The Island Closest to Heaven (天国にいちばん近い島)

Haruki Kadokawa

Katsura Morimura

Nobuhiko Obayashi

Tomoyo Harada

The Island Closest to Heaven

Associate Producer: Kyoko Obayashi

Screenwriter: Kenmochi Wataru Shooting Screenwriter: Nobuhiko Obayashi

Cinematographer: Yoshitaka Sakamoto

Production Designer: Kazuo Satsuya

Lyrics by Chinfua Kan Composed by Tetsuji Hayashi Arranged by Mitsuo Hagida

Tomoyo Harada

Ryoichi Takayanagi

Toru Minegishi Miyoko Akaza Shigeru Izumiya Yukihiro Takahashi

Nenji Kobayashi Maiko Ogo Wakaba Irie Nobuko Otowa

Author Katsura Morimura writes

20 years have passed since I wrote The Island Closest to Heaven

Now, once again, we are depicting the warmhearted adventures of a young girl

who visited the legendary island in search of love.

This is one tale of The Island Closest to Heaven

See this river? If you follow it all the way out,

it leads you to the sea.

If you keep going, way to the south,

all the way to the other side of the world,

there's a small island made of pure white coral.

That's the island closest to where God is in heaven.

If anyone, anywhere wants to meet God

God will go down to that island

and go out to find them from there.

That's right.

Because it's closest to heaven the sun is always shining.

It's very bright and very warm.

The people on the island

are always very happy.

How do you get there?

You ask God to take you.

Ask with all your might, and he'll do it.

How do you ask him?

Please take me there

Have you ever gone there?

No, I've never been able to ask properly

That's so sad.

But someday, we'll go there.

Together?

That'd be nice.

I'll ask with all my might.

That's right.

- But I don't know - What?

The name of the island.

New Caledonia.

Don't worry, father. I won't cry.

My sandal is just going to the island before we do.

Let's make sure we go there someday.

Both of us, together.

Mari and father, together.

"The Island Closest to Heaven"

It's just like your father to die on us so suddenly like this.

He was always so caught up in his fantasies

it was like he was already in the next world.

But Mari...

that's just what you needed in a father.

Don't you think so?

Of course, he was good to me as a husband, too.

Won't you say something, Mari?

I wonder what made you such a gloomily silent girl.

You'll be even lonelier now, won't you?

Excuse me, please fasten your seatbelt.

You're Mari, right?

Yes, Katsuragi...

Nice to meet you!

We'll be together for the whole trip!

I'm Fukuko Yamamoto I'm almost 20. What about you?

I'm 16.

But I'm almost 17. Nice to meet you.

How nice!

I'm so excited for this!

A real blue Christmas! So much fun, I can't handle it!

By the way, Mari... who did you deceive?

What?

I told daddy I was going to New Caledonia to study French.

He bought it, and paid up!

You know money in French? Argent

So much "argent!"

Fess up! Who'd you deceive?

My mother used her savings

Oh, well done!

Learning to rip off your parents is an important skill...

Mother...

What is it?

I'd like to visit New Caledonia.

Where's that? Africa?

No

It's a small island near Australia.

I see.

If it's outside of Asakusa, I don't know it.

Why do you want to visit New Cale... whatever it was?

I made a promise with father

A promise? With your father? When?

A long time ago.

When I was very small.

Why now?

Well, that's fine.

You're so gloomy all the time.

You hardly say anything so if you're asking for this...

it must be important to you.

Just go. You might as well.

When your father died, I thought I'd be through dealing with his fantasies.

Why are you so much like your father that way?

I'm sorry.

You need money, right? 100,000 Yen? 200,000?

Thank you very much.

Don't worry.

I have some savings you can use.

It's just as well. I've always wanted to be alone.

It's been very trying for me.

All alone, with no one to be a nuisance to me.

I can drink a bit of saké on my own,

and think back upon my memories of my dear, departed husband.

I'll get lonely and cry a bit.

Mother

I'm very happy

You're finally doing something on your own.

It's thanks to your father, isn't it?

Have a good trip.

Thank you.

Let's go.

Tonight is Christmas eve.

We'll be giving everyone champagne.

Go on, try some!

Cheers, Mari!

To the success of our adventure!

It's okay. We're not in Japan anymore.

In France, even children drink wine.

Just drink it! It's not your first, is it?

I tried it once with my mother.

See! No big deal!

Check this out...

I smuggled some whiskey on board, too!

À votre santé!

Drink it up!

Here...

Drink up!

Attention. We will land in Noumea soon. Please fasten your seatbelts.

On this trip, Christmas is in midsummer!

Thank you for joining our Santa Claus tour!

We will be arriving in Noumea soon.

You'll be spending the night at the fine Le Surf Hotel

as you were informed by the travel agency at Narita airport

First, we'll check in, and then you'll be free to explore until dinner.

Enjoy the fresh air and sea of New Caledonia

We'll have a small Christmas party at dinner.

Over here!

No, this way! Over here!

Oh, Mari!

What's with the outfit? Where's your swimsuit?

I'm going out for a bit.

You're going out? Where? All alone?

See you.

Is your hangover all right?

I'm fine.

What a drag.

Let's go!

Let's go!

No, not here.

Was it really here, father?

Thanks!

Are you all right? Try to stand up.

Are you Japanese?

You're not injured? Are you all right?

Yes

You sure you're all right?

Just a little...

My glasses!

Glasses? Sunglasses?

No, ordinary glasses with red frames.

Glasses with red frames...

Oh, there! These?

Yes, those!

It looks like they've been damaged

I'm sorry.

It's fine. They were cheap anyway.

That won't do. Glasses are very important!

I'm sorry.

It's all right.

I'm very sorry.

It's really all right.

I'm always clumsy anyway.

How do I get back to Le Surf Hotel?

Turn left up ahead, and you'll get back there.

I can take you in my truck.

That's okay. I can get back on my own.

But, will you be all right?

Oh, right.

I'm always clumsy with my truck.

Oh no!

Thank you! Goodbye!

Goodbye!

Don't move.

You kids are always wandering around recklessly and getting yourselves hurt.

Starting tomorrow, you'll stay with the group!

Right, Fukuko?