from Miku-chan's older sister's curry.
Are you done setting that aside?
Hey! Set that aside. Here.
This is me, this is Riku and this is Mom.
What am I doing there?
You're talking to me.
I see...
When I'm running errands, you always have to talk to my back, don't you?
Here.
Itadakimasu!
Itadakimasu.
What's this about a "stain on the sunflower"?
Those sunflower clothes were Miku-chan's older sister's.
Since Miku-chan didn't need it, it was sold to a thrift shop.
Okay...
"Reminder for Unpaid Electric Charges"
Nozomi, hurry!
Ala? Riku...
Ala? Nozomi, wait!
Nozomi, do your best!
Do your best! Riku, do your best, too!
'Cause ya didn't contact me!
I'm sorry for any inconvenience I caused.
I'm well aware of your circumstances, Aoyagi-san.
But this is the third day this month!
- Added to what happened last month... - It won't happen again. I'm sorry.
That's what you said last time, isn't it?
For pete's sake...
Here, your wages through today.
- Thank you very much. - Thank you very much.
Oi, let's do it together... Here.
Then, here goes, Nozomi.
- Oh! - Oh! That's a good voice.
- More! - More?
- More.. - He just said "more," didn't he?
- More! - More?
- What's that? - That's a candy apple.
It's called a candy apple.
- A mask! - A mask!
- Toto-chan! - Ah, Nozomi-chan!
Nozomi-chan! Nozomi-chan!
- Good evening! - Good evening!
- A candy apple! - Nice, isn't it?
Nozomi-chan, have you bought something?
- I haven't bought anything. - Eh?
I'll give you this.
Ma'am, I think this Inarizushi sushi...
...is the most delicious food in the whole-wide world!
What an amazing coincidence! I think so, too!
It's the food of kings, isn't it?!
That's true, isn't it? Shall we have some?
- Yes. - Yes!
- Aoyagi-san. - Yes?
Yes?
Phone call.
Since it was between children...
"2011, Summer - Nozomi, 5 years-old, Ruku, 2 years-old" ...I didn't want to call you all the way back here just to tell you this, either.
I'm sorry. I'll speak to her.
I'm not the bad one!
Yoshi-kun jumped ahead of the line on purpose!
- Be quiet! - I'm not the bad one!
You won't go to nursery school anymore?
If I can't get to work, then we won't be able to eat.
Sorry. Sorry... I'm sorry.
I'm sayin' yer wrong! You don't understand nothin'!
Because I renovated the apartment this month, I'll ask for the full month's amount.
Ah... just half the amount wouldn't work?
Ah... I'll clean up the garbage.
- Good evening. - Good evening.
Welcome.
"Mountaineer"
That will be 950 yen.
Exact change; thank you very much.
Please come again.
They might not come out, though.
Whaa, they came.
They came at last.
He doesn't talk very much though.
Boys are slow when it comes to talking.
Mine was quite slow, too.
What about a part-time job?
I've decided on a bar for now.
- At night? - Lunch time.
The condition for my being employed was that I have to go at night for one week.
Since it's only for a week, I can leave them at the nursery school.
A friend of mine working at the snack bar is diligent about her child...
...but so her child won't wake up, she gives him sleeping pills when she leaves at night.
I thought, "Ah, being that diligent would be poison to me."
In the end, a single mother who wants to live an ordinary life...
...has one of two choices.
The sex industry...
...or remarriage.
Hey you!
Riku, are you okay? Are you okay? Say, are you okay?
Riku, here, don't spill.
You can do it yourself... Here.
Feed me!
You can feed yourself, can't you? Here.
Feed me!
You're an older sister, after all!
Pancakes would be better.
- Welcome! - Welcome!
- Yes, thank you for waiting! - Welcome!
Thank you, your spring onions.
Yes.
Please wait a moment.
- Excuse me! - Excuse me.
Riku! Where's Nozomi gone to?
Nozomi!
Children aren't pets you know.
I'm sorry.
Mom!
- I've brought my bankbook and payslip. - Yes.
Since you're in a situation where you do have an income, your application will be difficult.
"Livelihood Welfare Division"
I have to leave my children at home to go to work.
What about nursery school?
The hourly wages at my current job are 900 yen.
The hourly rate at the nursery school is 800 yen.
Ah, I'm sorry. That moves when there's a loud voice.
I don't mind even if it isn't the full amount.
Just enough to pay half the rental renovation and the electricity...
You can even just lend it to me...
How did your husband pass away?
Without knowing what the circumstances were, we can't make a determination.
The station...
On the tracks... at the train station...
Ah...
How about getting assistance from your parents?
My father is dead.
I haven't met my mother in nearly 20 years.
There are many people who are struggling with tragic events this year.
Well on the other hand, there are those who use their welfare on pachinko...
I don't do that!
No, I was just explaining the situation.
As for pension and welfare, you could say that's like taking money from...
...our children's future wallets...
- Unplug this thing. - Yes.
"2012 Summer - Nozomi 6 years-old, Riku 3 years-old"
Riku, this way!
This is fine, right?
Welcome.
That will be 105 yen.
Thank you, Riku.
That's Dad.
This is Mom and this is me.
Riku was still in my Mom's tummy then.
Here you go.
An apple?
Given your current situation, you can be given welfare.
Yes.
There's just one problem.
When a relative within a third-degree of you comes along...
...it would go against your application. - I don't have any relatives.
A letter of inquiry to the address of your true mother, Uesugi Sachi-san...
...asking whether she could provide livelihood assistance to you was sent out.
- She's no longer... - Uesugi Sachi-san...
...has shown an inclination to help you.
Thus your application for welfare cannot be accepted.
We will then take this back. Thank you for your hard work.
Excuse me!
I don't know what the situation between you and your mother is...
I'm sorry. Could you lend me some money?
- That would be... - 5,000 yen... ($50)
...or even 3,000 yen would be fine.
I can't.
Even 500 yen would be fine.
500 yen...
I didn't drop it on purpose.
Thank you very much.
Aiko.
I think it's anemia.
I've turned in your blood test.
I'll contact you later.
That's my wife.
That person with anemia just now, is she a friend of your husband's?
She says she has a child, though.
- Aoyagi-san, come up please. - Yes.
Shimada-kun said he's quitting.
I'm sorry, but could I ask you for 2 more hours?
Until I say it's okay, you musn't move.
Welcome home!
I'm sorry. I'll make dinner right away.
What's wrong?
Riku isn't moving.
He won't move even when I call him.
Riku.
Does he have a fever?
Does your tummy hurt?
What's the matter? Get up.
Get up! Riku?
Riku!
- It's okay. - Riku...
We tricked Mom!
- We tricked you! We tricked you! - We tricked you!
We tricked you...
Were you surprised?
Mom, I'm sorry...
Mom...
Mom, I'm sorry!
I'm sorry, I'm sorry!
Mom, don't cry.
Dad won't come if you do.
Your father isn't here anymore.
Eh?
He's no longer here...
We can't see him anymore?
We can't meet him?
"Tailor Uesugi"
Huh?
Huh? What?
Ah, welcome.
Huh?
Is that Koharu-chan?
I think Sacchan should come any time now.
Ah, about your mother...
Do you know a hotel in Ikebukuro named "West Park Hotel"? She works there...
Look, the store's in this condition, right?
I just barely scrape by now...
...and your mother supports me.
How long... has it been?
- 2... - 2 years!
- 20 years. - 20 years!
Couldn't be just 2 years.
Where was it? When was the last time?
Well, that's okay.
When my father and you...
Ah! Ah, that's it! That's it, that's it!
When he hit me with a bowling pin!
It was, "in the shape of a bowling pin."
A brandy! That's it!
If it had been the real thing, I would have died.
He looks a little like his father, doesn't he?
Yeah, he looks like him.
Was it summer when he came to our house?
Because he told us, "our second will be born," so this must be the child.
What... what was his name?
- Shin... - Shin-kun, right?
When he came to tell us of your marriage he said...
"I want to mediate between Koharu-chan and her mother."
Is it the wind?
I think in Sacchan's heart there was some hope.
That you would meet.
Look, because she gave him a gift to take along with him...
Um... Look, it was...
Pears!
Shin-kun brought them home, right?
You don't remember?
Sacchan made him take a mountain of pears along with him.
Because she remembered that Koharu-chan loved pears.
After all, that's the sort of person she is.
That's why...
The wind is strong, huh?
No, no... she's back.
Ah... it's hot.
Wherever I go, it's hot.
Ala?
Have some little children come over to play?
Sacchan, it's Koharu-chan.
Huh?
It's Koharu-chan! Koharu-chan!
You should have called.
You didn't pick up.
You should have brought out some barley tea.
I thought something cold would be better.
I think the kids would be pleased with those Hiyoko. (a form of sweets)
Want some?
Don't feel reserved. Here.
Eat the Hiyoko.
Have those kids been eating a lot?
My daughter bought those.
They're very interesting.
Have a seat.
Let's see, the grater is...
Ah, there.
Um...
From the welfare office in Shibuya, I think you received an inquiry into what's called welfare assistance...
...but that's a mistake.
On the contrary, it would be better to just call it "getting welfare."
There are various reasons for it...
...but I feel I want you to withdraw any talk about helping me out.
Yes.
Errands? You could say I only called on you today because I had errands.
- Yes. - Yes.
Yes. Ah, well then...
Ah, eat some somen noodles.
Are the kids healthy?
Ala, and your husband.
Shin-kun, isn't it?
We aren't together right now.
Ah... Divorce?
So this welfare thing is about a fatherless family?
Must be tough.
Well, all sorts of things happen, don't they?
- Anpan-man! - Huh?
Here's a new face!
Those two are watching TV...
...and are hooked on Batako-san.
Not Anpan-man, but Batako-san.
Ah... Batako-san...
There...
Ah, that's right. There's that.
It's just leftovers though.
What? They're not rotten. I made them just this morning.
Why was that?
Eh?
Earlier you said...
"Must be tough."
"Must be tough" and "all sorts of things happen, don't they?"
Why did you say that?
Is there something strange about it?
You have a fatherless family, don't you? That must be tough, isn't it?
Not really. It's just a matter of course for a mother...
There's nothing particularly special about having it tough or having all sorts of things happen.
I see...
Because I'm a parent; because I'm a mother.
Because my children are important.
I don't think of them as being a burden.
I see...
It's really not that difficult bringing up children.
It's not, but it is a challenge doing it alone.
Baths and meals and trains...
Those are easily done with two people, but they're suddenly difficult when it's just you alone.
Just making a meal, or just...
...riding the train can become difficult for me alone...
...when the three of us get to the station beforehand.
Why is it said that "raising children" is actually not all that tough alone...
When I take the children out into town, what I hear most...
...is tongue-clicking and throat clearing.
After hearing that every day...
...I gradually came to think I was wrong in taking the children out.
Children get in the way; children are annoying.
I just don't get it.
I don't have money...
...so what about the sushi, the Inarizushi I loved long ago...
...or the bread, the raisin bread I loved.
I think, "I have to be economical."
Now the children are satisfied not even eating that.
They just say, "I'm hungry."
Most of all I think...
..."ah, I have to leave the children and go out."
While I'm working, I imagine things.
"What do I do if they get involved in something while I'm away?"
My imagination gets so, so scary.
Even when I get home and see their sleeping faces, it doesn't bring me any peace of mind at all.
When I say I have no money, people tell me...
"they have their mother's love, so it'll be okay."
I see... I wonder...
It's said money can't buy happiness...
...but the people who say that have money.
Anyway, I first want money to try and buy happiness.
Money may not buy happiness...
...but you could say when you do have money, you won't be unhappy.
When I... When I think such things...
...I wonder if he hears them?
I wonder if he's angry at hearing them... Because I've said them.
I thought a father's job is to convey hope to their children.
I thought a mother's job is to convey love to their children.
But I...
...never received love from my mother.
Men call it "motherhood"... but that's impossible.
Because motherhood...
...is something a woman truly has to want.
A woman with a terrible desire for their mother's love.
Such things...
I wonder if such things as "it's tough" and "all sorts of things happen"...
...wouldn't be slightly wrong.
Even if you say such things to me...
My husband...
Shin-san is dead.
Three years ago... at the train station.
On the tracks... by a train.
While trying to pick up some pears, he fell onto the tracks.
And then... 1129...
1129.
- Can you remember that? - I'll remember.
Since I mostly have free time on my hands...
...call me.
Don't you work?
Hmm... It's because I'm lazy.
Oji-san, are you a sloth?
Even now I think I'm loved by Shin-san.
And it's not only love.
I feel I'm beloved by him, even now.
But at the same time I think...
He should have lived...
Shin-san should had lived...
Why pears...
Why did he have to go and pick them up?
I was always thinking, "Why?"
I did think that, but I finally found out why a little earlier...
Is that right?
Why, I wonder.
It's not much; it won't buy you anything, but...
Take it...
Take it!
I don't want it!
I don't want it!!
"Madoisen."
Iza ya tanoshiki madoisen The evening is fun with madoisen
What is "Madoisen"?
Huh?
What is called "Madoisen," huh?
Here...
These characters.
It means everyone in a family, in a circle, talking together.
Well... A family in a happy circle.
"Happy circle"?
Hmm... Like a family who gets along really well together.
What about an umbrella?
Won't need one...
See you again!
See you again, Sloth-san!
It was you, wasn't it?
Who did those welfare documents.
You're her real mother...
...and because that's ancient history.
I didn't abandon her.
She abandoned me.
She went home with a smile, though.
She didn't want to go back angry.
Because she didn't forgive me, she went home smiling.
- Welcome home. - I'm home...
- Welcome back. - I'm starving.
Totoro, Totoro.
- When did Riku learn about Totoro? - Right?
- Did Riku eat some somen noodles? - He did.
I wonder if he can eat dinner?
Bananas would be good for dinner.
We can't have bananas for dinner.
- Bananas are nutritious. - They are, but...
Afterwards, we can take them.
Taking them has nothing to do with it, does it?
Afterwards, the bananas are a set, aren't they?
They are a set, aren't they?
- Nozomi, you're amusing. - Am I amusing?
You are amusing. I enjoy talking to you.
It's so much fun for me.
Sure Mom, I'll talk to you.
Thank you.
Mom?
What's the matter?
Does your tummy hurt?
Do you have a fever?
It's nothing.
Nothing at all.
Mom?
Mom, what's the matter?
I want to see your Father.
I want to see Shin-san.
Mom...
Dad is here.
Dad is here!
Dad!
Dad, come out! Hey, Dad!
Hey Dad, come out!
Come out right away!
Dad, I'm begging, so come!
Dad! Please come right away!
We want to see you!
- Dad! - Nozomi.
Dad!
I'll give you 47,000 yen for it. ($467)
Thank you very much.
Okay...
Riku, no! What are you doing? Hurry and give it back!
Shh! Shh! It's the store's, isn't it?
You mustn't! Hurry and give it back!
- It's okay! - Riku!
It's only natural for children to cry!
Hurry! Because it's the store's!
All right! Nozomi, you too!
"OuCHI (Home)
"Little Riku." (CHIbi Riku)
Riku is little!
Hmm... That's a tough one...
- "Wave." (NaMI) - "Wave"?
"Earthworm." (MImizu)
- What? Can I have one? - Yeah.
- Thank you, Riku. - And for me?
You get nothing!
You get nothing.
- We definitely have to run. Shall we run?
- Shall we run? - Ah! Wait up!