A Yukisada Isao Film
It's getting closer
What is?
The typhoon
Typhoon?
Typhoon #29
Sweetie
Will we make it?
We'll make it
I promise I'll take you there
- Saku! - Sorry
Morning
Good morning
Another all-nighter?
You're part-time, right?
Do full-timers work Saturdays, too?
Listen,
Sakutaro is an odd name, no?
Dad was a fan of the poet, Hagiwara Sakutaro
He wrote Chiekosho?
No, not that
What, then?
What was it...
You don't even know
Wow, some ugly weather
The typhoon's getting close
Typhoon #29 is currently
at sea, southwest of Kagoshima,
moving north slowly, at about 20 kilometers per hour
We aren't seeing any rain yet,
but thick storm clouds are moving in from the west,
promising a torrent to come...
Don't you have a girlfriend?
I do
So, go home, then
What?
The move
I said, I'm fine
You're the one I'm worried about
It's lonely living alone in the city
Listen, Dad, don't you have anyone special?
Haven't you been lonely since I left?
I'm not making fun of you, I'm worried
It's not like I'm leaving the country
I'll come back and visit
I still had this
Excuse me, do you have any Walkmen?
If you wanted MD players,
they're really compact now
These here all take CDs...
Excuse me,
do you have a Walkman for playing cassette tapes?
Cassettes?
October 28th...
I don't know why...
I can't get to sleep
I'm so afraid of tomorrow that I can't fall asleep
I think...
I'm going to die soon
CRYING OUT LOVE, IN THE CENTER OF THE WORLD
I'm going away for a while Don't worry about me - Ritsuko
...the super typhoon, #29, which struck Kagoshima,
has maintained its ferocious strength,
traveling north at approximately 15 kilometers per hour
The atmospheric pressure at the center is 950hPa,
the maximum wind speed near the center is 40 meters,
and within the parameters 110 kilometers southeast and...
Welcome
Oh, it's you
Helluva welcome
I'm starving, Ryu
Eat at home You've got a cute fiancée
Whatever
Shit
I never should've introduced you to Ritsuko
You're marrying her Better treat her right
What?
Ritsuko is gone
Gone?
She left a note, "I'm going away for a while"
A note? That's bad, man
You write a note if you're going to elope, man,
or for a double suicide
Double suicide? Suicide?
No way
You call her?
No
Call her
Hurry up and call, her life's at stake
Oh, all right
Hurry
...this afternoon, many Kyushu-bound flights have been canceled,
stranding more than 50, 000 passengers
If Typhoon #29 continues its northerly course,
it should hit Shikoku tomorrow afternoon...
Hey, Saku
That's...
Ritsuko, isn't it?
Why'd you hang up?
But...
...we can anticipate many more canceled flights,
and disruption of travel plans That's all...
That's all, from Takamatsu Airport
What's Ritsuko doing in Takamatsu?
Hey
Hey, Saku!
1986
June 24, 1986
Mayor, Onuki Shozaburo...
Saku! Over here
You're late
Sorry
Next, an eulogy from a Kobane High School student, who she taught
Hirose Aki, 11th grade
Yes
To Principal Kunimura,
I offer my heartfelt condolences on your passing,
and would like to take this opportunity to thank you for teaching me
Teacher,
I wish I had no need to say these things
I really feel great sorrow, at the sudden news of your death,
and I can hardly believe that I have to stand here
and speak these words,
to a photograph
I think of what you always said,
"Beginnings are just continuations of other things,"
about the real meaning of those words
Our memories of you...
Hirose is amazing
The other girls were just crying their eyes out
She's like totally mature or something
Sakutaro!
Uncle Shige, you knew our principal?
She was my first love
I wanted a memorial photograph of her,
but I couldn't even see her face
No way, this was our principal?
The war was over and we'd survived
But I was starting over from scratch,
lost my whole family, totally broke
So,
I worked like a dog to win her
I did everything but commit murder
Like what?
I can't tell you
So I got things together
But then...
But then what?
But then, she'd already married a man her parents had chosen
But that's...
Back then,
that's how it was done
Hey, Saku, there aren't any cute girls
I like,
like a girl who reads books on the train
Who's like...
What are you staring at, you lech
What's that?
Hey, hey, listen, listen! It's Tachi, the movie star!
- Tachi? - Tachi Hiroshi
It's a movie shoot, he's playing some cop
Where? Where?
Over there?
Can you call that girl over?
Hirose!
Come here!
Yes
It's just a pick-up shot
May we take your picture?
Do you mind?
I'll take your photo
Hey, Tachi is gone
Hey, isn't that Aki?
Hey, that's Aki
It's Aki, Aki! Why? Why?
What? Her debut?
Debut?
Very nice
Ouch
I caught a fool
Ouch, ouch, ouch...
I caught a fool
I knew you came to school on your motorbike
I've seen you riding it before
Are you going to rat on me?
Hey, what's this?
Here
What?
Hurry
Hurry up
Oh, well
Don't hold on so tight
Feel my breasts?
Listen, Saku
Please don't
Don't what?
Call me Saku
Everybody calls you that
Just the guys
Well, Nakagawa's a girl
She's not really like that, so it's okay for her, too
Why not me, too, then?
When you do it, I feel like you're teasing me
I'm not teasing
You're different from the other girls, Hirose
I'm different?
You're smart and you're a great athlete,
and you're popular...
You're going into show business, right?
You're like,
a little classier...
It's like you're here
- What? - Going home
Aren't you riding with me?
We live in opposite directions
Then why'd you ask for that ride?
That's a no-brainer
How else could I talk to you?
A score of 82, what a laugh
If I get serious, I can do a lot better...
Wait a second
What?
32,000 Yen, huh
Expensive
You win the same thing,
if they read your postcard on Midnight Wave
Midnight Wave?
A late night radio show
Hey, I'll race you!
What?
Let's both send postcards and see who gets the Walkman first
I'm home
Welcome home, Sakutaro
You're late, was it a girl, Sakutaro?
Shut up, ugly
Shut up!
Whether you're cramming, working or broken-hearted...
This is it
We're coming to you from FMKB
So, another round of Midnight Wave, all night long
Our first request comes from a listener by the pen name, Banana Boat
"SOMEDAY" by Sano Motoharu
"The passage year..."
"The passing year"
"The passing year is yet another traveling"
So even amnesiacs can laugh at memories
Hey, Saku!
Hirose san
We've tallied up votes and
Hirose Aki has been elected to play Juliet
I wonder how Juliet felt when she woke up
How it feels to have your lover die first
Ask Uncle Shige
Why?
Between you and me,
Uncle Shige, who runs the photo studio, his first love was our principal
No way
They were planning to marry,
but war came and prevented their union
But it was all in his mind, really
And he still loves her
Fifty years is half a century
I can't imagine dreaming of the same person for half a century
It's lovely
I'd like to hear Uncle Shige's story
Are you nervous?
With that face, you'll never get in anywhere
Brighten up
What kind of face should I make?
I don't know how to smile
OK, don't laugh
All right
Done
Thank you
Thanks again
I don't mind telling you...
But not for free
I still say this is nuts
You think?
We could get arrested
For what?
I think it's romantic and lovely
You think?
It'll be so much nicer with Uncle Shige,
than stuck in this desolate place
Isn't that it?
What's he going to do with her bones?
Carry them to his grave
Oh, right
Uncle Shige can't share her grave
Light up the inside
Oh, sorry
In a way, this is like
finding eternal love
But it's all over if you die
Shall we ask?
What?
When you die, does love die, too?
- Does love die, too? - Does love die, too?
Over here, here!
Someone's coming
Watch your step, watch your step
Listen,
I'm covered with bites
Sit down
This is the most beautiful place I know, so it's all for you
It's a grave
That's Johnny and Nakagawa
No way
So many mosquitoes
They're dating?
Who's there!
Run! Run!
Who's there!
Saku?
Saku! Hey
Hey, Saku, man
It's me, me
Johnny?
It's been so long, man
How you been, man?
So, you wound up taking over the temple?
Yeah, well
And what the hell are you doing here?
Oh, nothing
Not nothing...
Is that Hirose?
Yeah, well
Right
Hirose, huh
She was amazing, Hirose was
A great athlete,
super smart, good at anything
To someone like me, riddled with inferiority,
Hirose Family Grave
she was like a stab to the heart
She was so cool
About twice a day, no more than an hour
No more than an hour
Oh, really?
Hey
Sakutaro!
What, Sakutaro?
Sakutaro?
What are you doing back home?
What about your job?
Well...
You must be busy with the wedding coming up
Oh, this is perfect
I want you to see the kimono I'll be wearing
I can't outshine what Ritsuko is wearing, right?
I'll lay it out downstairs, so take a look, OK?
Found it
This is Midnight Wave, coming at you all night long
So, let's move on to our next postcard
Pen name, Fried Noodle Bread...
What!
I'm writing today about a tragedy that befell my classmate,
a quiet girl, with long hair
Our class decided to stage Romeo and Juliet for the cultural festival
She was going to play Juliet
But she never made it onstage
She had leukemia
All her long hair fell out,
and she grew unrecognizably gaunt
I won, right?
Hey? Were you asleep?
I know, you're jealous
Hey
Yes
The principal's bones...
Hey, Aki!
This is Aki
If I see you in person,
I'm afraid I'll either snub you or slap you,
so I decided to record this for you
Please listen to this on the Walkman you won with your terrible lie
Listen, Saku...
The reason I was so furious with you today,
was that I couldn't forgive the heartless lie you told
I don't think you should tell lies like that
Have you considered how sick people feel?
What will you do if I die?
Uncle Shige's love lasted this long,
because it was never fulfilled
When you're together, you see the other's faults
That may even push you apart
But I like to believe it only deepens love
Um, I'm sorry
I regret what I did
You've got piece of rice stuck, there
Oh! Disgusting!
It's your turn next
What?
Record whatever you have to say on tape
Then I'll answer you again
It's 8 o'clock at night
I just had dinner
We had croquettes
I like soy sauce with my croquettes
Do you prefer soy sauce or regular sauce with your croquettes?
What a ridiculous question
Aki...
I really don't know what to say,
so I'll just tell you how I feel
Being with you is fun,
and time passes so quickly when we're together
I know it's a little late, but...
Will you go out with me?
Don't laugh
Sure
July 14th
And that's how, I, Hirose Aki,
and Matsumoto Sakutaro, started going out together, but...
Because you still know so little about me,
I thought I'd introduce myself
Let's see, my birthday,
is October 28th, 1969
A Scorpio
1969,
November 3rd
Scorpio
My favorite color,
olive green, forest green
My favorite color?
Blue
My favorite food
Simmered tofu,
maple syrup,
white rice with seaweed dipped in soy sauce
Fried dumplings,
shaved ice with green tea syrup,
rice omelets
My favorite things
Cooking class,
iced wheat tea in summer,
white dresses,
smell of the beauty salon
Swimming class,
beetles in winter,
milk bottle tops,
the end of school bells,
My favorite movies
Melody,
Roman Holiday,
Ben Hur,
Fist of Fury
The Right Staff
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
I'm getting sleepy
I'm calling it a night
Good night
August 25th
Going to Yume Island with Oki and the others,
sounds OK to me
I hope it'll be the perfect end-of-summer- vacation trip
Say, Ryu
You sure this is really OK?
Sure, it's fine, leave it to me
Hey, what about your girlfriend?
She's off shopping right now,
she'll come later with my brother
Oh, I get it
If summer ends with you this way, you'll stay platonic forever
Is that what you want?
What are you doing?
What? Nothing
Oh, look, a flying fish!
They fly so high, beautiful!
So, we're here
After you
Wow, smells like summer
Oki!
Happy memories!
Saku!
Oh, I'm sorry, sorry
Wow, incredible
What a wreck
A total wreck
Your bag
Are we really staying here?
What?
Where else is there?
Saku!
What?
Hey, hey, Aki, look
At this
What?
Think it still works?
Amazing camera
What is this?
Cut it out
Get up there a second
OK, Cheese
No good, it's broken
There's film in there, but...
I feel like we've come very far,
from our usual world
Yeah
There are just tons of places we've never been
Ever since I was born,
I haven't been anywhere
No, really?
Don't make fun of me
I'm sorry, sorry
Actually, neither have I
This may be
the farthest I've ever gone
So today,
I feel a little guilty lying to my parents
You tried
Were you trying to kiss me?
I can't?
Listen, Saku
Kissing is what you do,
when you talk about your dreams
Dreams?
I mean dreams...
What are dreams?
I won't tell
No fair
If we develop this, we might find amazing pictures
It suddenly struck me, summer's almost over
Yeah
Who named you Aki, after the fall?
My father
Fall...
Reading in fall,
sports in fall,
fall appetites...
Saku
You think they named me after a season?
They didn't?
They called me Aki after,
Hakuaki
Hakuaki?
Aki
It's the geologic era,
when the most new plants and animals emerged and flourished
They named me Aki, hoping I would flourish, too,
the way dinosaurs and ferns did
Like a dinosaur?
That's right
Say, Saku
Why did they name you Sakutaro?
Because my Dad's a big Hagiwara Sakutaro fan
Hagiwara Sakutaro...
He wrote Chiekosho?
No, not that
What, then?
What was it?
You don't even know
I'm wide awake, now
You're late!
Did you do it?
I couldn't
What a fucking moron
After all the trouble I went to
Saku! Oki!
Aki!
Sakutaro/Aki
Hey, Saku!
Saku!
Aki!
Hey, open the door!
Are you OK?
I'm so sorry
Jerk!
You OK, Saku?
Aki
Aki!
Ever since the day we went to Yume Island,
my parents have been kind of upset
But don't worry about it
It's fun, isn't it? Like we're Romeo and Juliet
It's 8 o'clock in the morning
Usually, I'd have left the house long ago,
but my uniform's still hanging up,
and I haven't even had breakfast
Actually, I'm going into the hospital today
But please don't worry
My feelings for you are the same
I've left you proof at school
How'd you like a little treasure hunt?
Start outside the science lab,
at the end of the long, hushed hallway
Go inside it
Isn't there something exciting about a lab?
As if there's some secret
Beakers, flasks,
microscopes,
the smell of spirit lamps
Look at the desk at the back, by the window
Hirose Aki spent a drowsy lecture here - 1986
Saku
I love the gym
The high ceiling,
the light pouring through those big windows,
the waxed hardwood floor
You can hear shoes squeaking
Get up on the stage
Graduation Ceremony
"Farewell for today"
"Until we meet again"
I like this song
Stand in front of the piano
Close your eyes
Are they closed?
Ready?
You can't open them until I tell you to
Don't open them
Aki
Keep your eyes closed, OK?
I haven't played since I was little, so I'm not sure how well I'll do
I've never played for anyone
This is a very big deal
I love you
I love you, Saku
Say
Yeah?
How do you meet,
when you meet by chance?
Leukemia
The name of my disease
Leukemia
You got it because of that awful postcard I sent to the radio show
That's not true
But no!
It's my destiny
But I swear not to die
I need you to believe it, too
Believe it
Thank you
Oh, hello, it's me
Did you find Ritsuko?
Not... yet
I see
Listen, Ryu
Do you remember much from high school?
That's kind of sudden
I can't believe I've forgotten
So full of precious experiences
What's up with you?
I just...
I saw Aki
What are you talking about? Get it together
What'd you go there for?
You went to find Ritsuko, right?
Remembering Aki won't help
She's not a memory!
That day, 17 years ago,
after Typhoon #29 passed, Aki died alone
Aki didn't...
Aki didn't want to see me at the end
That's why,
being here, I feel like Aki's still alive
Have some coffee
Warm you right up
Thank you so much
You know them?
I owe so much to those kids
The girl died right after I took that picture
Said she was afraid of being forgotten
So I took their picture
I...
Stole it away
The promise they'd made...
I stole it away
They're ready
The film was pretty old, but the pictures were fine
Where is this?
Probably Australia
Ever been there?
Nope
Thank you
Hey there, Ritsuko, don't run
Aki, sister, the pictures are ready
Really! Thanks
Amazing, right?
Amazing
Amazing!
Ritsuko
Oh, Mommy
I'm sorry she's always pestering you
Oh, no, she's been doing my errands
Right?
Right
Another whole night long with Midnight Wave
Let's move on to the next postcard
It's from Kobane cho, pen name, Fried Noodle Bread
I wrote once before,
about a classmate who had leukemia
I'm sending this postcard today to give you the latest news
Would you believe, she's completely recovered
She's got all her strength back,
and flies around the track at double, no triple her former speed
She runs in the evening glow, after school is over,
just like the first time I saw her
And she says, with that slightly triumphant smile of hers
"I'm home..."
I'm so glad to hear this
So, here's a gift to your friend from me
Watanabe Misato's "Meeting You"
Romeo appears
What?
Weren't you asleep?
What's wrong?
I can't even get any sleep,
with you showing up at the crack of dawn
I'm sorry, sorry
Say
Who delivers your tapes?
Who knows
No fair. It bugs me
Say, how's school?
The culture festival's over
The play was horrific
Besides, you weren't there
Huh, I see
In here, you lose all sense of time
I feel like I'm being left behind
Don't talk like that
Once you get better, you'll catch right up
Sure
Look at these
Pictures from the undeveloped film on Yume Island
Look at what was there
Where is this?
Australia, they say
This is called Uluru
Uluru is a place,
that's sacred
among the Aborigines, Australian tribal people
They consider it holy
So sacred,
that even for me, it's the center of the world
The center of the world?
That's right
I'd like to go there
Let's go
Sure
Thanks a lot
You know, Saku, I realized something
At this rate, I'll never make it to Australia
The thing is... I don't have a passport
Neither do I
You take these balls and put them all in your left hand
You mash them together, with both hands...
Hey, Saku Don't scare me
What's all this?
I'm so bored, I decided to learn magic tricks
Show me
No
Cheapskate
Listen, you need a picture to get a passport
Can you come have your picture taken?
What?
Don't worry, Uncle Shige's place is close
Sure
Aki
Kawano
Here
You could see the trick
Hello
Dr. Sudo was looking for you
Oh, shoot
I forgot I had afternoon tests
Saku, can you wait?
You're not getting any better at that
I practice a lot, you know
Sorry I made you wait
Everything OK?
Yeah, if they find out, Kawano will cover for me
What's with this "Kawano this" and "Kawano that"?
What?
Don't tell me you're jealous
I'm jealous of him
I'm sorry
Let's go
All right
Will the pictures be ready tomorrow?
Yeah
They're for our passports, you know
Yeah
All right
Did you take all these?
Yup
Beautiful
I'm afraid I'll be forgotten
Uncle Shige, would you take a picture of me, now?
A photograph lasts forever, right?
Sure
Really?
I owe you guys
So?
What's that supposed to mean?
I'm going to the bathroom...
Uncle Shige
How do I look?
Very beautiful
Thank you
Hey! Sakutaro!
What the hell are you doing!
I'll be right there
I'll shoot, now
This is fine
Yeah?
Thank you
See you
Saku!
What's wrong?
He's dead...
Kawano is dead
Kawano had leukemia, like me
Am I going to die suddenly, like him?
I'm scared of dying
Parting here means parting forever
I know you're going to forget all about me
Sterile Area
Mother
You should go home, get some sleep
Otherwise, you'll get sick, too
I know that
No, you don't
Oh, I'm fine I'm going to sleep
Good night
Look at me now
But don't you worry
I'm fine
What is it?
Marriage License Application
Let's get married
I can't...
do anything for her
I can't do anything for her
Nothing...
Not a single thing...
How are you feeling, Aki?
Your first birthday since we started going out
You're almost 17 now
I know it's last minute,
but I want to take you to that place I promised you
I'll pick you up tomorrow, at midnight
You really came to get me
Of course I did
Listen to the wind
It's getting closer
What is?
The typhoon
The typhoon?
Typhoon #29
The super Typhoon #29,
which already hit Kyushu,
wreaking havoc and paralyzing traffic,
is moving over the water
south of Shikoku, at 20 kilometers an hour
The typhoon
is expected to hit Shikoku, with increased ferocity
The rain will grow heavier this afternoon,
and we are predicting as much as 200mm total precipitation,
for some areas
In Kyushu, especially in Oita,
we've had many reports of flooding and landslides
The islands around Okinawa
are already reportedly clear of the Typhoon...
Say
Your birthday...
is November 3rd, right?
That's right
My birthday...
is October 28th, so...
You haven't had even one second
since your birth, when I wasn't here, too
Even after I go...
your world will go on
Don't act so frail Hang in there
I never thought you'd nag me
Shut up
This is an announcement from All Nippon Airways
Flight #327, scheduled to depart for Tokyo at 6:55 A.M..,
has been cancelled due to inclement weather
We will handle flight re-assignments at Counter 3
What do you mean cancelled?
We have to get to Australia!
We don't expect any flights to take off today
Don't give me that!
We absolutely have to get there!
It's got to be today! Please! C'mon!
That's enough
Aki!
Aki
Are you OK?
Shall we go back?
Can't we go?
Sure we can Next time
There won't...
Won't be any next time
I'm still fine
I'm still alive
Aki
Aki!
Please help
Please help!
October 28th
I don't know why...
I can't get to sleep
I'm so afraid of tomorrow that I can't fall asleep
I think...
I'm going to die soon
Ritsuko
Wow
You see,
I don't think we should see each other anymore
The tiny bit of eternity
I spent with you
is the greatest treasure of my life
I've been so happy with you
That's OK, right?
As of today, let's say goodbye
You'll grow up,
get married,
do your work,
and live into the future That's what I'm imagining,
as I fall asleep tonight
Hello
Ritsuko
It was you, Saku
I knew I should've given you,
Aki's final cassette
But I never could
I never even knew she'd...
died...
I'm so sorry, Saku
Ritsuko
What's happened?
Where are you, now?
The Photo Studio
Sakutaro
Ritsuko?
She went out
Uncle Shige,
I'm a terrible person
I've...
been running away from Aki's death
I can't get over it
Uncle Shige,
I don't know what I should do
It's a big deal,
when someone dies
Memories,
images,
of the happy times, linger like a stain
Heaven is just something
invented by survivors
My beloved is there
Someday we'll be reunited
We want to believe that
She asked me to give this to you
I still can't let go of this world
A survivor who keeps clinging to this world
All anyone left behind can do,
is tie up loose ends, Sakutaro
Flight Cancellations
The super typhoon, #29, which landed
on Kyushu last night,
causing significant damage,
hit Shikoku shortly after 2 P.M.
The typhoon is moving from Ehime to Kagawa...
Excuse me
The Tokyo flight?
I'm terribly sorry,
we don't have an estimated departure time
This is an announcement from ANA
Flight #153, scheduled to depart for Tokyo at 18:00,
has been cancelled due to inclement weather
That day... it was just the same
They predicted Typhoon #29 would hit Shikoku
My...
school was closed,
and I went to visit my mom in the hospital
Staring out the window,
my heart raced at the typhoon's approach
And that day, as usual,
I stopped to see the older girl who was always so nice to me
I never,
never believed,
Aki's final tape would turn up
And that's why...
That's why I had to...
give it to the man Aki loved
I'm sorry, Saku
It took me so long I'm so sorry
Aki...
wouldn't hold it against you
Because...
it was because of you that Aki and I discovered each other
That day...
she only made it this far
Someday...
I promised her we'd get there
Time to tie up loose ends
Uluru
When I close my eyes,
I only see your face
What I remember,
is your big mouth full of fried noodle bread,
and your face, crumpled up with laughter
You puffed it up earnestly,
then suddenly shifted and softened with a kind smile
Your sleeping face on Yume Island
I wish it was near enough to touch, now
When you gave me a ride on your bike,
the warmth of your back,
meant the world to me
All the memories of time I spent with you,
made my life sparkle
Thank you so much for being with me
I'll never forget
the precious time I spent with you
I just have one last request
Please scatter my ashes
on the winds of Uluru
And then,
go on and live your life
I'm so glad I met you
Bye bye
Coming here,
I feel like I've found the center of the world
Like magic
Just like Aki...
Osawa Takao
Shibasaki Kou
Nagasawa Masami
Moriyama Mirai
Yamazaki Tsutomu
Executive Producer: Honma Hideyuki
Producers: Ichikawa Minami Haruna Kei
Based on the novel by Katayama Kyoichi
Screenplay by Sakamoto Yuji Ito Chihiro Yukisada Isao
Cinematographer: Shinoda Noboru
Production designer: Yamaguchi Syu
Recording: Ito Hironori
Lighting: Nakamura Yuki
Editor: Imai Tsuyoshi
Score: Meina & Co.
Directed by Yukisada Isao
English subtitles: Linda Hoaglund