Currency and Blonde (通貨と金髪)

Starring Taro SUWA

Eri KIMURA

and Lasalle ISHII

Executive Producer Hidehiro ITO

Producer Toshihiro SATO

Music by Koji ENDO

Cinematographer Shohei ANDO

Written and Directed by Rokuro MOCHIZUKI

CURRENCY AND BLONDE

Please watch over me

and this country.

Please don't forsake us.

It's that seat.

Mr.Kuwata always sat on that seat.

About a month ago...

Do you remember there was a suicide at this station? Mr.Kuwata...

Didn't know his name, but found out

in the newspaper.

From 2 months before his death

Mr.Kuwata began sitting there.

I've only been sitting here for about a month.

I miss him...

Well, that was his seat.

Though he killed himself

he was quite amusing.

Must be a party trick...

Mimicking, I guess.

He was good, and showed me a lot.

Well, some weren't so good.

Still practicing, he said. Whatever did he mean by that?

Still practicing...

What did he mean?

The doors closed.

And...

About a month ago

When a passing train came in

he suddenly got up.

He turned around...

Said "I'll be off" with a smile and disappeared before the train.

I heard a loud sound.

Ah, were you talking to a poster?

I saw you.

I wasn't talking to you.

So you were talking to the poster.

Good.

What's good?

Would be rude, if I were wrong.

Why does it have to speed so much?

Ignoring this station?

Currency therefore has accepted worth.

Worth therefore is value.

Value basically differs with each individual.

With difference in history and society

so naturally preference

will obviously reflect the values of individuals.

But mankind discovered currency.

This discovery took place almost the same way in each civilization.

Human society created common value understood by all.

That is currency.

Suppose there's a bag here.

Regardless of your preference

you can all understand and accept that this is a ¥100,000 bag.

Class dismissed.

Mr.Kosaka.

Yes.

A question.

Go ahead.

I don't see you on TV recently.

You were the specialist on stocks. Why don't you appear on TV anymore?

Because you scholars we're hit by the recession.

We can't get jobs.

Is Economics worth anything?

This is a university

and Economics is pure science.

And switch off the cell phones during class.

You made us lose money

but because you're a scholar the university pays you well.

That's rig ht.

He's screwing one of his students.

Really?

Hey, wait a minute.

Sir... Asst. Prof. Kosaka.

I'm over here.

The American exchange student I told you about arrived just now.

I see.

Would you come to the lobby later?

All right.

She's a beauty... and a blonde.

Please hurry.

I'm Dr.Kosaka.

You're very well known as an economist.

I've read your books. I'm glad to meet you.

Excellent Japanese.

Because of my father's work, I spent 5 years of my childhood here.

My present object of study is Japan, so I brushed up my Japanese.

How about a welcome party for you at my house with my students?

That'll be nice.

Then, sooner the better.

It may also be worthwhile to grasp

the level of students in Japan.

You'd be surprised.

By the way, I haven't gotten your name yet.

I'm Anna McGuire. Please call me Anna.

Anna... I see...

You missed 3 trains.

You missed 3 trains.

I watched.

You're not busy, right?

Take it easy.

Sweet or not so sweet?

Glad you took that. I prefer the sweet one.

I thought

suicide was an illness only for professionals or the rich.

They'd never face starvation.

At least not in Japan.

Say something. This is supposed to be a conversation.

Sorry.

Money, money, money was all we lived for.

So when that's gone

what are we living for'?

We no longer know the value of life.

We all had fun with our life

but doing some serious thinking now

makes us Japanese ill.

Why did the economic bubble in Japan burst is the theme of my study.

Economic prosperity has continued for 8 years in the United States.

My country undertook painful restructuring in the past.

In addition, the whole nation nurtured new industries.

You see the result now.

Many Americans detect the economic bubble now.

That's why we're studying Japan.

You don't understand anything.

You're only satisfied by making your body look better.

You won't understand my sufferings.

Your bankruptcy will be finalized in 2 weeks.

By remitting ¥100,000 to this account every month...

What will the total be?

About ¥1,500,000.

We'll return the remainder.

Please.

Please stamp your seal here.

Your seal.

It will be on auction.

Please take care of this by the end of the month.

In the 1980s, Japanese capital was omnipotent. Where is it now?

Bureaucrats, politicians and all economists

kept this capital within Japan.

The established powers tried to divide the wealth.

As a result, capital accumulated on

non-productive items, such as land, stocks and art works

and disappeared.

It's been a long time.

It's hot.

Did you think it over?

We had absolutely no idea

accepted value was fluid.

Putting our money in the bank is useless.

Interest rate is so low now.

We old people look forward to seeing our savings grow.

Economic prosperity in the U.S. has continued for 10 years.

What about the bubble?

The U.S. itself is a giant system.

Including investments

everything takes place in the U.S.

As I thought, America is amazing.

Isn't it?

And when do you want it?

At 17%, I can somehow get you 30 million more.

Is that right? Let me see...

Then could you get me that about halt a month later?

Sure.

You spoil sport.

Dammit. Spread them wider.

Spread them wider... That's it... That's it.

A friend of mine was doing it in this posture

and the asshole got caught by his wife.

He shouldn't have gotten married.

Hey, that's it. Yeah... Keep that posture for a while.

Anna.

How's Tokyo?

There's Roppongi, so it's okay.

There's a nice restaurant in Roppongi. I'd like to take you there.

You mean a date?

In a wide sense... perhaps.

You... and... me? You want to date me?

What next?

Want some dessert?

And after that?

Thank you.

Stop it.

That's enough. Your time's up.

Please leave.

I know. Japanese are shy.

Please call me again.

Me? Dislike blondes? No. I like them, too.

Watched foreign porn when we were kids.

Bought Caucasian hookers overseas.

Thought we were equals if we paid.

That made me even more miserable.

Because those girls are so proud.