Good-bye!
Good evening!
Good evening. Sure is cold
Just the same?
Kuroi, the principal wants you
He said to come right away
The principal wants me, huh?
Will you wait for my manuscript a bit longer?
Yes
The principal?
Good luck
Come in
Mr. Kuroi, you're lucky
You'll transfer to Yokogawa Junior High
It's a good school,
its principal requested you
It's near your apartment
A transfer? I decline the offer
Have a seat
I know how much you like this night school
And your students like you. I'm very glad
But personnel shifts
are necessary for education management
It can cause problems if a veteran like you stay
at one place for over ten years
Principal, they call me 'Old Fox,'
because I've been here so long
I'd like to stay here as the Old Fox
Unlike day students,
night students love their school,
they long for it
Even years after graduation they come to visit
They'll be disappointed
if there's no one they know
I know
I know well
That's why I twice refused to transfer you...
to let you stay on as an exception
I've done all I could
But no more exceptions, I'm afraid
Why not?
Night junior high schools are exceptions, too
It's a very humane system
Why can't I stay here as an exception...
an oddball like me?
Why not let computers handle routines?
Exceptions make for
a truly humane educational system
I didn't ask you here to listen to theories
I have my way of thinking, too.
Right now I'm talking as a principal
I see
Anyway, I've told you what I must
Thanks for coming
A transfer?
Mrs. Tajima, I found an apartment
You did? Good
Where is it?
5 minutes from the station
Yes
(Anyone can enroll)
(Tuition is practically free)
Goodnight
Nice sweater, huh?
You've no other clothes?
My pay is too low
Kim
Midori
Eriko
Osamu
Zhang Yun-Long
I know
It's not easy for me to pronounce Chinese
But if in Japanese
The pronunciation will be perfect
And Kazu. Seems he's late as usual
I got a postcard from Ino-san
Read it later
He sure wrote a lot
I wonder how he is...
He says he'll come for graduation
He already bought a new suit for I
As I told you last week,
this evening I want you to write a composition
(Write about memories)
(decisions, etc. At graduation)
Time flies. You'll soon leave here
Sure is cold
It may snow tonight
Aren't you cold?
No. I've got two body warmers
At your hips?
Yes
I'm Kim Jun-Hee, a Korean
I've been in Japan a long time. I was already 56
when I started in this school
Writing was hard
How's it going?
You can't write flower?
You learned it, eh?
I forget as soon as I remember things
I can't do it
I'm dumb
I'm a fool
I can't make it!
How can you be a fool?
You have Korean restaurant to run
And you've raised three children
You're no fool
If I'd gone to school as a child,
I wouldn't be suffering like this now
Don't cry
Today you're tired. Take a rest
Put down your pencil
Prof. How do you write Nara?
Nara? The ancient capital of Japan?
Didn't I tell you during excursion?
It's like this
This is your country's word, right?
Woorinara
Meaning...?
My country.
Motherland
Koreans who immigrated ten centuries ago
called the place Woorinara: Motherland
It became Nara
So... write it
I was a punk. I was a real goof
I got high on thinner
I thought I'd croak anytime
I felt spooky
Give me some soup
Go away!
Don't throw it away
Don't drink it all. Give some to me
Save some for me
A little bit
Give me a little bit
Midori!
You're Midori!
Wait! Excuse me
Midori! Wait
Hey, where are you going?
I've been looking for you
All right!
You even drank a stranger's noodle soup!
You that desperate?
Let go!
Hey, pay for your noodles and sake!
I will
Were you trying to bilk?
Not at all
Bilk? Say that again!
He's a teacher
Why should he bilk? Ass!
Midori! Midori!
Eat vegetables
If you don't get enough greens,
your blood will get thick
Blood should be red and flow smoothly
You must eat both green vegetables
and yellow vegetables,
like carrots and pumpkin
It's ready
It's hot! Hot!
Well? Looks good, huh?
You're hungry. Eat
If so, I come to school?
I don't make any deals
Whether you go to school is up to you
We instruct students who want to study
That's school
If you really want to study, come
You yourself decided to come to school, right?
Remember that time?
Eat while it's hot
Good?
I'll take you home on a motorcycle later
No?
Then, what?
I'll stay here
You can't do that
It'd be fine if you were a boy,
or I were married
You're pretty and already twenty, and...
I'm still single
We're a student and teacher, at that
We must be careful about
what others might think
Your dad's alcoholic,
you don't want to go home
But you can't stay here all night
Try to understand
What now?
I'll go, if that pleases you
I didn't say that
Goodbye!
I'll kill myself
Hey, wait
Midori!
Hey, wait, Midori!
Goodbye!
Don't be a fool!
Thanks, teacher
I found her at last and took her to my place
She looked haggard from thinner
I gave her some food
Who's this 'her'?
Oh, sorry. Midori
Midori? She's here
Where?
In class
Tell me sooner!
Hey!
Hi, stupid
Stop! What a girl!
I phoned your place
Your dad said you hadn't come home
I was worried
Worried?
Of course!
If you were a boy,
I'd slap you
I was so worried!
Hi, what?
Your hair got thinner
It's your fault
This part's Midori
This, Kazu
This, Ino-san
You guys are making me bald
What? Never mind
Don't move
Prof... Listen...
After secondary
I'll go to a beauty school
Good idea
When I'm a beautician
I'll cut your hair
Thanks
I can save on haircuts
Pain
Pain!
How are you
Here?
So you're all here?
Composition? Are you serious?
I had a bad hunch
I should've skipped class
I was a punkºK
I carried rice plants all day
It wore me out
Still, when I walked toward the sunset,
the evening sunshine soaked into me
It sort of tickled me
I wanted top keep walking
It seemed like my house was in the setting sun.'
The evening sunshine soaked into me... '
Can you tell what the writer tried to say?
After working all day,
he went home, exhausted
You know how he felt, eh?
The scarlet evening sun softly embraced him
It consoled him, as if to say,
Thanks for working hard.
What he felt then is expressed
in the sentence, ''It sort of tickled me.'
Compared with poems
like this-you know-
the usual poems
about the fragrance of flowers,
and birds chirping...
I mean, poems that only praise things are boring-
Kazu!
Lay off the gum
when I'm teaching!
It's to stay awake
Others study even though sleepy
Ino-san here, he's sleeping
He's as old as your dad
You're young
I may be young,
but I work like a dog
It's not an easy job like yours
You mean to say that I don't work hard?
Yeah. All you do is talk
Mine is physical labor
I went to night school,
too-college
During the day I worked at a foundry, see?
You talk big!
What's that?!
Try my work
I will!
You sure?
OK, when?
Cut the crap!
We didn't come to watch you fight
Let's get back to studying. Studying!
You awake?
Yeah. I'm writing
Awake?
I'm doing it
Where were we?
Do you remember?
The fragrance of flowers
and birds chirping
Right. True poems shouldn't treat
only nonsense like the fragrance of flowers
or breezes in May
I feel all washed out
What a shame!
I sat up all night preparing for this class
Hard, wasn't it?
Kazu! It's your fault!
Islams drink coffee?
Sure. It's okay
Kazu!
What brings you?
What else?
I said I'd try your work, so now I will
Did you take me seriously?
Of course. And I plan to do as said
What a man!
Tell your boss to hire me for one day
I appreciate how you feel, but...
Where's your boss?
It's enough
I'll do it
You can't
It'd blow up!
We're carrying thinner
See the 'No Smoking' sign?
Yeah. Sorry
I'm sorry
Can you speak English?
Do it again
This sure is tough
Bring the wax, okay?
You're mean!
I'm doing the hard part
You're using a machine,
it's easy work
Think it's easy to handle?
Just guide it
Then try
We'll trade places
The switch?
Be careful with it
It's easy, huh?
Bravo!
It's simple
Clean this part more carefully
Watch out!
What are you doing?
Turn off
Be careful
Have some tea
Eat quick
We'll be too busy to eat later
Seems he's tired
He doesn't know the routine yet
Hurry!
Something's sticking to the floor
Remove it, too
How noisy!
My son's studying
Do it quietly
Sorry
Stand up
You have classes to teach
Classes? This is hell
I wish I could go home and sleep
What's that?
Your students are waiting!
My name is Zhang Yun-Long
I came from Ji Lin Province in China to Japan 5 years ago
My mother is Japanese
My father is Chinese
I must lead a hard life in Japan
My night school teachers are very kind
He lacks cooperation
Lacks cooperation
He takes days off when we're busy
He keeps griping about his pay
So the other workers hate him
They don't want to work with him
I hired him for Japan-China friendship's sake
I would like to keep going
But my patience ran out, so I fired him
Mitsuru, the steering wheel's here!
Zhang Yun-Long
Your friend
Thank you
Mrs. Tajima!
This company seems good,
it's near your place
You've worked for cleaners
It's OK
Any kind of work will do so long as
I can work by myself,
not with others
Is he Chinese? Very well
You're his graduator?
No problem there
Thank you
To the office
Your name's Zhang?
You speak Japanese?
What's the pay?
As stated in our ad,
800 yen an hour to start
You'll get more after you learn to work
Other companies pay more
Your business bad?
Well, it's not good
So we can't pay more
Didn't you say 800 yen an hour is okay?
Let me handle it
I got 850 before
You keep saying that
May we talk?
I'm amazed
He already asked about the pay!
Sorry
Let's forget about this
I feel sorry for you
I'm not saying to get down
on your knees and beg
He was trying to be kind
You must respond to his kindness
Why did you ask if
his business is bad?
Take it easy
A friend of my father
will pay me 1000 an hour
Why must you keep talking about money?
You can't be like that forever
What you must do first is
master a technique
Isn't that why you come?
Am I wrong?
I'm telling you to endure things
Endure?
Why must I endure?
I'm not to blame. It's Japan's fault!
Why?
Japanese people respect Americans
But they despise us Chinese
When I was small, because my mom's Japanese,
Chinese people hit me,
kicked me and abused me
Mom said, 'We'll go home to Japan,
then we'll be happy.'
I believed her and came
But everything was a lie
I speak Chinese
Japanese people despise me
I shouldn't have come to Japan
Japan's awful
I hate it!
I hate the Japanese!
You mustn't say that
Why mustn't I?
Zhang, listen carefully
You're half Japanese
If you hate the Japanese,
you're hating yourself
You have the blood of wonderful Japanese
and great Chinese
Be proud of it
I know how you feel very well
But you must live in this country from now on
You know how I feel?
I don't think so
You'll never understand!
Mrs. Tajima...
There's nothing I can do for you
Are you saying that?
It's too much
During home room today,
will you discuss the graduation party?
Yes, I will
Will you listen?
Have a suggestion
Why not make it a cheerful graduation party?
Students usually end
by hugging each other and crying
I don't like it
Crying can't settle anything
You'll move into a world
where fools act big just because
they're university graduates
You must live despite prejudice and segregation
This is no time to weep over goodbyes
You mustn't be so weak
What's funny?
Mr. Kuroi,
you're crying
It is? Wipe it.
Thanks
You're always the first
to start crying
Yes
You made a scene last year
What did I do?
You forgot?
You hugged Mituso and cried loudly
There are a rumor
What?
We thought that you might be homosexual
That it's why you never married
Enough
Get back to your composition
Life is long
We considered it nothing to repeat
just one year of school
So we let her stay one more year there
But she went to school only on the first day
Her friends came for her
almost every day
One day, two teachers
all but forced her to get in their car to go to school
But she soon came home, crying
I wonder why she became like this
She used to like school
She was a good, kind girl
I wonder why this happened to her
In the end, she didn't go to school at all the whole year
All I could do was cry
My husband got drunk every night
This may sound exaggerated,
but we thought of killing ourselves
We thought so many times
Any school will do...
if only she goes to it
So we came to this one, as a last resort
Good evening
Hey, Tsutomu, are you drunk?
Can you tell?
Sure
I drank at a ground-breaking ceremony
Couldn't help it?
Better get sober first
Your breath will disturb us
Eriko, how did you find out
about this school?
She saw it on some midnight TV show
Didn't you?
Please, if you don't mind
I'm asking Eriko
Sorry
Keep still
Did you want to come here on your own?
Yes
It's all right then
She came of her own free will
That's OK
Everybody think about it, Yellow balloon?
Traffic is...
...convenience
Shopping and traffic is convenience
Please say it
But there's different questions
Right?
Please read after me
Price are expensive
How about wages?
Very low
Yes, very low
Wages are very low
Be careful
Good
Give it to me
Good
Will you serve?
Do your best!
Serve it well!
Be careful
Well done
Do it again!
Why not just relax and go?
You can make it
Will you, Eriko?
Yes, I will
You sure? Will you promise me?
Eriko says she'll go to that school!
At heart I really felt sorry for my parents
But all I could do was defy them
Mom was crying as I refused to go to school
I remember it well
Hi, Eriko!
How come you're carrying an umbrella?
Mom told me to
You're still obedient to your mom?
Go away!
Go away?
I'll take you home, okay?
Keep away!
Don't worry
You're so pretty,
I want to keep looking at you
Yokohama
What?
Bay Bridge, the new showplace
Please
Orange juice okay?
You like Coke better, huh?
This is fine
Eat this while it's hot
No, not that way
You'll drop it
Do like this, then eat
You're a pro
About fast food...
beef bowls, noodles... leave it to me
Elbows like this
Like this?
Good?
Look what you've done!
Will you lend me a rag?
Hold your pop more firmly
Sorry, my turn
Ryota!
Mrs. Tajima!
Your mom shouldn't yell like that
Your son?
Yes
Hi!
Hello
You startled me. You dating?
That's about it
You alone with your son?
A dreary sight
Why not find someone to marry?
Not so loud!
You spilled your pop?
I'll get you another
That's nice
It's dangerous
He your friend now?
He's good guy
Somehow I can't talk with him well
Give me another sheet
Have you got so much to write about?
I have three sentences only
Yes, about you
Cute liar
You keep blabbing so much,
you've nothing left to write
Your head's empty
Eriko rarely talks,
so she has plenty to write about
Don't blame me if
you cry while reading mine
It'll be that impressive
Who'd cry reading your composition?
Quiet, will you?
We did it!
We made it!
What's the rent for this per day?
Never mind about money
Usually 30000 yen a day
But we're friends, so...
Shut up!
Pain
So good!
You went too far
The sea!
It's great!
Give me the thing to put air in it
What?
The air pump
It goes with the boat
Not that
The one you move with your feet
No?
Without an air pump, it’s just a rubber sheet!
Why didn't you make sure? Ass!
Don't blame him
Let's blow air into it
Blow? How?
It's not like water wings
What a stupid kid!
Don't pick on him
He's crying
I'm winded!
I can't see
Midori, you do it
No
It's slick with your saliva
I'll do it
It's icky
You okay?
It's enough
What's the idea?
Let it go! Let go!
To keep you awake
Thanks
I invited you, but it wasn't fun
The sea wasn't much. Were you bored?
No. I enjoyed it a lot
Enjoyed what?
We made a sand castle
It was fun
Was that fun for you?
It's not bad to act like fools once in a while
I'm a fool all the time
Thanks. Take care going home
Won't open? I'll do it
No!
I'm sorry
I went too far
Don't cry. Please stop. I'm sorry
Why not use the nose-hair cutter
we gave you?
Yes
I have it with me
Day before yesterday I put it in too far
I cut a vein,
I cut a vein, blood poured out. I was scared
Oh, sorry
Still here?
To play the piano
It's late. Let's go home
How's that?
Did you talk with your mom about high school?
She still wants you
to go to a regular high school?
She says night school is a shame for our family
But I'll work during the day
and go to a night high school
Do whatever you think best
How about your father? He busy as usual?
He doesn't live with us
What?
My mom and dad have already applied for a divorce
I knew it'd happen someday
I see
You're having a hard time
I may be having a hard time
But if my parents
stay together only for my sake,
it'll go even harder on me.
Why don't we get some noodles?
I'm hungry
Let's go
Go, go, Atom, so long as your jet lasts
Such a kind-hearted child of science
Iron-arm Atom, you have 100000 horsepower...
Class is over
What's on your mind?
Something's wrong with you
I was praising myself
Thanks to me, you can all graduate
Finished?
Not yet
Then why not bring it next week?
Let's eat
Enough
What did he say?
Pour some water, please
What a boy!
Please
It's gone
Eat this. Go ahead
From Yamagata?
Are you Ino-san's aunt? Hello?
What? Hold the phone,
I'll call Kuroi
Tell Mr. Kuroi he has a telephone call
Hurry!
Mr. Kuroi?
I'm Sachio Inoda's aunt
Listen, it's about him actually...
Thanks for helping him
He suddenly got worse this evening...
and passed away
Thank you and his teachers for all you did for him
We'll hold his funeral tomorrow, though a small one
No, thank you. Please don't bother about that
Please thank everyone for me
I'm in a hurry. Goodbye
About his funeral...
It's already late
Go by car?
A train’s faster
It snows there
I'll go tomorrow morning. Anyone else?
I'll go. He was kind to me
We'll wire our condolences
It was so sudden
Let me do the next class
I'll make it a home room
Thanks
Just drink
No need
Why you?
It's an English class
He's lost
Home room. I asked Mrs. Tajima
How come?
Actually, I came bearing sad news
Ino-san passed away this evening
Why?
He said he'd be back
to attend graduation
Why so sudden?
I didn't tell you this:
He was seriously ill
Knew he'd die?
I wished he could attend graduation, but...
Why didn't you tell us the truth?
We're his friends
We could've gone to comfort him
How low of you!
I'm sorry. Kazu's right
I'm really sorry, everyone
Poor man!
I know how he wanted to attend graduation
So, we'll use this period to talk about him,
and pray for him
First, a silent prayer
Let's pray
Yes
The medicine didn't work
The medicine...
...didn't work
The medicine didn't work
That's enough
Sachio Inoda
One day...
Ino-san told me about his childhood
It was unusual
His father left home and his blind mother
fell ill when he was ready for grade school
He went to school, taking his kid sister with him
Even during class he worried about his sister
And she often cried, missing him
His teachers were annoyed,
the kids taunted him
Yet he somehow put up with it
During summer vacation when he was in third grade,
his sister fell in a deep river and drowned
He felt as if it were his fault
It tortured him
Finally he left home
I can't even imagine how he lived after that
When he was 20 he came to Tokyo
He did odd jobs
He collected swill for pigs, washed dishes
at a lunch delivery shop-work like that
After doing that for years,
he found steady work at a knitting mill
he was over 50
He was so happy
he tried to phone his mother back home
But she'd been killed
in an accident a week earlier
Because she was blind,
she didn't know a car
was moving backward
Ino-san kept crying all night
Then he remembered that
his mother always said to study hard
Or he couldn't be a great man
So he decided to go to school
But he was illiterate
Imagine how hard he tried to get to this school
You know
One Sunday in spring,
Ino-san went to view cherry blossoms
Then he met a young doctor
at a station
Ino-san sensed that he knew many things
Young man, I have a question
Is there a school to teach a man like me?
I want to learn to write
I work during the day,
so I'll study at night. Any ideas?
I'm in the dark
You look intelligent,
so I'm asking you
Doctor...
We'll talk later
Will you wait? Here, all right?
He was a kind person
He found this school
and came with Ino-san
It seemed Ino-san
had got drunk on his way
His red face
You were lucky to meet him
He's tight, eh?
Sorry. I told him not to drink
But he said sake fortifies him
Afraid of coming here?
It's not easy for a man
who couldn't finish
junior high school to start over
I guess
He shouldn't have drunk, though
And... will you enroll him?
Sure
This school is for people like him
He can't write
No problem
If you're willing,
you can learn to read and write, and graduate
The form...
Is this such a school?
I know
He's worried about the cost
What's the tuition?
All but free. The Constitution grants compulsory education
free of charge
Understand?
I'm glad for you
A new student
Good evening
It all became a fond memory
When Ino-san enrolled, he was all mixed up
Ino-san, you can read this, can't you?
Milk. I can read that much
Right
Then write it in the block form
Why not?
I can't do it
You've learned the block form
Show me
You already wrote it here, didn't you?
Why not write it now?
Don't embarrass me. I'm not of elite lineage
What's lineage to this?
No one would have trouble reading what you wrote
He can read the racing forms
Horses' names are printed in block form
Thoroughbred.
You can read complicated words like
probable winners.
Shut up! Just study
(Oguri Cap)
Write it in block form here
Hang on!
You see? You did it
Can I tell you about this horse now?
Sure
On December 23, 1990
the 35th Arima Memorial Race held
The horses are in line. The gates open
Sixteen thoroughbreds go!
They gallop around the first and second turns
Oguri Cap is running sixth
Osaichi George is in the lead, but slows down
The third turn... the fourth...
Now it's the homestretch!
Go, Oguri Cup! He's running hard!
The jockey whips him!
Oguri Cap runs faster
Go, go Oguri Cap!
He's had bad luck. He's a great horse,
but hasn't run in first-rate races
How fast! It's like the other nags had stopped
Oguri Cap is passing them all
Go, Oguri Cap!
Now's your chance!
Go! Go!
You did it!
You beat them all!
Oguri Cap
Bye
Are you still studying?
Multiplication?
I'm dumb, so...
Show me
5 times 6 is 30
2 times 5 is 10
Next...
6 times 6 is...
Put this 6 under this 3
Yeah! I forgot
6 plus 3?
Nine
5 plus 1?
6. I move this 1 straight down
You did it!
Bright teacher!
Study, and you can do it
Seeing these figures,
I think of something else
Like what?
6 and 6 remind me of how much I won
Last year I bought a 6-6 combination
It brought 13050 yen
The races?
At the 1991 Argentine Jockey's Cup
it was a 3 and 3 combination
I knew 3would make it, but I didn't but the combination
I'm surprised you remember so well
You're bright
'Cause I love it
Love arithmetic too
It's your theory
6 times 6 equals... what, I wonder
Two 6s?
It’ll bring 13050 yen
You're sure bright
You beat me
How's your son?
He's so defiant, he never obeys me
He's stupid
Sometimes I wonder if he's really my child
It's my fault
We seldom stay together. I spoiled him
What's wrong with spoiling him?
He's your son,
love him as much as you can
Think so?
And don't tell him stupid
From your stock,
he can't be stupid. He'll run fast
Oh, I mistook him for a horse. I'm the stupe. Sorry
Ino-san liked Mrs. Tajima
He thought nobody knew,
thought nobody knew, but actually everyone did
Good evening
What's that?
My boss said to give this to my teachers
What's your favorite color?
Color?
Say, your shirt
Pink? I like it
Great!
Wonderful!
What?
Wait
Good. I have one for you
I put in the rubber cord
The size okay? It's written here in English
A curved line in English...
S, you mean?
Are they ours?
Sure. And they're all brand new
A large-size one for Mr. Kuroi. Pick whatever you like
Thanks
Purple ones too
Ino-san had a dream to get driver's licenseº@º@º@º@
His job was to pull a cart loaded
with a mountain of knitted wear... at his age!
Kim
Thanks for this card
You got it?
Sure. Let me read it
Dear Mr. Kuroi. Good evening
I like going to night school
Please continue teaching me. Goodbye.
It's the first postcard she ever wrote
No problem reaching me
Thanks...
A mailman you'd never met read it
and delivered it to me
Maybe it wasn't easy to read
I disagree
Delivery of this postcard
proves that your writing is perfectly legible
Have confidence. You'll improve more
By the way,
I didn't get a card from Ino-san or Kazu
Why not write one?
I think your writing
is as good as Kim's
Kazu, it's your homework!
Write about what?
Whatever you like
What can I write to you,
when we meet every day?
What a guy!
Listen...
writing and talking are two different things
You can write things you wouldn't talk about, like,
I speak to you so audaciously,
but I really respect you
So please never forsake me, and be kind to me.
Write it, I'll be deeply impressed
You nuts? Who'd think that way? What a laugh!
He's teaching us something important
I see
Letters are to say stuff you can't talk about
You can talk about business on the phone.
For example,
Pay back the money!
But sometimes it's not easy
to talk about how you feel
Right
Try to write about it
That's what 'writing' means
You write how you feel,
others read and understand it
When you can do it,
you've mastered Japanese
I'll try. I'll write it
You can do it
Your card
will be delivered like mine
I doubt it. I did something wrong
What?
I fought with a mailman last year
I punched him
He hates me
I don't think he'd deliver my postcard
No way
It's funny!
What? What's funny?
Here's your lover
Yes?
I'll write a card as homework
Can I send it to you?
Oh, thank you
Then, will you give me...?
My address? Sure
Maybe it won't get to you, though
It will. Don't worry
Teacher, bye
Bye
Fish, fish
Today is hot
Sorry...
Excuse me
Hello?
Oh, it's you
Sorry to come suddenly
Come in
Glad you're home
What brings you?
Eating lunch?
No, I'm through. Hot, isn't it?
Got a cold watermelon?
Sure
Then will you bring me a half?
Okay
The grocer's my landlord too. A real oddball
Suits this place
His kind is a rarity now
I'm in a fix
In what way?
Ino-san sent me a postcard he'd written
Will you read it?
Dear Mrs. Tajima, do me a favor
Will you marry me?
Then I can study every night to get me a good head
Kindly marry me.
He wrote this? Some guy!
I don't think you should take him seriously
This often happens
Boys fall for cute teachers like you
It's nothing like that
I act strictly toward young boys in my class
But Ino-san's as old as my father
So I speak with him too causally
So I suppose I'm to blame
I feel sorry for him
What do you think I should do?
Talk to him directly?
That's not necessary
Just ignore it. He'll get the point
I can't do that
Shall I talk to him then?
A man-to-man talk
Talk like what?
I'll say to give up
He'll have other chances
Then what?
We'll drink together. Can't help it
Sometimes-no- often guys are disappointed in love
I know that
Maybe this isn't his first time
He'll live
Forget this, al right?
Thirsty? The watermelon's coming
Mr. Kuroi...
I've lost my confidence as a teacher
No one's really confident
In your class,
you and your students are one
You breathe together
You laugh,
and the next moment you're serious
I wonder when I'll ever be able to teach that way
Aren't you trying to put teachers in a kind of mold?
Be more frank, if you want to teach well
What students like
is a teacher's humaneness
Night students have a heavier burden in life than us
How can we teach and guide them in our school?
What's wrong?
You're right
I guess I'm conceited after all
It's nothing to cry about
What a mess!
Maybe I'm the one who talked in a conceited way
No, what a mess!
Oh, thanks. Thank you
I'm afraid it's not too cold
It's fine. A good watermelon. Thank you
Thanks, goodbye
Were you surprised?
He's a nice guy, but a bit meddlesome
Maybe he isn't too busy
Ma, what a sight!
Mr. Kuroi's making a young lady cry
When people do something odd, it rains, huh?
You want to talk with Ino-san?
Snap it up
Talk before he gets too soused
I know. I'll talk
Some rain, huh?
The race might be called off
He says he has something to tell you
I'll do as you say about anything else, but
not about the races. Sorry
I gave up on your races long ago
Then it's something else?
That's good1
Have more, Prof
Thanks
Don't get mad. Just listen
I won't get mad
whatever you say
Promise?
Sure thing
Hey! Wasn't it delivered... my postcard?
Yes. Mrs. Tajima got it all right
It's postmarked
It did? It was really delivered?
Your writing passed the test
I'm glad the postal guys could read it
Drink more
It took me a week to write it
I was so shy
It's embarrassing to write how you feel, huh?
It's strange
What is?
I sent it to Mrs. Tajima
That's the point
As a matter of fact, she gave it to me
Why did she do that?
Can't you guess?
You know life, don't you?
She's a serious woman
She didn't know how to respond to you
She came to me for advice
She isn't clever enough to answer you in a joking way
What are you trying to say?
That I'm here to answer you in her place
Turn me down?
Yes. Don't get mad. You promised not to
So that's the story? Tell me more directly
Then, I'll give her up, like a man should
You understand? Let's drink
I'll drink with you
Beer? How many?
Two
How's it going with the races?
Horses running...
It must be exciting
Did Mrs. Tajima say she hates me?
No. She likes you
But marriage is something different
Try to understand
Has she got a man?
That's not the point
She likes you
Like is different from love
Friendship and love is different
Understand?
Let's quit talking about it
Give us more ice
It's still strange
Why?
I sent this postcard to Mrs. Tajima
Why must you answer?
I've told you
She's a serious woman
She doesn't want to hurt you
That's why I came to
answer you in her place
You're all in cahoots
It's a fixed race
Don't say that
Shut up! Quit howling!
Be a nice man and drink happily
Mr. Kuroi and Mrs. Tajima are together
They're both single
It's a fixed race. Fixed!
No matter what,
I can't stand the way you talk!
You saying I'm fresh for s student?
I'm here
because we're both human and friends. Apologize!
Apologize? Why must I apologize to you?
You take turns reading my postcards behind my back
And you're laughing at me
Let's settle this outside. We'll fight!
What a thing to say to your teacher!
Get out of here!
We're both human? Dammit!
You get paid even when you lay off sick, don't you?
If I laid off sick, I'd go broke
We're of different lineage
How can you bracket me with you?
Quit talking like that!
Throw him out in the rain
Come on! We'll fight!
I was just a busybody
Eventually what I did hurt Ino-san the most of all
Ino-san!
I don't remember
I bet I said awful things...
when I owe you so much. I'm really sorry
You were drunk, that's all. Forget it
You're alone here
What do you usually eat?
I'm not hungry
You must eat
Why don't we get some noodles or something?
Thanks, but I'd rather stay in bed
What a mess!
May I open that?
The trains are so noisy
How do you feel?
My belly aches. And my turds are black
They look real spooky
How come so black?
Let's go see a doctor
I'm broke
I'm not broke
That reminds me. That young doctor who helped you...
Name's Kawai? Let's go see him
I'm sure he'll do something for you
I'll phone him
Relax a minute, okay?
(Award for Perfect Attendance at School)
It's not certain yet, but as I see it,
he's in very serious condition
We should've known sooner
Have him hospitalized now
I told him
Is he that sick?
I was thoughtless
He looked strong enough
His body's worn out
While examining him, I thought
his body told the story of his tragic life
Ino-san was hospitalized
He spent two months,
summer to autumn, in the hospital
Maybe those two months
were the most peaceful in his entire life
As he grew worse,
he wanted to go home to Yamagata
We spoke with his aunt
She still had his mother's insurance money
She'd use it to take care of him
Get well and
come back in March for graduation
We'll prepare your diploma
Be patient. You still have three months to go
You'll get better
I'll win at a mere trot
That's it
See you soon
I wonder how he felt
as he watched the Tokyo cityscape
Anyway, it was the last time he ever saw it
Look, Sachio! You can see Mt. Mantaro
You're almost home. Hang on
Sad, huh?
You were close to Ino-san
He took you to the races
On the excursion...
Ino-san bought me shoes
Yeah. You both wore white shoes that time
He was wearing a bowtie
He looked so happy then
How much?
200 yen
Miss, I'll pay for this
Take whatever you like. I'll pay
You're in clover, eh?
Give me beer
Beer?
Ino-san! Ino-san!
Wait
Hey, this isn't a picnic
It's part of education
These Nara temples were first built
in the 7th and 8th centuries
You all right?
Sure
My aching corns!
Look this way
What are you doing?
Ino-san!
You scared of deer? Why?
You look so happy!
Ino-san!
Shut up!
You all right?
You look like honeymooners
Here I go! Smile
You tired?
What's not butter?
Cheese!
Cheese, not butter, huh?
What are you doing Ino-san!
Cheese
Ino-san was lucky to enter this school
Once, when he was drinking at my joint,
he said he was happy to be studying here
What was happy about him?
Was he happy during our school excursion?
Look at this
A man over 50 had to try so hard
even to read railway station names
and calculate change
What was happy about him?
I had to learn to read
when I was over 50, too
You have a kind husband who cooks for you,
while you're at school
Your kids and grandkids help you, too
All Ino-san had was the races!
His life was a wretched as a rag
Don't talk like that about the dead!
He died believing he was happy. It's all right
No. It's not all right
If he meant it...
If he really believed he was happy,
I feel sorry for him all the more
Can't stand it
It's ridiculous!
He should've hated the world that much more
Stop! Whether or not he was happy...
it was his affair
Mr. Kuroi, what does happiness mean?
That's difficult to answer
Let's all think
Happiness
Kazuo, what do you think?
Don't ask me
Don't give up. Think
Then you'll know
What about you?
Me? I think I'm happy
You sure?
Are you really happy?
If not, I can't live
Is someone happy
if he only thinks he is?
Yes. Actually we're all unhappy
You wouldn't understand it
You're wrong
Why?
Thinking he's happy is no good
He should be wiser
What if he's so wise to know
he's really unhappy?
Let him hang himself?
That's not the point
A difficult debate
Osamu, you've been thinking. What's happiness?
Well...
Maybe money
What's funny? It's a good answer
He said what he thought
Yes. Happiness is money
Everyone wants money. So do I
Kim said money
would've spared her this hardship, right?
Why so silent? What's on your mind?
Aren't you mistaken?
About what?
You're missing the point. In short...
Midori, you tell us. What's happiness?
It's natural to want money
We're thinking about something different
If not money, what is happiness?
I'm dumb. I can't explain
Everyone here is dumb. Don't worry
What's wrong?
In short, it's this:
I ran from a juvenile detention office
and tried to return to junior high
The teachers took me to the principal's office
They tried to send me to reform school
Some student told me about that
You can't graduate, don't interrupt others, please
I got mad and broke a window
I ran away
I can imagine
Then I got worse
I got hooked on thinner, my teeth went bad
Then...
I read something about
this school in a magazine
I wondered if I could study here, so I came
But I couldn't walk through the gate
I thought teachers would question me like cops
I stayed by the mailbox,
crouching like a fool
My mind was a blank
School no longer mattered
I thought I could make a living anyway
Why go to school?
Then...
an odd man come
His breath smelled of cigarettes
What's up?
You want to enter this school?
So he asked
He was Mr. Kuroi.
Then I thought...
I thought...
chances were...
I might find happiness
I understand
Happiness isn't money, right?
Yes. Money runs out when you spend it
But happiness isn't something that runs out
In short...
it's... you want to live some way,
or you’re glad to live...
I can see that
So... happiness is...
What?
Shut up!
I can't make it
Eriko, you know what I mean, huh?
Aren't we studying to find the answer?
Isn't that studying?
Yeah! Exactly!
Why keep silent? Why don't you say something?
Classes are sessions that teachers and students
cooperate in building
I realize it now
A fine class!
Thank you
That's all for today
Please
Bye
We'll hold a wake for Ino-san at a restaurant
You too
The umbrella is inside
It's great
It's great!
You still here?
I was waiting for you
What's up?
I'll try for senior high
Really? You made up your mind?
You can make it
Then I'll try a university. A teacher’s norm
To be a teacher?
I thought about it in the library
I decided:
I'll get a teaching license
I'll return to this school as a teacher
So you're going to be my successor, eh?
I'll stay at this school until you make it
Maybe all my hair will be gone by then
But I'll wait for you at this school
Thank you
Goodbye
Mr. Kuroi
What a heavy snow!
This is small, but...
Shall we go?
(There are 35 public night junior high schools)
(throughout Japan's main Honshu Island)
In addition more than ten other night schools
are managed by volunteers