The Village

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Miss Kono firstvisited us in mid-March

Aftera snowfall rare forspring

Ourvillage, Matsuo, is in lwate prefecture

One hour by train from Morioka

Then 20 minutes by bus

Wait a moment

Miss Kono is with the Toitsu Troupe

She visits different districts

where the troupe might perform

Hideko Kono, Toitsu Theatrical Troupe

The superintendent told herwhere I lived

She decided to walk all the way

This was most surprising

It would take a man one hour

to coverthe distance

In Miss Kono's case,

she probably plodded along

Singing merrily along that hilly road

Takashi's back

Are you the group's leader?

The village office phoned about me

She's been waiting for you for one hour

I called the doctor Difficult delivery

Birth expected tonight

A birth? Then you're going to be busy

If a female

The first child could well be a boy

We'd sell a male for cD3,000

cD3,000!

It's our cow She's giving birth

I thought it was yourwife

I'm not married yet

I'm Hideko Kono ofthe Toitsu Troupe

I'm Takashi

From Tokyo?

This milk is fresh from this morning

It looks good

Do you know Kichijoji?

It's near our headquarters

About 15 minutes by train

Is there someone?

My niece lives there

Married a man named Murakami

The house is in Midori-cho

Tokyo's too big a city

There'll be a birth there soon

Keeping a cow?

Why, no, this is a human baby

Can't keep a cow in Tokyo

By then it was time forthe last bus

Miss Kono summed up

her request and left hurriedly

I'll phone in April

She wanted to bring a show here

And asked for our

youth group's cooperation

The idea was both sudden and startling

Our house seldom

has visitors during wintertime

A charming person had come,

laughed, and left

Kayoko

Why, Susumu! What are you doing here?

I returned on vacation

Why?

I wanted to see you

Brought your mail

Same oldjob?

Did you get fired?

This is a vacation

Tokyo has spruced you up

Why don't you come to

our board meeting tonight?

Who's the president?

Takashi

Takashi? How did he become

the president?

No one wants to be

Those gone out to work returned

A meeting was held

A cook?

In Kabuki-cho

Where abouts?

Near Koma?

Know the place?

That was when I was in love

with Kayoko

Let's proceed

The final item

I'd better leave

Stay until the end

Then we'll drink

Let me introduce the guest

From the Toichi Troupe

Toitsu

Hideko Kono ofToitsu

I'm glad to meet you

The purpose of hervisit is

to have a play staged here

She wants us to sponsora musical

called Native village

Right?

What kind of a play

Didn't ljust tell you?

Native village

A musical that the young

and old can enjoy

Who are the stars?

Not mentioned here

Who are the leading actors?

Ourtroupe isn't that famous

It doesn't appear on Tv

We have no famous stars

No Sophia Loren

Any opinions?

How about Kikuchi?

I've nothing to say

I think it's a good idea to

have a play performed here

What must we do?

Takashi said for

our youth association to sponsor it

What does that mean?

Miss Kono explained it to me

Supporting the performance

in ourvillage

Means accepting responsibility

Responsibility?

In case there's a deficit

Deficit?

But why?

It costs money to put on a play

Must we pay for it?

If we sponsor it

Our youth association will sell tickets

I understand

This group will pay money

to buy the performance

A deal?

How much?

Miss Kono says the troupe's

performance fee is cD450,000

That isn't all, is it, Aiko?

Lodging expenses forthe troupe's

Then posters, circulars, tickets

and so oncD200,000

Total:
CD650,000

For one show?

CD650,000 for one night

Can ourgroup assume the responsibility?

Any opinions?

I don't see how we could ever do it

I thought it would be around cD20,000

May I say a few words?

Chujijust said that he thought

it would costs about cD20,000

We'd like to do it forthat, if it's possible

Butjust think a moment

Sets, props, lighting

and sound equipment

To entertain the audience with songs

and dances for 3 hours

What we earn as living expenses

comes to less than cD200,000

Nor is that every day

Only about 8 performances in one year

That's what ourtroupe is living on

The show is expensive

Meanwhile, utilities charges are going up

We'd like to do it for less

but this is the bare minimum

We're not doing this forthe money

We love the theater

We want people to see our performance

A large number of people

gatherto laugh and cry together

They talk about it a long time afterward

That's the kind of experience

we want to create

This is last year's ticket from Nagano

cD800

Even at cD1,000,

you would need to sell 650 tickets

In orderto raise cD650,000

That won't be easy It will be difficult

But don't give up too easily

That can be done at any time

please considerthe idea carefully

Any opinions?

Something, Chuji?

Why not do it?

Come to my place

Welcome Susumu

The last train has left

The train for Morioka?

Is there an inn here?

Well, there is butKayoko!

Can you put up Miss Kono forthe night?

I was wondering what she'd do

Sure, she can stay

I'd be troubling you too much

Her house is big

Dirty too

Yes, but

Going to Chuji's place, Kayoko?

Let's all go

Shall we?

In my car

Nice drive-in

Modeled it aftera place

in Ueno where I once worked

I thought it had a Tokyo atmosphere

Handsome bartender

Are you staying in Morioka at an inn?

Rented a house for our office

visit us sometime

Living alone?

There are five of us

We visit different youth groups

Been doing it long?

About 10 years

Revealing my age

Our youth group lacks strength

It's shameful

but we've never done anything worthwhile

With such a leader

Why you!

Tetsuyafarmer?

Public servant

postal worker

Chuji, tell herabout him That story

What?

You see, he wrote a love letter

to a certain girl

What happened?

Mailed it, then had to deliver it himself

It was part of my work

The girl wrote a letter of rejection

Which he then delivered to his own house

Let's be friendly

I'll prepare some food Dance, everybody

Will you dance with me?

Great, Tetsuya!

What about Tokyo?

Takashi, when are you going to

start work on that field?

That field's no good

Carrots look promising

Last year's garlic was a big loss

The same thing with cabbage 2 years ago

So what?

Hopeless

Sit there

Do you intend to be a farmer or not?

Which is it?

I told you on New Year's

I'm not forcing it on you

If you're unwilling,

I'll quit my factoryjob

The important thing is for you

to make up your mind

Do you or don't you want to be a farmer?

Despite what you say,

you're forcing me into it

Is that so? Then quit!

I'll give you money

Leave tomorrow forSendai! OrTokyo!

You shouldn't say that

Mother, you pamper him

He's tired from the meeting

president ofthe youth group, eh?

Can't farm decently

What a president!

Not my desire

Then quit!

I will!

After ourfather's death

My brotherworked hard

to send me to school

I'm fully aware ofthat

Three years have passed since

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