Eros Eterna (聖母観音大菩薩)

An Art Theatre Guild and Wakamatsu Productions Joint Production

Production and Direction: Kōji Wakamatsu

Mermaids don't just live in the southern sea.

They also live in the northern lands.

"The Mermaid and the Red Candles" by Mimei Ogawa

It would take many, many steeples stacked one on top of the other...

...to reach the bottom of the sea.

It is in that deep place that the sea folk live.

"The Little Mermaid" by Hans Christian Andersen

A long time ago, there was a fisherman's daughter.

She was unable to die, and lived for eight hundred years.

"After eight hundred years, I have tired of living," she said...

...and entered the cave of Kuuin temple.

By then a nun, she is said to have planted a camellia at the entrance.

"When the camellia dies, you will know that I have died as well."

Even now the camellia does not wither.

Even now water drips from the cave.

"The Legend of Happyaku Bikuni" - Wakasa folktale

Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto-sama...

You, who stole the daughter of the dragon god...

I am the woman who stole the dragon god's servant.

Do all those who oppose the dragon god suffer as I do?

Immortality is only suffering.

Unable to die for eight hundred years...

Leading the masses to enlightenment...

Can the sin of eating the flesh of a mermaid never be erased?

Sacred Mother Kannon

How about a fortune or charm?

What about a prayer?

Would you like a fortune or charm?

How about one?

Thanks for your hard work.

No. It's just an apology to Toyotama-hime-sama.

To the enshrined goddess?

Yes. The daughter of the dragon god.

What are you doing?

What a strange getup.

It's for my job.

That woman came back again today?

She believes she's the reincarnation of Happyaku Bikuni-sama.

Not right in the head, huh?

Maybe. She lives with that unclean old man.

Don't get too close. It'll spread to you.

- Stop it. - Let's go somewhere.

No way. I have to work.

That should be enough.

Spring will be here soon.

You'll have to go on living once I'm dead.

You're planning on dying?

All humans die.

Omoro!

Let's eat.

Would you like some more?

You're cold. Were you in the sea again?

I think the salt water purifies me somehow.

Why are you worried about something so trivial?

I don't know.

Why are you so kind to me, with my unclean and corrupt body?

I don't know that, either.

You were the only one who would let me stay here.

Sister...

It's been more than thirty years since my body became like this...

...and you're the same as when I met you.

You must truly be a servant of Buddha.

That's right. You're the only one who believes me.

Are you sure? If you do that, death will spread to you.

Let's die together. No, suck up my spirit and live.

It was the Virgin Mary of Urakami...

No, it must have been Zeus who saved me.

But after that, no one from my hometown in the southern islands...

...not even my mother or sisters, would come near my body.

I left the southern islands thirty years ago, and wandered to the far north.

I was in search of a place to live peacefully...

...but I was chased away because of the change in my body.

But it will be over soon. Death is coming at last.

No, you can't die.

I understand. I really do.

Suck me up! Suck me all up!

Let me die in your place.

Eight hundred years...a thousand years...

No, live longer than I did.

Much longer! Much longer!

One, two! One, two! One, two!

Fight! Fight!

Keep going. The district qualifiers are soon. Do your best.

Omoro!

Omoro!

Forgive me.

I sucked you up in the end, didn't I?

Rather than living a thousand years... Ten thousand years...

You're happier this way, right?

Dragon god!

How many deaths must I see?

How long must I live?

Hey, wait!

Hey! Wait!

No, I'm going home!

It'll be alright.

This cave is supposed to go all the way to Kyōto. Isn't that neat?

It's that creepy cave Happyaku Bikuni entered.

Aren't you a shrine maiden?

So it would be strange for me to go in, right?

Let's just see how far it goes. Come on.

No, I have to work.

Sister...

You called me that at last.

Well, I don't know your real name.

The old man died, didn't he?

The priest said you can come and do the cleaning.

Thank you.

People say you're Happyaku Bikuni.

You must have lived for many years.

If you're really her, you must know when she was born.

During the reign of Monmu, the forty-second emperor.

Don't raise your voice.

I'll kill you if make a sound.

Would you please?

What?

You can kill me.

Are you kidding?

Take a good look!

There's blood on this knife, and it's not from a dog or pig.

It's Yamato blood.

Don't look at me like that!

Why? Why won't you say anything?

Why won't you resist?

Because it's what you want.

Fight back! Scream!

Run away like a normal Yamato woman does from an Ainu.

Ainu...

Run away! Scream!

Why are you silent?

Damn it!

Now you're crying.

You're such a hypocrite.

Sad, huh?

No, it's just painful.

You're satisfied already?

Long ago, we walked this land.

All the way from Izumo to the north.

From Musashi to the north was our land as well.

But the Yamato came from the sea and attacked from the south.

We were driven to the far north and brought to ruin.

We ran to the hills like beasts.

Thick fog pouring from our mouths...

Whole families living in trees together...

The Yamato drove us to the north.

Look at us!

Wandering through the hills with the beasts...

Thick fog pouring from our mouths...

I feel as though as I've seen it.

Very long ago...

A host heading north...

Crossing Lake Biwa, covering the Ōmi plains, filling Tsuruga port with ships...

No, you haven't killed.

Kill me as a replacement for the person you couldn't.

Stop it! Yamato bitch!

I see. Maybe you want to be my friend.

Stop!

I knew you were a hypocrite.

What are you going to do?

Violate you.

Rape you.

Rape?

Please. Let me violate you.

No!

No!

I'll rape you. I'll violate every inch of you, Yamato.

Then my children will fill this land.

No! Stop!

Bear my children!

Bear my children until this land is filled with Ainu.

Yamato bitch!

Give birth!

Open up!

Hey, open up!

Open it! We know you're in there.

Hey, open up!

Break it down!

Why are you hiding in a place like this?

Takeru Kaizawa, you're under arrest.

Get dressed!

I let him in.

You threatened her with this...

No.

- He didn't do anything like that. - No, I threatened her.

I threatened and raped the Yamato woman.

But...

Damn straight. I drove it into her.

That's enough!

- Come on. - Wait!

Stop!

This is the end.

It doesn't matter if I get the death penalty.

My people will all be gone sooner or later.

What are you doing?

Kill me!

If you eat my flesh, maybe you'll become immortal...

Immortal?

Ainu...