We did it!
What's this made of?
Cow's bladder.
Cow's bladder?
Yes.
How about the hair?
Corn silk.
What's going on?
What?
Kita no kuni kara 1984 Summer
Translated by Chuks Edited by Dokaben
Goro,
I'm sorry for not writing you sooner...
especially since you've been looking after Shokichi for me.
But I didn't know what to write.
The other day,
a man from Furano dropped by my bar.
I had no idea about the fire until then.
He told me that...
your house burned down last winter.
What's worse,
the cause of the fire appears to have been...
my son, Shokichi.
I don't know what to do.
I'm deeply sorry for not knowing.
I apologize for what he did.
It's all my fault.
I've caused you tremendous hardship.
I'll take Shokichi back in August.
Welcome back.
I'll send somebody over there.
Welcome back.
Please have him pack up his things.
To Kuroita Goro,
From Midori, who can no longer face you.
It was the beginning of summer vacation when I first met him.
Oh, hey.
Are these your kids, Goro?
Those two.
Say hello.
This is Yuriko, Nakahata's little sister.
-Hello. -Hello!
And this one is Midori's son, Shokichi.
Oh, you?
Hello.
Hello!
Tsutomu!
Her son is here too. Be friends with him.
Hey, Tsutomu!
His name is Tsutomu. Will you be friends with him?
Hello!
He's hopeless. He can't even say hello!
Why don't you go inside and take a look?
Do you know about "PCs"?
-PC? -I've heard of it. -Go look.
He does nothing but play on the PC all day.
So this is a PC? Wow.
Is this yours?
-Yeah. -How much was it?
The hardware was a little more than 200,000 yen, the software was 4000 yen each.
What's software?
Software is software.
-Do you understand? -I have no idea.
-Is this your first time seeing a PC? -Yeah.
None of your friends have one?
Of course not!
You guys are so behind.
You'll be left out. The era of the PC is coming.
Soon you'll be able to shop with this.
And businessmen will be able to work at home.
Soon you'll be able to do anything with a PC.
Amazing.
-Ask your dad for one. -Me?
The sooner you learn, the better.
I was shocked.
I was extremely shocked.
Mom,
I'm shocked.
During the 4 years I've lived here,
Tokyo seems to have advanced a lot.
Hey.
You can read it but don't get it dirty.
-Who would wanna read this! -Seriously!
-What a hell was that?! -So lame.
You can do anything with a PC?
Then try to make pumpkins with a PC!
That's right! Try to make pumpkins with a PC, damn it!
I didn't show it, but to be honest, deep down I felt left out.
We don't even have electricity, let alone a PC.
It'll cost 800,000 yen?
Electricity only goes as far as Watanabe's house, which is 3 km away from our place.
They'll have to build utility poles from there, so it'll cost us 800,000 yen.
I give up.
You've given up on wind power completely?
Our house is in a forest so there isn't much wind.
Oh well.
Anyway, I appreciate your effort Mr. Sasaki, but...
we'll manage without electricity for a while.
Goro.
Have you spoken to her about that matter yet?
I'm talking about Yukiko.
I have.
What did she say?
Well...
She wasn't quite clear.
What do you mean?
Sota is ready to get married any time...
my wife wants to see it happen this year.
What's going on with her?
Well...
When I asked her about it last time,
she clearly said she'd marry him.
-Is he working on it? -Yeah. Hey Sota!
Wow, awesome!
I know!
Hold that side.
It's better than last year's.
Of course! I'll ride with Yukiko this year.
-How about us? -Yours is over there.
That thing? Seriously?
Will it even float?
Who do you brats think you're talking to?
-I'm about to test it. -Can we ride on it?
-Just for a little bit. -Yay! Let's go!
Help us, Tsutomu!
What's with him?
Ready?
Hey! How is it?
Awesome!
Hey! Come back when you get to the corner!
Okay!
We'll be back!
Dad?
Yeah?
Did something happen to Auntie Yukiko in Tokyo?
Why?
She got a telegram this morning.
A telegram?
From who?
I don't know.
But after that she went into her room and...
didn't come out for a while.
Furano's annual Heso* Festival was held on July 28th and 29th.
Belly button
We decided to go down to the city together,
but Auntie Yukiko took a bus to meet up with Sota before the festival.
She hadn't seen him at the house lately.
It's done!
It'll stand out for sure!
Guess what I painted on the raft? The name of raft?
"Yukiko" in roman letters.
-Will you be embarrassed? This year will be-- -Sota.
Huh?
I'm sorry.
For what?
I can't go.
What?
The raft race.
I can't go with you.
Why not?
I'm going back to Tokyo.
Why?
Sota, I...
I can't do it.
I meant it...
when I said I'd marry you.
But...
I can't.
I really can't.
Remember the man I was dating in Tokyo?
I was with him for eight years.
I tried to give him up so many times...
because...
he had a wife and kids.
I tried to forget about him.
But...
he was...
always in my heart.
This spring...
he divorced.
Now that he's single,
he's written to me several times.
I was ignoring it,
but I can't anymore.
In the end,
I'm weak.
I'm sorry.
Actually...
he's supposed to arrive on the evening train today.
6:00 PM.
He wants to meet Goro.
Sota!
Oh, hey.
What are you doing?
Nothing. Going to the Heso Festival?
Yeah, we are.
I'll come with you.
My boyfriend is waiting!
I'm better than him. Let's go!
I had no idea about them.
Sota!
That night, we all stopped by Nakahata's house.
Because Hotaru wanted to use the PC.
Shokichi said he'd rather go home,
and I went along with him, but the truth is...
I wanted to use the PC.
-That's a good book. -Huh?
It's an introductory PC book.
You can borrow it if you want.
-I don't want to! -If you say so.
-What should I do? -Press the "Return" key.
I said I didn't want to borrow it, but...
deep down, I wanted to read that book so badly.
But...
I couldn't bring myself to ask him to let me borrow it after what I'd said.
So I...
I'm only borrowing it.
I'm not stealing.
I'm only borrowing it for a few days without telling him.
About your dad.
Huh?
I'm disappointed in him.
Why?
I heard he was an extraordinary guy who built a wind power generator by himself.
But he's not doing anything now.
-What do you mean-- -You still don't have any electricity, right?
-We used to. -How about now?
It's... broken now, but...
He can't fix it?
He can if he wants to, but he's too busy.
Busy, huh?
Tsutomu, how do you do it?
Push "Stop"!
-Let's go. -Yeah.
I was so pissed off.
We're going home.
Jun, what's wrong?
-What about Hotaru? -She's still playing.
I was hurt.
Because he insulted Dad.
Dad was insulted by a city boy who knows nothing about us.
I can't forgive him.
Hey!
What?
-Take this. -Oh!
What did you do?
I took it for you.
But...
Don't worry. He didn't notice.
But it's bad.
Shokichi!
I can't believe you took it!
-I know you were gonna do it. -No...
You don't have to lie.
-I wasn't! -Okay okay.
I swear!
'Cause you looked like you wanted it, so I took it for you.
I swear I wasn't gonna steal it!
Are you sure?
I'm sure.
Honestly?
Swear to God.
You'll get in trouble.
I'm not part of this.
Is that so?
You swear you weren't gonna steal it?
No, I wasn't.
I see.
Shokichi!
I knew it. You're one dirty bastard.
What do you mean by that?
Why am I dirty?
Why did you say "I knew it"?
Yuriko.
Oh.
What are you doing?
I was stargazing.
In Tokyo,
you can't see stars.
I brought him here to see the stars but he wouldn't even come out.
I heard you were working at a hospital in Tokyo.
I was a janitor.
My husband passed away.
I heard.
I'm so lonely...
I'm so...
Should I tell you?
What?
To tell you the truth, my brother told me to come here.
Why?
He asked me if I wanted to marry you!
What?
That's your reaction?
I'm sorry.
Ever since my husband died and I became single...
I sometimes think...
"I need a man."
It's true.
Not always though.
Goro,
how about you?
Have you ever felt that way?
I'd be lying if I said I hadn't...
How about now? Are you looking for somebody?
Sometimes...
Sometimes... when I'm tired...
or when I'm down, I do.
You didn't have any?
Any what?
Chances.
I don't know...
Let me see your fingers.
-My fingers? -Yeah.
These are blue-collar worker's fingers!
They remind me of my husband's fingers.
Ouch.
Ouch... That hurts.
Ouch...
What are you doing?
What's wrong?
I have to pee.
What beautiful stars...
Yeah.
I heard you lost your house in a fire.
I knew it. You're one dirty bastard.
Shokichi's words from earlier...
stabbed my heart.
But he's right.
Mom.
I am dirty.
To tell you the truth,
I've been ashamed of that since this spring.
I thought I would forget with time.
So I've been keeping it to myself.
But I still remember that day clearly.
And I know I will never forget it.
-What time is it? -I don't know!
I'm sure Sota already came to pick us up!
We should've left earlier!
It's not a big deal!
Let's just take the bus to the station.
-What time does the train leave? -We've still got plenty of time!
Stop freaking out.
Dad had been away for work and was coming back that day.
Auntie Yukiko was also coming back to Furano after two and a half years.
Hotaru!
She's gone.
I told you. They're gone.
What's this?
I'm going ahead with Sota. Be sure to put out the fire.
Don't dry anything on the net when you leave.
See? We didn't make it!
So annoying!
Acting like she's the mature one!
Hotaru is getting cuter every day.
She's gone too far!
That's what Mr. Nakahata says about his wife behind her back.
You sounded just like him.
Shoot, the bus is coming at 5:10!
-Oh no! -Put the lid on the stove!
Let's warm the house up! Auntie is coming!
Dad and Auntie Yukiko were supposed to arrive by train around 7 o'clock.
We promised Sota we'd all pick them up together.
But we got distracted by skiing and were late.
They're not here yet.
We rushed for nothing?
-What are they doing? -We've still got an hour.
Sota must be putting make-up on!
Right, 'cause Yukiko is coming.
I can't wait to see his face when he sees Yukiko!
What the hell?
All right!
Good.
I'll leave the rest to you.
Let's go Hotaru!
Hotaru! Wait in the car!
Hey! The phone is ringing!
The calf is out! I'm going to the station!
Hello?
Let's go!
Let's make it smell nice for Yukiko.
Sota! Sota!
Wait! Sota!
What?
There's a fire at Hotaru's house!
Kuma! Hop in!
The house is on fire!
Hop in!
No!
We had no idea what was happening.
Dad!
Jun!
About 40 minutes later the bus arrived in Rokugo.
Good evening.
Goro, your house is on fire!
Water!
We need water!
The water is coming!
Stay here!
Jun!
-Where's Hotaru? -She's safe. She's over there.
Don't worry. We'll be fine.
Don't worry.
I didn't know what to do.
Although I didn't know what to do,
I was thinking hard about one thing.
What excuse should I use?
How can I get out of this?
The fire was probably caused by...
the shirts we threw on the net before we hurried out of the house.
When we threw the shirts, they probably slipped off...
and got caught on something.
And they ended up catching fire.
Hotaru was on me about it all the time.
That must have been it.
That must have been the cause of fire.
But...
I had to hide it.
I had to come up with another reason.
I was desperate.
A brief investigation was held that night.
After that, we went to Mr. Nakahata's house.
Mr. Nakahata and Dad weren't back yet.
We were told to sleep in Sumire's house for the night.
What's happening?
The site investigation just finished.
Questioning will be held tomorrow.
What was the cause of fire?
It looks like the stove.
Either something fell on the stove or something hanging above it caught fire.
Where's Goro?
Well, at least the kids were safe.
Yeah.
You're right.
Looks like...
I'll have to start over again.
From the...
beginning.
Naka.
Yeah?
For the time being...
please use this to take care of things for me.
But...
To apologize to the townspeople...
I'm not familiar with those kinds of things...
Okay.
Then I'll keep it for you for now.
Two and a half years...
It was such a short time.
The next day we were questioned at the police station.
Only the stove was on?
The wood stove?
What time did you leave to catch the 5:20 bus?
I think it was around 4:40.
4:40...
How much wood was in the stove when you left?
I don't know.
And the wood had just been thrown in?
I don't know...
I don't...
remember well.
Was there anything around the stove that could have caught fire?
For instance, above the stove...
there was a net used to dry wet things.
Was there anything on the net?
I don't... remember...
putting anything on the net.
So nothing was on it?
I don't remember very well.
Did you forget?
Dad always told me not to dry anything...
when we left because it'd be dangerous if something fell on the stove.
I see.
You don't remember anything either?
If you left anything on the net?
I did.
You did?
Yes.
What was it?
After we came back from skiing...
I took off my shirt because it was wet...
and threw it on either the wood panels or the net.
But it's possible that it didn't land there...
and was hanging somewhere.
I see.
So it may have fallen onto the stove and caused a fire.
It's possible.
My heart was beating fast.
That's a possible cause.
I was totally panicked.
I wanted to stand up and correct myself.
"I did it too!"
"It was actually me!"
"I'm the one who did it, not Shokichi."
But all I did was keep quiet.
I was shocked.
That...
Shokichi said he did it.
If Shokichi really thinks he did it,
it would be convenient for me.
But...
does he really think he did it?
Or,
does he know I'm the one who did it...
and is covering up for me?
But...
I didn't have the guts to ask him about it.
Surprisingly,
the burned house was almost completely cleaned up...
thanks to the people in the village.
I heard the kids caused it.
They forgot to put out the stove.
They were living by themselves.
If only Goro had come home one day earlier.
That's not what I heard.
What?
I talked to the police earlier.
That boy Goro is taking care of... Midori's son...
He was the one that caused the fire.
That's what happened this winter.
Shokichi's confession left my heart with a scar...
as big as the fire.
That's what happened this winter.
It was the next evening...
when Yukiko brought that man to meet my dad.
Getting married?!
Is she marrying that man?
It looks like it.
What about Sota?
I don't know.
Anyway, she's leaving for Tokyo with him tomorrow.
How about wind power?
It's very close to impossible.
Excuse me.
Then how about hydropower?
Well...
I guess you can try it...
but...
it's smarter to save money and install electricity.
Yukiko told me about your wind power generator and I was very impressed with the way you live.
I see... Hydropower is out too.
It's easier said than done.
I was irritated.
Dad looked so timid and weak.
This past year,
ever since the house burned down,
Dad lost his spirit.
When we moved to this abandoned house this spring,
he built a wind power generator.
But it didn't work.
In the end, he gave up on it.
And he kissed up to city officials and the electric company in order to have electricity installed.
What happened to you, Dad?
Where is the Dad I knew?
The Dad who installed electricity and water all by himself.
Why have you changed?
We respected you.
Dinner that night felt like a wake.
It was obvious that Dad was shocked that Auntie Yukiko brought her boyfriend.
Do we really have to give up on hydropower?
What's the problem?
Kuma said that the current of the river is fast enough to generate power.
He said the fundamental rule is the same as--
Then you do it.
If you think so, then you do it.
Well, I can't do it.
Then stay out of it.
But...
But what?
It'll cost a lot if we ask the city, right?
If you think about the cost, making a water wheel is nothing--
Jun.
Yes?
Do you want electricity that badly?
Do you hate living under lanterns that much?
That's not it.
That's not why I'm talking about it.
I just...
Just what?
If you were your old self,
you would have tried hydropower if wind power wouldn't work...
instead of paying the city.
That's how you were when we moved here.
You piped water from the mountain.
And generated electricity with wind power.
You did everything on your own.
It was incredible.
You're saying...
I'm not like that anymore?
I didn't mean that, but...
But...
-Back then-- -When do I have time for that?
I'm working hard from 5:30 in the morning until after 7 at night.
I'm tired. Exhausted.
But I'm still working hard.
Are you telling me...
to work more?
What else do I need to do? Tell me.
The house burned down.
I lost everything.
All I have left is debt.
I've been working so hard to pay off the debt.
I'm worn out.
Exhausted.
But you want... You want me to--
Goro!
I'm sorry.
I'm going out.
Goro!
Yukiko.
Yes.
I...
I don't understand.
I don't understand you.
Why were you here?
Why...
did you want to come here this winter?
What do you think about Sota and his father?
What about their feelings?
I don't understand you at all!
Want more?
I'm done.
I'm done too.
I'm sorry.
About what?
The fire.
I didn't hear until long after it happened. I'm sorry I couldn't pay you a visit.
Were you away?
I was, for a while.
Where?
-You haven't heard? -About what?
I had a good dream.
I almost got married.
Really?
Here you are.
Cheers.
And?
I quit this place and went to Obihiro.
Is he from Obihiro?
No, he's from the main island.
And?
I was all prepared...
I even bought a new dresser made of paulownia wood.
It's traditional for a bride to bring a paulownia wood dresser.
But his wife appeared.
All I have left is the dresser.
I've always adored paulownia wood dressers.
I always wanted to bring a paulownia wood dresser when I got married, even if I couldn't afford anything else.
Even thought it's this small and I got it on sale at a store in Obihiro.
In other words...
the man deceived you?
He was a nice person.
Maybe too nice.
He was so nice that he couldn't bring himself to tell me the truth.
He was just too nice.
Oh, Sota comes here sometimes.
That Sota?
Yeah, that Sota! He's finally marrying that girl!
He said they're entering the boat race together!
He even painted her name on his boat!
The next day, to avoid seeing Auntie Yukiko off, Sota and I asked Tsutomu out to Sorachi river.
Let's go!
-We're riding on this? -Of course!
-Is it safe? -Yeah!
You don't need to ride if you're scared!
-I'm not scared! -Hey.
-Can you even swim? -I swam a race before.
-Awesome! -Ouch!
Help me already!
This boat looks better though.
That's Sota's!
You think he'll enter the race by himself?
Should we...?
That one looks safer.
-Shall we? -Yeah! His boat looks cooler!
Ready?
Oh, the rod!
What the hell are you doing!
-Sorry! -Let's go!
It was going well at first.
But then Tsutomu let go of his rod.
What are you doing, you moron!
No! Don't!
The boat!
Tsutomu!
Help!
Where's the boat?
I said I didn't wanna do it.
What do we do now?
It's your fault! You lost the rod!
Call a cab.
-A cab? -How?
Just do it!
No cab will come here.
Call my Dad then.
If you're cold, you should take your underwear off.
-You'll catch a cold if you don't. -Stop it!
Shut up! Just strip!
-Don't! -Strip!
Shut up!
You really piss me off!
-Nobody wants to see yours! -He's bleeding from his ear!
I--I'll tell everyone about you guys!
You dropped the rod! It's your fault!
You said you could swim!
-Not that. -Then what?
I know you took the book!
The PC book!
You stole my book!
Did you?
-No. -I know you did!
Geez, you're really pissing me off.
I'll tell everyone!
You thief!
I can't believe this guy!
I've had enough of you! Come on, Jun!
-Wait! -Like hell I will! We're thieves, you know!
Wait! Come on!
Wait for me!
I was shocked.
He knew his book was stolen.
I thought he didn't know, but he did.
Oh?
I took his pants by mistake.
That idiot will have to walk to Rokugo in his underwear.
You think he's okay?
What do you mean?
Being in just his underwear.
Like I care.
We should give it back.
You do it then.
He called you a thief.
But it's true.
Who are you talking about?
You.
Who tried to take it first?
I didn't do anything!
-You tried to steal it! -I didn't!
Damn it!
You're dirty as hell, as usual!
We didn't talk at all after that.
Bye.
Say goodbye to Jun for me.
They're not here yet?
I'll go look.
Hey.
What's wrong?
Wanna go for a ride?
Tsutomu!
In the evening, it started raining in Rokugo.
Even after we got home,
we just sat in silence.
It was dark outside when Shokichi and Hotaru came home.
Why didn't you come to see Yukiko off?
Did you feel sorry for me?
Is that why you took my boat without asking?
You left Tsutomu behind, didn't you?
He's in the hospital with a fever.
He's got a touch of pneumonia.
But he'll be fine.
Jun.
Yes?
If you didn't see Yukiko off because you felt sorry for me,
you were wrong.
Yukiko...
loved that man.
She loved him for 8 years.
That's something.
It wasn't easy for her.
I was moved by her passion.
I'm in no position to complain.
I lost.
I learned from it.
That's true love.
It was after 10 o'clock when it stopped raining.
Jun.
Dad is asking for you outside.
Yes?
Let me ask you something.
Yes?
Where are his pants?
In the river.
Shokichi threw them in.
Who took his book?
It wasn't like that. That was--
Taking without asking is stealing, isn't it?
Who did it?
Shokichi did.
Where is it right now?
What?
Who has the book?
Well, I have it, but--
I asked who has the book.
I do.
Whose idea was it to ride on the boat?
Um...
that was...
Shokichi.
I see.
So it's all Shokichi.
Shokichi is responsible for everything, huh?
You can go. Call Shokichi out here.
Okay.
Jun.
Yes?
Somebody will come to pick up Shokichi tomorrow.
He's going back to his Mom's place.
If you have anything to say to him,
tonight is the night.
Okay.
I was shocked.
Shokichi is going away tomorrow.
But...
what shocked me more was...
what my Dad had just said.
"So it's all Shokichi."
"Shokichi is responsible for everything, huh?"
Shokichi came back after about 15 minutes.
He went straight upstairs without saying anything.
He looked like he had been crying a little.
I wanted to say something to him.
But,
I couldn't say anything.
It was quite sunny the next day.
Shokichi spent all morning cleaning the house without saying a word.
I was wandering around, waiting for a chance to talk to him.
But he kept cleaning without uttering a word.
He seemed secretly happy that he could finally go back to his Mom's place.
In the end I didn't get a chance to talk to him. It was time for him to leave.
-Good bye. -Good bye.
-Come back any time. -Okay.
-Bye. Come see us again. -I will.
See ya.
Finally, I can get the hell out of here.
Finally, it'll be quiet here.
Say goodbye to the bastard.
Who?
Tsutomu.
He reminded me of you when you first moved here.
You were weak and cocky.
You were the worst.
You were just like him.
How am I now?
I can't win. 'Cause you're smart.
Anyway, don't die.
You too.
-Shokichi. -Yes?
Give your mother my regards.
I will.
Midori!
Why doesn't she come out and show herself?
She's so foolish.
My tears were deep in my nose...
and swaying like water in a glass.
It was sad to see Shokichi's Mom like that.
Shokichi looked very sad too.
I was even...
sad about Dad, Hotaru, and Tsutomu.
Shokichi's final words lingered in my head.
"He reminded me of you when you first moved here."
Shokichi!
Show me your face!
Shokichi!
That night, after we left the Nakahata family,
we went to eat ramen.
They're all gone, huh?
Don't worry about Tsutomu.
He'll be fine.
-Hurry up and eat. We're closing soon. -Okay.
Let's eat.
What's wrong, Jun? Eat while it's hot.
Dad...
I...
What?
It was Shokichi who took Tsutomu's pants, but...
it was by accident.
And...
I was the one who first suggested we ride on the boat.
And...
I actually tried to take the PC book first.
I tried first.
Shokichi took it for me.
Tsutomu said everyone in Tokyo knows about computers.
He said that's the era we'll live in.
I felt we were being left behind.
I feel sorry for taking it without asking...
-Jun-- -And...
And,
about the fire at the house...
It sounded like I had nothing to do with it,
but the truth is....
I also threw my shirt on the net above the stove.
I was in a hurry, so...
I threw it.
I think it fell on the stove.
And...
that's why...
the fire was my fault.
I've been meaning to tell you,
but,
I couldn't bring myself to, because...
I'm a coward.
But...
since then, I've been...
treating Shokichi...
I'm sorry, but will you hurry up?
I'm sorry.
Let's eat, Jun.
I see.
I understand.
I'm sorry.
It's fine. Let's eat.
Jun.
About what you said the other night...
You asked me why I didn't try hydropower.
You said if I was my old self, I would have tried it.
I was shocked.
You were absolutely right.
It's been four years since we moved here.
At some point during those years I ran out of gas.
And I started to depend on people.
I didn't realize it until you told me.
You were right.
I was being weak.
I was really--
We're closing now.
The motivations I had when we moved here completely slipped my--
It's time.
-How much? -1500 yen.
You should finish it, Jun.
Thank you.
My son is still eating!
That's what happened during the summer.
In Furano, the boat race was held as usual on August 5th.
Mom,
the race was held as usual,
but I didn't join in this year.
Neither did Dad, Nakahata,
or Sota.
After the boat race, it suddenly started to get chilly.
Fall was creeping in to Furano.
Tsutomu was discharged from the hospital and went back to Tokyo.
He gave me the book when he left.
Many people left Furano.
Our school starts on the 20th.