Touch (2024) Movie Script
1
Takahashi. Taka...
...hashi.
Kristofer. Hi.
Hmm.
Kristofer.
The Remaking
of Socialist Politics.
-"The whole of..."
-Shh.
Engstrom out, out, out, out!
Hear us, LSE!
-No gates! No police!
-Leave!
-Just leave!
-Engstrom out, Engstrom out!
Out, out, out!
This is not going
to help your cause!
No gates! No police!
Their suspensions will not
be lifted if this continues.
-Is that a threat?
-Leave! Just leave!
Engstrom out! Engstrom out!
Out, out, out!
Engstrom out! Engstrom out!
Out, out, out!
No gates! No police!
Excuse me. Hi.
English, please.
The old building--
some of us got in.
They locked me and Marks out,
but, uh,
there's enough people inside.
What? What?
There were plenty
of other places to meet,
but they chose
the Old Theater...
-Don't listen to him. -...just
because they were told not to.
So you're with the
administration on this one?
-"With the administration."
-Come on.
He's just pulling your leg.
-Afternoon, sir.
-Good afternoon, sir.
My name is Kristofer Hannesson.
Yes.
I should warn you that
there is talk of a lockdown
as early as tomorrow,
which would require us
to close down the hotel.
That's too bad.
I plan to stay.
Well, on the plus side,
you're staying for
half the price, aren't you?
Of course. Thank you.
Hello.
Shh.
Excuse me, sir.
Talking on the phone is not
allowed in the dining room.
Kristofer.
I'm wondering
if we're dealing with
the remaking
of socialist politics
or the remaking
of Kristofer Hannesson.
Jnas, do you think
supply and demand curves
are gonna help us
make a difference?
Mm, yes.
-Is he really gonna quit?
-I don't know, man.
He's been talking about it
for a while.
"Staff wanted."
Hey, Kristofer wants
to join the proletariat.
Go on. Get a job with the Japs.
Okay.
Hey, Kristofer.
Hello?
-What an idiot.
-Hi.
We open at 6:00.
Oh, no. Uh, I was just actually
here for the job vacancy.
Huh?
The j-- There's a sign
outside your door.
You want to wash dishes?
Yeah.
I mean, if that's what it is.
You come tomorrow morning
at 10:00 for interview.
Thank you.
Sorry.
Oh.
Um...
-Uh, sorry. Yeah.
-Excuse me.
So, how did it go?
Did you get the job?
Come on. You're not serious
about this, are you?
Yes, I am.
That's going to make
a difference.
Hi.
-I'm sorry. I thought, um...
-Uh, we don't open
till lunchtime.
No, I'm-I'm actually here
for the job interview.
-Interview?
-Yeah.
Oh. Uh, o-okay.
-Uh, you wait there, please.
-Okay. Thank you.
-Please.
-Thank you.
So, where do you work?
What restaurant?
Uh, I've never worked
in a restaurant before.
So, what do you do?
I am, uh, currently a student,
uh, at London School
of Economics.
This is not part-time job.
I'm not looking
for a part-time job.
You want to quit studying? Why?
It's just, um, I lost interest.
Great school. Very respected.
You know how to cook?
Even dishwasher
need to know something.
Uh, yeah. Well, I know
how to boil cod and potatoes.
I used to work on, uh,
fishing boats in the summer.
-Fishing boats?
-Yeah.
You worked on fishing boats?
Yeah, back home, uh, in Iceland.
Huh. Iceland?
-Yeah.
-Iceland.
-Volcanoes like Japan?
-Yeah. Exactly.
Oh.
-Come with me.
-Yeah.
This used to be a bakery.
Really?
Big space, cheap rent.
-Hello. Hi.
-Hi.
Hi.
What do you fish in Iceland?
-Um, mostly flatfish.
-Huh?
-Like, uh, halibut.
-Ah.
And sometimes
we also got monkfish.
-Monkfish?
-Yeah, monkfish.
-Oh.
-But, uh, no one wants it.
-Oh, pity.
-Huh?
Good fish, monkfish.
-But so ugly.
-Oh, but tasty.
Iceland. Iceland.
-Uh, here. That's it.
-Oh.
Oh.
I used to live here
in, uh, Snaefellsnes.
-Huh?
-Snaefellsnes.
Snaefellsnes.
-Oh, you from there.
-Yeah.
How long were you out
for fishing?
-Uh, overnight.
-Uh-huh.
But sometimes
a little bit longer
if we went, uh,
up here to Ltrabjarg.
-Ooh. What did you say?
-Ltrabjarg.
-Ltrabjarg. Ltrabjarg.
-Ltrabjarg.
-Sit down.
-Thank you.
Uh...
Any other type of fish
in Lotor... Lotor...
-L-- In Ltrabjarg?
-Ltrabjarg.
Uh, yeah, we...
Sometimes, we got cod
and, uh, haddock, as well.
Ah, good for fish and chips.
Exactly.
-I grew up by the sea, too.
-Really?
-Mm.
-Hmm.
May I see your hands?
Yeah.
The scars.
From fishing?
Yeah.
When can you start?
Uh, tonkatsu is breaded pork.
Yes.
Uh, soba?
-Buckwheat noodles.
-Right.
Yakitori?
Uh... chicken.
-Cured chicken.
-Mm.
Right, Goto-san?
Let me help you.
Saba no shioyaki?
-Saba no...
-Saba is a mackerel.
-Saba no shioyaki.
-Yeah. Saba no shioyaki.
Uh, you're-you're too tall
for me.
I'm so sorry.
For you.
It's much better than
London School of Economics.
Good morning.
So far, so good. Smart boy
don't break anything yet.
When you're finished
cleaning up,
you have a break until 6:00.
I take nap.
You leave if you want.
Fresh air.
But first, finish.
Thank you, Takahashi.
Uh, san.
Hello, mate.
You all right there?
Yeah.
I was wondering if...
Yeah, yeah.
Come and have a look. Come.
Yeah.
An accident waiting to happen,
at the back there.
What you quite often have
is teams want to play
like Man City,
but, uh... but asking National
South players to do that,
the young goalkeeper there
struggling...
What do you reckon?
Do you know
what this stands for?
I'm not that good at Chinese.
It's actually kanji.
Hi.
So you're the gaijin
my father
has been talking about.
Uh... nice to see you again.
Hi.
-Kristofer.
-Kristofer-san. -Kristofer.
-Nice to meet you.
-Ah. Nice to meet you.
Uh, Goto-san usually has
weekends off.
Arai-san, very experienced.
And an opera singer.
Really?
But not working in London.
And you met my daughter, Miko.
Uh, yes.
Behind you.
-Oh.
-She work weekends.
She also student at UCL.
Psychology.
-Not so practical.
-Sorry.
Let's get dressed.
Hey.
Everybody's talking
about Bagism
Shagism, Dragism, Madism
Ragism, Tagism
This-ism, that-ism,
ism, ism, ism
All we are saying
Is give peace a chance
All we are saying
-Thank you.
-Is give peace
A chance
Yeah
Come on...
Why did you quit?
Excuse me?
Studying at LSE.
Uh...
Just lost interest.
--Most people
complete their studies anyway.
Not me.
Were you ever interested?
Mm.
Yeah.
You remind me of him.
I'm sorry, I remind you of who?
Lennon.
M-Must be the glasses.
Or the beard.
No.
It's something else.
Now they're married.
Did you see
the pictures of them in bed?
Uh, in the hotel?
What do you think?
I mean, I respect
what they're trying to say.
There was something off
about a...
revolution started
in a five-star hotel.
Give peace a chance
Everybody's talking
'bout John and Yoko
Timmy Leary, Rosemary...
You sing?
No.
I-I was in a choir back home,
but...
-A choir?
-Yeah.
You sing good like him?
No.
Not even close.
Come on.
Like that,
why you play hard?
-Can I take this?
-Yeah, go on.
Still screaming out
like chain guns...
Sonja.
No, it's so happy.
Well, it's a classic.
It's the only thing
I care about.
-Oh, typical women.
-Aw!
-What-What's got into you?
-It's gonna be gorgeous.
What's going on?
Sh-She wants me to close up
so she can go out again.
Uh, Takahashi-san,
I can close up.
Uh... is it okay?
-Yeah. Of course.
-Okay, okay.
Maybe I made a mistake.
A mistake? Why?
When I came to this country.
Uh, how long
have you lived here?
Since '57.
Do you have, uh, family here?
Is that why you came?
-No, no family.
-No?
So why England?
Cheapest flight from Tokyo.
Was that where you lived?
Yes.
We came from Tokyo.
It's the time
Of the season...
Season for loving
You look amazing.
Mwah!
What's your name?
-What's your name?
-Who's your daddy?
Hi.
Uh...
I mean, I said,
"Are you learning Japanese,
Kristofer?"
Uh, yeah.
Look what I found.
Oh, um, this is Naruki,
my boyfriend.
Hi, Naruki.
Nice to meet you.
My name's Kristofer.
Are you, uh, working tonight?
Yes, I think so.
Okay, I'll, uh, see you then.
Okay.
Ah.
Uh, I'll take this one.
"Nakamura"? M-U-R-A?
-Yeah. "H-Hitomi," by the way.
-Mm.
Oh. Sorry.
Could you keep your distance?
-Two meters. Thank you.
-Yeah.
-Thank you.
-Uh-huh.
Where did you say she lived?
The last time I knew
was in Croydon, South London.
Uh, Addiscombe Grove.
But that's some time ago.
50 years.
50 years?
To be more exact, 51.
Mr. Hannesson...
If I may be so bold,
you are the last guest left.
We have to close the hotel
as soon as possible.
You may want to go back
while there are still flights
to Iceland.
I'm not going back.
Well, there is
no Hitomi Nakamura
living in Croydon
that I can see.
-There-there...
-Let me be more exact.
Last time I checked it
20 years ago, she had moved.
So you-you looked for her
20 years ago,
-but you-you couldn't find her
then? -Yeah.
Let me explain.
Okay.
Please do.
-Mmm.
-Mmm.
-You try.
-Mmm.
-Mmm. Really good.
-Need more time in jar.
Mm.
This is basic.
Many type of pickles.
Only red miso.
-Misozuke. Misozuke.
-Misozuke. -On to, uh...
-shoyuzuke.
-Pickle with soy sauce.
What did you say it was called?
-Shoyuzuke.
-Mm. -Shoyuzuke.
-Shoyuzuke.
-Shoyuzuke.
Kasuzuke. Kasuzuke.
Pickle with, uh, uh, sake yeast.
Mm.
"Garfrendo"?
Do you have a girlfriend?
No.
Did you ever have a girlfriend?
Yes.
Did you talk a lot
with her father?
I... didn't know her father.
So you never talked about your
relationship with his daughter?
No.
It, uh, wasn't serious.
We didn't have any expectations.
So that's what makes
a relationship serious?
I'm sorry, Kristofer-san.
Could you give us privacy?
"A calm sea but waves
"high as a mountain,
breaking inside my head."
Hello?
You found her?
That's...
that's great to hear.
I'll be right with you.
Thank you so much.
Mm.
Thank you so much. Thank you.
Goodbye. Goodbye.
The electoral register.
That's where we found her.
Oh, my God.
I have a friend
at the British Library.
Thank you so much.
Now, I have to ask you
to check out
no later than this afternoon,
as we are closing down
the hotel.
No problem.
Of course.
Kristofer-san...
...you like cherry blossom?
Um, yeah.
Very fragrant. You smell.
They are plastic!
Oh, very funny, Hitomi.
Thank you, sir.
There she is.
Hitomi, you have a guest.
A guest?
Who is it?
Hitomi, can't you remember me?
I am Kristofer.
Kristofer-san?
Please.
Please keep your distance.
No touching.
-You old now.
-You haven't changed at all.
You now older than me.
Are you still a communist?
I was always more
of an anarchist.
Now I'm just old.
You still very funny,
Kristofer-san.
Come. This way.
Goto-san, Takahashi-san
in the kitchen.
Such a strange kitchen.
You remember?
Yeah, I remember.
An old bakery.
Mm-hmm.
Oh, and here just Takahashi-san.
Where is this taken?
Mm.
Oh, in Japan,
after they moved back.
So they moved back home?
Yes. Takahashi-san contact me
many years later.
But what about Miko?
Miko, she only contact me
when, uh,
Takahashi-san die in 2004.
Where in Japan was she living?
I don't know.
But I think
I might have a letter.
Let me have a look.
It should be in here.
Yeah.
Here.
Huh.
-And it has a return address.
-Yeah, yeah.
So they moved back
where they came from.
Yes.
That was the only time
I hear from Miko.
Yeah.
It's like we never left.
He's still stuck there.
In Tokyo?
No.
Hiroshima.
Hey, Barry. Did you find
anything in Japanese?
-Yeah.
-Great.
This is the only thing I found,
but it should give you
an insight into the aftermath
from their perspective.
-Okay. Perfect. Thank you.
-It's good to see you again.
You, too, Barry.
Have a good day.
"Uh, I don't understand.
Don't you speak English?"
Hello.
Oh, Kristofer-san.
-I'm a so beautiful monkfish.
-Fish.
Don't you think?
Oh!
-Oh. Kristofer-san.
-Uh-huh?
You know haiku?
Yeah, I've heard of it.
-Uh, Japanese poem.
-Mm-hmm.
-Only three lines.
-Mm-hmm.
Very, very simple.
Very, very difficult.
-I wrote a haiku about a fish.
-Uh-huh.
This one in Japanese.
You read.
Oh...
No, I can't. I...
I just started learning,
Takahashi-san.
Try. I'll help.
I'll help.
Try.
Uh...
-This is...
-Mm.
"Iwana." Iwana is a fish.
Thank you.
This is a haiku.
Hai. Uh, sometimes,
uh, there is
a personal confession in haiku.
-Interesting. Mm?
-Really?
So...
Takahashi-san wants us
to write haiku
and put it in the bowl.
No. No, no.
No, no, no. No, no, no, no.
Betty came by on her way
Calm sea.
Said she had a word to say
'Bout things today
And fallen leaves...
The waves are calm.
-Kristofer.
-Yeah?
There's two guests
asking for you.
-For me?
-Mm-hmm.
Kamikaze.
Hai.
Uh, no.
I've never heard it before.
Oh, you sing in a choir?
And you don't tell me?
Why don't you sing a song
for Dr. Kobayashi?
No.
No, no, no, no.
I'm not that good.
It's not a good idea.
Just one song.
One Icelandic song.
Okay.
Um...
Okay.
Hai.
It was very good.
A beautiful voice.
I didn't know you could sing.
It was very good.
Jesus Christ.
Morning.
You are up early, Kristofer.
-Good morning.
-You want some breakfast?
-Uh...
-Bacon? Sausage?
Uh, no, Mrs. Ellis. Thank you.
I'm late for work.
Too early to be late.
Bit of fried bread?
Grease your lungs.
Bye-bye.
Funny boy.
Arai-san is not so good today.
Too much drinking last night.
Yeah, he was having
a lot of fun.
You make torikatsu.
-Me?
-Yes, you.
-Um, Takahashi-san.
-Hmm?
Uh, I've been wondering.
Would it be okay if I came here
in the morning
to practice cooking?
I'd-I'd clean up after myself
and pay for whatever I used.
No.
-You don't pay.
-Mm.
What do you want to cook?
I'd just like to see
if I can make the, you know,
the traditional breakfast
myself.
I-If that's okay.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Oh. Kristofer-san.
"A calm sea,
"but waves, high as a mountain,
breaking inside my head."
Waves only in the head.
Very emotional.
You're a good poet.
Dad says you want to be a cook.
-He told you that?
-Mm-hmm.
Uh, no, no.
Well, I-I just want to see
if I can make the...
you know, the traditional
breakfast properly.
And who's going to be
the judge of that?
Me, I guess.
Do you want me to come?
Yes.
But you can't be
too tough on me, though.
Are you afraid of that?
Yes.
Miko, I'm terrified of you.
Mm-hmm.
Hello, mate.
-What can I get you?
-Hey. Good morning.
-Um...
-Clams.
We've got some quahogs
from Dorset. Slightly sweet.
Razors from Shetland.
The Scots call them "spoots."
Cherrystones from Essex.
Here you are. Try this.
Thank you so much.
Sweet and salty.
-Mm?
-Mm-hmm.
So, what do you do
when you're not working here?
I read, listen to music,
try to study Japanese.
Well, sounds like
you're doing really well.
Thank you.
Mm.
-Uh, Iceland.
-Mm-hmm.
Oh, no, I mean, um, Hiroshima.
Do you miss Hiroshima?
Hiroshima...
There's nothing left.
We left a long time ago,
and we're not going back.
-I'm sorry.
-It's okay.
I put, um, clams in the soup.
Cherrystones from, uh, Essex.
I'm sorry.
I can't sit like this.
My knees aren't Japanese.
What was your girlfriend's name?
Uh, Hildur.
-Does she live in Iceland?
-Mm-hmm.
Did you sleep with her?
Yes.
How was it?
Excuse me?
Was it good?
Yes.
But it wasn't serious?
No.
So you didn't love her?
I was fond of her.
So, um...
...why did you
come here to work?
Because of you.
Um...
When we met?
When you were leaving...
Mm-hmm.
...and I was coming in.
I told Dad not to hire you.
You told him not to hire me?
Mm-hmm.
Why?
So that he would.
Kiss all the pretty ones
goodbye
Give every one a penny
that cries
You can throw
all my Tranquil pills
Away...
Days begin
I'm tired of holdin'
my stomach in
The moonlight,
it's cold.
I feel it.
I'll take Sears and Roebuck
dolls gladly...
I don't feel anything.
Really?
'Cause my autumn's
-Nothing?
-Mm-mm.
Done come
Close your eyes.
My autumn's done come
Done come
-Still nothing? Nothing?
-No.
-Kristofer.
-Eh?
-Kristofer.
-Yeah.
-Kristofer.
-Okay.
Oh, really? So did I.
-Yeah?
-London?
Yeah. 51 year ago.
-A long time ago.
-Oh.
1973, I arrived.
Salaryman.
First job in London,
selling oil
to European shipping company.
Next job, import steel
for transformer.
Very successful,
Kristofer-san.
Uh-huh.
My daughter.
-Everything all right?
-Oh, yes.
Do you have children,
Kutaragi-san?
My son, he's salaryman like me.
Very busy.
Too busy for old father.
I thought I had
put it on silent.
-Your daughter again?
-Yeah.
It's about her birthday.
Oh, you forget her birthday?
Oh, yes. And what's even worse,
I forget to tell her
about me going to Japan.
Oh.
Not good, eh?
-I know. I know.
-Kristofer-san...
not good.
He's everywhere.
Who?
Jesus.
Mrs. Ellis is really religious.
She screwed and stuck it
to the wall.
Is he supposed to keep
an eye on you?
Well, I hope not.
I'm gonna be in big trouble.
I can't stand it.
I felt like he looked at me
differently when I left.
Takahashi-san.
That's just your imagination.
Why can't he know about us?
I mean, why does he have
to know about us?
So we can stop sneaking around.
I don't get it.
Thought you said he liked me.
He does like you.
I just don't understand.
What is it
that you don't understand?
-Kristofer.
-Morning.
Your friend, the young lady,
where is she from?
She's from here.
And before that?
Japan.
Mm. Be careful.
Uh, basic sake.
And, uh...
Very premium.
-Strong.
-Strong.
Why did you come here?
I always dreamt of
visiting Japan.
Mm-hmm.
Ooh. Here.
Oh, sounds good.
-Very good.
-Good.
I marry in 1970.
When my wife died,
I feel very lonely.
40 years married.
40 years.
You ever hear
the Japanese word "kodokushi"?
No.
My Japanese is not that good.
It means "fear of dying alone."
You even have a special word
for that.
Kristofer-san.
Don't worry.
Dad won't be home
until after midnight.
He never is.
And what about the neighbors?
They might see us.
Well, they don't care for us,
and we don't talk to them.
Dad likes it that way.
That's me.
Come.
My mum painted them.
Dad and Mum lived in Hiroshima.
And... Grandma and Grandpa
were visiting that day.
It was the summer holidays,
so Dad and a few others
were repairing a school roof...
just outside Hiroshima
when the bomb fell.
Mum was six months pregnant.
I don't know how Dad managed
to find the ruins of the house.
He says he has no memory of it.
Only of the burned earth
and the black rain...
...and the river
filled with floating corpses.
When Dad found Mum,
she herself was badly burned.
She gave birth to me
a month prematurely.
And she died a year later.
So I'm still a hibakusha.
-Hitomi.
-Yes?
Can I ask you something?
Of course.
This word, "hibakusha,"
uh, what does it mean?
Where did you hear that word?
I just saw it somewhere.
You should learn
different Japanese words.
Uh, can't you just tell me
what it means?
It means "atomic bomb survivor."
And what if you can't find her?
It's been a long time.
Yeah. You know something?
Lots of Japanese people,
they travel
all the way to Iceland
in hope of seeing
the northern lights.
But knowing that
they might not, they still go.
-Eh.
-I understand...
-Yeah.
-...Kristofer-san.
Life very short.
Always good to sing.
Everybody!
What?
I love you.
What are you
going to do for the holiday?
Yamamoto-san complains
that we close for the holiday.
I said, "One week,
Yamamoto-san. Only one week.
You eat somewhere else
for one week."
He said, "No, eight days.
You close for eight days."
So, what are you going to do?
Uh... don't know.
-No?
-No.
Uh, don't have anything planned.
Oh. Oh...
Takahashi-san never go anywhere.
Make sure to lock up.
Yeah. Of course.
-Hi.
-Hi.
I didn't expect
to see you tonight.
Is everything okay?
Um, I have something for you.
For me?
It's fragile.
Thank you.
It was my mum's cup.
She made it.
Fujisan.
Fujisan. It's beautiful.
Are there Japanese people
in Iceland?
Um, not that I know of.
Any Asian people?
Probably at the embassies or...
That's it?
Yeah.
Wh-What's going on, Miko?
Can you tell me
what you're thinking?
Miko?
Did they fire you?
Uh, no, we're closed
for vacation.
Oh.
Until tomorrow.
I go back to work tomorrow.
Someone brought this in
yesterday.
Said it was for you.
Who?
A Oriental gentleman.
Kristofer-san.
What's going on? What happened?
Takahashi-san
closed down Nippon.
He closed it down? When?
Tuesday.
I-It happened very fast.
He asked me
to take care of the fish.
Where's Miko?
I don't see Miko, but I think
she leave with Takahashi-san.
Leave? Leave where?
Takahashi-san don't say.
-Okay.
-Can you take that side?
-Is that too heavy?
-No, it's fine.
Take it carefully.
Uh, excuse me. What's going on?
Where's the family
that lives here?
They've gone. We're moving in.
Excuse me. Excuse me.
I'm sorry if I startled you.
Do you speak English?
Ah. Uh...
Is that really you?
Yes.
I hope you had a good life.
Nothing to complain about.
Miko, shouldn't you be resting?
I can come some other day
if you like.
No. The doctors say
I'm no longer contagious, but...
I don't know.
I...
I brought you some flowers.
They...
they might need water.
Miko?
Yes.
Kristofer.
Miko.
Forgive me.
You don't need to...
Oh. Forgive me.
Mm.
Forgive me.
Mm.
Oh.
I'm not going anywhere.
Mm. But you needed the rest.
You want some tea?
Green tea?
Mm.
I looked you up later.
Much later.
You did?
I found you.
You were married.
You must have hated me.
Never.
But I was angry
for a long, long time.
I'm sorry.
Ah.
It's nice to get some fresh air.
You still smoke?
Is that a problem?
Reminds me on our first talk.
Oh.
In the backyard at Nippon.
Exactly.
I've pictured us there
so many times,
but more in my room.
We're alone,
and you start
asking about my father.
I was so scared of him,
that he might come home.
Hashimoto-san told me
that you worked with children.
Children.
They became my passion,
you know?
I never married.
Do you remember the word...
"hibakusha"?
Yes, of course.
Atomic bomb survivor.
Yes.
Well, I was 11
when Dad first told me
what happened to Mum.
About the bombing of Hiroshima.
Until then, I only knew that
we had lived here in Hiroshima
before we moved to Tokyo.
But now...
he felt he had no choice
but to tell me.
That was the first time
I heard the word "hibakusha."
There was a lot
of discrimination.
There still is, in some way.
People thought
it was hereditary.
Some people thought
it was contagious.
Dad wanted
to get away from it all,
so we moved to London.
You know, at first,
his rules and prohibitions
-didn't affect me.
-Hmm.
But then I hit puberty.
Do you remember when Naruki
came to the restaurant?
That's when Dad told him
I was a hibakusha.
That was enough.
But I didn't care.
I had met you.
And then something changed,
didn't it?
Yes.
I thought I found the answer.
Persuading Dad wasn't easy,
but he agreed.
Of two evils,
sterilization was better
than having to trust me
to keep my promise.
Sterilization?
I thought that was the only way.
Dad didn't ask
who the father was.
The father?
I told him.
He was so fond of you.
I thought it would help,
but it didn't.
I was gonna tell you
about my pregnancy,
but I lost my courage.
To Dad, I had committed
the crime he most feared.
He was convinced
the baby was disabled.
I started believing it, too.
He ordered me to stay at home.
He closed Nippon,
paid the staff,
booked our flights,
all in a matter of days.
Said goodbye to no one.
We moved to Takehara,
village east of here.
This was where his roots were.
Where he had buried my mother.
After everything,
after more than 20 years away...
...after he had escaped,
he came back.
His name is Akira.
Your son's name is Akira.
He looks like you.
We were very lucky.
He was adopted by good people.
The husband is Australian,
the wife Japanese.
Mm. Akira.
-You said the name was Akira.
-Yes.
I love the sound of it.
Guess what he does.
He's a chef.
-No.
-Yes.
He runs a restaurant in Kure.
It-It's an oyster boat
on the river Sakai.
He cooks everything himself.
Oh, he's a very good chef.
And I go see him
every week for lunch.
Does he know about you?
No, he'll never know.
I... I'm a regular.
I-I sit at the bar.
Oh, we talk of this and that,
of, uh, food, the weather.
And...
he has two daughters.
-No.
-Yes.
The older is an engineer.
The younger studies history
at university.
-Okay.
-Yeah.
Come.
Mm.
Do you still sing?
Less and less.
There's little left of my voice.
Hmm.
Well, what was the song you sang
at the birthday party at Nippon?
You mean...
You talking about that one?
That was
when I fell in love with you.
Think that would work again?
You can try.
Oh.
You're still shy.
-Oh, yeah. Can't help it.
-After all these years.
Can't help it.
Mmm.
Yeah.
Takahashi. Taka...
...hashi.
Kristofer. Hi.
Hmm.
Kristofer.
The Remaking
of Socialist Politics.
-"The whole of..."
-Shh.
Engstrom out, out, out, out!
Hear us, LSE!
-No gates! No police!
-Leave!
-Just leave!
-Engstrom out, Engstrom out!
Out, out, out!
This is not going
to help your cause!
No gates! No police!
Their suspensions will not
be lifted if this continues.
-Is that a threat?
-Leave! Just leave!
Engstrom out! Engstrom out!
Out, out, out!
Engstrom out! Engstrom out!
Out, out, out!
No gates! No police!
Excuse me. Hi.
English, please.
The old building--
some of us got in.
They locked me and Marks out,
but, uh,
there's enough people inside.
What? What?
There were plenty
of other places to meet,
but they chose
the Old Theater...
-Don't listen to him. -...just
because they were told not to.
So you're with the
administration on this one?
-"With the administration."
-Come on.
He's just pulling your leg.
-Afternoon, sir.
-Good afternoon, sir.
My name is Kristofer Hannesson.
Yes.
I should warn you that
there is talk of a lockdown
as early as tomorrow,
which would require us
to close down the hotel.
That's too bad.
I plan to stay.
Well, on the plus side,
you're staying for
half the price, aren't you?
Of course. Thank you.
Hello.
Shh.
Excuse me, sir.
Talking on the phone is not
allowed in the dining room.
Kristofer.
I'm wondering
if we're dealing with
the remaking
of socialist politics
or the remaking
of Kristofer Hannesson.
Jnas, do you think
supply and demand curves
are gonna help us
make a difference?
Mm, yes.
-Is he really gonna quit?
-I don't know, man.
He's been talking about it
for a while.
"Staff wanted."
Hey, Kristofer wants
to join the proletariat.
Go on. Get a job with the Japs.
Okay.
Hey, Kristofer.
Hello?
-What an idiot.
-Hi.
We open at 6:00.
Oh, no. Uh, I was just actually
here for the job vacancy.
Huh?
The j-- There's a sign
outside your door.
You want to wash dishes?
Yeah.
I mean, if that's what it is.
You come tomorrow morning
at 10:00 for interview.
Thank you.
Sorry.
Oh.
Um...
-Uh, sorry. Yeah.
-Excuse me.
So, how did it go?
Did you get the job?
Come on. You're not serious
about this, are you?
Yes, I am.
That's going to make
a difference.
Hi.
-I'm sorry. I thought, um...
-Uh, we don't open
till lunchtime.
No, I'm-I'm actually here
for the job interview.
-Interview?
-Yeah.
Oh. Uh, o-okay.
-Uh, you wait there, please.
-Okay. Thank you.
-Please.
-Thank you.
So, where do you work?
What restaurant?
Uh, I've never worked
in a restaurant before.
So, what do you do?
I am, uh, currently a student,
uh, at London School
of Economics.
This is not part-time job.
I'm not looking
for a part-time job.
You want to quit studying? Why?
It's just, um, I lost interest.
Great school. Very respected.
You know how to cook?
Even dishwasher
need to know something.
Uh, yeah. Well, I know
how to boil cod and potatoes.
I used to work on, uh,
fishing boats in the summer.
-Fishing boats?
-Yeah.
You worked on fishing boats?
Yeah, back home, uh, in Iceland.
Huh. Iceland?
-Yeah.
-Iceland.
-Volcanoes like Japan?
-Yeah. Exactly.
Oh.
-Come with me.
-Yeah.
This used to be a bakery.
Really?
Big space, cheap rent.
-Hello. Hi.
-Hi.
Hi.
What do you fish in Iceland?
-Um, mostly flatfish.
-Huh?
-Like, uh, halibut.
-Ah.
And sometimes
we also got monkfish.
-Monkfish?
-Yeah, monkfish.
-Oh.
-But, uh, no one wants it.
-Oh, pity.
-Huh?
Good fish, monkfish.
-But so ugly.
-Oh, but tasty.
Iceland. Iceland.
-Uh, here. That's it.
-Oh.
Oh.
I used to live here
in, uh, Snaefellsnes.
-Huh?
-Snaefellsnes.
Snaefellsnes.
-Oh, you from there.
-Yeah.
How long were you out
for fishing?
-Uh, overnight.
-Uh-huh.
But sometimes
a little bit longer
if we went, uh,
up here to Ltrabjarg.
-Ooh. What did you say?
-Ltrabjarg.
-Ltrabjarg. Ltrabjarg.
-Ltrabjarg.
-Sit down.
-Thank you.
Uh...
Any other type of fish
in Lotor... Lotor...
-L-- In Ltrabjarg?
-Ltrabjarg.
Uh, yeah, we...
Sometimes, we got cod
and, uh, haddock, as well.
Ah, good for fish and chips.
Exactly.
-I grew up by the sea, too.
-Really?
-Mm.
-Hmm.
May I see your hands?
Yeah.
The scars.
From fishing?
Yeah.
When can you start?
Uh, tonkatsu is breaded pork.
Yes.
Uh, soba?
-Buckwheat noodles.
-Right.
Yakitori?
Uh... chicken.
-Cured chicken.
-Mm.
Right, Goto-san?
Let me help you.
Saba no shioyaki?
-Saba no...
-Saba is a mackerel.
-Saba no shioyaki.
-Yeah. Saba no shioyaki.
Uh, you're-you're too tall
for me.
I'm so sorry.
For you.
It's much better than
London School of Economics.
Good morning.
So far, so good. Smart boy
don't break anything yet.
When you're finished
cleaning up,
you have a break until 6:00.
I take nap.
You leave if you want.
Fresh air.
But first, finish.
Thank you, Takahashi.
Uh, san.
Hello, mate.
You all right there?
Yeah.
I was wondering if...
Yeah, yeah.
Come and have a look. Come.
Yeah.
An accident waiting to happen,
at the back there.
What you quite often have
is teams want to play
like Man City,
but, uh... but asking National
South players to do that,
the young goalkeeper there
struggling...
What do you reckon?
Do you know
what this stands for?
I'm not that good at Chinese.
It's actually kanji.
Hi.
So you're the gaijin
my father
has been talking about.
Uh... nice to see you again.
Hi.
-Kristofer.
-Kristofer-san. -Kristofer.
-Nice to meet you.
-Ah. Nice to meet you.
Uh, Goto-san usually has
weekends off.
Arai-san, very experienced.
And an opera singer.
Really?
But not working in London.
And you met my daughter, Miko.
Uh, yes.
Behind you.
-Oh.
-She work weekends.
She also student at UCL.
Psychology.
-Not so practical.
-Sorry.
Let's get dressed.
Hey.
Everybody's talking
about Bagism
Shagism, Dragism, Madism
Ragism, Tagism
This-ism, that-ism,
ism, ism, ism
All we are saying
Is give peace a chance
All we are saying
-Thank you.
-Is give peace
A chance
Yeah
Come on...
Why did you quit?
Excuse me?
Studying at LSE.
Uh...
Just lost interest.
--Most people
complete their studies anyway.
Not me.
Were you ever interested?
Mm.
Yeah.
You remind me of him.
I'm sorry, I remind you of who?
Lennon.
M-Must be the glasses.
Or the beard.
No.
It's something else.
Now they're married.
Did you see
the pictures of them in bed?
Uh, in the hotel?
What do you think?
I mean, I respect
what they're trying to say.
There was something off
about a...
revolution started
in a five-star hotel.
Give peace a chance
Everybody's talking
'bout John and Yoko
Timmy Leary, Rosemary...
You sing?
No.
I-I was in a choir back home,
but...
-A choir?
-Yeah.
You sing good like him?
No.
Not even close.
Come on.
Like that,
why you play hard?
-Can I take this?
-Yeah, go on.
Still screaming out
like chain guns...
Sonja.
No, it's so happy.
Well, it's a classic.
It's the only thing
I care about.
-Oh, typical women.
-Aw!
-What-What's got into you?
-It's gonna be gorgeous.
What's going on?
Sh-She wants me to close up
so she can go out again.
Uh, Takahashi-san,
I can close up.
Uh... is it okay?
-Yeah. Of course.
-Okay, okay.
Maybe I made a mistake.
A mistake? Why?
When I came to this country.
Uh, how long
have you lived here?
Since '57.
Do you have, uh, family here?
Is that why you came?
-No, no family.
-No?
So why England?
Cheapest flight from Tokyo.
Was that where you lived?
Yes.
We came from Tokyo.
It's the time
Of the season...
Season for loving
You look amazing.
Mwah!
What's your name?
-What's your name?
-Who's your daddy?
Hi.
Uh...
I mean, I said,
"Are you learning Japanese,
Kristofer?"
Uh, yeah.
Look what I found.
Oh, um, this is Naruki,
my boyfriend.
Hi, Naruki.
Nice to meet you.
My name's Kristofer.
Are you, uh, working tonight?
Yes, I think so.
Okay, I'll, uh, see you then.
Okay.
Ah.
Uh, I'll take this one.
"Nakamura"? M-U-R-A?
-Yeah. "H-Hitomi," by the way.
-Mm.
Oh. Sorry.
Could you keep your distance?
-Two meters. Thank you.
-Yeah.
-Thank you.
-Uh-huh.
Where did you say she lived?
The last time I knew
was in Croydon, South London.
Uh, Addiscombe Grove.
But that's some time ago.
50 years.
50 years?
To be more exact, 51.
Mr. Hannesson...
If I may be so bold,
you are the last guest left.
We have to close the hotel
as soon as possible.
You may want to go back
while there are still flights
to Iceland.
I'm not going back.
Well, there is
no Hitomi Nakamura
living in Croydon
that I can see.
-There-there...
-Let me be more exact.
Last time I checked it
20 years ago, she had moved.
So you-you looked for her
20 years ago,
-but you-you couldn't find her
then? -Yeah.
Let me explain.
Okay.
Please do.
-Mmm.
-Mmm.
-You try.
-Mmm.
-Mmm. Really good.
-Need more time in jar.
Mm.
This is basic.
Many type of pickles.
Only red miso.
-Misozuke. Misozuke.
-Misozuke. -On to, uh...
-shoyuzuke.
-Pickle with soy sauce.
What did you say it was called?
-Shoyuzuke.
-Mm. -Shoyuzuke.
-Shoyuzuke.
-Shoyuzuke.
Kasuzuke. Kasuzuke.
Pickle with, uh, uh, sake yeast.
Mm.
"Garfrendo"?
Do you have a girlfriend?
No.
Did you ever have a girlfriend?
Yes.
Did you talk a lot
with her father?
I... didn't know her father.
So you never talked about your
relationship with his daughter?
No.
It, uh, wasn't serious.
We didn't have any expectations.
So that's what makes
a relationship serious?
I'm sorry, Kristofer-san.
Could you give us privacy?
"A calm sea but waves
"high as a mountain,
breaking inside my head."
Hello?
You found her?
That's...
that's great to hear.
I'll be right with you.
Thank you so much.
Mm.
Thank you so much. Thank you.
Goodbye. Goodbye.
The electoral register.
That's where we found her.
Oh, my God.
I have a friend
at the British Library.
Thank you so much.
Now, I have to ask you
to check out
no later than this afternoon,
as we are closing down
the hotel.
No problem.
Of course.
Kristofer-san...
...you like cherry blossom?
Um, yeah.
Very fragrant. You smell.
They are plastic!
Oh, very funny, Hitomi.
Thank you, sir.
There she is.
Hitomi, you have a guest.
A guest?
Who is it?
Hitomi, can't you remember me?
I am Kristofer.
Kristofer-san?
Please.
Please keep your distance.
No touching.
-You old now.
-You haven't changed at all.
You now older than me.
Are you still a communist?
I was always more
of an anarchist.
Now I'm just old.
You still very funny,
Kristofer-san.
Come. This way.
Goto-san, Takahashi-san
in the kitchen.
Such a strange kitchen.
You remember?
Yeah, I remember.
An old bakery.
Mm-hmm.
Oh, and here just Takahashi-san.
Where is this taken?
Mm.
Oh, in Japan,
after they moved back.
So they moved back home?
Yes. Takahashi-san contact me
many years later.
But what about Miko?
Miko, she only contact me
when, uh,
Takahashi-san die in 2004.
Where in Japan was she living?
I don't know.
But I think
I might have a letter.
Let me have a look.
It should be in here.
Yeah.
Here.
Huh.
-And it has a return address.
-Yeah, yeah.
So they moved back
where they came from.
Yes.
That was the only time
I hear from Miko.
Yeah.
It's like we never left.
He's still stuck there.
In Tokyo?
No.
Hiroshima.
Hey, Barry. Did you find
anything in Japanese?
-Yeah.
-Great.
This is the only thing I found,
but it should give you
an insight into the aftermath
from their perspective.
-Okay. Perfect. Thank you.
-It's good to see you again.
You, too, Barry.
Have a good day.
"Uh, I don't understand.
Don't you speak English?"
Hello.
Oh, Kristofer-san.
-I'm a so beautiful monkfish.
-Fish.
Don't you think?
Oh!
-Oh. Kristofer-san.
-Uh-huh?
You know haiku?
Yeah, I've heard of it.
-Uh, Japanese poem.
-Mm-hmm.
-Only three lines.
-Mm-hmm.
Very, very simple.
Very, very difficult.
-I wrote a haiku about a fish.
-Uh-huh.
This one in Japanese.
You read.
Oh...
No, I can't. I...
I just started learning,
Takahashi-san.
Try. I'll help.
I'll help.
Try.
Uh...
-This is...
-Mm.
"Iwana." Iwana is a fish.
Thank you.
This is a haiku.
Hai. Uh, sometimes,
uh, there is
a personal confession in haiku.
-Interesting. Mm?
-Really?
So...
Takahashi-san wants us
to write haiku
and put it in the bowl.
No. No, no.
No, no, no. No, no, no, no.
Betty came by on her way
Calm sea.
Said she had a word to say
'Bout things today
And fallen leaves...
The waves are calm.
-Kristofer.
-Yeah?
There's two guests
asking for you.
-For me?
-Mm-hmm.
Kamikaze.
Hai.
Uh, no.
I've never heard it before.
Oh, you sing in a choir?
And you don't tell me?
Why don't you sing a song
for Dr. Kobayashi?
No.
No, no, no, no.
I'm not that good.
It's not a good idea.
Just one song.
One Icelandic song.
Okay.
Um...
Okay.
Hai.
It was very good.
A beautiful voice.
I didn't know you could sing.
It was very good.
Jesus Christ.
Morning.
You are up early, Kristofer.
-Good morning.
-You want some breakfast?
-Uh...
-Bacon? Sausage?
Uh, no, Mrs. Ellis. Thank you.
I'm late for work.
Too early to be late.
Bit of fried bread?
Grease your lungs.
Bye-bye.
Funny boy.
Arai-san is not so good today.
Too much drinking last night.
Yeah, he was having
a lot of fun.
You make torikatsu.
-Me?
-Yes, you.
-Um, Takahashi-san.
-Hmm?
Uh, I've been wondering.
Would it be okay if I came here
in the morning
to practice cooking?
I'd-I'd clean up after myself
and pay for whatever I used.
No.
-You don't pay.
-Mm.
What do you want to cook?
I'd just like to see
if I can make the, you know,
the traditional breakfast
myself.
I-If that's okay.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Oh. Kristofer-san.
"A calm sea,
"but waves, high as a mountain,
breaking inside my head."
Waves only in the head.
Very emotional.
You're a good poet.
Dad says you want to be a cook.
-He told you that?
-Mm-hmm.
Uh, no, no.
Well, I-I just want to see
if I can make the...
you know, the traditional
breakfast properly.
And who's going to be
the judge of that?
Me, I guess.
Do you want me to come?
Yes.
But you can't be
too tough on me, though.
Are you afraid of that?
Yes.
Miko, I'm terrified of you.
Mm-hmm.
Hello, mate.
-What can I get you?
-Hey. Good morning.
-Um...
-Clams.
We've got some quahogs
from Dorset. Slightly sweet.
Razors from Shetland.
The Scots call them "spoots."
Cherrystones from Essex.
Here you are. Try this.
Thank you so much.
Sweet and salty.
-Mm?
-Mm-hmm.
So, what do you do
when you're not working here?
I read, listen to music,
try to study Japanese.
Well, sounds like
you're doing really well.
Thank you.
Mm.
-Uh, Iceland.
-Mm-hmm.
Oh, no, I mean, um, Hiroshima.
Do you miss Hiroshima?
Hiroshima...
There's nothing left.
We left a long time ago,
and we're not going back.
-I'm sorry.
-It's okay.
I put, um, clams in the soup.
Cherrystones from, uh, Essex.
I'm sorry.
I can't sit like this.
My knees aren't Japanese.
What was your girlfriend's name?
Uh, Hildur.
-Does she live in Iceland?
-Mm-hmm.
Did you sleep with her?
Yes.
How was it?
Excuse me?
Was it good?
Yes.
But it wasn't serious?
No.
So you didn't love her?
I was fond of her.
So, um...
...why did you
come here to work?
Because of you.
Um...
When we met?
When you were leaving...
Mm-hmm.
...and I was coming in.
I told Dad not to hire you.
You told him not to hire me?
Mm-hmm.
Why?
So that he would.
Kiss all the pretty ones
goodbye
Give every one a penny
that cries
You can throw
all my Tranquil pills
Away...
Days begin
I'm tired of holdin'
my stomach in
The moonlight,
it's cold.
I feel it.
I'll take Sears and Roebuck
dolls gladly...
I don't feel anything.
Really?
'Cause my autumn's
-Nothing?
-Mm-mm.
Done come
Close your eyes.
My autumn's done come
Done come
-Still nothing? Nothing?
-No.
-Kristofer.
-Eh?
-Kristofer.
-Yeah.
-Kristofer.
-Okay.
Oh, really? So did I.
-Yeah?
-London?
Yeah. 51 year ago.
-A long time ago.
-Oh.
1973, I arrived.
Salaryman.
First job in London,
selling oil
to European shipping company.
Next job, import steel
for transformer.
Very successful,
Kristofer-san.
Uh-huh.
My daughter.
-Everything all right?
-Oh, yes.
Do you have children,
Kutaragi-san?
My son, he's salaryman like me.
Very busy.
Too busy for old father.
I thought I had
put it on silent.
-Your daughter again?
-Yeah.
It's about her birthday.
Oh, you forget her birthday?
Oh, yes. And what's even worse,
I forget to tell her
about me going to Japan.
Oh.
Not good, eh?
-I know. I know.
-Kristofer-san...
not good.
He's everywhere.
Who?
Jesus.
Mrs. Ellis is really religious.
She screwed and stuck it
to the wall.
Is he supposed to keep
an eye on you?
Well, I hope not.
I'm gonna be in big trouble.
I can't stand it.
I felt like he looked at me
differently when I left.
Takahashi-san.
That's just your imagination.
Why can't he know about us?
I mean, why does he have
to know about us?
So we can stop sneaking around.
I don't get it.
Thought you said he liked me.
He does like you.
I just don't understand.
What is it
that you don't understand?
-Kristofer.
-Morning.
Your friend, the young lady,
where is she from?
She's from here.
And before that?
Japan.
Mm. Be careful.
Uh, basic sake.
And, uh...
Very premium.
-Strong.
-Strong.
Why did you come here?
I always dreamt of
visiting Japan.
Mm-hmm.
Ooh. Here.
Oh, sounds good.
-Very good.
-Good.
I marry in 1970.
When my wife died,
I feel very lonely.
40 years married.
40 years.
You ever hear
the Japanese word "kodokushi"?
No.
My Japanese is not that good.
It means "fear of dying alone."
You even have a special word
for that.
Kristofer-san.
Don't worry.
Dad won't be home
until after midnight.
He never is.
And what about the neighbors?
They might see us.
Well, they don't care for us,
and we don't talk to them.
Dad likes it that way.
That's me.
Come.
My mum painted them.
Dad and Mum lived in Hiroshima.
And... Grandma and Grandpa
were visiting that day.
It was the summer holidays,
so Dad and a few others
were repairing a school roof...
just outside Hiroshima
when the bomb fell.
Mum was six months pregnant.
I don't know how Dad managed
to find the ruins of the house.
He says he has no memory of it.
Only of the burned earth
and the black rain...
...and the river
filled with floating corpses.
When Dad found Mum,
she herself was badly burned.
She gave birth to me
a month prematurely.
And she died a year later.
So I'm still a hibakusha.
-Hitomi.
-Yes?
Can I ask you something?
Of course.
This word, "hibakusha,"
uh, what does it mean?
Where did you hear that word?
I just saw it somewhere.
You should learn
different Japanese words.
Uh, can't you just tell me
what it means?
It means "atomic bomb survivor."
And what if you can't find her?
It's been a long time.
Yeah. You know something?
Lots of Japanese people,
they travel
all the way to Iceland
in hope of seeing
the northern lights.
But knowing that
they might not, they still go.
-Eh.
-I understand...
-Yeah.
-...Kristofer-san.
Life very short.
Always good to sing.
Everybody!
What?
I love you.
What are you
going to do for the holiday?
Yamamoto-san complains
that we close for the holiday.
I said, "One week,
Yamamoto-san. Only one week.
You eat somewhere else
for one week."
He said, "No, eight days.
You close for eight days."
So, what are you going to do?
Uh... don't know.
-No?
-No.
Uh, don't have anything planned.
Oh. Oh...
Takahashi-san never go anywhere.
Make sure to lock up.
Yeah. Of course.
-Hi.
-Hi.
I didn't expect
to see you tonight.
Is everything okay?
Um, I have something for you.
For me?
It's fragile.
Thank you.
It was my mum's cup.
She made it.
Fujisan.
Fujisan. It's beautiful.
Are there Japanese people
in Iceland?
Um, not that I know of.
Any Asian people?
Probably at the embassies or...
That's it?
Yeah.
Wh-What's going on, Miko?
Can you tell me
what you're thinking?
Miko?
Did they fire you?
Uh, no, we're closed
for vacation.
Oh.
Until tomorrow.
I go back to work tomorrow.
Someone brought this in
yesterday.
Said it was for you.
Who?
A Oriental gentleman.
Kristofer-san.
What's going on? What happened?
Takahashi-san
closed down Nippon.
He closed it down? When?
Tuesday.
I-It happened very fast.
He asked me
to take care of the fish.
Where's Miko?
I don't see Miko, but I think
she leave with Takahashi-san.
Leave? Leave where?
Takahashi-san don't say.
-Okay.
-Can you take that side?
-Is that too heavy?
-No, it's fine.
Take it carefully.
Uh, excuse me. What's going on?
Where's the family
that lives here?
They've gone. We're moving in.
Excuse me. Excuse me.
I'm sorry if I startled you.
Do you speak English?
Ah. Uh...
Is that really you?
Yes.
I hope you had a good life.
Nothing to complain about.
Miko, shouldn't you be resting?
I can come some other day
if you like.
No. The doctors say
I'm no longer contagious, but...
I don't know.
I...
I brought you some flowers.
They...
they might need water.
Miko?
Yes.
Kristofer.
Miko.
Forgive me.
You don't need to...
Oh. Forgive me.
Mm.
Forgive me.
Mm.
Oh.
I'm not going anywhere.
Mm. But you needed the rest.
You want some tea?
Green tea?
Mm.
I looked you up later.
Much later.
You did?
I found you.
You were married.
You must have hated me.
Never.
But I was angry
for a long, long time.
I'm sorry.
Ah.
It's nice to get some fresh air.
You still smoke?
Is that a problem?
Reminds me on our first talk.
Oh.
In the backyard at Nippon.
Exactly.
I've pictured us there
so many times,
but more in my room.
We're alone,
and you start
asking about my father.
I was so scared of him,
that he might come home.
Hashimoto-san told me
that you worked with children.
Children.
They became my passion,
you know?
I never married.
Do you remember the word...
"hibakusha"?
Yes, of course.
Atomic bomb survivor.
Yes.
Well, I was 11
when Dad first told me
what happened to Mum.
About the bombing of Hiroshima.
Until then, I only knew that
we had lived here in Hiroshima
before we moved to Tokyo.
But now...
he felt he had no choice
but to tell me.
That was the first time
I heard the word "hibakusha."
There was a lot
of discrimination.
There still is, in some way.
People thought
it was hereditary.
Some people thought
it was contagious.
Dad wanted
to get away from it all,
so we moved to London.
You know, at first,
his rules and prohibitions
-didn't affect me.
-Hmm.
But then I hit puberty.
Do you remember when Naruki
came to the restaurant?
That's when Dad told him
I was a hibakusha.
That was enough.
But I didn't care.
I had met you.
And then something changed,
didn't it?
Yes.
I thought I found the answer.
Persuading Dad wasn't easy,
but he agreed.
Of two evils,
sterilization was better
than having to trust me
to keep my promise.
Sterilization?
I thought that was the only way.
Dad didn't ask
who the father was.
The father?
I told him.
He was so fond of you.
I thought it would help,
but it didn't.
I was gonna tell you
about my pregnancy,
but I lost my courage.
To Dad, I had committed
the crime he most feared.
He was convinced
the baby was disabled.
I started believing it, too.
He ordered me to stay at home.
He closed Nippon,
paid the staff,
booked our flights,
all in a matter of days.
Said goodbye to no one.
We moved to Takehara,
village east of here.
This was where his roots were.
Where he had buried my mother.
After everything,
after more than 20 years away...
...after he had escaped,
he came back.
His name is Akira.
Your son's name is Akira.
He looks like you.
We were very lucky.
He was adopted by good people.
The husband is Australian,
the wife Japanese.
Mm. Akira.
-You said the name was Akira.
-Yes.
I love the sound of it.
Guess what he does.
He's a chef.
-No.
-Yes.
He runs a restaurant in Kure.
It-It's an oyster boat
on the river Sakai.
He cooks everything himself.
Oh, he's a very good chef.
And I go see him
every week for lunch.
Does he know about you?
No, he'll never know.
I... I'm a regular.
I-I sit at the bar.
Oh, we talk of this and that,
of, uh, food, the weather.
And...
he has two daughters.
-No.
-Yes.
The older is an engineer.
The younger studies history
at university.
-Okay.
-Yeah.
Come.
Mm.
Do you still sing?
Less and less.
There's little left of my voice.
Hmm.
Well, what was the song you sang
at the birthday party at Nippon?
You mean...
You talking about that one?
That was
when I fell in love with you.
Think that would work again?
You can try.
Oh.
You're still shy.
-Oh, yeah. Can't help it.
-After all these years.
Can't help it.
Mmm.
Yeah.