60th Agency of Cultural Affairs Art Festival participating piece
Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei
An individual who has lived through all four periods has now fallen into eternal sleep
Here, please use these to collect the bones
Sis, you first
These things are meant to be done eldest first
What? Me?
I'm the first daughter of great-grandmother's
You're the youngest great-granddaughter
So let's see her off together
ok
What were you saying?
Huh?
You were saying something when picking up the bones
Tell me, I'm curious
I was saying goodbye
Mother, thank you for all these years
The war is finally over, isn't it?
War? The one long ago? The one with the atom bomb?
Of course. The war that was going on when I was your age
But the war ended 60 years ago
I wonder if that's so
What do you mean?
Can you bring me that box over there?
Sure
I bet a high-schooler like you has no desires
Is this you?
Oh my
This is great-grandmother
So this girl in uniform must be...
Yes, is it strange?
No way! You in a school uniform!
Of course
This is the last picture we took as a family
Mother had kept it all these years
There's something else in here too...
A newspaper from Showa 20 (1945)! It's like a time capsule!
What's this? A can of droplets?
What is it?
Is that something to be so surprised about?
Yes
What's inside?
Something very valuable
Something valuable?
That summer, Showa 20 (1945)
We lost so many things
War had burned away cities, people,
and even our hearts
This is our family's sad and bitter war experience
September Showa 20 (1945), Kobe
How strange... I heard he'd be here
How disgusting... Can't you go somewhere else?
The Americans are coming soon; what an embarassment to have these types in our stations
Go somewhere else
Excuse me? Do you know someone named Yokokawa Seita?
What?
He's a relative. We heard someone saw him around here...
How would I know. Every day, several tramps die here
He's a third year in middle school; wears a Kobe 1st Middle School hat
Has a sister this tall
Could that be last night's boy?
He was just over there...
This one's dead too
Wow, it's a Kobe 1st Middle School hat
How did a "1st Middle School"er end up here?
He must've stolen it
Yeah? I guess so...
What's this?
Don't mind. Just throw it away
yeah, you're right
Mustn't think too hard
Did they die?
Did Seita and Se-cchan die?
That can't be
They're alive somewhere, right?
Say something, mother!
It's your fault
You killed them
Thank you
very much (Kansai dialect)
Shhh, you mustn't cry
Let me show you something cool
One, two, three!
Wow! Fireflies!
They're pretty, aren't they?
Brother, thank you
Come here, Setsuko
Hotaru no Haka (Grave of Fireflies) ~60th Anniversary of the End of the War special drama~
The word "firefly" is usually written in one character. However, in this title, the characters meaning "dripping fire" is used.
Showa 18 (1943) Summer
Setsuko
Come here quick
Look, Setsuko!
That's father's ship. A unified fleet. Isn't it gallant?
Where is father going on a ship?
To defeat the enemy
Father is a Naval colonel
America doesn't stand a chance
"Doesn't stand a chance!"
Seita-san! Se-cchan!
Your father is departing. Come back now.
Yes, mother
Hyogo prefecture, Mikage
Father, I'm home
The Naval colonel calls us!
Wait outside, Setsuko
Why?
Your brother and I have something important to discuss
Se-cchan, come here
alright
You're a good girl! Let's have some congee with eggs
Sit down, Seita
Yes, sir
Hyogo prefecture, Manchidani
Smells so good! Open it up!
Wow, sekihan (red rice)!
We had it specially divided for us
Really?
- Let's eat it quick! - Yay! Sekihan!
Such bad manners; they can hear
Since it's been so long...
We've been having only wheat or soup for so long
Come
Do you have any idea why we're having sekihan?
Of course
Because father's going to into the army
Do you know what it means to go into the army?
To fight the enemy. BAM!
You two are happy? Father may die!
Congratulations!
Thank you for coming all this way
Such an accomplishment, to be going into the army from a sokai
A truly honorable thing
Thank you very much
Please have sekihan with us
Thank you! I'd be much obliged
Get your father
He knew we had sekihan
He goes around accepting food from all the families with departing men
shhh, just get your father
Sis
Te-chan is coughing again
Are you okay? Does it hurt?
You don't have a fever, but let's have some medicine anyway
He doesn't need medicine
What?
- He's just exaggerating for attention - Now now
- Excuse us, we're here to celebrate - We brought a 'senninbari'
- I'll be right there ...congratulations...
- Father's missing - What?
Now that you mention it, I haven't seen brother in a while
Where could he be at a time like this?
- I will be traveling out of the country today - Yes, father
Do you know the state Japan is in now?
I read in the newspaper, there was a great victory in the Solomon Islands
Yes
Sorry for my impertinence
No, it's true that there was victory in the Solomon Islands.
However, at Guadalcanal and New Guinea, we're almost wiped out
We're losing in the Marshall Islands too
This is not reported in the newspapers or radios
Then Japan!?
Seita
Japan will win
No...
Japan must win
after having suffered so much casualties
I am willing to die fighting for the sake of this country
Do you understand what I am trying to say?
Once I am gone, you are the man of the house
Your mother has a heart disease
and Setsuko is still little
Like I will be fighting for the sake of the country
you must defend your mother and Setsuko. Don't ever yield.
Yes. I will defend them with my life.
Well said. That's how a Japanese boy should be
Yes, father
What are you doing?
I'm fixing the leak
You don't have to do this on the day of your departure
I won't be able to do it after I leave
Please stop. I can't have you get hurt
I'm a carpenter. I won't fall
Mother, it's dangerous
You better not fall / I'm going up too!
No!
Hisako...
Please stop
What are you being so stubborn for?
You can fix it after you return
I don't know if I will come back
You WILL come back
I wonder... They're drafting discharged country folk like me in sokais, the situation can't be good
You WILL come back, you will definitely come back
Hisako! / Mother!
Be careful
Please, don't die
I don't need any merits or medals
Just come back safely, I beg you
Congratulations to Sawano Genzo's departure into the army! BANZAI!
Thank you very much. I, Sawano Genzo, will go off to fight!
- Get those American soldiers! - Thank you (Kansai dialect)
I pray for your success
Dear! You mustn't cry at embarkation!
He probably recalled his son who died in battle
That boy died for the sake of the Emperor! Why are you crying?
Sorry
Here, drink up
We're celebrating with a great sea bream!
What a spectacular sea bream!
It's a bit thin
Hey
You're a naval colonel's wife
Have a good departure
Yes
Thank you for your trouble
Father...
Setsuko
Father~~
Setsuko
My shoe broke
Good luck / BANZAI
- Teizo - Yes, father
You're the eldest male
Don't have likes or dislikes with food and grow up strong.
Yes, father
Yoshie, you be well too
Don't worry. I will protect Sis and the children
Don't push yourself with that body
More importantly, don't fall for Hisako while I'm gone
Brother! Don't say such silly jokes
Hisako
Take care of everyone
Yes
Don't worry. I've always been good at running away
I'll come back safe
Father
Dear
Be careful, Setsuko
That looks good on you
Thanks
Mother, don't push yourself
Seita-san
From now on, I'm the man of the house
You will listen to what I say
- My, how dependable - My, how dependable
A train departed today too?
The army needs soldiers in the South too
Hisako-chan? / Kyoko-san?
The first time we met Seita-kun and Se-cchan
was the day father departed
My mother and Seita-kun's mother were cousins
but they weren't that close until then
But by having given their husbands to war on the same day
an invisible bond formed between them
It had been just about six months since we had lost our home due to
firebombings by the Americans and escaped to the sokai in Manchidani
It required courage to leave Tokyo, but my in-law's house had been destroyed
and running away from bombings was difficult with Teizo's asthma
Is that so... What trouble you've been through
Both your children seem healthy
You're in Kobe 1st Middle School so you're going for Kobe 1st High School, right?
I am thinking of going into Naval Academy
I hate soldiers
They're always so arrogant
But it's the military that protects this country
Brother, don't argue
You're such a good girl, Se-cchan. Let me give you a treat
A treat?
Droplets!
Are you sure it's okay at a time when there's so little?
My husband's brother got some at work at Kobe
My children already got some
May I open it?
Before that you have to thank her
Thank you very much (Kansai dialect)
You're such a good girl
- huh? - Give it to me
Wow. So pretty!
This is strawberry / This is grape
What's this? / Melon?
I'm so glad I ran into you today
After I saw my husband leave, I lost my strength
Me too. Just when I started to get used to here, my husband was drafted... I felt like crying, I was so lonely
Come quick! Fireflies!
Wow!
Where? / That, flashing over there
Wow, so pretty
It really is
You can't see fireflies in Tokyo
There are a lot of fireflies around here because of the clear water
There too / Over there too!
Hisako-chan
If you ever need anything, just ask
Kyoko-san
We don't know when Kansai will be bombed
If something happens, let's help each other protect the children
Yes
Let's help each other as fellow wives, and wait for our husbands
Yes, promise?
Definitely
Besides the men having left for war
it was still a peaceful summer
March, Showa 20 (1945)
However, as it reached Showa 20 (1945)
In the Great Tokyo Firebombing of March 10, 10,000 were killed
and Osaka and Nagoya and many other cities also saw heavy bombing
Mother, are you okay?
- I'm fine - Let's go
Kobe was no exception. On March 17th and May 11th,
two great bombings decimated the west half of Kobe
4000¸killed, 200,000 were affected. It was a devastating blow
Mother, are you okay?
By this time, rations were getting close to nil
The civilians were beginning to strongly
feel war's devastation
Quickly now
Umm... we have six people
Madame, please persevere. It's better than what the soldier's get
Then, that day... June 5th came...
Stand by at home. You're dismissed
So hungry
Hello
- Who is she? - A relative
- Really? Not a girlfriend? - NO
Just a relative, I say
The naval colonel's son having relations with a girl!
It's been a while
There have been many bombings... is your mother and Se-cchan okay?
Yes, and you?
I'm fine. We haven't had any bombings yet
That's good
But... to tell you the truth
I'm worried
Father hasn't written to us, rations are getting smaller...
Don't worry. My father said Japan will definitely win.
So don't worry.
Is that so
Thank you
It's nothing
Please come visit us any time
Ok, till next time
Hurry mother
- Brother, this too - Sure
Mother, what are you doing? I said go ahead to the shelter
Se-cchan
I'll take her. You can't run so you must go ahead
- You're right - HURRY!
Sorry. Be careful, you two
Mother! Do you have your medicine?
Thank you. Yes I do
Seita-san
You hold on to this
I got it, just go!
Then I'll see you later
- Setsuko, get on - Ok
Hold on tight
Yes, brother
Brother, my doll
Brother!
I can't do it. I can't get to the shelter
Like I will be fighting for the sake of the country
you must defend your mother and Setsuko. Don't ever yield.
Madame
Yoshie-san? Are you okay?
It's no big deal. I just got sprayed by some oil from a bomb
You work at the Kobe Customs. Amazing you escaped
I can't fight the war like brother, but I must protect his family in his place
Oh, I just meant, this bombing was worse than ever so...
The sky was black with B-29s
"Black"... Kobe is finally decimated
How is Kyoko-san's house
The whole area is destroyed by fire
"Destroyed by fire"...
So this is the black rain that falls after bombings
Are the B-29s gone?
Setsuko, are you okay? No injuries?
I lost one of the my shoes
I'll buy you a new one, a better one
I liked that one. Let's go pick it up
We can't now
Setsuko, wait here
It's all cleared away
Is our house burned down?
I guess so
What are we gonna do?
Dad will avenge us
What about mother? Where is she?
She's at the shelter. No worries
Everyone, please evacuate to the Mikage National School
Setsuko, let's go to the school. Mother will probably be there.
Yeah
Seita-san?
Aunt Hisako
Se-cchan? Are you okay? No injuries?
Yeah
Do you know about my mother?
She's inside. She's hurt
Thank you (Kansai dialect) Mother's inside, Setsuko
Wait, Seita-san!
Leave Se-cchan with me
- Seita-kun - Oobayashi-san
You're fine! I was looking for you How's Setsuko-chan?
She's fine I heard my mother was hurt
Yes... come
Over there
Two bombs fell into the shelter. How unfortunate...
Where's the doctor?
Mother has a bad heart. She needs to see a doctor quickly
Was that so...
I'll get him
Mother...
Answer me
Brother
Where's mother?
Mother went to the hospital for her heart
...yeah, to the hospital
I want to see mother
Tomorrow. It's too late today
Se-cchan, come to my place tonight
Your mother said so too
Then lets go get my shoe
I said, "We can't now"
If we don't get it soon we might never... Mother bought me that shoe
Be quiet! I said, "We can't now!"
Your brother is acting as your father. Please understand
It's okay, Seita-san
I'm home
Se-cchan, we're here
Where's Seita-kun?
He's staying at the school tonight
Se-cchan, come inside
Do you dislike my home?
Let's play ohajiki (Japanese taw)
Thank you
Not, "Thank you" (Tokyo dialect)
It's "Thank you very much" (Kansai dialect)
- "ThANk you"? - "Thank YOU" - "thank YOU"
good!
Se-cchan
I'm sorry about mother
Contact your father
Seita-san, Se-cchan
My, how dependable
Mother?
Where's mother?
Setsuko, mother's still...
Her heart still isn't well?
Yeah, and she was hurt too. Just a little longer.
I want to see mother
Oh yeah, mother lent this to me
She's giving it to you
Look, aunt!
Mother gave it to me!
It's beautiful. Do treasure it.
I'm going to show the others
It must have been hard, Seita-san
Please don't tell Setsuko yet
You don't have to worry
May we stay here until I get word from my father?
Of course. You can go to school from here
No. I have to watch over Setsuko so, I'm not going to school or the factory
I'll watch over Setsuko for you
No, I mustn't trouble you
Don't be silly. You can trouble me all you want
I promised your mother
But...
Now, come in. Let's have dinner
What are you doing?
How pretty! Is it real?
- Of course - Wow!
Here, Se-cchan. Now you won't lose it
- Thank you - Sure
- It's so pretty - Lemme see, lemme see
Grace
You're not eating?
Yes, I'm not hungry
Are you feeling ill?
No, I'm fine. Just a stomach ache
Greetings father,
I must report to you sad news
Mother passed away in a bombing on June 5th
Setsuko and I are fine
We are staying at Aunt's house in Nishinomiya
Aunt Hisako is very kind to us
however, please tell us what our next course of action should be
Please reply soon.
Setsuko, I've got it!
Wow! Eggs!
I haven't seen eggs in so long!
Butter too!
Herring and dried bonito!
This was given to executive officers of the military
Amazing. Isn't it, mother?
So many things we haven't seen in months
- Aunt, make congee with egg! - Yes
- I want to eat quick! What's that? - Salt! It's salt!
Brother, where are the fireflies?
They're not here, I guess
How come there are no fireflies this year?
- I wonder why... - I wonder why...
Oh yeah! Setsuko, close your eyes
Why?
Just close them
Droplets!
Your droplets were safe!
I love you brother!
Droplets...
My droplets!
The eggs were sooo good!
I guess the military is living luxuriously even at times like this
Don't say it like that...
I just thought, if only we had an eggs worth of rice
You can go. You have kinro-douin tomorrow right? Go to sleep
Right
- Good night - 'Night
I said, "You can go"
Oh, excuse me
Sis...
Please accept this (bankbook)
Yoshie-san?
Sorry for my disrespect but, please use this to buy rice
You mustn't. This is your hard earned money
But...
Rations are little to begin with... and now you have two more adolescents to raise
Rations can't be enough
Please, don't worry. If I accepted
your money, what would my husband say
Is this it?
This time, we only got 1.5 cup per person
We have four children
You told me before
Next
I'm housing two children who lost their homes too
This won't even last three days
That's what you get for trying to look good
If you want more, you have to buy off the black market
Next
Is this it?
The rations were smaller this time
Now, let's eat. Grace.
I'm hungry from kinro-douin
Me too
It can't be helped. Everyone's in the same boat
No they're not. We hungry because we have more people
What do you mean?
- It's because they came - Don't say that
But it's true
Teizo!
Thank you, I'm finished
Setsuko, you mustn't cry. You'll wake everyone
Mother~~
Setsuko
Mother~~
He's been getting sick often lately
He hasn't been getting much nutrition
It's alright. Go to sleep
1 bottle of rice
1 bottle?
Those from Tokyo aren't worth much here
This was given to me by my mother when I married
You don't have to accept the offer
We're giving rice out of good will
Why don't you lower the price a little
You're kind to pretty women
She's housing two extra children
About those two children...
The boy is in middle school and he neither does kinro-douin nor does firefighting
He lost his mother and has a little sister
He's not the only one to have lost parents
1 bottle is fine
Thank you
I was on my way to your house
Mine?
I salute your husband's honorable death as a Japanese male
Death?
Father...
really died?
It can't be
No... father
How did brother die?
47 regimen of the infantry
was ordered to charge
and they committed gyokusai (to all die fighting)
Gyokusai?
"It was an honorable death"
I don't understand what's so "honorable"
How is dying "honorable"?
Aunt Hisako
Uncle died an honorable death as a valiant soldier of the Imperial Army
It's something to rejoice, not grieve
"Rejoice"?
My father says, "Japan will win"
Uncle's death will not be in vain
As a naval colonel, he will avenge his death
I don't care if he's avenged
- Aunt? - Seita-kun
I'm fixing the leak
Please don't die. Just come back safely.
I beg you
Don't worry, I've always been good at running away
I'll come back safe
Te-chan
Mother
Te-chan, here
Sis, the doctor won't come
Be strong, Te-chan
We can't go outside today, Setsuko
Mother~~
Seita-san, Teizo is not doing well
Could you please be more quiet?
I'm sorry. The leaking sound was bothering her
Do you have something to eat?
She seems to be hungry too
Of course not, at this hour
What about the food I brought?
We finished that ages ago!
Mother?
I'm going to the doctor's. I'm going to beg again.
But...
I can't let Teizo die too!
If you cry so much, you won't see mother again
Mother~~
From this night on, mother never shed a tear
The notice of father's death
made up her mind
I can never forget what happened the next morning
Please
Grace
Brother
Mine doesn't have rice
Just eat
Teizo, I'm glad you're better. Eat up and get nutrition.
If you don't get nutrition, your disease won't go away
Yes, mother
I'm going to eat up too
Now that your father is dead, I must stay healthy
I wonder why father won't reply
Who knows
Yeah. Of course you wouldn't know
I'm hungry
Wait until dinner
We can eat fine at night?
Of course
That's good
What's wrong, eat up.
You're going to be a soldier right?
Excuse me, aunt
What is it?
We haven't eaten properly in a while...
How strange of you to say that, I serve you food every day
Yes, but...
You just give us the top part without rice
That can't be helped, our rations have declined
But you do it just to us
Just to you?
Do what?
Nothing...
If you have something to say, just say it
Air raid alert!
Let's hurry to the shelter
hurry, hurry
Are you okay, Na-cchan, Hana, Miki?
Mother, where's Seita-kun and Se-cchan?
What?
Is there something wrong?
Our relative...
You got separated? Hope they haven't been hit
That can't be helped. Maybe it's better for them if they died
- Don't say that - What a terrible thing to say
Setsuko, we're going
Charge!
We're safe here
So bright!
It's kind of pretty looking at it from here
It's like the fireworks we saw with grandmother and mother
Whoa! Setsuko look! Amazing isn't it?
- Over there! - Where? I can't see - Come here
- Setsuko look! - So big!
Don't separate with us like that!
It's decided that we go to the shelter with our tonarigumi!
Yes
You're not a child. You must start thinking about helping others
My neighbors criticize me because you don't help with the firefighting
I understand. But I can't leave Setsuko alone
Then I have something to say to you
Your mother's ring...
Why don't you exchange that for rice?
Because you are not part of the tonarigumi, you don't get rations
Special aid is very small. Even I sell my kimonos for food
But the ring is...
With that ring, we can maybe get 10 or 20 bottles of rice
10 or 20 bottles!? That much?
I don't want to say this but... She doesn't need it anymore
and your mother would probably be happier this way
I won't force you
I got it
Here, please
Alright
Then...
No, it's mother's ring!
No!
Setsuko, stop!
- Let it go - It's mother's! No! Mother! Mother!
Let's have this for dinner tonight
Setsuko, look! White rice!
Setsuko?
You smiled
- I give up! - Stupid brother! - The "Battleship Yamato" is strong!
Delicious!
White rice is good
- It fills the stomach - More please!
- Alright - Me too - Me too
- You still have some left - Oh right
Still haven't finished? Could you please hurry?
Everyone else has long gone to school or kinrou-douin
Umm...
Can you boil white rice tonight?
Setsuko doesn't like kouryan (Manchurian millet)
You mustn't ask for luxuries. Kouryan is a valuable food too.
You may be the son of an officer, but you are a guest right now
But there should be some of that rice left
I'm saving it for emergencies
If rations ended, we'd still have something to eat
But that's our rice
Are you saying I'm being unfair?
No. It's just that that rice was bought with mother's ring
What about all the rice you had been eating up until then?
You can't ask for free food doing nothing all day
Natsu and Hana are off at kinrou-douin
Even little Yuki and Teizo are helping me with the fields with our tonarigumi
You're the only one doing nothing
I'm protecting Setsuko!
My father is protecting our country and I am protecting Setsuko!
The military isn't protecting the country!
They force people to fight who don't want to and kill them like bugs
What's that look for?
I understand. If you are that dissatisfied, let's have separate meals
Then you won't have complaints
I wonder what happen to Aunt?
Before, she gave me droplets and was so kind
Who knows
Brother!
Here
Hold out your hand
No more...
I'm sorry, brother
It's okay. Let's go
You work like that and we won't finish by night
Work harder
By July, rations were sporadic
For people like us, who came to sokai from Tokyo
we didn't have relatives or friends
who could share food with us
Here, thank you very much
Here, good work today
What do you want with a stove?
We're making meals
Your aunt makes you meals
We're doing it ourselves now
A knife and eggs too
Yourselves? That's impossible
It's just until father gets back
How much?
200 yen... actually 170 yen will do
I don't know what happened, but don't be stubborn
We'll have good congee soon, Setsuko
Ok!
It's dinner, help out
It's because you were so harsh
I didn't say anything wrong
I just said we must help each other out in times of emergency
They're the ones being stubborn and trying to show us off
Setsuko, you don't have to eat so proper
Ah~ so delicious
- Seita-san? - Yeah?
Bad manners
Yes
Seita-san
If you're going to live on your own, you must provide your own water
- Brother? - Yeah?
What me to help?
You just hold the lamp
- Brother? - Yeah?
Isn't it cold?
Brother
Be quiet Setsuko
Fireflies!
You're right!
So glad! The fireflies came back this year
Over there too!
- They're pretty - Yeah
Over there too!
- Amazing - Yeah
Brother...
I don't like Aunt's place anymore
Then do you want to make this our home?
No one will bother us. We can do as we please
Yeah!
Mother didn't say anything
And even though we knew what was going on
we kept quiet too
Thank you for keeping us. We're moving elsewhere now
Where elsewhere?
It's a nice place
There's plenty of room for sleeping and playing and plenty of water
Right Setsuko?
Yeah!
Is that so, then no worries
What? Mother!
Well, good bye
Seita-kun
Seita-kun!
This is the kitchen
This is the entrance
This is the Japanese style room And that's dad's study
And that's mother's...
Brother
What about the bathroom?
What do we do?
Anywhere! I'll be with you
OK!
I wonder where Se-cchan went?
- I wonder if they're ok - They said it's a "nice place"
How could it be a "nice place"
Welcome home
How can you be fine at a time like this
Are you hungry?
Mother!
Sis
Oh, you're back early
You're not going to go look for them?
They left on their own. I didn't kick them out
But, two children cannot live on their own
If they must, they will come back
- This is unlike you - Yoshie-san?
Can you lend us some money?
You may think, "How hypocritical, after rejecting the offer earlier"
But there was no rations this week either
No more rice, no more soybean, and no more kimonos
We need to have you share the burden too
That's fine
You can't live off of pretty ideologies anymore. Pride and will can't feed you.
Am I wrong?
No, you aren't wrong
Setsuko, don't cry
Mother...
Setsuko
Setsuko, open your eyes
Ready? Let me show you something
What is it?
Just come over here and see
Ready?
Wow! Fireflies!
Now we're not alone
Brother, thank you very much (Kansai dialect)
The fireflies... they've died
Setsuko!
What are you doing?
I'm making a grave. A grave of fireflies
You're so kind, Setsuko
We have to make mother's grave too
I know
Mother died right?
She won't come back no matter how long we wait, right?
Setsuko
Sorry for not telling you
Mother, at the bombing
was burned by an incendiary bomb
Japan will win the war
and father will come home
and we'll have a grave made.
Then, let's pray there, the three of us
It must have hurt mother
Please use this (bankbook)
Thank you
I shall go now
You are really leaving?
Yes, a coworker says he can keep me
So sudden
Brother has died,
I can't stay here using my leg as an excuse
I don't want to see you changing more
Is that so? Then it can't be helped
No worries, I'm an adult
Please be well
Uncle Yoshie
Uncle!
You're terrible
You kick out Seita-kun and Se-cchan, and now Uncle Yoshie too!
Uncle has a bad leg! He just finally found a job!
You're too cold to throw him out on his own
Done. I've added more cotton so it should protect against incendiary bombs
You can't bribe me with this
Whatever. I'm going to get rice so come with me
I don't want to become like you
I don't want food if it means I have to abandon others
Then I don't have to cook for you?
I'm grateful
We just barely have enough rice, salt for five people
If we lose one person it'll be better for the rest of us
Devil! You're the devil!
10yen!? 10yen for just this?
If it's too expensive, don't buy it. I wasn't intending on selling it anyway
You're not buying?
With the rice and stuff
we spent a lot of mother's money, we should save some
Let's go
Brother?
- Setsuko, wait here - Why?
Just wait here
Hey, what are you doing?
Setsuko, let's go
Seita-kun...
You thief!
- Mister, stop! - Shut up!
- Are you with him!? - Huh?
Are you with this guy!?
Hey, stop!
Where were you?
I boiled white rice
Eat up today
From that point on, I never mentioned
Seita-kun or Se-cchan
Don't go! Our dinner escaped...
Everyone was desperate to live
Everyone was losing themselves
Everyone was forgetting something important
Tomorrow, we may burn and die from a raid
Tomorrow, we may have no food and starve to death
There's nothing greater than that fear and worry
Setsuko, dinner
I don't want it
You musn't have likes and dislikes, whether it be soybean or baby potato
Yeah, but
I have diarrhea
Setsuko, what's wrong? Setsuko!
It's a weakening due to malnutrition
She hasn't eaten anything good for two weeks
The diarrhea and fainting are also from the malnutrition
- Next - Wait, no medicine?
She needs nutrition, not medicine
Nutrition? Like what!?
Nutrition like white meat from fish or egg yolk
Oh, apples would be good for her too
Where the hell would I get that?
If you're a doctor, tell me! Where could I get them!?
- Where? Tell me! - Stop it!
Oh no... we're even out of salt
Man am I hungry. What would you like to eat Setsuko?
Tempura
That sounds nice
and sashimi
and tokoroten
Anything else?
Congee with egg
and...
droplets
Eggs!
What are you doing?
You thief! Get all impudent after all our kindness
- I'm very sorry - Thanks for coming
You must be surprised how beat up he is
You have no right to complain. Thieving during a raid is a serious crime
I'm very sorry
If apologizing was enough we wouldn't need the police!
Leave this to the police. Be merciful. Merciful
It's woeful that a naval officer's son is stealing
If it happens again, you will take responsibility
Because of you, your aunt is in trouble too!
I'm sorry to butt in but
can you please take him back?
There must have been problems, but you don't want them to be tramps
You too. Bow and beg to be taken back
It's impossible to live on your own as children
Come on. It's not a shame. Your sister's still little right?
You have to have her feed you
Do you know why the kind general store owner got so mad?
His son was also a naval officer
and on the coast of Malaysia, he was killed in action
It's so depressing that a naval officer's son is stealing!
Um...
I...
Setsuko is...
You don't have to apologize, Seita-san
I can't have you apologize
I don't have food to provide you if I forgive you
Even if I had more rice,
even if it be one grain, I'd give it to Teizo or Natsu
I don't despise you
I just can't let Teizo,
Natsu, Hana, or Yuki die
Bear a grudge on me all you want
Seita-san, this is what war is about
This is what it means to be at war
I have no intention of apologizing!
I'm the first son of Naval colonel Yokokawa Kiyoshi!
Brother?
Setsuko, sorry for being so late
It's okay
What happened to your face?
Nothing, just got stung by striped mosquito
Does it hurt?
You have to call the doctor and get a shot
Don't say things like mother
Brother
Setsuko, you feeling better?
Is that so! That's great!
I got better after having a droplet!
Droplet?
Dummy! What are you eating!? It's an ohajiki!
Setsuko?
Brother, here. It's dinner. Do you want a bowl?
Let me give you an okara
Setsuko...
You're not having it?
Setsuko, wait here
Let me get you something good with this (bankbook)
Brother, don't go
I don't need any food
I just want to be with you
Setsuko
But you need to eat
Let me buy eggs and make congee with egg
Then I'll hold you, blow your food, and feed you
It's a promise. This time for real
What is it?
Showa 20 (1945) August 15
What does it mean?
Japan lost
The war is over
What? The war is over?
Then no more bombings?
- I suppose so - No more B-29s?
- Yes - Yay!
- No more running! - No more kinrodouin, right? - Of course!
What's going to happen?
Who knows...
Dad died for this war... how could they lose?
What's going to happen to Seita-kun and Se-cchan?
If Japan lost, that must mean
Seita-kun's father also died
Time to eat
At a time like this?
Regardless of Japan losing or what happens to the country, the body gets hungry
Excuse me?
- What's going to happen? - How should I know?
The devilish American soldiers are going to come?
Um... did something happen?
We surrendered
Surrender? Japan lost?
Yeah, "unconditional surrender"
Then what happened to the unified fleet?
They've long sunk and disappeared
No way
Like I will be fighting for the sake of the country
you must defend your mother and Setsuko. Don't ever yield.
No way! My father can't have died!
What the hell
It can't be!
- Idiot! Japan has lost! - No way! No way!
Stop!
Seita-kun, are you okay?
Seita-kun!
Stupid, stupid father!
Sis
It's been a while
Yoshie-san!
You were fine!
Thankfully
I'm glad. Come in
What are you doing from now on?
I don't know yet
I will be getting a ticket to return to Tokyo
Where at?
I haven't decided
But there are no more raids. I will be fine
I suppose
I saw Seita-kun
He was living by the river, all thin
I'm sorry
Why do you apologize?
I acted all moral in front of you
but I too was too busy with my own business
and couldn't do anything for them
I didn't understand anything
Like brother was fighting on the battlefield,
you were also...
Yoshie-san,
be careful
We may never see each other again, but I pray for your well being
Give my regards to your children
Come on, now
You must hide it all. If there's a riot, it'll all be taken
yeah...
There's nothing we can do about the country losing
I'm sorry, we're closed for...
You thief! Why are you here?
Give me rice and eggs
We have nothing to sell to thieves
My sister's sick
I don't care how many, please sell me some
Please
- He's gone mad! - Go home, Japan's lost
That money's worthless
I don't care. Sell me eggs. Give me rice!
Setsuko's going to die! I beg you
I beg you! Please! I beg you!
Mother?
I'm going
The war is over
Setsuko, I'm back
Look! Eggs and rice!
Setsuko?
Fireflies...
Setsuko, I'll make congee with eggs real quick, okay?
Brother, thank you very much (Kansai dialect)
Just wait
Mother's egg congee used to be so good, huh?
The eggs were soft and the right saltiness.
So good my tongue would melt. Right, Setsuko?
So stupid, Setsuko
The congee with egg was almost done
Setsuko...
Setsuko!
Why Setsuko? What am I supposed to do?
Mother...
Seita-kun, Se-cchan!
Setsuko
I'm sorry
I couldn't find the other one
Mother will probably have it
Seita-kun put Se-cchan's little bones into the can of droplets
and left, never to return to Yokohana
Seita-kun died at San'nomiya Station
and was cremated with the other tramps
about a month after the war ended.
It was the day after the law to protect child war victims was passed
We're going
Wow, so pretty. Setsuko, look!
- Over there! - Over there too!
...rations are getting smaller... - Don't worry
Here, Se-cchan. Now you won't lose it
Thank you!
Delicious!
I...
I don't want to live
because
we killed them, Seita-kun and Se-cchan
We killed them!
Ow!
Don't be stupid!
The war isn't over yet!
The real war starts now!
If you die, you lose
If you die, it's over
Afterwards, mother
brought us back to Tokyo
and raised us
without a single tear or complaint
And until she died at the age of 95,
she never mentioned the war.
Here?
This was our sokai, Manchidani
And over there. The entire city of Kobe was in ruins
It has completely changed
Nothing remains of its past
This is the first time
huh?
This is the first time you spoke about the war
I didn't want to recall
the war nor the events that took place here
Even Seita-kun and Se-cchan who died here
But
But mother remembered...
And every time she looked at this,
she probably felt the weight of having survived
I guess the war isn't an old tale
It's because great-grandmother survived,
that you survived and mother was born,
and that I'm here.
- Grandmother? - Yes?
I wonder how far this river flows...
This drama is fictional. However, there are many children worldwide like Seita and Setsuko who are living in the fire of war.