Tokyo Girl (東京女子図鑑)

Tokyo Girls Guide

Episode 1, Prologue "A Girl Born in Akita"

I'd like to become a person who's envied by others.

If I actually said so, you'd think I'm ridiculous, wouldn't you?

That I'm too shallow, or that I have no opinion of my own.

Saito. Take this seriously. What do you want to do in your future?

But I wonder if there's anyone who doesn't want to be admired by others.

Well then, let's picture it. What type of person do you want to be?

Someone like you.

I beg your pardon? What? Me?

I envy you. You're wonderful. Cool. Pretty.

I want to be like those people who have a job that other people are envious of.

Well, I guess you wouldn't know your career goal at the age of 17 or so.

Let me just write it down, "I want to be like my..."

Think about this more seriously, okay?

You don't get it, do you?

I wish I'd been born in Paris or New York.

If not Paris or New York, at least if I had been born in Tokyo...

I'd be...

I could be scouted in Harajuku and become a magazine model.

Excuse me, may I...

Or I could be spotted by a talent agency and have a grand debut as an actress.

In Tokyo, there're lots of possibilities spread around like small pebbles.

And I could pick up any of those pieces.

Because...

...being pretty justifies everything.

Just by being pretty, your possibilities spread out infinitely.

I do stripping, but basically, I'm a pop star.

I was scouted in Harajuku, and selected as Miss Teen Model.

I used to be in major magazines. Don't you remember?

I started out in comic magazines for boys, then for youths,

and went on to the weekly magazine for middle-aged men.

Each time, what I was wearing became smaller and smaller,

and in the end, it turned into nothing at all.

As I get tired of working only for magazines, I also do acting.

What, is that porn?

You don't understand anything, do you?

It's just a process for the next step.

It's your turn.

Sure!

Well, I'm off.

Ouch! Am I bleeding?

What are you doing?

That's weird. So funny. What are you doing?

I pulled it off.

It's kind of weird. It doesn't look good.

It's not okay. Not at all.

You can't fix it. Definitely can't.

By the way, how's Tsuyoshi doing lately?

What's that, about Tsuyoshi?

He's not calling me at all.

Seriously? He liked you so much!

I didn't know, not fair!

There's not even a single speck of opportunity

I want to pick up in this town.

There's absolutely nothing I wanna get hold of.

I'm surprised you bought such dubious stuff!

I know, it was good that I bought it, but it doesn't fit in the room!

This tastes so good!

What? This one?

That's true! You pickled them, didn't you?

A lady from Tokyo is different, don't you think?

We always buy them from the grocery store.

It's too troublesome to do it by yourself!

I was born and raised in Tokyo.

I met my husband during university in Tokyo,

and came to Akita after we got married.

My daughter says,

"I can't believe you chose to live in this small village over Tokyo.

I'd understand if you had to succeed an important family business,

or came to the countryside looking for a LOHAS type of artistic lifestyle.

But Dad is just an employee at the local bank.

I can't believe you dumped your urban life

just to get married to a man like him."

Well, it's not only Aya who says so.

People say it's strange that I live in such a small village.

Pardon? Where in Tokyo?

My hometown?

I'm from Okachimachi.

It's pretty close to Asakusa.

I used to go shopping in Ginza, and...

Mum!

Will you please excuse me a bit?

Yes? What's the matter?

So, regarding my next holiday, it's fine, right, for me to go to Tokyo?

What about that girl? That one.

Not quite, huh?

Nothing much, huh?

Excuse me! May I?

Excuse me, may I speak with you?

Sure.

We're currently looking for a model for this magazine.

-Do you have some time now? -Sure, I do.

-Really? -Yes.

If you could step through here.

May I ask your name?

-I'm Naomi. -Naomi, is it?

Pleased to meet you.

Looking great.

It's shocking.

My looks, quite popular in Akita, are quite ordinary in Tokyo.

I'm not special at all.

In a world where it's normal to see pretty girls regularly,

an ordinary pretty girl like me is just like a small stone on the street.

What? Small stones are quite rare in Tokyo?

Don't stand in the middle of the street.

Don't come here from the countryside.

Did you see that? That's gross.

That color, yuck.

In life, being pretty isn't enough, right?

She's pretty, but also has something.

To acquire that something...

I'm thinking about going to the University of Tokyo.

The University of Tokyo?

It's a bit too late for that.

My parents insist that I go to a national university.

"I'd like to go to a national university in Tokyo."

If it's national you're aiming for, I'd suggest Akita University.

Then, Ochanomizu University.

Well...

If not, Chiba University, or Yokohama National University.

Or Yokohama City Uni is also good.

Well then, I'd say Akita University.

"Akita University Entrance Ceremony"

Graduate from a local university, work for a local company,

get married to a nice man, and start a loving family just like their parents.

My friends dream of a life that's an extension of their present life,

within a 16 feet radius of where they are now.

Get in, get in! Come here, quick! Come on! Take a picture together.

-Let's get in here. -Yes, yes.

-Quickly. -Here.

Smile!

Please go ahead!

Say cheese!

This is not the place where I'm supposed to be.

Tokyo.

Restaurants where it's hard to book a table.

A boyfriend working at an ad agency.

A fulfilling job.

Roppongi Hills.

A late night show at Virgin Cinema.

An overnight trip to Hakone.

An engagement ring from Harry Winston.

A happy marriage.

The items that complete your life.

Women living in Tokyo collect these items one by one,

just like a leading actress in a role-play.

My name is Saito.

I was born and raised in the city of Akita in the Tōhoku region.

And my family, right?

My father works in a local bank, and my mother is a full-time housewife.

I have a sister who's five years older than me, and a golden retriever, Goh.

Goh is the name my father wanted to use if they had a son.

We're very close.

We have photo albums stored in three large cardboard boxes.

Thank you for your consideration.

This is the famed Roppongi Hills.

Behind those windows, live the people referred to as "celebrities."

In other words, this place is a can full of celebrities.

Everyone around here looks rich.

Yes?

Really?

Thank you very much. Yes, I'll do my best!

Good-bye, suburban city.

This town may sink into a decline similar to the way that the Titanic sank.

Good-bye.

I am leaving.

Hello, Tokyo.

Finally, my longed-for Tokyo life is about to begin.

If I start my dreamy Tokyo life...

...I wanna live in a posh neighborhood.

But...

...if I think about it,

this Minami Aoyama area isn't a convenient place to live in

and the rent is really high.

You can't just go to a grocery store in your casual outfits in this area.

Doesn't seem like there are places to eat out casually, either.

On top of all that, the train connection seems quite tricky, too.

Of course it is.

People living in this area all have a car.

No one here runs for discounted items in a grocery store,

or buys a bento in a convenience store.

May I check one more time?

Sure.

Your monthly salary is around 230,000 yen, is that correct?

Yes.

Usually, the maximum rent to consider is about one-third of your salary.

So in your case, it's about 70,000 yen.

Let's be realistic.

Then...

How about Kichijoji?

Excuse me, but are we not there yet?

You said it's a 12-minute walk, but we've been walking for over 20 minutes.

It's a 12-minute walk for me.

Isn't there anything else closer to the station?

Yes, there is, if you pay more.

Then I'd consider Shimokitazawa, too.

Shimokitazawa is more or less the same.

Well, in that case, how about Sancha?

Sancha?