Dear Keiko, please save me.
It's been 5 days, and he's worked me like a dog.
The house is unbearably cold inside.
I think Dad intends to kill us here
to vent his anger against Mom.
Jun?
Wake up and cheer up!
It's time to fetch water.
I think you've gotten used to this life quite a bit.
It's fun when you try living like this, isn't it?
It's fun.
Do you get cold sleeping?
I'm fine.
Give me a break.
I have to register you both for school.
But please wait a little longer. There's lots of things that need to be done first.
Great!
Because the snow will come soon and we have to get
everything done before that happens.
I need you both to gather rocks.
Why do we need rocks?
We're going to build an "okamuro".
What's that?
it's where we'll store food in the winter.
Because we won't be able to go and buy any once it starts snowing.
I'm mad! I'm really mad now!
Where do you think the rocks are?
How would I know?
Dad said we need to find the biggest ones we can.
He wants to kill us!
Aunty?
Where can we find rocks?
Rocks?
Over that way. There should be lots.
This land was originally covered with rocks.
I think this is enough.
Where should we put them?
Please put them over there!
We're done!
Please go get more.
Couldn't he say "Good job!" or even "Thank you?"
Working hard?
This is child abuse!
Don't complain. You're still young.
That's when you suffer!
You're ugly anyway!
More?
Another 50 times!
Did you hear that? He really does mean to kill us.
Blow out the candles. One two...
Be careful not to spit.
One more time. Come. Seriously. One two...
Congratulation!
Oi, oi.
We need to cut the grass. Nap time's over.
Isn't it fun to work hard?
When humans work hard, they learn how to be humble.
"Sun at the back
the alder tree on the other side sparkles like a mirror.
Opposite to the alder tree, the sun slowly set.
Light flickers on miscanthus (long grass)
Above the grass,
the long shadow of the alder tree extends further and further.
Below the grass,
moss covered everywhere, without a single ant."
What is that?
It's by Miyazawa Kenji.
Well? Isn't it a fine one?
Now, we won't have to worry about food.
What's wrong?
Jun is writing a letter to Mom.
He says he's going to ask her to take us back to Tokyo.
He told me to keep it a secret from you, Dad.
Get those stalks over there.
Hotaru?
Yes?
You shouldn't tattle.
Jun trusts you. That's why he told you his secret, didn't he?
You shouldn't tell secrets.
I'm sorry.
We work hard today, didn't we?
Yes.
Thanks to yours and Jun's help, look at the fine one we built.
Yes.
I'll will show you something good as a reward.
What?
Go get Jun and we'll go by car.
Here we are.
Take a look.
It's beautiful. You can see the lights of the town.
That's Urano.
You always make me wait.
Sorry.
I had to go on a call. What a bad break. They need 3 more.
Coffee. A good cup.
How are you? Staying alive?
Who's that?
Just the coffee.
Who's that?
She's the school teacher.
Only the school teacher reads like that.
Something's going on.
What?
Womanizer.
Don't be jealous, stupid.
It looks like they're good students.
Yes.
I think the older one is pretty good.
Was he going to a cram school, too?
Yes, that...
His mother liked to do things like that, so....
But the younger one isn't very good at all.
I don't really want to do this.
It's some distance, but
shouldn't you have them go to the main school?
I'd rather have them come here.
They're going to close this school down next year.
So it might be better to send them over there from now.
I can talk to the official for you.
I'd like them to come here until the school closes.
Children from Tokyo......
are hard to handle.
and...
Shota lifted my skirt!
No I didn't.
Then you can pull his pants down.
Yes! Miss said it!!
Miss, I...
I would like....
I've left everything about the children up to their mother.
No...
I grew up here on a farm...
But compared to me,
my wife is from Tokyo....
That's why
I don't know
anything about education.
But
it's not my wife's fault.
I practically ignored them.
It's my fault.
Without being able to do
anything by yourself.....
But having all the knowledge...
How should I say this...
That may be what they teach at grade schools these days.....
But to me.... how do I say this....
Human ...
Being alive is....
how do you say this....
People have to know
how to live on their own and....
I am stupid, so I can't say this very well.
Hotaru?
What's wrong?
What time did Dad say he was coming home?
In the evening. He's going to Uncle Seikichi's house after he goes to the school.
What's wrong?
Do you know the way to town?
I do.
Go to town for me.
To do what?
The letter.
I wrote Mom the letter.
The one asking her to take us back?
Don't breathe a word to Dad.
Why don't you go by yourself?
Go to town,
Hotaru!
You don't understand.
Do you think we'll survive the winter in a place like this?
He's really going to kill us.
We'll freeze to death.
What's that?
Buy some candy while you're there.
You hid money?
What's wrong with that? Come on. Please?
Why don't you go yourself?
You can buy some juice, too.
You're scared.
Of what?
Of the woods on the way.
Stupid!
Then, go yourself.
That's your attitude?
Okay. I'll go.
After I wash these potatoes.
I love you.
Goro!
Hello.
I was about to send someone out to your place.
You have a guest from Tokyo.
A guest?
Who is she? She's a real beauty.
Yukiko?
Are Jun and Hotaru doing well?
Did Reiko send you to check on them?
No, she didn't. I came on my own.
Is it a problem?
A little.
I'm sorry.
They're just getting used to things here.
But if they see you, they'll remember what they'd
started to forget about Tokyo.
I'm sorry.
I put the milk in your truck.
Thanks.
And potatoes and onions.
Thanks.
And some carrots, too.
Thank you.
Would you like some salted mushrooms? (Special, local produce of Hokkaido)
Next time.
Introduce me, will you?
This is my relative, Kitamura Sota.
How do you do?
You look different.
I can tell you're from Tokyo.
I box a little.
Are you going to be here awhile?
Only a short time.
You should stay longer.
I'll go over after I'm done with my work.
I'll bring the mushrooms.
Why didn't you tell me?
We're the closest to you and I could've dropped all this
off on my way home.
Or you could've called in the morning and....
You're not bad, Uncle. Even if you do have a face like that.
She's a pretty good looker.
Is that what you can catch in Tokyo?
I'm home.
Welcome home.
So you're cooking today, Jun?
Jun, we have a guest today.
Aunt Yukiko
How are you? Have you been well?
Hotaru!
Jun, this place is beautiful, isn't it?
She went to town. Why'd she go into town?
I don't know, but.... I think she may've gone to town.
Did she really go into town?
I think so.
You think so?
I'm going out for a bit.
I think she's gone into town.
Alone.
He said she left before 2:00 this afternoon.
No. I think she took the marsh road.
Thanks a lot.
I'll be counting on you.
Sorry.
She didn't get to town?
No one really know.
She didn't come to the co-op.
Does she know the road into town?
We drove on it once.
What did she go for all by herself?
I don't really know.
Why did she go?
It was the first time, wasn't it?
Did you see a little girl? A second grader.
Our cow went into labor. Of all the nights.
Where's Uncle?
What's wrong?
Hotaru!
Anyone see her?
Hotaru!
Maybe we should call the police.
Don't worry.
We'll find her soon.
Where is your husband?
Did she come home?
Did something happen?
Are you cold?
Don't worry.
She probably just lost her way.
Dad?
I'm the one....
...that sent Hotaru to town.
I wrote a letter to Mom.
Because I was desperate
to go back home to Tokyo.
I told Hotaru to go and mail it.
It's all....
... my fault.
But...
I don't think Hokkaido
suits my constitution...
I think Tokyo suits me better...
Are you his younger sister?
I'm his sister-in-law.
My older sister is his ex-wife.
We lived together...
After my
sister left them.
This may be
unwanted advice, but....
It'll be impossble to live through the winter in this house.
Especially children that have been brought up in Tokyo
I understand what your brother-in-law is trying to do, though.
The children these days are different. The children of the city
are different from when your brother-in-law was raised here long ago.
Not just the children. The adults, too.
I'm sorry.
She walked along the Nunobe village road.
She went all the way down to the edge of the river.
You can come to the school anytime you want to.
I walked from the school house and it took me 40 minutes.
Teacher
No...
Thank you very much.
We'll take Yukiko to the hotel.
Goro?
Did something happen to Jun?
He seems...
I'm sorry. I'll be back tomorrow.
Jun?
I drop the letter
in the river.
Hotaru.
I chased it all the way down,
but I couldn't find it.
I'm sorry.
But
I didn't tell.
I didn't tell Dad about the letter.
I didn't tell.
Greeting,
Keiko.
I'm....
I'm...