Timer 2 minutes.
Timer has been set for 2 minutes.
Damn, Dad...
I've been waiting. Come in, come in.
Little bit more to the left. Ah, that's good. And push it back.
All the way back. Thanks. Good, good.
Hold it. Please take it back right away.
- Or you can go ahead and throw it away. - Throw it away?
Never mind him and please carry on.
Once you find this Megumi woman, you're going back to Yaizu, aren't you?
I refuse to let you keep something this big here. Even without it, the room...
- Thanks a lot. - Excuse us.
Kota, will you bring it here?
Mom, you're finally here.
This is Daisuke's condo.
Huh? Daisuke worked hard for it.
What? Huh?
Don't worry. He won't say his own mother's butsudan (Buddhist family altar)
is in the way, will he?
Right? Then Kota, let's bring the sutra desk.
Okay, Mom, you just relax and stay enshrined here.
What is it, first thing in the morning?
I've had my share of hotel living. Say, let me have the spare key.
Don't tell me you're planning to freeload over here.
I made some friends at the party the other day, you see.
It's just for a little while.
Since I'm here now anyway,
I might as well enjoy all kinds of lifestyle.
Right?
I'm going.
Okay, let's eat.
Isn't that green stuff chrysanthemum greens? You're gonna juice that too?
Kota, he's making juice from chrysanthemum greens.
He's throwing oranges in there without peeling too.
It's organic so no chemical pesticide or chemical fertilizer is used.
They're all good for your body.
But shouldn't you at least peel the orange?
- That's wasteful. It's the spirit of makurobi (macrobiotics). - Spirit of matatabi (similar to catnip)?
Stop trying to be funny first thing in the morning. It's tiring.
Macrobiotics.
Winter vegetables during the cold season
and summer vegetables during the hot season.
There's a lot of nutrients in the skin and leaves too, so I try to use everything whole as much as possible.
By doing that, I can reduce food scrap and it's good for the environment too.
We can live a healthy life while being in harmony with the environment.
Excuse me.
You got the juicer going so I couldn't hear the latter part, but
Daisuke, how long do you intend to live?
I'm not necessarily hoping to a live a long life.
I just want to be healthy until I die.
Kota, do you understand what your brother's saying?
By the time we're old, medical costs will be putting the squeeze on the Government
and we won't be able to see doctors that easily.
So it's a self-defense measure, if you will.
More importantly, this.
Hurry up and do the paperwork for the school transfer or we can't move forward.
But the print's so small on those documents.
I went through a lot of trouble getting those documents from an acquaintance, you know.
Yeah, if Mom was alive, she'd be taking good care of Kota...
If Mom was alive, you wouldn't have remarried in the first place.
Forget it, I'll do it.
Thanks.
People are the source of problems.
Whether they're your parents or other people,
every time you get involved with someone other than yourself,
you run into trouble.
No matter how much you try to avoid them,
there are troubles you just can't avoid.
Kumagai, get those statements of account and bring them to me.
- Will do. - Hanako-san, you have a visitor.
A Takase-san from Avail Japan.
- Oh, tell him I'm not here. - But I already said you were here.
- He'll be here soon. - Tell him I went out.
Kumagai Hanako-san. I wonder when I'll get to see her again.
You mean that Kumagai-san who slapped Nagasato-san at the party the other day?
You don't like kids either, do you?
Something hit me that instant.
Something that told me this woman was the soulmate I was searching for.
Soulmate?
The reason I didn't get married until now
is because I was meant to be with her. Right?
Maybe. Right?
I'd sure like to get married while I'm still in my 30's.
I don't want any complications to develop from being single and my personality to get warped like Daisuke.
Sasaki-san.
He's become cynical, hasn't he? That's why he made those caustic remarks
to a happily married couple the other day.
How pathetic is a guy who isn't popular with the ladies.
Did I hear I'm not popular with the ladies?
- You're not popular with the ladies? - That's not true.
You're so rude, Irie-kun.
Anyway, there's no need to rush marriage, right?
What a nasty way to put it. Like you can get married any time.
- That's not what I meant. - Then will you join a marriage partner hunting site?
- No. I don't need to. - An immediate reply?
Daisuke, he's getting cocky just because he's somewhat good looking.
He's an enemy. To men like us who can't get married, he's an enemy.
I told you, don't lump me together with you.
I covered up for you.
Thanks. I owe you one.
I'll repay you somehow soon.
Then...I have one request.
- What? -The gentleman who was just here.
You wouldn't pretend not to be in with business-related people, right?
In other words, this Takase-san
is a personal acquaintance, right?
It would be nice if you could exhibit that acuity in your work too.
As expected, you have an abundance of connections since you've been working for a trading firm for many years.
Please introduce me to someone too.
- Introduce you like how? - Drinking party.
Can you set one up?
Huh?
- That's where we'll have lunch there today. - Goukon (group blind date)?
Goukon at our age?
Let's try to be men who can get married. Organize it.
I refuse.
And invite Hanako-san.
All the more reason to refuse.
That process was a real pain in the neck.
Huh?
For Kota-kun.
She said it's a real hassle.
To just transfer school for a short period of time without moving residence.
You have no idea how much I had to plead with my sister.
I'm truly grateful to your sister.
Then how about next Wednesday for goukon?
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and every day after that, my schedule's full.
Schedule? It's something like 100 squats, isn't it?
On Wednesdays, I strengthen my quads and hamstrings.
The only thing that awaits you is lonely old age.
Here he comes, the man from the lonely planet.
In the end, a solitary death.
Why don't you follow your dad's example? He's so bubbly and sociable.
He used to be way more unsociable than me.
He went crazy after he was taken for a ride by a young woman.
Then you should get taken for a ride too. By a young girl at goukon.
I told you, I refuse.
There's still a lot to do until the transfer's complete.
I think it would make things a lot easier if you had someone at the ward office
who you could turn to for advice anytime.
Make sure you invite Hanako-san.
10 more seconds.
One final push.
5 4 3 2 1
Okay, you're all done.
Hello.
Uh...
What?
At the party the other day...
Oh...
- I have no intention of apologizing. - Huh?
I mean, I realize it was immature of me to raise my hand.
But you're the one who said rude things, like deciding on your own
that I don't like kids.
I never said that you should apologize.
Then were you planning to apologize?
No way. Why should I? I'm the one who got slapped.
If anyone should apologize, it's you.
See? You do want me to apologize after all.
You get belligerent right away. That's a bad habit of yours.
That's why you're not popular with men and you get stressed out.
I'm not that unpopular with men that you have to be concerned about it.
By the way, what did you want to talk about?
Goukon.
Sasaki, my colleague, wants to do it. With you.
I don't like it either. It's just a gathering of fools with too much time and loneliness on hand.
But the guy's really persistent. I thought it might be better
- if you personally turned him down. - I'll do it.
Let's do goukon.
My subordinate's cute so you'd better bring at least one good looking guy.
Look. A woman who won't apologize after punching a guy has no say about a guy's looks...
I didn't punch you. I just slapped you. It was paper, not rock.
Hanako.
I just had to talk to you.
And he's..?
- Uh... - He's someone I'm living with right now.
Anyway, that's how it is, so please don't come anymore.
Let's go.
Uh...
Hey, why did you lie?
It wasn't a lie.
You're someone I'm living with in this condo.
- I didn't tell the truth, but I didn't lie either. - Well, yeah...
But who is he anyway?
- If he's really a stalker, you should report him to... - Ex-husband.
- What? - He's the guy who was my husband for just a year.
Oh, good luck setting up the goukon. See ya.
Hey...
Getting involved with people
is truly the source of problems.
That's why I want to live quietly by myself.
In my room,
surrounded by things I like,
all alone,
in my own time.
Dad?
That's not us.
What's this?!
It was in storage so I had it delivered here.
Why piano?
I promised the neighbors that I'll give piano lessons.
What? Surely not here?
Why not?
You're not here during the day anyway.
That's not the point. How did you get this in? Oh, from here.
I want to kick her out as soon as possible.
It stinks.
It means it has that much nutrients.
That's right. Good soil grows good vegetables.
You can't cut corners in the beginning with anything. Okay?
What's this smell?
When I told Shige-chan I was going to grow vegetables,
- he said he had a good fertilizer and brought it for me. - It stinks!
It even smells inside!
It's a special compost. With cow manure.
Manure?! Cow manure on my veranda?!
Man, that smells. Come here for a minute.
Weren't you supposed to get ready for school this weekend?
- But Shige-chan brought the fertilizer for me. - Dad!
You know, Kota can't fit in at a place like school where there's a lot of people.
He's been moving around constantly since he was little.
- This Megumi's the worst mother ever. - She's my wife. Don't speak ill of her.
When are you going to find this wife of yours?
Are you really looking for her?
Mom...help me out~.
Don't depend on Mom.
Isn't this Megumi woman even worried?
That her son is living with a weirdo like you.
You know, Daisuke...
everyone has strengths and weaknesses.
It's true Megumi-chan isn't good with child rearing.
But look at Kota. He grew up to be such a good kid.
She must've done her best in her own unskilled way.
How did she do her best when she didn't even send him to school.
That's why I'm teaching him all kinds of things instead.
- Teaching him? - Like how to fish,
and how to get along with people.
It isn't too late to go to school
after he learns the basics of everyday things, is it?
- What kind of tricks did this Megumi woman use? - Huh?
To change you like this.
She must be good at manipulating men even though she's bad at raising her kid.
Megumi has nothing to do with it.
How did you change so much?
All you used to do was eat and go to bed after you came home from fishing.
Back then, fishing was all I could think about.
Caring for the elderly, child rearing, neighborhood association,
even socializing with Fishermen's Association.
Everything that was bothersome, you made Mom do it.
You never had any friends.
What happened?
How did you change so much in just 5 years?
Change? Me?
That's...
a secret.
Don't give me that bullshit!
Excuse me! Something smells bad.
- Excuse me! - It's Hana-chan from upstairs.
I'm sending him to school. I promised his uncle.
- Special compost with cow manure. - Huh?
The source of this bad smell. If you're here to complain, talk to Dad.
Cow...manure?
Sorry, Hana-chan.
The smell of cow manure should dissipate after a while.
It's because he dislikes chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
- Me? - Yeah. Organic, is that what it's called?
- He's particular about things like that. - You too. What's with the piano from the morning?
- It reverberates in the loft. - I'm so sorry~.
- What's up, Ricchan? - Sorry for the late greeting.
"Chan"?
- I just moved in upstairs. - Moved in?
- No, no, no. She's just staying for a while. - Here.
- Just a little something for you. - Oh, my. You didn't have to.
- But thank you very much. - Does the sound of the piano reverberate?
No problem, no problem at all. Speaking of which, is the smell of cow manure drifting your way?
No. No problem, no problem. No problem at all.
No problem, no problem? What's that, coming from two freeloaders.
Seriously, those guys.
Why did you let the freeloader do it?
Nagasato-san, your pace is too fast...
I didn't let her. When I woke up, the piano was already there.
- Kumagai-san, shall we pick up the pace a little? - This is fast enough.
What's wrong with them anyway?
Don't they have this thing called reservation towards their daughter and son?
She used to have more common sense before.
Maybe my mother was influenced by Yozo-san.
It's been 5 years already, huh?
When my overseas assignment ended, I found myself at this age.
Back then,
you were both busy, so you were planning to have the wedding 1 year later.
I was looking forward to seeing my daughter in a wedding gown.
I'm sorry.
Looks like Hanako
doesn't want to see you anymore.
I know. She's blocking my calls too.
Then why do you still want to see her?
Actually, I want to...
No way. No way, no way. No way, no way, no way, no way.
That's why I told you. Let's make it lighter.
Please. Thanks.
You really hadn't seen him for 5 years? Not even once?
After my mom suddenly died of a heart attack,
there was no reason to go home.
Is that how fathers and sons are?
That's how we are. Besides, we have nothing to talk about.
Yozo-san must've really changed.
Are you sure?
You used to really hate it.
Are you sure you can go to school?
What a pain in the neck.
I'll send him to school!
Yes. I'll go.
Okay.
I hope you can make friends.
2's better than 1.
3's better than 2.
That's what they say.
Good morning.
If people can remember to be courteous, things will work out.
Good morning.
Thank you.
Okay?
Sounds like that kid didn't hardly attend school either.
Really?
But Kota-kun's such a good kid.
Sometimes when I see that kid, I realize
how lucky I was that I was raised by a mother who did normal things for me normally.
I guess so. Mine did all kinds of normal things for me too.
That's why it's hard for me to kick her out.
But I don't recall ever thanking her.
I have no recollection of actually saying thank you to my mother.
I never heard Dad say it either.
I wonder if she was happy.
Your mother?
All she did was take care of Dad and me.
We assumed Mom was going to take care of everything.
And yet, no one thanked her.
When you want to be filial, your parents are gone, they say.
You have one more, don't you?
A parent you can be filial to.
That's a creature of a different nature.
Daisuke, Hana-chan!
Are you on a date, you two there?
Let's ignore him.
Hey, what is this? Are you leaving?
How about a roasted sweet potato~.
But anyway, let's both kick out those guys as soon as we can.
We have to get our place back as soon as we can.
Roasted sweet potato~
I see. So do you always have Japanese food for breakfast?
Yeah. Rice and miso soup.
That's the standard fare. Don't even mention smoothie to me.
It's very educational. Oh, Daisuke. Good morning.
Why are you in the living room of my condo eating breakfast first thing in the morning?
I brought the paperwork to take to school.
My sister said once you take this in, the transfer process is complete.
- Just give it to me at work. - I want to learn from the master.
Master?
He was able to get married twice, you know. To us, he's the master of enjoying a fulfilling real life.
- Sasaki, you can ask me anything. - Don't get carried away.
What do I do to be successful at goukon?
- Are you going to a goukon? - Hey, have the details been worked out?
Oh, that.
- How's this restaurant? They have a private room and the prices are reasonable for the quality.
Why is Irie-kun participating?
It's the other party's request. They said to bring a good looking guy.
If you want a good looking guy, I'm enough by myself!
- I have to go the Marketing Department. - I have a meeting too.
I realize the makeup of my face is a bit old fashioned, but it's good enough.
Right?
- Goukon? - Yeah.
By Tanaka-san's request. This Friday.
Why her of all people?
- Shall I go buy something? - Let's do that later.
I figured you should get used to socializing with people like her too.
- No way. I don't like her. - Oh, okay.
Then no goukon for you, huh?
- That, I'll go. - Oh, you're going.
After all, I do want children as soon as possible, and the more father candidates there are, the better, right?
What kind of company are they from? Are there any hot guys?
Supposedly.
We're conducting a campaign to promote our new product. Please take one.
We're promoting our new product.
It's a trial campaign. We have free samples too.
Please stop by.
- I'm glad you called. - I was wondering how you guys were doing.
How's Kota?
Kota says he's going to school.
- School?! - School.
- Wait a minute. Kota said that?! - Yeah.
But he wouldn't go no matter what I said.
Yo-chan, you're amazing. How did you persuade him?
Actually, I'm not the one who persuaded him. It was Daisuke.
- You mean your son? - Yeah.
Who would've thought, huh?
What are you doing now, Megumi-chan?
Hm? What as in?
Well...
you can move wherever you want, but you're keeping your promise, right?
Megumi-chan.
Of course. I promised, after all.
Gah...Hanako.
Hanako's writing a review on a bistro now.
- Bistro? "With all due respect" for that kind of place too?
"With all due respect, one word.
Being that it's a bistro I really like, there's a number of things that was a real disappointment."
"If I were to speak harshly..." Man, that's long. She must have a lot of stress.
Speaking of, we haven't been getting any complaints lately.
- Do you know why we're not getting any? - Is there a reason?
I'll tell you in due time. Complainer Hanako's secret.
More than that nasty ugly woman with too much free time,
I'd like to know Kumagai Hanako-san's secret.
I met her ex-husband the other day.
- What's he like? Why did you meet him? - He was lurking in front of the condo.
Isn't that a stalker?
In any case, she acted like she didn't to want to see him.
- What was the cause of their divorce? - Who knows.
Ask her. I wonder if it was DV.
- Huh? - Domestic violence. Did you know?
According to the Cabinet Office's data, the No. 2 cause of divorce for women is violence,
and the No. 4 cause is mental cruelty.
But he didn't look to be that kind of a guy.
You gotta watch out for those guys who look nice, they say.
Hanako-san wasn't trying to run away from that guy, was she?
She was.
See? I'm so worried.
She needs a man to protect her.
Go for it, me.
- Hello. - Hanako? Can you leave now?
- I suppose. Why? - Let's eat out.
I made reservation at a restaurant.
Welcome.
Huh? What's going on?
He said he wants to talk with you.
- Then I'll leave the rest to you young people. - No, no, no.
I'm leaving.
- I wasn't told about this. - He wants to talk to you. Just let him for a while.
- What, what? - Bye then, Kazuya-san.
Thank you.
Why don't you sit down?
Uh...
I'm going to be joining the joint project with your department.
So we might see each other for business.
If you don't want me to, I can have someone else take my place.
No, it doesn't matter.
Work and personal life are separate.
That's a relief. Anyway, that's what I wanted to tell you.
Then I can go now, right?
Why are you avoiding me so much?
Don't you ever use my mother again.
Here you go.
Why is she in my sanctuary...
Can she appreciate the taste of beer? No, there's no way she can.
She definitely drank too much.
Hey.
Hey, you all right?
That's what you get for drinking without enjoying the taste. You should feel bad for the beer.
Stop bugging me. Go away.
I'm just worried for you.
Get lost!
Such a bad tempered woman, I swear.
Come on. Let's go.
Leave me alone!
Is that it?
Did something happen with your ex again?
I heard that according to the Cabinet Office's data, the No. 2 cause of divorce for women
is violence.
And the No. 4 cause is mental cruelty.
Are you stupid or what?
Huh?
Stop that. It doesn't suit you.
Pretending to worry about other people.
Pretending?
Look, I just...
Getting involved with people is the source of problems!
You feel most at ease when you're by yourself.
That's how I am too, so I know.
Let's both stop this. It's too much of a bother.
I'm terribly sorry.
- Don't ever meddle again. - Yes, of course.
But you know, if I go back to Kawakami Village,
do you have someone who will rush over to help you?
When something happens.
Like what?
Like when you have a fever, or when you have stomach problems.
Someone from the office will probably come.
Friends at work are just that. Once you leave the office, it's all over.
Look at Dad. He used to get this much New Year's greeting cards. Now it's this much.
Kazuya-san told me.
That he's serious about getting back together with you again.
That again? Stop it.
It doesn't take much to set off the alarm, huh?
What's with this smoke!
They were grilling some seafood to celebrate Kota's transfer to the school.
Don't grill anything in the room!
I'm sorry!
- I'm truly sorry. - This is the second time, you know.
I'm sorry.
Yo-chan, we're going now. Sorry.
Daisuke-kun, I'm sorry. We got carried away with the festive mood.
- I'm sorry, but for today.... - I know, I know. Well then,
- let's get going. - Kota-kun, good luck at school.
See you, Kota-kun.
See you, Yo-chan. Bye.
You're going to school starting tomorrow. Go take a bath.
What the heck is this?
We got all kinds of things from the school.
School's sure a hassle, huh?
"Things to prepare before coming to school"
You haven't done anything yet.
It'll work out somehow, huh?
God damn you!
You've never even raised a child.
If you can only do a half-assed job,
quit trying to be a father!
I...in my own way...
What the hell's wrong with you!
Trying to play father and
hanging out with friends all of a sudden.
If you can treat others that kindly,
you should've done that for Mom too!
You never did anything for Mom.
I know.
That's why I...
- That's why I... -Do whatever you want by yourself!
I can't keep up with you.
Hey. What is it? What's wrong?
Is it true...
that you didn't have any friends?
Me? Yeah.
Before,
going out to fish and sitting alone offshore
was when I felt most at ease.
Why did you change?
You have a lot of friends now.
Why were you able to change?
Daisuke.
What?
I didn't want to show this to anyone, but...
Here.
What's that?
Just take it.
"To my dear husband"
For a week,
I hardly ate.
After I was done with Mom's funeral.
You had gone back to Tokyo too, and
somehow,
I felt like nothing mattered anymore.
In the first place,
I didn't even know what we had in the house.
But even then, I got hungry
and when I was looking for money...
"To my dear husband"
"If I go before you,
I'm very worried about you, who will be left all alone."
"I'll note down the things you'll need for your everyday life."
"When you're having troubles, ask someone for help, okay?"
"Contact your old friends."
"As you get older, you can't do everything by yourself like you used to."
"Try to get along with people around you."
"2's better than 1,
3's better than 2, you know."
So that I don't cause any worries for Mom in the other world,
I decided to change.
I decided to do
all the fatherly things too.
I thought it's not too late to start now.
You have a problem that?
Mom's an idiot.
Worrying about Dad until the very end.
Mom's an idiot.
"Thanks to you and Daisuke,
I was happy."
"I was truly happy."
"Thank you."
Nagasato Kota
Second-guessing whether someone's life is happy
is probably presumptuous in itself.
Thank you.
You want some too?
Okay.
For Mom,
there was Mom's happiness.
Oh, good morning, Hana-chan.
Starting school today?
Did something good happen?
I had my name written.
On this.
And this too.
The handkerchief
smells like soap.
Kota-kun, is this the first time you've had things like this done for you?
That's our Yozo-san.
No, no. It wasn't me.
Daisuke wrote all these.
Really~.
Way to go, Mr. Busybody.
What? Complainer Hanako?!
- She's Hanako-san?! - Oh, I guess I never told you.
My Hanako-san is that nasty, ugly...
I'm sorry I'm nasty and ugly with too much free time.
Uh, you got it all wrong. This was all Daisuke's...
What's this Complainer Hanako?
- The thing is, uh... - Hanako-san has been giving us
valuable suggestions regarding our products. Right?
Yes! That's absolutely right.
- Maybe I'll send in my opinion too. - Absolutely. Please do.
Then give me your phone number, and LINE, oh, your PC address would be...
Excuse me, but Nagasato-san,
are you a man who doesn't marry?
No...not necessarily.
He's suffering from complications. He's the man from I-love-being-alone planet.
He's also saving money for a solitary old age too, right?
He also ran away from his beautiful ex-girlfriend because he didn't want to get married.
I just wasn't sure if I was the right one for her.
I thought there might be someone else who was more suited for marriage than me.
- That's just an excuse. - I know, right?
No. It's just that he's too serious.
He's honest and serious almost to a fault when it comes to dealing with people.
Actually, since you put it that way,
I think it may not be totally untrue.
Looking all moonstruck. What a disgrace.
Listen.
I doubt that a woman who writes in complaints to relieve her stress would understand, but...
Takase Kazuya
Is it your ex again?
Getting back together after all's said and done, huh?
You can't go back to a DV guy.
I'm sorry, but you're wrong.
What's so good about that stalker?
What would you know about Kazuya!