I don't remember much about that morning.
For some reason, I got up earlier than usual.
It was a gorgeous fall day and I could see sunlight...
streaming in from a hole in the wall.
Dad and Aunty Yukiko were already awake.
Aunty was fixing lunch boxes...
but neither of them said a word.
Hotaru asked what was wrong...
and Dad smiled a bit...
and said that Mom died suddenly.
I laughed and told him he must be joking.
But when I looked at Aunty,
her eyes were full with tears.
Hotaru and I stopped talking then.
That's all I can remember.
That afternoon Hotaru, Aunty and I jumped on a train...
and headed for Chitose Airport.
Kita no kuni kara
Episode 23
It was 9:13 last night. Yes.
No, at the hospital.
Yes.
Did you find one?
Which one?
This one?
How many people should we expect?
-I don't know. -How about the beauty salon?
I asked for some help.
-Here's the picture. -Thank you.
Is it all right?
Yes. This is fine.
How about her husband's relatives?
-Actually... -She was single.
Oh she was.
-She'd just gotten divorced. -I see.
Then who is he...?
She was going to marry him soon.
Any other family?
Yes, her children and younger sister.
Will her children be attending?
Of course, and her younger sister, Yukiko.
Where is she?
She stepped out a bit to see a friend.
Your sister called me 3 nights ago.
She said she wasn't feeling well again.
She sounded like she was in pain.
I called my husband and told him to have her come into the hospital immediately.
It was almost midnight when...
he called me and said they hadn't come in yet.
I called her apartment but no one answered.
I got a call about noon the next day...
that she'd checked into the hospital she was at before.
I sent my husband to talk to her,
but he came home really disgusted.
He said they were still telling her it was nerves.
He said...
they did an unbelievable thing when the pain started.
They put a plastic bag to her mouth and made her breathe.
She said the pain got better a bit whenever they did that.
What did the hospital say was the cause of death?
I don't know.
But,
my husband told me...
you can actually die from pain.
He said you should try to find out what the cause was.
By evening, the picture was ready.
Mom smiled faintly from inside a frame...
with black ribbon draped over it.
Mom's cousins, Aunty Hiroko, Aunty Kiyoko,
Uncle Maeda,
and everyone from the salon...
But Mr. Yoshino must've really been in shock.
All he did was sit by the coffin.
Why don't you two sit by Mom?
But he's sitting there.
Don't be silly! You're the main ones!
Mr. Yoshino was in a daze...
but his best friend, Mr. Koyama worked hard enough for both of them.
But...
Keiko.
I felt sad to see...
people working so energetically...
when someone just died.
Especially,
when that person was my mom.
Dad?
Sit down.
Good.
Guys,
say good-bye to Mom.
I wonder what happened to Dad?
He said he'd come right away.
But he's not here yet.
Say good-bye to Mom.
Not so loud!
This isn't right!
What isn't right?
You just saw the death certificate.
The hospital issued it.
I can't accept it.
Then, what should we do, Yukiko?
I want a proper facility to do an autopsy.
Please allow it.
But Yukiko,
an autopsy isn't that easy to--
My sister put her faith in that hospital.
The hospital Mr. Yoshino's superior recommended to her.
That's why she stayed to the end.
No.
She thought more about Mr. Yoshino's situation.
That's why she never switched hospitals. Even at the end.
And they kept telling her it was nerves.
Can a person die from nerves?
I've never heard of anything so ridiculous!
I think Yukiko is right.
It's basically all my fault.
Yukiko is right.
Oh well.
Yukiko,
I understand how you feel.
But it's too late now.
Why don't you try to accept Reiko's desire to make Mr. Yoshino look good?
And leave it alone at that?
I understand.
Period of mourning
It was past 11:00 the next night...
when everyone had gone home.
The house was suddenly so silent.
I think Aunty Yukiko really wanted Mr. Yoshino to go home.
But he didn't say a word and didn't move either.
I felt...
more sincerity from him than from Dad...
who hadn't even come yet.
Aunty.
What's wrong?
Why hasn't Dad come?
Did Uncle Seikichi say anything?
-He said he'll probably get here tomorrow morning. -He's late!
Does Dad...
still not want to see her...
even after she's dead?
That's not true.
Dad has all those busy people helping him...
with the log cabin, right?
So he can't do whatever he wants.
But Mr. Yoshino must be busy at work, too, right?
He's been here all this time.
I really thought he would've come flying down here...
with me and Hotaru.
Because...
he won't ever be able to see her again.
Or does Dad think...
it won't do any good to see...
a person that's dead and gone?
If he does....
I may start feeling like I used to... towards Dad...
Good night.
You must be tired.
I'm fine.
I asked him to keep watch.
I'd like to grab a bite.
Would you come out with me?
I'm sorry for what happened.
It was so sudden.
It was.
Didn't she come to Furano?
Yes. It was... during lavender season.
I see.
Um,
what flight did you arrive on?
The last flight. I just made it.
How about my brother...
-Did you see my brother? -Yeah.
When did he say he was leaving?
Right away. So I thought he'd already be here.
Sota sent his deepest sympathies.
He insisted on coming.
He felt so badly for you his eyes were full of tears when I left the house.
Haven't you seen him since Sapporo?
No.
I see.
He's changed since then.
I don't know what happened but...
he seems to have given up on boxing...
and decided to spend his life up there.
You don't mind me talking about things that have nothing to do with your sister?
It'll take my mind off things.
Another sake?
Okay.
Remember that time...
I said some rude things to you?
About staying away from Sota?
That's all right. I understand completely.
I regretted what I said quite a bit.
We've gotten into the habit of being suspicious of girls from Tokyo.
A habit of many years.
My oldest son lives in Itabashi here.
He was such a hot head and he fought all the time.
But he was so good at handling the cows.
He came here to earn extra money and fell in love with a Tokyo girl.
There you go.
She worked at an eatery next to the train station.
He brought her home.
She was a good girl. My wife and I really liked her.
She didn't complain and worked really hard.
We had an old-fashioned gramophone,
and they'd listen to music late into the night a lot.
All we had was military music.
So they managed to snitch classical music from somewhere and listen to it so much...
they practically wore the record down.
They said cows gave more milk if you made them listen to classical music.
We were convinced they were going to take over the dairy.
They looked so happy working together.
One morning when we got up, their room was empty.
All they left was a single letter.
He wrote that she couldn't take it, so they were going to Tokyo.
We were in a daze.
That's when you use the word "daze."
Even after they left,
we made the cows listen to classical music for quite a while.
Isn't my story really silly?
I wonder why I started it?
With your sister dying and all.
Did your sister like oden stew?
Yes.
May we have some oden in a plate?
Oh, make it 2 plates.
One for the deceased and...
one for someone still alive.
When I got up the next morning,
it was past 8:00.
The house was still silent.
I just got in and I was hungry.
Want some? There's more in the cupboard.
About 10:00 that morning, everyone started to gather at the apartment.
Because Mom's funeral was at 2:00 that afternoon.
Mr. Yoshino had disappeared somewhere.
That was fine but it was Dad that really bothered me.
He'd just taken one look at Mom's face that morning,
and gone into the kitchen and stayed there ever since.
It may've been because when he'd arrived,
Mr. Yoshino had been there.
But...
Dad.
Cut it out, Dad.
You came late, so it's too late to show everyone how hard you're working.
It looks even worse.
Why didn't you come sooner?
I wanted you to come sooner.
Jun! He's coming over here!
Don't look.
Hey.
I'm gonna go ride on a swing.
This is tough.
It is.
Jun,
do you have a girlfriend?
I don't know.
Haven't you ever fallen in love with a woman?
I don't know.
You may be too young.
Dunno.
You will soon.
Many times.
You'll fall in love with lots of women.
You're just beginning.
But this is the end for me.
It's all over for me.
Were those your children the day before yesterday?
Yes, they were.
Do you...
have a wife?
I did.
She died 3 years ago.
Everyone I fall in love with dies.
How long have you worn them?
Those shoes.
Since last October.
I wear them every day, so they're falling apart.
Come with me.
Why?
Just come.
Get your sister.
Hotaru!
Where're we going?
Dunno.
I don't want to go.
-But he said to come. -I'm going back to the apartment.
You can't do that!
Imperial Shoe Shop
What's your size?
It's all right.
No, it's not. What size?
Um... It's 21.5.
Okay. What about you?
I don't want any.
Listen. We're going to your mother's funeral.
Your mother will be sad to see you in such dirty shoes.
These are nice.
Expensive!
Kids shouldn't worry about prices.
These should be good. Try them on.
You try them on, too.
Well?
Good.
-Do they fit? -Perfectly.
How about you?
Then, wear them out.
Will you take these with you?
-No. -I'll dispose of them.
-No... -Want them?
No.
How much?
-5600 yen. -Here.
Period of mourning
The funeral started at 2:00.
Jun.
Do you think that shop still has our old shoes?
My heart skipped a beat.
Hotaru had been thinking...
the same thing I'd been thinking.
My heart ached.
Dad had bought us those shoes last year.
When we went shopping in Furano...
Dad had picked them and bought them for us.
He was more concerned about price...
than design.
He ended up buying us the cheapest pair and...
laughed saying they were the best.
Except for the time we had to wear snowboots,
those old shoes had spent every day with us.
On rainy days, windy days...
cold days, and...
even really muddy days after the snows melted.
Going to school or working in the fields...
they'd covered and protected our feet.
So they were worn down.
We washed them so many times.
When the stitching gave out, Dad would sew them for us.
We'd lived in them a whole year.
But I said...
it was all right to throw them away.
Without even asking Dad,
I said it was okay to throw them out.
Mom was cremated that night.
Mom's eyes...
her gentle eyebrows...
her mouth... her ears...
and her thin fingers...
We'll never see them again.
We had dinner together after we got back from the crematorium.
After that, everyone went home.
Mr. Seikichi went to his son's house.
You must be tired, Yukiko.
Only these 3 adults were left.
I guess it's over now.
Will the children be all right?
They'll be fine.
Those two sure are tough.
They never cried a single tear.
How long can you stay, Goro?
I'm leaving first thing tomorrow.
Tomorrow?
Yes.
That's tough.
You'll only have stayed a day.
Yukiko.
What should I do tonight?
Tell me. What can I do?
There's nothing really.
Just stay here for her.
That's my intention.
I'll sleep here tonight.
-Going home tomorrow morning? -Yeah.
Can't you stay a little longer?
I'm making them all wait for me.
-But... -Goro.
Will you...
stay just a little longer?
I can't right now.
I'm making them all take time off to help me.
And it's harvest time, too.
But...
this is special.
I'd like you to stay a little longer with Jun and Hotaru.
-Sis would want it that way, too. -Goro.
I'd like to ask you too.
You were legally divorced...
so no one can force you, though.
But,
she was their mother.
Could you stay at least another night?
I think you could have that much compassion.
I'm sure...
a lot happened between you two,
but Reiko is gone from this world now.
Coming in this morning and leaving tomorrow is a bit too cold, don't you think?
I'm sorry. But...
I can't.
I'm sorry.
What're you drawing?
Can't tell at all.
Do you remember, Dad?
What?
That scary night.
What scary night?
The night you came home early...
and we went to the salon to surprise Mom.
You still remember that?
I was just trying to.
Why are you...
Because I didn't like it.
Why are you trying to remember something bad?
Because all I can remember are things that were good.
Only the good things.
And it's sad when I do.
Hotaru.
Mom is dead now.
You can forgive...
all the things you didn't like.
Forget what's happened in the past.
What about you, Dad?
Me?
I...
forgave her a long time ago.
In fact,
I wanted her to forgive me.
That night,
when I got up to go to the bathroom,
I heard a strange sound from the living room.
It was Dad.
He was...
crying all alone.
Dad did leave early...
the next morning.
People came to pay their respect...
and it was pretty busy all day.
That evening,
Mr. Seikichi came again.
He just stayed in the kitchen all day!
Reiko always used to be embarrassed and say he was just like a cockroach.
-Here's your tea. -Thank you.
But he only stayed a day?
That was cold.
Even if they were legally divorced.
And what about Mr. Yoshino?
Right.
When you think about it, he had no obligation at all.
But he even brought his friend and stayed up all night.
It's a matter of sincerity.
If he'd thought about the children, he'd have come early with them.
But instead, he comes late and leaves the next morning.
I guess he really must've hated her.
I don't think so.
I don't know all the details.
But,
I think you're wrong.
No, we were just...
Goro wanted to come here early.
He wanted to fly with Jun, Hotaru and Yukiko.
The reason why he couldn't....
although this is embarrassing...
is because of money.
He just didn't have the money.
That night...
he came to my house to borrow money.
I'm embarrassed to say, we didn't have the money, either.
So we woke all the farming families we know well...
and finally managed to raise enough for 2 children...
and 1 adult...
to get to Chitose airport...
and fly here.
The next day, his friend, Nakahata...
heard that and was shocked. He rushed over to the bank.
But Goro wouldn't take the money.
So,
he came by train.
He took an all-night train.
Do you know the difference between...
the cost of an airplane and a train?
It's only a little over 10,000 yen.
But just think about...
how hard we have to work for that 10,000 yen.
It takes days of grubbing in the dirt.
Is my story odd?
And...
I can also say this.
We're fatalistic about heaven's whims.
Because we've gotten used to the inevitability of natural disasters.
Hokkaido was a mess after the flooding this year.
Everything was destroyed but when the reporters came racing up...
to stick a mike in folks' faces, they laughed.
We laughed and said, "It's all over."
We just gave up and accepted what God has done.
It has become a habit...
with us.
Hey.
Do you think that shoe store still has our shoes?
Let's go look.
Jun!
What're you two doing?
We're looking for shoes.
Whose?
Ours.
What do you mean?
A man bought us new shoes yesterday...
and gave them our old shoes to throw away.
But we can still wear them.
This man told you to throw them away?
He didn't know the circumstances and...
Who's this man?
The man our mom was supposed to marry.
Where's your mom?
She died 4 days ago.
Are they in here?
I'm not sure...
There's another one. I'll go look in that one.
Go on and look! Go on!
All of a sudden...
tears came welling up.
Dear Keiko...
I don't know why.
That night, I had a dream.
I saw the shoes we never did find,
floating quickly down a river.
We chased them as fast as we could.
The shoes were wet and in tatters...
but,
they were the shoes that Dad had bought us.
Subtitled by Chuks Edited by Phoenix