We're studying stars, so we don't want you to--
Jun.
What's that?
Something unbelievable happened.
Shokichi, Hotaru and I...
saw a UFO in a forest.
And even more amazing is that...
we saw Miss Ryoko walk out of the forest we saw the UFO in.
Miss Ryoko didn't see us and...
kept singing and walking along.
We thought she might've been an alien that made itself look like her,
so we decided to keep what we saw a secret.
Kita no kuni kara
Episode 15
-I'm done. -I'm done too.
Did you eat enough?
-Hey. -See you later!
Did you?
They are early today.
Hey!
-You didn't tell? -No, don't worry.
-I couldn't sleep. -It wasn't Miss Ryoko.
-An alien? -Maybe.
-How will she act today? -Will she be at school? -Let's just be careful.
Good morning.
Miss Ryoko isn't here today,
so I came from the main school.
I'm Mr. Tateishi. Do you remember me?
-Yes.
I'll be teaching class today.
Who is the monitor today?
Yes.
Stand up.
Bow.
Sit.
All right then--
-Teacher! -Yeah?
Why isn't Miss Ryoko here?
She had to go to Asahikawa suddenly.
-Did she really go to Asahikawa? -Why would she lie about it?
I have an announcement to make before class.
I'm sorry this is sudden, but this coming Monday,
we will have a parent visitation day.
After that, the principal has something important to say.
Make sure your parents come on that day.
-It's odd. -Yeah.
So strange.
Miss Ryoko must've disappeared.
-That's why the visitation will be held? -I'm sure of it.
She may not be in this world anymore.
Is she dead?
She may be killed...
-Or a UFO took her. -What about a UFO?
That's dangerous!
What about a UFO?
We just saw a UFO. That's all!
UFO?
A flying saucer?
-Yeah. -You saw it?
I think so.
How did it fly?
It stopped suddenly and glowed with different colored lights.
-In a zigzag pattern? -Right! It did!
It was a flying saucer.
No such thing in this world.
It's been seen in Hakodate or somewhere...
-Goro!
Yes.
-Stop by the house later. -Why?
-Tell you later. -Okay.
Hey. He says he saw a flying saucer.
What's this?
It came this morning. One for us and one for your house.
What is it?
Open it. It's about Miss Ryoko.
5th grader jumps off and kills himself
His teacher's reproof drives him to suicide
Did you see that?
When was this?
It says 1979. Two years ago.
Death was protest against violent teacher
Fifth grader, Atsushi's will
We won't waste your death, Atsushi!
Atsushi's family sues teacher?
Who do you think sent it?
-What's the postmark? -Tokyo.
Think the family sent it?
They found out that Miss Ryoko's here?
And sent it to all the parents of the students, too.
Why after all this time?
It's been 2 years.
To harass her?
Did you know?
About this incident? No, I didn't.
I knew.
-How? -Who told you?
Miss Ryoko.
She told you herself?
What's the motive for doing this?
This was probably sent to everyone involved with the school, too.
Miss Ryoko is a wonderful teacher.
No sender name or address? That's mean and cowardly.
Yeah.
You're right.
Some folks can be really rotten.
This is bad.
-What should we do? -What do you mean?
-When Miss Ryoko comes back? -We might catch it.
Catch what?
The alien.
It's not a disease.
You never know. If they touch you like this...
No!
You'll catch it. You'll catch it.
-You'll catch it. -Hey!
What?
I told you yesterday. That's Mori's new wife.
Remember?
Oh! That's her...?
She's who I heard that night in front of their house.
My heart suddenly started to pound.
It was because her legs were so white.
It made my heart pound.
I don't know why.
I knew I shouldn't be looking,
but I couldn't help myself.
-Dad!
Hey!
I'm going to Furano! Want to go with me?
Even on the way into town,
the legs of Mr. Mori's wife kept flashing in my mind.
I kept telling myself I shouldn't be thinking about it.
But it only made it worse.
I thought I'd forget once we got to town.
But when we did,
my symptoms started taking different forms.
I kept noticing the breasts on every woman we saw.
Once I started, I couldn't stop.
I kept looking at them.
Why?
Why is that?
What's wrong with me?
I can't take it anymore.
Mr. Kuroita!
Hello!
Hi!
Nice to see you.
Same here.
I was going to stop by your place later.
Why?
-Didn't you get a strange letter? -Strange letter?
About Miss Ryoko.
I did.
Mr. Kasamatsu called me about it a little while ago.
He said the parents should talk about it,
and suggested a gathering at 7:00 in the town hall.
Can you come?
All right.
Good. The Nakahatas are coming, too.
See you then.
Later.
-Bye. -Bye.
What's wrong, Jun?
Hurry up!
Don't stand there, please.
Is it true?
It's true that the incident happened.
Since it was in the papers.
Do you think they really did sue her?
There's a question mark so we don't know if they did.
Rumor is the board of education had her to Asahikawa because of this today.
Who told you that?
Um...
-Anyway, this is a problem! -It was a while ago.
-The problem is she hid it! -She didn't try to--
We entrust our children to her!
She's unfit to be a teacher!
I can't forgive that she didn't tell us!
So what do you want to do?
We'll interrogate her!
-Interrogate her? -That's not good!
What's wrong?
-It doesn't matter if-- -But if this story is true--
-It is true, but-- -She should apologize!
What for?
She hid it!
Still...
It'll just hurt her.
Even if she did hit him, what kind of kid would commit suicide just to spite her?
-I think it's the main school's fault. -Why?
They sent the criminal as a teacher.
Criminal?
-They should have sent her somewhere else! -That's not right!
That old man Kasamatsu.
How terrible. Drinking all that sake.
-He's been in a bad mood lately. -Why?
He lost in court about that land...
and I heard he's finally getting rid of that horse, too.
Oh well, you don't have to worry about that anymore.
The main school's sympathetic to you.
5th grader jumps off and kills himself
It's just...
Since we're talking. I'll tell you.
I think you should be a little careful.
Well, I mean...
your... how should I put it...
your attitude to the children.
It's such a small school,
I know it's natural to teach using a one-to-one method, but...
even that's getting criticism lately.
Although, that's not an issue here,
in the town,
teachers have even been told to cut down on baseball games when school is out.
I guess the board has a lot to deal with.
Miss Ryoko's inside.
Let's observe her.
Is there something different about her?
I can't tell.
-Look at her pinkie. -Why?
They say aliens don't have a pinkie.
-She has it. -Then look at something else.
There might be something strange.
Jun! Are you looking at her?
I was.
Where I was looking at was...
her chest.
That's what I was looking at.
I'm sorry, Miss Ryoko.
I've never thought about...
anything like this before.
But for some reason, all I could look at was Miss Ryoko's chest.
I'm sorry, Miss Ryoko.
I think...
I'm definitely ill.
-What's wrong? -Hey.
-What? -Right.
It's ...well...
I want you to teach me something.
What?
Um...
You know...
when Sota...
and the other boys...
When they start...
about girls...
Well, I mean...
When they become interested in...
Never mind!
It's nothing! Really!
Here.
Thanks.
-Are you free tonight? -Yeah.
I need to talk to you.
Actually, I need to talk to you.
Don't tell anyone.
Sure.
I'll meet you at 7:30 at the "Kumagera." Too early?
No, that's fine.
Keep it a secret!
Who left this here!
You're such a slob!
Oh, Sota!
Will you do this for me later?
What's wrong?
Later.
I really don't know what to do.
What's wrong?
When was that?
What?
-When did Yukiko leave? -10 days ago.
-That's when it started. -What started?
Sota won't talk to us at all.
-Really? -Yeah.
-Why not? -He thinks...
I chased Yukiko back to Tokyo.
That's not true!
-That's because Reiko got sick. -My wife thinks so too.
So she won't talk to me either.
You're the first person I've talked to in 10 days.
Really.
Can you believe this?
She's the one that kept bugging me about talking to Yukiko
about leaving the dairy and now she treats me like this.
She says, "What'll happen if Sota leaves?"
She's trying to butter up Sota and won't talk to me!
-They haven't been talking for 10 days. -That long?
So I haven't talked to anybody!
So what did you want to talk about?
Nah,
it's not that important but...
It's about Jun.
He has one of those dirty magazines...
Full of pictures of naked women and he was hiding it.
I'm quite shocked... I don't know what to do.
How old is he?
Jun?
He's in the 5th grade. He's 11.
He's a lot later than you, right?
How old were you? Huh?
When you peeked in on that young bride taking a bath?
That was... Never mind that story.
Forget about it.
But you have a problem.
Yeah.
So what does Sota do at nights?
Goes to the boxing gym.
Doesn't come home 'til late at night.
-I see. -Yeah.
So, um...
Would you just explain to him why Yukiko had to leave, Goro?
So that's why.
Yukiko had to leave suddenly because of Reiko.
-Your dad had nothing to do-- -Don't tell me anymore.
I'm not going to trust adults anymore.
Sota. This is me you're talking to.
You're an adult, too.
What do you mean?
That I'm in on this, too?
I heard enough. Let's not talk about it anymore.
I'm going to fight in Sapporo in August.
In a match?
It's only be the 4th bout, though.
So you're finally boxing in a match? Congratulations.
Since it's all I can do.
What?
To get people to give me some respect.
If I become famous,
I'm sure women won't treat me as rudely as they have.
Who're you talking about?
You mean, Yukiko?
That she left for Tokyo without telling you?
I told you, she left because--
Most girls would at least call.
She quit the dairy without telling me, too.
I don't understand what girls nowadays are thinking.
Hold it!
Are you in a position to talk that big?
How did you act with Tsurara?
You think that wasn't rude? Huh?
I can't say anything to that.
When I think about her...
tears come to my eyes.
But...
I...
I'm going to box.
Jun?
Mm?
Um...
You know... flowers have male and female parts?
Yes.
With humans, I'm the male.
Yes.
So... who's the female?
Mom.
Mom? That's right. Mom is the female.
And when they get together they bear fruit.
Get together?
I mean...
I'm not good with words...
The pollen from both combine and...
fruit is a child.
In our case, it was you two.
So what about it?
That's all.
Shall we go to bed?
The next morning was parent visitation day.
It's your turn, Hotaru.
There are only 5 students...
so not many parents came.
And Shokichi's Grandpa didn't come.
My dad picks our dinner.
The carrot he picked the other day was already gone bad,
Your grandpa's not coming?
and my brother and I got sick.
But he didn't get sick.
So he felt down.
But feeling down is better than being sick.
He sold the horse this morning. He's been drinking all day.
I love my strong dad.
Thank you.
Now...
Sumie, what did you think of her essay?
-It was funny. -It was.
Tell me what part you found funny.
Jun and Hotaru got sick, but the father didn't.
I agree. How about you, Jun?
I think picking up carrots is a stingy thing to do.
You think so?
Shokichi?
He was trying not to spend money.
You guys are awfully quiet today.
He's drunk.
Are you guys nervous?
This is the end of the class today.
Mr. Takeishi is here from the main school today to make an important announcement.
Listen carefully.
And parents too.
Take it over from here, Mr. Takeishi.
I'm Tateishi from the main school.
Please have a seat.
The principal was to have come today, but...
he had matters to tend to and could not come.
So I came instead.
The announcement is about your school here.
I'm sure you already know...
but this school will be closed in September.
It was originally scheduled to close in July, but...
due to some circumstances, it'll be Septem--
Hold on!
I have something else I want to hear about!
What is it?
I want to ask Miss Ryoko...
All the parents got...
this letter a few days ago.
It's good you're here, too,
-because I want you to read it. -Kasamatsu!
Stop it.
What is it?
What a jerk.
We can discuss this at the parent-teacher meeting after this.
No. I want an answer right now.
I want Miss Ryoko to give me an answer!
Pops, the kids are here.
That's good.
I want an answer in front of the kids!
I'm sorry. He's a little drunk.
Do you admit what's written here is true?
Did you really kill a student?
Don't say it like that!
I understand!
I'll tell you.
That's good.
Tell us and don't hide anything.
-I won't. -Mr. Kasamatsu. -It's all right.
It's just as it's written there.
-I want to hear the details! -Okay.
Two years ago,
I was in charge of a class of 5th graders in the Setagaya ward of Tokyo.
I was still a rookie back then.
I had a boy they called exceptional in my class.
He definitely was smart and as soon as school was out he'd be off to cram school.
Every day, he hardly had any time to play.
He was always the top in the class and popular, too.
He was always the class representative.
But he had a problem.
He'd make all the others in the class his allies and...
make fun of the children that didn't do well in class.
I scolded him about that several times.
But my scolding apparently...
damaged his pride a great deal.
He started to rebel against me.
He'd find every little error I made...
and make fun of me, egging on the other students.
He totally ignored and violated the most basic rules between a teacher and students.
I called in his parents and cautioned them about it but...
I guess my words weren't getting through...
because I couldn't get his mother to understand.
So one day...
I hit him during class in front of all the students.
That night, he...
jumped off the roof of the building complex he lived in and... died.
leaving a suicide note complaining about me.
He wrote--
That's enough! This has...
nothing to do with us!
Kasamatsu, get out!
Go!
Wait, Kuroita!
Wai--
Let's talk it over.
All right.
The parent meeting finished in shambles.
Dad and the other parents talked about something...
in the teacher's room after that.
Poor Miss Ryoko.
That's right. I felt sorry for Miss Ryoko.
But for a different reason,
I felt sorry for Shokichi, too.
I peeked at Shokichi during the ruckus...
and saw that his eyes were full of tears.
I'll bet...
it was hard for Shokichi.
It rained that night.
Even after he got back from school,
Dad didn't say anything.
It was after we'd eaten dinner.
I think it was almost 9:00.
(Radio: Live broadcast of baseball game)
Pops...
What's wrong?
Sit down.
You came by bicycle?
I don't have the horse anymore.
I sold it this morning.
I see.
You finally sold it.
It's probably been slaughtered by now.
Have some tea. I won't give you any sake.
Goro.
I think... she knew.
Who?
The horse.
They said they'd come to get her early this morning...
so I fed her a feast last night.
I think that's when... she knew.
When they came to get her this morning,
she suddenly refused to move.
Then she put...
her head on my shoulder...
and...
she rubbed me over and over.
When I looked at her,
she was crying tears.
Huge drops...
of tears.
She lived with me...
for 18 years.
I made her suffer and when I didn't need her anymore...
She was like a... wife to me.
Then, she suddenly...
started to walk again on her own and...
stepped right up...
onto the bed of the truck.
She's the only one that suffered through it all with me.
What did she want to say to me?
She trusted me.
What did she want to say?
Pops...
Are you all right?
Shall I drive you home?
Pops.
I heard it rained until dawn.
How many?
It's 83... 4...
Walk faster!
Stop it!
Come on, watch me peeing!
Stop!
10 more.
Why?!
Then rock, paper, scissors!
Again?
Walk!
No!
It hurts!
Ouch.
Hurry!
It hit my eye.
You jerk!
Stop it!
It's broken now!
Ouch!
Who is it?
It's Kasamatsu. He must've fallen off the bridge.
Is he breathing?
He's dead.
Dad...
Dad!
Shokichi's grandpa...
Subtitled by Chuks Edited by Phoenix