Cold!
Megumi-chan.
Yes.
Ouch!
Hey, what was that?
Megumi-chan, why are you...
You kept saying you were cold so I wanted to cover you with this.
Sorry.
Geez.
What kind of dream did you have?
It was snowing.
Snow?
As far as I can tell it was like a scenery from Snow Country. (TN: Yukiguni/Snow Country is a famous Japanese classic by Kawabata Yasunari)
Maybe the client is from the Echigo-area? (TN: The story takes place in the mountain region of Niigata/Echigo which receives loads of snow)
"The train came out of the long border tunnel ...and there was the snow country." (TN: Opening line of the book as translated by Seidensticker)
Wait, do you read 'kokyoku' or 'kunizaka' here? (TN: both are possible readings for the kanji for 'border')
Megumi-chan, which do you think?
Huh? What are we talking about?
Kawabata Yasunari.
Kawabata? What?
A guy who got the Nobel Prize.
Look, I'm today's No-bra Prize.
Look! Look, look!
Look, look, look.
Yes?
Excuse me.
Hey.
River's Edge, Ookawabata Detective Agency
Original Work: "River's Edge, Ookawabata Tantei-sha" Author: Hijikita Yuho / Art: Tanaka Akio ("Shukan Manga Goraku" serialized by Nihonbungeisha)
Opening Song: [Neon Sign Stomp] by EGO-WRAPPIN'
'Muraki' ODAGIRI JOE
'Director' ISHIBASHI RENJI
'Megumi' KOIZUMI MAYA
TAKUBO ISSEI / AKIYAMA NATSUKO
Co-Writers: KUROZUMI HIKARU / ONE HITOSHI
Music: MORI MASAKI [Ego-Wrappin']
Cinematography: MIYAMOTO WATARU Lighting: TOMIKAWA HIDENOBU
Subtitles by arakira @d-addicts
QC / Styling / Timing: earthcolors
Special thanks: micehell / furransu / ap
Content Producer: GOKA KIMITAKA Producers: ASANO DAI / SUGIHARA NAMI
Chief Producer: NAKAGAWA JUNPEI
Director: ONE HITOSHI
File .07: "Snow Woman in Summer"
You're from Wakayama? File .07: "Snow Woman in Summer"
Yes.
That's nothing like Snow Country, is it?
What?
No.
Well, what kind of request do you have?
I'd like you to look for somebody.
It'll be 20 years soon.
At that time I used to live in this area of Tokyo here.
It was on a humid summer night.
Excuse me.
She was quite an impressive beauty with rather cold eyes.
Help.
Please help me.
I'm being followed. Please hide me.
When I asked who followed her,
she told me not to ask 'cause it would mean trouble for me.
Then...
So for the time being I let her stay over.
Yummy. It's totally yummy.
Really? It's just what you had in your fridge.
No, eating a meal somebody made for you
just with that it'll be yummy.
It's an embarrassing story,
but that morning was the first time a woman
saw me off.
Also that night,
Welcome back.
I... I'm back.
Excuse me,
It's nothing special, I just made this with what was in the fridge again.
No, it's yummy.
What's this?
It's chilled egg custard.
Although I really wanted to make savory steamed egg custard.
You can make egg custard yourself? Wow.
It's good.
It's really good.
Today, please wait for me without making dinner.
I'll come back with some groceries.
Yes.
Welcome back.
I knew from the sound of your footsteps.
Guess having Sukiyaki in summer's weird, right?
No, it tastes good.
Let's hurry and eat.
It's good, right?
Excuse me, I...
when it comes to Sukiyaki, (TN: Hotpot eaten with a dip of raw egg)
I eat a lot of eggs, is that okay?
It's fine, it's fine. Dig in.
Then she really ate as many as 6 eggs.
That was the happiest meal in my life.
Nothing happened during that time?
No.
Her pursuers didn't show up.
No...
Huh?
I see.
Yes.
No, that's not what he meant with nothing happened.
He tried to ask whether you had sex.
Didn't you?
No... well, that's...
an important fact.
That's...
we did.
On the last night.
Hold me, please.
I think she was a virgin.
Those 3 days were like a dream.
3 days?
Yes.
She disappeared after the 3rd day.
The next morning she had left without a trace.
Without leaving anything behind?
No farewell letter, nothing.
This sounds totally like a fairy tale story.
That's true. It is a weird thing to say, but
with the white dress she wore and her long black hair,
she reminded me of the Snow Woman. (TN: Yuki Onna is a folk tale spirit)
A Snow Woman in midsummer?
I was never able to
meet a woman like her after that.
Due to meeting her, I'm still single.
So you certainly want to meet her once again?
Yes.
If that's your request, we'll search for her.
You really will?
Such fantasy-like requests
are our forte, you see.
So, do you have some kind of clue?
This.
When I moved out of my appartment
This turned up in a corner of my room.
I don't remember going to this place.
So I think this is probably something she left behind.
Since there's no other clue we just have to find out something there.
I went to that address, but
It's turned into a parking lot, without a trace.
I understand.
Let's try to find something there.
Yes, excuse me.
Excuse me.
I was wondering which was
the longest running shop in this area?
Well, let me think,
I know, I know. Diamond Dust, right?
I used to go there a lot, too.
It's been about 20 years, but
was there a woman with long black hair in that place?
A woman with long hair?
Yes, do you know her?
There's a lot of those here.
You, what are you to her?
Pardon?
No way. It's Minato no Youko, Yokohama, Yokoska. (TN: The background music. Lyrics go 'A woman with long hair...you, what are you to her?')
Don't you know? Down Town Boogie-Woogie Band? (TN: Famous rock band of the 70s)
Talking about Yokohama, you know.
Like the Crazy Ken Band nowadays.
"Listen, listen to my story!" (TN: Ore no hanashi wo kike: CKB's lyrics from Tiger & Dragon)
Please, listen to my story here.
Sorry, sorry.
So what's your story?
Well...
Do you know the whereabouts of the person who ran that place?
Over there's an old lady who sells old-fashioned snacks.
She might know something.
Come on.
Oh, these are damp, huh?
Of course they would be.
I sure became an old hag since, too.
Thank you.
Was there a woman with long black hair in that shop?
But at that time, all the young ones had long black hair.
It was the time of one length hair and sexy clothes.
No, not during working hours.
But for me to tell you for free even
this isn't work.
Sorry.
Well, take your time.
I've got some old photos.
The girl from that shop might be in them somewhere. Wanna see?
Yes.
But this was a rather strange story.
Huh?
Why does he look for her now after 20 years?
It's really late. Maybe too late even.
Why couldn't he search for her 20 years ago?
You know, men
once they pass 40, they suddenly start longing for women from the past.
Gross?
More rather a bother.
If they come looking for you after 20 years it'll be a bother.
Coming out of a 20 year long tunnel,
what scenery would be there be?
"You're not coming back home, are you?"
"That's because I want to concentrate on the stage play."
"Are you saying you will go back home after the play is over?"
- "Please give a definite answer." - "Only questions related to the performance please."
"There's also rumours of secret meetings with an ordinary girl."
"Only questions related to the performance please."
"Please give us more details."
"When you decided on this play, what did your wife say?"
"She said, do your best."
- "What do you mean, do your best? - "Really, only that?
I managed to meet somebody who knew the Diamond Dust well.
And she let me borrow some pictures from that time.
Maybe the woman you're looking for will be...
About this... I don't need it anymore.
What?
In fact, I've found her.
Huh?
It was a surprise, yesterday when I watched TV,
she turned up in a broadcast.
It's her.
Shiraishi Kaori, 41 years old, actress?
Wow, she's a beauty.
Seems she specialized on stage plays.
I don't go to the theatre, so I never noticed her until now.
Then yesterday on TV... by chance...
"Will you return home after the play has ended?"
"Please give a definite answer."
"Only questions related to the performance please."
But you said it was 20 years ago, right?
Are you sure it's her, just from looking at her face?
I also found a picture from 20 years ago.
This is her.
From this picture...
There's no doubt. I'm sure.
Anyway, can't you make it so I can meet her?
You're from Tounichi Sports?
I heard from the agency that you wanted to get details about the play.
The name card is a fake.
This is my real one.
You must do something theatrical as a detective, right?
If I asked straightforwardly for a meeting,
I would often get refused.
I'm sorry I didn't know any other way.
Well, alright. It's interesting.
Since you took the trouble, let me hear your questions.
It's the first time I met a detective, I'm curious, too.
Can I order something?
Please.
Our client doesn't want to
meet you to be in your company.
He only wants to solve a 20 year old mystery.
What do you say?
Our client says no doubt it is you.
Then I will answer frankly.
Sadly, it is not me.
Yes.
Please tell him from me
That he can come visit the play if he wants to meet me.
Yes.
Excuse me.
This might be unrelated, but
I just remembered an old story.
Yes?
It's something I heard from a colleague.
It's a story about a guy who is now a successful, charismatic producer
of when he was still with a small, unsuccessful theatre troupe.
- Even now, are you not gonna turn back... - Idiot!!
Are you seriously acting now?
You speech is too hackneyed.
Go and sell Natto! Folks like you,
an actress without any real ability, I should just sack you.
Told you not to act like you're acting!
So are you really going to take me with you?
It's all your fault. That I'm like this now is also your fault!!
He gave her an assignment but she was a terrible actress.
Listen, a play is like a documentary.
You're a woman, but you have not turned into a real woman yet.
You're a virgin, right?
Should I make you a real woman?
No, I won't do that, I'm not an old-style producer.
Listen, since you're still a little chick,
you gotta tear open and get out of your eggshell yourself.
For now, I'll egg you on
from the outside.
Go trick some total stranger for three days.
Risk your life and embrace him.
If you can't do that much you'll never become a good actress.
Excuse me.
Hey girl, what are you doing?
How much?
No, you're mistaken.
What if I'm mistaken, just come with me.
Please stop it. Please stop it.
What's with you? You ugly bore.
He made her throw away her self-esteem as a woman.
To dominate the actress that way.
He was a producer striving for the limelight.
The girl was just a young novice
she did everything as she was told without second thought.
Looks like it was just a man's lust for conquest.
That may be true.
But you know, the woman also
happily did this or that as she was ordered to.
Until she grew old and got called a veteran actress.
whom nobody dared to give any orders.
Thank you. It was nice talking to you.
Yes, likewise.
Goodbye.
Excuse me.
No...
Well, you got scared.
Sorry.
Anyway, since she denies it,
I think it's better to stop chasing after her.
That's true.
So, how was it?
Huh?
Seeing her up close?
I don't know anymore.
Huh?
I think I'm not mistaken about her,
but she felt like a completely different person.
She's an actress, she can show you whatever face she likes.
All women are actresses I'd say.
That's right.
I'll safely tuck her
away as a memory.
Does it bother you?
No...
What do you think?
When you met her in person
did you think she was the Snow Woman herself?
No, I don't know.
I see.
But well, the client agreed
this case is over.
Yes.
Seems it will get cold tonight.
Better get home quickly.
What's wrong?
Please help me.
When I met you today, I remembered.
I've been followed all this time.
Who's been following you?
My former...
self.
Give me an order, anything.
Follow me.
Yes.
'Muraki' ODAGIRI JOE
'Director' ISHIBASHI RENJI
'Megumi' KOIZUMI MAYA
'Minoda' - TAKUBO ISSEI 'Shiraishi Kaori' - AKIYAMA NATSUKO
'Shiraishi Kaori' (recollection) - KUNITAKENO AYA 'Tanemura Tanekuya' (Director) - MATSURA YUYA
'Record Store Owner' - HANDA TAKAO 'Snack Bar Mama' - NAKAMURA NAOKO 'Middle aged man' - IWATANI KENJI
Original Work: "River's Edge, Okawabata Tantei-sha" Author: Hijikita Yuho / Art: Tanaka Akio ("Shukan Manga Goraku" serialized by Nihonbungeisha)
Co-Writers: KUROZUMI HIKARU / ONE HITOSHI
Opening Theme: "Neon Sign Stomp" Ending Theme: "Sunnyside Melody" Performer: EGO-WRAPPIN' / Music: MORI MASAKI
Assistant directors: KOTOKU KOJI / IWABUCHI TAKASHI NINOMIYA KOHEI / WAKABAYASHI SHOHEI
Editing / Title Back: OZEKI YASUYUKI Stylist: IGA DAISUKE
Investigation Cooperation: GALU Detective School Technical Cooperation: UPSIDE
Shooting cooperation: TAITO Film Commission
Production: TV TOKYO / OFFICE CRESCENDO
Producers: KOMATSU YUKITOSHI / TANABE HAYATO / SUZUKI KANAKO
Subtitles by arakira @d-addicts
QC / Styling / Timing: earthcolors
Special thanks to: micehell / furransu / ap
Director: ONE HITOSHI
A 2014 production of: TV Tokyo
Next on File.08: "The Female Gang Leader"