Antarctica

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JANUARY, 1957

COAST GUARD PATROL BOAT 'SOUYA',

WEIGHING 2497 TONS

HAS BYPASSED BAD WEATHER

AND IS PROCEEDING TOWARD ANTARCTICA

SHOUWA BASE, ONGU ISLAND

Shouwa Base is

the first base being built by the Japanese

during their participation

in the International Geophysical Year

Here we have all the First Cross-Winter Expedition members

and 19 Karafuto dogs, including one female.

In order to be successful in this campaign,

the team is staying in Antarctica

during the winter.

This is also a fight against

the harsh nature of Antarctica.

Hey, it's time to eat!

Here, Riki.

Taro, here you go.

Good boy.

Here, Jiro.

Here, Kuma.

Hey, Anko, Taro.

You guys are too spoiled.

Aren't you two supposed to be brothers?

And you grew up in Antarctica, too.

I want to set out

at the beginning of October.

If we start too late,

the ice might get too unstable.

Then we can't travel inland.

But looking at that engine,

we not really going to get far.

The first car also needs to be fixed.

Ah, such poor performance.

The second team might bring a better sled.

Because we've already told them

what parts need to be upgraded.

I really want to get to Botnnuten.

Because you've already arrived

at Antarctica?

I can understand your feeling.

But looking at the observation team's

previous missions,

we've already accomplished what we wanted.

Hey, Ushioda.

What is it?

How much baggage

can a dog sled pull?

Well...

If we're looking at something

really heavy,

the standard should be

around half the dog's weight.

If we choose 15 really strong dogs,

averaging 36 kilograms per dog,

then that should be...

Jiro - 34.5.

All right.

Mr Ushioda, which dog should

we weigh next?

- Taro.

- Sure.

Let's take a photo with Taro,

quickly.

Here, Taro. Such a good boy.

Come on.

Okay, ready, come on.

It's decided that dog sleds

should be used

to travel inland.

The team will set off

from the base on the 16th of October

the strongest sled team possible.

Our goal is to

arrive at Botnnuten,

which is at higher ground.

The team will survey its actual position,

its elevation,

and its geology.

Akira Ushioda is responsible

for geology measurements

and looking after the dogs.

Responsible for meteorology measurements,

is Ochi Kenjiro, who will also

look after the dogs.

The one most experienced

in mountaineering is Ozaki Taicho.

These three have been chosen

to be the team members.

Go...

Go on...

Riki, go, Riki.

Go...

Go...

Let's go...

Let's get moving.

Jakku, come on.

We're almost there.

Keep going, it'll get easier once

we get past this trough.

Good, doctor, keep pulling hard.

Are you okay?

Jakku.

Good...

Good.

Jiro.

Good, hurry up, let's get moving.

Jiro, Kuma.

Good...

Good, let's make a stop...

Doctor, how are you doing?

Ochi,

If you don't change your socks soon

you're going to get frostbite.

Of course.

Let's stop here...

We should already be

on Padda Island by now.

That's strange, what's that over there?

It's a whale.

It looks like the carcass has been pushed

to the surface by the ice.

God, what a mess.

Jakku, do you know

what kind of noise this is?

It's not the wind whistling, that's for sure.

That sounds like ice blocks collapsing

on each other.

What is it, are you nervous?

If you're worried by this,

how are you going to

cope with the journey ahead of us?

The reason why I'm pushing

you guys so hard,

is that I'm hoping you'll

become tougher.

Here it is different than Japan.

This is Antarctica.

Only the strongest can survive.

Got it?

I never expected such

a hard trainer like you

to have a soft side.

Oh come on,

I was just woken by the doctor's

horrible snoring.

Then I heard that guy

whining outside.

I just couldn't help myself.

Me too.

If it wasn't for him,

I wouldn't have heard that.

The wind has picked up.

Go and check the guy lines.

Then go back to sleep.

Okay, have a good night.

Go...

Go, Riki, go on.

Riki seems a little off.

Good, let's stop here...

Stop, now...

Let's put Jiro at the front

to lead the team.

Sure.

Deri should stay back too.

Move Kuma and Taro to the front.

Right.

Go...

Go...

Go...

Are you okay?

I'm fine.

Stop here...

- Ochi.

- What is it?

One of the dogs is bleeding.

Which one is it?

It's Taro.

Is it serious?

Not really.

Can't believe that Jiro is hurt too.

Good, time to pull, move it.

Pull harder.

Come on, let's hurry up.

Let's start pulling.

Hurry and pull.

Let's get moving.

Good, stop here.

Let's stop here...

Okay, stop...

All right, Kuma's stronger.

Let's move him to the lead.

It should be okay,

shouldn't it?

Go...

Let's stop.

Goro, what is it?

Aren't you the most experienced

in the team?

Come on, let's push it.

Ochi.

It's my turn.

Okay.

Time to go.

Get ready.

Pull...

Pull...

Pull...

Okay, stop.

Good, we're going downhill from now on.

Ochi, let's go.

Excellent.

- Doctor?

- Okay.

Good, let's go.

- Ochi, let's be careful.

- Right.

Doctor.

Stop here...

Goro, are you okay?

It's all because you haven't

run fast enough.

Hey, how are you doing?

I'm fine.

I wasn't asking you, I was asking the dogs.

The dogs and I are fine.

Go...

Come... let's go...

Let's stop...

It's time to eat!

Come on.

Hey, Shiro, do you want some of this?

Go ahead and eat!

Thanks.

This is our food.

A young guy like yourself

must be starving.

Damn, this is hard going.

But it's okay, I can put up with it

because this is Antarctica,

the land of my dreams.

Good, we're almost there.

- Hey.

- Yes?

- Can you bring Goro over here?

- Of course.

Goro! Goro's going.

Goro, Goro's leaving.

Goro...

Goro...

Goro...

Goro...

Goro...

Goro...

Goro...

Go...

Goro...

What do you want?

Don't you know who's feeding you?

Come on.

Go... Goro.

Come on, let's go.

Come on, let's go, come on.

Come on, move! So useless.

Let's go! Such a useless dog.

Goro...

Goro, hurry up and come back.

Hurry up and come back.

If you don't, we'll leave you.

Please, come back here.

Please, I beg of you.

Don't you remember who feeds you?

Please, I'm begging you.

You get it now, don't you?

You seem to understand me.

Come on, let's go.

Let's get on, follow my lead, Goro.

Go...

Go...

Go...

Go...

Go...

Go...

Hurry...

Hurry...

Very good...

Very good... Go...

What is it?

Botnnuten...

Wait.

This is something...

written by the students

from Hokkaido University,

who were given the huskies for training

and Mr Moriwa.

Let's put them all in.

Okay, that's good.

On the road back from Botnnuten,

the expedition is surrounded

by a very thick fog.

In such a windless environment,

their vision is entirely lost.

The world becomes white.

The eyes of the three team members

are all damaged

by strong ultraviolet rays.

They contract snow blindness as a result.

The expedition did not bring

any radio transmitters

due to weight constraints.

They are as good as dead.

Hey, let's stop here.

Ochi, are you okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

I can't believe that the team

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