The sky is boundless, because it's the mirror of my soul
It changes colors everyday, as if it's reflecting my heart
The white smoky haze turns into clouds
Concealing my tears that seem about to overflow
Whenever something I have faith in begins to fall apart
I close my eyes and make a wish
Even on a night when I'm alone and can't fall asleep
I just close my eyes in the darkness
And find myself listening closely for the radiance of the stars
I'll keep running, even barefooted, because I can't give this up
And like the moon in the blue sky,
I want to embrace my transience and reach out my hand
I don't really like riding through the forest.
Because of the caterpillars?
No, but they don't help
The real reason is because
in the forest, it's easy to go in the wrong direction.
Go in the wrong direction, huh?
Three Men Along the Rails
At least now we won't have to worry
about going in the wrong direction, right, Kino?
But I wonder if the train isn't going to come along?
I don't want to bump heads with one of those.
The way the grass is springing up here,
and the rail is all rusty...
I don't think they're using them anymore.
There's someone up there.
Hello.
Hey, there, traveler.
Excuse me...
I can't believe this!
Pardon me traveler,
but I can't move this cart easily.
I'm sorry to ask,
but could I ask you to remove your motorrad from the tracks?
Sure, no problem.
I have something I'd like to ask you,
if you don't mind?
What is it?
Did you remove the grass and polish this rail all by yourself?
Yeah, it's my job.
It's your... job?
That's right.
I've been doing this for a long time now.
Exactly how long is that?
Well, up we go.
There we go.
About fifty years.
Fifty years?
I don't know exactly how long,
but it's probably been about that long,
since I only counted the winters.
If it's all right with you,
would you please allow me to join you for a meal?
Sure.
I joined the rail company when I was eighteen.
Back then, they said there was a track that wasn't being used,
but that it might eventually be put to use again,
so I was told to polish it the best I could.
They haven't told me to stop yet,
so I just keep working.
You haven't been back to your home country even once?
No, I already had a wife and child when I originally left home.
I had to support them in any way I could.
I wonder how they're doing now?
They should be getting my paychecks,
and I think they are living well on them, but...
Don't let me do all the talking here, traveler.
You tell a story or something too.
A story, is it?
You've been to a bunch of different countries, haven't you?
Yes, I suppose so.
All right. Then...
This country was widely talked about, even among the travelers.
The country was known for having very advanced machine technology,
a place where humans had almost no work to do.
Oh, really?
No work for humans?
Right.
People in that country didn't have to work.
A Land Where People Do Not Have To Work
This country is beautiful, isn't it?
I know.
It's been a while since we've been to a modern and organized country.
Please get on, traveler.
This sure is a laid back country.
We have arrived.
Welcome, traveler.
Please transfer over here.
You really don't have to do anything, do you?
What in the world do people do here everyday?
I don't know.
Let's go check it out tomorrow.
Wow!
I wonder if this is like their rush hour or something?
Where would you like to go?
Let me see...
What about that place where everyone was just headed?
As you wish.
What do you think?
They're working, aren't they?
It sure looks like it, doesn't it?
Wasn't this the country where people didn't have to work?
That's supposed to be the case, but...
Excuse me. Hello.
My name is Kino.
I'm a traveler, and I stopped by this country to visit.
Oh, so you're a traveler.
There's something I would like to ask you.
Would that be all right with you?
Let's see.
So, you wanted to know what we're doing?
We're working.
Working?
But wasn't it that people in this country didn't have to work?
That's true, we don't have to.
Then, what are you working for?
So we can have stress.
Come again?
Have you ever thought about how hard it would be
if only humans did all the work that the machines currently do?
No.
I certainly have!
For example,
spending an entire day recalculating an old accounting book,
or taking inventory of stock
that the machines have already confirmed.
It's terrible if our calculations don't match.
There's no way the machines would be wrong,
so we keep redoing it until we get it right.
And so that's what you're doing here?
Exactly. That's our job.
We're no match for the speed of the machines
so the documents just keep piling up.
It's really tough on us. Some people get ulcers,
and some people even kill themselves.
What's the point of doing something like that?
There is none,
because the machines do a good job of all the actual work.
So, why do you do this?
You may already know this,
but this country has very rich resources.
And the proceeds from those resources come to us automatically.
This wealth must be spread fairly among the people,
but, the machines do all the things necessary to help the people.
And that's why humans need stress?
That's right.
You're awarded points depending on how hard the job is on you.
What do you think?
Isn't it an amazing idea?
Humans mustn't always have it easy.
If humans go through life everyday without any hardships,
they'll slack off and become lazy.
We need something in life
to keep us from becoming lazy,
and that's work!
That makes sense.
Oh, break time is over.
I've got to start working again.
Well...
Yes?
Do you like living in this country?
What? What did you say?
Never mind.
Thanks for talking with me.
Wow, to think that they keep working that meaningless job...
Those people must be crazy.
So long, traveler.
Excuse me, may I ask you one last question?
What is it?
How much longer do you plan on continuing this work?
Until someone from the company tells me to stop.
Either that, or until this railroad ends.
Hey, traveler!
Where are you...
headed to?
It's much easier to run on now.
Thanks to that old man we met yesterday.
Ki... Kino!
There's no more railroad.
That's right. I removed it.
May I ask you something?
Why are you removing the tracks?
It's my job.
I've been doing this by myself for a long time.
I've got a bad feeling about this.
By "a long time," exactly how long do you mean?
Well, I think it's been about fifty years.
I'm not exactly sure.
I joined the railroad company when I was sixteen years old.
They didn't need this track, since it wasn't being used,
so I was ordered to tear it down.
I was very excited about it because it was my first job.
And they have yet to tell me to stop.
You haven't been back to your home country?
Yeah, I've got five younger brothers, you see.
I'm working to keep them fed, so I can't take any time off.
I see.
That's enough talk about me.
It's been a long time since I've had a traveler come through here.
If you don't mind,
I'd like to hear an interesting story from your journey.
Let me see...
Then how about the story of
the country where people don't have to work?
There's a country where you don't have to work?
That kind of talk makes me green with envy.
If I had been born in a country like that,
I would never work!
Thank you for the interesting story.
You're welcome.
Excuse me...
Yes?
These tracks are awfully clean
for not having been used for years, aren't they?
Yeah, it's been like this the whole way.
Strange, isn't it?
But it's nice, because it really makes them easier to remove.
Oh, traveler,
where are you...
It's hard to run here.
There's more tracks!
Oh, hey, traveler!
Yeah, I did all this.
Is this your job?
That's right.
Of course, I've been doing this forever.
How long do you mean by "forever"?
Well, it's going on fifty years now, I suppose.
I was fifteen when I joined the rail company.
They said they had an old track
that they might start using again,
so they told me to come out and repair it.
I haven't heard orders to stop yet, so...
Are you doing this all by yourself?
Oh, it's really no big deal once you get used to it.
I've got all the materials I need right here, so...
See? Here they are.
You don't seem to have returned to your country.
Well, my mother became ill and couldn't work,
so I had to support the family.
I see.
I'm sorry, but I can't easily move this guy out of the way.
I apologize, but could you please go around?
Oh, yes. Of course.
Well, then, I guess it's time to eat.
How about it?
Won't you join me?
If it's all right with you,
tell me a story from your travels or something.
Let me see...
No, I'm not very good at storytelling,
and I don't know any really interesting stories.
It's really too bad, but...
I see. That is too bad.
Please excuse me, but I think I'll be on my way.
Keep up the good work here!
Okay.
Oh, traveler,
where are you...
A Land of Decision By Majority
We've looked around for three days,
but we never met a single soul.
Welcome to my country!
You guys got it?
You see, we did the right thing here!
You understand, don't you?
It was necessary!
To begin with, a nation is...
Excuse me, could you explain a little more? Ý don't follow you.
Huh? Oh, right...
This country had been a monarchy for a long time.
Uh-huh.
The man, who was the king until ten years ago, was a total jerk.
Even though crops kept failing and the economy was in crisis,
all he ever did was just play around.
Those who opposed him were executed one after the other.
The people suffered under his oppressive rule.
But we, the people, finally stood up for ourselves!
We captured the royal family when they tried to flee
and accomplished our revolution with almost no bloodshed!
That's amazing!
What happened next?
We started a new government.
We'd had enough of one person in power calling all the shots.
We would listen to every citizen's ideas,
and go with what the majority of the people voted.
We believed that to be the most correct and fair way to run things.
I see.
The first thing that we decided was what to do with the king.
As a result of the voting, with a 98% majority vote,
it was decided that he would be executed.
And so he ended up paying for his sins
in the same way he had treated those who defied him.
We then continued to decide various things.
Oh, it was great fun.
Everything about the country was decided by majority vote.
And what happened after that?
A dangerous element showed up!
It takes a lot of time to decide anything
when everything is determined by vote.
So, some suggested that we elect a leader,
and give him a certain amount of discretionary power!
Nothing could be more dangerous!
Who would stop the elected guy if he started running wild?
Of course, the majority disagreed with that idea and it didn't pass!
But the very fact that idiots who can't understand that
are even voting in the first place is dangerous!
And then...
Don't tell me...
They were found guilty by the majority.
Unfortunately, dangerous elements continued to appear even after that.
A man who was dissatisfied with the tax rate that we'd decided on earlier.
Executed!
A man who questioned the fact that we turned the royal palace into a park.
Executed! Executed!
And then, next, some even began trying to abolish the death penalty system.
Naturally...
Before long, we ran out of room for graves,
so we voted to use the rear garden of the royal palace.
All those who opposed were executed.
How many executions have taken place so far?
13,064.
The last one was exactly one year ago.
At that time, it was only me, my wife,
and one other unmarried man, one of the revolutionaries.
But this man began to insist on leaving this country.
My wife and I opposed him.
The result of the vote was two to one against
and he was executed.
And then, half a year ago my wife also died.
It was just a cold.
But I'm not a doctor, so there was nothing I could do...
There was nothing I could do to save her!
Kino, we should be leaving soon.
You're right, Hermes.
You guys!
You must become residents of this country!
That's right!
That'll be great!
Okay?
I appreciate the offer, but no thanks.
We'll be going now.
Don't go!
Please don't leave!
Stay here and revive the country with me!
Okay?
What would you do if I called a vote right now
on whether or not it is legal
to return fire on someone who has a persuader pointed at you?
Oh, good idea!
I agree with Kino!
What?
Get out of here!
Get out of this country right now!
Will do.
I agree! Ýt's unanimous then.
Farewell, king.
This is weird.
This road shouldn't be splitting like this.
We must have lost sight of the direction we should be going, huh?
Well, now...
Left!
Right!
All right.
I'll agree with you, Hermes.
Huh?
What caused you to hang your mind?
For the time being, let's go check it out.
If we realize we've made a mistake,
we just retrace our steps.
Oh, did you mean, "change your mind"?
Yeah, that!
I see, you never know so we might as well try it.
I agree with that.
Okay, it's decided then.
Hey, Kino, you tricked me!
I didn't trick you.
It's just as you said.
If we might as well try it,
it doesn't matter which way we go.
But that's no reason to go right!
Traveler
where are you...
where are you headed to?
It has begun to rain in a far off place
And in it, someone shivers softly as they get wet
Losing myself in the forest, I nestle up to the sky
Visiting countries, coming and going among people
And the journey will never end
So the beautiful world...
Where did I come from? How far will I go?
So the beautiful world...
I travel the world, going where the currents take me
Kino's Journey
Coliseum
Between a country with a good reputation
and one with a bad one,
which one would you go to first, Kino?
The country with the bad reputation, I suppose.
Why is that?
Because that way, I'll be able to better appreciate
the countries I go to after that.
Although, that only counts if it lives up to its reputation.
Yeah, you can't really rely on reputations given by travelers.
By the way, Kino,
what kind of reputation does the next country have?