Kiku and Isamu: Two Siblings Born in Japan (キクとイサム)

A Daitoei Production

Produced by Masataro Kaku Takero Ito Kiichi Ichikawa

Script by Yoko Mizuki

Photography by Shunichiro Nakao Music by Masao Oki

Directed by Tadashi Imai

Show me!

What a nice bike!

Get off stupid!

Give me back my bike!

We take turns! Don't you understand that?

Fatty! Bullfrog! Get off!

Get off! Get off it! Fatty! Bullfrog! Get off!

Fat frog. I'll smash you!

Female gorilla!

It's one go each! You're a real pain!

I'll tell on you! I'll tell Grandma Shigeko!

KIKU AND ISAMU

What have you been doing? You're late.

I'm sorry!

Come on and carry it. Quickly.

Grandma, they pinned my calligraphy up on the wall at school today. It's the first time!

Hurry! The silk worms will be getting hungry!

Grandma, Isamu is doing it again.

Never mind me eating. Kiku took the bike without waiting for her turn.

You little fan!

Gorilla sows the seeds and Crow comes and strips the plant...

Ouch!

You cut well again oh my trusty sword!

That was easy!

Why did you make him cry?

He's just pretending to cry!

You're terrible the pair of you!

I'll get you.

Will you stop that!

Kiku! Isamu!

God, my back hurts!

Veneration to Amitabha Buddha...

Grandma, if you see the doctor he'll make it better.

Doctor's take money. I hate all that "stick out your tongue" stuff they say.

All this suffering is a curse of the ancestors.

It's all superstition. Ancestral curses are just ridiculous.

Grandma. It's the age of automation now.

Go and kneel at the Butsudan and apologise to the ancestors.

All I said was the word 'automation'.

The one who said it was ridiculous was Isamu.

It's the same. Whichever of you said it.

People who understand nothing spout all these foreign words...

Just go to the altar.

Apologise to your mother, grandfather and great grandfather!

Do it properly!

Why are you so angry with me?

Your school results. You're always right at the bottom of the class.

I am a soul in pain...

You're doing it again...

Take it off... ouch! You're doing it again.

You... You really are a pain!

You sure are carrying on about it!

Are you going somewhere Kiku?

I'm going into town.

I'm going to the doctor.

That's the best thing to do.

It hurts too much to sleep.

Let alone for me to look after the silkworms.

I'm going to help at his place with the harvest so I'll come with you.

After we eat I'll walk with you as far as the factory.

You're going for a month?

Yeah. I'll just eat quickly.

It would be helpful if you could take some of the rice.

It'll be hard to be apart so much.

Stop teasing!

Isamu is easy but Kiku here dies if she doesn't eat.

Isamu's on his own looking after the house?

Is that OK?

Better than leaving the two of them alone together.

We'll start on ahead.

She's already caught up with us.

Young people walk quickly.

Take care! You too, Kimie!

Be careful!... Darling... Take care! You too, Kimie!

Be careful!... Darling...

Don't you behave like that!

A great love scene!

It's terrible!

What are you laughing about?

Come on then. Hurry up.

I'm sorry Kimie.

It's fine.

See you soon.

120 monme.

100 monme is 50 yen, so how much is 120 monme?

Errr...

How much? Quickly!

20 monme is 10 yen so plus 50...

60 yen.

60?

Wow, she speaks Japanese.

Indeed.

Let's take a break.

Just a few more to sell.

You must be tired. It's heavy.

We sold them so cheaply Grandma.

Everyone is always haggling the prices down.

300... 70

How much will the doctor cost?

There will be some left over. We have sold a lot.

Do you want some candy?

Yes.

We'll get it on the way home.

I'm thirsty. Let's have a drink of water.

Please wait in the waiting room over there.

Over there?

Shouldn't I wait here?

That big basket is in the way. Please put it in the hallway.

In the hallway then.

I have come because...

I've hurt my back and at night I can't...

OK. Please wait in the waiting room. This way please sir.

Kawada-san? Ah, I mean the other Kawada-san. This way please.

You have to wait your turn.

With this many people waiting it will take ages.

This new clinic has separate sections for specialisms,

but when you get in its only the one doctor. It sure takes time.

You're right about that!

You go home ahead.

We still have the radishes and aubergines left.

I'll come back later.

Even so I'll go home with you.

It'll take forever. Go home.

I don't want to.

We can't leave Isamu alone. You go home. Pick some mulberry leaves.

You took the day off school. You can't do it just to play around.

But Grandma, you said you'd buy me some candy.

OK, I'll buy you some. Off you go.

Roll up, roll up. It's me, Yasube! I sell everything cheap!

From 10 yen to 50. 140 items!

Special sale! Yasube's cheap sale!

Have a look, it's free to browse.

Girls and Grannies, come on and have a look. Feel free to touch.

Your special local stall. Yasube's cheap goods.

It's 10 yen. You'll not find cheaper anywhere.

Come and buy. Touch and feel the quality.

Thank you.

She wants to pretty herself!

What on earth will happen when she's at marrying age?

She's my granddaughter.

Where's her mother?

She died of a bad chest.

She was working in a dining hall. She sent money home sometimes.

When she went into labour I thought it was just stomach pains.

I was going to give her the traditional bear gallbladder for it.

I was amazed!

A kid!

I got the midwife in.

It was 7 at night.

I ended up looking after the kid.

When the midwife saw the kid's face,

she said she'd never seen such a black one.

And the hair was curly, like a perm!

When she told me that and I realised what it meant

I was stunned all over again!

I slapped her and told her off but it was too late.

I heard that there were 2 in the village.

So she's the one?

What about the second one?

Her younger brother.

Two? And both with you?

Something has to be done.

Unless they get taken by America it's hard on you at your age.

You know who the father is?

I don't have a clue about the father.

I was going to get her brother to search when he came back,

but he's dead. There's nobody I can get to help.

Then you need to get the adoption agency to help.

There's a place to help get these kids adopted in America.

I've got a friend who works there. How about it?

Oh. I see.

You have to think about their future or it'll be tough.

You can't mess around.

They haven't noticed that they're different yet, have they?

I told them it's sunburn and will get better.

That's not going to last. It'll be hard when they realise.

An injection?

It won't hurt. You've twisted the nerve and need to be treated.

Lie down. I'll give you a shot and you'll feel much better.

This way please.

Stay still please.

How much will it cost?

The injection? I'll let you off the consultation fee, so...

with the injection and the medicine, it will be 350 yen.

300 and what?!

Lie down please.

I need to pee.

When I get a shock it leaks out!

It's horrible being old.

I wonder why she's so late.

Why's it so salty?

Get out of the way.

I'm so hungry.

Why are you drinking it?

Now it's too bland.