Ikiru Page #5

- Say, get me a bicycle.

- Yes.

I'm going out to survey the site.

Put together a report today.

I think that's a little impossible.

No, not if you set your mind to it.

Five months later.

The protagonist of our story has died.

Let us see the deputy mayor.

He's here, right?

Five minutes.

Just five minutes, please.

What should I tell them?

- But why press it when nothing's wrong?

- Are you sure?

Our claim is based on

thorough research.

Deputy Mayor, sir.

Although technically the Parks Dept.

and the Ward Committee built that park

with your backing, wasn't it really

Watanabe-san who built it?

That's the word.

But Watanabe was section chief

of Public Affairs.

The Park Department builds parks.

Sure, we understand that.

But actually,

we're talking about the man who

kept the plan alive and saw it through.

The community residents believe

that was Watanabe-san.

They're all worried about why

Watanabe-san died in the park he created.

What do you mean?

Well, they had reservations

long before this.

You never mentioned Watanabe-san

in the speech you gave

at the park's opening ceremony.

They don't even call it a speech.

What was it, then?

Electioneering.

And also,

that Watanabe-san was snubbed

at the ceremony

and seated in the back row.

In other words, general sympathy

for Watanabe-san

has given rise to a special

interpretation of his death at the park.

Meaning that his was an act of silent

protest against city officials.

So you're saying that Watanabe

committed suicide,

or at least was prepared to,

when he froze to death there?

More or less.

It was snowing last night.

Sounds like a scene right out of a play.

However,

the truth is, an autopsy has clearly

established Watanabe's cause of death.

He neither committed suicide nor froze

to death. He died of stomach cancer.

- Stomach cancer?

- Right.

Intestinal hemorrhaging.

Watanabe died suddenly,

when he himself had no idea.

If you've any doubts...

Ohno,

refer them to his hospital.

It doesn't sit right.

These newspapermen

and their lack of sensitivity.

Actually, it applies

to the general public.

Their fundamental antipathy towards

city officials will never do.

They just don't understand

how we function.

Take that little park in Kuroe,

for instance.

Apparently the public seems to believe

that Watanabe built it.

But that's ridiculous.

I hate to say this at his wake.

And maybe I shouldn't,

in front of his family and relatives,

but I'll go ahead because I know

Watanabe himself would disagree.

Watanabe certainly went

to great pains

to make that park.

I take my hat off to his passion.

But all his efforts were

in the context of his office.

The idea that he went beyond

the scope of his office

to facilitate citizens' desires,

and actually made the park himself,

is nonsensical to those

who understand our bureaucracy.

I'm sure Watanabe himself is wincing.

However,

given that such rumors are surfacing,

perhaps we may have been remiss.

Everyone focused on that historic

project that rushed through construction.

Maybe we should have singled out

someone's service.

For instance,

section chief

of the Parks Department.

Or his superior,

the division chief in Engineering.

That's what you say, Deputy Mayor,

but here's what I think.

All the Parks' section chief and I did

was follow the dictates of our office.

But when you bear in mind

your own struggles

to rein in that notoriously political

City Council,

and realize the park's construction,

it's you, Deputy Mayor,

who should be singled out.

None of that, now.

Some people have even criticized

my speech at the opening ceremony.

Isn't that right, Ohno?

Some even say

I was electioneering.

Excuse me.

The residents of Kuroe

are here asking to burn incense

for the deceased.

Dear.

Mitsuo-san.

It sure is cold.

May I pour one for you?

Oh, no, I'll go get warm sake.

What do you say?

Why don't you all move closer down here?

Why not?

- Over here, please.

- Thanks.

Hayashi-san.

Here, Ohno-san.

Have all the big shots gone

to a meeting?

Yes.

No, they couldn't stand to stay here.

I don't care what anyone says.

It was Watanabe-san who made that park.

In their hearts, the deputy mayor

and his people know...

That's going too far.

As the deputy mayor said...

That's right. I'm not saying this

because I'm in the Parks Department,

but we planned, budgeted

and built that park.

No, that's not what I mean.

Let it go. I can understand

your feelings, but...

The point is,

he was in Public Affairs.

How dare he even think about

making a park.

Violating our bureaucratic turf.

No, if you've got to credit something,

it was coincidence that made that park.

- But in that...

- Just listen.

City council members had

an upcoming election to consider,

and the concession owners sniffed

a possible restaurant row,

and all that sure sped up work

on that landfill site.

- That's right.

- Yes.

That's exactly right.

But I just can't figure it out.

Why would anyone with his personality

suddenly up and change like that?

Right, it's a total mystery.

That's right, exactly.

In other words, with the benefit

of hindsight, it's obvious.

Watanabe-san must've known

he had stomach cancer.

That's why...

Oh, we were just discussing

whether or not your father knew

he had stomach cancer.

Well, if he'd known, I'm sure

he would have told me.

I see.

But I believe my father was fortunate

to die without realizing he had cancer.

Because that disease

is a death sentence.

I see. Well, that knocks out

Saito's theory.

What's that theory?

It's just that five months ago,

something transformed him.

You're right.

And none of us could make

heads or tails of what had changed him.

Well, that's the woman's touch.

A young mistress' hormones

can temporarily revive

an old man. Happens all the time.

Put a real sheen back on his cheeks.

The truth is, he'd recently

found a way to buff that sheen.

Right.

That explains that rakish hat.

You're right. Frankly, that hat

was quite a shocker.

Section Chief,

I think that's a little impossible.

No, not if we set our minds to it.

But...

My point is,

there was something extraordinary

about his dedication.

Yes, that's right.

I don't mean to argue, but a woman's

touch alone can't account for...

- But...

- Dear.

The thing is...

Just doesn't...

Not to change the subject,

but there were times when his dogged

dedication threatened to derail it all.

That's city hall for you.

Gotta guard your turf.

What I just can't wrap

my head around

is why a 30-year veteran

of the place suddenly...

That's because Watanabe-san...

In any event,

hawking that park proposal of his

around every section

practically guaranteed

everyone would dig in their heels.

Including our own section chief.

Parks were our business, not Watanabe's.

We have our own proposals

for new parks.

Can't you reconsider?

This site is really terrible.

But making a park isn't as simple

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