We Can't Change the World
I studied for my exams.
I had to retake them,
and ended up in the medical school I wanted.
So I left for Tokyo.
Everyone, listen. Listen.
2,000 yen from everyone, please.
Anyone for another place?
- I'm going home. - Why?
- We'll just drink. - How about karaoke? Sing?!
I'm not going.
Huh? Huh?
Where's Kouta? Kouta.
- Kouta! - Excuse me!
Yes?
Someone in your party has fallen in the bathroom.
Huh?
I would earn credits like everybody else
and walk the same path as them, too.
I should have been happy with this life.
Before I knew it, I entered my second year.
The common carotid artery
splits into the internal and external carotid arteries.
The internal carotid artery goes to the brain.
It looks like there's a party next week.
Wanna go?
What about Kouta?
Pull yourself together, man.
Listen up.
I will have all of you,
with your own hands,
realize what it really takes to be a doctor.
Most patients
have faith that doctors have a firm grip on that, and come to see you.
It's your job to respond to that burden.
Thank you very much.
- Excuse me! - Yes!
- Can you unfold these two? - Okay.
This should have been enough for me
but something about it wasn't enough.
You mean you've found someone else?
No.
Not really.
Then why?
It's not that I'm unhappy with you,
but for some reason...
I'm not really satisfied.
What is it?
What is it that isn't enough?
Hey, Master.
What is it?
I wonder.
Attention, please! Attention!
Thank you all for getting together today!
I'm Honda from Touto University's economics department.
So... let's all have a great time today!
Won't work. I can't get along with people like him.
Same.
Hello!
Can I sit next to you?
Oh, yes.
Sorry.
What university are you from?
Tokyo International Medical University.
Seriously?
Wow! You're a medical student!
I'm Honda Mitsuru. Nice to meet you.
I'm Tanaka Kouta.
Nice to meet you.
Kouta-kun, are you uncomfortable in places like this?
Yeah... Sorry.
You don't need to apologize.
What's your name?
Your name.
Shibayama!
And you?
Yano!
Yano-kun?
Well, it's an ordinary event, so just relax. Okay?
I actually want to do things that are more interesting.
Not that this is boring or anything.
But... somehow this isn't satisfying.
It'd be good to get really serious about something.
Right?
Yeah.
Cheers!
The thing we were looking for
that would change our otherwise ordinary lives...
-- a roofed elementary school for the children of Cambodia.
August 13th 2005
My future was suddenly changed in that moment.
Let's build an elementary school in Cambodia! - Kouta
We can do it with 1,500,000 yen.
[about 12,000 USD]
It would normally be double
but if we can come up with this 1,500,000, the World Bank will provide the other half.
The World Bank?
Sounds like bullshit.
- Isn't that the bank from that board game "Life"?
- Shut up, Shibayama.
Why do you have to build a school?
It's not that I have to.
I want to.
You know...
This is different from getting a boner.
[to build, to get hard: same word]
You can't come up with 1.5 million working an 880 yen per hour job.
- I don't think it's too much if we all work together.
- It won't work no matter how you look at it.
Well,
look at it this way.
If we just keep working our jobs and earn our credits,
we'll have an ordinary graduation!
But building a school in Cambodia is not normal for university students!
Anyway, how many people did you send that text to?
Anyone I could!
And? We're the only ones here.
True.
Everyone probably just thinks you've lost your mind.
I don't really see a reason, but...
it seems interesting.
- It does, right? - But I don't see why.
What? There's no beer left?
Hey, Kouta.
I want you to explain why.
I felt something.
I thought it might change my daily life.
That's all.
Isn't that Honda-kun?
- Who?
- The guy at the party?
- Yeah!
- Why is he here?
I texted him!
Why did you text him?!
He seemed like a good guy.
You need to stop giving out your contact info so easily!
I thought about replying to your text
but I couldn't contain myself!
- I live nearby so I just popped in.
- Well, come in.
- Excuse me!
- He's really here.
Hello!
You're already drinking?
I bought some beer!
Thank you!
- An elementary school in Cambodia?
- Yeah!
- Wow! That's really interesting!
Right?!
I hate that bright air about him.
He's like a disco ball.
This is making me so excited!
I feel like it'll go well now that we have another! Don't you?
If we need to come up with 1.5 million...
it has to be an event.
An event, huh?
We invite lots of people and collect a door fee.
Well... the problem is what sort of event.
A concert?
That's a good one!
- You were in a band in high school, right?
- Yeah.
The Blue Hearts, right?
[reference to 1987 song Linda Linda by The Blue Hearts]
His songs weren't at all beautiful like they say rats are.
Shibayama-kun,
you're a little bit like a rat.
Honda-kun, you're quick to jump over hurdles.
Hey! Hey! What about a flea market?
A flea market?
- That would make it take forever to build the school.
- Yeah.
It's got to be clubbing events.
Clubbing?
Yeah. For example, we'd rent a club in Roppongi
and have a huge party.
Can we rent a place like that?
I've done it so many times. Just leave it to me.
To get a place of that size and make profit only on that...
With the rental fee being 500,000
[about 4000 USD]
- 500,000?! - Yeah.
and charging 2,000 at the door to make 1.5 million...
I'd like to get 1,000 people.
A thousand?!
That won't happen.
Have you even done something that big?
No, but it'll be fine!
We could get a sponsor.
Calling it a charity would round the whole thing out!
We've found our plan!
It'll work!
Well, for starters, we have to call them up.
I knew you'd be helpful.
Here.
- Me?! - Yeah.
H-Hello?
W-wait! English! English!
Seriously?
You can hang up.
- Hang up! - Kouta-kun, just give it a shot!
We're like hosts that women don't want.
And he's the one women want.
Hey. Sorry for the wait.
This is Yumiko. She's just come back to Japan.
Hello.
She'll be our interpreter.
Shall we?
He says that once construction starts, there's no going back. Is that okay?
Yes. Yes.
With this, our school begins construction.
- It has started!
- I feel like I'm gonna throw up.
What if we can't get all 1.5 million?
It's too early to feel defeated.
- But we can't do it with just the four of us!
- Yeah!
We need more people.
We could make a club out of it.
- A club? - That sounds good!
- Right? - It's not that easy.
We can do it! For now, we should all go to a club tonight.
Why a club again?
For club events, talking to clubbers is the fastest way.
- You're just going to be flirting again. - No waaay!
B-b-but, but! We've come this far so now we just have to do it.
Alright!
I guess it's fine.
September 2005
Let's go. My head hurts.
W-w-w-wait!
We can't turn back now!
We've already taken the first step!
Only you think we can get that many people by flirting!
- Yeah! - Alright!!
Excuse me.
Sorry!
Excuse me. Sorry. Excuse me.
Excuse me.
Uhhh...!
Do you know him?
Not at all!
Uhhh, excuse me!
- What? - Can I talk to you?
Excuse him! I'm really sorry!
What the hell?
- You can't talk to the guys!
- Why?!
They'll get mad if you invite them to an unrelated event!
Just stick with talking to women.
They just see it as flirting. Okay?
- Flirting. - Got it.
Okay, okay. I got it.
Hello~~~
Hello!
What are you drinking?
Red Eye!
[tomato beer from 2012]
Red Eye? Seriously?
I grew the tomatoes in there.
Did you?!
Nope!
What was that?
Let's drink at the counter over there. I'll buy.
Okay!
Let's do this!
Um!
Excuse me!
Do you have a little time?
They don't play music I love like The Blue Hearts here.
It's only music that I've never heard.
Do you have interest... in Cambodia... Cambodia with...
[incoherent mumbling]
Do you need a drink or anything?
Right now, I'm forcing myself to make a friendly face
and for the sake of a school in Cambodia,
I'm flirting with these women.
How many people did you ask?
- 4. - Yanocchi?
6.
What about you?
2.
Anyway, we need to decide on a name if we're making a club.
Soramame.
Huh?
For the club's name.
- Because a man who stares into the skies with hopeful eyes created it.
["Sky Bean", "mame" can also mean faithful, hopeful, diligent]
- That's fine, isn't it?
...but I'm tired.
Alright.
Let's just do this our own way.
"Soramame"?
Excuse me, uh, we want to build a school in-- just have a--
Please take one!
A school in Cambodia-- Thank you! Please take one!
Aren't you being too boring?
Shut up!
Stop sitting and hand them out!
Excuse me! Please take one.
We want to build a school in--
Excuse me! Please take one.
Excuse me!
Excuse me! Excuse me! Excuse me!
We're a club building an elementary school in Cambodia.
- A school? - Yes. If you like...
- You're building a school! - Yes.
That's amazing.
Uh... i-i-i-if you're interested, please join us.
Hey! Wait up!
Don't laugh!
- "I-i-i-if you're interested, please join us."
- I didn't say that, idiot! Shut up!
She's in nursing school?
[the ringtone is Linda Linda by The Blue Hearts]
Phone call...
It's Honda-kun.
Hello?
What?!
- That person? - I think so.
Sorry for making you wait.
I sent you the proposal.
- Honda, Touto University. - Tokyo Intl. Medical Uni--
That's enough.
So, what do you want me to do?
Go ahead.
For example, on your website--
Help you with promotion?
Yes.
Why?
Why are you doing something like this?
That's... w-w-we are--
Because we, as university students,
wonder if there's something we can do for this world.
You're so young.
[implying naive]
Sorry.
Well, we're young too.
Sounds good. Let's do it.
Thank you very much!
In other words, it turns out Live Window is going to help us with promotion!
[fictional company name]
So, the school is going to be built around here in northwest Cambodia.
We will be building it with revenue from the events,
so we need to get a lot of people or it just won't work.
Make sure to publicize at your universities as best you can.
Counting on you!
Okay!
Now I'll introduce
the one who dreamed up this project.
Tanaka Kouta-kun!
Stand up.
Say something.
Thanks for your help.
Uh...
yeah.
That's it?
I can't do it!
Well, we will come up with 1.5 million before it will be completed.
Make sure you read the documents in front of you.
If you have objections, feel free to bring them up. Thank you!
This is your idea, so say something!
- No way. - Why?
Oh, Kouta.
Can you handle the speech during the event?
- Me?! - Yeah.
Thanks.
September 2005 - The first event.
It's 2000 yen.
2000.
Okay, thank you!
Thank you!
That was medical students doing Para Para!
[dancing using arms in sync]
Now, what you've all been waiting for:
our extravagant high-stakes game of Bingo!
Hello.
I'm Tanaka Kouta.
Hello.
Everyone, do you know anything about Cambodia?
It has a land area of 181,035km²
and a population of about 13,360,000.
Its capital is Phnom Penh.
Agriculture, fishing, and forestry are booming.
And... it is famous for Angkor Wat, which is a World Heritage Site.
Cambodia is in the center... the center of the Indochinese peninsula.
It shares borders with Thailand to its west, Laos to its north, and Vietnam to its east.
[he changes sentence structure midway]
People's lives there are not at all defined by abundance.
The kids can't go to school even if they want to. If you ask why...
...they don't have enough schools.
Our--
Sorry.
What we are doing
may just be one droplet in a large ocean.
but those droplets all add up
and become a bigger ocean.
That's all. Thank you very much.
First event: 632 attendees. Revenue: 320,000 yen. Remaining: 1,180,000 yen.
Good job!
Are you alright?
Can you hear me?
Huh?
You're from Kansai?
Really?
My parents are from Nishinomiya.
No way!
I'm from Himeji.
Hi - me - ji!
Really now?
In your speech... you used something Mother Teresa said, didn't you?
You caught it!
I've volunteered in Indonesia.
What?
Like I said, I went to Indonesia for volunteer work.
Did you?
There are things you just don't know unless you go abroad.
Hey,
what kind of area are we building the school in?
What kind of place will the school be in?
Have you never been to Cambodia, Kouta-kun?
You've never been?!
No.
I'm building a school in Cambodia
but I've never been there.
I have no choice but to go.
So, to Cambodia.
October 2005 First Cambodian tour.
There are so many people!
Him, right? "Soramame Project"!
Him! It's him!
Good to meet you. I'm Vuthy, your guide. I'll be taking care of you.
Nice to meet you!
If somebody asks me what kind of country Cambodia is,
I think I would say this without hesitation:
it's a busy country where kids can ride, 3 or 4 at a time, on a motorbike.
Hey... why are we in Cambodia?
And paying for it ourselves.
We're here to learn.
- For the sake of our school. - To learn, huh.
I blew all the money I saved at work.
Siem Reap
What's this liquid?
This works!
Would you like more rice?
More!
A little-- more, more!
You really can eat.
If I use this, it tastes so good. It's because of this.
Hey, Yanocchi, you too.
Try some of this.
- It's seriously good! - Really?
- It's not bad. - It's good, right?!
You're an unusual bunch.
People who come from Japan usually have a long face when they eat our food.
Why? This food is so good!
- It's hard to enjoy yourself knowing the state Cambodia is in.
- Hold it!
Don't say things about the state they're in.
But we're going to a hospital tomorrow.
Should we be drinking?
Well... since we're here, let's just enjoy ourselves. Right?
It's been a while since I've had food this good.
You have a way with words!
Cheers!
Siem Reap Regional Hospital
And back there, you will find the management office.
In that large building you can see right now
there are 3 things that get done.
One is eye care, then nasal care, and dentistry.
-Dentistry. - Yes. Those 3.
This is the AIDS ward.
Will you go in and listen to them?
Yes.
Please.
Okay, let's go in.
This girl is...
an AIDS patient.
She came here...
It's been about 10 years since she came here.
Right now, she has... AIDS and uh... malaria,
as well as... a little, uh, psychosis.
What would you like to ask her?
As of 2005,
2.6% of people between the ages of 15 and 49 in Cambodia, 1 in 40, are HIV positive.
In addition to the AIDS patients.
In total, it's 170,000 people in that bracket.
It's the worst in South East Asia.
Compared to the past, understanding of AIDS is getting more widespread.
But there is still discrimination and prejudice.
This is Sophea-san.
- Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you.
She is an HIV patient as well.
Her husband contracted HIV from a prostitute.
He gave it to her, and it turned into AIDS a year ago.
Her husband then left her here and ran off.
She's been here alone since then.
She says she is happy because it's been a long time since she got to speak with young people.
She says you look like a famous Cambodian singer.
- I do? - Yanocchi, you're suddenly in the spotlight!
Then we'll have him sing a song!
I won't! I won't!
- No way, don't translate that! What are you saying? - Just do it!
- I can't! I can't!! - Sing!
You like The Blue Hearts, right?
- Do it, Yanocchi! - Please! - What are you saying that for?
-- so here's this week's first performer, Yanocchi!
- With "Blue Sky"! - Blue Sky?!
[The Blue Hearts song]
Blue Sky, Blue Sky. By The Blue Hearts!
You said you like it! Do it!
On the other side of the TV
[a "Braun-kan" is a CRT TV, named after its inventor]
an overzealous--
I can't do this! I really can't!
- What's with you? - You're so boring!
Then you guys sing it!
You look like the singer!
- Right! - You're the singer!
- Sing! - I can't!
I like it, but I can't!
- He's going to take it! - Smile!
Okay, cheese!
Okay, done!
There was no flash!
Is it good?
- It's fine. - It's really good!
She says you've given her a reason to live.
The desire to live?
She's asking you to visit her again.
Okay!
I will!
I will definitely come!
Phnom Penh: Capital city.
This city is completely different!
- We can't even cross. - Yeah!
As expected of a capital city.
Vuthy-san, they're still building new buildings, aren't they?
It's changing.
We have to keep changing.
This is the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum.
I will try to explain this place to you as simply as I can.
- Okay. - Go ahead. Have a look at these.
All of these are pictures of Pol Pot and his bodyguards.
That is Pol Pot in the middle.
Yes, Pol Pot.
In the Khmer Rouge, he was the top. The leader.
A leader... like a Prime Minister.
To put it simply, the Khmer Rouge
would find intellectuals, smart people, or those who are educated
Intellectuals...
Smart people...
Educated people...
and if they knew anything about his organization
he would gather them up and kill them.
Wrapped up in the Vietnam war,
Cambodia quickly fell into civil war
and experienced an unbelievable genocide.
This was originally a high school,
but it was
turned into a concentration camp.
The picture hanging on the wall
is a picture of the last person killed in this room.
And this is that victim's bed.
This... is that?
That's right, yes.
When they weren't being tortured or interrogated,
they would be left to sleep on this bed.
This short rod
is shackles for the victim's legs.
- Their legs? - Yes.
Have a look at the photo.
Uh... at the feet.
The feet and this rod.
You mean the feet go in there?
The ankles get forced into there?
In something so small?
They would be forced to do hard labor every day by the Khmer Rouge.
Usually from 5 in the morning until 5 or 6 at night.
They would be forced to work, and receive two meals a day.
Lunch and dinner.
I say meals, but...
it wasn't really meals,
but rice water.
Rice water?
It was generally flavorless dissolved rice.
I don't think our feet could fit in there these days.
But back then everyone was small and thin.
They were all bones.
This is a map of Cambodia.
This map shows how people were displaced from Phnom Penh to the countryside.
I was born around here.
Does that mean you were there when this was happening?
I was here.
From 1975 until 1976, I was here.
From 1976 until the end of the Khmer Rouge's reign, I was here.
This means that my family and I were displaced twice.
I did this kind of work, too.
- You did this? - You did?
Yes, I did.
This, too. And this.
Under Pol Pot's rule, anyone educated, such as teachers and doctors, had their lives stolen from them.
It amounted to about a quarter of the entire population.
It is said to have happened to 2 million people.
Here at Tuol Sleng concentration camp, 17,000 people were interned.
Only 7 survived.
Do you see that hole?
There is no toilet,
so how do you think they relieved themselves?
- That's why there's a hole? - Yes.
They did it in that hole.
If they made a mess,
they'd have to lick it up with their tongues.
- They'd be told to clean it up like that?
- Yes, to clean up.
Wow...
In here, everything you see is skeletons. All skeletons.
In total, there are 8,985 skeletons here.
He's right...
8,000?
We want our youth, growing up in peace, to know about what happened under the Khmer Rouge.
So that we do not forget what happened.
We do these things as a sort of memorial so that we remember.
The Killing Fields
To children?
This was also used as a killing method.
- A killing method? - Yes.
How do you think they did it?
They would... hold the child's legs
and smash them against the tree
then throw them in a hole.
That's crazy.
Isn't it?
They did that to babies--
This tree is "The Killing Tree".
- The Killing Tree. - Yes, The Killing Tree.
The color changes here, so they were...
It's a blood stain.
Right?
The stain was here, and after 30 years has grown to here.
So this is where they were really smashed into the tree.
Babies were?
Babies were.
This is... a human bone.
- It's not a root. - It's not a root?
And... that... it's a little far.
Sorry, excuse me.
This is... a human tooth.
It really is!
Every year, when it rains in Cambodia,
the soil washes away more and more
and these come out.
And below your feet, as well, there are more bones.
- You can also find clothing belonging to the victims.
- This? This is...?
- This is, too, right?
- Bone? - This, too?
Yes. This, too. All bones.
This is bone, too.
And this.
This, too?
Even this?
This... there's cloth coming out of the ground!
Then... this is clothing.
People tortured at Tuol Sleng were
brought here
and killed.
They get shallower and shallower. Who knows when they'll be flat again.
The rain comes and the soil moves
causing these holes to get shallower year after year.
But
the horrible things that happened here
will never be erased.
After I become a doctor,
I want to save as many people as I can.
Their irreplaceable lives.
That's... what they should be.
I don't know how all of this will make you feel,
but for me, coming to a place like this
to guide people, always reminds me of my family.
I went through a lot under the Khmer Rouge
and one thing I can never forget is my father.
Uhm...
During Pol Pot's reign, Vuthy-san's father was interned at a concentration camp.
He was forced to work day in and day out
until he could no longer stand up.
His mother at a different concentration camp,
without regard for the risks
and without eating much of anything,
brought him boiled eggs
in hopes he would recover.
-- my dad was really happy then.
But... when he woke up
even if we put the egg right into his mouth
he couldn't eat it.
He couldn't...
He couldn't live anymore...
So before he died
he couldn't eat a single bite.
So these days,
working as a guide,
and going out with my tourists
to eat delicious food...
When I eat it, I always get reminded of my dad.
If he were still alive, I would
want to feed him as much as I could.
Thank you.
Thank you for showing us around.
You're very welcome.
Please laugh.
Being able to bring up a laugh easily is something good about you all.
Let's laugh.
And enjoy our food.
Let's eat.
It's too hot!
Hold on, sorry!
Hello?
Hello. Kaori-chan?
Hello. Kouta-kun?
This is surprising!
What time is it over there?
It's... 8 right now.
How about there?
It's 10 here.
What are you doing right now?
Studying at a restaurant.
Sorry for bothering you while you're studying.
No problem at all.
I have... something to ask of you.
Are you okay?
Honda-kun?
Honda-kun... maybe you should go home.
I haven't even seen the school yet.
This was pointless if I go home now.
But if you're upset, you're not in any condition to build the school.
I'll be fine.
I'm actually worried about you, you know.
Kaori-chan is going to pick you up at the airport.
We'll be coming to Cambodia again.
You can just see the school then.
Okay?
Honda-kun went back to Japan not long before we did.
W-what?
We've gotten stuck!
Stuck?!
Seriously?
Let's go back.
We can't.
- We're going to the school!
- I don't want to go anymore!
- We're going! Let's go! - No way no way no way!
Okay, let's go!
We're going!
Kouta's in!
Please be careful.
-- you moron!
Charas Village
They're growing bananas.
- Bananas? - Bananas.
- That's a nice color!
- Yeah.
They're selling gas.
Smokes, too!
Hello!
- Hello! - Hello!
[lit. "peace and joy", an all-purpose greeting]
Why? Why why why? Sorry!
We're heading to the school now.
The area has opened up!
There are so many of them here!
There are so many.
This is where we're building the school, then.
How do I ask their names?
- "Hene". - Hene.
- Hene-kun.
Do you all have something you want to do?
Nothing? Nothing?
She wants to be a doctor!
A doctor!
Really now? Why?
There are a lot of sick people, so she wants to be a doctor to help them.
Vuthy-san, is this all of the kids in that grade?
There are many more.
But there aren't enough classrooms
so they are split into morning and evening classes.
So if we build the school, they can all have class together, right?
No, there are some kids who can't even go to school because of work.
Are there any kids like that around here?
Yes.
I, uh...
I want to meet them.
It's dangerous to go beyond that point.
Why?
Beyond that red tape is still an active minefield.
You must not go further than that.
These are landmines that have been found.
They are meant for destroying legs.
People walking don't see them, so they step and BOOM
and off go their legs.
Around how many more are there?
I have no idea, but it must be a lot.
But those kids are just running around!
What did you say?
I told them not to run.
They live near here.
They live in the minefield?!
That's right.
70,000,000 landmines have been made around the world.
On average, one person steps on one every 20 minutes.
Cambodia is said to be the country with the most landmines placed in its land.
Around 67,000 people here are victims of landmines and other shells that never exploded during the war.
That's volleyball, right?
It sure is.
This is Sarit.
- Sarit. - Sarit.
His father was a refugee.
After the war ended, he came back to Cambodia.
He doesn't have his own land
so he's borrowing it from someone else
in order to farm.
After all the landmines are gone,
they will have the land split between them
and then they can farm.
What does he normally do?
He's always helping with his dad's work.
Then he's not going to school, is he?
He wants to, but isn't right now.
You know,
soon,
over there,
we're going to build a school that even has a roof.
There will be a desk ready for you.
Oh, right.
This is for you.
Thank you.
I'm really glad that I came here.
Thank you very much.
Let's meet again.
You've been a great help.
Come back another time.
I'll be back. For sure.
Let's laugh together again.
Thank you.
No problem.
Take care, Vuthy-san. Yes, you too.
Take care.
- Bye! - Byebye!
Byebye!
We have convenience stores.
And fast food.
Clean toilets.
The showers actually have hot water.
Anything we eat won't hurt us.
The trip only lasted for a week,
but I see everything differently now than before I'd gone.
Has it changed you?
I got pretty depressed when I went to Indonesia.
I had preconceived ideas about those people being poor and needy, but coming to sympathize with them
and meeting a lot of other volunteers, and talking about all kinds of things...
It all made me see my own inadequacies.
I realized I'd been putting myself on a pedestal.
But...
You seem to be different from me.
I'm not sure I'm different. I saw a lot of things.
Oh, I see.
You know, Kouta-kun...
Never mind, it's nothing.
The very next day, that company president who was helping us
was arrested on charges of illegal business practices.
He seemed like a good guy.
He's the type that couldn't keep his head down, I guess.
[lit. "the protruding nail gets hammered"]
It's not just him.
Look.
We're being criticized, too.
H-h-hey, what is all this?
- He's arrested! - Seriously? SoramameP is a group of criminals! lol (MameP is a character in Idolmaster)
Our small club's message board was flooded with messages.
- Isn't this like the conglomerate in The Impossibles? - These guys are pathetic. Why are they building a school? - Because they're idiots.
- What do they need help for? All they need to do is have the school built.
- This site has a link on Live Window's website, right? - They'll be arrested, too. lol
"Stop messing around in a hypocritical club and focus on your studies"? We're not messing around!
Calm down.
"There's something sinister in these faces if you look closely."
This is us!
- They're screwing with us! - I said calm down.
Honda-kun, don't let it get to you. It's just the internet.
Shut up.
What's with him?
[inaudible]
Students who will be taking supplementary examinations
Something else was waiting for us on another type of message board.
Tanaka Kouta, Shibayama Tadashi
We shouldn't have gone to Cambodia.
You two...
what do you think about being doctors?
Uhhh... well...
Look around.
These are people who have donated their bodies to our medical department.
They won't get any money for their donations.
With amateurs like you cutting them open,
they won't even have pain to show for it.
Donating your body...
isn't just for show.
It's real volunteering.
Do you understand?
Sit.
Okay.
You went to Cambodia?
Yes.
I went when I was young, too.
They were in the midst of civil war.
It was an ordeal.
Don't forget about your studies.
If you're not going to take them seriously,
give up both becoming doctors and your volunteering.
Disgusting! Die! Hypocrites!
Hold on, listen.
As things are, we won't have enough money before the school is built.
We'll give everyone a quota.
A quota?
We haven't heard about this.
50,000 yen each.
I'll hand out 25 tickets to each of you.
Make sure you sell them.
What do we do if there's some left over?
You buy them yourselves, of course.
Hold it!
If we don't do this, our money won't increase!
We don't have enough money!
No way, 50,000 is way too much.
Hold on. Why do we have a quota? Is this a company?
This is something the three of us came up with!
Hey.
Drop the quota.
Why?
That's not what we're here for.
It is.
We are all here to raise 1.5 million.
C-c-can you not put it like that?
Sorry, I joined this club without thinking about it very seriously.
I thought it'd be good for job hunting. But that's no good, right?
No, that's fine. If everyone just...
thinks about Cambodia.
I am.
Doesn't the 1.5 million seem more like a debt now?
A school is just a building, right?
Doing that and feeling good... isn't it just self-satisfaction?
Actually, let's do something more realistic.
Using our bodies.
I joined because I thought we were just collecting money to build a school.
If not, then I'll leave.
Then you can just leave.
Actually, get out of here.
Excuse me!
Why did we choose Cambodia in the first place?
Why?
I guess... because I found a pamphlet at the post office.
That's it?
Listen, listen! Listen!
There are people who need help in Japan, too.
Why go overseas?
That's true.
Building the school isn't the issue.
Isn't the problem deeper than that?
They don't have nearly enough teachers.
Right! Building it isn't enough.
Why? Aren't we here to build it?
Why isn't wanting to do it enough?
Wouldn't it be better to do something for our own country?
Honda, say something!
- Yanocchi isn't even looking, either.
- The four of us need to do something.
- Say something! - Everything's so screwed up.
Revenue: 620,000 yen. Remaining: 880,000 yen.
I think they'd all understand if they went to Cambodia just once.
I went, and now I'm not sure I understand.
War, landmines, AIDS...
I can't get these out of my head.
It's driving me crazy.
At the moment, all I can say is our club is screwed.
My studies are in danger, too.
Have you seen the required classes for 3rd year?
They're completely full.
Can't do it anymore.
You...
Don't screw around.
You sure can talk even after getting to know Vuthy-san and Sophea-san.
Then what about you?
Do you really think you can save that country?
Stop it... sorry.
Oh, don't worry about it.
At Angkor Wat
some kids begged me for a dollar, and I gave it to them without thinking about it.
Can just one dollar change their futures at all?!
It won't!
That means our school is the same.
The problem is too big for us.
It's not something we ever should have stuck our noses into.
Can't do it anymore.
That... might be true.
Hey... what's true?
This is over if you say that.
You're the one who brought all this up and you didn't do a thing.
Hey, Kouta...
What exactly did we want to do?
What will you do about the club?
Honda-kun is being a little too hard on us, isn't he?
If you and him aren't on the same page
it will all fall apart.
You're the only reason he's able to say anything.
No way. He's a stronger person than me...
No, no... that guy isn't strong in the way you are.
I don't want things to get messy.
Sorry.
There's something I want to tell you.
What?
Are you two...
We're dating.
Oh.
Since when?
When I got back to Narita airport
I was feeling really defeated.
And...
She said "welcome back".
It made me so happy.
So...
I'm the one who fell for her.
We started going out recently.
Oh.
Excuse me.
This is the Japanese-style Hamburg steak.
Whose order is it?
The plate is hot, so please be careful. I'll be right back with the rice.
Kouta-san, are you well?
The boy you met in the village said that he wants to write you a letter.
He can't write.
But he says he wants to express his thanks to you.
So I taught him how.
He lost his mother to an illness.
So he says he wants to study to become a doctor.
He thanks you for giving him hope.
Please come visit again.
We'll be waiting.
Kouta, thank you. - Sarit
This very direct letter was too much for me right now.
Nice to meet you.
I'm Runa.
- Hello. - Hello.
Excuse me.
Are you okay with 60 minutes?
Yes. 60 minutes.
Okay.
He has asked for 60 minutes.
Okay.
Yes.
No.
Okay.
Okay. Thank you.
Since it's 60 minutes, can I ask for payment first?
It's 18,000 yen.
- 18,000. - Yes.
Here.
Your change.
Are you a student?
Yeah, pretty much.
Okay, then, shall we have a bath?
H-h-h-hold on.
Do you want someone else?
Sorry.
I'm so sorry. Sorry.
I'm very sorry.
Are you alright?
Can I...
Can I b---
Can I... just borrow your chest for an hour?
Thank you very much.
It's okay.
Huh?
I still have time until my next appointment.
Okay.
Bye.
Thank you very much.
Really.
In high school, which club were you in?
Basketball.
There's no way I can win!
That was a foul!
I was in the soccer club!
What was your favorite manga?
Captain Tsubasa.
[soccer manga]
Mine was Slam Dunk.
[basketball]
We're nothing alike.
Wow.
You're the impressive one.
My dad is a doctor.
So
I thought about being one, too.
But the exams turned me away from it.
Really?
I couldn't find anything I wanted to do.
But after meeting the three of you, I found I want to really put my all into something.
About Kaori...
Stop! I don't handle things very well, so hearing things like that will make me lose my mind.
Okay.
I want to go see it soon.
The school we're building.
I'm... a really useless guy.
I made this club knowing I wanted to do something "different".
I never really said anything cool like "I want to volunteer!"... it was all in my head.
I didn't even consider volunteering, though.
But I'm fine with that.
I've decided to just accept that about myself.
Is that so?
Yeah.
That's good.
The answer doesn't come to me when I think about it.
But there's one thing I know for sure.
I can't do anything alone.
So I want your help.
The kids in Cambodia gave us huge smiles.
I wondered... if they smiled for us because we smiled for them.
So we have to keep smiling.
We have to smile like idiots
and keep collecting money like idiots.
That way, we can help people.
That's the best way, isn't it?
I wonder what it is...
What?
Nah... forget it.
You'll piss me off.
Then... these are on me.
Thank you.
Cheers, then?
- Cheers! - Cheers!
Do it again. With more energy.
Okay.
Then... oh, let's do it in Khmer!
[Cambodian language]
Ready?
1.... 2!
["choul mouy"]
Revenue: 790,000. Remaining: 710,000.
Revenue: 920,000. Remaining: 580,000.
[he is learning Blue Sky]
Revenue: 1,180,000. Remaining: 320,000.
[passing grades]
Revenue: 1,290,000. Remaining: 210,000.
Revenue: 1,360,000. Remaining: 140,000.
July 2006 The Final Event
Hello!
I'm Tanaka Kouta!
Kouta!
Uh...
Last summer,
we went to Cambodia and saw what it was like there.
I was lost for words.
What we are trying to do right now
might be only one small thing.
Now I have nothing!
No matter how much I struggle, the world won't respond to me.
Nothing will change.
Volunteering... and love... to be honest, I don't understand either of them.
I'm sorry, I have no idea.
Um... But...
I believe that there are times when it is better
to do things to make someone else happy
than to do things to make yourself happy.
I'm saying things like this, but I'm really hopeless... I'm really useless.
I made a club for building a school in Cambodia,
and eventually our message board went totally crazy,
and our fundraising boxes got vandalized...
I'm the leader of this thing and I couldn't do a single thing.
Uh... but
even someone like me
could make people smile in Cambodia.
So I will keep doing these things.
Because no matter how
insignificant my help is,
there are people who will smile.
I'm... this hopeless...
This is how we are,
but if you can,
please help us!
Thank you very much!
Thank you very much.
Thank you, Kouta!
You're not coming to the school's opening ceremony?
The opening ceremony.
Sorry.
I see...
Kouta-kun, give it a good look.
I'll do what I can here.
I'm leaving the club, too.
Why?
For my own sake.
Bye.
Hold on!
I'm glad...
that I met you!
I... couldn't do anything.
What?
Have a good trip.
August 2006
Nice to meet you! I'm Vuthy.
Vuthy.
Vuthy-san!
Kouta!
Vuthy-san!
- Long time no see. - Yeah! Have you been well?
I have. What about you, Kouta-kun?
- I have! - That's good.
- I'm going to put these in here. - Yeah, go for it.
Vuthy-san.
Yes?
There's somewhere that I want to go.
Where is that?
Here it is!
Look.
Look, this is from last time.
- The one we took last time? - Yeah, yeah!
- Don't laugh. - He hasn't changed at all.
At what?
I've been practicing for today.
Blue Sky?
- Yeah. - Seriously?
- Wow! - You're cool!
You're surprisingly manly.
What is it?
She died a month ago.
The ceremony is finally tomorrow.
It sure is.
Sarit will come too, right?
Why?
The removal of land mines on this land is done for now.
He needs to get the land ready for farming.
So he can't go to school.
No way.
Are you just holding yourself back? You studied so you could write me a letter, right?
He's saying he wants to help with his dad's work.
But the school opens today!
Kouta... reality is different from dreams.
That school is built in reality!
Kouta!
God dammit!
Shit!
I guess I'll help!
Let's all work together!
Alright!
Make sure it's tied well.
1... 2... 3!
This is hard!
1... 2... 3!
-- 2... 3!
1... 2... 3!
We did it!
We finally did it!
Thank you!
Kouta!
Sarit.
He'll help with the work after classes.
He'll go to school every day, and work the land after.
That's good news!
Thank goodness!
We did it!
You're late!
Sorry.
Let's do this.
- Yeah. - Yeah.
Alright, let's go!
Come on, go on ahead.
August 27th 2006 10 A.M.
Alright!
- Here we go. - Yeah!
1... 2!
At ease.
Stand firm.
At ease.
Stand firm.
Hello.
The leader of Soramame, come forward.
- Leader? - Leader.
-Kouta. -Kouta. -Kouta.
Me?!
Thank you.
Thank you for singing for us.
In return, we would like to sing for you as well.
What is that?
What is this?
Come on forward.
It's Blue Sky.
I told you I practiced it.
On the other side of the TV,
an overzealous cavalry
shot down an Indian.
If it were possible,
I wish they'd have
shot down my depression instead
with the spark of that gunfire.
Sorry.
I'm sorry.
I tried to bribe the Gods
for a passport to heaven...
but teasing me like this?
Are you serious?!
There are people out there
keeping up their fake smiles...
Show me the hand
that you've kept hidden.
One... two!
Based solely on where I was born, my skin, and the color of my eyes
what do you think you can know about me?
Driver, will you
please let me onto that bus?
It doesn't matter
where it is going.
This isn't how things were supposed to be, right?
History is going to judge me
underneath the blinding blue sky.
Underneath the blinding blue sky.
I've felt beaten so many times.
So many times.
But coming here has made it all go away.
From now on,
in this school, all of you
should have fun and learn.
Then find your own happiness.
Thanks to everyone here
I've learned something very important.
Thank you for giving me a reason to live.
This was the last time the four of us were together smiling like this.
Soon after, Honda-kun left university.
He left for Africa to undertake a professional humanitarian project.
Yanocchi decided to focus on studying AIDS treatments.
He is sure to save a lot of people from here on out.
Shibayama has for some reason devoted himself to studying Khmer.
He isn't clear on what he wants to do.
Kaori-chan graduated from nursing school, went back to her home in Kansai, and is looking for work at a hospital there.
Vuthy-san is still working as a guide in Phnom Penh.
And I'm living my life day by day.
What I was feeling there in Cambodia... might slowly get away from me.
And those kids may have already forgotten about us.
Soramame Project
We can't change the world
but
that day, that moment,
when the kids were smiling
and we smiled with them
was real.
The real Tanaka Kouta, Hada Kouta, later graduated from university. He works as a doctor at a metro hospital. He still works to improve the school he built in Cambodia.
In 2011, Cambodia had around 6,700 elementary schools. Since then, Japanese non-profits have built more than 700 more. That number is still rising.
Euphoric Translations Translation/Timing: Stythe QC: Thule Khmer translations provided by: lilninja www.euphorictranslations.com