Hey, have you noticed?
"April 1st, 2020"
It's been exactly 11 years today since we all met.
Is that so?
It's nostalgic thinking back
to the welcome ceremony and the new recruit training.
Who would've thought that in 11 years,
we'd end up where we are now.
We're all in different companies, doing different things.
But...
Sakura had it tough until the very end.
I never thought something like that would happen.
"April 1st, 2020"
"One month ago”
Grandad, my hiccups just won't stop lately.
I was so shocked by what he told me.
Come back to Hanamura Construction.
Why don't you work for me?
Director Kurokawa-- No, he's the vice president now,
I wonder why he employed me again.
But just as I swore to my friends that I would,
I'm going to report to you every day to tell you that I'm working hard.
I'm heading off.
I'm off!
- Be careful. - Be careful.
Good morning.
Are you starting work again today?
Yes, I was able to return to my previous company.
I'm glad to hear that!
Have you also found work?
Yes, he has!
- Don't say it. - Why?
I'll be embarrassed if I quit again.
Then I'm off too. Bye.
Good, very good.
This is bad, very bad.
"Vice President's Office"
- Come in. - Excuse me.
I apologise for being late.
Sakura, were you taking photos of buildings again?
Yes, would you like to see them?
Sure, but isn't there something you'd like to ask before that?
Yes.
Why did you call me back
knowing that I caused so many problems?
What a great question.
Here.
These are all the structures that our company has built
in the last 10 years.
What do you think?
Oh, there it is. Don't hold back and tell me what you think.
There are some wonderful structures,
but they've all been following past designs,
and there's isn't much creativity or innovation.
I agree with you.
They are all routine structures with the same old designs.
In fact, our last year's sales
dropped from third to fifth place within the industry.
If we keep on doing this, we'll just sink like the Titanic.
That's why I've decided to create a new project team.
I want to gather people with your type of ingenuity
and strong passion.
So that we can build structures that our company's never built before
and leave behind something we're proud of.
I want you to become that team's leader.
Me?
I realised something when you left.
That there are plenty of people who reliably follow orders,
but there is practically no one here
who defies and challenges their seniors.
I want to fully revamp Hanamura Construction.
Won't you help me do that, Sakura?
Understood.
I look forward to working with you.
Oh, sorry, I forgot to tell you something important.
Yes?
Up until now, you've been too fixated
on your own moral principles
and have ended up clashing with people around you
and getting yourself hurt.
Do you understand why?
Is that...
because I'm stubborn and inflexible?
No.
It's because you don't have strength.
As long as you have strength,
people around you will listen to what you want to do.
You'll be able to build what you want to build.
You can even make your dream come true.
I'll support you, so have strength from now on, Sakura.
"Our Dearest Sakura"
I'm Sakura Kitano. I'll be working with all of you.
I don't exactly know why I was chosen as the leader,
but I will give it my all.
I look forward to working with you.
Looking forward to working with you.
Likewise.
It's very reassuring to have you on the same team.
Most people here were personally selected
by Mr. Kurokawa from various departments.
So I'm sure we'll do a good job.
Oh, is that right?
Good morning, how's everyone doing?
Good morning.
Sakura, can I have a minute?
Yes.
There's a final decision meeting for a gateway bridge
that's about to start construction, so accompany me.
Certainly.
As I have explained,
as Public Works,
we're confident that our clients, which are our nation
and our municipal government, will be fully satisfied with our plan.
How promising.
Thank you.
What's wrong, Sakura?
The concept about the surrounding environment is wonderful.
But I think the bridge design itself is very ordinary and quite familiar.
Furthermore, if you consider the location's ground,
it might be better to make the bridge pier a little thicker
or strengthen the concrete.
Stop talking as if you know what you're talking about.
I also think Sakura Kitano is right.
Can you fix those parts?
But we also need the president's opinion.
Don't worry about that, he's entrusted everything to me.
But the time--
But it's your job to figure that out, isn't it?
After listening to Sakura,
don't you feel like you can make something unique and different?
Once you fix it, show it to Sakura.
Once she says it's ok, I will stamp it.
I understand.
You saw that, right? That's power.
What you said was fundamentally correct.
That's why it's annoying to other people.
President, thank you
for entertaining the guests today as well.
How was the score?
- I got three hole-in-ones. - That's amazing.
My driver has been performing great lately.
Then please give me some advice next time.
Leave it to me. Come to the next...
Huh? This girl...
It's been a while,
- I'm working here again. - Again?
She was a very talented employee,
so I've asked her to work here again.
- But she-- - Please do not worry,
she promised that she'll listen to us and won't cause any problems.
Then I'll leave it to you.
But that last putt was so close.
The door will close.
Didn't you wonder why he did not attend the meeting
if he had time to be playing golf?
I did.
Though entertaining guests is also an inevitable part of work,
this company has too many pointless aspects.
For example, this elevator is only for executive use.
Instead of making something like that,
don't you think it's better to let everyone ride it?
I do.
Too many pointless meetings, and too much pointless overtime.
Also too many useless people.
As long as they make the client happy
and get an okay from them, they think their work is done.
They are just yes-men to their superiors
and make people below them work more than necessary.
Though they are friendly
with their colleagues on the surface,
they talk behind their backs.
The more you try to pursue your dreams and aspirations,
the more you'll meet people like that.
Surely, you'll get frustrated wondering why they aren't passionate
and seek the same ideals as you.
Conversely, they'll try to exclude you.
Organizations don't like people who cause problems.
They try to deny and reject people with no track records
or who don't have similar ideas.
What we need during those times is the power to shut them up.
If you want to stay as you are,
you have no choice but to have power, Sakura.
Yes.
Incidentally, what do you think of a company car hired
just for executive use?
I thought it was a waste.
Great, keep it up.
"Hanamura Construction Improvement Plan Proposal”
What are you doing, Sakura?
I realised that there's a lot that I don't know about our company.
I thought that I could present to our vice president
the pointless precedents that need to be eliminated.
It seems like you're quite moved by Mr. Kurokawa's way of thinking.
Yes.
But doesn't it seem like he has an ungraspable side to him?
What do you mean?
The more I talk to him,
the more I feel like I'm being tricked by a magician.
Rather than thinking that way,
why don't you also tell the vice president your opinions?
Just think of being selected for this project
as a good chance to get on the road to becoming president.
That's true, but...
Did something happen?
Well...
Have you seen Yuri lately?
No, she seems busy trying to start up her own business.
I see.
I'm just a little worried about her.
Do you remember getting tea together during new recruit training
in Omotesando?
That day, when you exclaimed, "There're no people or cars!,”
and suddenly started running to get materials,
I was so flustered.
Huh, what?
Oh, you just seem livelier than I expected.
Did Aoi say something perhaps?
He's just misunderstanding, I'm completely fine.
What's wrong, Yume? Are you hungry?
Drink this, here.
Huh? You don't want this?
What is it this time? I changed your diaper earlier already.
What in the world do you want?!
Sorry.
Honestly, I'm a little tired.
Even though I enthusiastically said I want to open a day-care
that working women trust,
the budgeting and staff recruitment is more difficult than I'd imagined.
And when I get home, she's like this.
So I just don't have time for my mind to rest.
If it was going to be like this,
maybe I shouldn't have quit the company.
That's not true.
If it's you, you can definitely overcome this.
I'm not sure.
- You know what? - Sorry.
"Vice president Kurokawa"
"When you return to the company, contact me"
I apologise, but I have to return to the company.
You must be happy that you were able to go back.
Yes, thanks to that,
I feel like I've entered a new stage of my life.
Is that so? Work hard.
Yes, I'll contact you again.
"Creative project team"
- Good work. - Good work.
"Call from Kikuo"
Hey, Sakura, how are you?
I'm fine, thank you.
I heard from Aoi that you're a team leader
of Mr. Kurokawa's project?
That's amazing.
But you're also working hard after becoming NPO's representative.
Well, about that,
I don't think I should have done it after all.
Did something happen?
Ever since I became the representative,
the troubles have not stopped.
Amongst my staff,
there are some who start arguments with the locals
and others who embezzle aid money from our country.
That seems tough.
I just want to see everyone.
That's right, let's all get together soon.
I'll come to Tokyo.
But it seems like everyone is a little busy right now.
Oh, is that right.
I'm sure Rentaro is also looking for a new place to work
after quitting the company.
Then let's meet up when things have calmed down.
- Can you let everyone know? - I can.
Bye.
"Rentaro”
Hello.
Sakura, I'm sorry, but do you have time now?
What's wrong, Rentaro?
I went to interviews at various companies, but I can't seem to pass.
Why is that? You're very talented.
The more I try to appeal my enthusiasm and tell them
that I want to build something unique,
they all make a face as if to say, "A troublesome guy has appeared.”
Is that so?
Sumire tells me that I don't have to rush it
and that I should wait until I find a company I like.
But I can't cause her too much trouble either.
I want to work alongside colleagues
who genuinely only think about designs.
I wonder if such a company exists.
What do you think, Sakura?
Well, that...
I apologise, I'm getting a call from Mr. Kurokawa.
I see.
It's amazing that you're getting a direct call from Vice President.
It's nothing like that.
Sorry for my rant. Work hard, Sakura.
Thank you.
- Hello. - Sakura,
the corrections to the gateway bridge plans
have come in, so can you check them out?
Understood.
"Amended Plan"
It has improved quite a lot.
We think so too.
It's all because you gave us
- good feedback. - Except,
I think that if you fix this area a bit more,
its overall feel will be even better.
The technical aspects for doing that are quite difficult--
I thought the same...
so I've collected foreign documents that can be used as reference.
"Amended Plan"
"Re-amended Plan"
How is it this time?
Good, very good.
- Then this-- - Except,
I think it'd be more interesting
to separate the sidewalk and roadway.
Since the design has changed, it might be better to fix it
while taking light illumination and colours into consideration.
We really don't have the time anymore.
The client is getting impatient.
Can you try?
I will ask the vice president to call the other party directly.
What happened with the bridge situation?
It's getting better and better.
You've been working extra hard these days.
Yes, this is the first time I've felt such exaltation at work.
But isn't it better to do everything in moderation?
What do you mean?
I understand that you're enthusiastic
just like you were during new recruit training,
but the budget has jumped up because of you,
and it seems that everyone at Public Works
is exhausted from the continuous overtime.
On top of that, the client is pestering them every day.
But, ultimately, wouldn't the client be happy
if we make something good?
That's true,
but if things stay this way,
you may become alienated again.
The reason everyone listens to you
is because Mr. Kurokawa is backing you up.
But the vice president is certainly trying to make something great
and trying to make Hanamura Construction a good company.
I just want to help him do that.
Hey, this is bad.
- What's wrong? - Look at this.
Seriously?
What's wrong?
Has it been decided?
Is this true?
Sakura,
at the management meeting, the president was dismissed.
"Merger has been approved"
What do they mean by "merger"?
Excuse me.
Oh, you're here, Sakura.
Why was the president suddenly dismissed?
As long as he was on top,
our company was not going to change.
You knew that, didn't you?
That he didn't think of the employees at all.
But is it really okay to merge?
There's a rumor that the other company
might take the lead.
Let them gossip all they want.
More importantly, what do you think of this?
It's the slogan for the new company.
"For the employees, for society”
For the employees, for society.
Don't you think it's perfect
for the type of company we're trying to build now?
Hey, you!
Are you trying to ruin my company?
Don't say such scandalous things, President.
This was decided by the board of directors.
Don't act innocent!
I know that you planned all of this.
I apologise, but I have a meeting with the other party,
so I don't have time.
You little...
Let go!
I was framed by him. You all are being deceived too!
If you leave him be, the same will happen to you!
Let go! Let go!
What's wrong, everyone?
We gathered here because we are all worried about you.
Worried?
I heard
that you were being influenced too much by Mr. Kurokawa.
I feel like it might be better not to trust him too much.
What do you mean?
He says all these nice things,
but, ultimately, it seems like he only cares about himself.
And there's a rumor that with the merger,
there will be huge lay-offs.
The vice president said nothing like that will happen.
Are you going to trust all of that, Sakura?
We're just worried that you'd get involved
with something troublesome.
You were finally able to go back
and we just don't want you to get hurt again like the last time.
If there is anything we can do, let us know.
Excuse me, I have to get back to work soon.
We haven't finished talking yet.
Since I became the leader of a new project,
I have a lot to do.
I don't want to waste too much time.
Are you saying that being with us is a waste of time?
I didn't say that,
but besides Aoi, all of you have quit the company.
So I don't understand why you guys are making meddling remarks.
What's with that?
Are you being serious?
Sakura, you've changed.
It's feels like the instant the ugly duckling became a swan,
it became cold-hearted.
Is that who you turn into as soon as you become a leader?
Perhaps you're the type of person who really shouldn't hold power.
I think this is exactly the time that I should be changing myself.
I don't think who I used to be was good enough.
Just as the vice president said, I think I want to gain more power.
To do that, I need to grow by working harder
and broadening my horizon.
I understand, but--
Up until now, I've experienced a lot of hardships.
Because of me,
the construction of the bridge in my hometown was canceled.
Has gone to heaven.
I've finally found something I want to do,
but why won't you all support me?
Sakura,
aren't you just deceiving yourself?
What are you saying. That's not true.
You say that, but you're speaking super fast.
I'm sorry, but I'm really busy.
Excuse me, but have you finished the corrections to the proposal?
I'm sorry, could you wait just a bit more?
Finish it as soon as possible, since I asked you quite a while ago.
I apologise.
"Ms. Sumire"
Hello.
Sakura, can you talk now?
Is something wrong?
It looks like I'll be laid off.
Ms. Sumire.
Is it true that you received the lay-off notice?
Yes.
Wait here a bit, I'll go speak with the vice president to retract it.
It's fine, you don't have to do anything like that.
I'm not making excuses, but it just seems like
nothing good will come by staying here.
Please don't say that.
You're someone this company needs.
Thank you.
But for this baby, I was intending to take a break soon anyways,
so I think it's a good opportunity.
But even Rentaro hasn't found work yet.
We'll manage somehow.
My severance pay will last for a while.
Besides that,
why don't you worry about yourself, Sakura?
I heard from Rentaro. You fought with your friends?
I understand that you're eager to be back at the company.
I also understand that you're trying to change yourself.
But I also think...
What is that?
To treasure your friends.
When I first met you at the welcoming ceremony,
I thought it'd be impossible for someone like you to work here.
And you were quite troublesome, so I was completely fed up.
But I never thought that I'd receive the courage to live
as a mother and a working woman
from someone like you.
It's the same for your friends, too, so they are worried.
Don't lose sight of yourself, Sakura.
Oh, Sakura, I'm moving to the president's room.
Is that so?
What's wrong, why the long face?
Though I can mostly imagine what you want to say.
Why does Ms. Sumire have to be laid off?
It's difficult for me, too,
but the foreign investors just won't listen.
Furthermore, since she only has experience
in Human Resources, she's an easy target for lay-offs.
But Ms. Sumire has been devoting herself
to this company since you were the HR director.
- I'm the president now. - Don't try to deflect.
Can you please do something about this, President?
I understand.
I'll remove her from the list.
Really?
But I have to choose another person to lay off in her place,
so you decide who it'll be.
Was because we read these documents you presented
and realised that we were still quite inefficient.
What will you do, Sakura?
I understand.
If that's the case, I'll quit.
What?
Excuse me.
You can only come up with such an easy answer?
Instead of doing something anyone can do
like just quitting yourself,
why don't you find an actual solution?
An answer that's in line with your morals
- and that can make everyone happy. - That's unfair.
You know that in this situation, there's nothing I can do.
That is power.
If you're frustrated, why don't you gain enough power to defeat me?
If that's impossible, join my side.
In order to do good work, it's necessary to become callous.
You're too soft-hearted.
The work we're doing will reach people even 100 years from now.
It's exciting work where we create something
that'll leave a mark on the map for eternity.
For a great purpose, don't you think
that small sacrifices are inevitable?
Grandad, the croquettes here are not good.
Or...
is it me who has changed?
What should I do, Grandad?
Hello.
Did you perhaps become a craftsman's apprentice?
Because you told me that building wonderful structures
can bring joy to many people, so I tried it.
And I feel like it really suits me.
I don't know how many times I've changed careers up until now,
but I feel like I finally found my calling.
I'm glad to hear that.
Thanks to that, I have a dream now.
What is it?
To build a building with you, Ms. Kitano.
Hey!
Sorry, see you later.
Excuse me.
- You're from this company, right? - Yes.
I'm starting my prospective employee training today.
But this company is all right, isn't it?
I heard that it was merging, so I'm a bit worried.
That's...
The company is good.
Because I'm sure you'll meet great colleagues.
You're right.
Thank you.
Yuri.
What did you want to talk about?
I'm just a bit worried about Sakura.
What do you mean?
She hasn't come to work since yesterday,
and she won't reply to any of my messages.
What's with that?
To protest Ms. Sumire being laid off,
it seems like she said she'll quit too.
If she really doesn't come to work...
I understand, I'll go to her place and see.
Sorry for the trouble.
What is it this time, Yume?
What's wrong?
Is she okay?
She has been in a bad mood lately.
I really don't understand why.
Yume.
Yume, what's wrong?
If you cry that much, your mum will get upset.
Good girl.
Hey, Yuri.
Are you not okay with me staying by her side?
I want to make her happy.
I want to make you happy too.
Is that okay?
It's from Sakura.
Me too.
What happened, everyone?
For Pete's sake!
We've been receiving messages and calls from you nonstop,
so we were wondering.
I apologise for causing trouble until the end...
What's wrong?
I'm sorry, I just haven't slept.
Are you all right?
Aoi, why don't you go get her some coffee?
Oh, right.
I'll leave Sakura to you.
It's okay. More importantly...
What is it?
For some reason, the two of you seem very close.
We've decided to live our lives together.
Really?
I'm so happy.
I was hoping for a long time that this would happen.
Sakura.
I got a job.
Really?
It's a small design office, but
when I told them that I'm aiming to receive
the Pritzker Architecture Prize,
the president said
that he's been waiting for someone with a big dream.
I'm glad to hear that, Rentaro.
From now on, please work hard for Tsukushi and Ms. Sumire.
Thank you.
Sakura, since it's come down to this,
do you want to marry me?
Or is it still a no?
I'm sorry, I just can't think of something like that right now.
It's okay, I have friends in Sendai.
I told them that from now on,
I'll acknowledge my weaknesses.
And I'll work hard, believing that I've gained a lot
by simply being connected to friends with the same goal.
And everyone understood what I was trying to say.
I'm glad to hear that, Kikuo.
You have the face of an adult now,
the face of a leader who is trusted by everyone.
Thank you.
- Good morning. - Good morning.
Good morning.
Sakura, you've finally appeared.
We'll have the ceremony for the gateway bridge,
so you come too.
What's wrong?
President, can I ask you one thing?
What is it?
Why do you treat someone like me so well?
I've told you before,
it's because I thought you'd change this company.
Is that really the only reason?
Isn't there something else?
What a great question.
Actually,
when I met you at the interview,
I felt as though I was speaking to my daughter.
My daughter's dream is to be a ballerina.
Ever since she was this small, no matter how tough the lesson was,
she practiced hard day after day without giving up.
For that daughter,
I've always wanted to build a wonderful theater one day,
so I worked extremely hard.
Despite that...
my daughter died in an accident when she was eight.
That's why at the interview,
when I saw you passionately exclaim, "I have a dream,”
I thought that if my daughter was alive,
she might've turned out like you.
And when I saw your CV,
you were the same age and had the same birthday as her.
Sakura,
let's make our dreams come true together.
"Letter of resignation”
In the end, you came up with such a mediocre answer?
I apologise.
Are you sure about this?
I could even make it so that you can never work in this industry again.
No, I'll work.
What?
I will work and show you.
I will hold more power than you.
What kind of power?
Could you take a look at this?
This is my idea of a building
that I want to leave behind for the future.
"A residential shopping mall'
"Mobile theater"
All of them are wonderful.
That is my power.
I knew you were talented.
Please don't misunderstand.
I could not have done anything alone.
It's the product of countless discussions and advice given to me
through many calls and messages by my friends.
My power is my friends.
As long as I have talented friends, I can do wonderful work.
No matter how painful it is,
I will feel courage knowing that I'm not alone.
That is my power.
President, do you have such friends?
I had lost myself.
Ever since I was told by you to hold power,
I was trying to take the easy road.
Why are you speaking with a dialect?
I'm sorry, I was furious at myself.
We'll definitely go to the moon.
Not because it's easy, but because it's difficult.
They're the words of President Kennedy.
I love them.
From now on, no matter how tough it gets,
I'll persist and tread the difficult path.
As long as I keep finding colleagues who are like my friends here,
I can definitely overcome anything.
Grandad, I'm doing great, as usual.
I haven't found work yet,
but I'm not alone, so I'm okay.
Yes?
- Good morning. - Good morning.
I made extras, so...
Thank you.
Just by being friendly with the neighbours,
a lot of good things happen too.
I will work hard believing that today will be a great day too.
Good,
- very good. - Very good.
Oh, you were interviewed at my company before.
I apologise for that time.
Have you been working at Hanamura since then?
Due to certain reasons, I quit.
If it's okay with you, would you like to join us?
You like to build buildings, right?
Yes.
Sakura is late.
It's almost time for me to catch my bullet train.
I also have to go to work.
I have to go get Yume too.
She's here.
I'm sorry for being late.
Were you taking photos again perhaps?
No, I found a job.
- What? - What? Really?
Yes.
It's small, but it's a company everyone is designing together
to make something great.
That's so great, Sakura.
With this, everyone has found the path they need to be on.
Although we're all in our 30s already.
Let's work hard going forward too.
So that we don't lose to these cherry blossoms.
I am...
truly happy to have met all of you.
You've given someone like me such wonderful power.
And I truly appreciate it.
That's our line.
Thanks to you, we've also somehow made it this far.
We were even able to have dreams
that we had never even thought of before.
I have a dream.
I want to tell people who suffer from loneliness
that they are never alone.
And there's always someone nearby to cheer them on.
I have a dream.
To build a society where women can enter the workforce
and work freely
without worrying about their livelihood or raising a child.
I have a dream.
To become a real leader who can bring happiness
to people who are trying to stay true to themselves
while working in difficult situations.
I have a dream.
To help people realise that as long as they voice their dreams,
they have the power to create miracles.
Huh?
You won't say your dream?
I'm sorry, I don't feel like it right now.
As usual, she's doing things at her own pace.
- I have a dream. - Oh, you're going to say it?
I want as many people as possible to have trusted friends like mine.
I have a dream.
I want as many flowers to bloom as possible, like this sakura tree.
I have a dream.
After seeing the structures that we've built,
I want the future generations to remember that we were here.
Just like how I'm always moved after seeing a wonderful building,
I want them to have the courage and aspiration to live.
No, that's not it.
That's not your dream anymore.
That's your mission in this world.
You're right.
After 11 years, we were ultimately all separated,
but I won't forget the things that Sakura has said,
my failures, my happiness, or my sorrows.
That's how much precious unforgettable time
we've all accumulated together.
I love the Sakura who can't read situations
but can read people's hearts.
Thank you.
Well, I should get going soon.
Me too.
Bye, Sakura.
See you.
There it is!
What's with that?
Shall we take a photo together?
Let's do it.
Here we go.
Colleagues!
All right, let's meet again one day.
"Our Dearest Sakura"