The Bride from Hades (牡丹燈籠)

Peony Lanterns

August 13th is the first day of the Festival of Obon,

when people honour their ancestors. And when the spirits of the dead return.

Onkaimikai.

Welcome, sir.

Have the spirits already returned?

Yes, probably.

This is my second son's first Obon.

Time flies so quickly.

I'm late, forgive me.

Don't worry, go in and take your place.

Today we invite to our family's house...

the spirit of my second son. We shall pray and perform the ceremony.

Thank you for inviting me.

No, thank you for coming.

Once again, thank you.

Shinzaburo, tell us something.

Don't you understand how your father feels?

What do you mean?

As you know, Kiku, the wife of Dzendziro, his second son, has been invited here.

But Dzendziro died recently in an accident,

and now his young wife lives alone.

İt's a very bad situation.

Her relatives haven't called her back yet.

And after what happened, she should become a nun.

Perhaps they feel sorry for her.

She can't carry on being a young widow. People won't forgive it.

So we think that his third son, Shihzaburo, should marry her.

But we ask for advice here, in the relatives' house.

Shinzaburo, are you dissatisfied?

You shouldn’t show your discontent.

Shinzaburo, it will be good for your future career.

It will be good. It is reasonable.

Shinzaburo, this relative has this to say:

If I were not the successor, I'd be glad to be in your position.

And what do you think? Kiku?

Yes?

We've already talked about it this morning,

Tell your relatives what you think.

If it suits you, I agree.

Shinzaburo, what do you say?

Kiku, you may go.

Have you already got a wife?

- No. -Well, then...

You must make successful career, otherwise you'll be In a difficult position.

You must become the head of another house.

The fact that you teach poor children to read and write...

brings terrible dishonor to our house.

Father, I don't agree!

Don't you understand yet, Shinzaburo?

Thank you for waiting, Sire. If you please, everything is ready.

I can't permit you to do what you want. Is that clear?

August 16th - The Day When the Spirits Return

I'm sorry I'm late.

Mr. Banzo, we're waiting for you.

Well, let's go.

Come back #om paradise

The six realms of existence

Are full of suffering

The present reflects the past

When you are between paradise and Hell, there's nothing to hope for

There's no escape

- What happened? - My lantern's caught!

Float!

Thank you, Mr. Teacher.

Many thanks for our lanterns.

For what?

You helped start our lanterns along the river. We're very glad, aren't we?

Good-bye.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Thank you all for your work.

Many thanks. It was great fun.

Good night!

- Mr. Shinzaburom - What do you want?

Well...

Money for expenses again?

That's that...

Many thanks, excuse me, good night.

Banzo! Your wife will be back home soon. Be careful what you get up to.

What are you saying? I can't behave myself?

Excuse me, please...

Excuse me, please...

- Oh, it’s you again. - We've come to thank you.

- it's not necessary to thank me again. - No...

But you are a very kind person. it's rare to meet such people now.

Madam wishes very much to talk to you. 'l'hat's why she asked me...

Please forgive us for troubling you.

That's quite all right, but I've nothing to give you.

It doesn't matter. Can we enter?

Please, come in.

Madam, he has given permission!

Madam's name is Otsuyu.

And I am Oyone.

We are from the red light district.

You're probably not going to like what I tell you about madam

We're from Yoshiwara

Madam Otsuyu is known professionally as Tamamushi, and I'm a waitress.

They sell special flowers here for the festival.

For the lantern fair. Did you know that?

No, I only know about this district from books.

During Obon, the girls of the district...

can ask permission to "come out".

Why do you call her "madam"'?

Madam Tamamushi wasn't always in this distressing situation.

Her father was ordered to serve the feudal prince in the west of Edo,

but then the Tickle prince changed his mind.

Her father left his house, wandered for a long time, and became ill.

My mother left the house...

and our relatives disowned us. There was nobody who could help.

Then Otsuyu put trust in a moneylender, who turned out to be a nasty person.

He produced the IOU, took madam away from her sick father,

brought her to Yoshiwara and sold her.

And what happened to her father?

From that day on he ate nothing, cried all the time...

And then he died.

What a terrible story.

Fortunately, madam came from a Samurai family, so she's had a good education.

Madam was trained in tea ceremonies, ikebana,

singing and playing the koto and the samisen.

And she's still a virgin.

Thanks to her talents, she became the main Courtesan.

The owner felt sorry for her and allowed her to have ho clients for three months.

But one elderly man has fallen in love with her.

Recently, he gave her a gift.

When this Obon festival is over, she has to show her gratitude to him.

Poor madam! it's terrible.

It seems that madam likes you, and while she can leave the district...

she would like to be with you.

Oyone, what are you saying?

I knew that you'd get angry. Please...

To talk about such things...

it's impolite Forgive us!

What's your name?

Hagiwara Shinzaburo

The second son in a Hatamoto family.

There were many children around you, weren't there?

They're children from poor houses.

I teach them to read and to write.

People who think only of glory and honour...

don't consider the poor to be human beings.

They leave them to the mercy of fate.

I don't feel any sympathy for my Samurai relatives.

They don't allow poor children to be educated.

And I want to bring up these innocent children to be glorious people.

I have a dream to open a school for them in the future.

My family thinks it's nonsense. They won't even meet me halfway.

İt's a wonderful ambition.

I can see from your vision...

that you're very strong-willed.

Why are you hesitating? Madam, madam!

Mr. Shinzaburo!

Mr. Shinzaburo!

Could you please wait a little while for the money?

Your master should pay your debt!

Certainly, he will pay!

Don't come to the gambling house anymore!

Get out!

Excuse us. We're late.

Oyone, from Tigyo's place?

And the other girl is Tamamushi, I suppose.

Bu y! Very cheap!

Very good gifts #om Etigo!

"If a person isn't lazy..."

- Don't make a noise; the children are studying. - Mr. Hagiwara will get angry.

- I'm sorry. - Hey, merchant!

- Hey, merchant. Give me 10 sweets. - You want to buy? Many thanks.

Thank you very much.

Well, children, try once again.

- "Confucius;s says..." - "Confucius says,

"that all people want to be rich and noble.

"If people are hardworking, their lives become quiet and serene.

"He says that people do not want to be poor and of low origin.

"If a person isn't lazy...

"he can avoid a life of poverty."

Perfect. Well done. Here are some sweets for you.

Mr. Shinzaburo, your mother's here.

Mr. Teacher, thank you very much.

How can you live in such a house?

Do you have some business with me?

Shinzaburo, come back home as soon as possible

No.

Your reply shows me that you don't have any feelings,

but Kiku will be a good wife for you.

All the people in the village worry about Kiku.

And that's why I should marry her?

- Is that what you're saying? - Shinzaburo, listen to me.

If you become a member of Kiku's family, it will be of great benefit to our house.

I can't marry simply because it's good for our family.

- It's only a formality. - We don't love each other!

If you refuse, we shall disown you. Your father said so.

Shinzaburo, please do as he orders.

Hi!

Thank you very much.

- So you're still alive? - What are you talking about?

I haven’t seen you for a long time.

Now my master works at the school I have to behave modestly; I can't live it up.

You've got no-one to go with you to a tavern.

I know one good place.

- Let's drink? - I suppose I'm paying?