Departures Page #4

but it's tough being the one left behind.

I dressed her up, and sent her away.

My very first client.

I've been working in this business ever since.

This too...

This is a corpse too.

The living eat the living to live.

Right?

These plants are an exception.

You have to eat if you don't want to die.

If you're going to eat,

might as well taste good.

Tasty, isn't it?

It sure is.

Yeah it is... sadly.

It's almost two weeks since I

returned to Yamagata from Tokyo.

Now that I think of it, I've lead

such an unremarkable life.

Will I really be able to

make a living with this job?

Do you want to try?

Yes.

Slowly, lower from the head.

Tomeo...

Good bye.

Thank you.

We've been doing nothing but argue

since Tomeo started dressing up like that...

I haven't looked straight into

his face for a long time.

But... seeing him smile made me think...

ah... he really is my child.

Even if he looks like a girl...

he really is my child!

Thank you so much!

Tastes great!

Is it tasty?

...Sadly.

Did you bring the cello?

Really? I want to hear!

I'll play a little bit.

It's my first time listening to a cello live.

You were in an orchestra too, right?

Yes, but it went out of business right away.

How long have you been playing?

Ever since I was in kindergarten.

Wow, for that long?

This is also a children's cello...

my father forced me to learn to play this.

Your father had a fine taste.

He's the worst father ever.

He ran a small cafe,

but he ran away with a waitress,

never came back.

He really was the worst father ever.

I wonder what he's doing now.

Who knows, probably already dead.

Well, what should I play?

Let's see...

something Christmassy.

Yeah.

Uh... will different religions bother you?

Don't worry.

Buddhism, Christian, Islam, Hindu...

we handle all religions here.

Then,

for the Holy Night...

Yes, this is NK Agent.

Thank you always for your business.

Yes, tomorrow.

The name of the deceased is...

I will now prepare her for her last journey.

Gently cover her toes...

Um...

My grandma said she wanted to wear loose socks.

Okay.

Grandma,

bye-bye.

Thank you for everything, grandma.

...in the name of Jesus Christ...

Amen.

Boss has aged a lot!

Thank you, honey.

Mika!

You haven't been cleaning this place?

Occasionally.

You're lying, you haven't even cleaned once.

I cleaned twice.

That's not "occasionally".

You're a mess without me, as I thought.

I have something to report too.

What is it?

I'm pregnant.

Wow...

I'm going to be a father?

So please start getting your life together.

Can you proudly tell your child about your job?

I'm sure it'll lead to bullying.

I don't care about money.

Let's just live happily together.

Yes, hello?

What? Now?

What?!

Okay. I'll be there right away.

You're going to work at a time like this?

Lady at the bath house...

passed away.

She's my wife, Mika.

She collapsed while carrying firewood...

and passed away.

She was working 'til the very end.

It'll be lonely around here,

without this bath house.

Please wipe her face one by one,

and bid her farewell one last time.

Mom...

Mother...

Shiori.

This is good-bye to your grandma.

Mother...

Thank you for everything.

This is where you work?

Everyone, please see her off with a prayer.

Please allow me to close the 'window'.

Thank you...

see you again.

Can I witness the last moment of my mother?

Thank you.

I guess people get a hunch about these things.

Last winter, the two of us had

a little Christmas party.

I didn't expect her to

celebrate it at this age.

But...

she said she wanted to have one no matter what.

We bought a small cake, lit up the candles...

and celebrated together.

Then, out of the blue...

she asked me to help her with the firewood.

This must have been what she meant.

I'm good at burning things.

Working here for a long time makes me think...

that death... is a gateway.

Death doesn't mean the end,

but leaving the present,

heading for the next stage.

Truly a gateway.

As a gatekeeper,

I've seen off many people.

"Have a nice trip,

see you again", I would say...

Mom...

I'm sorry, mom...

I'm sorry, mom.

I'm sorry.

Mom...

I'm sorry, mom.

What are you doing?

This is it!

Here.

What?

Stone-letter.

"Stone-letter"?

In the ancient times,

before humans invented writing...

they searched for the stone

that resembled their feelings,

and gave it to another person.

The person who received the stone,

read the other person's feelings

by the weight and texture.

For example, smooth texture

symbolizing a peaceful mind,

and rough texture symbolizing

a concern for others.

Thank you!

What did you feel?

It's a secret.

That's a wonderful story.

Who did you hear it from?

My old man.

Does that mean... that big stone too?

Yes, I got it from my father.

I never knew.

"Let's give each other stone-letters

every year", he said...

yet that was the only time.

Such a lousy father!

Can you play every day for the unborn baby?

Sure.

What nice weather.

Good afternoon.

Is this the Kobayashi residence?

Yes.

A telegram for Ms. Kazuko.

What...?

Is she no longer here?

No, uh... my mother-in-law

passed away two years ago.

Really? Oh...

Excuse me, can I see it?

You're not supposed to...

KOBAYASHI HIDEKI

Death day and time: 18th, around 7:30

Please come and collect his body!

I'm back, sorry for taking so long.

Daigo, you forgot to take your cell phone.

What? Oh... it's back home.

Sorry.

Father passed away.

Whose?

Yours.

What do you mean?

... is what they told me when I called

the Yurahama Fishing Association.

Our address was in his belongings.

But I don't even know him...

I haven't seen him in more than 30 years!

And the person he ran away

with can take care of him.

It seems he was alone the whole time.

He'll be cremated tomorrow morning.

It seems his body is in their assembly hall.

Anyway, we're no longer legally related...

tell them I can't sign the documents.

Thanks.

Dai...

Please go for him.

Don't worry about it.

Please, I'm begging you.

I...

abandoned my son in Hokkaido.

He was 6 years old.

I fell in love with someone...

"Mommy, mommy"...

he cried, but...

I shook off his small arm, and left home.

Your son...

Of course I want to see him, but... I can't.

Why not?

Just go see him if you want to.

Do all parents who've abandoned

their child act like that?

Then you're all too irresponsible!

Please, go for him.

Go and see his last appearance.

Dai...

Boss...

Hey...

Take one you like.

Go ahead.

He was already dead when

I showed up this morning.

I was surprised.

I don't know where he came from,

but he came to this town by himself.

He worked very hard at the port.

So I let him live in this shack.

I see...

He was a quiet man...

I'm glad someone from his family showed up.

People from the funeral home will be here soon.

Okay.

He's your father.

I'm ashamed to admit...

I don't recognize...

his face.

That he looked like this...

It doesn't even ring a bell.

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