Only Yesterday Page #5

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...giving nature a hand is hard work.

Things haven't changed

in a hundred years.

No, even "organic" rice

uses weed-killer.

There's not enough labor

to weed by hand.

You're really working hard.

How about some tea?

Fantastic.

I felt like a break.

Toshio let me try

a variety of things...

...until I felt I knew

all about country life.

How wonderful.

"Behold, the crows fly home.

First one..."

At last I can say this

in the right setting.

It was my line in a school play.

I was "Village Child A".

Oh, I see.

I only ever had small roles too.

And you Naoko?

Only lead roles,

since there are so few of us.

These days people leave

and go to the cities.

And now there are fewer kids.

I see. But getting the big

roles must be fun.

Not really. I prefer sports.

I'm a pretty fast runner.

Good for you.

I was always mediocre.

The sports version

of "Village Child A"

Still, I'll never forget that line

as long as I live.

It was going to make me a star.

A star?

Yes.

What kind of star?

That tiny role?

Yes.

Even though you weren't the lead?

Yes.

Because I was the most enthusiastic.

'Cause you were the cutest?

No, not that!

I rehearsed endlessly

in front of the mirror.

Even for "Village Child A"...

The line was so short,

I felt something missing.

"Behold, the crows fly home.

First one..."

I know. You made up more!

Exactly.

Look up there, the crows fly home.

- First one...

- Then two...

- Then three...

- Then four...

Farewell dear crows.

You take care now.

And your teacher loved it.

Just the opposite.

Very good everyone.

But let's stick to the script.

After all that.

It wasn't a good line,

so I didn't mind.

I wasn't discouraged at all.

I realized that I could act

even when there were no lines.

Behold, the crows fly home.

- First one.

- Then two.

- Then three.

- Then four.

That was all.

It was worth the effort.

"Village Child A" was a hit.

Believe it or not.

People asked if I'd had lessons.

Teachers praised me.

Then something amazing happened.

Anyone home?

Coming.

...and then the dynamite blew up

right in my face!

...right in my face!

What? Our Taeko?

We need a girl to star

in our college play.

As a service to the community,...

...please let your daughter perform.

A star!

We'd rehearse Saturday afternoons.

We wouldn't take too long.

Well, but...

Of course we'd bring her

straight home.

I'll be in a real play.

Not with a bunch of kids

but with real grown-ups!

I'll be a star!

Oh, oh, oh,

oh what a wonderful day

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

Mother!

So? So?

A nice boy from the university

wants you in their drama.

You were so good

in the school play.

And? And?

He practically begged me!

Wow that's great!

At least you're good at something.

She writes good essays too.

She's certainly better at that

than she is at math.

That's right. That's right.

I was lead in "The Poor Sparrow"

but no one came for me.

You see, you see!

Are you going to do it?

This could lead to a career.

Join the Takarazuka Theater.

Start rehearsing now,

it's perfect timing.

Acting is out.

Show business people

are no good.

"Show business"...

don't exaggerate...

That's right. It's...

I said no.

Dinner.

Father's so stubborn.

Why did you have to

mention a career?

- Can I bathe first?

- Sure.

Or Takarazuka...?

Or show business?

You know Dad...

Why did you say that Nanako?

That's enough.

Poor boy, poor boy,

Don't you feel sorry for me?

We won't take much of her time.

I know but...

I beg you.

She's rather shy...

...the timid type...

Sorry you came so far for nothing.

Poor boy, poor boy...

...such a long way from home...

Poor boy

Aoki's going to play the part instead.

I see.

She's boasting to everyone.

I see.

Today her Mom met her at school...

...to get her changed

into a fancy dress.

A frilly thing out to here.

Don't tell anyone

you got the first offer.

Because that would hurt

Aoki very much.

Do you understand?

Do you understand?

Breaking through the waves

Shooting through the clouds

Where is it heading, Hyokkori Pumpkin Island?

Where will it take us?

Something special waits for us,

just over the horizon

There'll be hard times,

there'll be sad times,

but we'll never lose heart

We hate to cry,

so let's laugh instead

Let's go!

Hyokkori Pumpkin Island!

Poor little Taeko.

I joined the drama group

in high school.

I couldn't forget what had happened.

And then?

It was a lot of fun, acting and all...

...but it wasn't for me.

As for becoming a star...

...that was a joke.

But...

I guess Dads are the same all over.

When I was in high school,

I so wanted to live in Tokyo.

I even wrote to my cousin

about universities there.

Did you really?

I gave up. But it annoyed me

to hear other guys

bragging about life in Tokyo.

Not anymore though.

I respect my Dad...

He's an expert farmer.

But I know how you felt.

Mine's just a funny story.

No it's the same, I understand.

But we'll never lose heart, we hate

to cry, so let's laugh instead.

I also watched

Hyokkori Pumpkin Island.

Really?

Machine Gun Dandy was so cool.

He was my hero!

Of course.

Those songs were full

of encouragement.

What was that other one...?

" If today's no good,

you'll have tomorrow"

" If tomorrow's no good,

you'll have the next day"

" If that's no good,

there'll be another"

"There's always a tomorrow"

What a weird song!

That song, about putting things off,...

...Toshio took in a positive,

ffirmative way.

I liked his approach to life.

You're going tomorrow?

You're going tomorrow?

Thank you for having me for so long.

Thank you, my dear.

Do you like it here?

Very much. I feel so at home.

Glad to hear it.

I've lived here all my life.

Been to Tokyo just once.

For your sister's wedding.

You think it's better than Tokyo?

Without a doubt.

Tokyo's packed with cars, buildings...

People shouldn't live like that.

This is a different world.

You really like it here then?

Yes. The nice surroundings,

the kind people...

Taeko.

Why don't you live here? With Toshio?

Since his brother moved to Tokyo,

why don't you stay here

and marry Toshio?

Granny!

Mother... you've gone too far!

Taeko's shocked.

Please think it over.

Don't pay any attention. She's joking.

Joking, right, Granny?

No. I'm serious.

Don't deny you wouldn't like it.

It's not a matter of what we'd like.

Of course we'd love it.

But Taeko's a city person.

Of course.

But she loves it here,

she works so hard on the land,

it's a joy to watch.

There'd be nothing better

than her marrying Toshio.

You're being rude.

You're embarrasing her.

She's got a decent job in Tokyo.

Besides, she's older than him.

There are jobs in Yamagata too.

Please don't be angry.

Most of the young wives

work these days, so...

What're you talking about?

She's only been here

twice on holiday.

Suddenly bringing this up...

you're upsetting her.

So you're against it?

I didn't say that.

I said let's be realistic.

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