Spring comes late to the north
lt's pouring
Thunder!
When a calf is about to be born
This time it'll be female
l hope so
Somebody's there!
l wonderwho
Sorry to bother you
l'm lost
Can you put me up forthe night?
Any place will do
Will a storeroom do?
Fine
At a time like this
lt's not fine
Put away all the knives in the kitchen
Use these
Thanks
Mom!
Will you come?
All right
Will you pull that rope?
This?
Try hard
You've almost done it
Takeshi, come and see
lt's female
Nice, isn't she?
Mom, l forgot this
Tell me sooner
Got a pencil? Why didn't you tell me?
Thanks forthe food
l sure appreciate it
lt was nothing
You were a help to me
Take this to him
Mister!
lt's from Mom
No, thanks
lt's yours, even if you don't want it
You have no father, right?
How come?
He is dead
The long winter passed - so did spring
And the brief summer came
Hitomi, come and have some lunch
Thank you, but l have to go to school
l'll come again tomorrow
Thank you very much
My best to your mother
Takeshi
What?
Give milk to the calf
We meet again
l appreciate it
l should thank you
lt's a mess
l'm all alone
What brings you?
Have some tea
l'll be finished soon
l grew them but they're not good
Have some
Ma'am, can l stay and work for you a while?
Aweek ortwo
Maybe longer
l could use a hand
But we hire only through the union
l'm not rich
l couldn't pay much
Pay doesn't matter
Room and board will do
But...
Excuse me
What do you think?
About what?
That man
Should l have turned him down?
A student would have been better
He's somehow strange
Keep an eye on him
Tell me if he does anything funny
Don't worry
lf he does anything funny, l'll get him
l'll count on it
Yoursupper
Thank you
Mom wants to know your name
My name? lt's Kosaku Tajima
Kosaku Tajima?
What's yours?
Takeshi!
What does it mean?
Awarriorwith a strong will
That's a good name
Thanks
Takeshi, huh?
Mom
Lock the door
He said l've got a good name
Did you ask his name?
Yes
What is his name?
He told me but...
You forgot already?
Some memory!
Have food
l'll do that
Can you?
l worked on a ranch once
May l use this?
He's outside
Take this to him
lt's hot
Why doesn't he come in and eat?
Strange man!
Toothpaste on your mouth
Have you eaten?
No
Lower it all the way
Then stop and raise it
Can you read the meter?
He was born in Kyushu
He came to Hokkaido to run a ranch
He became a sailor,
then a factory worker
He did lots ofthings
Where does he live?
l don't know
What about his family?
He didn't say
He's big and has a good physique
Yet he works for practically nothing
He must have a reason
Maybe so
Are you all right?
Don't worry
l know what l'm doing
You have a strong will
Anyway, when you go out,
be careful of your bankbook...
and purse
You're a hard worker
You're a big help to her
He's good-looking
Keep the door locked at night
l'll send Hitomi this afternoon
Thank you
She can't do much anyway
Thanks for coming
He looks scary
l'm not afraid
Evertalk to him?
Yeah
Weren't you scared?
No
Want to ride?
You too?
Mom!
Good saddle
My husband used to ride
Mosquito repellent incense and work clothes
He wasn't as big as you
So, they may not fit
Thank you
You can give me your laundry
l wish anyway
About your pay
l don't have any idea about it
Sojust tell me what you want, the lowerthe better
Pay what you can afford
And one day off every week
l don't need any days off
lt's certainly convenient for me, but...
Why do you like that?
Why did you come here?
No special reason
l'd rather you didn't ask me things like that
lt's something personal
Good night
Mrs. Kazami!
Mrs. Kazami! l've brought...
some sushi for you
Grapes too
lsn't it hard...
to take care of cows all by yourself?
Can you mow by yourself?
l got youranswer...
from lgarashi
But will you change your mind?
Since l first met you at your husband's funeral
l've been crazy about you
Frankly speaking, l've had many women
l'm a widower
l like women
But...after l met you,
l quit playing around
lt's true
l know
You're so pretty
You don't have to work all day...
at a place like this
l'll take care of you
Your rough hands...
Do you hate me?
Yes, l do!
You talk straight, l like that
l like you when you're angry
That's enough! Stop!
Change your mind
l'll come again
You all right?
You saw?
Why didn't you help me?
l thought he's yourfriend
Friend?
lfthat's what you think, you're a fool
Yoursupper
Sushi? For me?
A gift from a stranger
What about you?
Mom told me not to eat it
Why?
l don't know
lt's been two years since Mr. Kazami died
lt rained at his funeral, too
Eat and drink
at our house
Thank you. But l'm the one to prepare it
Our house is bigger
You too
Thank you. Rest and eat
Are they part-timers?
They're students
From Chiba University
They work hard
You're great, aren't you?
l feel as if l were on a farm in Denmark
lt's all because my brother Seiji worked hard here,
before he married Tamiko and left home
lt's all thanks to him
Seiji was such a hard worker
Shall we go see the barn?
Better do so
The barn here is so big
Sandals are there
Does Tamiko plan to go on working alone?
l told her last January, too
She can't keep it up
The soonershe quits the better
What did she say?
Nothing
She neverwants to talk about it
The house and cows always remind her of Seiji
l can understand that
She really tries hard, doesn't she?
Hello!
Hurry!
Mrs. Kazami!
Are you in?
Did l wake you? l'm sorry
You were sound asleep, huh?
l'm going to play golf
l've brought crab and flatfish
For you
Put them in the refrigerator
l can't accept
Take them away
l'm sorry about the other day
l haven't had a woman forso long
ljust want to say sorry
By the way, did you think it over?
The nerve! Get out!
Just keep company with me
l'm nicerthan you think
l hate you!
Help!
Go away!
Don't be so mean
Who are you?
Outside!
What?
Scram!
l'll rememberthis!
l'll get you for it
You all right?
That him?
You're carrying cow dung? Come
l stepped on a meadow pie!
Ass!
Who the hell are you?
Answer!
Never mind
We're the three Abuta brothers
We're well known around here
And l was treated like that
My brothers can't ignore it
We want to fight
Say something
lf you don't want to, then apologize!
Okay, let's fight
But the kid's watching
Let's go to the field
All right. Let's go!
Don't tell your mom, okay?
You first
lt hurts!
Ass!
Jiro, you next
Wait a minute
lt's yourturn
l'm sorry. l apologize
Forgive me
Let's make up, okay?
Thank you
Serves you right!
Yoursupper
What is it?
You're strong, huh?
Takeshi
You didn't tell you mom?
l did
You told her?
Didn't l say not to?
Men don't break promises
Mom said to give you this
lt's sake
There he is!
Let's go. Let's make up
l'll treat you
No thanks
l'm a Hokkaido man
Once l like you,
l'll take care of you
Let's go drink
lt's kind of you, but...
l must do something for you
l'm a little tired
Tired? Let's have a party here
Come in
Good evening
Sorry about a while ago
He's tired. Let's do it here
Bring the food and stuff
What about girls?
Girls? Send them in
Sorry they're all beasts
Not going to Kushiro?
Never mind. You too
Let me introduce you
Neoko, Reiko and Yoshiko
Be quiet
Let's clap hands and make up
What are they doing?
l don't know
The fish is burning
Takeshi,Takeshi...Takeshi...
What?
What, Mom?
Mister!
Mister, Mom fell!
Where is she?
Does it hurt?
Don't move her. We're coming soon
Hitomi!
l phoned them
They're coming soon
You all right?
Does it hurt?
Go away. Mom's sick
They're here
lT may hurt
All right?
Go overthere
Put something under her head
Hurry!
You go with her
l'll close the door
Close it slowly
Don't worry about your house
l'll come to the hospital later
Ready? l'll start
You worked too hard
lt'll take about two weeks
Must l be hospitalized?
Yes
Arrange it
She's in a bad condition, huh?
She has to lie still fortwo weeks
About her children...
She has a boy
Your health insurance card and chop
This is from Mrs. Saito
From lgarashi, too
l've bought pajamas for you
How's Takeshi?
He refused to move in and live with me
l sent Hitomi...
to cook for him
Sorry to trouble you
lt's no trouble
She's on vacation now
This might be your only chance to take a rest
Appreciate it while you can
Come to think of it, you're lucky to have that man
Otherwise you'd have to hire some help,
and that'd cost plenty
Does it hurt?
l'm sorry
Mr. Abuta!
ls Mrs. Kazami here?
Yes
lt's hard on you, isn't it?
Come in
No, thanks
This is for her
Get well soon, goodbye
Let me know if you need me
Your lunch
l'm glad it's only a ruptured disk
But if you go on like this,
you'll really get sick
lt will be too late to regret
Don't worry
l'm strongerthan l look
But it's too much work for a woman who's alone
People speculate how long it'll be before you quit
l know
Aren't you thinking...
you shouldn't sell the land...
because Seiji left it to you?
That's not it
He once told me, when he got sick, that if he died,
l ought to sell the land and move to town
He said that?
But...even if l move to town...
with Takeshi, then what?
l don't have any skills
What could l do?
Come to think of it
Keeping cows is better, even if it is hard
That's what l think
l wonder how long you'll be able to do it
Takeshi, we'll go get the cows
Come on
Ready?
Hello? Are you listening?
l'm much better now
l can come to phone you
l'll be fine soon
Have you eaten?
Sure
ls Hitomi a good cook?
No
Still, she's doing her best for you
You should eat it all
Yeah, l know
And how is he?
l se. Well, thank him for me. Understand?
l'll hang up now
We came to help you
Boss, good morning!
What are you doing?
Fool!
You came to see me?
There she is!
You look much better
Does it still hurt?
Thanks forwatching Takeshi
What's wrong?
Are you shy?
What's the matter?
Hitomi went home
So you're lonely?
All right, sleep here
Are you lonely because yourfather's dead?
My father...
He died when l was yourage
Was he sick?
No
His business failed
He couldn't pay his debts
There was a bridge near our house
He hanged himselfthere
My motherwasn't with us then
l lived with my fatherand brother
When we heard about it
my brotherand l went to get him
We took his body down...
from the bridge
We put him on a cart
We covered him with a mat
Then the two of us pulled the cart home
People in town cam to watch
l was so sad l almost started to cry
But my brothersaid
''Don't cry! We'll look like sissies!''
That's what he said
So...
l did my best to bear it
l held back the tears andjust walked
You didn't cry?
No...l didn't
Fora man to live,
there are lots ofthings he must endure
So,just because your mom is in the hospital,
it's nothing to cry about
Got it?
Good. Go to sleep
lt's Mom!
l'm glad you're well
Thanks foreverything
lt's been a long time
l appreciate yourtaking care ofthings
Welcome home
l want to ride the horse
You can't
How come?
Did you lie?
Tamiko, tea is ready
Excuse me
Where's the Kazami house?
lt's that one
l once came here
But it's such a big place
Thank you
So many books!
Seiji liked literature
You must be surprised to see such a mess
Thank you for coming
Are you tired?
My wife Kayoko
Greet her
Hello. l'm Kayoko
How do you do. l'm Tamiko
l'm glad you married a man like him
She's too good for you
She's always sarcastic
She beats me
Ourgifts
Take them out
How long did it take from Hakata?
We came to Kushiro by ferry and stayed a night at Akan
Then we cam by car
A deluxe tour
This is our only chance to see you
For you
Here. There's more
You shouldn't. Your pay is low
l got money forgifts
Hello!
Why, Mr. Kondo!
Guests?
My cousin and his wife
They're on a honeymoon
Honeymoon? That's nice
Mr. Kondo does fertilizing
Fertilizing?
Will you excuse me?
Busy, aren't you?
Since when?
Last evening
Let's go see it
What kind offertilizing?
You don't know? Go and change
We've got to hurry
You from Tokyo?
Yes, l work there
Neverseen this, huh?
Finished so soon?
Will she be fertilized?
lt's 95 percent sure
Great, isn't it?
How about you?
Want a shot?
No thanks
We'll do it ourselves
We'll go fora walk
Let me introduce you
This is Mr. Tajima
He's helping me
My cousin and his wife
How do you do
We'll be going
This is vast Hokkaido
Like the ''Sound of Music''
''My Darling Clementine''
What?
About that man
The hired hand?
He's nice. He's got long legs
Why must you speak of legs...
when l'm feeling happy?
Forget it
What's wrong? l'm not being sarcastic
You lack in privacy
You mean discretion?
No back talk, understand?
l'll make tea. My cousin brought me cakes
Here's anotheregg
They lay eggs everywhere
Kayoko
Give me my pants
They're right there
He talks so loud
That's enough. Make some tea
Mom, this one
lt's from Hakata
l feel so good
Thanks forthe bath
She told me about when you were a child
She spoke ill of me, huh?
You looked so cute when you were small?
Yeah, big eyes, high nose, round face
Like a little prince
Round face?
When l startedjunior high, my face got longer
And his grades got lower
Right. You taught me English and Math
Yes, l rememberthat
When she was a student and walked in town,
the boys all looked at her
No!
Yes!
They often asked me
What?
lf l was really...
your relative
And they always said we didn't look at all alike
Your motherwas beautiful
That's not true
l wondered what sort of nice man...
you'd marry
But you insisted on marrying a Hokkaido farmer
Did the relatives oppose it?
But she nevergave up
Eventually you eloped
You came to see me off at the station, didn't you?
You remember?
Of course
l was so happy then
Nobody else saw you off
l felt sorry for you
Cold?
A little
lt gets cold at night
Bettergo to bed
Shall we?
We'll turn in
Good night
Catch cold?
l don't think so
You need more fat
Excuse me
Thanks forthe dinner
Come and look at the stars
Did they go to bed?
Good night
A shooting star!
What's that?
Fertilization
How awful!
My best to everyone
We'll visit you again
Always be happy
What are you saying?
lt sounds like l'm not happy now
Think so?
We'll come again
Takeshi, study hard
We'll be going
Take care
What's the matter?
l feel sorry for her
And autumn came
Mister!
Give me a ride
A ride!
Stretch your body
Didn't l tell you?
Yourthighs count most
Okay? Good
Take the reins lightly
Keep it loose, let it walk
Hold yourthighs tighter
Pull and it'll stop
Good. Let it walk again
Mom!
You feel great, huh?
Pay me forthe ride
That's too much
l'm scared
lt's your horse
Yuka, move slowly
Don't let go
Kick it
Don't! Go away!
Go away
Don't move
Take a good look
Horses have to be trained
When l pull the reins it can't run
You can see it's irritated
See?
When it's irritated enough,
ease up on the reins
and lean forward
Watch
Excuse me
ls there a restaurant here?
l don't think so
You can try the inn
l will, thanks
An old woman runs it
l don't know if she'll cook for you
Brother
Come running?
How are you?
Fine
How about you?
Some money for you
l brought you a coffee maker
l got it at a department store
l don't know anything about coffee
The clerk helped me
Here, the beans
About yourschool...you're on vacation?
No, l resigned long ago
Resigned?
Why?
Well, because...
the papers said you were the suspect
l couldn't go on...
working as a teacher
l was the one who did it
You weren't involved
The world thinks differently
l'm sorry
Don't be. l don't mind
l opened a little tuition centre
l'm getting along
You can't keep running forever
Some day you'll have to give yourself up
Don't you think so?
How long will you stay here?
l'd like to stay as long as l can
ln a place like this?
Take care of yourself
Thanks for coming
lt smells good
You bought it?
A gift from my brother
You like coffee? l see
l brought this for you
He should have dropped in
Where does he live?
ln Hakodate
He's been taking care of me
Oh? l only have sisters
so l don't know well about brothers
But l suppose it's nice to have one
Sometimes l wish
Takeshi had a brother
He's small, but he's still a man
l'm his mother but sometimes l can't understand him
Want some coffee?
Me? Yes, thank you
lt's been a long time
Like coffee?
Yes, l often drank it when l was in Hakata
You came all the way from the south?
My family...
My family ran a small hardware store
My parents wanted me to inherit it, but...
lt's good!
lsn't it hard on you?
Haven't you considered giving up this place?
l'd be finished if l did
l always say neverweaken
My relatives want me...
to give it up, too
But l'm still at it
But...
Actually...
lt's hard on me,
ln winterthe wind blows like a cyclone
l don't weigh much
l almost get blown away before
l can reach the barn
lt's like that day after day
''This time l'll quit''
That's what l think
But...when spring comes,
and everything turns green again,
l think this yearwill bring me luck
And it starts me going all overagain
Mom!
The bath
You know, Takeshi is always asking me...
Asking what?
How long you'll stay
As long as you want
l have nothing else to do
Takeshi will be glad
Thanks forthe coffee
About the race
You'll really do it?
lf you don't mind
Can she run?
Yuka is old
She'll do all right
l'd bettergo give hera pep talk
Good night
Nosappu is in front by a nose
Nosappu wins!
He did it!
The pony race is on
The lighterthe pony, the better
The top group has already goaled in
What's that?
Hey, chin up!
lt looks bushed
Eat this, too
You're here?
The 9th race
The 2000 metertrotterfinal will start soon
All riders and owners get ready
Let's go
No. 3, Mrs. Tamiko Kazami's Yuka
No. 4, Mr. Minoru Daido's Shinsho
There
No. Let's get overthere
The race will start soon
The horses are ready
Both riders and horses are excited
Yuka! Run!
Trotters have a symmetrical running form
They don't gallop like in big races
Still, theirform is interesting to watch
lt has rhythm
No! She'll lose
lfthey gallop for more than thirty meters
they're disqualified
The leaders are in the second lap
The leaders are fighting it out
Lockheed, Disco Queen, then Yuka
Yuka's catching up
They're going into the third lap
Disco Queen up front
Nearing the fourth lap
Yuka and Disco Queen fighting forthe lead
Yuka!
Will it be Yuka or Disco Queen?
lt's Yuka!
She crossed the line!
Yuka wins!
Yuka has won the Class! Trotter race
You did it!
lt was a hard race, huh?
Excuse me
Aren't you Mr. Tajima?
No, l'm not
Not Mr. Tajima from Hakodate?
l've never been to Hakodate
By the way...
l liked it so l bought it
What do you think?
You did it, huh?
You sure did it
Let's celebrate with a drink
What do you think?
He's about his size but the face is different
Hurry up
l can't see
Better, isn't it?
Wait here
l'll be back soon
Such an old man is dancing!
What's that?
Firecrackers
Give them water, too
How is it?
lt fits
Good
Thank you
Listen...
Starting tonight, stay in the house
lt gets cold at night
l don't feel we're strangers any more
Your bed is upstairs
What a way to sleep!
He got so tired today he's already asleep
l'd never heard him shout so loudly
You must be tired, too
l'll prepare a bath for you
Ma'am
l'll resign
l'll go on a trip
When?
Tomorrow
Thank you foreverything
Have l done something wrong?
No, nothing like that
But the other day
you said you'd stay as long as l wanted you to
ljust took it forgranted
At that time it seemed the thing to say
l knew l couldn't stay long
Then, where will you go?
What'll you do?
And after you finish
Won't you come here again?
Ma'am
Forgive me
The fact is...l killed a man
The police are after me
My wife borrowed money from a loan shark
The interest ran up, she couldn't pay
She hanged herself
l was away on a trip when she died
l hurried home and held herwake
The loan shark rushed in
lf it had been an accident,
you could have got the insurance!
That's what he shouted at me
l killed him
That was two years ago
l suspected you had some secret reason
Fortwo years, l've been on the run
l've avoided people
But forthese past two months
l almost forgot about it
l've stayed too long
l'll sleep overthere
How can l explain to Takeshi?
Say what you think is best
Good night
Who is it?
Me
Come in and lock the door
Something's wrong with the cow
Miiko. lt's suffering
l see. l'll go soon
lt may have been poisoned by water hemlock
l'll come right away
What'll l do?
l'm drunk. l can't drive
l'll manage
Where are you going?
What are you doing?
Miiko, don't give up
You're all right
This is bad
Will you get my bag?
lt's on the horse
l wish l had some coffee
We have coffee
Good!
l'll make some
Please
l'm drunk. l feel sick
l'll have to work all night
What?
Miiko will get an operation
Bring the rags in the wardrobe
Hurry!
She might die
ls she all right?
Better not look
lf she dies, it'll be awful
She's our best cow
Will she be all right?
Don't worry
Stay in the house
Don't go
Don't go anywhere
l'm so lonely
Come here
Don't let it move
Hold it tight and don't let it move
Thank you very much
l'll stop by again this evening
Have breakfast here
Thanks, but l'll go home and sleep
l'm so sleepy
Thank you for coming
He's going
Where to?
l don't know
Go and say goodbye to him
You're lying
You're lying, huh?
Yeah
Say you're lying!
Thanks foreverything
The days l spent here
l'll neverforget them
Goodbye
Where's he going?
Give this to him
Mister!
Mister! Where are you going?
Once again winter came
The court has reached a verdict
concerning the murder
committed by Kosaku Tajima
The accused will step forward
The sentence:
Penal servitude for not less than two years
and not more than four
The reason:
On June 13, 1975, the accused,
then residing in Hakodate,
whose wife hanged herself...
because she could not pay her debt,
held a wake forthe deceased, during which...
a moneylender, who also lived in Shinonome, Hakodate,
suddenly appeared
His name was Hachiro Matsunoda
He lent money to the wife ofthe accused
He was drunk
He blamed her
He shouted to the accused:
''How will you make up forthis?''
lt enraged the accused
He struck the victim...
in the face with his fists...
How old is your boy?
Six. Ready forschool
That big already?
How about yours?
Twenty. lt costs money
Time sure flies
How's yourwife?
She's doing fine. Same as ever
Next stop Wakkanai
We'll arrive at 3:16 and there will be
a six-minute station stop
Three lunches. Tea too
How much?
1350 yen
The express forAbashiri will soon depart
All passengers get aboard
Yourfriend?
ln a way
That reminds me
You were picked up around here, right?
Next stop Abashiri
Abashiri...end ofthe line
One more stop tojail
Lunch?
No thanks
Hi! Glad to meet you
lt's been a long time
So you quit raising cows and go back in town, huh?
l heard you and yourson are waiting...
for your man to come home, right?
lt's nice to know
You okay financially?
Abuta is helping us
That idiot?
He's helping us? ls that a fact?
Yes
You're okay, then
l'm glad to hear it
May l give him a handkerchief?
Sure