Mitsuko-chan, let's go shopping.
W-Wait for me!
We should be heading out too.
How does it look?
Is it okay?
Do you think you can fix it?
Green Kojiro makes a ruckus when the spring arrives.
I dreamed up Green Kojiro last summer-
That should do it.
Okay, it's fixed.
Try sleeping on it.
Okay.
I dreamed up Green Kojiro last summer when I fell out of this vine hammock that Grandpa had made me.
While I was in the river...
I dreamed him up, so only I can see him.
Shinko,
what do you think about that?
What?
It's not natural for a river to flow at a right angle like that.
But I wonder why that one does.
But it's been like that for a long, long time, right?
How long do you think it's been like that for?
Grandpa used to be a school teacher.
Shinko, it's been like that for over a thousand years.
A thousand years?
On this very plot of land, where there is now only a wheat field,
a thousand years ago-
Things get a little troublesome when he has an asthma attack.
However, he's the one who teaches me all the interesting things.
Mitajiri.
Dummy Onee-chan!
My, my, what's wrong, Mit-chan?
She broke Kewpie's arm!
Oh dear...
Why did she do that?
A thousand years ago, this wheat field was a city.
Grandpa said that this right angled river probably dated back to then.
The Country of Suou.
That's what he said this area used to be called.
The reason the river runs at a right angle is-
It's the latest model.
The right angled river was originally a trench that was dug parallel to the gridded streets.
Hey, you broke down?
Yeah, it broke down.
It's 'cause you still insist on riding that old thing.
Just look at this latest model: The Rabbit!
Nice, right?
The road that Yoshimura-san and Ejima-san are arguing on
Shut up! I'll drive whatever I want!
But the latest model won't...
also existed a long time ago according to grandpa.
My grandpa tells me interesting stories like that.
Shut up!
Thank you, Grandpa.
I've had enough of this!
Why you!
Have you seen Shinko?
No, I haven't.
Jeez... A steamed bun for the three o'clock snack has also disappeared.
Shinko!
Shinko! Where are you?!
I know you're around here!
If you're going to be stubborn and run away, be serious about it!
Shinko! Shinko!
I can't hear anything!
Hey!
If you come out, I'll give you a bottle of rice!
A city a thousand years ago...
Shinko!
I wonder what it was like...
It probably looked like this.
And over here was...
Pull, pull, pull, pull...
Shinko, come out now!
Wait for me! Wait!
I'll be safe here.
The ship from the capital will be arriving soon.
We need to hurry up and greet them.
That's right! I bet a princess is arriving from the capital.
Hard to starboard!
Yes, that's it!
The first country where I, Kiyohara no Motosuke, was appointed to rule at the age of 67.
Nagiko, come out.
Let's view it together.
Hey! Which one of you rascals is playing in my field again?!
You again?!
Hey!
How many times do I have to tell you?!
And the princess was just about to appear too!
Hey! Are you listening?!
It's great to hear your business is doing well.
Please wait a moment.
This is the place, Kiiko.
The bamboo shoots I dug up this morning are really delicious and tender.
I'll have that sorted by autumn.
Don't touch that.
Hurry!
Do you want to visit Tenjin-sama on our way home?
Yeah, please!
Let's eat Naga-mochi.
Excuse me, are you by any chance Dr. Shimazu?
Nice to meet you.
I'm Fujiwara. I'm in the Department of General Affairs.
Oh, thank you.
The trip from Tokyo must've been a long journey.
Thank you.
Here's my business card.
Well...
Well, well, well...
My, is this your daughter?
Yes, she is.
This is the main street.
Compared to Tokyo, it's a really small city.
If you travel a while, you'll find that there's nothing.
You see...
We even use cows and horses.
We only have grain fields. I guess it's completely different from Tokyo, right?
Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
Don't say that.
Though she does deserve a scolding.
Everyone says that ten years have passed since the war ended,
but to me they've gone by in a flash.
Here you are.
After all, we have a history that dates back a thousand years.
Yep, you're right, Grandpa.
Here's your medicine.
Daddy didn't come home again yesterday.
Apparently he's busy at work.
Now, now, Shinko, hurry up and finish your breakfast.
I'm late. I'm late. Really late!
It's all this maimai's fault.
[Note: Shinko refers to her hair whorl as a "maimai."]
You're fast.
I won't lose to you!
Guess what, my dad...
It reeks.
Stinks.
It reeks...
Stinks.
I wonder what this smell is.
It reeks.
Reeks!
Reeks?
What the hell is this?
Well, it's more of a nice scent.
It's the transfer student who started yesterday.
Why does she put such a thing on?
Beats me.
Lipstick!
She's wearing lipstick!
I think she's heavily influenced by foreign countries.
Ew...
I don't like this.
All right, Grade 3, Class 3,
Hanada-sensei's wife suddenly went into labor last night.
So, it's born?!
Yes,
which is why for the first hour, it's self-study period.
Was it a girl?
Did Hizuru-sensei mention whether it was a girl or not?
Yoshioka-san, you're really good at coloring.
Not really.
Say,
I wonder what they're gonna name the baby?
Knowing Sensei, I reckon he'll name her something like Hibari or Chiemi.
Did you listen to the radio yesterday?
The program that starts at 6 o'clock?
Yeah. I did.
Wow!
Your colored pencils!
What are those colored pencils?
Say, how many different colors are there?
Wow!
I've never seen anything like this.
I wonder what they're looking at?
Just ignore them.
Two, four, six, eight, ten, twelve, fourteen...
Wow, there are twenty-six colors in total!
I've never seen any of these colors before either!
Hey, did you get them from overseas?
I guess they have a lot of different shades of colors, like reds and blues, overseas.
Is everyone studying, Grade 3, Class 3?
Look, it's Tatsuyoshi from the fifth grade.
He's skipping class again.
Just ignore him.
Say, can I borrow this color?
I want to color the Seto Inland Sea in this color.
Okay?
It's a nice color, but the way you're using it...
I knew you'd break it.
Oh no...
That's enough.
What?
Give it back! Give it back!
W-Watch out!
It's dangerous! It's dangerous!
Don't you think these clothes are pretty?
I-It's dangerous!
Are you all right?
Hey, transfer student, what are you doing?
Hanada-sensei!
Dad-Hanada!
Dad!
Hey, stop teasing me!
Sensei looked happy.
Where do you wanna go today?
Let's visit Tenjin-san after we've dropped off our stuff at home.
Sure.
Caterpillars!
Wait!
Ew! Caterpillars!
I can't find the caterpillars in my hair!
Hey!
Ew! Caterpillars!
Wait!
Hey, watch out. It's dangerous.
Say...
Shimazu Kiiko... san...
Why did you do that?
Shigeru had to stand in the hall all by himself.
I don't know...
Don't know?
Listen-
It's his fault.
Um... H-Hey!
You're strange.
Now, now, gather 'round! Gather 'round!
Little boys and girls, just gather 'round!
He's showing a picture story!
Son Goku!
The famous adventures of Son Goku!
Everyone talks about company houses,
Here you go.
It's delicious.
but I didn't know there was a city like this among the reclaimed land.
Come, come, it's really fresh!
And it's incredibly cheap!
This episode is about the red gourd, Kinkaku, and Ginkaku Kings.
I didn't know...
"Son Goku, prepare yourself!"
Picture story! I want to see it!
"Ah! Save me!"
Picture story! Picture story!
No.
Poof! Son Goku was sucked into the gourd!
I said no.
Son Goku pulled out a hair and-
Um...
Walk in front of me.
Good boy! What a good boy!
Good boy. Take this!
You want me to pet you somewhere?
Good boy.
Good boy. That a boy!
I see, so you're scared of dogs.
Look, it's a Deutzia.
The branches are hollow which is why it's called Deutzia.
[Note: "Deutzia" is called "Utsugi" in Japanese which literally translates to "hollow tree."]
If they're hollow,
are they all called Deutzia?
I... erm... don't know.
Don't worry, no one's home.
Not even your mom?
Not even her.
You can come in.
Okay.
Wow! Stairs!
You're so lucky...
We don't have stairs in our house, nor do any of my neighbors.
Sit down.
O-Okay.
Hey, it's Kuma!
Kuma's here!
Kuma, let's play.
So the dog's called Kuma...
Let's... drink milk.
A gas refrigerator!
I heard that they burn gas in order to cool the inside.
I wonder where it's burning...
Somewhere in the back.
I see...
Ours needs a block of ice every day from the ice seller.
I see...
Say, I've only ever heard rumors of it, but have you ever seen a television?
Yes... in Tokyo.
Roughly twice.
Really? So, what did it look like?
So the colored pencils are kept over there...
Yeah.
Say, is your father someone important?
No.
He's a doctor...
for the factory.
Oh...
I wish... I never put any perfume on.
That's not... true...
I won't put any on anymore... at least not for school.
I wonder... why she won't visit me.
Hurry up... and come here...
Come here!
Quickly!
See that? That's my house.
You know...
Don't you think it looks like a boat traveling through a green ocean of wheat?
Oh, now that you mention it...
And that's my grandpa.
Although I don't find him scary, everyone else does.
Scary?
But you know, the other day, when a thief sneaked inside our house, he sat him down and fed him.
And over there is my grandma.
And...
Follow me!
Look, this is my secret treasure museum.
They're all Glico toys.
I really want to place a light inside each of these.
Oh?
So when I sneak out at night, I can see a row of glowing windows.
Don't you think it'd look beautiful?
This is my little sister, Mitsuko.
Hello.
Here.
What is it?!
Hey, come in.
Say, what is it?
Okay.
What did you bring us?
U-Um...
It sparkles!
Wow!
They were on my father's desk.
Are you sure we can have them?
It's a gift.
It's sparkling!
There's chocolate inside!
What is it?
Something's coming out.
There's alcohol inside.
Alcohol?
Yes, it's alcohol.
My body feels like it's on fire!
It tastes like mint water.
Or perhaps it's more like castor oil.
Does castor oil taste nice?
No!
They force us to drink it when we're constipated!
And if we do, it makes us poop!
It's not nice at all!
But this one is!
It's a sweet alcohol.
The chocolate's sweet, but so are you!
My mom once won a prize from a magazine's photography contest.
She was married and already had me, but she still sent in photos pretending to be single...
Say, what's Kiiko-chan's mom like?
My mom's dead!
Water filled her lungs and she died!
Oh, I see.
Father!
Mother!
Mitsuko! Mitsuko!
You ate it as well?!
What am I going to do?
Father, this is whiskey.
Is that the last one?
No, there's one more...
Wait, two more.
And where are you from?
I'm Shimazu Kiiko!
I live in the company houses over there.
I'm thirsty.
Yeah...
Say, there are things you can find here too.
Yeah, only because you're here for me.
I didn't mean it like that.
Here, have this instead of water.
When I close my eyes, my maimai ripples and-
What's a "maimai"?
Oh, this...
I don't just have one on top of my head, I've got a second maimai over here too.
Oh, a hair whorl.
I don't have one.
Nothing like that at all.
I don't know why, but I'm the only one who was born with one.
This part of my hair always stands like this.
It's strange.
I wish I didn't have it.
But you know, there are times when my maimai ripples.
In this boring wheat field lies a secret that dates back a thousand years.
A secret that dates back a thousand years?
Yup. A thousand years.
This is so bitter...
Did that wake you?
Then I'll show you it.
This way!
Wait for me!
It's right here!
Here?
This street's been here for a thousand years.
Really?
Come over here.
Wait.
What was it like a thousand years ago?
Oxes pulled carts along the road.
What?
Look, it's here.
What?
Watch out! It's gonna run us over.
We've got to watch out!
Come on, Kiiko. You too.
U-Um...
Move to the side!
That's right. That's right.
Come...
Come visit me too.
Hurry up.
Hold it.
There used to be a river here, so be careful.
A river?
The blacksmith from a thousand years ago goes bang, bang, bang, bang, bang...
What's the matter?
Now, quickly.
Okay.
Look there!
That says that a thousand years ago, this place used to be a city.
Really?
My grandfather said so.
Look, there's one here too!
This place is still a bus stop for Kokuga City.
You're right!
Look.
Look, a river.
So, this was here a thousand years ago too, right?
I won't lose.
This road also turns at a 90 degree angle.
Something must have stood here.
Stood here?
It's huge.
Perhaps it was a mansion?
Excuse me!
What are you doing?!
Oh, we're digging.
A building used to stand here.
What kind of building?
Oh.
There might have been a building for a man called Suou no Kami. He was a very important man.
It's exactly like you said.
Say, did you find any dolls?
What? Dolls?
What did dolls look like a thousand years ago?
Did they look like Kewpie dolls?
Dolls, eh?
I doubt that we'll find any.
Such soft things aren't normally preserved by the dirt.
Poo, no fun.
Yes, that's right, a girl may have once lived here.
A girl approximately your age.
Really?
One, two, one, two, one, two, one, two, one, two.
My, Ne no Hi no Komatsubiki in this area is sure powerful.
[Note: "Ne no Hi no Komatsubiki" is the act of pulling out pine trees on New Year's day to wish for longevity.]
It is said that a life of a thousand years dwells within pine trees.
I'm already very old.
How much longer can I watch over her?
The archaeologist said that the area beyond Katsuma Shrine was an ocean a thousand years ago.
A reclaimed land.
I can see your house from here.
My house is on top of an ocean!
Splash... splash...
Hey, what do you think she was like?
The girl who lived here a thousand years ago.
Hold on for a minute...
Wait, let me do the rest.
Let's see...
Wait... wait for me, okay?
Sure.
But I wish she had one...
a friend like you, Shinko-chan.
Princess, do you always spend your days alone?
Well, I was told that if I came to Suou,
there would be a girl around my age waiting for me as my companion.
Yet no matter how long I wait, no one comes.
I even brought a lot of Hiina dolls and furniture with me from the capital to play with them.
I even made kimonos for the dolls out of pretty paper.
Princess...
It's true that we had prepared a girl of your age to come and be your companion.
However, human lives are unpredictable.
What?
She was my daughter. Even my sons loved her...
Although you feel that this land has nothing, it's not the case for us.
Our ancestors came from far beyond this ocean.
Our people specialized in steel forging.
The best steel is made from ore that's fallen from the sky.
Our ancestors founded this village after following
a shooting star to this land.
Ever since then, we've continued to forge steel. It's been hundreds of years now.
We still find the remnants of our ancestors' forges used for steel making today.
Even ones from hundreds of years ago?
Even those.
All right.
I shall create a poem on this day of Ne no Hi at the Umaya, at Katsuma, in the country of Suou.
Memories...
this spring of a thousand years,
a Pine Princess at the shore of the bay at Katsuma...
Pine tree that will stand a thousand years from now,
please remember this precious day.
Humans lived a long time ago...
yet they'll also live a thousand years from now.
It's no good.
Not a single thing...
I can't imagine what the girl was like at all.
Maybe I need a maimai before it'll work.
I can't even remember what my mother was like anymore...
My mother before I was born...
I want a maimai too.
See?
Kiiko, you look good in that.
Look, it's a "bang!"
Yay!
Kiiko, cover your ears.
What?
You've never seen "bang" before, Kiiko?
Nope.
Rock, paper, scissors!
G-li-co~
[Note: "Glico" is the pronunciation of "rock" in syllables.]
Look, it's Shigeru.
Hitoshi, from Class 5, is with him too.
I wonder what they're doing in the mulberry field?
Hey! What are you guys doing?!
It's okay, Shigeru. It's only Shinko.
What are you making?
Oh, a dam.
A dam, eh?
Here it comes!
There!
One more time.
There!
Fine, take this!
Hey, Kiiko, come and try it!
What?
Ready? Here it comes!
Oh, look, a catfish.
What?
Hey, what are you guys doing?
We're making a dam.
A huge one!
All right, let's look for some large pieces of wood!
Follow me!
Say, who's that?
He's Mitsuru. A sixth grader.
He loves doing things like this.
You see, Tatsuyoshi...
Tatsuyoshi, we're taking those pieces of wood, so move over please.
Please help me with this.
What are you making, Shinko-chan?
An island.
Oh...
Huh?
Tatsuyoshi...
Here.
We've made a huge lake.
I can't wait for the water to fill it up.
Um...
I'm sorry for what I did the other day.
What?
Ah, no sweat.
I bet it'll feel really nice to let all this water rush out.
Yeah, but...
It'll be too wasteful, right?
We did work hard together...
but let's do it.
Let's do it.
Yeah, let's do it!
There's something red.
I wonder what it is...
A goldfish?
The small stream by the mulberry field, right?
That used to be a proper river a thousand years ago.
They used to tie their boats to the pine tree there.
However, I don't know anything about a girl who lived a thousand years ago.
Was she called Nagiko-chan?
Yes.
This book mentions that that might've been her name.
I see.}
Her father was a poet.
He was originally from Kyoto, and took the title of Suou no Kami.
It says here that his daughter probably came with him.
She's the only girl I can put a name to
Stop. Stop it.
who may have been here, in Kokuga, a thousand years ago.
Hizuru-sensei smelled wonderful.
Yes, she did.
She was writing a letter.
She was?
I wonder if it's to her lover.
What?!
Yup, she's still here.
Huh?
Oh, you're here as well.
We figured we'd feed it some bread.
We left part of our lunch too.
Tatsuyoshi.
Right, seems like everyone's here.
I've thought up a name for the goldfish.
Oh, I did too!
Listen, how about Hizuru? What do you think?
Darn...
Ah, I see. We all had the same name in mind, eh?
Okay, everyone pay ten yen.
Once you've paid, enter quietly.
When it's over, get out before the theater's lights go on.
My father works in the projector room, so you mustn't be seen by him.
Ow...
I'm going through puberty.
I wonder if that's what it's like to grow up and fall in love.
I want Hizuru-sensei to have a happy marriage.
Kiss, dear.
When I look at Hizuru-sensei,
Stop it. Stop that.
it makes me wonder if my mother was like that too.
No.
Hey!
Kiiko, here.
Okay.
Look at the tail on this rocket.
You're right.
It resembles Hizuru-chan.
Yeah.
Who's Hizuru-chan?
It's none of your business, Mitsuko.
Hey, who is she?
Say, who's Hizuru-chan?
L-Look! That's...
Jeez... Onee-chan!
Hey!
Hello, Tatsuyoshi's dad!
Onee-chan!
That's his father?
Tami-chan, this is the goldfish.
Her name is Hizuru.
She's so cute.
Go.
Woah...
I have lots of friends now.
All right, it's here.
Yup.
All right!
It's all thanks to you, Shiko-chan.
Thanks.
Nope, it's all thanks to the thousand-year old magic.
I'm happy that the goldfish has a friend too.
There's one more girl who I really want to become friends with.
Here.
Shigeru, one's for you too!
Yeah, you're right.
Three hundred meters!
Nagiko-chan...
Here I go.
A small number! Come out! A small number!
Appear, my small number!
Bam!
Oh well...
I'll get you back! Pay back!
A number that'll pay you back!
Take this! And this!
I miss a turn.
One more throw!
No, wait!
I will not!
Bam!
How's that?
In that case...
A good number... Come out, good number!
How's this?
It's a cuckoo!
Look, there are Deutzias too!
Come on, right there.
And there.
There's still a gap there.
It's my first time doing something like this.
It's beautiful!
Let's play...
All right.
Kamikaze team, w-we're going in.
Roger!
Tatsuyoshi, we're depending on your wooden sword.
We're counting on you.
Hey, are there really bandits hiding in that shelter?
Shush... the bandits will hear us.
The bandits might be carrying guns.
What?
But don't worry.
We're a kamikaze team and that wooden sword belongs to Tatsuyoshi's dad.
Tatsuyoshi's dad has a fourth grade black belt in Kendo.
W-Wait...
Calm down.
It's just a cat.
That was scary.
Yeah, it was.
That sent shivers down my spine.
Who's eyes were those?
A cat's.
A cat, huh?
Aw...
Shinko!
When you see Mitsuko, tell her it's time for her nap.
Sure!
Huh? Where's Mitsuko?
What?
What? She's missing!
Mitsuko!
Mitsuko-chan!
Mitsuko, are you in here?
She's not here.
Where could she have run off to?
Let's search down below.
Kokuga's too huge...
Mitsuko!
What should I do? What should I do?
Hizuru-sensei!
Aoki-san.
Sensei, have you seen a small girl wandering around?
S-She's five and around this tall...
No, I haven't.
Is something wrong?
I-It's fine if you haven't.
Bye!
Well, did you find her?
Look...
In front of your house.
The police...
Kitty.
Thank you very much.
She'd climbed up the slope by Sankaku lake to the golf course above
and was attempting to pick up a golf ball.
Either way, thank you.
It's nothing.
Now, if you'll excuse me...
I'm so relieved...
Hey! Kitty!
I don't mind you carrying it around, but make sure you put it back later.
He's a really honest policeman.
One time, when there was a break-in and the intruder locked himself in,
he was the first to volunteer and arrested the intruder.
Yeah, he's a real kamikaze, right?
Yup.
Mitsuko! Mitsuko!
I'm so relieved!
My, your little sister's home.
Hizuru-sensei?
I see, you were looking for her too.
Yes.
Sensei, I feel so restless.
I feel like there's something in this huge city of Kokuga.
I feel restless and also a little happy.
Maybe it's because I'm going through puberty now.
That might not be true.
I wonder if it's all thanks to you grown-ups.
People like my grandfather, Tatsuyoshi's dad, and you-
Huh?
A ring! It's really pretty!
I guess I have no choice.
To be honest, next Saturday will be my last day at school.
What?
I'm getting married in...
Autumn.
But I still have a lot of preparations to make, so next Saturday will be my last day at school.
Please don't tell anyone until after the announcement on Monday.
Um, who are you marrying?
Someone I met at university.
He's in Tokyo, so I'll be moving there.
He's a rugby athlete. He's a very big man.
Then I wanna go to Tokyo too!
Come and visit me when you're older then.
Good bye.
She's a bride!
A bride!
Kiiko! Kiiko!
Don't tell anyone this...
Hizuru-chan, congratulations.
A celebration? For what?
Shinko-chan, help me.
Come on, Shinko-chan, help me.
Okay.
Let's play.
Sure.
Hurry up, Shinko-chan!
Do people really plant seeds on mud roofs in the capital?
Yup, they do.
The current Mikado did it. It's famous for being beautiful.
I see...
The flowers have bloomed!
There are lots of flowers in the lake!
It's amazing, Kiiko.
It's beautiful.
Beautiful~
I'll put my marbles in there.
Oh, me too!
Hizuru's here!
It looks like she likes it.
A leaf bed.
Go to sleep, Hizuru-chan.
Fish don't sleep in beds.
I know that!
It's amazing.
What are you doing?
None of your business.
Ah! You're going to get in trouble.
I want to decorate it with something as well.
Into her bring and hand her take to...
Disgraceful not is she so Chifuru of name the her gave even we...
These ladies are telling me that I can't play...
Name real her know even not do we. Case low a of is, Chifuru, here maid youngest our.
with her.
I don't understand why I can't...
What? Why am I crying?
Huh?
Shinko?
It's terrible.
Kiiko's mother's... perfume...
I thought it would be okay...
But when I checked today, the lid was open.
Onee-chan, did Hizuru die?
Yeah, even though she was redder than the sunset...
Hizuru...
It's no use.
I've already tried that tons of times.
Let's give her a funeral.
Okay?
Okay.
Let's perform a funeral.
At the historical site.
Make sure you really pray.
When my brother died, we did. That's why he went to heaven.
If we do so, Hizuru will come back on August 15th to visit us.
She won't... come back.
I know it...
I think I'll forget about my mother too.
Say, what day is August 15th?
It's the start of the Obon Festival.
[Note: The Obon festival is when the dead are honored, and are believed to come back and visit.]
So you had a funeral there, eh?
Did you bury her there because I said it was a key place for this land a thousand years ago?
I wonder if she'll come back to life... with the thousand-year old magic.
We buried her in the magic land, so she'll become a magic fish and live a thousand years, right?
In a thousand years, she'll be a goldfish as big as this house, won't she?
Won't she?
Or else Kiiko won't...
Shinko, wait!
Hey!
Hey, I just saw something amazing!
What?
I saw a red goldfish just like Hizuru swimming in the stream.
Really?
Yes, near my house.
Where the stone wall is.
I saw a red fin there.
When I looked down from above, it looked identical to Hizuru.
She should've died.
Strange, isn't it?
Kiiko!
Hey, Kiiko!
Hey!
Say, I hear Hizuru-sensei quit school.
What?!
I see...
Seems like she had a lover.
What?!
But he was a married man, and had a wife.
What?
It seems she got frustrated because there's nothing she could do.
So, she decided to marry someone else from Tokyo.
I'm disappointed...
I'm starting to feel like the name we gave our goldfish, Hizuru, is filthy.
Mitsuru-dono, prepare yourself!
Come and get me!
Hey!
Even so... right?
Yeah.
Shinko,
are you sure about dragging Kiiko with you like this?
What are you going to do if there isn't a goldfish?
I'm not sure...
But I, too, want Hizuru to be alive.
Let's look for her again tomorrow.
What?
Shigeru, you're the one who mentioned this, so you'd better come.
Tatsuyoshi...
If you say so.
What about you, Mitsuru? Hitoshi?
We...
You guys sure drag your feet.
I promise you.
An oath.
We will find the goldfish tomorrow.
The kamikaze's wooden sword says so.
If you say this much...
Yeah.
I guess we have no other choice.
So, Kiiko, make sure you laugh tomorrow.
A promise for tomorrow.
Let's all laugh together tomorrow!
Hakuba Tengu is still alive!
You just used a dirty move on him!
Tatsuyoshi's really mature.
There's no way he'd lose to the likes of you!
Never!
You're still babbling such nonsense?
I believe in him.
Watch out, Hikohachirou!
Princess Koto!
The Hakuba Tengu still didn't make it in time to aid Hikohachirou.
Yes?
Come, come...
And now, we give you the theme songs.
Come, come...
To be continued tomorrow, huh?
Come now...
Come, come...
Shinko,
Suzuki-kun's here to visit you.
Come...
Suzuki?
Come... come...
Yeah.
Suzuki... Suzuki...
Oh, Suzuki Tatsuyoshi.
Yowaki o tasuke tsuyoki o kujiku
弱きを助け 強きをくじく
Protecting the weak and defeating the strong;
What's up?
I'm sorry Shinko.
What?
I believe everyone will know by tomorrow.
Hakuba tengu wa seigi no mikata
白馬天狗は 正義の味方
Hakuba Tengu is a hero.
I'm really disappointed too.
Damn it!
I... don't understand at all.
My... Oh, my...
What's wrong?
Yoshimura-san just visited.
You remember that police officer who found Mitsuko the other day?
Ah, yes...
He apparently hung himself at the police station.
What?!
They say he was tricked by the Yakuza down at the harbor city.
The second floor of a place called Bar California is a gambling den.
He fell for one of the women who worked there-
He's having his asthma attack again.
On top of that, he acquired a debt of tens of thousands of yen.
My...
So, he hung himself and left a suicide note stating that he would take responsibility for his own actions.
My...
It was all thanks to Tatsuyoshi's father's wooden sword,
An honest policeman tricked by an evil lady... that's awful.
that we, who were torn apart, could group together under tomorrow's promise...
What will happen tomorrow?
She probably has blonde hair even though she's Japanese and beautiful... Women like her...
He's been framed.
He must have been.
Yes...
Help me, Grandpa.
Enough already!
Don't you know that Officer Suzuki's son is Shinko's friend?!
Um, that's...
She's going to hear you.
So that's what he was like...
He has a child around the same age as mine...
I wonder if it's painful to die.
That's...
You're still asking these student-like questions?
But!
I see, Nagako. You're taking this seriously.
Well, I'm sure there were many temptations.
He was probably taken in by the gambling before the woman.
It's something that happens fairly frequently.
He isn't saying that he's been framed...
Even though tomorrow seemed so appealing...
The thousand year old magic is useless.
I forgot.
But I promised to give Kiiko a Glico toy electric fan.
Is it okay if I go now?
Why don't you wait till tomorrow?
But I promised her, so...
I'm off.
Shinko, at least take a flashlight with-
I've got one.
Mommy, I'm hungry!
My... My... Mit-chan's stomach is...
Excuse me!
Tatsuyoshi, are you home?
Tatsuyoshi, are you not here?
Shinko?
Yeah.
By tomorrow, everyone will be told not to play with me anymore.
Tomorrow's promise no longer exists.
That's why I think we should find Hizuru tonight.
Just the two of us?
I ran away from home.
Why can't I play with you anymore?
It's the lady's fault... the one from Bar...
California.
The lady from there, right?
She's what you call a wicked woman.
Where's your mother?
She went to speak with our relatives.
She won't be back tonight.
But...
Hizuru is gone...
And the thousand year old magic my grandpa told me about is gone too.
Is it okay for you to be saying that?
Tatsuyoshi, let's go.
Where to?
To avenge tomorrow's promise.
I've got a bottle of rice.
We can go anywhere.
Now then, Miss, please make sure you lock the doors until the Master is back.
Thank you.
A letter?
"Dear Kiiko-sama,"
"I'm sorry."
Shinko-chan?
I'm going somewhere far away from here.
I may end up being adopted by someone rich,
or maybe abducted by a gang.
But...
I don't understand what you're saying, Shinko-chan.
But maybe we're so far apart now that I can't understand her...
I'm going to stop with the thousand year old magic,
and dragging you around with my imaginations.
That's why, I'm sorry for everything.
I wonder why.
Is it because I decided that I wouldn't think about my mother any more?
Is that why you're going to do the same?
But, Shinko-chan,
if you do that, I feel pity for the girl who lived a thousand years ago that only you know about.
My mother used to read this book as a child.
I only know this because my father told me.
If you're not here with me...
I'll never be able to go there alone.
Lately, there are more cops around.
It's because of what happened.
You mean with that police officer?
I've seen my father enter that alley with a blonde lady.
Isn't that where Bar California is?
Are you scared, Shinko?
No...
No!
I don't know how things turned out like this, but...
But!
But I don't know who else to blame.
Let's go!
Are you calling my novel stupid?!
Jeez... Move...
Go back to grade one!
Bastard, what did you just say?!
Hey!
Enough already! Blasted drunkards!
What are you doing?
Come on, now. Don't stop them.
That's why I told you-
I want to see more.
Like I said...
Kids, you guys want beer too?
Then, what? Are you implying that-
You'll wet your bed if you drink too much!
Come again.
Don't meet their eyes.
Yes, I shall come again.
Bang... bang... goes the smith a thousand years ago.
And by the river which I nearly fell into,
is a house surrounded by long walls and right-angled streams...
The girl who lives there is playing with her doll.
That's right. I've seen her once before.
A bride...
Flowers...
White flowers...
They were in full bloom, and a lot of the people were smiling.
Yet, she didn't smile.
Even though she's the one who you want to see smile, right, Shinko-chan?
Tomorrow's promise...
To laugh together...
What?
She's not there today.
What?
When did I...
I saw it before I knew it...
Wh-What?
What? What?
Wh-What?
I've got a maimai.
Princess. Princess. Princess.
Little princess.
Now, let's go.
Our youngest maid, Chifuru, is of a low caste. We don't even know her real name.
You mustn't go that way.
Please come this way.
It's beautiful! It's amazing!
It's covered in flowers!
Tatara Mountain!
It looks the same.
Bang... bang... bang... bang...
Wait for me!
Bang... bang... bang... bang...
It's amazing! It's amazing, Shinko-chan!
He's a cutie. Such chubby little cheeks!
The world a thousand years ago...
You can't give up on it, Shinko-chan!
Mr. President.
Make sure you bring money the next time you visit!
I'm no president, just a section manager.
Hey, where are you guys going?
Bear with it.
We're almost there.
We're almost there, Your Highness.
Soon... soon...
I can soon meet her.
Soon, I can meet her.
Soon... soon...
Soon!
This is it.
Stop that.
Oh, come on.
Oh?
Say, what's wrong?
Kids.
A-Are you the lady who works for Bar California?!
Hey, what's wrong?
Who the hell are these stinky brats?
Are you the lady that-
Yes, I am.
I'm the young lady who works for Bar California.
Mister, are you part of the Yakuza who hosts the gambling den upstairs?!
Shinko.
Seems like no one taught these little brats what's okay to scream and what's not.
Hey, if you're parents aren't teaching you,
I guess we'll just have to teach you nicely in their place.
How about that, eh?
Blonde lady!
Tatsuyoshi's come take his revenge!
His father was an honest police officer!
But he was tricked by a blonde lady and committed suicide!
I'm here to take revenge with him!
Give us back tomorrow's outing!
I-I'm terribly sorry for asking her take a day off from her duty at the mansion.
We ate something that was bad. We all have food poisoning.
You too?
Do you have a stomach ache?
No.
But I need to take care of my mother and sisters.
Oh! I forgot. I needed to feed the bird at the mansion.
You always look like that.
You should smile more.
Here.
Does this boy always look like this?
Tatsuyoshi doesn't smile for no reason!
Go, Tatsuyoshi.
Good work.
If you hit people with a wooden sword, you'll be no different from a Yakuza.
What's wrong?
Now, smile.
Now, drink up.
Boy, I'll teach you to make bottle tops that will win at bottle top wrestling.
How 'bout that?
He's not cute at all.
Why?
Why do you want to teach me that?
That's 'cause Suzuki-san taught me how when we drank together.
He had a glitter in his eyes when he spoke about it.
He looked like he was having fun.
Even if you say that, he's Suzuki-san's boy.
I'm sure he's been taught how to play top wrestling.
No. He didn't teach me.
There...
were times when he asked if I wanted to learn, but I said no.
And when I did, he hit me!
When he did,
he was drunk and reeked of alcohol...
Damn it!
Just now, my father ran past here as a child.
If I could, I'd want to go with him!
Father!
Go, kid.
Let's go, Tatsuyoshi.
Hey! Quiet down!
Roar... roar... roar...
See? This is the demon.
The culprit behind your sickness.
Roar... I will make you sick!
But don't worry...
This is the-
Housoushi.
It's powerful because it has four eyes and even a pike.
[Note: Housoushi are people who chase away demons.]
I shall defeat the demon!
Demons away! Demons away!
Take that! That! And that!
Oh no, the demon ran away that way.
We need more help from the guards!
Stab... stab...
Ow... ow... ow... ow... ow...
Ow... ow...
Shinko.
Starting tomorrow, I won't be here any more.
We're moving to my mother's relatives' place in Osaka by train tomorrow.
I promise you:
I'm going to grow into a proper adult,
and teach my kids how to carve a top and add streams to kites!
Yeah.
Shinko, take this.
Okay.
Bye!
Tatsuyoshi!
But before we grow up, let's work hard and play!
Let's learn a lot more games and teach our kids.
That's why, we're going to work hard and play, kamikaze comrade!
Let's play again tomorrow.
Okay.
He finally truly...
smiled.
Now then, I think I'll head back too-
Good evening! Good evening!
Good evening!
Coming?
U-Um...
Who are you?
My name is Aoki Shinko.
I-I promised I'd give Kiiko an electric fan. A Glico toy.
Oh...
Kiiko, your friend Aoki-
Shinko-chan!
I... I found it!
Put your shoes on.
Come on, now! Let's go!
Go where?
What?
Hurry!
Yeah!
Dad, I'm going out for a while.
Go out? But... Hey, Kiiko...
Hizuru, our goldfish is alive!
I really, really want to see her!
You do?
Yes! I really, really, really, really want to see her!
All right!
Shinko-chan, you're slow.
Where is she?
Somewhere around there.
I saw her around here...
Huh?
That's weird.
I'm positive she was around here-
You're right.
See?
We're out of batteries.
Man...
Are you scared?
I'm fine. You're here with me.
When I sit under the Milky Way in the dark,
I get the feeling that a lot of things...
are around us.
Yes, I'm sure there are.
Tatsuyoshi's father, and your mother too.
As long as we don't forget them, they'll be around us forever.
Oh yeah, I just found this.
See?
It was between the pages in a book.
It's my mother when she was a child.
You look a lot like your mother.
Huh?
I couldn't win against you in our little race just now.
To tell you the truth, I'm the slowest in our class.
Even though you look fast?
But I can still run faster than Green Kojiro.
Who's that?
I made him up.
He's got a sword on his back and runs on water.
People like him are around here too.
There must be many more things inside here then.
Ow!
What do you think you're doing, Shimazu Kiiko!
Take that!
But our goldfish really exists.
Yeah...
I bet you it'll be here tomorrow, the day after, and even after that.
Yeah...
Shinko!
Hey, Shinko.
Oh, Dad!
Dad, are you real?
What? Do fake dads even exist?
For a moment, I thought you were the great monk from the small shrine
who disguised himself as you since you rarely come home.
You little...
Everyone, including grandpa, is looking for you.
I love grandpa.
Jeez...
There's no doubt that more than half of imaginative Aoki Shinko's made up of your grandpa's genes.
Oh? Um...
I'm Shimazu Kiiko. Shinko-chan's classmate.
Oh, I see.
I'm Aoki Tousuke.
I research herbs at Yamaguchi University.
She lives in the company houses.
I guess I'll walk you two home.
Still, you two are delinquents.
I am your daughter after all.
Don't be silly.
Even parents and their children have slightly different genes.
Yours aren't as good as mine.
Sure.
Your dad's a really nice person.
Sing, sing a song.
He is.
Everyone's nice.
Kiiko, let's play again tomorrow.
Sing out loud.
Okay.
Sing out strong.
Sing of good things, not bad.
Good bye!
Hizuru-sensei!
Sing of happy, not sad.
Sing, sing a song.
Make it simple to last
your whole life long.
Don't worry
that it's not good enough
for anyone else to hear.
Just sing, sing a song.
At the end of winter, her grandpa passed away.
Now, Shinko-chan's moving...
to the city where her father's university is based.
Shinko.
Shinko!
Everyone!
Here. Take Kamekichi with you.
And these too.
What is it?
I bought them from the new Taiyaki store that opened in Tenjin city.
I've always wanted to go there.
Just sing, sing a song.
Thank you!
You mustn't lose even if Hiroko from Kanayama restaurant bullies you.
Yup. I won't, Shinko-chan!
Hey!
Hey, Shinko!
Shinko!
See you.
Hey, Shinko!