Dad...
Dad?
Hotaru?
Where are you?
Do you know where Dad and Hotaru are?
Your dad and sister?
Yes.
No one lives here.
What... Bu--But we...
Goro left a long time ago.
What?
He closed up and left for somewhere else.
When was that?
A long, long time ago.
No one lives here anymore.
I was about to leave this village myself.
Please take me, too!
I don't know you.
Yes, you do.
You're Tsurara's mom, right?
-I don't know you. -Don't say that!
Jun! Hurry and wash your face!
We're leaving for the hospital at 9:00!
Kita no kuni kara
Episode 11
How is she?
The pain got really bad again this morning.
But the shot made her feel better.
Okay.
Jun, will you stay with her?
I talked to the director yesterday.
And?
Mmm...
He still thinks it's just from stress.
Oh, I told him what you told me.
About those sand grain-like kidney stones that don't show up on x-rays.
He said he'd considered that, too.
But after examining her, in his opinion, she doesn't have that.
To be honest,
he doesn't know what's causing the pain.
He said, if you were concerned or unsatisfied,
he wouldn't mind you transferring her to another hospital.
They're still running tests so there's still more they have to do,
but if you insist,
he says he won't be able to stop you.
So, it's a matter of how you feel.
Yukiko,
I don't know if this is something I should say, but...
It's about Jun.
Are you really sending him home tomorrow?
You don't think it'll affect her?
I'm saying this because if her illness is really stress-related,
the cause could be emotional, too.
His leaving can worsen her condition.
Don't you think so?
I know he has school and...
the promise he made to his dad.
But she's ill, you know.
Will you reconsider?
Jun.
When did you come?
A while ago.
I was dreaming.
You know what it was about?
About a bicycle.
That 5-gear bicycle.
Do you remember it?
Yeah.
I still have it in the storage shed for you.
Really.
I dreamed you had taken it out...
and were riding around at some field.
Doing tricks and stuff.
Remember how you used to do that before?
I'd ask you to stop 'cause it's dangerous,
but you'd enjoy my reactions,
and stand on the seat...
or let both hands go...
The more...
I asked you to stop...
Yo!
Got a new bike?
Yeah, the old one was out of style.
I got lots of money on New Year's Day,
so I bought this one.
Wow.
This is a space shuttle, made at NASA in the U.S.
You've seen it in newspapers, haven't you?
You're lucky you have so much.
I guess, but they're mostly kids' stuff.
I envy you.
It's not a big deal.
Want to see something even better?
What?
Won't tell anyone?
No.
You have one?
It's my big brother's, and I know where he hides them.
-How old is he? -18.
Follow me.
Keep a look-out.
Hey!
Take it.
-No! -Take it! A gift from me!
-That's okay! -Hide it!
Hide it under your shirt!
-I don't want it! -Don't worry!
But I don't want it!
What're you doing!
Is that bike broken?
It's not, but it's out of style.
Make sure you don't get caught with that magazine.
Hurry!
Wait for me!
I felt I was in big trouble.
The only place I could hide it was in my bag.
And if anyone looked in it...
Ah!
Next.
I'll have a look in your bag.
Coming!
Hold on...
All right, I'm coming!
Hello?
Jun? What's wrong?
You said you'd stay with her.
Right, um... I was about to leave... Ouch.
Bad boy.
That's all right. He hasn't been in Tokyo for such a long time.
I'm sorry.
Are you really going home tomorrow?
What time is your flight?
1:00.
So I should be able to see you tomorrow one last time.
You'll come to visit during summer vacation, won't you?
I don't know.
If Dad says it's all right.
I'm sure it's really going to start getting beautiful up there.
With all kinds of flowers blooming.
Maybe I'll go and visit you when I get better.
I know.
You came, didn't you?
And brought the radio/cassette player as a present for us.
How you know?
Did Dad tell you that?
Hotaru realized it first.
She said her pajamas smelled like you.
Do you listen to the radio?
Which programs do you listen to?
Tell me, which programs do you listen to?
I listen to the radio these days, too.
The "All-Night Nippon" show.
That may be a bit too late for you.
I'll make a request next time.
With all my love to Jun...
in Furano, Hokkaido.
Mom?
Do you...
want me to stay in Tokyo?
But...
you promised Dad that you'd go home tomorrow, didn't you?
Are you going to stay?
Will you really stay with me?
And not go home tomorrow?
What beautiful flowers. Look!
Aunty?
I'm not going home tomorrow.
I'm staying here...
in Tokyo.
It'll mean breaking my promise to Dad,
but...
I...
I can't leave her like that.
I'm sure Dad will...
get mad,
but...
for me,
Mom is still my mom.
I shouldn't have come to Tokyo.
If that's what you decided to do, then do it.
I don't think your dad will get mad.
He told me that's what you'd probably say.
Because you're a kind-hearted boy.
He expected you to say that when you saw your mom.
Is it all right?
Will you forgive me?
I don't have anything to do with it.
Dad? How are you?
I'm fine.
We've had good weather every day in Tokyo.
I played catch with Takashi today,
and rode my bicycle for the first time in a long time.
I remember that time...
It was before Mom and Dad got divorced.
It was a fad for all the boys to ride around on bikes.
I wanted a bike very badly.
Almost all my friends had one.
It was unusual not to have one.
So I really felt left out.
I asked Mom to buy one.
She said she'd buy me one.
I wanted the latest 5-gear model.
But one day,
Dad found a broken bike that had been thrown away in a garbage dump.
I don't want that one!
Just watch. I'll fix it for you.
It's dirty.
And you don't know who used it before.
-I'll polish it. -I don't want it!
-Should you have taken it anyway? -Of course. It was dumped.
Dad spent days working on it so it could be ridden again.
Look at that!
It's nice!
I wasn't happy about it, but it was better than not having one.
So I rode that bike.
Of course I couldn't tell anyone that it'd been thown away.
Until...
Jun!
A policeman just came.
Why?
About the bicycle.
I understand now.
But since the owner's filed this report, we have to return the bicycle to them.
I'm very sorry.
Geez.
I don't think any more trouble will come of this.
I'm very sorry.
It's so embarrassing that he even did that.
Just be careful.
Even junk belongs to someone.
I'll go and apologize to the owner myself.
That's a good idea.
-I'll leave now. -I'm sorry for the trouble.
Officer?
Yes?
I-- I don't really understand.
What?
Honey.
'Cause...
It may look beautiful now,
but when I found it, it'd been left on that garbage heap and was rusted all over.
That garbage heap is right in front of the Osawa house.
It'd been abandoned for over a month like that.
Please stop it.
I saw it every day.
And I'm sure the Osawas did, too.
That garbage heap is...
where everyone leaves large trash items like old TVs and tatami mats.
And now they say,
they didn't throw it out, but left it there?
-I'm sorry about him. -So what about it?
So...
I mean...
-What's wrong with picking up-- -Then what if...
it was stolen?
Never thought about that?
You brought back something you can still ride.
It could be interpreted as a criminal act.
-But-- -That's enough, hon. -But...
-What is it? -Honey! -But,
In To--Tokyo,
-people throw things away too easily. -Please.
As soon as things are out of style, they throw it away!
-Stop it, please! -They throw things away too easily!
-That's why, I-- -Please stop already!
Please stop.
I'm very sorry.
Mom apologized again and again after that, so the incident was settled.
Several days after that,
Mom bought me a new bike.
One with 5 gears that couldn't compare to the one Dad had found.
So I thought...
Mom understands things a lot better than Dad.
I thought Dad was a country bumpkin.
But...
I finally feel like I understand a little...
about how Dad felt.
Tokyo is wasteful.
People always want the newest and latest things.
When it's out of style, you just throw it away.
That's city life.
But...
the life we led these last 6 months in Hokkaido was so different.
We have no water.
No electricity?!
Unbelievable!
I didn't do anything,
but I've changed a little.
I can't believe he can generate electricity with a windmill!
-I respect him! -I really will if he can do that!
I learned that even without anything...
you can manage to live.
-Hold it! -Okay!
We did it!
We have water! We have water!
We did it!
I've come to understand a little of why Dad is the way he is.
We did it!
I've changed because I understand.
Mom,
I'm going back to Hokkaido tomorrow after all.
It's not because I promised Dad.
Or that I'll be betraying him.
I don't know why.
I can't explain it.
Of course Tokyo is better.
And I want to stay with you, too, Mom.
But...
I'm sorry, Mom.
I'm weak...
and I know if I see you, I'll change my mind again.
So,
I'm leaving without saying good-bye.
I'm very worried about you.
But,
I'm going home...
to Hokkaido.
Please hurry and get well.
And...
I didn't tell you this the other day, but...
I don't dislike...
Mr. Yoshino.
It's been 1 week since I got back from Tokyo.
I was worried about Mom at first,
but I gradually began to forget.
UFO?!
Yeah, it was definitely a UFO!
Aren't you stupid? There are no such things!
But I saw it!
That's why I hate talking to dopes.
-It was really flying. -You were imagining it.
Dad saw it too!
Liar!
She's not lying.
We did see it, yeah? It was flying.
-Where? -Right here.
Where did it fly?
It came from that way and stopped for a while over us, and then it moved away.
-Maybe it was a military helicopter. -No. That wasn't it.
-It flew in a zigzag pattern. -The color was different, too.
-It was blue first, then turned orange. -Hey!
There are no such things.
They're silly.
It'll be huge if it's true.
They just don't understand science.
By the way...
did you bring it?
I have it right here.
(Reading text books)
It was just the horse.
Geez.
Look at this.
Wow!
Isn't it crazy?
Wow.
Good thing you didn't get caught.
I was scared they'd catch me at the airport security check.
-I felt like a smuggler on a TV show. -I'm impressed.
Does looking at these give you the feeling?
It does!
Right?
-My private part gets big. -So does mine.
-It's like that when I get up in the morning. -Mine, too!
You too?
-Does it shrink when you pee? -It does!
What could it mean?
I asked Grandpa about it.
And?
-He said it's because it's spring. -What?
-It's the same as the butterbur buds getting bigger. -Is my thing a butterbur stalk?
-Don't look! -Ouch.
Hey, you know the Moris' new house?
-The one who got married last year? -Right.
What about it?
I was passing by there and...
And?
-Maybe not. -Tell me! Or I'll beat you.
I suddenly got big.
Why?
Because I heard a strange voice from inside.
Like what?
Like crying and laughing at the same time.
-Who? -The wife.
-You got big because of the voice? -Yeah.
-That's ridiculous! -I thought so too!
But I'm sure it was that noise.
It's cold.
Want to try tonight?
Wanna go listen to the voice?
What time?
I say... around 8:30.
8:30? That's late...
It's impossible, huh.
Wait! Let me think of an excuse.
Study the stars?
Yes. The constellations.
Make sure you study them well.
The stars can tell you what direction you're going.
I'll go with you.
Um... I prefer to go with Shokichi alone.
-I'll go, too. -You can't!
-Why not? -'Cause we gotta walk far--
Hey!
-Coming! -Wait!
I'm coming too!
Ouch!
Hurry! What are you doing!
That's not fair! Wait for me!
Hurry! Run!
I'm a fast runner!
Wait!
Wait for me, bastard!
Hotaru?
We're studying stars, so we don't want you to--
What's that, Jun?
It moved.
Now, it stopped!
-It changed color! -That's it! That's it, Jun!
It moved again!
It's a UFO!
Look!
-It landed! -I saw that!
Where?
Near the hiking trail!
Let's go!
It's dangerous! Let's get someone!
We don't have time!
Wait for me!
Dear Keiko,
we saw it clearly.
I know it sounds unbelievable,
but it was a glowing orange saucer.
And it was in the air right in front of us.
As if...
it was talking to somebody,
it turned all kinds of colors...
very softly.
I have no idea... how long it was.
It felt a long time...
and a really short amount of time, too.
After a while,
the saucer suddenly lifted up,
and took off towards Furano hill.
Was that for real?
It was a UFO.
I told you.
It was a UFO.
What was a UFO doing here?
There might be an alien--
Shh!
Something's coming.
Hide!
-Hurry! -Ouch!
(Praying)
(Singing Suizenji Kyoko's 365 Steps March)
It's Miss Ryoko.
Idiot! It's an alien that looks like Miss Ryoko.
But she was singing.
Yeah, 365 Steps March.
Why would an alien be singing that?
But she was.
It was Miss Ryoko.
Why would Miss Ryoko be here this late and all alone?
I wonder...
if Miss Ryoko and the aliens are friends.
Hey. This is bad.
We'd better not tell anyone what we saw.
-What if the aliens find out? -Hey!
I just heard a sound.
Where?
We made a promise to keep that night a secret.
But,
we really did see it.
Subtitled by Chuks Edited by Phoenix