Kabei: Our Mother Page #5

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No...

Out of my sight!

We're going.

Hatsuko, Terumi...

The poor things!

Take good care of my father.

Talking like that after those

girls came to see their grandfather!

At least they could have

had their sukiyaki...

Stop that crying, will you!

I wanted to eat beef!

Don't be greedy!

But I'm hungry!

Kabei!

Kabei, I'm hungry!

Stop crying.

'Today is a good day.

'Our Emperor was born.

'Today is a good day.

'Today is a good day.

'The light...

'shines upon us.

'Today is a good day.

'Together we celebrate...

'he whose light...

'shines on the world... '

Hearing Mother had fainted,

Yama rushed over on his bicycle.

Sorry!

Hey!

Missus! Are you all right?

Yama!

I'm here...

What are you doing?

Does she have a fever?

Just water won't help!

I'm going.

Where?

For ice!

Ow!

What are you doing?! Give me that.

What did the doctor say?

She hasn't seen one.

Why? Didn't you call one?

They use the Nomura

Clinic by the station.

Hatsu-bei went...

but young Dr Nomura's been drafted,

and his father's too busy to come.

That's crazy!

Hatsu-bei!

Take me to that clinic!

Get on.

Doctor, I'm turning.

Hi!

Hello, Doctor!

You need rest and nourishment.

I realize that's hard these days...

but keep on like you have,

and you won't get better.

I'll do my best for you...

but you must take time off work.

How long?

Three weeks, or a month if you can.

I've heard about your husband.

What a world!

Madness all around and

we have to carry on...

like it didn't bother us.

Um, about your bill...

I'm sorry? What did you say?

About paying you...

Oh, don't worry about that.

Call it a gift for your husband.

This'll hurt a bit...

There.

Here we go!

We'll be right back.

You're his amanuensis?

Sorry?

You're his amanuensis?

Something like that.

You want to watch what

you say these days.

'The walls have ears

and the doors have eyes. '

Sorry, I'm deaf in my left ear.

What did you say?

I'm getting hard of hearing.

Lately I don't hear very

well. Getting old is no fun!

I see!

'The Princess was glad to see Taro,

and every day she treated him... '

Is that right?

Yes.

'... and taught him games. '

What games?

Cards, maybe...

That's not right...

Princesses don't play cards!

No? Mahjong, maybe?

Quiet! I'm studying!

I'm studying, too!

Stop shouting, will you? Kabei's asleep!

Are you a wake?

Will you have some rice gruel?

Maybe I will.

Great!

Thank you, Yama.

Feeling better?

Hungry?

Yes, a little.

Did Auntie make dinner?

Yeah.

Was it good?

No!

That's right. She can

draw, but she can't cook.

She'll hear!

What did you say?

Nothing!

Hatsu-bei...

It's beautiful.

Hatsu-bei!

Thank you.

Good night.

Families are nice...

You have one, don't you?

My parents died when I was

small. I hardly remember them.

I see...

What a beautiful full moon...

Yama...

It's good to have a

man around the house.

I didn't say that.

Kayo did, just now. Under her breath.

Keep on helping out, all right?

Good night.

The summer vacation of 1941.

In Europe, Hitler's Germany went

to war with the Soviet Union.

In Asia, Japan occupied Vietnam...

and the third Konoe cabinet took power.

We went through those

unsettling times...

hoping against hope

for my father's return.

To my wife, from your husband.

I write watching thunderclouds

through the high window...

of my cell.

I am happy to hear that

Yamazaki will take you...

to the beach.

That is something that I, as

their father, should be doing.

It pains me that again

this year I cannot.

I want to spend a brief holiday

caressed by the sea breezes.

Do not worry about me.

I am eating properly.

Cold!

It's cold!

Come on, swim!

Kabei!

Give back the tube!

No!

Hatsu-bei!

Teru-bei!

Come out for a bit!

Come and sunbathe!

You hear me?

OK!

I want to play more!

That was fun!

Good.

Your lips are blue!

Are you cold?

Kabei, is that Yama?

He's drowning.

Not that close in...

Help!

I can't swim!

Oh, no!

Yama!

Yama!

Yama!

No, don't!

I'll get him!

Please!

It's all right! Settle down!

It's all right!

Lay him down here.

Spit it out.

Is Yama dead?

He's fine. He just swallowed some water.

Thank you.

Yama...

I thought I was dead!

'At the east of Asia...

'where the sun rises...

'our holy Emperor...

'appears.

'His divine light...

'dispels the fog...

'covering the old land... '

Later on that autumn, Aunt Hisako...

went back to her home town of Hiroshima.

Her mother had fallen ill.

Tobei said to give you that.

Really?

These are some sweets for your mother.

Even these are hard to find.

And this is soap.

Thank you for all you've done for me.

We'll miss you.

My brother can't be

with Mother, so I will.

The filial daughter.

Can't you just take time

off from art school...

...instead of quitting?

Studying there made me realize

I don't have any talent.

I'll go back to Hiroshima,

teach art to children...

and meet somebody nice.

You know, Hisako, I always thought

you'd get together with Yama.

I guess not.

He doesn't appeal to you?

He's got someone else.

He does?

What's she like? Do I know her?

You haven't noticed?

Don't you see?

That's impossible!

I mean, I...

You have a husband you love.

Meaning that Yama's fallen in love

with someone he shouldn't have.

It's not your fault.

It's sad, but what can you do?

It's a shame, though.

Give these to Teru-bei.

My old stuff.

She should paint, you know.

She might be better at it than me.

Oh?

Hurry, Terumi!

OK!

I'm back!

There she is.

Hi!

You're here, Auntie?

You're staying for dinner?

Hello.

We're going to Sachiko's.

Their dog had pups.

Your homework!

Later!

Hello.

Who's that pretty girl?

She's not a girl. She's my aunt!

Then came that morning...

December 8th, 1941

Good morning.

The time is 7 o'clock.

One moment, please.

This is a special news announcement.

From Imperial Headquarters,

December 8th at 6:00 a. m.

The Imperial Army and Navy

have opened hostilities against...

American and English forces

in the Western Pacific.

The Imperial Army and Navy

have opened hostilities against...

American and English forces

in the Western Pacific.

It's started!

What's happened?

Something terrible!

Finally!

War with America! It had to be!

That's a relief!

We have to knock them down!

Don't we!

A surprise attack on American

vessels and aircraft in Hawaii...

has been a success.

Two:
today the Imperial

Navy has invaded Singapore...

and achieved excellent results.

Three:
the Imperial Navy

this morning attack ed...

enemy installations in

Davao, Wake, and Guam.

The teacher!

Boys and girls, you all

heard what the Principal said.

Japan has gone to war with

two great big countries...

called America and England.

Lessons are canceled today so

you can go to Hachiman Shrine...

and pray for victory in our crusade.

Put your books away.

That night the black out began...

and the whole city went dark.

Ow!

It's too dark to sew!

Is that for Tobei?

Yes.

I thought I'd sew a

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