Blue Literature
Kokoro
Natsume Soseki was known for writing works that overflow
Host Sakai Masato
with warmth and excellence such as "I Am A Cat" and "Botchan".
Property of the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Modern Literature
Did you know
that Soseki wrote these works hoping for a soft change of pace?
Soseki was mentally cornered and troubled by human relations and disease.
A haiku poet, Kyoshi Takahama,
Kyoshi Memorial Museum
could not ignore that and suggested he write a novel to change his mood.
And thus, his first novel was "I Am a Cat".
However, five years later, a serious illness almost killed Soseki.
After that, his style focused on the darkness of the human mind
and his works became dark.
For example, this book "Kokoro".
The masterpiece of Natsume Soseki's later years, published in 1914
In this masterpiece of Soseki's later years,
he portrayed the difficulties of moral values and egoism.
Maybe Soseki's true thoughts are hidden in this work.
The masterpieces are blue.
Please watch the first episode of "Kokoro".
She was like a bellflower.
Kokoro
Summer
Studying?
Yes.
Am I interrupting?
No, but don't you need to practice more on the koto?
I'm not improving at all...
I'll put the barley tea here, all right?
Thank you.
That book seems difficult.
I don't understand it at all!
Please study.
If you'd like, I can teach you.
The way you say that, you sound like a teacher.
Tempura? It looks delicious.
There's also conger eel. You like that, right?
Yeah.
They were both very kind and loving people.
I considered myself, a countryman, extremely lucky to be able to get lodging in this house.
Miss, I'm sorry, but could you please prepare two pieces of nigiri for me later?
Oh my, but didn't you just eat?
It's not for me, just...
Sounds suspicious. Don't you think so too, Mother?
K!
I've been looking for you.
I see.
Hey...
I don't need it.
Why not? You're hungry right?
Even so, I don't need it.
Are you training again? You're worse than a Buddhist priest in that regard.
I cut my ties with the temple at my hometown long ago.
You're the second son. It was inevitable.
Do you still hold a grudge over being adopted into a doctor's family?
I don't. For one thing, I've cut my ties with that family as well.
That's because you deceived your adoptive parents.
You pretended to study medicine, but were actually studying theology.
You're a brave man.
I don't mind doing such things to study the Way.
Then you should've just deceived them until you finished.
Once they cut your financial aid, you can't continue studying.
I decided that I'm not going to depend on people anymore.
Hey K, won't you come to the place I'm lodging at?
I refuse.
Listen, I'm not saying this for your sake, but for my own.
What?
Won't you let me study that Way of yours as well?
You...
Show me your lifestyle up close.
I'm begging you.
Please, let him stay here.
Even if you put it like that, I'm against it.
K no longer has anyone to depend on but me.
I don't mind if he lives in the same room as me.
I'll pay for all his meals up front immediately.
But still...
Don't worry about your daughter.
He strives to broaden his knowledge daily to find his own Way
and probably won't even give her a second look.
I'm not saying this for my own sake, but for yours.
After my parents died, my relatives betrayed me.
I was lonely.
While I was, you and your daughter made me remember human warmth again.
Yes...
I want to share your kindness with K as well.
I want to save him from his current coldness.
If you put it like that...
Thank you very much.
I don't really understand, but please get a hold of yourself.
I'm home.
This is K, the man who I told you about the other day.
Pleased to meet you.
I hope you all get along well.
Me too.
Hey...
Can't you be more friendly?
Why?
We'll all be living together from now on.
Wouldn't it be more enjoyable if we all got along?
I have no intention of making it enjoyable.
This is my room.
There's a small anteroom here.
You can either use my room or stay here.
Here is fine.
It's small.
I don't mind.
I see.
Excuse me.
Yes?
Ehm... This.
Thank you very much.
Oh my, studying already?
That room is small, but it's connected to the yard, right Teacher?
Teacher?
Yeah, she calls me that as a joke.
It's no joke, you're always reading books. Just like a teacher.
Thank you.
Shall we eat dinner?
Yes!
We went out of our way tonight. Please enjoy.
Are you always speaking with those women?
Yeah, they're both nice people.
What's so fun about that?
It's a waste of time. It doesn't seem like they're trying to learn something.
That's because men and women learn different things.
Same thing.
Those who don't want to improve themselves mentally are fools.
You haven't changed.
For some reason, at that moment, my heart was rumbling.
I'm home.
Madam?
Are you here?
Did something happen?
It was nothing.
I doubted my eyes.
It couldn't be that K...
But I felt ashamed quickly.
There was no way K would do something like that.
Oh is that so?
Yes, I went through a lot of trouble.
He really hated losing.
He must've been a wonderful person.
That's not true, he was extremely stubborn.
Could you mend my hakama?
Yes.
I'm home.
Hey!
What are you doing?
I was just asking her to fix it.
You...
Where were you?!
Where have you been?
I'm sorry. The usual fish salesman didn't show up.
Fish salesman?
Don't get so worked up.
I'm not.
I see. Well then.
Anyway, please don't leave your daughter alone in this house.
What do you mean?
It's been unsafe here lately...
I see... Unsafe.
Let's be careful.
Sorry about this.
Never mind...
You're quite late.
Miss, about just now...
Why didn't you talk to us?
Miss?
I was so scared.
You've been going home early lately.
Classes are boring.
Aren't you trying to get some alone time with her?
What are you trying to say?
I'll speak my mind today.
K, you've been disgraceful lately.
What happened to that training you held so dear?
Weren't you going to complete your Way?
I understand now.
What?
You called me to that house for her sake, right?
What do you mean?
If she mingled with someone like me, her worth as a human would rise.
She could also brag to other women.
No!
I was thinking of you and...
Thinking of me?
Are you saying that you, the spoiled brat who gets confused by everything,
mercifully reached out to me?
Did you think she wouldn't show interest in someone like me?
This isn't about her!
Your pride is most important to you, huh?
You're pathetic.
I'm sorry, but I have no interest in rich people's philanthropy games.
What?
I'm in love with her.
Here, a boxed lunch.
Thank you very much.
Have a safe trip.
Madam, did he say anything?
What? Did something happen?
No.
Can we talk for a bit?
I'm studying.
Please, just come.
About yesterday...
Yeah?
Were you serious?
I'm always serious.
K, I can't explain this to Madam.
If I knew this was going to happen, I never would've invited you over.
I'm sorry about that, but love and obligations are different things.
Madam is obviously against you dating. She won't stand for it.
Then we'll elope or something.
How does she feel?
The same as me, of course.
This is absurd.
I know, but it's unstoppable.
Cut the crap, she'd never be with someone so undetermined.
Determination?
You should know better than anyone that determination is all I have.
Unlike you.
What should I do?
I'm coming in.
Do you feel ill?
Here's some porridge.
Thank you.
So, what's going on?
K asked for my daughter's hand this morning.
Pardon me.
But what am I to do if my daughter marries that good for nothing man?
I'm sorry.
You ought to get yourself together.
You like her, right?
It's obvious when I look at you.
I'm sorry.
It's nothing to apologize about.
I would gladly give my daughter to you.
Madam,
please give her to me.
Please give her to me immediately.
Very well, I will give her to you.
But please do not tell K yet.
Why is that?
I swear that I'll tell him myself.
I swear.
But...
I'm going to school.
Shouldn't you sleep some more?
Aren't you sick?
Yes.
Shouldn't you go to a doctor?
You can afford it.
I already feel better.
Hey.
Don't you think this flower is just like her?
I disagree.
I'll plant those seeds next year.
Summer will be over shortly.
Yeah.
You can't sleep?
Nope.
Same here.
How about a drink?
With me?
Yes, today is a joyous day.
I would be glad to drink with you.
It's all thanks to you.
What are you talking about?
Actually, I've finally found someone for my daughter.
Well, they've known about it for a while,
but they're so immature that they never said anything about it.
You coming to this house seemingly made things between them get better.
So please bless them.
Summer this year was beautiful
I've lost to K.
Even on the happiest day of my life, the day I was bound to her,
my body smelled like blood to me.
K will hold me captive for my entire life.
In order to find something...
Even if we oversleep,
we still wake up every day.
It's not too late.
We say "hello".
Put on a smile,
no matter how small it is.
Every waking moment,
this world needs you.
It's not too late.
We say "hello".
Next Time
Kokoro
Winter