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kazoku ga kieta
~ a family vanishes ~
1985 April - Japan's car exports is in good shape, posting a trade surplus with the U.S.
1986 August - The number of college graduates recruited peaks.
1987 February - Share prices......
That period was eventually known as the Bubble economy
No one ever imagined that it could one day burst
High school, university, starting out in the world
I was also swept away by those few years
The times of lavish and grand living
was for me, locked away in the past
and now, I suppose women in their thirties
would probably to some extent
feel the same way too
A news broadcast shows the photo of a woman Oide Ruiko on screen.
1990 December 24th.
"In the early morning of December 24th, a bank robbery occurred in the Australian Gold Coast. We are now in front of where the robbery took place, the Tokyo Metro Bank. It appears that a female bank employee was shot and killed during the robbery. As the robbery occurred in the early morning of Christmas Eve, it has caused an uproar in the vicinity."
The reporter questions the detective.
"Did the criminal, in a mere two minutes, rob a million dollars from the manager's office as well as 8,000 dollars from the counter and is now on the run?"
"No comment."
"and the woman who was shot by the criminal when he opened fire with a machine gun in the manager's office?"
"Ruiko Oide. She was a Japanese employee sent here from the Tokyo Metro Bank headquarters six months ago."
An aide whispers into the ear of the detective and he hurries off, with the reporter hot on his heels.
"Something's happening."
At the El Rancho Motel, a man is carried out on a stretcher.
"The mask used by one of the robbers has been found in a motel room. It appears that the group of robbers had a falling out and one of them has been shot and killed."
At the South National Hospital, the branch manager, a distraught Ushijima Toshiaki speaks to reporters.
"To see an outstanding employee shot in front of my eyes.....it should have been me instead. Her death is unfortunate is all that I can say......"
At the Gold Coast Police Department, the detective divulges details of the robbery.
"We think that the random shooting with the machine gun was merely to threaten as the bullets were blanks. Many of the blank cartridges retrieved from the manager's office were similar to this spent blank cartridge here. Unfortunately, there were five real bullets mixed with the blanks. All we can say is, this unfortunate death was brought about by the careless planning of these criminals."
"Detective, the two fleeing suspects are thought to be Asian judging by their skin color, is that correct?"
"No comment."
I watched this interview on TV that day itself
but together with wanting to bury the memories
of those times in the past
I soon forgot all about it
2002 April.
"Wow! My nose is tingling!" Nakagawa Mina sticks her head of of the car breathing in the country air and looking at the snowcapped mountain range.
"You're right! My nose is tingling!" laughs her mother Nakagawa Yuko, winding down the window.
"I wonder if the movers have already arrived," murmurs Ohta.
"What did you say?" Yuko asks, the wind drowning out her husband's words.
"I said I wonder if the movers have already arrived."
"Well, I guess we misjudged the traffic congestion in Kofu," smiles Yuko.
"I wish we had come by shinkansen," chirps Mina. "Tokyo, Ueno, Omiya, Kumagaya, Takazaki, Annaka, Haruna, Karuizawa, Motosumi."
"The both of you could have taken the train. It would've only taken an hour and a half from Tokyo," says Ohta.
"No way! The first step into new land has to be together with the entire family!" insists Yuko adding excitedly "The American pioneers setting up homes with their families must surely have felt like this too!"
"Swaying along in those wagons?"
"Yes! To build a new home! Right?"
"Mama! Look!" Mina points out at the signboard that says Welcome to Motosumi City.
The area around here was also once
hit by the surge of land abandoned
When the bubble burst
the real estate company was only
in the midst of developing the resort.
All that was left after that
was worm eaten land.
My husband
gave life to this land once more
and turned it into
a suburban residential development
The Nakagawas pull up in front of their new home to find the movers already waiting for them with a "Good Morning, we've been waiting for you."
Ohta gets out of the car "My apologies for being late! Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!"
"Mina! Come and give me a hand!" Yuko calls out to her daughter, opening the back seat of the car.
"all right," replies Mina running over.
"Here, take this," Yuko tells her, handing her a couple of bags adding "Ah we're here! We're here!" excitement overflowing.
Looking at the crane lift up their bed into the second level of their house, Ohta says in wonder "Wow."
"It's kind of embarrassing," adds Yuko, watching.
"So it's a double bed!" chimes a female from behind them.
The Nakagawas turn around and recognizing the owner of the voice, Ohta greets her "Hello! Good morning."
"Good morning. We've been waiting for the arrival of our 'developer' neighbors." Yamaji Kimie replies, smiling.
"This is my wife," introduces Ohta. "This is Yamaji-san's wife and Shindo-san's wife."
"Pleased to meet you," smiles Shindo Moe.
"Pleased to meet you too. I'm Nakagawa Yuko. I don't know anything about this place so I hope you'll help me out."
One of the movers call out "Nakagawa-san, is this all right over here?" Ohta leaves the ladies and goes over to fix the sign board.
"We just moved in a week ago and we're still feeling our way around," explains Kimie.
"Yes! I still keep getting lost!" quips Moe.
"You lose your way too often!" remarks Kimie getting laughs from Moe before adding to Yuko "Anyway, do you know where the supermarket and clinic are located yet?"
"I did check but..."
"I asked the local residents and found out where to go shopping and the location of the private clinic that's even opened during the night. If you'd like, would you care to go for a ride in my car to take a look around?" offers Kimie.
Yuko hesitates "But...." and throws a tentative glance in Ohta's direction.
"Don't worry about things here. Let them show you around."
"You're sure?" At Ohta's nod, Yuko turns back to Kimie and Moe cheerfully "Then I'll take you up on your offer."
The ladies take a ride around town in Kimie's four wheel drive. Kimie, at the wheel, says "If you keep going along that road, you'll find the elementary school up ahead."
"Ah, the elementary school," Yuko takes note.
In the backseat, Moe sighs "I would've liked to put my son Takuya at the same school with both your children."
Kimie teases "Is that sarcasm I hear?"
"Of course not," protests Moe.
Kimie laughs and explains to Yuko "Her son took the Matsumoto Academy's transfer admission exam and did very well to get in."
"Wow! That's great!" exclaims Yuko in envy.
"Thank you very much," nods Moe.
"Shindo-san's husband is really different from my own. He's very academically inclined," adds Kimie.
"No, no, no..." Moe modestly shakes her head.
"Hey, shall we stop by this place?" suggest Kimie.
"Yes!" replies Yuko and they pull up in front of the local grocery store.
As the women do their shopping, Kimie says to Moe "When I first met your husband the other day, I got his business card right? His job title is really something.
I was amazed."
Moe replies "It's a foreign investment firm that's why. It's just a lot of words put together."
"I ended up wondering if we should let him handle our finances. What was it...Total Live Planner?"
"Total Life Planner?" says Yuko, prompting.
"Ah, it's more than just selling the usual life insurance policies. He gives advice on the appropriate insurance policies that cater for all kinds of lifestyles, including advice on pension and tax planning."
Sitting outside having tea, the ladies continue getting to know each other. Yuko asks "Yamaji-san, your husband is an interpreter for the J League team isn't he?"
Moe adds excitedly "Yes! He appeared on television the other day!"
"When I first met him, he was interpreter for the pro-baseball, Dai-League team. At the time I was working for a TV station and I met him during a broadcast." Kimie explains.
"Huh?" says Moe blankly.
"Ah, you didn't ask about the start of our romances?" jokes Kimie in good humor and they all burst out laughing. She adds "Right now, because his contract will not be fulfilled if the team's new English manager is fired, we were finding it hard to get a housing loan. That was when we met Nakagawa-san and he introduced a bank to us. We're really very grateful."
"It's nothing. It was just an acquaintance from the bank he's had dealings with since he first set up his own business," explains Yuko.
"It's hard to imagine that a real estate company would go that far to help out," compliments Moe.
"Isn't it," agrees Kimie.
Bags of groceries in hand, the ladies head back to the car.
"Hey, why don't we three families get together and have a barbecue by the river?" suggests Moe.
"That sounds great. My husband hasn't met Shindo-san yet either," replies Kimie.
"That's right. Nakagawa-san, does your husband know a lot about the outdoors?" asks Moe.
"Ah, I don't really think he's done much. But there's someone at my husband's company who used to be a member of the Self-Defense Forces, he would know," replies Yuko.
"Self-Defense Forces?" echoes Kimie, in surprise.
"Yes. He can start a fire, cook rice in mess tins and such, he might be willing to do so for us," Yuko explains enthusiastically.
"Then, when we've all checked out our husband's schedules, please let everyone else know," instructs Kimie.
"Yes!" chime Moe and Yuko.
On the drive back, Kimie points out "Ah, that's our house. I take cooking classes but I'm quite free in the afternoons so come visit."
Yuko smiles. "All right!"
"And that's the Shindo residence."
"Ah! That's cute!" Yuko exclaims at the doll family Moe's made placed outside the front of the house.
"I take lessons twice a week from a teacher that makes antique dolls. It's fun." Moe tells Yuko.
Dropping Yuko off in front of her home, Kimie says "See you again."
"If there's anything you'd like to know, just ask," offers Moe.
"Thank you very much!"
"Bye!" Kimie and Moe drive off with Yuko waving.
Ohta appears on the veranda upstairs. "So how was it? Looks like you're all getting along pretty well,"
"Mm! Everyone's really nice!" Yuko's all smiles.
Ohta looks over a sleeping Mina and giving her a kiss, walks quietly out of the room with Yuko. "Let's relax and have a drink?"
"Mm. I bought some champagne earlier," Yuko says indulgently.
"Ooh."
In the kitchen, Yuko puts some food on a plate and brings it into the living room. "The new sofa will be delivered the day after tomorrow."
Ohta tosses a couple of cushions onto the wooden floor. "It's all right, we'll sit like this for a while, enjoy each other's company and chat."
"Here, some cheese, Kimie's recommendation." Yuko puts the plate down on the floor in front of them.
"Oh." Ohta wrestles with the bottle of champagne.
"It's going to be tough going from now on isn't it." Yuko sighs.
"Mm. Out of 20 households, 12 are still in the midst of signing their contracts." The bottle loses its battle with Ohta for the cork and bubbly liquid overflows onto the floor, eliciting oohs and ahhs from the couple.
"Wait a minute." Yuko dashes off to the kitchen.
"Sorry."
"Here," Yuko tosses a towel to Ohta.
"Sorry about that." Ohta mops up.
Yuko pours generously. "Dear?"
"Mm?"
"Our dream's finally come true, hasn't it. It's fantastic."
Ohta pauses, savors the thought and smiles.
Yuko holds up her glass "Here, cheers."
"Cheers. This is delicious."
"You had a favorite saying before we got married. With the Japanese being an agricultural people, we have this sense of living with nature inborn in us. The appreciation of nature's blessings is always part of our lives. You said you wanted to create a town of 'nostalgia' where it made people feel like going back to their childhood."
"Nostalgia in the Japanese language doesn't have an equivalent English word for it. I suppose 'nostalgia' is a characteristic unique to the Japanese people."
Ohta lost in his own thoughts draws laughs from Yuko.
"What?" Ohta raises eyebrows in her direction.
"When we were dating, the always ended up at the same place on our drives."
"Oh. Yeah, so they were. I wanted to show you the town I wanted to build someday."
With the Hall and Oates song 'Wait for me' playing, they reminisce. Looking at a town below his feet, Ohta declares "The land isn't at fault. The ones who are bad are the people. Creating a hometown for all kinds of people is what makes it worthwhile for a real estate developer."
From that moment on
I thought I was dreaming
To build it with you
'Wait for me, wait for me...' both of them hum to the song.
Yuko says "I was in the second year of junior high."
"....and I was in my final year at high school."
The music plays on and eventually Yuko suggests "Hey, how about it here? Take me upstairs?"
Ohta smiles "I haven't made any advances yet."
"You will.'
Ohta looks bemused. "What were those lines in the movies.....the ideal woman for a man is a Sunday schoolmarm by day and by night, an expensive high class prostitute."
Yuko smiles.
"So that's to say, the moment that Mina falls asleep, you suddenly turn into a woman," Ohta fingers her cheek.
"Don't talk as if I'll sprout fangs and turn into Dracula come nightfall," Yuko playfully bites his hand.
"Ouch!" Ohta laughingly pulls his hand away.
Yuko snuggles up close "Put your arms around me and take me upstairs with you."
"Since you're trying that hard, you're going to have a hard time of it later," warns Ohta getting to his feet. "Come on, let's go." Ohta hops over her and vanishes.
"How sexually unappealing!" moans Yuko alone on the floor.
Lying in bed, Yuko pulls up the covers over Ohta "You'll catch a cold if you don't put on your pajamas."
"I'll be fine if I do this." Ohta pulls her closer to him.
"What am I, a hot water bottle or something?" laughs Yuko.
Of the thirty eight years of my husband's life
I know merely ten
A bunch of kids waiting together quietly when one of them says "She's here." Looking up, they see Mina walking towards them, flanked by her parents. Her footsteps still.
Ohta assures her "Just say 'hi' to them cheerfully."
"That's right. The start is the most important moment. Go on," adds Yuko.
Born in Sapporo, brought up by his mother
while in the fourth year of college
his mother passed away
and he has lived alone since
Mina walks up tentatively to the kids. Hesitatingly she murmurs "Hi."
"Hi!" cheerful and loud greetings erupt from the kids as they crowd around their new schoolmate. Mina grins in relief and so do her parents.
There were only two of us at our wedding
that is why,
I've never even been introduced
to any of his friends from college
Ohta walks up to the kids "Yamaji Satoru-kun?"
"Yes?"
"Take care of her."
"I will. Let's go?"
The kids trudge off to school. Mina looks back her parents, waving "I'm off."
"Tare care!" wave her concerned parents.
A real estate businessman during the bubble economy,
he probably had affairs with flamboyant women too
Having seen their daughter off, Ohta suggests "Let's go visit our neighbors?"
Yuko nods. "Mm. The sooner the better. It's going to be fine."
But I've never pried into his past,
not when there are things about me
that I don't want my husband to know either
The Nakagawas head for the Nonomura home and Ohta informs Yuko "Nonomura-san works at the local vineyard and is apparently well known for wanting to make Motosumi wine famous."
"Good morning" greet Ohta and Yuko to the Nonomuras who are loading their four wheel drive.
Yuko holds out a package to Yoshimi "With our regards."
"Oh, thank you.'
"Hurry and sell the rest of the 12 houses," says Nonomura, "It's quiet around here.
"It'll be fine by the summer," assures Ohta.
"Thanks."
An elderly couple return from their morning exercise. Ohta adds "Yanagiba-san is a retired professor. He chose Motosumi Resort as a retirement home with his wife."
Yuko greets them "We're the Nakagawas. How do you do. Here's something for you..."
"Thank you," accepts Yanagiba-san politely.
"Good morning!" His wife suddenly calls out to a family of three riding by on bicycles.
"Yuzui-san!" Ohta calls out.
The bicycles stop and Yuko rushes forward. "We're the Nakagawas. Here....." Yuko stops short when she realizes the family is on their way out. "Ah, I'll bring this by another time."
The husband, wife and son nods. Without uttering a single word, they ride off.
Looking on, Ohta explains "The Yuzui's are both teachers. I think their son, the eldest, is also in the same school."
Yuko looks aghast. "Then he's with his parents the entire day?"
Sunday arrives and finds the Nakagawas by the river with the Yamajis. The timber bursts into flames, evoking cries of admiration from Mina and Satoru for Kazui's outdoor skills. Yamaji Kohei loses his balance and his load of gear tumbles all over the rocks.
"Ah, Ko-chan! what are you doing?" exclaims Kimie, going over to help.
"Sorry," apologizes Kohei inadequately.
"Kazui-san used to be with the Self-Defense Forces so he's good at this," Mina tells Satoru.
Kimie turns around and throws a thoughtful glance at Kazui.
Mina asks "Is there anything we can do to help?"
Kazui pauses and thinks, picks up some tins and holds them out. "Well then, you can go wash the rice."
"Yes sir!" exclaims Satoru with the exuberance of youth.
As everyone helps out, setting up tables and chairs, Kimie eyes Kazui with obvious speculation. As Kazui adds charcoal to the barbecue pit, Kohei asks enthusiastically "Sir, is there anything that I can do?"
"Well, could you oil the grill?"
"Yes sir!" salutes Kohei, inducing grins from the rest.
"Ah, they're here!" Ohta spots the Shindo family's arrival.
"Sorry we're late!" Moe calls out, holding firmly on to her son as they negotiate their way over the rocks.
Kimie goes over to Kohei. "Ko-chan, the Yamajis are here. Make sure you say hello to them?"
Kohei turns around. At the sight of the Yamajis, a faint crease makes its appearance on his forehead.
"Good morning!" greets Moe.
"Good morning!" return the Nakagawas.
"Ah, let me take that," offers Ohta, lightening Yoji's load of packages. "Ah, Shindo-san, this is my wife Yuko."
"Pleased to meet you."
"Thanks for doing this today."
"Thank you for coming."
Ohta looks around. "And who else is meeting for the first time....ah, you haven't met Kimie's husband yet have you?"
The smile on Yoji's face vanishes to replaced by an expression of bewilderment. Both men exchange enigmatic looks. Eventually, Yoji nods "Mm. Pleased to meet you. I'm Shindo."
Kohei stares. "I'm Yamaji."
Kazui approaches Ohta. "Sir? I'll take these."
Ohta hands over the packages to him. "Ah, and this is Kazui. He works for my company. I wasn't sure if there was any one who knew much about the outdoors so I got him to come."
Yoji, still assimilating the consequences of meeting Kohei, says vaguely "Ah, pleased to meet you."
Kazui gives a wordless nod and returns to his duties. Kimie glances away thoughtfully.
Yuko greets the little boy by Moe's side "Good morning Takuya-kun."
Moe puts an encouraging hand on her son's head, getting the shy little boy to bow. "Good morning."
Yuko turns and calls out to Mina and Satoru. "Mina! Takuya's here! Satoru! Come on!"
The kids wade wobbly into the river with the tin containers of rice grains.
"Are you all right?"
"The rice is being washed away into the river!"
Suddenly bare feet enters the river. The kids turn around and see Kazui holding a big rock high above his head. Wading towards some rocks, Kazui slams the rock in his hand onto them. Into the murky water churned up by the disturbance, Kazui reaches for a couple of dazed fish. "We've got two."
"Wow!" chorus Mina and Satoru while Takuya stares speechlessly.
Nearby, Yuko puts a bunch of fruits into the river to cool. "Looks like the kids are really impressed with Kazui-san."
"I told him that he should go to the hospital but he insisted on coming." Ohta, with fishing rod in hand, looks over.
"What's wrong?"
"That property up in Omori. He was beaten up with a metal pipe by some punks who were occupying the property. Seems like he's fractured his ribs."
"Is he all right?" Yuko asks anxiously, looking over at Kazui with the kids.
"Well, I guess that's what makes him the tough guy and the pride of River Runs."
Kazui cleans the fish as one of the kids squeamishly comment "It's covered in blood."
The ladies spread a table cloth of the table. "It's perfect!"
By the barbecue grills, both Kohei and Yoji happen to reach out for something at the same time, bumping hands. With a touch of awkwardness, Kohei apologizes "Go ahead."
"Ah, you go ahead," offers Yoji.
"Excuse me," Kohei reaches for a can.
The uneasy tension thick between both men.
Ohta and Yuko return to the barbecue site in good spirits. Kazui approaches "Sir, I'm off."
"Thank you for taking the trouble to come."
"Thank you. Please take care," adds Yuko.
"Well then, good bye," says Kazui.
The kids around him moan in disappointment "Eh? Are you going back already?"
With a nod and a pat on Mina's head, Kazui leaves without another word.
"Thank you!" Yuko echoes again.
"Thank you!" Moe calls out to Kazui as he walks past.
Without stopping, Kazui nods in acknowledgement. Kimie turns and stares at his departing figure.
Ohta calls out to everyone. "Well then, shall we start?"
Standing around the table, everyone holds a glass in hand. Ohta announces "Here's to us three families that have chosen Motosumi Resort as our home! Cheers!"
"Cheers! Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu!"
"Shall we start eating?" suggests Yuko.
"Yes! Kids, come over here!" Moe and Kimie call out to the children.
"This is something I made," Kimie holds out a plate of food.
"It looks delicious!"
"This too!"
Ohta goes over to the men with a can of beer. "Here Shindo-san, have some more. Ah, I saw your company's new product on television. Are the western businesses returning to the economy?"
Yoji replies conversationally. "It looks like it's picking up slowly."
"Ah, Yamaji-san, here," offers Ohta.
"Thank you," replies Kohei, holding out his glass for a refill.
"Yamaji-san too will be on stage this year as our soccer ambassador?" Ohta comments.
"No, it's only a remote chance."
Yoji asks politely "Are you a translator for the J League or something?"
"Yes," nods Kohei modestly adding, "but it's not like I'm that strong in English or anything."
Yoji wordlessly contemplates Kohei's reply.
"Ah, here," Kohei offers the beer to his host.
"Thank you," Ohta holds out his glass.
While conversation between the men grinds to a halt, the ladies are gaily chattering away.
Yuko takes a bite of food "This is delicious! Kimie!"
"Really? It's awfully easy to make...."
Out on the river, the bunch of fruits Yuko left to cool in the water earlier breaks free. Three of the fruits escape its netting, floating away from the bunch, and flows downstream.
Ohta transfers the sizzling roast from the grill to the table amidst a chorus of exclamations of "Wow!"
Kimie says "But then again, once we've bought the house and decided on the place to say, we take it for granted that our whole lives' work is accomplished."
Yuko laughs, looking at Ohta "Yes, something that the breadwinner of the family would especially feel?"
Hands busy slicing the roast, Ohta replies "If Westerners hear that building a family is the lifetime responsibility of a man, they'd laugh."Moe takes a sip of her wine. "How come?"
Yoji reaches out and takes the glass from her "That's enough."
Moe faintly protests. "I'm fine."
To Kohei, Yoji asks "Could I have the Oolong tea please?"
"Here." The Oolong tea gets passed.
Ohta continues "For an American, apparently this is the order in which they take to get rich. First, they buy a car. Next, a house. After that a plane, and then a yacht. And finally right at the very end, a bride."
Moe fills her glass with more wine, silently pushing away the glass of Oolong tea Yoji's poured for her with a pout.
Ohta concludes "I guess the moral of the story is, to accumulate as much wealth if one is getting married."
Kimie agrees. "It is true that the Japanese seem to get married first." Turning to her husband, she asks lightly "Hey Ko-chan."
"Mm?"
"Do you ever think that we got married too soon?"
"No, I don't," Kohei promptly replies with a straight face, his response drawing laughter from around the table.
Yoji says "For the Americans, I guess the home isn't very high on their priorities. They're people that can move to a new place any time."
"We got tired of the city life and looking for a place to heal, decided on a life in the suburbs. People say that all the time but honestly, is that what you really think?" Ohta looks around the table. Roast sliced and distributed, Ohta takes his seat. "According to a nationwide survey, one in four people living in the city harbor hopes of living in the countryside. Those surveyed said that they wanted to to take refuge far away from the crowd, to be soothed by the air they breathed, the smell of the forests, the flow of the rivers." With a half chuckle, Ohta adds "That's utter nonsense. We are here because we have given up on the city."
A pause and Kimie eventually asks "So what in the city have we given up on?"
"Urban city planning and the inhabitants who have lived in the city since their forefather's time," answers Ohta.
Moe moans to Yoji, "This is kind of difficult and I don't really understand."
Yoji patiently explains. "What Nakagawa-san is saying is this. There are inhabitants that live in wooden buildings between tall buildings. As they get in the way of urban city planning, land where no one inhabits will have been developed into residential areas. So, we didn't have a choice but to dream about making our home in this Motosumi Resort."
"Because of them, cities suffer from depopulation." Ohta barely hides his contempt.
Yoji looks at Ohta and with underlying hostility says "Nakagawa-san, if I may, that is just a selfish pretext by the people who mercilessly buy up plots of land for consolidation and resale."
A wave of tension descends on the group. Kohei looks at Yoji without comment. Ohta stares steadily back at Yoji, unsmiling, jaw muscles rigid. Yuko throws an anxious glance at her husband. Finally Ohta releases a half smile. "Shindo-san, what I'm trying to say is, the inhabitants of the cities don't realize that they're wasting valuable resources."
Yoji retorts abruptly. "Is that hatred caused by having to offer them wads of money? Weren't you bankers and real estate developers the ones who created the bubble economy in the first place?"
Atmosphere strained. Silence ominous. Kohei remains taciturn, turning only to stare at Ohta.
"That's why I intend to pay my debts." Ohta answers, capitulating.
"For who's sake?"
"For our children's sake."
Yuko turns her attention on their children, laughing and playing. Ohta continues "If we Japanese keep putting off addressing the problem, it will only get worse from generation to generation. Stop it now so our children won't have to pay for our debts."
Yuko agrees "That's true, the children are innocent."
Yoji concedes. "Nakagawa-san is quite right to say so. However, realistically what do we do to pay for our forefather's debts?"
All eyes turn riveted to Ohta.
"We live."
"Live?" echoes Yoji.
"To live here in this new world, in happiness."
Yoji turns to Kohei and says a tad flippantly "Do you understand what he's saying?"
Kohei merely mutters "In happiness?"
Ohta says forcefully "To be happy here on this land, to prove that giving up the city life was the right thing to do."
The silence stretches as each sort through Ohta's words. Yoji adds with a touch of sarcasm "So looking at us three happy families, folks struggling with city life would all move to the countryside family after family? That's childishly idealistic."
"For sure as Shindo-san said, it might just be the dreams of a real estate agent turned developer, called to pay off the loans caused by the collapse of the bubble economy. As collateral securities are auctioned off one by one, new possessors emerge to fight with us. It was a job crawling over land. But I had a dream, and it's come true. It's taken a long time getting here." Ohta finishes with a heavy sigh.
The others listen without comment. Yuko puts her hand in Ohta's and with a smile returning to his face, Ohta looks around the table. "Shindo-san, Yamaji-san, a very warm welcome to you all. This is our hometown. Let's do our best!" Ohta picks up his glass.
Yuko picks up her glass echoing "Let's do our best!"
From the kids' table, Satoru holds out his glass and yells "Cheers!" The adults follow suit and the fraught moment passes.
Mina asks "Mama, can we go play by the river?"
"Be careful!"
"I will."
"Satoru be careful too!" Kimie warns.
"I will!"
"I guess the kids have had their fill..."
From a bridge downriver, far above looking down at the gathering of the three families, a man is watching - Kuzui Tadamichi, his expression dark and unfathomable.
Mina comes running up. "Sorry I'm late!"
Satoru yells "Mina, hurry up!"
The kids turn and run off for school.
Ohta comes dashing out the front door looking at his watch, muttering "Damn, I'm late!"
"Wait! You forgot your cell phone!" Yuko follows with said gadget in hand.
"Ah, thank you. I'll be late tonight. I've got dinner with the Motosumi City mayor."
"Don't drink too much."
"All right. I'm off."
"Be careful."
The Yanagibas come by on their morning exercise. "Good morning!"
"Good morning!" Yuko smiles and heads back into the house.
Seated at the table, Yuko proofreads pages of manuscript. In her home, Moe makes her dolls. On her veranda, Kimie has a cookout with some other housewives.
The stage of unmarried life,
the stage of having bring up one's children,
and when the kids start school
and they can take care of themselves,
that is said to be the start of the next stage for a housewife
how one fulfill one's free time
after sending off one's husband and children
depends on the housewife's spirit of adventure
so writes a woman's magazine
On her way home with groceries in hand, Yuko passes by the Yamaji home to see Takuya at the door. When no one answers, Yuko calls out. "Takuya-kun? I guess your mother's still out. Would you like to wait at our place?"
"It's all right." Takuya moves a brick from under a flower pot by the door and takes out a spare key to the house.
For a husband and wife
the final stage would be after retirement
when all the kids have grown
and as bodies grow weaker,
search for the final chapter of their lives
By the stove, Yuko nods when her cooking passes her own test. Dishing out the rice, Mina asks "Mama, is Papa going to be late?"
"Why?"
"I wanted him to help me with my homework."
"Can't I help? Don't look at me like this, I used to be very good at the Japanese language."
"It's math."
A pause and Yuko abruptly sits down at the table. "Itadakimasu~~!"
Mina grins. "You're no good at math right?"
"Be quiet! Eat!"
For us husband and wife
our story still lies ahead
Yuko throws out the garbage at the designated spot. Headlights followed by a taxi appearing. The door opens and Ohta, muttering "Thanks" to the cab driver, steps out a little unsteadily.
"Welcome back."
"I'm home." Ohta heaves a tired sigh.
"Thank you!" Yuko calls out to the cab driver.
"Ah, that mayor can really drink, I take my hat off to him!"
"Is he that good a drinker?"
"Mm. Ah, where's Mina?"
"She's already in dreamland."
"Darn."
A sudden crashing noise stops the Nakagawas in their tracks.
"What was that?" Ohta mutters.
Not paying too much attention, they start walking back. The sound of breaking glass, more thuds and suddenly the cry of a woman fill the air. Yuko and Ohta stop, turn and look down the street.
Yuko says "The Shindo home?"
Ohta nods and they make their way down the block. Another scream and Ohta starts running. Just at the corner of the house, Ohta stops and peers into the front of the house. Plates smashing onto the ground, papers flying all over, Moe screaming. A figure stands motionless in the yard, staring up at the veranda. Shindo Yoji. A broken doll and music box come crashing down. From the upstairs veranda, Moe, totally drunk and crying hysterically, flings photographs of the family into the yard.
"Destroy everything! This home! This house! I hate it! Destroy everything!" As if exhausted, Moe slides down onto the ground, crying.
Yoji finally notices the Nakagawas. "My apologies for creating this disturbance."
Ohta walks up, his voice full of concern. "Shindo-san, what's wrong?"
Picking up the mess, Yoji answers without emotion. "I'm ashamed you've seen this. I expected this to happen." Upstairs, Moe starts laughing to herself. Yoji continues "She'll be fine by tomorrow." A pause and Yoji looks at Yuko. "Yuko-san?"
"Yes?" Yuko looks anxious.
"If it's not too much trouble, could you ask what's troubling her?"
"I will," Yuko agrees, nodding. "How's Takuya-kun?"
"He's blocked this all out and crawled under the covers in bed."
From upstairs, Moe mutters dejectedly "Living in a house like this....in any case..."
Without another word, Yoji nods politely to the Nakagawas and starts picking up the shreds from the ground. Yuko moves forward to help but Yoji says "It's all right."
Yuko stops. Turning to look upstairs, the veranda is vacant save for the white curtain fluttering in the wind. Ohta approaches Yuko and exchanging nods, both husband and wife leave.
Heading back home, Yuko says "What's happened to Moe-san I wonder?"
Dispiritedly, Ohta mutters "If moving here to this land has caused a rift between husband and wife....I feel responsible."
"I'll go find out what's wrong tomorrow." Yuko smiles.
A pause and Ohta looks up at the sky. "The stars are so pretty and yet...."
"We'll have to buy a book on astronomy."
The Nakagawas walk on slowly.
Moe's screams suddenly tear into the night sky, echoing in the air.
Morning dawns and Yuko presses the doorbell of the Shindo home. Looking into the parking spot, she sees a white car occupying the space. The door opens and Kimie appears. Yuko looks surprised.
"How come you're here?"
"I got a phone call too, to find out what was wrong."
"How's Moe-san?"
Kimie signs that Moe's been drinking. "Since morning...."
Yuko nods and enters. Inside the house, Moe sits in the dark, pouring a glass of wine. Yuko stops her.
"I made some vegetable juice. Would you like to try some? You'll feel better."
Moe nods fuzzily. Kimie draws the curtains open, throwing the house into bright daylight.
"The weather's good today."
"Yes, it is." Yuko pours everyone some juice. "Here."
Moe dazedly apologizes. "I'm sorry. I heard you came by last night too. I didn't know anything."
Kimie takes a mouthful of vegetable juice. "This is delicious."
"It's easy to drink, isn't it." Yuko smiles.
"Can I get you to tell me how to make it next time?"
Yuko nods in agreement. "Definitely."
Slouched on the sofa tiredly, Moe says "The one that he truly loves.....is someone else."
Yuko and Kimie exchange looks.
"I've always known about it.....that there was someone he was seeing before we got married. But when Nakagawa-san first showed us this resort home, I thought....this land, this house....this is where we could start all over. But...he kept inside himself, never let me know what he was thinking. You understand don't you? His coldness....."
Yuko recalls images of Yoji at the barbecue and from the night before.
"Perhaps....one shouldn't desire to know everything...." Yuko says abruptly, vague.
Moe stares at her. ".....what do you mean?"
"Perhaps....all one can do is to accept the man for what he is. Even I don't know everything there is to know about my husband. Maybe what I don't know is more than what I do know. The relationship between a husband and wife...isn't about sharing secrets."
"That's surprising.....for you to say something like that." Moe says.
Yuko smiles.
"Have you both had sex with your husbands lately?" Kimie suddenly asks.
A pause and both Moe and Yuko nod wordlessly. Kimie continues.
"Even with bodies close together, you feel a wall between you. No matter how many times you sleep together, you don't understand what's in his heart. Am I wrong? If I, the one closes to him cannot heal his pain, then at the very least I want to hold on to him tightly. Even if I can't see everything, I want to hold on to him tight. If he holds on to me equally tightly, I'll believe in him a little more. That's what I think a husband and wife is."
Moe listens without a word.
Kimie asks gently. "What happened last night?"
"I saw..." Moe starts hesitatingly.
Yuko and Kimie lean forward curiously. "What did you see?"
"I finally saw the woman that my husband has been in love with all this while."
"Where did you see her?" Kimie presses.
"When we first moved here, there was a box that he absolutely refused to let me touch. Inside that box, his lover lay sleeping."
Yuko and Kimie look visibly anxious. Yuko eventually ventures.
"A photograph?'
Moe nods. "I've seen her before. I thought that I'd never be able to measure up to her. There's no way I can fight with her! Because she's dead!"
Yuko and Kimie look stunned.
"If she's alive, there's still a chance of fighting. But to be bound by the past to this day, I thought there's no way I can ever measure up to a dead person."
"How did she die?" Kimie asks.
"I'm sorry. Please don't ask any more." Moe's voice shakes. A moment passes and composure returning, adds "But thank you for listening, I'm glad. I'll try to do as Kimie-san says, to hold on tightly to him."
Leaving the Shindo home, walking down the steps, Yuko murmurs "If she's alive there's still a chance of fighting....can't measure up to a dead person...."
"People are strange creatures. We tend to enhance the memory of a person of the past more than the one that's in front of our eyes. Do you ever do that?"
A shadow crosses Yuko's face. A tad awkwardly, she smiles "Absolutely not. Just memories I don't want to recall."
Kimie looks up into the sky and sighs. "The sky's bluer than it was yesterday."
Yuki looks up. "You're right."
Both women part company, walking in opposite directions.
In her pajamas, Mina sits in front of the TV playing a game. Yuko enters "Mina, how long do you intend to go on playing? Hurry and get to bed."
"Just a bit more."
"Mina!" Yuko's tone carries a warning.
"All right." Mina says resignedly. "Good night."
"Make sure you brush your teeth."
"Mm. Papa's late again tonight." Mina mutters as she goes upstairs.
At her desk, Yuko murmurs "....even now, bound to the past by a dead women...."
that woman's existence
possibly led to the incident four days later
Yuko walks home four days later. The Nonomura's van pass by and the sound of the horn gets her attention.
"Good morning."
"When are folks moving in? The whole area is still deserted."
"I think it should be soon." Yuko assures the Nonomuras.
"Oh."
"Take care."
The Nonomuras drive off and Yuko continues walking, nodding a greeting to the Yanagibas.
it was a bright,
ordinary morning....
As Yuko passes the Shindo house, she sees an elderly woman frantically at the door, pressing the chime.
"Moe-san, are you home? Taku-chan? Moe-san? Taku-chan?"
"Is anything the matter?" Yuko walks up towards the lady. "I'm Nakagawa and I live nearby."
"I am Shindo Yoji's mother." The lady divulges her identity anxiously.
"Moe-san could be at the antique class....." Yuko starts.
However the lady interrupts. "I got a call from my grandson's school last evening. My grandson had been absent without notice for three days and no one picks up the phone when they called the house. The school called Yoji's workplace too but Yoji too has been absent without leave."
Worry overflowing, she rushes up and pressing the doorbell, calls out "Moe-san? Taku-chan? Yoji!"
Yuko looks around. The driveway is empty. Laundry is left hanging out to dry.
Yoji's mother comes up to Yuko. "What on earth is going on?!"
"I saw Moe-san four days ago."
"Was anything the matter?"
"Nothing, nothing in particular." Yuko runs up and tries the front door to find it locked. The flowerpot by the front porch catches her eye and she recalls the day Takuya returns home to find no one home.
"Takuya-kun? I guess your mother's still out. Would you like to wait at our place?"
"It's all right." Takuya moves a brick from under a flower pot by the door and takes out a spare key to the house.
From the hiding spot under the flower pot, Yuko picks up the key to the front door. Opening it, Yoji's mother dashes in. "Taku-chan? Yoji-san?" Franctically, she runs to the second level to search.
Yuko looks around slowly. Brushing against the table, a doll with the head broken off falls to the ground, startling her. Yuko stares at Takuya's toy left lying around, the remnants of dinner on the dining table, the rice cooker still keeping the rice warm, groceries in the sink, pots and pans unwashed on the stove, lights left on in the house. Yoji's mother comes crashing back into the living room.
"The clothes!"
"The clothes are gone?" Yuko asks.
"No! They've been left behind! I checked the chest of drawers but it seems like nothing's missing. The bag that Yoji uses when he goes on trips is still here!"
"Do you have any idea where they might have gone?"
"No! Yoji's cell phone seems to be turned off too!" The worry gets too much for her and she falls apart.
Flashes of scenery of Motosumi Resort Home appear in Yuko's mind.
Spirited away.....
"I was thinking of calling the police but....." Yoji's mother's words bring Yuko out of her trance.
"Yes, I think it's better if we call them." Yuko agrees anxiously.
A glass smashes to the ground. A man, all dressed in black with black sunglasses sits on the floor. Resignedly, Atsuta says "Another one broken. You sure are a clumsy for a woman with two hands."
"My apologies for being clumsy." A Chinese girl, Mei-Lin, says good naturedly, picking up the glass shards.
"It's rare for me to be home during the day and I was looking forward to some real Chinese food." Atsuta fixes the prosthesis for his leg.
"If you're here for dinner I'll do my best."
"As long as one is Chinese one makes good Chinese food? I wonder. Shall I do that for you? You'll only get hurt."
A knock on the door sounds and Mei-Lin calls out "Coming!"
"I'll get it." Atsuta tightens a screw and tugging on his artificial leg, hobbles to the door.
The door slides open and both men exchange tired looks.
Atsuta comments with a touch of starch. "Yours was the only face that I didn't want to see today."
Honma retorts "I didn't want to see yours either. The chief said to bring you down to the crime scene."
"I'm not at his back and call. He has you guys for that. So? What's happened?"
"It appears that a family has vanished from the Motosumi Resort Home."
"Vanished?"
"That would be a case for the local police to investigate, wouldn't it?" Atsuka comments.
"The mother of the the man who's disappeared said that there's a possibility of them being kidnapped."
"So he wants me to go find out."
"Yes."
From inside, a cry catches the attention of both men. Atsuta turns around "See, what did I tell you."
Mei-Lin holds out her hand, blood flowing from a cut on her thumb. Suddenly Atsuta take it and puts it in his mouth.
"When I was a kid, my mother would do that for me." Atsuta turns uncharacteristically gentle and gets a hug from Mei-Lin.
Around the corner from the Shindo home, the Nakagawas stand, stonily staring up at the house.
~ CJ's comments ~
A lot of obvious underlying hostility exsist between the men. Yoji and Kohei appear to have crossed pasts, as with Kazui and Kimie. The dead woman that Yoji seems unable to forget is Oide Ruiko? And what is Yuko's past that she doesn't want her husband Ohta to know? Why is Ohta so bitter about what's happened during the bubble economy? What grudge does Yoji have against Ohta?
Only one thing is certain. It is a Nozawa Hisashi mystery. There is therefore a reason for every character's presence. No one's appearance, no matter how insignificant, is a coincidence.
The Nonomuras harping about when people will be moving into Motosumi Resort. 12 households are still in the midst of working out their contracts, so any scandal would spell trouble for the Nakagawas. Ohta mutters "Darn" when he comes back and learns that he's too late, Mina's fast asleep. He obviously cares very much for his daughter. When Kimie asks Yuko if she's ever made memories seem better than what's in the present, Yuko's face clouds over before she denies ever having done so. She admits to having secrets from Ohta, are they really as loving a couple as they appear? Yoji wordlessly offers Moe the Oolong tea during the barbecue only to get a refusing pout from her. He asks both Kimie and Yuko to look in on Moe. Is he has cold and heartless as the image he projects?
Every wordless glance, grim expression and stony stare is telling a story. Are you listening and watching close enough?
