Tokyo Sonata (トウキョウソナタ)

[Screenplay by Max MANNIX, Kiyoshi KUROSAWA, Sachiko TANAKA]

There's a storm brewing.

Hey, take this.

Who's in charge of the body-fat scale?

It's Shimada-san, isn't it?

[Yu KOYANAGI, Kai INOWAKI]

We're here from Dalian, China. My name is Shao Yen.

Pleased to meet you.

Your Japanese is good.

We've been studying night and day.

As soon as the telephone lines to Dalian are installed,

you can hire three locals like her

for what you pay one Japanese employee here.

I understand. That sounds like an excellent plan.

Excuse me, sir.

[Haruka IGAWA Kanji TSUDA]

We're pushing ahead with relocating

our admin department in Dalian.

I see.

I'm aware of the tremendous job you've done as director of admin.

Koji YAKUSHO

So, Sasaki-san...

...what will you do after you leave administration?

[Directed by Kiyoshi KUROSAWA]

What skills do you have?

I want you to consider

how best you can contribute to Tanita Corporation's development?

It's entirely up to you, Sasaki-san.

Either you contribute 100% of your ability to us here,

or the company will have to let you go.

Boss, it's about that air-conditioning estimate...

- Oh, that. - Yes.

I think we should accept the bid from Uchida Systems.

What do you think?

Can I have that?

- What? - That.

Yes.

Did you visit the 'Hello Work' agency?

Nah...

You should call in to 'Hello Work' before you come here.

Oh, right.

Go before your luck runs out.

Otherwise, you'll be stuck here for life, just like me.

RECEPTION IS NOW CLOSED FOR TODAY

Hey-

Your bag's open.

You sure carry a lot around.

It's too heavy.

I'm home.

It's you!

When did you get home?

Just now.

Don't scare me like that.

You finished early today?

What are you doing?

I was just making sure the doors were locked.

I see...

That's all.

Anything wrong with that?

You could use the front door, though.

You're right.

- Thanks for the food. - Sure.

- I'm off! - See you later.

Will you be home early again today?

- No, I've got a busy day ahead of me. - Okay.

- Where's Takashi? - Not back yet.

He drives me spare.

- See you later. - Bye.

- Later. - Aye.

- Hiya. - Welcome back.

- Hungry? - No, thanks.

I'm off to bed, so please don't vacuum.

So, moving on to the topic of honorific verbs.

Honorifics are based on the use of three different types of speech

in order to show respect to the other person.

We want you to be able to use respectful language to your elders,

so let's investigate the meaning of each...

Sasaki! What's that?

Show me.

Pathetic.

I've nothing but contempt for anyone who sneaks this stuff into my classes.

- Stand up. - But...

You've no right to be in my class.

- Stand at the back. - But it's not mine.

- Is that your excuse? -It's true. I was just passing it on.

I said stand at the back! Hurry up!

- Sir? - What now?

I saw you reading a porn manga on the train the other day.

I was sitting in front of you.

You were trying hard to hide it,

but I could see the cover, Eroto Mania Weekly.

- Why are you saying this? - Because it's true.

Nice one!

- This is hardly the place. - Yeah, I guess not.

It's unfair, isn't it?

Quiet!

Back to the lesson.

So, honorific language...

Let's conjugate standard verb forms into honorifics.

Okay? Start with the verb "to see".

- Sasaki, you were brilliant! - He looked so scared. What a laugh!

- Let's call him Mr Eroto. - Excellent.

Mr Eroto! Mr Eroto!

What is it?

I'm sorry about before.

I went too far.

I didn't think the other kids would react like that.

- You came to say that? - Yes.

All this way?

Let's forget it.

You graduate in less than a year. It won't affect how we get along.

But that manga really isn't mine.

That's why I didn't think it was fair that I was the only one made to stand.

Sasaki, let's me and you stop poking sticks in each other's wounds.

You can ignore me and I'll ignore you. All right?

Stop there.

Let's have more emphasis between crescendo and diminuendo.

Again, from here.

Good, good. And continue.

And more forceful here.

What was that other piece in C Major that you learned to play so well?

Let's see...

We're sorry to keep you waiting.

Ticket holder 86, please proceed to window number one?

Your hours are midnight to 9:00 in the morning.

It's security guard work, but they've never had a single robbery.

So you don't have to worry.

Sasaki-san, how about administrative work?

- I'm much more suited to that. - Well, then...

- Maybe this is more suitable for you. - Yes, please.

Manager at a Happy Mart store.

Monday to Friday.

7:00am to 3:00pm, 850 yen an hour.

As I wrote it in the form you gave me,

I used to be Administrative Director at Tanita.

There's no easy way to say this,

but it'll be 100% impossible for you to match your former position.

-Sorry to keep you waiting. .. - There you go.

Here's this month's salary.

I think it's time we bought a new one.

I guess it can wait till bonus time.

Where's Takashi?

He left this afternoon for one of his classes.

I see.

I hope he's not getting into trouble.

Yeah, right...

Your exams are coming up soon, too.

Do your best.

I think I'd like to play piano.

I want to play piano. It's okay, right?

No way.

Why not?

It's just a whim.

Maybe you should learn to play in music class at school.

No means no.

- You're back. - Hiya.

-I saved some food for you. - Okay, I'll have some.

Look.

Show me.

You got your driver's license.

You'll never use it, though.

It's just a form of identification.

A very expensive form of identification.

- Use your insurance card. - I prefer this.

It's rice porridge today.

Hello.

Hello.

-It's cold today, isn't it? -It certainly is.

Please wait, it won't be long.

- Hello. - Thanks for your patience.

- Here you are. - Thanks for your patience.

Sorry to keep you waiting. Here you are.

Hey, Kurosu?

I thought it was you, Sasaki.

Long time no see.

- You haven't changed since school. - Neither have you.

Sorry.

Hello?

Fine. I'm with a client right now.

I'll talk to the Senior VP about that myself.

And don't worry about the bid on the Municipal Hall.

Sure, sure, thanks.

- You dropped this. - Oh, thanks.

You seem busy.

- You're in construction? - Something like that.

- And what about you? - Healthcare equipment.

Oh, sounds great.

Hey, what's that?

I think they hand out food.

You'd be surprised how many guys line up.

Maybe I'll try some.

It's a rare chance to taste it.

Are you by any chance unemployed, Kurosu?

You can tell?

Right...

You are, too, right?

I got down-sized last week.

I got down-sized three months ago.

What about that last phone call?

It's just for show.