After the Quake (2025) Movie Script
ORIGINAL WORK BY: HARUKI MURAKAMI
When he opens the door, there's Frog.
When the man gets home,
there's Frog, a huge
man-sized frog, who says,
"A large earthquake will strike again.
This time in Tokyo."
"Help me stop it,
to save Tokyo from destruction."
To do so,
Frog must battle the worm
filled with hate under the ground.
So,
he wants the man to help him.
Will the two
be able to defeat Worm?
All we can do
is wait for the story to unfold.
Good morning.
The number of people dead
or missing has reached nearly 2,800.
This morning,
full-scale rescue operations have begun
Is that smoke still coming out?
Over a day has passed, right?
The epicenter was around Kobe City
and Nishinomiya City.
Many were killed or injured
when coastal apartments collapsed,
and over 8,000 damaged buildings
trapped people underneath.
One thousand eight hundred
and three people.
There are people still trapped
underneath a building
Still hard to believe.
The number of areas within Kobe City
and Ashiya City that is in need
of rescue work has gone up to 816.
The Self-Defense Force has been rescuing
You didn't eat yesterday?
I'll take that.
I had a dream earlier.
I haven't had one since we got married.
It was the first bad dream in a while.
What was it about?
I can't remember.
We're above Nagata Ward in Kobe.
The sky is getting lighter.
Fires are blazing down below.
Smoke from the fires
is reaching this altitude nonstop.
1,681 DEAD, 1,017 MISSING
The following are the newly confirmed
names of the deceased.
Hideki Takami.
Michio Tokaji.
Shino Ueno.
Kentaro Ninomiya.
Takeshi Morimoto.
Shinya Adachi.
Tomiko Adachi.
Next, Suma Ward, Kobe City.
Su-gwang Choi.
Nishinomiya City.
Sho Takai.
Takamitsu Kato.
Yuri Nakakita.
Ashiya City.
Miyo Mori.
Next, Higashinada Ward.
Haruka Kato.
Seiko Chujo.
Wataru Mori.
Jun Kudo.
Nada Ward.
Kengo Hashimoto.
Motohiro Kisoi.
I'm home.
Mimei?
"I don't intend to ever come back.
To be blunt,
there is nothing inside you
that you can give me.
You're sweet and kind,
but to me,
it felt like I was living
with a chunk of air.
But that's not just your fault.
I'm sure there are many women
who will love you more.
If any of my things are left,
please throw them away."
Hello. I'm Kamisu, Mimei's uncle.
Come in.
I'm sorry. I never knew
Mimei had an uncle.
No problem.
By the way, about that letter she wrote
I read it.
All right.
Then
Please fill this out.
DIVORCE NOTICE
The two witnesses have been filled in.
WIFE: MIMEI KOMURA
All you need to do is sign your name.
-As for property division--
-Wait.
This is all so sudden.
Let me talk to her directly.
Since I'm the one who came,
I'm sure you can take a hint.
Come on.
"Consider it as having had a bad dream."
That's what she said.
What was the reason? I don't understand.
You might be the only one
who doesn't understand.
What?
What was written in that letter
says it all.
The only truth
is this.
Sign it.
MIMEI
I heard you're taking
a long leave of absence.
Yeah.
You feel like going somewhere.
Why do you think so?
It's pretty obvious.
Have you ever been to Hokkaido?
No, I haven't.
Would you be willing to go?
Why?
Actually
there's a small package
I want delivered to Kushiro.
It's something personal,
and I don't want it treated roughly.
A small package?
This.
Meet my sister at Kushiro Airport
and give that to her.
Then she'll take care of your trip.
Oh, and
wait with that box in hand
just outside the airport's gate,
and my sister will know it's you.
All right.
-There she is!
-Thanks for waiting.
Long time no see.
GREAT HANSHIN EARTHQUAKE
FRAMEWORK OF RECONSTRUCTION HQ
5,244 DEAD
Hey.
Mr. Komura. Sorry. Did I make you wait?
Oh, uh
I'm Keiko Sasaki.
My brother works with you.
Hi. Nice to meet you.
Sorry, I wasn't paying attention.
No, it's my fault for being late.
And this is my friend Shimao.
Nice to meet you.
Shall we go?
I heard your wife passed away.
It must be hard for you.
Huh?
No, she didn't die.
But that's what my brother said.
We just got a divorce.
She's doing fine as far as I know.
Really?
Why would I lie?
There's no way I could have misheard
something that important.
I'm sorry for saying something so rude.
No.
It doesn't matter which it was anyway.
They're pretty much the same.
I'm truly sorry.
It's all right. Don't worry about it.
Oh yeah. Here.
Let me give you the package first.
Um
If you don't mind,
could you hold on to it for now?
Huh?
I forget easily.
If I lose it somewhere,
my brother will get mad at me.
-But
-That's true.
You really are forgetful, Keiko.
I'll give it to you later, then.
RESTAURANT MARSH UTOPIA
Is ramen OK with you?
Huh?
Oh, yeah.
Kushiro is so cold, isn't it?
It's common to see people
fall asleep drunk
and end up freezing
to death on the street.
Yeah.
Is that so common?
So, please be careful.
What?
What's your wife's name?
Huh?
It feels awkward
to keep calling her your wife.
Well
Her name's Mimei.
Mimei?
What's the kanji for that?
"Mi", as in "not yet",
and "mei", as in "name".
Her name means "doesn't have a name yet".
Are you serious?
Her father was a bit strange.
He intended to name her properly
when he came up with a real name.
"He just couldn't make up his mind,"
Mimei used to say, laughing.
Interesting dad.
Isn't it like being put on hold forever?
Here you go.
Even though I'm here, it doesn't feel
like I've come very far at all.
Strange, isn't it?
Did you want to go far away?
Yes.
I did.
But
you can't escape yourself,
no matter how far you go.
Same as your shadow.
Hey, could I ask you
a bit more about Mimei?
Go ahead.
When did she leave?
Five days after the earthquake.
So, about two weeks ago.
Did it have anything to do with the quake?
Probably not.
She's from up north and didn't have
any friends in the stricken area.
But things like that
could be connected in some way.
You just didn't notice, Mr. Komura.
Things like that happen.
Things like what?
I knew someone like that.
-You mean Mr. Saeki, right?
-Yeah.
He's a hairstylist who lives in Kushiro,
and his wife saw a UFO last summer.
A UFO?
She was driving alone outside of town
at night on a really hot day,
and suddenly a huge UFO landed
in the middle of a field.
Boom!
Yeah.
Boom!
And a week later, she left home.
Nobody knows why.
During the week before she left,
that UFO was the only thing
she talked about to anyone she met.
She didn't eat, didn't sleep,
and just kept talking.
Then, after that, she left home
and never came back.
That was the end.
Does staying in a motel bother you?
Someone I know owns this place,
and he gave us the best room.
No, it's fine.
Much better than a cramped
business hotel. Thank you.
Good.
Hey, you must be cold.
The bathtub here is pretty roomy.
Go take a dip.
What?
Oh
Keiko went home.
Oh, really?
Said she'll come pick you up
in the morning.
Keiko is your friend, right?
Yeah. We're peers.
What do you mean?
Is it awkward being with someone?
Should I go home now?
It's OK.
May I have one too?
Go ahead.
Hey.
If you don't mind,
may I take a bath too?
Oh, sure, of course.
Tomorrow is day 20
since the Great Hanshin Earthquake
struck southern Hyogo Prefecture
at 5:46 a.m.
on the 17th of last month.
The quake that struck the major city
registered a maximum seismic intensity
of seven, and the death toll
Hey, about that box
Will you hold on to it, Shimao?
Keiko probably took it home.
No, I didn't give it to her.
See? She took it home after all.
I guess so.
Yeah.
By the way,
how did you two know it was me
back at the airport?
You were supposed to find me
by looking for the box in my hand,
but at the airport,
I wasn't holding the box.
You weren't.
So, how?
It was pretty obvious.
Really?
You know what?
I think what you need right now
is to genuinely enjoy life.
Maybe an earthquake will strike tomorrow.
You might even be abducted by aliens.
Nobody knows
what might happen.
Don't worry. These things happen.
You were thinking about Mimei,
weren't you?
You said she left a note behind.
What did it say?
That living with me
was like living with a chunk of air.
What does that mean?
I think it means I have no substance.
Substance?
But
I have no idea
what that actually is.
I think you're pretty sweet, Mr. Komura.
That box I brought
I wonder what was inside.
You're curious about what's inside?
I didn't care until now,
but for some reason
Oddly enough, suddenly
Since when?
Just now.
Why did it start to bother you?
I don't know.
Inside that box
was your substance, Mr. Komura.
You brought it here without knowing
and handed it over to Keiko.
So, you'll never get your substance back.
Sorry, that was a joke.
I'm starting
to feel like I've come very far.
But it's only just begun.
Welcome.
Are those on the shelf all you have?
Oh, um
Are the ones over there all you have?
That's all.
Nothing else in the back?
Nothing.
Go check.
Don't you have any in stock?
Uh, no, that's not it.
That'll be 392 yen.
The exact amount. Thank you.
Thank you.
He used hard words.
He always buys milk, bread,
and a newspaper in the morning.
Green tea and bento for lunch.
-Too fast, too fast.
-At night,
he comes to buy two beers
and ready-made dishes.
Move.
Oh, hi.
Here. Expired stuff.
Awesome! Thanks.
You got a postcard from your mom.
She says to call sometime.
You haven't gone to see your folks at all
since we've been dating.
That's not OK, you know.
Don't read my mail.
I'm guessing you don't get along
with your dad, Junko.
Did something happen?
Getting along with your old man is hard.
Oh, lucky me. You brought pudding.
Enjoy some Japanese sweets in return.
So, you saw your parents.
Stopped by along my way to campus.
Let's go eat Korean barbecue tomorrow.
My treat.
Only one portion of short rib, though.
I'm not going.
Why not?
That's your father's money, right?
Pay half the rent with money
you made working part-time.
Preparations for tomorrow were underway,
and over 300 people, including volunteers
This pudding is good.
wrote words such as "prayer" on 10,000
bamboo lanterns and lined them up
in the shape of "1995 1.17",
indicating the day of the disaster.
Tomorrow marks the 16th anniversary
of the Great Hanshin Earthquake
that claimed the lives of 6,434 people.
In Itami City, memorial services
have begun in the parks
to mourn victims and to pray
for the recovery of the affected areas.
REST IN PEACE
Hey, you work at that store.
May I join you by the fire?
Oh, sure.
-Is this your way home?
-Huh?
I see you around sometimes.
Oh. Yes, it is.
Thank you.
You see the big log
in the middle of the fire?
That's like the How to put it?
The soul of this fire.
This fire exists to burn that.
Do you always build these fires?
It's like a disease at this point.
A lot of good driftwood washes up here.
Well
it's like I drifted here
to build these fires.
You thought I'm a weird guy.
I thought that was kind of cool.
What? You're a strange kid.
What's this? Some kind of sign?
That?
There's this fun pizza place in Kobe.
They serve pizzas with slips of paper
with the number they've made.
Eight hundred and eighteen?
You mean you've built this many fires?
I guess so.
Mind if I smoke?
Go ahead.
Were you born around here?
Why do you ask?
I thought you were from elsewhere
because you have a different air.
Don't answer if you don't want to.
Sorry, it's not like
I really have to know.
I
left home and came here two years ago.
I was a senior in high school.
I really hated school, of course,
but it was more like
I fell out with my dad.
From around when I was in junior high,
maybe? He began
How do I say it?
He began looking at me
like I was an alien.
I thought, "Oh, I definitely
can't be with this person.
It's impossible."
Anywhere would do.
I just wanted to go far away
on my own two feet.
But
I remember thinking,
"This isn't very far,
considering the time it took."
I see.
Hey, Junko!
Oh
May I come see your fire again?
Of course.
See you.
Who's he?
Let's go.
MONDAY, JAN. 17, 2011
-It's burning.
-It's burning.
Hey!
Well then, cheers.
-Cheers.
-Cheers.
That's too big to use.
Why not? Use a big one for a change.
It's no good. Just leave it there.
It's freezing.
What's so great about a bonfire this late?
Better than rock music that's just noisy.
Don't underestimate rock.
It's made so many people
around the world happy.
Fans of bonfires have been around
for 50,000 years. Longer history.
I guess you could say that.
But the point is,
50,000 years ago and 50,000 years
from now have nothing to do with me.
What's important is now.
You never know when the Earth will end.
Now is important.
It's about being able to eat a proper meal
and how hard my dick gets. Get it?
OK.
So heavy.
Mr. Miyake, you're from Osaka, right?
Why did you come here?
Not Osaka. Kobe. Big difference.
Well, they're the same to us.
Is my accent still so obvious?
Too obvious.
How long have you been here?
Seventeen years.
Long time.
Why did you leave Kobe?
Well, things happened.
Do you go back sometimes?
Haven't gone at all.
Not once?
Here it comes.
This is the best so far!
Wow, it's so high!
Oh no, my stomach hurts.
Taking a shit will solve it.
Go home and do it, then.
I'll see Junko home, so don't worry.
OK then, thanks.
He got carried away and drank too much.
It's no fun if you're flawless
from a young age.
He has his good points, you know.
I guess so.
Being young can be tough, right?
Some things can't be helped,
even if you think about them.
Do you mind if I ask you
something personal?
It'll bother you until you ask, right?
Go ahead.
You have family in Kobe, don't you?
I got that impression
when Keisuke asked you why you left.
I see.
Do you have kids?
Yeah. Two.
I had kids.
Everyone in my family lived in a place
called Higashinada Ward.
Until 16 years ago
they lived there.
Why did I leave the house at that time?
Why couldn't I be with all of them there?
I still think about it.
I'm the king of idiots.
Why am I the only survivor?
Junko, have you ever thought about
how you'll die?
I think about it all the time.
I can't think about such a thing.
I mean, I don't even know
how I'm going to live yet.
I see.
But
there are ways to live by working it out
backwards from how you'll die.
Is that how you live?
I don't know.
Sometimes it feels like it.
How will you die, Mr. Miyake?
I'm going to die trapped in a fridge.
You hear about it sometimes,
kids being trapped inside and suffocating.
That kind of thing.
I'll suffer slowly for a long time
and end up suffocating.
I keep having dreams like that.
It feels so real
that I feel like I've died
many times over.
And someday I'll really die.
That's the premonition I have.
Premonition?
Premonitions are a kind of substitution.
In some cases,
they're far more graphic than reality.
It's almost over.
I'll see you home in a bit.
Hey. What are you doing?
The fire has two souls now.
Mr. Miyake.
I'm empty.
There's nothing in me.
I understand.
Do you really understand?
I'm knowledgeable about such things.
What should I do?
If you sleep well and wake up,
that usually does the trick.
It's not that simple.
Yeah.
How about
we die together now?
I wouldn't mind dying.
Seriously?
I'm serious.
For the moment,
let's wait until the fire burns out.
After all, it's the first bonfire
you made.
When this fire burns out
and it becomes completely dark,
then let's die together.
Yeah.
Eight hundred and twenty-seven.
The year 2011
March
11th.
Can I sleep for a bit?
Sure.
Wake me up when the fire is out.
Don't worry.
When the fire goes out, you'll be
so cold that you'll have to wake up.
When the fire goes out,
I'll be so cold that I'll have to wake up.
What you did was to test Our Lord.
-Thank you.
-Thank you.
That isn't right.
Hello?
It's me.
I heard you were outside yesterday.
Mr. Tabata's farewell ceremony.
You came, didn't you?
I wouldn't have been welcome.
I'm an outsider now.
Don't be ridiculous.
Everyone knows you since you were born,
so it doesn't matter.
I was hoping to see you.
Yoshiya, did you speak with Mr. Tabata?
Huh?
You met him a while ago,
before he passed away, didn't you?
Yeah
I guess.
So
All right, all right.
I'm in a hurry.
Hold on.
Something might
happen again.
So, be careful.
See you.
Something might happen
Too close.
Sleep in your own bed.
MARCH 2011
We leave tomorrow morning.
Where to?
To Tohoku. Everyone here will go together.
To the stricken areas?
Yes.
I don't want to.
Don't you want to save them, Yoshiya?
It's arrogant to think we can save them.
You saw it on TV, right?
I saw it.
Then you know what it's like.
What could we do after seeing that?
I think probably what happened this time
is a sign that something terrible
is going to happen.
A sign?
Yes.
This world is full of the nasty malice
of human beings,
and it keeps hurting everyone.
I keep telling you, remember?
You're the only child of God
in this world,
so help people in need.
Hey.
Who is my real father?
I mean, like, biologically.
Real in that sense.
Your father is Our Lord.
We can't be together,
but He's always watching over you.
That's not what I mean.
But it's true.
Your father is Our Lord.
Never mind.
I'm not going to Tohoku.
I couldn't possibly do that.
I'm giving up my faith from today.
Wait!
There's something I want you to know.
It's about how you were born.
NINE YEARS SINCE THE 3.11 GREAEAST JAPAN EARTHQUAKE. NEVER FORGENext one.
Thanks.
RELIEF SUPPLIES
Yoshiya.
Mr. Tabata.
Why did you tell your mother that you're
giving up your faith? It's wrong.
Is it really wrong?
People around you might say
we're a cult or that it's elitism.
But Yoshiya,
you're not like them.
Because I'm God's child?
Yes.
You're the chosen child.
No, I'm not.
I'm just a normal kid.
When I was a kid,
I was bad at catching fly balls,
so I used to pray all the time.
"Dear God,
I'll continue to have faith forever.
So. please let me be able to catch
outfield fly balls.
Please."
But my prayers were never answered.
It's not wrong to pray.
But Yoshiya,
what you did was to test Our Lord.
That isn't right.
We should pray for something bigger
and more far-reaching.
You mean the earthquake in Tohoku?
Yoshiya.
You were born right after
that earthquake in Kobe.
Our Lord knew this one would happen,
and He sent you into this world.
You should pray with your mother there.
No!
Yoshiya.
I can't go feeling like this!
Yoshiya.
I'm not God's child!
You may not understand it yet,
but Our Lord, who is your father,
will one day reveal Himself to you
as someone only you recognize.
You will meet Him
at a time and place you never expected.
There's something I want you to know.
It's about how you were born.
When I was still in my teens,
I was living in the depths of darkness.
My soul was in a state of confusion
and disorder,
like a sea of fresh mud.
And so, I had knowledge
of several different men
without love.
I first got pregnant
in my second year of high school.
I got my first abortion at a women's
clinic a friend introduced me to.
The doctor told me
to use a condom properly,
but I was already very careful.
So, I thought it was weird.
Then, through a rather
strange turn of events,
I started going out
with that gynecologist.
That doctor had a missing earlobe
on the right side.
Apparently, a black dog bit it off
when he was little.
A short time later,
I got pregnant for the third time.
Even with perfect birth control.
That man accused me.
He assumed I'd had knowledge of other men.
That man embodied tainted malevolence.
I thought I'd die with you in my belly.
Wait a sec.
So, that means my real father
is that gynecologist?
That's not it.
I told you. My birth control
was always perfect.
It's no coincidence.
Yoshiya.
You're the child sent to this world
by Heaven's will.
Follow that taxi.
That taxi?
Hey!
A FEW DAYS AGO
It's been so long. Thank you for coming.
Sorry to call you in so suddenly.
I don't have long to live.
I have urethral cancer.
I wanted to speak with you one last time.
When was the last time you were here?
About ten years ago maybe.
Even in the last ten years,
many people who have lost their way
have come here.
I think that
someone needs to keep looking
at their pain alongside them.
And I'm hoping
that you'll help me do that too.
That's what I wanted to tell you
before I die.
I'm sorry.
I could never take your place.
I'm just an average guy.
I'm still that kid
who couldn't catch a fly ball.
That's not true.
You're the child sent by Our Lord.
I'll get someone.
Don't bother.
Water, please.
When you're really suffering,
for example, haven't you ever asked God
to make the pain a little bit easier?
Never.
Life is but a fleeting, painful dream.
This suffering is for the sake
of salvation after death.
We're only being tested.
How
How can something be so unfair?
If God tests us,
then why shouldn't we test God?
Mr. Tabata,
have you ever doubted God?
Not once.
Even if this world
continues to go downhill,
will you keep praying?
Of course.
Even if no one
sees your prayers,
can you still keep doing what's equal
to watering a wasteland?
What's your point?
Our Lord is always watching.
Why can't God
save this world that's going downhill?
Why does He always just watch in silence,
like this cold rock?
He won't protect my mother
from the violence of men.
He won't cure your illness.
Even so,
all we can do is keep praying.
So that one day the world will be better.
I pray too.
But to me,
you and my mother now are more important.
I don't know about
salvation in the distant future.
I was
happy to have met God.
That's all.
I'm grateful to you, Mr. Tabata.
You kept saying I was God's child,
but you always looked after me
properly since I was little.
How do I look
to you now, Mr. Tabata?
How?
For me, nothing has changed.
Just as you were
No way that would change.
Oh God.
Our stories
have been continuing
since that big earthquake 30 years ago.
Frog told the man,
"Let's go down underground in Tokyo
to battle against Worm."
The man asked from where he should go.
Frog answered,
"There's a deep, deep staircase
going underground
from the boiler room of the trust bank
where you work.
Go down from there."
And the man promised to go with Frog.
The day they go underground.
On that day of all days, the man
was involved in a tragic accident.
He was walking through Kabukicho
to be on time for his meeting with Frog.
Now he must go with Frog to where Worm is.
As the man hurried along,
a young man in a leather jacket
suddenly appeared.
It all happened in an instant.
The young man held up the small,
toy-like gun in his hand
and fired without warning.
EMERGENCY PATIENT: SHOICHI KATAGIRI
ADMITTED ON FEB. 17, 1995
The man was dragged into a nightmare.
Thirty years later
KARAOKE, RHYTHM GAMES, VIDEO GAMES
Hello.
What's the matter?
I can't use my card.
Sorry. Could you use cash?
Oh, sure.
Do you have change for 10,000 yen?
Oh, yes.
Sorry, we don't have change at the moment.
What?
Security guard, what are you here for?
I can pay.
Oh, sorry, thanks.
Here.
You're no use.
Thank you.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
OUT OF SERVICE
-Thank you.
-Thank you.
Hey, you.
Is it true you commute
from that Internet caf nearby?
Yes.
What, seriously?
But you're always wearing a suit,
like some banker. Why?
Don't just laugh.
TOKYO SECURITY TRUST BANK
Oh, Mr. Number 55.
Will you renew your stall
for two weeks again?
Yes.
Forgot about that. Sorry.
That'll be 28,000 yen, Mr. Number 55.
Here.
Hi. I looked everywhere for you.
I'm so happy to see you again.
As Charles Dickens wrote,
"The pain of parting
is nothing to the joy of meeting again."
Long time no see, Mr. Katagiri.
How do you know my name?
What are you saying?
How could I forget your name?
You don't remember me?
Do I know you?
I'm Frog. You and I
saved Tokyo together long ago.
That Frog.
Saved Tokyo? With me?
Yes. We prevented a huge earthquake
from happening in Tokyo.
Thirty years ago.
Thirty years ago?
Were you sent by a gang by any chance?
That's quite a sense of humor.
Even if they're short on manpower,
would a gang hire a frog?
I can't help you with loans.
I don't work at the trust bank anymore
and have no power.
The only time I appear before you
is when there's a grave situation
to address.
Please help me again.
That was so hydrating.
SHOWER
You're the only one who can see me.
Mr. Frog.
Call me Frog.
Frog.
Yes.
May I ask you something?
Yes, of course. It's important
to understand each other.
Ask away.
Are you a real frog?
Of course, as you can see,
I'm a real frog.
I'm no metaphor, citation,
deconstruction, sampling
That sort of complicated thing.
You really have forgotten me, haven't you?
I've never once forgotten your name.
Come in.
Excuse me.
Now, Mr. Katagiri,
do you remember there was
a big earthquake in Kobe 30 years ago?
Of course.
Shortly after that,
deep underground in Shinjuku,
we battled against Worm,
who tried to cause an earthquake in Tokyo.
Worm?
Yes, a huge earthworm,
about the size of a subway train.
When Worm becomes angry,
earthquakes happen.
But we were able to stop
the earthquake just in time.
It's because you cheered me on.
Cheered you on?
Your imagination helped me.
My imagination?
Yes.
You helped me squarely in your dream.
Watch.
The world is made up of things
you can't see.
The world can be changed in any way.
For example, you can change
the contents of that box
into anything you like,
according to your imagination.
The content of the box is you, as it were.
I need some fresh air.
BLANKETS AVAILABLE AT FRONT DESK
Are you OK?
Mr. Frog.
Frog.
Frog.
I sort of understand what happened
30 years ago from what you said.
And you came today
because something serious is up again?
Yes, Worm has become dangerous again.
What do you mean?
For the past 30 years,
after feeding on black soil soaked
with people's misery and hatred,
Worm is suffering.
If it keeps eating more black soil,
an earthquake
will really strike Tokyo this time.
So, will you help me stop Worm again?
I still don't get it.
I'm just an average
No, I'm a below-average human being.
Someone like me, fighting
There are stronger people out there.
People who do karate,
people in the Self-Defense Forces.
That kind of strength isn't necessary.
All you have to do is to cheer me on
from the bottom of your heart.
Cheer you on?
Yes.
I'll take on the role
of actually fighting.
Tokyo is big, but there's no one
I can trust as much as you.
We'll depart at 3:00 a.m.,
when all souls are asleep.
Hey, where are we headed?
The same place as 30 years ago.
Directly below and far underneath
the trust bank where you used to work.
Is the bank near here?
Right there.
That?
The bank itself has moved
to another location.
Working at a trust bank sounds good,
but in my case,
rather than helping people,
there were so many more instances
where I was resented by them or hurt them,
so I didn't have a very good time.
I wonder why, though.
I keep coming back here.
You must have been watching
over me and Worm from here.
That's why I approached you.
Is that right?
Hey?
Was that there before?
This must lead down into the underground.
Let's go.
The darkness will grow deeper from here.
Everything is connected by a dream.
The small box,
the refrigerator,
the subway.
Here, we look for traces of Worm.
Now, follow the wind.
I'm sorry, Mr. Katagiri.
We've been surrounded
by something already.
From here on, it's a world
like a nightmare
that's dangerous to see or hear,
with no landmarks to guide us.
Be careful.
It's all your fault.
The trust bank was my last hope!
You want me to die?
You're leaving me to die.
Mr. Katagiri, don't stand still!
Okay!
Don't think!
Money, money, money.
You encouraged me to take the loan.
-Banks are always like this.
-You said the bank exists for us all!
It's over for me.
"We're here for the community,
for you all." What was that all about?
Hey, this way. They're calling you.
You could've saved so many people.
We're short on funds!
You said to take out the loan!
You murderer.
It wasn't the head office, it was you.
It's over for me.
Do you know how many lives
can be saved with this money?
I'll curse you!
Help me!
Give me back my father.
You murderer.
Mr. Katagiri.
Mr. Katagiri.
Are you OK? Sorry.
Take a seat here.
No need to hurry.
Are you OK?
I'll raise your feet.
That look on your face
Did you have a bad dream?
What a relief.
You weren't at home
when I came over, so I was alarmed.
Sorry.
Don't leave home without asking.
Keiko will scold you again.
Keiko?
Your younger sister.
You're a bit tired, aren't you?
Your brother was worried too. Keisuke.
He came yesterday.
Oh, that's right.
Let's go.
Do you want to lie down?
I'm fine.
Okay.
KOBE NURSING HOME
Tomorrow's weather.
Clouds are likely to spread
over a wide area tomorrow.
Kobe will be cloudy with some sun,
chance of snow up north.
KOBE SECURITY TRUST BANK
Here you go.
Thank you.
Whoa, Mr. Katagiri.
You left the fridge open. Give me a break.
Hey, please just sit over there.
Okay.
You said you wanted to drink this.
What's wrong? It's not as good
when it goes flat. Drink up.
Frog
What?
I'm going home.
No, this is your home.
It's not.
I'm going home.
Please calm down.
I'm going home. I'm going home.
Where are you going? Give me a break.
-I'm going home.
-Mr. Katagiri.
I'm going home.
I'm going home.
Mr. Katagiri.
It's OK. Calm down.
Ow!
I'm sorry.
Are you OK?
Mr. Katagiri.
Do you really not remember me?
Huh?
Look at me carefully.
You recognize me.
I don't know you.
Really?
I don't understand. I don't remember.
You don't know.
You don't understand. You don't remember.
The world keeps going downhill
because you guys are always like that.
You've only ever thought about yourself,
haven't you?
How about I remind you?
If you had shouted louder that one time,
you could have saved that kid.
If you hadn't pretended
not to see that one time,
you could have saved that person's life.
That data you entered at random?
People fight
and are even killed over it.
When will you realize?
Making a big fuss every time something
big happens or pretending not to notice.
You people end up going nowhere.
Mr. Katagiri. You shouldn't go outside.
When he opens the door, there's Frog.
Frog told the man
"Let's go down underground in Tokyo
to battle against Worm."
I don't understand
what's happening anymore.
TUESDAY, JAN. 17, 1995
I went a bit overboard there.
This
is something like a drug
that will let you forget everything.
You did a fine job again today.
What people need the most to live
is the ability to forget.
You can look forward because you forget.
You'll go crazy
if you remember everything.
Here, drink up.
I want to go home.
Go home where?
It's better if you stay here.
If you stay, nobody will resent you,
you won't be in a traffic accident,
and no earthquakes will happen.
Still, I want to go home.
What will you do there?
There's nothing you can do.
Frog
is over there.
I want
to see Frog again.
Frog.
Frog.
No.
No, Mr. Katagiri.
Mr. Katagiri, are you OK?
Mr. Katagiri?
Long time no see
Frog.
So, you finally remember now.
Yes.
Frog?
Are you there?
Don't come.
I'll soon disappear
into the darkness.
Why?
A short while ago,
I battled against Worm.
You cheered me on
in your dream, Mr. Katagiri.
Thank you so much.
In my dream.
I see.
So, I was fighting alongside you.
Yes.
You were struggling in a nightmare
continuing for 30 years
and fighting.
Maybe I
should have stayed over there.
But
Frog, you weren't there.
So what if I'm not there?
It means I'm not there.
Thank you, Mr. Katagiri.
Yes,
I'm your shadow.
But it's almost time to say goodbye.
Please live out your life.
No matter what happens from now on.
Frog.
Hey.
You're still doing that?
Yes.
I'm still doing this.
BASED ON UFO IN KUSHIRO,
LANDSCAPE WITH FLATIRON,
ALL GOD'S CHILDREN CAN DANCE,
AND SUPER-FROG SAVES TOKYO,
BY HARUKI MURAKAMI
When he opens the door, there's Frog.
When the man gets home,
there's Frog, a huge
man-sized frog, who says,
"A large earthquake will strike again.
This time in Tokyo."
"Help me stop it,
to save Tokyo from destruction."
To do so,
Frog must battle the worm
filled with hate under the ground.
So,
he wants the man to help him.
Will the two
be able to defeat Worm?
All we can do
is wait for the story to unfold.
Good morning.
The number of people dead
or missing has reached nearly 2,800.
This morning,
full-scale rescue operations have begun
Is that smoke still coming out?
Over a day has passed, right?
The epicenter was around Kobe City
and Nishinomiya City.
Many were killed or injured
when coastal apartments collapsed,
and over 8,000 damaged buildings
trapped people underneath.
One thousand eight hundred
and three people.
There are people still trapped
underneath a building
Still hard to believe.
The number of areas within Kobe City
and Ashiya City that is in need
of rescue work has gone up to 816.
The Self-Defense Force has been rescuing
You didn't eat yesterday?
I'll take that.
I had a dream earlier.
I haven't had one since we got married.
It was the first bad dream in a while.
What was it about?
I can't remember.
We're above Nagata Ward in Kobe.
The sky is getting lighter.
Fires are blazing down below.
Smoke from the fires
is reaching this altitude nonstop.
1,681 DEAD, 1,017 MISSING
The following are the newly confirmed
names of the deceased.
Hideki Takami.
Michio Tokaji.
Shino Ueno.
Kentaro Ninomiya.
Takeshi Morimoto.
Shinya Adachi.
Tomiko Adachi.
Next, Suma Ward, Kobe City.
Su-gwang Choi.
Nishinomiya City.
Sho Takai.
Takamitsu Kato.
Yuri Nakakita.
Ashiya City.
Miyo Mori.
Next, Higashinada Ward.
Haruka Kato.
Seiko Chujo.
Wataru Mori.
Jun Kudo.
Nada Ward.
Kengo Hashimoto.
Motohiro Kisoi.
I'm home.
Mimei?
"I don't intend to ever come back.
To be blunt,
there is nothing inside you
that you can give me.
You're sweet and kind,
but to me,
it felt like I was living
with a chunk of air.
But that's not just your fault.
I'm sure there are many women
who will love you more.
If any of my things are left,
please throw them away."
Hello. I'm Kamisu, Mimei's uncle.
Come in.
I'm sorry. I never knew
Mimei had an uncle.
No problem.
By the way, about that letter she wrote
I read it.
All right.
Then
Please fill this out.
DIVORCE NOTICE
The two witnesses have been filled in.
WIFE: MIMEI KOMURA
All you need to do is sign your name.
-As for property division--
-Wait.
This is all so sudden.
Let me talk to her directly.
Since I'm the one who came,
I'm sure you can take a hint.
Come on.
"Consider it as having had a bad dream."
That's what she said.
What was the reason? I don't understand.
You might be the only one
who doesn't understand.
What?
What was written in that letter
says it all.
The only truth
is this.
Sign it.
MIMEI
I heard you're taking
a long leave of absence.
Yeah.
You feel like going somewhere.
Why do you think so?
It's pretty obvious.
Have you ever been to Hokkaido?
No, I haven't.
Would you be willing to go?
Why?
Actually
there's a small package
I want delivered to Kushiro.
It's something personal,
and I don't want it treated roughly.
A small package?
This.
Meet my sister at Kushiro Airport
and give that to her.
Then she'll take care of your trip.
Oh, and
wait with that box in hand
just outside the airport's gate,
and my sister will know it's you.
All right.
-There she is!
-Thanks for waiting.
Long time no see.
GREAT HANSHIN EARTHQUAKE
FRAMEWORK OF RECONSTRUCTION HQ
5,244 DEAD
Hey.
Mr. Komura. Sorry. Did I make you wait?
Oh, uh
I'm Keiko Sasaki.
My brother works with you.
Hi. Nice to meet you.
Sorry, I wasn't paying attention.
No, it's my fault for being late.
And this is my friend Shimao.
Nice to meet you.
Shall we go?
I heard your wife passed away.
It must be hard for you.
Huh?
No, she didn't die.
But that's what my brother said.
We just got a divorce.
She's doing fine as far as I know.
Really?
Why would I lie?
There's no way I could have misheard
something that important.
I'm sorry for saying something so rude.
No.
It doesn't matter which it was anyway.
They're pretty much the same.
I'm truly sorry.
It's all right. Don't worry about it.
Oh yeah. Here.
Let me give you the package first.
Um
If you don't mind,
could you hold on to it for now?
Huh?
I forget easily.
If I lose it somewhere,
my brother will get mad at me.
-But
-That's true.
You really are forgetful, Keiko.
I'll give it to you later, then.
RESTAURANT MARSH UTOPIA
Is ramen OK with you?
Huh?
Oh, yeah.
Kushiro is so cold, isn't it?
It's common to see people
fall asleep drunk
and end up freezing
to death on the street.
Yeah.
Is that so common?
So, please be careful.
What?
What's your wife's name?
Huh?
It feels awkward
to keep calling her your wife.
Well
Her name's Mimei.
Mimei?
What's the kanji for that?
"Mi", as in "not yet",
and "mei", as in "name".
Her name means "doesn't have a name yet".
Are you serious?
Her father was a bit strange.
He intended to name her properly
when he came up with a real name.
"He just couldn't make up his mind,"
Mimei used to say, laughing.
Interesting dad.
Isn't it like being put on hold forever?
Here you go.
Even though I'm here, it doesn't feel
like I've come very far at all.
Strange, isn't it?
Did you want to go far away?
Yes.
I did.
But
you can't escape yourself,
no matter how far you go.
Same as your shadow.
Hey, could I ask you
a bit more about Mimei?
Go ahead.
When did she leave?
Five days after the earthquake.
So, about two weeks ago.
Did it have anything to do with the quake?
Probably not.
She's from up north and didn't have
any friends in the stricken area.
But things like that
could be connected in some way.
You just didn't notice, Mr. Komura.
Things like that happen.
Things like what?
I knew someone like that.
-You mean Mr. Saeki, right?
-Yeah.
He's a hairstylist who lives in Kushiro,
and his wife saw a UFO last summer.
A UFO?
She was driving alone outside of town
at night on a really hot day,
and suddenly a huge UFO landed
in the middle of a field.
Boom!
Yeah.
Boom!
And a week later, she left home.
Nobody knows why.
During the week before she left,
that UFO was the only thing
she talked about to anyone she met.
She didn't eat, didn't sleep,
and just kept talking.
Then, after that, she left home
and never came back.
That was the end.
Does staying in a motel bother you?
Someone I know owns this place,
and he gave us the best room.
No, it's fine.
Much better than a cramped
business hotel. Thank you.
Good.
Hey, you must be cold.
The bathtub here is pretty roomy.
Go take a dip.
What?
Oh
Keiko went home.
Oh, really?
Said she'll come pick you up
in the morning.
Keiko is your friend, right?
Yeah. We're peers.
What do you mean?
Is it awkward being with someone?
Should I go home now?
It's OK.
May I have one too?
Go ahead.
Hey.
If you don't mind,
may I take a bath too?
Oh, sure, of course.
Tomorrow is day 20
since the Great Hanshin Earthquake
struck southern Hyogo Prefecture
at 5:46 a.m.
on the 17th of last month.
The quake that struck the major city
registered a maximum seismic intensity
of seven, and the death toll
Hey, about that box
Will you hold on to it, Shimao?
Keiko probably took it home.
No, I didn't give it to her.
See? She took it home after all.
I guess so.
Yeah.
By the way,
how did you two know it was me
back at the airport?
You were supposed to find me
by looking for the box in my hand,
but at the airport,
I wasn't holding the box.
You weren't.
So, how?
It was pretty obvious.
Really?
You know what?
I think what you need right now
is to genuinely enjoy life.
Maybe an earthquake will strike tomorrow.
You might even be abducted by aliens.
Nobody knows
what might happen.
Don't worry. These things happen.
You were thinking about Mimei,
weren't you?
You said she left a note behind.
What did it say?
That living with me
was like living with a chunk of air.
What does that mean?
I think it means I have no substance.
Substance?
But
I have no idea
what that actually is.
I think you're pretty sweet, Mr. Komura.
That box I brought
I wonder what was inside.
You're curious about what's inside?
I didn't care until now,
but for some reason
Oddly enough, suddenly
Since when?
Just now.
Why did it start to bother you?
I don't know.
Inside that box
was your substance, Mr. Komura.
You brought it here without knowing
and handed it over to Keiko.
So, you'll never get your substance back.
Sorry, that was a joke.
I'm starting
to feel like I've come very far.
But it's only just begun.
Welcome.
Are those on the shelf all you have?
Oh, um
Are the ones over there all you have?
That's all.
Nothing else in the back?
Nothing.
Go check.
Don't you have any in stock?
Uh, no, that's not it.
That'll be 392 yen.
The exact amount. Thank you.
Thank you.
He used hard words.
He always buys milk, bread,
and a newspaper in the morning.
Green tea and bento for lunch.
-Too fast, too fast.
-At night,
he comes to buy two beers
and ready-made dishes.
Move.
Oh, hi.
Here. Expired stuff.
Awesome! Thanks.
You got a postcard from your mom.
She says to call sometime.
You haven't gone to see your folks at all
since we've been dating.
That's not OK, you know.
Don't read my mail.
I'm guessing you don't get along
with your dad, Junko.
Did something happen?
Getting along with your old man is hard.
Oh, lucky me. You brought pudding.
Enjoy some Japanese sweets in return.
So, you saw your parents.
Stopped by along my way to campus.
Let's go eat Korean barbecue tomorrow.
My treat.
Only one portion of short rib, though.
I'm not going.
Why not?
That's your father's money, right?
Pay half the rent with money
you made working part-time.
Preparations for tomorrow were underway,
and over 300 people, including volunteers
This pudding is good.
wrote words such as "prayer" on 10,000
bamboo lanterns and lined them up
in the shape of "1995 1.17",
indicating the day of the disaster.
Tomorrow marks the 16th anniversary
of the Great Hanshin Earthquake
that claimed the lives of 6,434 people.
In Itami City, memorial services
have begun in the parks
to mourn victims and to pray
for the recovery of the affected areas.
REST IN PEACE
Hey, you work at that store.
May I join you by the fire?
Oh, sure.
-Is this your way home?
-Huh?
I see you around sometimes.
Oh. Yes, it is.
Thank you.
You see the big log
in the middle of the fire?
That's like the How to put it?
The soul of this fire.
This fire exists to burn that.
Do you always build these fires?
It's like a disease at this point.
A lot of good driftwood washes up here.
Well
it's like I drifted here
to build these fires.
You thought I'm a weird guy.
I thought that was kind of cool.
What? You're a strange kid.
What's this? Some kind of sign?
That?
There's this fun pizza place in Kobe.
They serve pizzas with slips of paper
with the number they've made.
Eight hundred and eighteen?
You mean you've built this many fires?
I guess so.
Mind if I smoke?
Go ahead.
Were you born around here?
Why do you ask?
I thought you were from elsewhere
because you have a different air.
Don't answer if you don't want to.
Sorry, it's not like
I really have to know.
I
left home and came here two years ago.
I was a senior in high school.
I really hated school, of course,
but it was more like
I fell out with my dad.
From around when I was in junior high,
maybe? He began
How do I say it?
He began looking at me
like I was an alien.
I thought, "Oh, I definitely
can't be with this person.
It's impossible."
Anywhere would do.
I just wanted to go far away
on my own two feet.
But
I remember thinking,
"This isn't very far,
considering the time it took."
I see.
Hey, Junko!
Oh
May I come see your fire again?
Of course.
See you.
Who's he?
Let's go.
MONDAY, JAN. 17, 2011
-It's burning.
-It's burning.
Hey!
Well then, cheers.
-Cheers.
-Cheers.
That's too big to use.
Why not? Use a big one for a change.
It's no good. Just leave it there.
It's freezing.
What's so great about a bonfire this late?
Better than rock music that's just noisy.
Don't underestimate rock.
It's made so many people
around the world happy.
Fans of bonfires have been around
for 50,000 years. Longer history.
I guess you could say that.
But the point is,
50,000 years ago and 50,000 years
from now have nothing to do with me.
What's important is now.
You never know when the Earth will end.
Now is important.
It's about being able to eat a proper meal
and how hard my dick gets. Get it?
OK.
So heavy.
Mr. Miyake, you're from Osaka, right?
Why did you come here?
Not Osaka. Kobe. Big difference.
Well, they're the same to us.
Is my accent still so obvious?
Too obvious.
How long have you been here?
Seventeen years.
Long time.
Why did you leave Kobe?
Well, things happened.
Do you go back sometimes?
Haven't gone at all.
Not once?
Here it comes.
This is the best so far!
Wow, it's so high!
Oh no, my stomach hurts.
Taking a shit will solve it.
Go home and do it, then.
I'll see Junko home, so don't worry.
OK then, thanks.
He got carried away and drank too much.
It's no fun if you're flawless
from a young age.
He has his good points, you know.
I guess so.
Being young can be tough, right?
Some things can't be helped,
even if you think about them.
Do you mind if I ask you
something personal?
It'll bother you until you ask, right?
Go ahead.
You have family in Kobe, don't you?
I got that impression
when Keisuke asked you why you left.
I see.
Do you have kids?
Yeah. Two.
I had kids.
Everyone in my family lived in a place
called Higashinada Ward.
Until 16 years ago
they lived there.
Why did I leave the house at that time?
Why couldn't I be with all of them there?
I still think about it.
I'm the king of idiots.
Why am I the only survivor?
Junko, have you ever thought about
how you'll die?
I think about it all the time.
I can't think about such a thing.
I mean, I don't even know
how I'm going to live yet.
I see.
But
there are ways to live by working it out
backwards from how you'll die.
Is that how you live?
I don't know.
Sometimes it feels like it.
How will you die, Mr. Miyake?
I'm going to die trapped in a fridge.
You hear about it sometimes,
kids being trapped inside and suffocating.
That kind of thing.
I'll suffer slowly for a long time
and end up suffocating.
I keep having dreams like that.
It feels so real
that I feel like I've died
many times over.
And someday I'll really die.
That's the premonition I have.
Premonition?
Premonitions are a kind of substitution.
In some cases,
they're far more graphic than reality.
It's almost over.
I'll see you home in a bit.
Hey. What are you doing?
The fire has two souls now.
Mr. Miyake.
I'm empty.
There's nothing in me.
I understand.
Do you really understand?
I'm knowledgeable about such things.
What should I do?
If you sleep well and wake up,
that usually does the trick.
It's not that simple.
Yeah.
How about
we die together now?
I wouldn't mind dying.
Seriously?
I'm serious.
For the moment,
let's wait until the fire burns out.
After all, it's the first bonfire
you made.
When this fire burns out
and it becomes completely dark,
then let's die together.
Yeah.
Eight hundred and twenty-seven.
The year 2011
March
11th.
Can I sleep for a bit?
Sure.
Wake me up when the fire is out.
Don't worry.
When the fire goes out, you'll be
so cold that you'll have to wake up.
When the fire goes out,
I'll be so cold that I'll have to wake up.
What you did was to test Our Lord.
-Thank you.
-Thank you.
That isn't right.
Hello?
It's me.
I heard you were outside yesterday.
Mr. Tabata's farewell ceremony.
You came, didn't you?
I wouldn't have been welcome.
I'm an outsider now.
Don't be ridiculous.
Everyone knows you since you were born,
so it doesn't matter.
I was hoping to see you.
Yoshiya, did you speak with Mr. Tabata?
Huh?
You met him a while ago,
before he passed away, didn't you?
Yeah
I guess.
So
All right, all right.
I'm in a hurry.
Hold on.
Something might
happen again.
So, be careful.
See you.
Something might happen
Too close.
Sleep in your own bed.
MARCH 2011
We leave tomorrow morning.
Where to?
To Tohoku. Everyone here will go together.
To the stricken areas?
Yes.
I don't want to.
Don't you want to save them, Yoshiya?
It's arrogant to think we can save them.
You saw it on TV, right?
I saw it.
Then you know what it's like.
What could we do after seeing that?
I think probably what happened this time
is a sign that something terrible
is going to happen.
A sign?
Yes.
This world is full of the nasty malice
of human beings,
and it keeps hurting everyone.
I keep telling you, remember?
You're the only child of God
in this world,
so help people in need.
Hey.
Who is my real father?
I mean, like, biologically.
Real in that sense.
Your father is Our Lord.
We can't be together,
but He's always watching over you.
That's not what I mean.
But it's true.
Your father is Our Lord.
Never mind.
I'm not going to Tohoku.
I couldn't possibly do that.
I'm giving up my faith from today.
Wait!
There's something I want you to know.
It's about how you were born.
NINE YEARS SINCE THE 3.11 GREAEAST JAPAN EARTHQUAKE. NEVER FORGENext one.
Thanks.
RELIEF SUPPLIES
Yoshiya.
Mr. Tabata.
Why did you tell your mother that you're
giving up your faith? It's wrong.
Is it really wrong?
People around you might say
we're a cult or that it's elitism.
But Yoshiya,
you're not like them.
Because I'm God's child?
Yes.
You're the chosen child.
No, I'm not.
I'm just a normal kid.
When I was a kid,
I was bad at catching fly balls,
so I used to pray all the time.
"Dear God,
I'll continue to have faith forever.
So. please let me be able to catch
outfield fly balls.
Please."
But my prayers were never answered.
It's not wrong to pray.
But Yoshiya,
what you did was to test Our Lord.
That isn't right.
We should pray for something bigger
and more far-reaching.
You mean the earthquake in Tohoku?
Yoshiya.
You were born right after
that earthquake in Kobe.
Our Lord knew this one would happen,
and He sent you into this world.
You should pray with your mother there.
No!
Yoshiya.
I can't go feeling like this!
Yoshiya.
I'm not God's child!
You may not understand it yet,
but Our Lord, who is your father,
will one day reveal Himself to you
as someone only you recognize.
You will meet Him
at a time and place you never expected.
There's something I want you to know.
It's about how you were born.
When I was still in my teens,
I was living in the depths of darkness.
My soul was in a state of confusion
and disorder,
like a sea of fresh mud.
And so, I had knowledge
of several different men
without love.
I first got pregnant
in my second year of high school.
I got my first abortion at a women's
clinic a friend introduced me to.
The doctor told me
to use a condom properly,
but I was already very careful.
So, I thought it was weird.
Then, through a rather
strange turn of events,
I started going out
with that gynecologist.
That doctor had a missing earlobe
on the right side.
Apparently, a black dog bit it off
when he was little.
A short time later,
I got pregnant for the third time.
Even with perfect birth control.
That man accused me.
He assumed I'd had knowledge of other men.
That man embodied tainted malevolence.
I thought I'd die with you in my belly.
Wait a sec.
So, that means my real father
is that gynecologist?
That's not it.
I told you. My birth control
was always perfect.
It's no coincidence.
Yoshiya.
You're the child sent to this world
by Heaven's will.
Follow that taxi.
That taxi?
Hey!
A FEW DAYS AGO
It's been so long. Thank you for coming.
Sorry to call you in so suddenly.
I don't have long to live.
I have urethral cancer.
I wanted to speak with you one last time.
When was the last time you were here?
About ten years ago maybe.
Even in the last ten years,
many people who have lost their way
have come here.
I think that
someone needs to keep looking
at their pain alongside them.
And I'm hoping
that you'll help me do that too.
That's what I wanted to tell you
before I die.
I'm sorry.
I could never take your place.
I'm just an average guy.
I'm still that kid
who couldn't catch a fly ball.
That's not true.
You're the child sent by Our Lord.
I'll get someone.
Don't bother.
Water, please.
When you're really suffering,
for example, haven't you ever asked God
to make the pain a little bit easier?
Never.
Life is but a fleeting, painful dream.
This suffering is for the sake
of salvation after death.
We're only being tested.
How
How can something be so unfair?
If God tests us,
then why shouldn't we test God?
Mr. Tabata,
have you ever doubted God?
Not once.
Even if this world
continues to go downhill,
will you keep praying?
Of course.
Even if no one
sees your prayers,
can you still keep doing what's equal
to watering a wasteland?
What's your point?
Our Lord is always watching.
Why can't God
save this world that's going downhill?
Why does He always just watch in silence,
like this cold rock?
He won't protect my mother
from the violence of men.
He won't cure your illness.
Even so,
all we can do is keep praying.
So that one day the world will be better.
I pray too.
But to me,
you and my mother now are more important.
I don't know about
salvation in the distant future.
I was
happy to have met God.
That's all.
I'm grateful to you, Mr. Tabata.
You kept saying I was God's child,
but you always looked after me
properly since I was little.
How do I look
to you now, Mr. Tabata?
How?
For me, nothing has changed.
Just as you were
No way that would change.
Oh God.
Our stories
have been continuing
since that big earthquake 30 years ago.
Frog told the man,
"Let's go down underground in Tokyo
to battle against Worm."
The man asked from where he should go.
Frog answered,
"There's a deep, deep staircase
going underground
from the boiler room of the trust bank
where you work.
Go down from there."
And the man promised to go with Frog.
The day they go underground.
On that day of all days, the man
was involved in a tragic accident.
He was walking through Kabukicho
to be on time for his meeting with Frog.
Now he must go with Frog to where Worm is.
As the man hurried along,
a young man in a leather jacket
suddenly appeared.
It all happened in an instant.
The young man held up the small,
toy-like gun in his hand
and fired without warning.
EMERGENCY PATIENT: SHOICHI KATAGIRI
ADMITTED ON FEB. 17, 1995
The man was dragged into a nightmare.
Thirty years later
KARAOKE, RHYTHM GAMES, VIDEO GAMES
Hello.
What's the matter?
I can't use my card.
Sorry. Could you use cash?
Oh, sure.
Do you have change for 10,000 yen?
Oh, yes.
Sorry, we don't have change at the moment.
What?
Security guard, what are you here for?
I can pay.
Oh, sorry, thanks.
Here.
You're no use.
Thank you.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
OUT OF SERVICE
-Thank you.
-Thank you.
Hey, you.
Is it true you commute
from that Internet caf nearby?
Yes.
What, seriously?
But you're always wearing a suit,
like some banker. Why?
Don't just laugh.
TOKYO SECURITY TRUST BANK
Oh, Mr. Number 55.
Will you renew your stall
for two weeks again?
Yes.
Forgot about that. Sorry.
That'll be 28,000 yen, Mr. Number 55.
Here.
Hi. I looked everywhere for you.
I'm so happy to see you again.
As Charles Dickens wrote,
"The pain of parting
is nothing to the joy of meeting again."
Long time no see, Mr. Katagiri.
How do you know my name?
What are you saying?
How could I forget your name?
You don't remember me?
Do I know you?
I'm Frog. You and I
saved Tokyo together long ago.
That Frog.
Saved Tokyo? With me?
Yes. We prevented a huge earthquake
from happening in Tokyo.
Thirty years ago.
Thirty years ago?
Were you sent by a gang by any chance?
That's quite a sense of humor.
Even if they're short on manpower,
would a gang hire a frog?
I can't help you with loans.
I don't work at the trust bank anymore
and have no power.
The only time I appear before you
is when there's a grave situation
to address.
Please help me again.
That was so hydrating.
SHOWER
You're the only one who can see me.
Mr. Frog.
Call me Frog.
Frog.
Yes.
May I ask you something?
Yes, of course. It's important
to understand each other.
Ask away.
Are you a real frog?
Of course, as you can see,
I'm a real frog.
I'm no metaphor, citation,
deconstruction, sampling
That sort of complicated thing.
You really have forgotten me, haven't you?
I've never once forgotten your name.
Come in.
Excuse me.
Now, Mr. Katagiri,
do you remember there was
a big earthquake in Kobe 30 years ago?
Of course.
Shortly after that,
deep underground in Shinjuku,
we battled against Worm,
who tried to cause an earthquake in Tokyo.
Worm?
Yes, a huge earthworm,
about the size of a subway train.
When Worm becomes angry,
earthquakes happen.
But we were able to stop
the earthquake just in time.
It's because you cheered me on.
Cheered you on?
Your imagination helped me.
My imagination?
Yes.
You helped me squarely in your dream.
Watch.
The world is made up of things
you can't see.
The world can be changed in any way.
For example, you can change
the contents of that box
into anything you like,
according to your imagination.
The content of the box is you, as it were.
I need some fresh air.
BLANKETS AVAILABLE AT FRONT DESK
Are you OK?
Mr. Frog.
Frog.
Frog.
I sort of understand what happened
30 years ago from what you said.
And you came today
because something serious is up again?
Yes, Worm has become dangerous again.
What do you mean?
For the past 30 years,
after feeding on black soil soaked
with people's misery and hatred,
Worm is suffering.
If it keeps eating more black soil,
an earthquake
will really strike Tokyo this time.
So, will you help me stop Worm again?
I still don't get it.
I'm just an average
No, I'm a below-average human being.
Someone like me, fighting
There are stronger people out there.
People who do karate,
people in the Self-Defense Forces.
That kind of strength isn't necessary.
All you have to do is to cheer me on
from the bottom of your heart.
Cheer you on?
Yes.
I'll take on the role
of actually fighting.
Tokyo is big, but there's no one
I can trust as much as you.
We'll depart at 3:00 a.m.,
when all souls are asleep.
Hey, where are we headed?
The same place as 30 years ago.
Directly below and far underneath
the trust bank where you used to work.
Is the bank near here?
Right there.
That?
The bank itself has moved
to another location.
Working at a trust bank sounds good,
but in my case,
rather than helping people,
there were so many more instances
where I was resented by them or hurt them,
so I didn't have a very good time.
I wonder why, though.
I keep coming back here.
You must have been watching
over me and Worm from here.
That's why I approached you.
Is that right?
Hey?
Was that there before?
This must lead down into the underground.
Let's go.
The darkness will grow deeper from here.
Everything is connected by a dream.
The small box,
the refrigerator,
the subway.
Here, we look for traces of Worm.
Now, follow the wind.
I'm sorry, Mr. Katagiri.
We've been surrounded
by something already.
From here on, it's a world
like a nightmare
that's dangerous to see or hear,
with no landmarks to guide us.
Be careful.
It's all your fault.
The trust bank was my last hope!
You want me to die?
You're leaving me to die.
Mr. Katagiri, don't stand still!
Okay!
Don't think!
Money, money, money.
You encouraged me to take the loan.
-Banks are always like this.
-You said the bank exists for us all!
It's over for me.
"We're here for the community,
for you all." What was that all about?
Hey, this way. They're calling you.
You could've saved so many people.
We're short on funds!
You said to take out the loan!
You murderer.
It wasn't the head office, it was you.
It's over for me.
Do you know how many lives
can be saved with this money?
I'll curse you!
Help me!
Give me back my father.
You murderer.
Mr. Katagiri.
Mr. Katagiri.
Are you OK? Sorry.
Take a seat here.
No need to hurry.
Are you OK?
I'll raise your feet.
That look on your face
Did you have a bad dream?
What a relief.
You weren't at home
when I came over, so I was alarmed.
Sorry.
Don't leave home without asking.
Keiko will scold you again.
Keiko?
Your younger sister.
You're a bit tired, aren't you?
Your brother was worried too. Keisuke.
He came yesterday.
Oh, that's right.
Let's go.
Do you want to lie down?
I'm fine.
Okay.
KOBE NURSING HOME
Tomorrow's weather.
Clouds are likely to spread
over a wide area tomorrow.
Kobe will be cloudy with some sun,
chance of snow up north.
KOBE SECURITY TRUST BANK
Here you go.
Thank you.
Whoa, Mr. Katagiri.
You left the fridge open. Give me a break.
Hey, please just sit over there.
Okay.
You said you wanted to drink this.
What's wrong? It's not as good
when it goes flat. Drink up.
Frog
What?
I'm going home.
No, this is your home.
It's not.
I'm going home.
Please calm down.
I'm going home. I'm going home.
Where are you going? Give me a break.
-I'm going home.
-Mr. Katagiri.
I'm going home.
I'm going home.
Mr. Katagiri.
It's OK. Calm down.
Ow!
I'm sorry.
Are you OK?
Mr. Katagiri.
Do you really not remember me?
Huh?
Look at me carefully.
You recognize me.
I don't know you.
Really?
I don't understand. I don't remember.
You don't know.
You don't understand. You don't remember.
The world keeps going downhill
because you guys are always like that.
You've only ever thought about yourself,
haven't you?
How about I remind you?
If you had shouted louder that one time,
you could have saved that kid.
If you hadn't pretended
not to see that one time,
you could have saved that person's life.
That data you entered at random?
People fight
and are even killed over it.
When will you realize?
Making a big fuss every time something
big happens or pretending not to notice.
You people end up going nowhere.
Mr. Katagiri. You shouldn't go outside.
When he opens the door, there's Frog.
Frog told the man
"Let's go down underground in Tokyo
to battle against Worm."
I don't understand
what's happening anymore.
TUESDAY, JAN. 17, 1995
I went a bit overboard there.
This
is something like a drug
that will let you forget everything.
You did a fine job again today.
What people need the most to live
is the ability to forget.
You can look forward because you forget.
You'll go crazy
if you remember everything.
Here, drink up.
I want to go home.
Go home where?
It's better if you stay here.
If you stay, nobody will resent you,
you won't be in a traffic accident,
and no earthquakes will happen.
Still, I want to go home.
What will you do there?
There's nothing you can do.
Frog
is over there.
I want
to see Frog again.
Frog.
Frog.
No.
No, Mr. Katagiri.
Mr. Katagiri, are you OK?
Mr. Katagiri?
Long time no see
Frog.
So, you finally remember now.
Yes.
Frog?
Are you there?
Don't come.
I'll soon disappear
into the darkness.
Why?
A short while ago,
I battled against Worm.
You cheered me on
in your dream, Mr. Katagiri.
Thank you so much.
In my dream.
I see.
So, I was fighting alongside you.
Yes.
You were struggling in a nightmare
continuing for 30 years
and fighting.
Maybe I
should have stayed over there.
But
Frog, you weren't there.
So what if I'm not there?
It means I'm not there.
Thank you, Mr. Katagiri.
Yes,
I'm your shadow.
But it's almost time to say goodbye.
Please live out your life.
No matter what happens from now on.
Frog.
Hey.
You're still doing that?
Yes.
I'm still doing this.
BASED ON UFO IN KUSHIRO,
LANDSCAPE WITH FLATIRON,
ALL GOD'S CHILDREN CAN DANCE,
AND SUPER-FROG SAVES TOKYO,
BY HARUKI MURAKAMI