[The Radio Dept. playing "1995"]
[woman] This is an announcement from Norn Airlines.
Due to heavy snow, all outgoing flights after 2 p.m. today are canceled…
♪ …it's walking 15 miles To see your love ♪
♪ It's knowing you're alive Through all the fuzz ♪
♪ It's never coming down From going up ♪
♪ 1995 is cutting classes ♪
♪ It's sitting over coffees Talking indie treats ♪
♪ It's the mere sensation Of being the first one ♪
♪ That you see When morning opens up the skies ♪
♪ You see me When daylight opens up your eyes ♪
♪ 1995 ♪
♪ And though I'm happier now ♪
♪ I always long somehow ♪
♪ And though I'm happier now ♪
♪ I always long somehow ♪
♪ And though I'm happier now ♪
♪ I always long somehow ♪
♪ Back to 1995… ♪
[turn signal clicking]
Yae, I'm sorry.
Yeah.
[gasps]
Huh?
Oh, that's my exit!
I'm know, I'm sorry. I gotta go to the next exit to turn around.
-I think there's one not far up ahead. -Come on, what the hell!
You know, you can't charge me any extra!
Yeah, I know, just the normal amount is enough, of course.
I'm sorry.
That's why women… That's why!
[man sighs]
I'M SORRY FOR THE OTHER DAY
IT'S OKAY
[door opens]
-[Tsunemi] Hey, hon. -[bird chirping]
I'm wiped out.
All this stuff I need to do for the wedding keeps piling up.
Ah, Harumichi.
So, the one who's going to speak, Motohashi, was it?
You better call him soon.
-Tsunemi. -Ah!
I forgot to order the gift cakes!
My dad insists they be Momiji Manju and won't listen to anything classic.
-Tsunemi, before-- -They're good, you know, they're good.
But Momiji Manju will be like giving Tokyo Banana to someone from Tokyo.
Tsunemi.
Oh, man, I'm really tired, so can we do this later?
Harumichi.
Hm?
I won't go anywhere, okay?
The "tsune" in Tsunemi means "fixed," a "fixed star."
A star that's always there when you look up.
Even if you get lost and stand still
or stray from the path from time to time…
I'll always shine bright so you can return.
[door closes]
[man on bullhorn] SDF, don't go to Iraq!
[protestors] No to war! Don't go to Iraq!
Protect the lives of the SDF members!
Don't send our kids to the war!
Stop funding the war now!
-Stop funding the war! -Don't support the war!
No to war!
We'll never be unaccompanied by risk.
However, you officials are the foundation of our country
and the foundational cornerstone of our nation's peace and safety.
Iraq's security situation may be unpredictable and volatile,
but the Iraqi people, they truly wish to build
a stable and democratic nation under national reconciliation.
Don't do that. Be more sharp. Come on, okay?
Do you really need to go?
Going when they tell me to is part of being in the SDF.
That's not a--
Protecting your own country
is protecting your family.
Hey, listen, now, play safe, all right?
Take care of them all.
Ah! Harumichi! Hey, son!
[cheering]
[soft voices in nearby room]
-[Yukihoto] Oh, apple pie. -Well, is that okay?
[Tsuzuru] Mommy!
I'm glad you're back, Mommy.
I see you've come to visit. Great. I'll go get all of us some tea.
-No, thank you. I'm just about to leave. -Ah!
Oh, also, we're going to have our hospital party next month.
Ah, it's the 50th anniversary. Yeah, I'm aware.
I thought it'd be a good opportunity to introduce Tsuzuru to all the guests.
-You'll be attending, right? -Yeah, of course.
And I'll definitely let my mom know about it.
No need to bother Kihako this time.
Uh, yeah, but, you know, Mom,
she's been looking forward to celebrating as well.
[laughs] There's going to be important people there.
[laughs]
I just don't think Kihako would fit in very well there.
The stage is different.
I'd just end up worrying she'd get drunk again like last time.
[laughing]
[contemplative music playing]
I'm going. I'll call you later.
Okay.
Uh, I…
Hold on a second.
Go to a good college and have a career.
So I studied, all my life, as hard as I could, to make that happen.
'Cause I didn't want to end up like Mom.
I know she's an uneducated worker.
She's never tasted free-range chicken eggs,
ones with feed that cost 1,250 yen a pack.
And of course she's never had special organic tomato juice
costing, like, hundreds a bottle.
And why?
Because for 25 years,
12 hours a day,
sometimes until the sun came up,
she was working hard, really hard,
and also raising me on her own.
Even though we weren't well-off,
on her paydays, we'd shop over in the town
next to ours and she'd buy me clothes.
All while she always wore the same clothes.
So why should she
be looked down upon, vilified and turned into some outcast by you like that?!
I can't forgive you for insulting my mom.
Hello, Mom.
Oh! Perfect timing.
So, I was thinking about wearing this for Yukihito's party?
Is it too loud, though? [chuckles]
I shouldn't turn up empty-handed.
I'll give them money as a gift.
But then again, they got so much of it, so…
The party's now canceled.
Huh? Why is that?
You know, all the relatives will be there.
We can't just leave them hanging.
We're gonna get a divorce.
Huh?
Could Tsuzuru and I get our things and move back in with you?
Oh.
Well, I guess that's okay.
Can't you start over, though?
I'm sure it's not too late to apologize and go back!
I've made up my mind.
KEISEI TRANSPORTATION
I thought it was only just taxi drivers, drunks, and the crows…
walking around at this time.
I've been on nights.
I safely passed my last examination.
I wanted to tell you and thank you.
And about the other night…
Did you know this part of the day is known as "twilight"?
It lies between day and night and light and dark.
Is that breakfast? Or are you having dinner now?
It's just my twilight ice-cream meal.
I let myself enjoy it
when something good happens, you know,
or when something bad happens.
Which is it?
[groans] I'm sorry, stupid question.
-For you. -What?
[laughs softly]
You know, I was with a customer,
and I totally missed the exit on the highway.
I was stuck for 20 miles, with an angry customer,
until the next exit.
[sighs]
It's hell on Earth to keep driving, knowing it's really just a wrong turn.
[contemplative music playing]
You know, I'm sorry for the other day.
You've got to stop. I told you I don't think about the past.
I enjoy eating, and it's done.
And besides, I don't think of you that way at all.
Not in that kind of way at all.
It's the same as… always.
Tell me what your fiancée is like?
Hmm…
She has a strong heart
and always says what's on her mind.
She's much more open-minded than me,
but she's actually timid and easily frightened.
She's got a lot of hometown pride.
Kansai Okonomiyaki or the Giants, Okayama,
make sure to never mention them.
Right now she's not eating ramen, so she can fit into the dress.
She sounds so great, though.
Yeah.
Too bad she's almost over me.
[distant bird squawking]
[jet passing over]
[woman] Yes, I told him three times to come in today.
Well, you know how he gets. It was good, it was good.
I found an amazing gyoza place yesterday.
-Really? -It was so amazing!
-Is it close? -I went alone.
-Yeah, I couldn't eat much. -[laughing] Sounds like a big menu.
Yeah! So let's go together next time, okay?
[air hissing]
STEAM
Hello. Could I have one of these, mister?
[man] Uh… go ahead.
Thank you very much.
YUKIGUNI PUDDING
[softly] I'm home.
[door rattling]
Good morning.
Oh.
I'm back at the factory right after the cleaning job today.
Would you mind picking up Tsuzuru?
You're definitely going to ruin your health.
Working both day and night.
[sighs]
Pudding's in the fridge. Make sure he eats it, okay?
I'm off to school, Mom.
[jet flying over]
Mommy, you liar! Hey! What about the pool?!
I'm sorry!
Hey, listen, someone mommy works with has a stomach ache.
I'll go with you next time!
Maybe I'll add a strawberry parfait as well!
It's just a silly cleaning job, though! Come on, Mom!
Tsuzuru!
-Goodbye. -[woman] Come on, say goodbye.
Be kind to your mom.
[indistinct chatter]
[woman] Oh, my best trip ever. I love my job!
[laughing]
-Sorry, mind throwing this away? -Yeah, sure.
-See him? There. -Oh!
[woman] Hey, over here!
Taxi!
Daddy!
Ooh!
You losing weight?
Think I am?
Peekaboo.
Well, I'm picking him up tomorrow, then.
[woman] There's our bus. Wait, wait, wait!
[Yukihoto] Yae.
Climb in the car.
-About our conversation earlier. -I thought we settled that already.
-At this rate, you'll-- -I can't.
I can't do it. I just can't.
So, tomorrow, right? Right here.
Tsuzuru. You be good today.
-Okay, bye-bye. -Bye-bye!
-Mm. -It's good, yeah.
-It's very good. -Thank you very much.
Ah! Let me…
-Oh, thank you. -Of course.
Mm.
I heard you were good at drawing, Doctor. So much talent!
Ah! [laughs]
Way back in college,
I won a prize at the Nitten exhibition.
Do I take up the scalpel or the paint brush?
I struggled with the decision.
If he didn't quit,
we'd still be living in an old rental unit.
That is true, it is.
Harsh words, am I right?
No, I'd say it was a good choice.
The Okochi surgery technique you developed
saved the lives of many at-risk patients, I'd say,
and cut the operation time down significantly.
I have a slogan called "the three S's," okay?
"Speed, skill, satisfaction." Is that right?
My dad recommended your book to me, and it left a big impression.
You might turn out to be a better brain surgeon than your father.
[laughing]
Yeah, that would be so great.
-Oh, uh, allow me. -Ah, thank you.
[knock on window]
Tsuzuru! Did you get a bear?
Excuse me.
Coming?
[Yukihoto] Here. Oh, there's more.
Grandma bought them for me.
-Ah! That's nice of her. -So many toys!
Thanks a lot.
Yae…
I want you to think it over again.
What will make Tsuzuru the happiest?
Exams year's around the corner.
For the sake of his future, would you let me take him home, please?
Oh! Why wouldn't I?
Hey! You know Ohashi in sales broke up with Yoshimi in HR?
[woman, voice muffled] Oh, yeah?
Anyway, when did Halloween become such a national event?
Did we have this silly thing always?
Halloween is a wonderful event
that allows us shy Japanese people to take advantage of the chaos
and do dumb tings.
Hey, which do you think Ohashi would like?
Bold and sexy or…
the soothing sexy?
[laughs] I think that's a sexy overload.
Oh, yeah?
Ah! You gotta try this!
Here. Here you go. This.
Huh?
You know, I think I'm good.
That's probably not quite right.
It's also Mr. Saruwatari's goodbye party, so we gotta make it fun, you know?
Huh?
Mr. Saruwatari is quitting?
You didn't know?
They're calling it voluntary retirement, but it's basically a lay-off.
You know that.
A lot of work he skipped to take care of his old mother?
Excuse me, I'd like to buy both of them.
Hold on, could you reconsider?!
I've worked here for two years and gotten used to things
and was made co-leader earlier this year.
No, that's doesn't matter.
This hasn't been easy for us.
Was it 'cause I asked for time off the other day?
Well, my son had a bad fever and I needed to be with him.
But that barely ever happens.
-If necessary, I can work Saturday-- -Ms. Noguchi!
Yes?
I know what you're feeling, but it's been decided.
It's not immediate, so work hard and look for something else.
[peaceful music playing]
[music continues over dialogue]
♪ Everyone is sound asleep ♪
♪ I am wide awake ♪
♪ I threw out the sleeping pills ♪
♪ They wanted me to take ♪
♪ I guess I'll get some sleep ♪
♪ When you awake ♪
[Tsuzuru] Wow!
Cool!
Wait until I bring all of them.
[Tsuzuru] It's definitely going to be the best I've ever tasted!
It's nice, right? Ready?
-Okay, now. -[both] Time to dig in!
[Tsuzuru] Let's eat.
♪ I guess I'll get Some sleep when I… ♪
How is it?
This is so good!
I'm saving this for last.
♪ Every night I toss and turn ♪
♪ Crawl under the sheets ♪
Here.
♪ Toes on fire, fingers burn ♪
♪ Please turn off the heat ♪
♪ I just wanna fall asleep… ♪
Ahhhh!
Strawberry!
It's so tasty!
You see?
So tasty!
[music fades]
CHANGING CUSTODY ARRANGEMENTS
TSUZURU NOGUCHI
[sniffles]
[contemplative music playing]
Let's go.
Hey. Come, Tsuzuru. Come.
-[Tsuzuru crying] Mommy! Mommy! -Come on.
-Let's get him in the car. -Mommy!
-Come on, let's go.
-Mommy! -Let's go!
-Come. -Mommy.
Let's get in the car with Grandma. Daddy's going to drive.
[car doors closing]
-Hey, Tsuzuru! -Tsuzuru!
-[grandmother] Come back! -Mommy!
Mommy!
-Mommy! -Tsuzuru.
-Mommy! -Come on.
Mommy! [sobbing]
-[grandmother] It's okay. -Mommy!
It's going to be all right.
Mommy!
-Mommy! -[car starts]
Mommy!
Mama!
Mama! Mama!
[sobbing]
[jet engines roaring]
[alert chimes]
Yes, may I help you?
-[woman] I'd like a blanket, please. -Yes, of course.
TO MY BROTHER
YU
[cart rattling]
Sir, would you like some snacks?
Uh, yes, please.
-Would you like some coffee with it? -Yeah, thank you.
[attendant] Here you go.
Enjoy.
[Namiki] Thank you.
[door opens]
[door closes]
Hello, Mom.
ENGLISH SPEECH CONTEST SECOND PRIZE
I was sure I tossed that.
All your rivals were very talented.
But the audience applauded your speech.
And you did so good, and you got second place.
[chuckles]
I was proud.
Are you done?
Oh, I found this too.
Look at this. Look.
[chuckles]
It's in your blood, Yae.
Did I say that I was the first Miss Okhotsk ever?
Let's be honest, shall we?
[chuckles]
Wasn't everyone other than you ugly?
Okay, stop it!
Everything was perfect.
Why did things have to turn out this way?
Sorry to disappoint.
For not being your special child.
Why did the good Lord sentence me to such a cruel fate?
I don't get it.
Fate doesn't exist.
[contemplative music playing]
[zipper unzips]
[woman] This is an announcement from Norn Airlines.
Due to heavy snow, all outbound flights after 2 p.m. today are canceled.
[child] Mommy?
Mommy?
-Are you all right? -Where's Mommy?
Your mommy?
We're just playing hide-and-seek, okay?
Shall we go find her?
Maybe you'll get a nice Christmas present!
[laughs]
[child] How can I be like you?
Like me?
Okay. What's your name?
My name is Emma.
Emma. Nice to meet you.
I'm Yae.
Emma, being a flight attendant is tough.
But if you really try, I'm sure you can make it.
Excuse me, sorry!
Emma! Let's go find Mommy.
[contemplative music playing]
[air hissing]
[music fades]
Good day, sir.
Thanks, you too.
[sighs]
Excuse me.
Please sit.
Nice to meet you. I'm Tsunemi Arikawa.
My name "Tsunemi" means "fixed star" and "beautiful."
A fixed star, like Andromeda or Centaurus.
I'm from Onomichi City, Hiroshima.
I love eating local specialty ramen, and my favorite's from Onomichi.
Uh, Ms. Tsunemi meaning "fixed star" and "beautiful"…
so sorry to disappoint.
It's just that I don't have serious stress or some problems
worth discussing with you.
I'm just here because of my orders.
Also, ramen from Asahikawa is best.
Harumichi Namiki, second lieutenant.
In 2008, you were sent to help the Iraqi reconstruction
with a transport division
and were based in Kuwait.
Afterwards, you were assigned a peacekeeping mission
in Golan Heights on the Syrian border.
Just so you know, the JASDF was never attacked
or had any casualties to report.
However, before you landed your C-130 at Baghdad Airport,
a few rockets were fired and you made some evasive maneuvers
before they struck the airport.
Did I get that right?
I just followed the training and landed the airplane.
They say people systematically try to forget unpleasant memories.
The time you spend confronting your experiences is important.
You don't have to talk to me if you don't want to.
But you are a government employee.
And unfortunately, this time is a large part of your duties.
Furthermore, this is also my job.
It'll be a problem for me if you aren't here until 3 p.m.
So go ahead and talk when you feel like it.
[helicopter hovering]
[bird chirping]
What's the name?
-It's Tsunemi. It means "fixed star"-- -I meant the bird.
Ah…
Pippi bird.
-Doesn't look like Pippi is eating. -What?
-Seriously? -Mm-hmm.
Parakeets pretend to act happy even when they're not well, you see?
So…
Maybe the temperature's too cold.
Hmm?
-Oh! May I? -Ah.
[remote beeping]
-You know a lot. -Hmm. I had one as a kid.
He could sing the theme song to Jounetsu Tairiku all day.
-Yeah? -I named him Hakase.
[laughs]
-Pippi. -[bird chirps]
-Pippi. -[chirps twice]
Oh, huh? Pippi.
[chirps twice]
Hello.
-Hello there. -[chirps three times]
I'll see you the same time next week. Does that sound all right?
Sure. Thank you.
Thanks for coming.
[bird chirps]
Oh, could I ask something?
Mm-hmm.
Hmm…
Would it be possible to recover lost memories?
Like in an accident, when someone hit their head?
Do you have someone specific in mind you're thinking of?
I'm talking about someone I actually know.
Neurology is an unpredictable area.
Despite that,
it's more than possible to recover memories.
By stimulating the five senses, it is possible.
Like smells, sounds, taste,
or something like the lighting or touch as well.
Are you familiar with Proust's famous novel?
The moment the protagonist tastes a Madeleine soaked in some hot tea,
he suddenly recalls some of his childhood's oldest memories.
"Involuntary memories" is what Proust called them.
It all came back.
In other words…
the body's memories.
Mm-hmm.
[tranquil music playing]