The Long Excuse (Nagai iiwake / 永い言い訳) (永い言い訳)

Now we go to the Culture team with author Kei Tsumura.

Ten seconds.

Now let's see Mr Tsumura's answer.

'Nue'. Correct.

What is 'Nue '?

An evil spirit from ancient Japanese legend.

A mixture of various animals, tiger, monkey, and snake.

The hero Yorimasa kills it in 'The Tale of the Heike'.

Turn that shit off.

Why? I'm watching it.

You just think I'm showing off.

No, I'm not. I didn't know anything about Nue.

Liar!

Careful! You're drunk.

No, I'm not.

Oh, a man phoned today who said he was in grade school with you.

He called you 'Sachio'. About some NPO event.

Your mother gave him our number.

Why didn't she just give him my manager's number?

You don't know him?

Yeah, I know him.

I haven't seen him since I came to Tokyo.

We played together at recess, so we're still buddies?

If he still thinks that, then he's a fan of yours.

I wonder.

He just wants to use me.

Just say 'hello' from now on when you answer the phone, OK?

What?

I'm not supposed to say 'Kinugasa'?

Don't call me by my real name...

Like you did when my publishers were here the other day.

Don't call me 'Sachio'.

I called you 'Sachio'?

I don't think I did.

Four times.

You were counting?

You were deliberately trying to embarrass me.

Embarrass you?

I've always called you that.

Even before you'd written a book.

Meaning I shouldn't forget when you were supporting me?

My dignity might not concern you...

Look...

...surely your dignity is made of sterner stuff than that.

You try living with the same name as the 'iron man' of Japanese baseball.

It makes me sound like an imitation of the real Sachio Kinugasa.

You're not a ballplayer.

Lots of people have the same names as living legends.

And have you ever lived with the same name as a legend?

Have you?

No.

No.

So you wouldn't understand.

I don't want sympathy.

I don't really like myself anyway.

Don't talk like that.

I like 'Kinugasa', and 'Sachio' is a great name.

When we got married I was glad to be rid of plain old 'Tanaka'.

Forget the good old days.

I guess so.

Finished?

Yep. Perfect.

Will you make it?

I sure hope so.

Oh, my suit for tomorrow...

Hey!

It's hanging in the bedroom.

What?

Sorry...

Could you take care of things here?

I was going to.

MOTOKI Masahiro

Sorry!

How are you!

How's Sachio?

I was worried.

TAKEHARA Pistol

Come in.

FUJITA Kenshin SHIRATORI Tamaki

IKEMATSU Sousuke KUROKI Haru

Of all the people I've heard at the Blue Note in Aoyama...

...he's one of the best.

It's like the vocals ring out louder and louder.

Wow!

YAMADA Maho HORIUCHI Keiko

FUKATSU Eri

Directed by NISHIKAWA Miwa

The blizzard has closed the national route.

Sensei!

Extreme caution is urged in eastern areas.

The storm is also affecting air traffic.

33 flights in the Obihiro region have been canceled.

It's freezing!

Your call cannot be taken at the moment.

You're not picking up?

I never do.

Why not?

It's a pain in the ass. Who knows what they'll want?

You're self-conscious.

No, I'm not.

Change the channel.

I'm watching this.

I'm at the scene.

A ski tour bus on the way to Misawamura Hot Spring...

...went through a guardrail on a downhill curve...

...and went down the cliff into the frozen lake.

That'd be cold!

You're cold.

Freezing!

That might be your wife.

I doubt it.

'I got here all right. Are you being a good boy?'

'Hi, honey. Did you sleep well?

'How's the front-desk clerk? Is he worth hitting on?'

Tell her that.

No. You answer.

Shall I?

Go ahead. See what happens.

Where is she?

Indeed!

You didn't ask?

Hello?

Be this the home of Natsuko Kinugasa?

I be Oshita by name, of the Yamagata Prefectural Police.

In connection with a bus accident today...

...we'd like to confirm some things with a family member.

Could someone please call us back as soon as you hear this message?

THE LONG EXCUSE

What did your wife eat last night?

We ate separately.

I had a dinner I couldn't get out of, and...

Do you remember what she was wearing...

...when she left?

What color?

Don't worry about it.

White?

Did your wife contact you after she'd left?

No, she didn't.

Did you call her?

I understand. I'm the same.

After 20 years, you're long past gazing at each other.

Right?

Mr Kinugasa...

...I'm afraid...

...Mrs Omiya's family has confirmed her death as well.

Who?

Yuki Omiya. She was traveling with your wife.

Oh!

Oh, I see.

They'd been close friends ever since high school?

Uh, yes.

That's right.

I met my wife in our first year of university...

...when she was 19.

I was 21. I'd needed two extra study years.

But her father died suddenly. She left the university...

...and vanished from my life.

Then while I was job-hunting...

...I ran into her again at a hair salon in Ginza.

As she ran her scissors smoothly over my head...

...full as it was of rejections from publishing companies...

...she said, 'Didn't you tell me you were going to write a novel?'

Stuck for an answer, I was about to mumble an excuse when she said...

...'Just write one, then.

'That's best for you.'

On that rainy day in June...

...my life as a writer...

...began with my wife.

Natsuko Kinugasa, Hair Stylist!

Her parents are dead...

...so I had her cremated there.

The body was badly damaged, and it was a long way back.

I'm sorry.

You're sorry, Sensei ?

We'd have gone to Yamagata, or anywhere else...

...if you'd just told us.

Yes...

But you have customers here...

None of our customers would be angry if we'd gone to mourn her.

They were all hers to begin with.

That's enough.

For 15 years, more than 300 days a year...

...we worked with her from morning till night.

Didn't you stop to think she had her own life as well?

It's hard for him too, Kotoe.

Oh?

Is it, Sensei ?

Really?

Settle down, will you!

Sorry.

On that rainy day in June...

...my life as a writer...

...began with my wife.

Just before she left...

...she cut my hair for me.

The warmth of her fingers...

...on my hair, my forehead, and my temples...

...remains distinctly there.

In 20 years...

...no one except my wife has ever cut my hair.