Soda Master (2026) s01e07 Episode Script
Episode 7
TANBE STATION
Can I interest you in a Christmas cake?
LOTTERY
A trip to Hawaii!
-What do you want to do?
-Buy presents!
That sounds nice.
I always knew Matilda was cool.
How long are you staying?
Unlike Chan's place, it's cozy here.
You should go home.
Your mom likes me.
I wouldn't mind doing the caregiving.
Don't make it sound so easy.
Even professional caregivers
couldn't handle her.
She seems like a nice girl.
-Is she single?
-I don't know.
Why not ask her out for Christmas?
Don't be stupid.
My shift is over, I'll be going now.
Thank you for your work.
Hello?
Yes, I just finished.
Yes, I’ll make dinner when I get home.
Okay.
What about my dinner?
Are you planning on starving me?
The man who was following Ms. Matilda
was a factory worker nicknamed Rambo.
It seemed like we had found the culprit,
but Rambo was really
a comrade of Matilda's late father,
and was actually protecting her.
But Rambo himself
had been eliminated by someone.
Exactly who was targeting Matilda?
One individual has come to our attention.
According to records, Seikichi Nihei,
the man you called Rambo,
was rushed to the hospital
with severe injuries
on December 25th, 1988.
Christmas Day.
The police questioned a person,
Hisao Torikai, a seller of bamboo rods.
It seems he also suffered major injuries.
It was treated as
an assault and battery case,
due to an argument,
and ended without indictment.
No way it was just an argument.
In order to get rid of Matilda,
Torikai first eliminated Rambo.
A few days later, Matilda herself…
Who is this Torikai person?
And what do you mean
by "seller of bamboo rods"?
You used to see them often.
Always shouting, "Bamboo rods,
to hang laundry with!"
They drive around selling bamboo rods.
-Bamboo rods?
-Yeah.
So that was a viable
business model back then…
1988 truly is a mystery.
Even back then, we found it strange.
I wonder if he's in any of our videos?
I reviewed the tapes, and no.
Did you find Number 12?
No.
Where did you leave it?
He might have been on that one.
I just can't find it! What can I do?
I checked the Hakuro-kai's
membership roster,
Torikai's name was there.
Hakuro-kai?
-A local organized crime group.
-What?
A local yakuza.
-Should I even stay in this town…
-The Hakuro-kai disbanded a long time ago.
Old-school local yakuza
just can't survive now.
Is there any member
from back then we can talk to?
No active members!
It has to be someone who left
that world and is living honestly.
You know, hiding the tattoos on their back
and quietly living their life.
My senior officer helps
ex-yakuza reintegrate into society.
I'll ask him to find someone.
It hurts!
Ouch! It hurts!
Okay, turn on your side.
Torikai Hisao, huh?
That's a nostalgic name.
Back when I knew him,
he had a bad leg and used a cane.
-Does this part hurt?
-It does!
That's the kidney.
Could you tell us what kind of guy he was?
Well, he wasn't a sharp tool,
but you could use him for anything.
Robberies, beatings, hits…
All sorts.
Oh, excuse me,
could you not use gang terms?
In short, to the public
he was a bamboo rod seller,
but in the shadows, he would take
any job for a dirt-cheap price.
He was a yaku-neta.
Oh, we used yaku-neta
to mean "a troublemaker."
So, even murder?
Yes, if he got the money,
he would do it cleanly,
without leaving evidence.
What is he up to now?
He was killed in retaliation
a long time ago.
Do you know a woman named
Michiru Miyashita?
Who?
In 1988, Torikai might have killed her.
How about Seikichi Nihei?
He was assaulted by Torikai.
Doesn't ring a bell.
Oh, well…
If an ordinary woman
were to be killed by a yakuza,
what kind of reason would there be?
Usually,
it’s when an amateur
unknowingly encroaches on our turf.
Whether it be drugs, gambling,
or for women, it's usually prostitution!
I don't think she did anything like that.
How can you be sure?
From my experience,
I can usually tell with men
just how much of a villain they are.
But with women, I never know.
They look innocent but can do
terrible things without batting an eye.
Look, right here. The prostate.
It hurts!
Ouch!
This is getting quite scary.
Ms. Matilda…
Just what kind of person was she?
I still can't imagine it.
Matilda being a dangerous woman
who would clash with the yakuza.
-Isn't she just a schoolteacher?
-Perhaps she wasn't just a teacher.
We don't know the real Matilda.
There must be someone somewhere
who knows Ms. Matilda well.
But lately, the social media account
we made for her is nothing but spam.
Laugh at me if you want.
It would make me feel less awkward.
No…
It looks good on you! Right?
It really suits you.
Look, us old guys don't know
how to tease a young girl.
We can't just call you "cute," right?
"Cute" is fine.
Well then, you're cute… and sexy.
That’s not good.
The world has become so complicated.
Christmas during the Bubble era
was like a day for sex.
Christmas was a day for sex?
Everyone wanted to spend it as a couple,
stay at the Akasaka Prince
and drink champagne.
Even you guys?
No, we missed the Bubble.
It was a completely ridiculous era.
What was everyone so fired up about?
The Christmas of 1988…
Do you remember how you spent it?
Wasn't that right before
Ms. Matilda disappeared
and exactly when Mr. Rambo was attacked?
I have no memory of it.
I still remember
my middle school Christmas clearly.
That was recent for you.
For us, it was ages ago.
Even so, try to remember!
Editing…
Weren't we cooped up
in the clubroom doing that?
-Editing?
-Yes!
CHRISTMAS
Cut this part out. It’s embarrassing.
-No, it's for the ending blooper reel.
-We don't need one!
No, a Jackie Chan movie
isn't complete without it.
At this rate it will be
longer than the movie!
Hard at work, huh.
Oh, Mr. Trendy!
A Christmas treat for you guys.
No-bake cheesecake.
You've never had it, right?
It's got fresh cheese on it!
Thank you.
We're screening at the community center
on January 6th. Please come.
January 6th, okay. I'll write it down.
That’s a huge planner.
It doubles as a daily diary.
I've been keeping one since I was a kid.
Wow, you filmed this much?
Editing must be a pain.
Chan filmed way too much.
That's true.
We had a screening on New Year's,
so we had no time for Christmas.
Three boys in a cramped room,
going back and forth about this and that.
Just constant arguing.
I've never had a decent Christmas,
then or now.
I'm the same this year.
I'll be working here.
That’s how it is for most people.
Looking back, the Bubble-era Christmas
was actually quite nice, in its own way.
I would've liked to pop
some champagne with a woman
at the Akasaka Prince!
Right, Kam-Bo?
I remembered something too.
What?
It was… yeah…
It was Christmas that year.
TANBE STATION
Men were confessing to her,
one after another,
but Matilda didn't pay
any attention to them.
She just brushed them off.
Several men?
Feels like an old-timey drama.
I definitely saw it.
She must have had a lot of boyfriends.
So I think someone
Matilda rejected held a grudge.
Petty revenge for being ignored?
Matilda wasn't in the wrong.
She was just wonderful.
Just "wonderful," huh?
I sure hope that's true.
I'm sure it's true.
Delicious.
You have a good appetite.
Eat this, too.
-Thank you, madam.
-Come on!
I'm done.
Already?
You should go home tomorrow.
My daughter is studying for exams.
My wife is working.
So Christmas doesn't matter.
What if they're waiting for you, Yuen?
They aren't.
You don't know that.
Right?
Ms. Mishima, will you be spending time
with your family?
No, both my sons are busy.
Then with your husband?
My husband has passed away.
Oh, I see.
I’m sorry to hear that.
No.
So tomorrow night, I'll be all alone.
Kam-Bo.
Why don't you have her come over tomorrow?
-What?
-Ms. Mishima.
Can you come over tomorrow?
Yes…
Then you should do something, together.
For Christmas.
Sure.
Then… Please come here tomorrow.
Understood.
Mom, Ms. Mishima says
she’ll come tomorrow too.
Let’s all spend Christmas together.
Oh, I'm so happy!
Let’s eat something delicious.
Maybe I'll try making roast chicken.
Can you make one, Yuen?
Oh, I'm going home.
Why?
It’s better if I go home.
They might be waiting.
Oh, you're back.
I was nearby and wondered
if you were here.
There's something I want to discuss.
Well, come in.
The Chairman Ishiwatari job.
Are you still interested?
What?
"If he apologizes,
I might meet with him again."
That's what he said.
No way. Just come in.
Figures.
See you.
What?
Come on, stay a bit!
Satsuki.
Well…
Are you working tomorrow night?
Yes, like usual.
Okay.
Your offer just now…
Maybe I'll give it more thought.
Would you be willing to give me
some advice tomorrow night?
Why not?
Okay, sounds like a plan.
Okay, see you.
MY GRANDPA AND GRANDMA IN ART COLLEGE -
THEY LOOK SUPER STYLISH!
What?
PLEASE LOOK AT THIS!
Maybe Santa gave us a present.
I'm sorry for contacting you so suddenly.
Oh, no, not at all.
This girl just went and posted
photos from my albums.
I'm so embarrassed.
I told her to delete them,
but she said they had spread
and it’s too late.
But, everyone is saying you're cute.
Being all lovey-dovey since university…
It's so enviable.
That's not the point.
This woman…
Her name is Michiru Miyashita, right?
Yes.
When this photo was taken,
we were in our fourth year,
so around 1980.
If you have any information
about her please tell us.
It was a long time ago.
Were you close?
Yes, back then.
She seemed a bit stuck-up,
but when you talked to her,
she was quite interesting.
How so?
We really hit it off talking about
Space Battleship Yamato.
Our tastes were similar.
Go Nagai, Shotaro Ishinomori,
Keiko Takemiya, Ryoko Yamagishi,
Taro Okamoto!
David Bowie, Janis Joplin,
Momoe Yamaguchi, Kenji Sawada!
You were total otakus.
Yes.
We even talked about
making a fanzine together,
and even drew some manga.
But when Rumiko Takahashi appeared,
we put down our pens.
-Urusei Yatsura!
-Lum!
Her graduation project was called obscene.
She had a huge fight with the professor.
She also worked part-time at a pub,
and had a fight with a drunk there.
She really was a strange one,
but fun to be around.
I can just imagine it.
That sounds like Matilda.
That’s the Matilda we know.
Do you know anything
about her after graduation?
She got a job at a design office,
but it didn't last.
She got married after that,
but it didn't work out.
Last I heard,
she became a middle school teacher.
Oh, right.
At the end of 1988, she went missing.
I didn't know that.
We had completely drifted apart.
Do you know anything
about the person she married?
Only that he was a sake brewer
from a long-established family.
A sake brewer?
Why did she get divorced?
I don't know.
But I can imagine.
She was a bit two-faced.
Two-faced?
Back in university,
there was talk that some students
were doing inappropriate part-time work.
At the time, the word "cabaret clubs"
didn't exist yet,
but there was a "college girl boom."
Things like "campus pubs" were popular.
But actually, they were…
Well, I'll leave it to your imagination.
Oh, boy.
Go somewhere else.
Okay.
So…
Michiru Miyashita was involved in it?
It became a huge problem.
She was almost expelled.
Then…
My wife took the lead,
gathered signatures,
and convinced them to let her stay.
Back then…
people would fawn over you
just because you were a college girl,
and you could earn money easily.
So many girls did stupid things.
Naturally, everyone began
to distance themselves from her.
When I heard she became
a middle school teacher,
I thought, "She must have some nerve,
hiding her past like that."
She has that side to her.
I don't know what kind of life she led,
but in any case,
I think she got what she deserved.
I believe people who do that kind of work
all have their own reasons
and circumstances.
Besides,
weren't those women
being exploited by men?
I think so, too.
It was an era when men exploited women.
Well…
That may be true.
Mommy.
I'm so excited for the Christmas cake!
Yeah!
I also can't wait to eat chicken!
You must be really hungry.
Will Santa come to see me?
-I want presents…
-I’m going to work.
Okay.
Kam-Bo.
You're making chicken
for Ms. Mishima, right?
Don't keep her waiting.
-What about you, Yuen? Going home?
-Yes.
That’s for the best.
What about you, Chan?
I have someone.
That's all you need to know.
Well then, Merry Christmas.
And a happy New Year.
-Yes.
-Okay.
-See you.
-See you.
See you.
I'm home.
Sorry, I'm late--
Oh, welcome back.
-Here, the nail clippers.
-Oh…
Oh, sorry.
Mishima said something came up,
so I'm here instead.
Oh, is that so?
Well, the Chairman is saying,
if you're still interested…
But after all that shouting…
Are you listening?
Yes.
Did something happen?
-Huh? Don't.
-Don't what?
It's too late for that.
What? What are you saying?
I know, you idiot.
Don't get funny ideas.
I make well-balanced lunchboxes
for my husband,
but he gives them to someone else
and just eats ramen all day.
He's so stupid, right?
I get it.
My boyfriend's taste buds are weird.
I learn cooking here,
but it's not worth cooking for him.
He doesn't deserve to eat it!
That sounds so sad!
It's sad, right?
Aya, aren't you studying for prep school?
Their stories are more educational.
Well, we've got more!
Hey, look!
What the hell, man?
I figured she would dump you,
and you would be alone.
-Don't just assume that.
-Am I wrong?
What about you?
Did your family kick you out?
No, I practiced self-restraint.
You see, my daughter was studying.
Come on…
Kam-Bo?
Why are you here?
Mr. Sugiyama is looking after my mother.
One!
That Soda Master training scene
was something else.
You burped.
I drank too much ramune,
and my stomach was sloshing.
Let's use it in the blooper reel.
I said we don't need one.
In the end, we're spending Christmas
just like 37 years ago.
It's so sad.
But if you think about it, it's strange.
Back then, we were editing like this.
So why is the movie unfinished?
I think we argued,
then got fed up and quit.
-Happens all too often.
-Yes.
All right, dubbing for Number 11 is done.
Next is Number 12.
Oh, Number 12 is gone.
-Did you actually look for it?
-I looked.
Look, isn't it in here?
I think it was because we lost Number 12.
The movie was left unfinished
because we lost Number 12, I think.
That… that's right. Exactly!
No wonder I can't find it.
It was lost back then.
What did we record on No. 12 again?
Wait…
-The climax…
-The duel scene!
That's right! I remember!
I said, "There's no movie
without a climax!"
We got into a huge fight over who lost it.
Don't screw with me!
-You didn't manage it properly!
-Why is it my fault?
You're the president!
You always act like the leader,
but won't take responsibility for this?
Oh, it hurts!
Can't we just film it again?
It's impossible!
That place doesn't exist anymore.
There are plenty of photogenic locations.
That scene was very difficult.
We can do it better next time.
It will be a better scene.
Even Jackie Chan
fell from the clock tower twice, right?
There's still time until the screening.
Let's do what we can.
Matilda was always so positive.
But there's no trace of it being reshot.
What's in number 13
are just small, miscellaneous,
leftover shots.
We never reshot it.
I guess when Matilda disappeared,
we lost our drive.
Hey.
I think I'll take a little break.
What?
What we heard today
was honestly a huge blow.
I don't want to know
any more about Matilda.
I don't have the courage.
But we've come this far.
Will anything good come of it?
Even if we know the truth,
do you think it will do any good?
The more we investigate,
the more unpleasant truths we find out.
Is this going to make anyone happy?
They say beautiful memories
should be left beautiful.
Kam-Bo! Don't think like that.
No matter what kind of person Matilda was,
she didn't deserve to be killed.
We're the only ones who can find out.
Even if it's painful,
even if it makes no one happy,
the truth should be revealed.
No matter what the real Matilda was like,
we'll confront it.
That old chiropractor…
I bet he knows things he isn't telling us.
I think so too.
Let's visit him again tomorrow.
One, two, three!
Spin around a bit!
Really going at it, huh.
Oh, Mr. Trendy.
Strawberry daifuku.
Have you ever had one?
There's a whole strawberry inside.
Thank you!
Here.
I got these from a client's acquaintance.
Interested?
Wow! Michael Jackson!
Tokyo Dome!
Are you sure?
You should all go together.
There are five tickets!
We appreciate the sentiment,
but something this expensive…
Consider it a citizen's donation
for the Movie Club's activities.
It will be a valuable experience for them.
I have to get back to work.
See you.
Thank you!
"Trendy" Mochizuki?
Yes, that old chiropractor told us.
After he made us treat him
to expensive sushi.
A self-proclaimed consultant.
Our construction company
worked with him a lot.
He also used to help my father
with his work at the city hall.
He was stylish, always familiar
with trends, and flush with cash.
And that person hired
the bamboo-seller man?
So that means…
This person requested
that Ms. Matilda be killed?
That would be the case.
But we don't know what happened
between him and Matilda.
Where is he now?
I asked Blockhead to look into it.
Well, he probably won't find
anything anyway.
Manabu Mochizuki.
He ran a consulting firm,
and moved to Tokyo in '89.
He passed away from illness
about ten years ago.
Oh, I see.
Back then, he had a girlfriend.
Maybe she became his wife.
His wife passed away last year.
Other than that, he only had one son.
Then, let's go meet the son.
I went and met him.
What?
All this was before he was born,
so he knew nothing.
However,
he said, "I'm going to throw these away,
you can have them if you like."
Consider it a Christmas present.
What is this?
What…
The heck is this, huh?
Diaries?
Oh, right.
Back then, his girlfriend
kept a diary every day.
Then let's look for the one from 1988!
Blockhead, was actually a great guy!
Thank you, Santa!
Found it!
1988!
Oh!
AUGUST 28TH (MONDAY)
"August 28th, Mr. Yoshii came,
and we talked until late."
My dad was at Mr. Trendy's?
"August 30th.
Dinner party with the CEO
of Fujimaki Construction.
He was in a great mood."
They had dinner with my parents.
"September 10th, Italian dinner for two.
Business has been good lately,
I'm glad that work is going well."
"September 20th, my 27th birthday.
Got a Hermes bag from him."
"October 1st.
He finally proposed."
-Cheers.
-October 1st.
He finally proposed!
Of course, I said yes.
We'll get married
once his current project is over.
-Let's be happy together.
-I hope we can be happy together.
November 12th.
We received another large deposit.
I wonder where it came from.
I'm a bit worried.
He says we'll go to Paris
for our honeymoon.
Manabu?
-November 15th.
-Manabu!
-Go to bed, you'll get a cold!
-I'm happy the company is getting bigger.
-Wake up!
-But he's been terribly tired lately.
-Don't overwork yourself.
-Manabu!
December 3rd.
His pager has been ringing nonstop.
He has stopped talking to me about work.
I'm going out for a bit.
I hope everything is going well.
December 5th.
He has been acting strangely.
No matter what I ask,
he won't answer me properly.
Shut up!
He has been shouting at me a lot.
December 9th.
There was a fire nearby.
Welcome back.
-This is real bad…
-December 15th.
He came home looking pale.
What do I do? They're going to kill me…
"Things have gotten bad."
"At this rate, I'll be killed," he says.
What do I do?
He's having nightmares too.
I'm worried.
What do I…
December 18th.
It seems he needs money.
Maybe he's being threatened by someone.
Damn it!
-Hey, what's wrong, Manabu?
-Shut up!
December 22nd.
He went on a rampage.
"That woman is going to kill me."
"She'll kill me if I don't give her
the money," he yelled.
-She's going to kill me!
-Who is "she"?
I'm going to be killed!
December 24th.
At his request,
we visited the middle schoolers together.
They were happy with the cheesecake,
but I don't know what it was for.
December 25th.
He isn't coming home.
He came home once late last night,
but left again in a hurry.
I'm lonely all by myself.
And anxious too.
Understand? You must find the tape,
no matter what!
December 26th.
Hey!
-He's yelling on the phone again.
-You have to get it!
"Find the tape,
get it at all cost," he yelled.
-You understand me?
-He's like a different man, I'm scared.
-Welcome back.
-I'm home.
December 31st.
It's over.
It's all over.
"It's all over."
When I said he didn't have
to worry anymore,
he cried like a child.
December was full of nothing but bad luck.
May the New Year be a good one.
January 5th.
Have you seen this person?
The woman he mentioned
must be that teacher.
Her students are handing out
flyers again today.
My heart aches,
but it's that woman's fault.
I tell myself
that she brought it on herself.
January 18th.
I think we should leave this town.
-He said, "Let's leave Tanbe."
-We'll leave Tanbe…
He said he'd establish
a new company in Tokyo.
I also think that's for the best.
Let's forget about everything
in this town.
It was just a bad dream.
Matilda was…
threatening Mochizuki with something.
To extort money.
Mochizuki…
had no choice but to hire
the bamboo rod seller
to eliminate Rambo,
and then Matilda…
I…
rewrote it into a sappy memory,
out of an old-school romance.
The truth was different.
Christmas that year…
Can I interest you in a Christmas cake?
LOTTERY
Please!
How much will it take to satisfy you?
Just how greedy can you be?
You don't know what I can do!
The hell you looking at?
Now that we know this,
maybe Rambo was…
also tricked and used by Matilda.
She would do dangerous things for money.
A terrifying woman.
That is the truth about Matilda.
Yes?
Hello?
It's Mikiko Hara.
Oh, from the art university?
I'll be brief.
I actually never told my husband this.
I probably never will.
But…
I have to tell you the truth.
I was the one who did it.
The one doing shady part-time jobs…
was me.
Michiru protected me,
since I was about to get married,
and she took the fall for me.
Michiru…
is that kind of woman.
That is…
the real Michiru Miyashita.
TANBE MIDDLE SCHOOL
MOVIE RESEARCH CLUB
LOOK UP AND DO YOUR BEST!
Extorting someone…
for money?
Ms. Matilda?
"December 26th.
He's yelling on the phone again.
'Find the tape, get it at all cost,'
he yells."
Find the tape?
FIND THE TAPE
That's a huge planner.
It doubles as a daily diary.
I've been keeping one since I was a kid.
Wow, you filmed this much?
Editing must be a pain.
Chan filmed way too much.
Thirteen tapes in total.
But Number 12 is missing.
What?
Where is Number 12?
It should be right--
What?
Where did it go?
Where did you put it?
You don't know where it is?
What?
Where did it go?
-Chan, where did you put it?
-I don't know.
Hello.
Shall we go home?
Yes.
See you.
Excuse us.
Miss.
Number 12 is missing.
Back then, Mochizuki
came looking for Number 12.
Matilda's apartment
was broken into at around the same time.
That must have been Mochizuki.
He was looking for Number 12
at Matilda's apartment.
Our tape was blackmail material.
What exactly was on it?
-The climax duel scene.
-Why would that be blackmail material?
I don't know. But there's no doubt
the truth of the incident is on Number 12.
Where did you film it?
At old lady Kuroe's house.
Old lady Kuroe?
We called her a witch.
She was an eccentric old lady
everyone hated.
Where is her house?
It burned down.
That old lady's house burned down.
From a cigarette butt.
Oh, wait.
Found it! Look. December 9th.
"There was a fire nearby."
That old lady died in the fire.
I remember.
That was the day we went to Tokyo Dome.
Tokyo Dome?
We got tickets to see
Michael Jackson. Mochi…
Mochizuki gave us those tickets.
The pieces of the puzzle
are coming together.
But the most important "master" piece
doesn't seem to be within our reach.
Number 12 probably doesn't exist anymore.
Torikai, Mochizuki, Mochizuki's wife,
and old lady Kuroe are all gone.
There's no one left
who knows the secret of Number 12.
Wait…
That person should still be alive.
Yeah. The granddaughter…
The ghost member.
Who?
The Movie Research Club wasn't
just us three. There's another member.
Man, Michael is the best.
Let's put his moves into our action movie!
-They would look weird in a kung fu movie.
-What, really?
I think it would be good.
Isn't your house in that direction?
Keiko Kuroe.
The key to the incident
is held by the fourth Ramune Monkey.
Kuroe!
Subtitle translation by: Quang N.N.
Can I interest you in a Christmas cake?
LOTTERY
A trip to Hawaii!
-What do you want to do?
-Buy presents!
That sounds nice.
I always knew Matilda was cool.
How long are you staying?
Unlike Chan's place, it's cozy here.
You should go home.
Your mom likes me.
I wouldn't mind doing the caregiving.
Don't make it sound so easy.
Even professional caregivers
couldn't handle her.
She seems like a nice girl.
-Is she single?
-I don't know.
Why not ask her out for Christmas?
Don't be stupid.
My shift is over, I'll be going now.
Thank you for your work.
Hello?
Yes, I just finished.
Yes, I’ll make dinner when I get home.
Okay.
What about my dinner?
Are you planning on starving me?
The man who was following Ms. Matilda
was a factory worker nicknamed Rambo.
It seemed like we had found the culprit,
but Rambo was really
a comrade of Matilda's late father,
and was actually protecting her.
But Rambo himself
had been eliminated by someone.
Exactly who was targeting Matilda?
One individual has come to our attention.
According to records, Seikichi Nihei,
the man you called Rambo,
was rushed to the hospital
with severe injuries
on December 25th, 1988.
Christmas Day.
The police questioned a person,
Hisao Torikai, a seller of bamboo rods.
It seems he also suffered major injuries.
It was treated as
an assault and battery case,
due to an argument,
and ended without indictment.
No way it was just an argument.
In order to get rid of Matilda,
Torikai first eliminated Rambo.
A few days later, Matilda herself…
Who is this Torikai person?
And what do you mean
by "seller of bamboo rods"?
You used to see them often.
Always shouting, "Bamboo rods,
to hang laundry with!"
They drive around selling bamboo rods.
-Bamboo rods?
-Yeah.
So that was a viable
business model back then…
1988 truly is a mystery.
Even back then, we found it strange.
I wonder if he's in any of our videos?
I reviewed the tapes, and no.
Did you find Number 12?
No.
Where did you leave it?
He might have been on that one.
I just can't find it! What can I do?
I checked the Hakuro-kai's
membership roster,
Torikai's name was there.
Hakuro-kai?
-A local organized crime group.
-What?
A local yakuza.
-Should I even stay in this town…
-The Hakuro-kai disbanded a long time ago.
Old-school local yakuza
just can't survive now.
Is there any member
from back then we can talk to?
No active members!
It has to be someone who left
that world and is living honestly.
You know, hiding the tattoos on their back
and quietly living their life.
My senior officer helps
ex-yakuza reintegrate into society.
I'll ask him to find someone.
It hurts!
Ouch! It hurts!
Okay, turn on your side.
Torikai Hisao, huh?
That's a nostalgic name.
Back when I knew him,
he had a bad leg and used a cane.
-Does this part hurt?
-It does!
That's the kidney.
Could you tell us what kind of guy he was?
Well, he wasn't a sharp tool,
but you could use him for anything.
Robberies, beatings, hits…
All sorts.
Oh, excuse me,
could you not use gang terms?
In short, to the public
he was a bamboo rod seller,
but in the shadows, he would take
any job for a dirt-cheap price.
He was a yaku-neta.
Oh, we used yaku-neta
to mean "a troublemaker."
So, even murder?
Yes, if he got the money,
he would do it cleanly,
without leaving evidence.
What is he up to now?
He was killed in retaliation
a long time ago.
Do you know a woman named
Michiru Miyashita?
Who?
In 1988, Torikai might have killed her.
How about Seikichi Nihei?
He was assaulted by Torikai.
Doesn't ring a bell.
Oh, well…
If an ordinary woman
were to be killed by a yakuza,
what kind of reason would there be?
Usually,
it’s when an amateur
unknowingly encroaches on our turf.
Whether it be drugs, gambling,
or for women, it's usually prostitution!
I don't think she did anything like that.
How can you be sure?
From my experience,
I can usually tell with men
just how much of a villain they are.
But with women, I never know.
They look innocent but can do
terrible things without batting an eye.
Look, right here. The prostate.
It hurts!
Ouch!
This is getting quite scary.
Ms. Matilda…
Just what kind of person was she?
I still can't imagine it.
Matilda being a dangerous woman
who would clash with the yakuza.
-Isn't she just a schoolteacher?
-Perhaps she wasn't just a teacher.
We don't know the real Matilda.
There must be someone somewhere
who knows Ms. Matilda well.
But lately, the social media account
we made for her is nothing but spam.
Laugh at me if you want.
It would make me feel less awkward.
No…
It looks good on you! Right?
It really suits you.
Look, us old guys don't know
how to tease a young girl.
We can't just call you "cute," right?
"Cute" is fine.
Well then, you're cute… and sexy.
That’s not good.
The world has become so complicated.
Christmas during the Bubble era
was like a day for sex.
Christmas was a day for sex?
Everyone wanted to spend it as a couple,
stay at the Akasaka Prince
and drink champagne.
Even you guys?
No, we missed the Bubble.
It was a completely ridiculous era.
What was everyone so fired up about?
The Christmas of 1988…
Do you remember how you spent it?
Wasn't that right before
Ms. Matilda disappeared
and exactly when Mr. Rambo was attacked?
I have no memory of it.
I still remember
my middle school Christmas clearly.
That was recent for you.
For us, it was ages ago.
Even so, try to remember!
Editing…
Weren't we cooped up
in the clubroom doing that?
-Editing?
-Yes!
CHRISTMAS
Cut this part out. It’s embarrassing.
-No, it's for the ending blooper reel.
-We don't need one!
No, a Jackie Chan movie
isn't complete without it.
At this rate it will be
longer than the movie!
Hard at work, huh.
Oh, Mr. Trendy!
A Christmas treat for you guys.
No-bake cheesecake.
You've never had it, right?
It's got fresh cheese on it!
Thank you.
We're screening at the community center
on January 6th. Please come.
January 6th, okay. I'll write it down.
That’s a huge planner.
It doubles as a daily diary.
I've been keeping one since I was a kid.
Wow, you filmed this much?
Editing must be a pain.
Chan filmed way too much.
That's true.
We had a screening on New Year's,
so we had no time for Christmas.
Three boys in a cramped room,
going back and forth about this and that.
Just constant arguing.
I've never had a decent Christmas,
then or now.
I'm the same this year.
I'll be working here.
That’s how it is for most people.
Looking back, the Bubble-era Christmas
was actually quite nice, in its own way.
I would've liked to pop
some champagne with a woman
at the Akasaka Prince!
Right, Kam-Bo?
I remembered something too.
What?
It was… yeah…
It was Christmas that year.
TANBE STATION
Men were confessing to her,
one after another,
but Matilda didn't pay
any attention to them.
She just brushed them off.
Several men?
Feels like an old-timey drama.
I definitely saw it.
She must have had a lot of boyfriends.
So I think someone
Matilda rejected held a grudge.
Petty revenge for being ignored?
Matilda wasn't in the wrong.
She was just wonderful.
Just "wonderful," huh?
I sure hope that's true.
I'm sure it's true.
Delicious.
You have a good appetite.
Eat this, too.
-Thank you, madam.
-Come on!
I'm done.
Already?
You should go home tomorrow.
My daughter is studying for exams.
My wife is working.
So Christmas doesn't matter.
What if they're waiting for you, Yuen?
They aren't.
You don't know that.
Right?
Ms. Mishima, will you be spending time
with your family?
No, both my sons are busy.
Then with your husband?
My husband has passed away.
Oh, I see.
I’m sorry to hear that.
No.
So tomorrow night, I'll be all alone.
Kam-Bo.
Why don't you have her come over tomorrow?
-What?
-Ms. Mishima.
Can you come over tomorrow?
Yes…
Then you should do something, together.
For Christmas.
Sure.
Then… Please come here tomorrow.
Understood.
Mom, Ms. Mishima says
she’ll come tomorrow too.
Let’s all spend Christmas together.
Oh, I'm so happy!
Let’s eat something delicious.
Maybe I'll try making roast chicken.
Can you make one, Yuen?
Oh, I'm going home.
Why?
It’s better if I go home.
They might be waiting.
Oh, you're back.
I was nearby and wondered
if you were here.
There's something I want to discuss.
Well, come in.
The Chairman Ishiwatari job.
Are you still interested?
What?
"If he apologizes,
I might meet with him again."
That's what he said.
No way. Just come in.
Figures.
See you.
What?
Come on, stay a bit!
Satsuki.
Well…
Are you working tomorrow night?
Yes, like usual.
Okay.
Your offer just now…
Maybe I'll give it more thought.
Would you be willing to give me
some advice tomorrow night?
Why not?
Okay, sounds like a plan.
Okay, see you.
MY GRANDPA AND GRANDMA IN ART COLLEGE -
THEY LOOK SUPER STYLISH!
What?
PLEASE LOOK AT THIS!
Maybe Santa gave us a present.
I'm sorry for contacting you so suddenly.
Oh, no, not at all.
This girl just went and posted
photos from my albums.
I'm so embarrassed.
I told her to delete them,
but she said they had spread
and it’s too late.
But, everyone is saying you're cute.
Being all lovey-dovey since university…
It's so enviable.
That's not the point.
This woman…
Her name is Michiru Miyashita, right?
Yes.
When this photo was taken,
we were in our fourth year,
so around 1980.
If you have any information
about her please tell us.
It was a long time ago.
Were you close?
Yes, back then.
She seemed a bit stuck-up,
but when you talked to her,
she was quite interesting.
How so?
We really hit it off talking about
Space Battleship Yamato.
Our tastes were similar.
Go Nagai, Shotaro Ishinomori,
Keiko Takemiya, Ryoko Yamagishi,
Taro Okamoto!
David Bowie, Janis Joplin,
Momoe Yamaguchi, Kenji Sawada!
You were total otakus.
Yes.
We even talked about
making a fanzine together,
and even drew some manga.
But when Rumiko Takahashi appeared,
we put down our pens.
-Urusei Yatsura!
-Lum!
Her graduation project was called obscene.
She had a huge fight with the professor.
She also worked part-time at a pub,
and had a fight with a drunk there.
She really was a strange one,
but fun to be around.
I can just imagine it.
That sounds like Matilda.
That’s the Matilda we know.
Do you know anything
about her after graduation?
She got a job at a design office,
but it didn't last.
She got married after that,
but it didn't work out.
Last I heard,
she became a middle school teacher.
Oh, right.
At the end of 1988, she went missing.
I didn't know that.
We had completely drifted apart.
Do you know anything
about the person she married?
Only that he was a sake brewer
from a long-established family.
A sake brewer?
Why did she get divorced?
I don't know.
But I can imagine.
She was a bit two-faced.
Two-faced?
Back in university,
there was talk that some students
were doing inappropriate part-time work.
At the time, the word "cabaret clubs"
didn't exist yet,
but there was a "college girl boom."
Things like "campus pubs" were popular.
But actually, they were…
Well, I'll leave it to your imagination.
Oh, boy.
Go somewhere else.
Okay.
So…
Michiru Miyashita was involved in it?
It became a huge problem.
She was almost expelled.
Then…
My wife took the lead,
gathered signatures,
and convinced them to let her stay.
Back then…
people would fawn over you
just because you were a college girl,
and you could earn money easily.
So many girls did stupid things.
Naturally, everyone began
to distance themselves from her.
When I heard she became
a middle school teacher,
I thought, "She must have some nerve,
hiding her past like that."
She has that side to her.
I don't know what kind of life she led,
but in any case,
I think she got what she deserved.
I believe people who do that kind of work
all have their own reasons
and circumstances.
Besides,
weren't those women
being exploited by men?
I think so, too.
It was an era when men exploited women.
Well…
That may be true.
Mommy.
I'm so excited for the Christmas cake!
Yeah!
I also can't wait to eat chicken!
You must be really hungry.
Will Santa come to see me?
-I want presents…
-I’m going to work.
Okay.
Kam-Bo.
You're making chicken
for Ms. Mishima, right?
Don't keep her waiting.
-What about you, Yuen? Going home?
-Yes.
That’s for the best.
What about you, Chan?
I have someone.
That's all you need to know.
Well then, Merry Christmas.
And a happy New Year.
-Yes.
-Okay.
-See you.
-See you.
See you.
I'm home.
Sorry, I'm late--
Oh, welcome back.
-Here, the nail clippers.
-Oh…
Oh, sorry.
Mishima said something came up,
so I'm here instead.
Oh, is that so?
Well, the Chairman is saying,
if you're still interested…
But after all that shouting…
Are you listening?
Yes.
Did something happen?
-Huh? Don't.
-Don't what?
It's too late for that.
What? What are you saying?
I know, you idiot.
Don't get funny ideas.
I make well-balanced lunchboxes
for my husband,
but he gives them to someone else
and just eats ramen all day.
He's so stupid, right?
I get it.
My boyfriend's taste buds are weird.
I learn cooking here,
but it's not worth cooking for him.
He doesn't deserve to eat it!
That sounds so sad!
It's sad, right?
Aya, aren't you studying for prep school?
Their stories are more educational.
Well, we've got more!
Hey, look!
What the hell, man?
I figured she would dump you,
and you would be alone.
-Don't just assume that.
-Am I wrong?
What about you?
Did your family kick you out?
No, I practiced self-restraint.
You see, my daughter was studying.
Come on…
Kam-Bo?
Why are you here?
Mr. Sugiyama is looking after my mother.
One!
That Soda Master training scene
was something else.
You burped.
I drank too much ramune,
and my stomach was sloshing.
Let's use it in the blooper reel.
I said we don't need one.
In the end, we're spending Christmas
just like 37 years ago.
It's so sad.
But if you think about it, it's strange.
Back then, we were editing like this.
So why is the movie unfinished?
I think we argued,
then got fed up and quit.
-Happens all too often.
-Yes.
All right, dubbing for Number 11 is done.
Next is Number 12.
Oh, Number 12 is gone.
-Did you actually look for it?
-I looked.
Look, isn't it in here?
I think it was because we lost Number 12.
The movie was left unfinished
because we lost Number 12, I think.
That… that's right. Exactly!
No wonder I can't find it.
It was lost back then.
What did we record on No. 12 again?
Wait…
-The climax…
-The duel scene!
That's right! I remember!
I said, "There's no movie
without a climax!"
We got into a huge fight over who lost it.
Don't screw with me!
-You didn't manage it properly!
-Why is it my fault?
You're the president!
You always act like the leader,
but won't take responsibility for this?
Oh, it hurts!
Can't we just film it again?
It's impossible!
That place doesn't exist anymore.
There are plenty of photogenic locations.
That scene was very difficult.
We can do it better next time.
It will be a better scene.
Even Jackie Chan
fell from the clock tower twice, right?
There's still time until the screening.
Let's do what we can.
Matilda was always so positive.
But there's no trace of it being reshot.
What's in number 13
are just small, miscellaneous,
leftover shots.
We never reshot it.
I guess when Matilda disappeared,
we lost our drive.
Hey.
I think I'll take a little break.
What?
What we heard today
was honestly a huge blow.
I don't want to know
any more about Matilda.
I don't have the courage.
But we've come this far.
Will anything good come of it?
Even if we know the truth,
do you think it will do any good?
The more we investigate,
the more unpleasant truths we find out.
Is this going to make anyone happy?
They say beautiful memories
should be left beautiful.
Kam-Bo! Don't think like that.
No matter what kind of person Matilda was,
she didn't deserve to be killed.
We're the only ones who can find out.
Even if it's painful,
even if it makes no one happy,
the truth should be revealed.
No matter what the real Matilda was like,
we'll confront it.
That old chiropractor…
I bet he knows things he isn't telling us.
I think so too.
Let's visit him again tomorrow.
One, two, three!
Spin around a bit!
Really going at it, huh.
Oh, Mr. Trendy.
Strawberry daifuku.
Have you ever had one?
There's a whole strawberry inside.
Thank you!
Here.
I got these from a client's acquaintance.
Interested?
Wow! Michael Jackson!
Tokyo Dome!
Are you sure?
You should all go together.
There are five tickets!
We appreciate the sentiment,
but something this expensive…
Consider it a citizen's donation
for the Movie Club's activities.
It will be a valuable experience for them.
I have to get back to work.
See you.
Thank you!
"Trendy" Mochizuki?
Yes, that old chiropractor told us.
After he made us treat him
to expensive sushi.
A self-proclaimed consultant.
Our construction company
worked with him a lot.
He also used to help my father
with his work at the city hall.
He was stylish, always familiar
with trends, and flush with cash.
And that person hired
the bamboo-seller man?
So that means…
This person requested
that Ms. Matilda be killed?
That would be the case.
But we don't know what happened
between him and Matilda.
Where is he now?
I asked Blockhead to look into it.
Well, he probably won't find
anything anyway.
Manabu Mochizuki.
He ran a consulting firm,
and moved to Tokyo in '89.
He passed away from illness
about ten years ago.
Oh, I see.
Back then, he had a girlfriend.
Maybe she became his wife.
His wife passed away last year.
Other than that, he only had one son.
Then, let's go meet the son.
I went and met him.
What?
All this was before he was born,
so he knew nothing.
However,
he said, "I'm going to throw these away,
you can have them if you like."
Consider it a Christmas present.
What is this?
What…
The heck is this, huh?
Diaries?
Oh, right.
Back then, his girlfriend
kept a diary every day.
Then let's look for the one from 1988!
Blockhead, was actually a great guy!
Thank you, Santa!
Found it!
1988!
Oh!
AUGUST 28TH (MONDAY)
"August 28th, Mr. Yoshii came,
and we talked until late."
My dad was at Mr. Trendy's?
"August 30th.
Dinner party with the CEO
of Fujimaki Construction.
He was in a great mood."
They had dinner with my parents.
"September 10th, Italian dinner for two.
Business has been good lately,
I'm glad that work is going well."
"September 20th, my 27th birthday.
Got a Hermes bag from him."
"October 1st.
He finally proposed."
-Cheers.
-October 1st.
He finally proposed!
Of course, I said yes.
We'll get married
once his current project is over.
-Let's be happy together.
-I hope we can be happy together.
November 12th.
We received another large deposit.
I wonder where it came from.
I'm a bit worried.
He says we'll go to Paris
for our honeymoon.
Manabu?
-November 15th.
-Manabu!
-Go to bed, you'll get a cold!
-I'm happy the company is getting bigger.
-Wake up!
-But he's been terribly tired lately.
-Don't overwork yourself.
-Manabu!
December 3rd.
His pager has been ringing nonstop.
He has stopped talking to me about work.
I'm going out for a bit.
I hope everything is going well.
December 5th.
He has been acting strangely.
No matter what I ask,
he won't answer me properly.
Shut up!
He has been shouting at me a lot.
December 9th.
There was a fire nearby.
Welcome back.
-This is real bad…
-December 15th.
He came home looking pale.
What do I do? They're going to kill me…
"Things have gotten bad."
"At this rate, I'll be killed," he says.
What do I do?
He's having nightmares too.
I'm worried.
What do I…
December 18th.
It seems he needs money.
Maybe he's being threatened by someone.
Damn it!
-Hey, what's wrong, Manabu?
-Shut up!
December 22nd.
He went on a rampage.
"That woman is going to kill me."
"She'll kill me if I don't give her
the money," he yelled.
-She's going to kill me!
-Who is "she"?
I'm going to be killed!
December 24th.
At his request,
we visited the middle schoolers together.
They were happy with the cheesecake,
but I don't know what it was for.
December 25th.
He isn't coming home.
He came home once late last night,
but left again in a hurry.
I'm lonely all by myself.
And anxious too.
Understand? You must find the tape,
no matter what!
December 26th.
Hey!
-He's yelling on the phone again.
-You have to get it!
"Find the tape,
get it at all cost," he yelled.
-You understand me?
-He's like a different man, I'm scared.
-Welcome back.
-I'm home.
December 31st.
It's over.
It's all over.
"It's all over."
When I said he didn't have
to worry anymore,
he cried like a child.
December was full of nothing but bad luck.
May the New Year be a good one.
January 5th.
Have you seen this person?
The woman he mentioned
must be that teacher.
Her students are handing out
flyers again today.
My heart aches,
but it's that woman's fault.
I tell myself
that she brought it on herself.
January 18th.
I think we should leave this town.
-He said, "Let's leave Tanbe."
-We'll leave Tanbe…
He said he'd establish
a new company in Tokyo.
I also think that's for the best.
Let's forget about everything
in this town.
It was just a bad dream.
Matilda was…
threatening Mochizuki with something.
To extort money.
Mochizuki…
had no choice but to hire
the bamboo rod seller
to eliminate Rambo,
and then Matilda…
I…
rewrote it into a sappy memory,
out of an old-school romance.
The truth was different.
Christmas that year…
Can I interest you in a Christmas cake?
LOTTERY
Please!
How much will it take to satisfy you?
Just how greedy can you be?
You don't know what I can do!
The hell you looking at?
Now that we know this,
maybe Rambo was…
also tricked and used by Matilda.
She would do dangerous things for money.
A terrifying woman.
That is the truth about Matilda.
Yes?
Hello?
It's Mikiko Hara.
Oh, from the art university?
I'll be brief.
I actually never told my husband this.
I probably never will.
But…
I have to tell you the truth.
I was the one who did it.
The one doing shady part-time jobs…
was me.
Michiru protected me,
since I was about to get married,
and she took the fall for me.
Michiru…
is that kind of woman.
That is…
the real Michiru Miyashita.
TANBE MIDDLE SCHOOL
MOVIE RESEARCH CLUB
LOOK UP AND DO YOUR BEST!
Extorting someone…
for money?
Ms. Matilda?
"December 26th.
He's yelling on the phone again.
'Find the tape, get it at all cost,'
he yells."
Find the tape?
FIND THE TAPE
That's a huge planner.
It doubles as a daily diary.
I've been keeping one since I was a kid.
Wow, you filmed this much?
Editing must be a pain.
Chan filmed way too much.
Thirteen tapes in total.
But Number 12 is missing.
What?
Where is Number 12?
It should be right--
What?
Where did it go?
Where did you put it?
You don't know where it is?
What?
Where did it go?
-Chan, where did you put it?
-I don't know.
Hello.
Shall we go home?
Yes.
See you.
Excuse us.
Miss.
Number 12 is missing.
Back then, Mochizuki
came looking for Number 12.
Matilda's apartment
was broken into at around the same time.
That must have been Mochizuki.
He was looking for Number 12
at Matilda's apartment.
Our tape was blackmail material.
What exactly was on it?
-The climax duel scene.
-Why would that be blackmail material?
I don't know. But there's no doubt
the truth of the incident is on Number 12.
Where did you film it?
At old lady Kuroe's house.
Old lady Kuroe?
We called her a witch.
She was an eccentric old lady
everyone hated.
Where is her house?
It burned down.
That old lady's house burned down.
From a cigarette butt.
Oh, wait.
Found it! Look. December 9th.
"There was a fire nearby."
That old lady died in the fire.
I remember.
That was the day we went to Tokyo Dome.
Tokyo Dome?
We got tickets to see
Michael Jackson. Mochi…
Mochizuki gave us those tickets.
The pieces of the puzzle
are coming together.
But the most important "master" piece
doesn't seem to be within our reach.
Number 12 probably doesn't exist anymore.
Torikai, Mochizuki, Mochizuki's wife,
and old lady Kuroe are all gone.
There's no one left
who knows the secret of Number 12.
Wait…
That person should still be alive.
Yeah. The granddaughter…
The ghost member.
Who?
The Movie Research Club wasn't
just us three. There's another member.
Man, Michael is the best.
Let's put his moves into our action movie!
-They would look weird in a kung fu movie.
-What, really?
I think it would be good.
Isn't your house in that direction?
Keiko Kuroe.
The key to the incident
is held by the fourth Ramune Monkey.
Kuroe!
Subtitle translation by: Quang N.N.