text / (Japan) Koyama Kaoru Tang
translation / Hongqi
winter Shonai Plain The Shonai Plain
wrapped in silver. On the country road, an old coffin car was driving. Sasaki Yuei, the president of a car burial professional company, was sitting on the passenger seat in the car, smoking a cigarette
. Holding the steering wheel in the driver's seat is Dawu Kobayashi, a rookie mortuary. Dawu's inner monologue: I remember the winter when I was a child, it was not so cold. The coffin car drove towards the village where there was a thin layer of snow. Residential House · Exterior Scene (Sugawara's House) The coffin car is parked in front of a private house with a "In funeral" sign. Residential House and Living Room Passing through the entrance, you can see the living room where the bereaved are gathered in tears for the deceased. One of them noticed Dawu and Sasaki and bowed his head deeply to them. Sasaki: My condolences to you on this sad time. Dawu also followed Sasaki and lowered his head. Dawu's inner monologue: It has been two months since I returned to the countryside in Yamagata Prefecture from Tokyo. Think about it, this is my life without a purpose in life. Sasaki and Dawu began to prepare for the burial. A coffin was placed in front of the altar, and the body was placed on a mattress beside the coffin. The female body with long black hair...a very beautiful beauty. Since there was no damage at all, it looked as if he was asleep. Dawu swallowed a mouthful of saliva and whispered in Sasaki's ear. Daigo: It's like he's still alive. Sasaki muttered to Daigo in a low voice while paying attention to the gazes of the bereaved in the adjacent room. Sasaki: Probably "suicide by practicing charcoal" (Note 1). Dawu: How did you know?
Sasaki: No pain at all. Died in a cold car and found out early, so that's how it works.
Dawu: Such a beauty, what a pity.
Sasaki: Would you like to try it?
Dawu thought for a moment, and then observed the female beauty of the body again...
Dawu: Yes.
Sasaki turned around and gave a salute to the bereaved.
Sasaki: So, allow us to begin.
The bereaved pay tribute.
Dawu started the burial work.
The woman's body was covered with a white quilt.
Dawu picked up the absorbent cotton dipped in alcohol, stretched his arms into the quilt, and wiped the woman's body with his hands.
Dawu's hand started from the neck, and then slowly moved down to the chest and abdomen.
When his hand reached his lower abdomen, Dawu's expression suddenly froze.
Sasaki couldn't help but be suspicious.
Sasaki: What's going on?
Dawu slowly pulled out his hand from the quilt, leaned closer to Sasaki's ear and whispered -
Dawu: I touched it, but...
Sasaki: What's the matter?
Dawu: That's it.
Sasaki: That? what is it?
Dawu: Anyway, that's it.
Sasaki bowed to the bereaved family with a strange expression, and then switched places with Dago.
Sasaki also wiped the corpse, while casually extending his hand to the part of the corpse.
Next, "that" was confirmed.
Sasaki took two steps back calmly and greeted one of the bereaved.
Sasaki: Oh, can you come over?
A relative (mother's younger brother) came.
Relatives: Hey, what's the matter?
Sasaki: Um... this, this... Next, after changing clothes, I will put makeup on the body. However, is it for women, or for men...
Relatives: Oh, please wait a moment.
He asked his mother, who was crying.
Relatives: Sister, people ask, how do you put on the makeup of the male student? Male or female makeup?
Mother: ... (inaudible)
Relatives: Huh? Which?
Mother (speaking while crying): At the beginning, if I could have given birth to a daughter for him, it would not have been like this... now.
Relatives: Then do it according to female makeup? Women's makeup?
Mother: (nodding)
Father: Staying as a male...
Relatives said to Sasaki ---
Relatives: Please do it according to female makeup.
Sasaki: Okay, that's clear.
Music starts.
Dago who restarted the burial work.
Wipe your body, put on your Buddhist robes, and apply makeup.
That corpse showed a beauty that seemed to have been reinfused with life.
Title and subtitles: "The Undertaker"
Concert Hall
In the concert hall of classical music, the elegant sound of the cello is swirling.
The one who is playing is Dawu.
Dawu played with an intoxicated look, but the faces of the other members of the band showed a bit of indifference.
It's no wonder...
because the large empty seats in the auditorium are very conspicuous.
An old man sitting in the middle of the auditorium had a terrifyingly grim expression.
He stared at the stage with a very complicated expression.
When the performance was over, there were only a few sparse applause in the spacious hall.
Tong · Backstage
band members individually put their instruments into boxes.
Dawu is talking to a fellow violinist.
Dawu: There are very few people today.
Colleague: Hmm.
Dawu: I think it would be nice to distribute more brochures.
Colleague: ...
Dawu: Right! The band's homepage hasn't been done yet, right? My family is engaged in network design, so she can design for us for free.
Colleague: Compared with this, Dawu-kun, are you okay?
Dawu: What is the problem?
Colleague: It is the future, the future.
Daigo: In the future...?
The colleague gestured to Dawu's cello with his eyes.
Colleague: Even if you reluctantly bought a good piano, if you can't continue to improve your performance, then...
Dawu:... A
few people in suits and company employees appeared.
They are the clerks in charge of the orchestra's operations.
Clerk: Oh---everyone, everyone has worked hard today. Although the audience was a bit deserted, the content of the performance was very exciting. (After hesitating for a moment after saying the previous words) Oh, actually, today...the owner of the band, Mr. Sonezaki, has something to say to you, so please listen.
The next person who appeared was the old man who just sat in the middle of the auditorium.
Sonezaki: ...The
words, I didn't say it.
However, from that expression, the band members had some hunch about what he was going to say next—except for Dawu!
Sonezaki: ...(closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, despairing expression) The band... disbands.
Dawu: Huh?
Dawu was the only one who was astonished.
The other orchestra members sighed and hurriedly dispersed.
Dawu's inner monologue: This is like a bolt from the blue. It was hard to get the position of orchestra player, and in this short moment, it has become a memory of the past.
The apartment where Daigo lives and the exterior is
a very beautiful building near Shibaura, built on the seaside.
In the same room (living room)
Dawu crossed his knees with his hands and stared blankly at the cello in the corner of the room.
Dawu's inner monologue: There is nothing wrong with this cello itself. Just got bought by people like me and the job is lost. In all senses, this cello is too heavy for me.
There was the sound of the door opening.
It seems that Mei Xiang is back.
Mika (voice only): Thank you so much. OK, sorry.
Mika walked into the living room.
She held a plastic bag in her hand.
Mika: I'm back! I happened to be sitting in the elevator with my neighbor just now, and they even gave me an octopus. Said it was just caught this morning.
Dawu: ...
Mika: What's the matter with you?
Mika observed Dawu's expression and asked very gently.
Dawu: ... Disbanded.
Mika: What disbanded?
Dawu: Orchestra.
Mika: ...
Mika was taken aback, but she deliberately pretended to be calm and said in a hearty tone —Mika
: Is that so...Isn't it possible to find another one?
Dawu: There is no other.
Mika: ...
Dawu: You know, at my level, I don't have any confidence... Also have to pay off the loan to buy the cello.
Mei Xiang: Borrowing? how much is it?
Dawu stretched out a finger.
Mika: No problem! This million, I do network design work, no matter what.
Dawu (shaking his head): Eighteen million.
Mika: Eighteen million! ?
Dawu: People say that all professionals have to use this price...
Meixiang: Nonsense!
Dawu: I'm sorry.
Mika: Why are you hiding it from me?
Dawu: I mean, you will definitely object to it...
Mika: Why don't you tell me about such a big thing?
Dawu: ...
Dawu stared at the cello again, and suddenly lowered his head in despair.
Mika sensed Dago's current state of mind.
Mika: ...I'll go and cook.
Mei Xiang went to the kitchen.
Dawu raised his head and stared at the cello again, thinking about his future life.
At this moment...
Mika: Oops...
Mika's exclamation came from the kitchen.
Dawu hurried into the kitchen and found that the plastic bag given by the neighbor fell to the ground.
Dawu: What's the matter?
Mika: It's disgusting, what is this... still alive.
Octopus tentacles sticking out of the plastic bag wriggled up and down.
Daigo: ... Daigo and Mika sitting on a concrete embankment
near Odaiba by the water (at night) . Dawu prepares to release the octopus in the plastic bag into the sea. Dawu (to the octopus): Don't get caught again. Mika giggled. Dawu: What are you laughing at? Mika: I like times like this. Dawu: At this time? Mika: That's when you're particularly likable and gentle. Dawu took the octopus in his hand. Dawu: Huh?
The octopus's suckers were no longer around his fingers.
Mika: What happened to it?
Dawu: Don't die...
Dawu threw the octopus into the sea.
The octopus just floated helplessly.
Dawu and Mika's mood suddenly dimmed as if they had witnessed their own reality.
Da Tian: ...
Mei Xiang: ...
Da Wu fixed his eyes on the octopus floating on the water for a while.
Is the octopus dead? Or still alive? do not know.
They took the poor octopus floating in the filthy waters of Tokyo Bay for themselves.
Dawu: ... let's not do it.
Mika: What's the matter?
Dawu: Cello. After all, I don't have the talent.
Meixiang: If you don't do this, what will you do next?
Dawu: Going back to the countryside, from Yamagata Prefecture...
Mika: ...
Dawu: I don't know why, I feel very tired.
Looking at Dawu's Mika face to face, her expression suddenly brightened.
Mika: No objection! (speaking and raising his hand)
Dawu: Hey, do you agree?
Dawu was a little discouraged.
Meixiang: Of course, we don't have to pay rent for the house that my mother left for us.
Dawu: Even so, but, is it really possible?
Mika: Hmm!
The owner of a second-hand musical instrument store
is appraising Dawu's cello.
The shopkeeper praised the excellent quality of the cello.
The shopkeeper tapped the electronic calculator a few times, and then let Dawu look.
Dawu nodded decisively.
Dawu's inner monologue: In the process of letting go of the cello, I felt incredibly relaxed. It's like being bound by something, but now freed from it. After all, this is what life is like.
Dawu came out of the store with a refreshing expression.
Shonai Plain
Shonai Plain Autumn scenery.
Residential House (Dawu's mother's home) External View
Residential house is a common and simple two-story old-fashioned building in the countryside.
Dawu's inner monologue: This is the only property left to me by my mother who passed away two years ago.
The same floor
seems to have been used as a fast food restaurant before.
However, judging from the fact that there are JBL brand speakers and other items inside, it may have been a very fashionable place back then.
Dawu's inner monologue: At first, my father seemed to have opened a tea shop here, but I had little impression of it. After my father ran away with a lover, my mother ran a small bar here and raised me with her woman's hands.
Dawu looked around the store with nostalgia.
Adjoining the shop was the living room, from which Mika stuck her head out.
Mika: Rice, it's ready.
＊ ＊ ＊
A simple breakfast was placed on the table.
Dawu and Mika chat while eating.
Dawu: I thought, maybe you don't like life in the country very much.
Mei Xiang: Na Xing, very good and very fresh! Maybe it's because the water is different, and the cooked rice is especially delicious...hey, that's right! This store, why don't we try it out?
Mika looked at the bar's hall.
Dawu, who was listening to Mika's speech, turned his eyes to the advertisement in the newspaper, and then found something.
Dawu: That's it!
Mika: ?
Dawu tells Mika to read the job advertisement attached to the newspaper.
Mei Xiang: Regardless of age, a high salary is guaranteed.
Dawu: Also, as a regular employee, the actual working hours are very small!
Mei Xiang: NK agency? ...what company is this?
Dawu: The content of the job, assisting in travel... Is it a travel agency?
Meixiang: Or is it a tour escort?
Dawu: But here it is also said that inexperienced people are welcome... Cough, it's useless for us to speculate randomly, why don't I ask about it.
NK Agency ·
Dawu, who holds a job advertisement in one hand, is looking for "NK Agency".
Then, he found himself in front of the strangely standing building.
Nostalgic three-story building.
The door to the interior
room opened, and Da Wu walked in.
Dawu: Excuse me, is there anyone?
But there was no one in the house.
In one corner of the spacious space, there are two desks and a customer reception area.
Is this place being used as a warehouse? It was so empty that it gave a strange chill.
A middle-aged woman appeared lazily, she was Yuriko Kamimura, a clerk.
Despite seeing a visitor, her appearance remained the same.
Dawu: Is this the NK agency?
Uemura looked at Dawu and nodded.
Dawu: I called in the morning, my surname is Xiaolin.
Uemura: Oh, the person who came for the interview. The president will be back soon, you sit down and wait for a while.
Dawu: I'm sorry.
Da Wu sat down on the cheap steel pipe chair and looked around the room.
Looking closely this time, the feeling of the space is still so wonderful...
Foliage plants and flowering cacti are placed out of harmony with the scene.
On the blackboard's reservation form, there are only the names of "Sasaki" and "Uemura".
The most incredible thing is that there is a coffin in the corner of the room.
Dawu glanced sideways at Uemura's actions...
Uemura took out the mirror and comb from the drawer of his desk and began to comb his hair.
Dawu: ...
Uemura: I, when I told the president to put an advertisement in the newspaper, he objected.
Dawu: Hmm.
Uemura: Because of this profession, it is very difficult to recruit people.
Dawu: Uh...what kind of company is this place?
Uemura: Oh, dare you come here without knowing anything?
Dawu: Said to help with travel or something...
Uemura (laughing): Is that what the president wrote?
Dawu: Isn't that right?
After combing his hair, Kamimura put the mirror and comb back in the drawer of the desk, and looked at Dawu with a smile.
At this time, the president Sasaki Yuei strode in from the door inside.
Uemura: President.
Sasaki: Huh?
Sasaki turned his head and saw Dawu.
Uemura: I'm here for an interview.
Dawu: First meeting. I'm Kobayashi who called in the morning.
Sasaki didn't say a word, and stared at Dawu's face for a moment.
Sasaki: Oh, it's you. It's more cheerful than the voice on the phone.
Dawu: Oh, thank you so much.
Sasaki (to Uemura): Look, (pointing to the newspaper) It's better to publish it. Make some tea.
Sasaki sat down opposite Dawu.
Dawu: I brought things like my resume. (handing over the resume while talking)
Sasaki took the resume and put it on the table without even opening the envelope.
Sasaki: Stand up.
Dawu stood up from his chair.
Sasaki began to touch Dawu's arms and shoulders, as if to check the condition of his muscles.
Dawu: What, what happened?
Dawu was taken aback when his body was suddenly touched.
Sasaki continued to touch and said---
Sasaki: Do you do any sports?
Dawu: No, nothing...played the cello.
Sasaki: Oh ho! That guy, is it heavy?
Dawu: With the box, it is about 10 kilograms.
Sasaki: Come to us, can you work hard?
Dawu: Uh, uh—hmm...
Sasaki: A driver's license?
Dawu: I have.
Sasaki stared at Dawu's face again. After a while ——
Sasaki: Okay, hired!
Dawu: Huh?
Sasaki: What's your name?
Dawu: Xiaolin, Xiaolin Dawu.
Sasaki (to Uemura): Immediately print his business card.
Uemura: Okay.
Dawu: Please, please wait a moment. Salary or something, not yet...
Sasaki: How about a slap at the beginning of this paragraph?
Dawu: A slap?
Sasaki stretched out five fingers.
Dawu: Five... ten thousand, yen?
Sasaki: Not really. It's 500,000.
Dawu: There are 500,000!
Sasaki: Less?
Dawu: No, no, not a lot. Can you get that much money?
Sasaki: Well, and it's okay if you want to pay in cash on a daily basis.
Dawu: Then, what kind of work...
Sasaki: The first step is to be my assistant.
Dawu: A specific nickname?
Sasaki: Enter the burial.
Dawu: Into the burial? ?
Sasaki: It's the job of putting the body in the coffin.
Dawu: When you say corpse, is it about the dead?
Sasaki: You are asking such an interesting question.
Sasaki grinned and leaned closer to Daigo's face.
Dawu: No, that...
The recruitment advertisement says to assist in travel, so I thought it might be a travel agency, so... Dawu took out the cut out advertisement for Sasaki to see.
Sasaki: Oh---this is a typo. Not to assist in travel, but to assist others in their journey of rest. So, get it!
Dawu: Then, what does the "NK" of the NK agent mean?
Sasaki: It's the NK that was buried. (Note 2)
Dawu was stunned.
Sasaki: Uh, but it also depends on fate. In short, you do it first and try it out... If you don't think it's the right way, it doesn't matter if you resign.
Sasaki took out two 10,000 yen bills from his wallet and put them in Dawu's hand.
Dawu: !
Sasaki: For today's sake.
Dawu: No, but...
Sasaki: Don't worry so much! Think about it for one night, if you want to do it, come back tomorrow, eh!
Sasaki smiled strangely.
Dawu's home,
Neijing Meixiang, took over the first-class fatty beef, which was a gift from Dawu to her.
Mika: What's the matter, is this?
Dawu: You didn't say that since you moved here, you wanted to eat roast beef, right?
Mika (expectedly): Yonezawa beef?
Dawu: Well, it's premium sirloin.
Compared to the gift he bought for his wife, Dawu's expression was a little depressed.
Mika: You are too—amazing! Is it expensive?
Dawu: Because the salary...was given in advance.
Mika: Did you decide? that job?
Dawu: That's right.
Mika: Awesome! Let's celebrate tonight.
Dawu: Oh, well.
A sweet fragrance with a gentle smile.
Inu Satoru followed her with a wry smile.
＊＊＊
The pot of roast beef.
The special-grade beef was stewed in the pot with a "gudugudu" aroma.
Meixiang picked up the chopsticks, took a piece of meat and put it in her mouth. Meixiang
was blooming with a smile.
Meixiang: It's very fragrant.
Move chopsticks.
Meixiang: Hey, what kind of work is it? Is it really a tour escort?
Dawu: No...
Meixiang: Doing business?
Dawu: ...
Dawu's face darkened.
Meixiang: What's wrong with you?
Dawu: It's not a travel agency.
Mika: What is it?
Dawu: It has something to do with weddings and funerals.
Mika: Oh, so it's the company that organizes the wedding ceremony! Now, you can play the cello again (laughs).
Dawu: … ...
Same exterior scene in the
morning.
Under the watch of Mika, Dawu left his house. Dawu crossed the
bridge
and walked towards the company.
Dawu untied his tie.
NK agency, interior
scene Dawu entered the company.
Uemura: Morning Good.
Dawu: Please take care of me.
Uemura kept staring at Dawu.
Dawu unconsciously avoided her sight.
Uemura: Before the new desk comes, you should sit at the president's place.
Dawu: Good.
Dawu sat down on the chair of the president, looking very unaccustomed.
Although it was the president's seat, the table was actually an old-fashioned iron desk.
The chair surface was damaged, and the discolored rubber sponge was exposed.
Shang Village brought tea to Da Wu.
Dawu: Thank you.
While drinking tea, I looked around Dawu in the room.
The stack of coffins in the corner of the room caught his attention.
There are three coffins, each with some differences.
Dawu stood up and looked at the coffin with wide eyes.
Uemura: So strange?
Dawu: This is the first time I see it.
Uemura: First time?
Dawu: My grandparents passed away before I can remember, and when my mother left, I happened to be abroad... When I came back, she had already entered the cemetery.
Uemura: Where's your father?
Dawu: When I was 6 years old, he left his family and left. With another woman...
Uemura:...And after that?
Dawu: Never met again. Even if she is still alive...
Uemura: Your mother, it must be very hard. very pitiful.
Dawu: ...
Uemura didn't find the next topic, so he looked down at the documents.
Dawu: You said, a person who has never seen a dead person can do such a job?
Uemura: You will get used to it soon.
Dawu: To corpses?
Uemura (slowly nodding): Now that you're here, you can't do it, right?
Dawu swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
Uemura: Look, there are several kinds of coffins. The top 30,000, then 70,000, and the bottom 180,000.
Dawu: Why is there so much difference?
Uemura: The top one is a molded board, and the middle one is all cypress with a window. Look at the one at the bottom, it still has carvings, right?
Dawu: Just because of the difference in materials and decoration?
Uemura: Yes. The method of burning is the same, and so is the ashes that have been burned. The last thing you buy in your life is someone else's decision.
Dawu: It's a bit ironic.
The phone rang, and Uemura picked up the handset.
Uemura: Hello. It is NK agency. Uh, thank you, you worked hard. Yes, here it is. Hey, got it. Go right now, won't you?
Dawu pays attention to the situation when Uemura answers the phone.
Dawu: Is that the president?
Uemura: There is a job!
Dawu feels uneasy about the content of his work.
When the mixed living building came to the third floor
along the dimly lit stairs of the mixed living building...a rusted iron door appeared.
"Amazing Studio" is written on the door.
Dawu nervously pushed open the door...
It seemed that something was being filmed inside.
One of the staff saw Dawu.
Assistant Director: Hey, please come in.
Behind several staff members is Sasaki.
Sasaki: Oh, come on, come on.
Sasaki led Dawu to the center of the shooting scene, and then introduced Dawu to the film crew.
Sasaki: This is my new assistant, called, oh...
Dawu (to Sasaki in a low voice): Kobayashi.
Sasaki: It's Kobayashi-kun. Today's model by him.
Dawu: Model? !
Dawu's surprise was overshadowed by the applause of the film crew.
At the scene, a director-like person ran to Dawu.
Director: I started shooting immediately after I changed my outfit, so please take care of me.
Then, the local beautician in charge of haircuts came and said---
beautician: Oh, let me go over there and change my clothes, and then put my hair...
Dawu: President...
Sasaki: No---what's so difficult!
Dawu was taken to a hut next to the shooting room.
The altar has been erected, and in front of it are placed the coffin and the quilt.
Sasaki practiced the commentary repeatedly.
You can see the words "Guide to the burial" written on the script that Sasaki is holding in his hand.
It seems that I am afraid that Sasaki is making a video called "Guide to the Burial".
Dawu seemed to have finished changing his clothes, and the beautician went out of the small room first.
Beautician: Mr. Model, come out.
Afterwards, Da Tian appeared...
I saw that he was almost naked except for a piece of diaper.
Moreover, his whole body was painted as bluish-white as a corpse that had lost its blood.
Sasaki: Hey! The atmosphere came out.
Dawu: Where was this shot?
Sasaki: Don't worry so much! Because it is a professional DVD, people outside will not see it.
Dawu's expression was mixed with anger and shame, as well as a sadness.
＊＊＊
After a while, the photography started.
Dawu was arranged to lie down on the mattress.
Sasaki stood beside him, while explaining according to the line of sight of the camera lens, while performing the actual operation on Dawu's body.
Sasaki: As the saying goes, "dead people need to drink water", so you should use absorbent cotton or a soft brush like this to moisten your lips for your old friend in order of the depth of your relationship.
Sasaki: Next, we'll do a job called "warm washing" to clean the corpse. Most recently, absorbent cotton soaked in alcohol is used. Because people become stiff after death, it is difficult to deal with, so it should be implemented as quickly as possible.
Sasaki: In the end, it's combing the hair, trimming the nails, and making up. Especially in men, shaving is also necessary because the facial muscles contract and the beard appears to be elongated. In this case, the blade of the razor cannot be pulled away in front of the body. Because the word "la" is related to the meaning of recruiting friends and inviting friends. Be sure to push the blade of the razor away like this...
Sasaki said as he went to shave Dawu's beard, at this time——
Daigo: Ouch!
Sasaki accidentally cut his jaw, and Dawu jumped up in pain.
Due to Dawu's action, the blade cut deeper, and as a result, a large amount of blood spurted out.
Director: Stop! stop!
Photography was suspended and the scene was in chaos.
Daigo's house - Interior
scene Daigo and Mika are having dinner.
Dawu had a Band-Aid on his chin.
Mei Xiang kept her eyes on the Band-Aid, but finally said nothing.
Daigo felt Mika's gaze.
Dawu: What?
Mika: This injury... how did you get it?
Dawu is anxious---
Inuwu: While I was shaving, I was suddenly pushed by the president...
Mika: In the company... shaving?
Dawu: Huh? Hmm...
Mika: Didn't you only use electric shavers?
Dawu: ... The president's order, what can I do!
Mika: Oh—hmm...weird company.
There are only two people in the NK agency,
Dawu and Uemura. Time passed slowly.
A desk has been added to Dawu.
Sitting in his seat with nothing to do, Dawu felt very bored.
Dawu looked at the clock on the wall, the hands pointed to five o'clock.
Dawu: As a result, there is no work today.
Kamimura (while filling out the account book): Yes.
Dawu: Oh——, can I ask some basic questions?
Uemura: What?
Dawu: Where did our work here come from?
Uemura: From the funeral home.
Dawu: Funeral home?
Uemura: Entering the mortuary, it used to be done by my own family members. Later, the funeral home took care of all such things, and from this, a company like ours was born. If you want me to say, we are a super small space industry (laughs)...
Dawu nodded as if he understood.
Uemura: When the weather is fine, we'll be fine. When the seasons change, it gets busy.
Dawu: Even if you're a little busy, that's fine. Otherwise, I don't do anything, and I still do this every day to get money...
Uemura: It's okay, it's okay! It's going to be busy for a while.
Shonai Plains
NK agency's coffin car is driving on the road of Shonai Plains.
In the carriage, there are the cheapest moulded board coffins.
Dawu's inner monologue: It was my first job, and I suddenly came to visit.
In the car
, Daigo, who had a nervous expression on his face, held the steering wheel with both hands.
Sasaki sat on the assistant seat next to him, smoking a cigarette leisurely.
Sasaki: How is it? How do you feel about your first job?
Dawu: Yeah...(still nervous) That---what should I do then?
Sasaki: It's your first time, just watch from the side.
Dawu: Alright, alright.
Sasaki: However, this time may not be good. I'm afraid there is a special situation.
Dawu: Hey, what does this mean?
Sasaki: All right, you'll know when you go.
Dawu: Please don't scare me.
Sasaki: If you can pass the major test for the first time, you can become a good mortuary.
Dawu: So... (more nervous) The
scene and the exterior scene The
scene is a small house where an old man lives alone.
The police car is parked, and there are police officers at the scene.
Sasaki and Dawu bowed back to the police officer who saluted them, and then walked towards the gate.
As soon as they arrived at the door, they saw the president of the funeral home "Great Buddha Hall", the Long Zhongzhen Temple, where Zhi was waiting for them.
Sasaki: I kept you waiting.
Dazhong: Oh, I have to work hard for you again!
Sasaki: What about the body?
Dazhong: It's an old woman who lives alone. It's been two weeks since she died. The corpse is already enough, so be careful.
Dazhong left.
Dawu: Who is this?
Sasaki: The funeral home. is our employer!
Sasaki snuffed out the short cigarette.
Sasaki (to Dago): Alright, let's get started.
Sasaki and Dawu entered the room. The moment
when the interior scene enters the room... Dawu: Ah! The stench was pungent, and Dawu felt nauseated and wanted to vomit. Sasaki: It's the stench of human decay. Dawu: Do you care? Dawu wanted to cover his nose with his hands, but because he was carrying the coffin, he couldn't use his hands. Sasaki: I'm used to it, I'm used to it. Sasaki, continue to walk inside the room. Tears flowed from Dawu's eyes as he followed Sasaki in. Dawu: Ugh... stinky...
Dawu couldn't help but cover his nose and mouth with his hands, at this time——
Sasaki: Hold on!
When they entered the inner part of the house, they saw...
a human figure bulged out of the quilt.
Dawu: Woo!
The stench became stronger.
Sasaki: Alright, let's put it here.
They put the coffin next to the quilt.
Sasaki stretched out his hands to the bulging quilt.
Then, just as Sasaki lifted the corner of the quilt...
Dawu couldn't bear it any longer, and could not help but vomit out on the spot.
Dawu: Woah...
Sasaki stared at Dawu.
Dawu couldn't stop crying.
NK agency ·
Uchikami village quietly doing the work at hand.
Occasionally, she looked up...
Dawu, who was greatly impacted, sat blankly at his desk.
Uemura said nothing and continued her work.
Two 10,000-yen bills stretched out in front of Dago's eyes.
Dawu looked up and saw that it was Sasaki.
Sasaki: Well, today, you can go back.
Dawu: ...
Sasaki: The first job was a little too exciting.
Dawu nodded weakly.
Buses and
unmanned buses in the countryside pass through the commercial streets full of rural atmosphere.
Dawu, who was in the car
on his way home, swayed with the car.
Accidentally met the eyes of a high school girl next door.
Her eyes seemed to be searching for the source of the odor.
Dawu who sniffed the smell of his suit several times. As if he felt the stench of dead bodies on his body, Dawu paid attention to the eyes of the passengers around him.
Inuwu raised his eyes and saw the chimney of the bathhouse outside the car window, and hurriedly pressed the "get off at the station" button.
The Bathhouse·Exterior
Dawu walks to the door of the bathhouse.
Dawu: ...it's still there.
This is the place where Da Wu used to come and miss him.
INT. Dawu who
enters the door of the bathhouse.
Dawu prepares to pay, but there is no one at the counter.
When Dawu was in doubt, he found that in a corner of the locker room, there was an old man (Hirata Masahiro) who played shogi alone, who seemed to be the only customer here. Without looking up, he said
—Hirata (eyes on the chessboard): Just put the money on the counter.
Dawu: Good (but he doesn't know how much the bath fee is).
Hirata: Three hundred yuan.
Dawu bowed his head in thanks, but Hirata just stared at the chessboard and snorted twice.
Dawu put the coin on the counter.
＊ ＊ ＊
Dawu in the bath, while scrubbing vigorously, sniffed the scent from time to time.
＊ ＊ ＊
Dawu immersed himself in the bath, recalling the past.
＊ ＊ ＊
Daigo dressed in the dressing room.
Hirata was still engrossed in playing shogi.
From the door where the insiders came in and out, there were voices of men and women arguing.
Dawu: ?
The door for the insiders to go in and out opened, and Yamashita with her daughter (Shori) suddenly appeared.
It was his mother, Yanko, the owner of the bathhouse, who came out chasing down the mountain.
Yanzi: I will never let go here, so go back to me, go back!
Yamashita: I'm thinking about my mother too...
Yanyu: Don't tell me this kind of official talk. I'm not old enough to worry about you. (to granddaughter) Yes, Shiori.
Shiori: In the future, I will come to this big bath, okay?
Yanko: Well, of course... Grandma wants to keep on--keep on for the sake of Shiori!
Yamashita sighed and glanced sideways by chance...and found Dawu.
Yamashita: ... Are you, Dawu?
Dawu: Yamashita...
Yamashita: Hey, why are you coming back? Just give me a call.
Dawu: Oh, that, sorry. The time is a little tight these days...
Yanzi also noticed Dawu.
Yanzi: Oh, is it from the Xiaolin family... Da?
Dawu: It's me. Long time no see you.
Yanko: Oh, really, it's been a long time... I heard that you have a very good job in Tokyo...
Dawu: Uh... okay.
Yanzi: What's it called, that musical instrument?
Yamashita: Cello.
Yanko: Yes, yes, cello! (To granddaughter) This uncle is an amazing person playing the cello in Tokyo.
Shiori: Really!
Yanzi: Our family, if we also have such a promising son...
Yamashita: Mother! (To Dawu) I'm sorry, she was a little awkward today... Later, let's! (makes a gesture of drinking)
Dawu: Oh, later...
Yanzi: Next time, bring your wife too. Are you married?
Dawu: Yes...
Yanzi: It's quiet here when this bastard isn't around.
Yamashita: Then—who else gave birth to this bastard?
Yanko: No matter what I say, I won't sell this place.
As if to interrupt the conversation between the three of them, Hirata loudly——
Hirata: Right! That's it...that's right...that's right... Daigo who walked towards his house
in the Shonai Plains at dusk . Dawu's inner monologue: The days of the past, whose whereabouts are unknown, have returned to an unexpected place. Daigo's home, Namika, is preparing dinner in the kitchen. Mei Xiang heard the door open from the entrance. Dawu's voice: I'm back. It was the husband who came home. Mika: You're back! Mei Xiang stopped what she was doing and walked towards the entrance. Meixiang: Did you come back early today? Dawu: Hmmmm...(with a guilty conscience) Mika: What happened? Dawu: Uh no, no... Mika glanced at Dawu's freshly washed hair. Dawu: What's wrong? Mika: It smells like soap. Dawu (interrupted for a moment, then began to chat unnaturally): That house... I used to go to the bathhouse when I was young. Hey... that's right, do you remember Yamashita? It's that kid who sang very badly at our wedding. I went to his parents' house just in time to catch up with him and his mother arguing fiercely. However, the bathhouse opened by his family is really good... Next time, let's go together. Mika: ... Mika felt intuitively that Dawu was hiding something from her. ＊＊＊Dawu sat at the dining table with a melancholy expression and fell into contemplation. He hasn't recovered from the shock at work today. Mei Xiang brought the evening meal to the table. Meixiang: Come on...the dishes are here, let's eat them. The dish that Mika brought over was... Mika: The neighbor Fujii sent it, saying that it was only killed this morning. It was so fresh that it could be eaten raw as sashimi. Dinner was chicken hot pot.
As soon as he saw the fresh chicken, Dawu felt sick to the point of vomiting, and hurriedly ran towards the kitchen sink.
Dawu immediately vomited.
Mika rubbed his back worriedly.
Mei Xiang: Hey, are you alright?
Dawu's arm touched Mika's bulging chest.
Dawu turned around.
Mika was looking at him worriedly. Her breasts can now be seen slightly.
Mika: Drink some water.
Mei Xiang went to get a water glass.
Looking at the posture behind her, Dawu suddenly burst into lust and pushed Mika down from behind.
Mika: Ouch!
Dawu breathed over in a panic.
Mika: What are you doing?
Dawu's hand reached into Mika's clothes and rubbed her breasts.
Mika: What, perverted. What are you doing?
Dawu's hand reached into her skirt again.
Desire for sexual intercourse as if escaping death.
Mika: No way! In a place like this... I'm... shy...
Dago's unease seems to be fading, but he can't stop his actions.
Mika's body received a completely different realization from before.
＊＊＊
The bedroom at midnight.
Dawu and Mika lay in the quilt.
Mika slept very deeply, but Dago couldn't. The light
of the bar on the same floor is on... This is the bar downstairs. Dawu looked around the store, as if searching for his mother's figure. In the back of the room was a large box. Open the lid, and inside is... a cello for children. Dawu: Found it. Dawu stroked the cello with reminiscence.
The strings are loose, but still make sound.
Open a small box in the piano case, and there is something wrapped in toilet paper.
Dawu: ?
Dawu opened the paper bag that looked old...
it was a stone.
Such stones can be found anywhere.
Dawu slowly clenched the stone.
The stone is cool, uneven, and its shape is simple, but it stirs the deepest memory of Da Wu.
＊ ＊ ＊
Clouds gradually cover the moon.
＊ ＊ ＊
Daigo set up the cello and started playing.
Most of the varnish applied on the surface of the cello has cracked, giving off a dim light.
Dawu's inner monologue: There is no goal to pursue, a life of despair... How did you come to the end of the road before this? Thinking of this, I can't help but think about how I played the cello back then. Repeatedly recalled, but only remember is want to play the cello.
While playing the cello, fragments of childhood memories are reawakened.
Dawu's figure, later... turned into the appearance of his childhood.
Memories
of childhood Dawu who practiced the cello in a tea shop.
Beside him are his father and mother, but their faces cannot be seen clearly.
From the figure of his father, it can be seen that he treats Dawu very kindly and kindly.
＊ ＊ ＊
Daigo in the first grade of elementary school.
Cold nights in early winter. Exhale turned into white smoke.
The three of them returned from the bathhouse.
The old aluminium washbasin used was very old.
Despite this, he is still very happy.
Dawu's hands were tightly held together with those of his father and mother, and he walked home while hanging.
On the way, my father suddenly ran to the river.
The sky is full of stars.
Father was trying to find something by the river.
Dawu also searches with his father.
The father and son were looking for stones.
My father found a rough, relatively large stone.
Dawu found a small round stone.
Then, the father and son exchanged the stones in their hands. Mother watched them from the sidelines.
The scene of a family of three turned into a floating shadow.
Dawu's Home Interior
Dawu returns to reality from his memory, and the cello playing continues.
＊ ＊ Bedroom on
the second floor...
Mika sleeping under the quilt.
Mika suddenly opened her eyes and listened to the faint sound of the cello.
Same as the exterior
view from the window...
Dawu playing the cello in the bar shop.
Outside the window, something white fluttered. It is the first snow.
Shonai plain
swans came flying. Early morning in the field of
Dawu's home, the entrance . Dawu is ready to go to work. Perhaps because of his depression, he didn't even wear shoes neatly. Mei Xiang: I have to work hard today, husband! Dawu (trying to pretend to be normal): I'm leaving. Mika: You're good to go! Mika sent Dawu away with a bright expression. On the bridge , Dawu stood on the bridge across the Moonlight River. Because he couldn't get the motivation to go to the company. Dawu stared blankly at the river, and suddenly saw something sparkling. He focused his eyes and observed carefully, it turned out to be salmon.
It was salmon that migrated from the Sea of Japan, and it took a long time to get here.
A female fish is sandwiched between two males, competing all the way to the upstream direction.
Right next to them, the half-dead male fish that had completed its mission upstream was swept down by the current with its mouth open and closed.
It's an ironic vision where the images of life and death meet.
A familiar old man passed by Dawu.
It was Hirata who played shogi in the bathhouse.
Dawu: (nodding to him)
Hirata: Is it salmon?
Dawu: Hmm.
Hirata also stood beside Dawu, looking at the river.
Dawu: Right now, they are right behind that rock... (shows Hirata with his finger)
Hirata: Hey, come out, come out.
The two looked at the salmon that was desperately swimming upstream.
Another salmon that had completed its mission upstream was washed down by the current.
Dawu: What a pity, to die all the way up. How could they work so hard to die?
Hirata: I want to come back, I want to return to the hometown where I was born...
Hirata only left this sentence, turned around and left.
The sound of the car's horn made Da Wu suddenly come to his senses.
Dawu looked up and saw Sasaki's car parked on the side of the road with a coffin in the carriage.
Sasaki leaned out of the driver's window and made a "Get in the car!" gesture to Dawu.
Dawu didn't move.
Sasaki: Let's go to dinner.
Dawu: ...
Sasaki: It's the president's order!
Dawu: By chance?
Sasaki: What?
Dawu: Pass by this bridge. Otherwise, it's just been looking for me. Which is the case?
Sasaki: Where is it? It's a coincidence, it's fate.
Dawu: Really...
Sasaki: This job is your vocation!
Dawu: Please don't be so serious with me.
Farmhouse in the Mountains · Exterior Scene (Fujien's House) As
dusk approached, Sasaki and Dawu drove a coffin car and arrived at the farmhouse in the foothills of the mountain.
A man in his 40s who appeared to be waiting for the bus ran over.
It seems that he is the owner of the bereaved family.
Mourning Master: You are late! It's been five minutes!
Sasaki: I'm so sorry.
Mourning Master: Don't tell me nice things, you bastard! You think it's dead anyway, so it doesn't matter if he waits, right?
Sasaki: I'm really sorry.
Mourning Master: If you have time to nod and bow down here, you will waste time, so don't hurry up and do things!
Sasaki and Dawu, under the cold eyes of bereaved relatives, lifted the coffin from the car and carried it into the house.
Tong. The
deceased was a 30-year-old woman.
She is the wife of the mourner.
Sasaki: So, let's get started.
Sasaki bowed to the bereaved family and started work.
Dawu was just watching and learning from the side.
Sasaki operates with his superb skills and wonderful techniques.
The woman who lost her life and was as pale as snow looked more and more beautiful.
The mourners, who had been arrogant just now because of their dissatisfaction, also looked at them quietly at this time.
It can be found that the tears in the eyes of the mourner have accumulated more and more.
Scrub with alcohol, cleanse the body, change clothes, groom the deceased...
Along with the above actions, Dawu's inner monologue sounded.
Dawu's inner monologue: Bringing people back to life who are already cold, giving them eternal beauty...it's like doing magic. It requires calmness, it requires correctness, but more than anything else, it requires a loving, warm love. I feel that the act of burying the body is actually a very beautiful thing. I felt that it was something that would naturally bring tears to my eye sockets, a peaceful and quiet thing.
Finally, with the help of the bereaved, the body was placed in the coffin.
The relatives of the deceased stared intently at the deceased's face.
That beauty fascinated her relatives.
The tearful mourner stared at his wife again...
mourner: Shang Mei... (cries out loudly)
Tong·
It is very late.
The starry sky in winter is so beautiful.
Sasaki and Daigo got into the car.
On the way back, Dawu will drive the car.
Dawu started the car, and just as he was about to leave, the mourner ran out of the house and came to the front of the car.
Mourner: I'm so sorry today.
Sasaki: No, it's our fault...
Mourning Lord: Oh, this, if you don't dislike it, please take it.
The mourner handed them a packet of dried persimmons.
Sasaki: Thank you.
Sanggui: My...is the most beautiful day of her life. Thank you so much.
The mourner bowed deeply while crying. Sasaki, who was sitting in the passenger seat in the
car , was eating dried persimmons. Daigo, who was holding the steering wheel, smiled. Sasaki noticed Dawu's expression. Sasaki: What's wrong? Dawu: Oh, it's alright. Dawu is also chewing on the persimmon. Dawu was wrapped in an indescribable sense of fulfillment. Bathhouse Interior Scene
The doors of the men's bathroom and the women's bathroom opened almost simultaneously.
Yanko: Welcome... oops!
Dago stood at the entrance to the men's bathroom.
Dawu: Good evening.
Standing at the entrance of the women's bathroom was Mika.
Yanzi (looking at Meixiang): Oh, could it be...
Dawu: Yes, it's my daughter-in-law.
Mika: It's the first time we meet, so please take care of me.
Yanyu: Ah ah, such a beauty, let you get it.
Dawu: Oh no, where is it?
Yanko (to Mixiang): Take a good time, it will be warm.
Mika: Okay.
In the same exterior scene
, snowflakes were fluttering in the air.
Daigo immersed in the bath.
Dawu inadvertently looked sideways and saw Hirata.
Dawu: Good evening.
Hirata: Oh, it's you.
Dawu: Have you been washing here all the time?
Hirata: I have been taking a bath here for more than 50 years.
Dawu: So long!
After a while.
Dawu: Don't be afraid to wash in such hot water?
Hirata: The groundwater is drawn here, and the firewood is used to boil the water. After the temperature drops, the water quality is very soft. So, although the heat will not hurt the skin.
Dawu: Oh, indeed.
Hirata: It is the number one bathhouse in Japan.
＊ ＊ ＊
Mika finished washing first, went out of the bathroom, and sat on the bench in the locker room, waiting for Dawu.
Yanko is wiping the floor of the locker room with a rag.
Seeing her struggling with her aged body and working so hard, Mei Xiang felt a pain in her heart.
Mika: Let me help you.
Yanko: If you ask customers to help with work, you will be punished.
Mika: It's all...you alone?
Yanzi: Well, the old man died a long time ago. My son who works in the government said, let's sell this place and build an apartment, but I...
Mei Xiang: I'm sorry, I think so too.
Yanzi: Well, I also understand my son's thoughts... That way, I can live comfortably. But... if this place is turned into an apartment, wouldn't it be difficult for the current customers? So, at least in the next few years, as long as my body is strong, I can still hold on...
Mei Xiang: No, no, you have to be healthy for at least ten years.
Yanzi stopped what she was doing and looked at Mei Xiang.
Yanzi: To support him.
Mika: Huh?
Yanzi: Ah Da is a good boy, he bears everything by himself. When his parents broke up, he never shed tears in front of his mother. However, when I was alone in the bathroom, I cried. Thin body, shoulders twitching from crying...
Mika:...
Yanko: Because he has such an experience, you have to understand him.
Mika nodded.
Taigo's voice came from the men's bathroom.
Dawu: Hey, I've come up.
Mika: Hey——
＊ ＊ ＊
Hirata took a bottle of milk and handed the one hundred yen coin to Yanko.
Two people looking at each other. Dawu seemed to sense something from it.
Bathhouse · Exterior Scene
Dawu and Mika came out of the men's and women's bathrooms respectively.
The outside has completely turned into a snow scene.
Mika: Wow, so white!
Dawu: It will be cold tomorrow.
Meixiang: Hey, why don't we go for a drink?
Dawu: Yes! I know a good store, but...
Mei Xiang: Go, go!
Dawu and Mika run together.
The footprints of the two men were left on the snow.
On the first floor of Dawu's house
, there was a kerosene stove burning in the corner.
The glass was filled with whisky, then hot water, and a white vapor rose from the clear amber liquid.
In the silent shop, there was a warm sound of glasses touching each other.
Mika: Hmmmm, delicious!
Dawu: I haven't had a drink like this for a long time.
Mika: It's like a scene from a movie!
The two laughed.
＊＊＊
Outside the window, the snow was getting heavier.
＊＊＊
Mika looked through the records on the shelf.
Almost all records of classical music.
Mika: Your mother, like listening to this kind of music?
Dawu: It's all my dad's.
Dawu, who was slightly drunk, accidentally took the stone his father gave him and stroked it.
Meixiang: Yes, this was originally a tea shop opened by your father, right?
Dawu: I don't want to recall these... Or, rather, I can't remember the old man's appearance!
Dawu drank the whiskey in one gulp.
Mika: Have you ever thought about...meet?
Dawu (sneering in his nose): I don't want to see him, but...if we do meet...
Mika: What if we do meet?
Dawu: I beat him!
Mika: …
Mika put the needle on the record.
Along with the murmur of the record, the sound of the cello flows from the amplifier of the turntable.
Dawu's heart suddenly tightened.
It's a tune that I often play, and it's also my father's favorite tune.
Mei Xiang: I think... Da, your mother may have always loved your father. isn't it?
Dawu: Impossible.
Mika: If not, all the records would have been lost! It's not that neat and tidy at all!
Daigo: ...
The record continues to spin in the sad melody.
Shonai Plain in the snow (at night)
around the Daigo's house.
In the night, a snow-covered field emerged.
Dawu's house - Interior Scene Next
to the sleeping Mika, Dawu is answering the phone.
Uemura's voice: I'm sorry for being so late.
Dawu: What's the matter?
Uemura: I have a job, can I go now?
Dawu: Oh, is it starting now?
Uemura: Please! Because it's so close to you.
＊＊＊
Dawu changed into a suit.
Putting on a thick coat and a scarf, Dawu tiptoed out of the room.
At this moment, Mika opened her eyes.
＊ ＊ ＊
The door of the entrance opened, Da Wu walked out of the house, and then disappeared into the night in the snow.
After a while, the door to the entrance opened again, and Mei Xiang went after Dawu.
In the snowy night
, Dawu was walking on the snow while talking to someone (Uemura) on the phone.
Not too far behind, Mei Xiang followed.
Mika is very suspicious of the person who called Dawu.
Dawu arrives at his destination...a love hotel.
Mika, whose expression was astonished amid the dancing snowflakes.
Love Hotel · Exterior
Dawu turns to the back door, the police car has arrived.
Same as interior scene
Following the staff arrangement, Da Wu went up to the second floor, where Da Zhong of the funeral home was waiting for him.
Dawu: You worked hard.
Dazhong: I'm sorry to trouble you at this time.
Dawu: No, it doesn't matter. Where are the remains?
Dazhong: It's in it. Looks like suicide.
Dawu: Hey, suicide?
Dazhong: You're still a novice, don't you think it's too hard?
Dawu: No, it's fine, I'll do it.
A tense look appeared on Dawu's face.
Daigo staring at the door.
Because inside this door, there are the remains of suicide.
Dawu: ...
Dawu's house, the entrance the
next morning, Dawu went to work as usual.
Dawu: I'm leaving.
Mika: You're good to go!
Mika also sent Dawu away as usual, and immediately went to Dawu's room.
Tong·Dawu's room
Mika is searching for traces in Dawu's room.
Mika sniffed the coat that Taigo wore last night...it had a distinct scent of feminine perfume.
Then, she opened the drawer of the table and looked at the contents.
Then, a DVD disc was found with a "secret to the outside world" stamp on it.
Meitun: ...
NK agency
Dawu is talking to Uemura.
Dawu: Yuriko, where are you from?
Uemura: Obihiro.
Dawu: How did you get this job done?
Uemura: I had various experiences when I was young, so I don't want to stay there. As a result, nothing can be done for long. Drifting all the way, came here by chance, and stayed. It's because of the bar here.
Dawu: (according to her narration)
Uemura: The president and I met at that bar. is my guest. He told me that he was starting a professional company for burial, and he was just helping him casually.
Dawu: The fate of man is really interesting. Where and what will happen, there is no way of knowing.
Uemura: Dawu-kun, do you hate your father?
Dawu: Why did you suddenly... ask this?
Uemura: When you were 6 years old, your father and mother divorced, didn't you say so? Because my situation is similar to yours.
Dawu: Almost?
Uemura: It was a long time ago, I forgot.
Dawu: ... The
shopping street
is a quiet shopping street, and there are some bags of non-recyclable garbage piled up scattered. Dawu walked while thinking about something.
A family out of a fast food restaurant.
It was Yamashita, his wife Rie, and their daughter Shiori.
Dawu (saw Yamashita): ...
Yamashita also saw Dawu.
Dawu: ...Hey!
Yamashita ignored Dawu and continued to walk forward.
Rie (to Yamashita): Isn't that your friend?
Yamashita: ...
Shiori (smiles and says to Dawu): Good evening!
Yamashita: No need to say hello to him!
Rie: What are you doing?
Dawu: ...
Yamashita: You are lying.
Dawu: What's the matter?
Yamashita: It's not good to do something, why don't you find a more outrageous job!
Dawu: ...
Yamashita (to his wife and daughter): Let's go.
Yamashita turned around and walked away with his back to Dawu.
Although Rie and Shiori were quite confused, they still followed down the mountain.
Dawu: ...
Dawu's house - Interior Scene At
night, Dawu returns.
Dawu: I'm back.
Dawu felt that Mika should be at home, but there was no reply.
＊＊＊
Dawu pushed open the door of the living room, only to see Mika sitting in a precarious position.
Dawu: Mika...what's the matter with you?
Mika stared sideways at Dawu.
DVD images
are images of previously produced DVD titles.
Daigo, who was a model, was lying naked, and Sasaki explained and practiced.
Sasaki: To prevent leakage of body fluids, please plug the openings such as the nose, ears, and mouth with absorbent cotton. An unexpectedly forgotten part is the anus. Please form a ball of absorbent cotton like this and insert it into the anus.
The image reflected Daigo's pitiful and pathetic appearance.
The DVD player's stop button was pressed and the picture disappeared.
Dawu's Home Interior
Scene A tense silence between Dawu and Mika.
Mika: What is this!
Dawu: Did you turn over my table casually?
Mika: That's not what I asked.
Dawu: ...Well, I just happened to be a model once.
Mika: I already know all about your work.
Dawu: So, what about it?
Mika: Why didn't you tell me?
Dawu: Telling you is also against it.
Mika: Of course, that goes without saying. How can you do this kind of work. Aren't you... ashamed?
Dawu: Why are you ashamed? Because of the daily contact with the dead?
Mika: I just want you to do a normal job.
Dawu: What do you mean by ordinary? Anyone will surely die. Of course I will die, and so will you. Death is a very common thing.
Mika: I don't want to hear your rhetoric. Anyway, quit your job right now.
Dawu: ...
Mika: I haven't said anything dissatisfied with you so far. When you quit your cello job, when you returned to the country, didn't I follow you with a smile. Sad, so sad! But, because I love you...
Dawu:...
Mika: So, just this time, I beg you! Just listen to me!
Dawu: What if I say no?
Mika: Do you have the confidence to keep doing that kind of work?
Dawu: ...
Mika: Like now, we can't live together anymore.
Daigo: ...
Mika sighed deeply.
Mei Xiang: I'm going back to my mother's house.
Dawu: ...
Mika: If you quit your job, pick me up.
Dawu: Meixiang!
Dawu still wanted to hug Meixiang from behind, but who knew...
Meixiang: Don't touch me!
Dawu: ...
Mika: I feel sick!
Tears welled up in Mika's eyes.
Dawu's inner monologue: For the first time I saw...wife's tears.
An unmanned station is
a simple unmanned station, and Mika with a suitcase is waiting for the train alone in a idyllic scene.
The old-style owner's house (Kato's house)
In front of the huge Japanese-style house with the atmosphere of the past, the car of the NK agency stopped.
Dawu walked to the door alone.
Dawu: Is there anyone?
No one answered.
The relatives seem to be in the house.
Dawu: I'm sorry.
Dawu took off his shoes and was about to enter the entrance when...
a man's voice: What are you doing!
Da Wu calmed down and saw a man who looked like a servant standing there.
Dawu: Come to the burial...
Servant (interrupting Dawu): Where do you want to enter! Go around to the back door!
Dawu: I'm sorry.
Servant: It's just a guy from the funeral home, and he has a thick skin...
Dawu, put on his shoes, enduring his humiliating words.
Tong·Japanese-style living room The
relatives gathered in the spacious living room.
Dawu, who started the burial work, felt that the eyes of all his relatives were focused on his back.
The body was that of a man in his 50s who was the owner of the house.
Daigo holding a razor in his hand.
Dawu was about to shave the beard for the deceased when...
his cell phone suddenly rang.
Surprised, his hand trembled, and the razor cut into the skin by mistake.
A large amount of blood flowed out of the hands.
Dawu: Ah!
Son A of the Dead: You bastard, what are you doing!
Dawu: I'm sorry.
Daughter: Father! (cries out)
Son B: You think you can do whatever you want with the dead, right?
Dawu: No, it is not. Such a thing will never happen...
Daigo, who was scolded by his relatives.
Dawu knelt down and apologized to them.
Dawu couldn't help shedding tears when he looked too sad for himself.
NK Agency ·
The medicine can on the stove is dripping with water.
Dawu put the "resignation letter" on Shangmura's desk.
Uemura: The president will be sad.
Dawu: Huh?
Uemura: Because he really cares about you.
Dawu: Really?
Uemura: Really. You are the first official employee he has hired since he started his business.
Dawu: In this way, the interview is just going through the motions.
Uemura: He, he always does things intuitively. The moment I saw you, it seemed like a nerve was touched in him.
Dawu: Even if you say that, I still...
Uemura: I'm sorry, please give it directly to the president.
Uemura returned his resignation to Dawu.
Uemura: Right now, he's upstairs.
Dawu pushed open the door leading to the stairs.
Tong·stairs
looked up at the top of the stairs for a moment, Dawu made up his mind and stepped on the stairs.
On the third floor of Sasaki's room,
Daigo entered the room.
Outside the window, snowflakes are fluttering.
Sasaki's room is decorated with many tropical plants like a greenhouse.
Daigo: Oh...
Sasaki is preparing food.
Sasaki: ... (I can't tell if he noticed Dawu)
Dawu: ...
Sasaki: Sit down.
Dawu saluted and sat down at the dining table.
Sasaki: What about eating?
Dawu: Huh?
Sasaki: Your wife, haven't you come back yet?
Dawu: Not yet, not yet.
Sasaki: Let's eat here then. I'm afraid, my dishes are better.
Sasaki smiled kindly and brought a large food box with dishes.
Sasaki: It just so happened that something good was delivered this morning.
Dawu: What is this?
Sasaki: It's a puffer fish.
Sasaki skewers the juvenile fish with an iron rod.
The pointy iron drill piercing through the juvenile fish seems a bit cruel.
Sasaki: It is delicious when grilled with salt!
Sasaki sprinkles the juveniles with net salt, then grills them over the charcoal fire in the fire bowl.
Dawu noticed the photo adorning the top of the wardrobe.
It's a photo of Sasaki with the woman who appears to be his wife.
Sasaki noticed Dawu's sight, and said lightly while eating the young fish---
Sasaki: My wife. Died 9 years ago.
Dawu: ...
Sasaki: Every husband and wife will die someday. Although I was mentally prepared, but... sigh... it really came to that moment... it was unbearable.
Dawu: ...
Sasaki: After thinking about it, I must dress her up beautifully and send her on the road. I've seen others do it before, so I learned to do it, but I did dress her up beautifully. I felt as though I heard her say "thank you" to me.
Dawu: ...
Sasaki: I think, for the r
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