Land of Tanabata (2024) s01e01 Episode Script

1
-[insects chirping]
-[wind gusting]
The seventh year of the Eiroku era, April
Shimadera domain, Marukami Village
[bird cawing]
[bird screeches]
[tranquil music playing]
[messenger] "On this occasion,
in order to eliminate
our longstanding enemy, the Mogami army,
a command was issued
to cut down Mount Marukami,
to construct a castle
to be used as a stronghold."
"By defying this command,
Tadayori Kijuro Minamimaru,
committed a grave breach of etiquette.
Tadayori Kijuro Minamimaru
has been punished
for his actions.
Consider the delivery
of this disloyal person's head
as a token of our benevolence.
All residents of Marukami Village
must promptly vacate Mount Marukami.
Masayori Marukami
will assume responsibility
for castle construction.
Michiyasu Shimadera."
[hand thumps]
[ominous music playing]
[lord] Kijuro
[gulps]
you ended up serving
a rather paltry lord.
[suspenseful music playing]
Lord Marukami!
What is your response?
[Lord Marukami] Kill him.
Do you think you'll survive
after defying Shimadera!
[sword clangs]
[Kijuro groans]
[Lord Marukami]
Send a messenger to Mogami.
Yes, My Lord.
To request support?
[Lord Marukami] No.
Tell them to do
as they please with the domain,
as I will soon strike down
Michiyasu Shimadera.
However
I will not allow
any interference with this village.
[wind gusting]
[soldier] Mount Marukami is shaped
just like a tree stump.
Building a castle atop it
would make it a sturdy barrier.
It serves as a strategic chokepoint.
To think such a small village
would stand against the world.
[lord] Indeed.
Let's go.
What's all this?
Is Masayori Marukami the one in the hood?
[lord] That's right.
I've heard rumors that his face is so ugly
that it's unbearable to look at twice.
I look forward to identifying the head.
[indistinct chatter]
Show no mercy,
not even to women and children!
Charge!
[all shouting]
[tense music playing]
[distant shouting]
[popping]
[popping continues]
[soft gasp]
[breathing heavily]
What the
[wind gusting]
[theme music playing]
Land of Tanabata
[camera beeps]
[student 1] Nanmaru, we're filming.
President: Yoji Minamimaru
Supernatural Abilities Experiment
[inhales sharply]
[shouts]
Chowa!
[pops]
[panting]
-[student 2] How many? How many?
-[student 3] Wow.
[student 4] One.
Two.
[students] Three.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Seven!
[student 4]
It went through seven sheets of paper!
-It's a new record, President!
-Yeah.
-This hole feels kind of hot, doesn't it?
-[Nanmaru chuckles]
-Doesn't it feel hot?
-[student 5] It does! It does!
[panting]
I wasn't making much progress recently,
but I've finally made it this far.
-I'll upload this video, okay?
-[Nanmaru] Go ahead.
New Skills Development Research Society
Seven sheets pierced!!
[student 1] Doesn't it smell burnt?
-[student 2] Smell burnt?
-[student 1] It's burning!
-[student 2] You're right!
-[student 3] It's warm.
[student 2 chuckles]
Nice work, Nanmaru!
-Yeah!
-Impressive!
[student 2 chuckles]
Wow, his holes have gotten neater.
Hole from the first hole-punching meeting
-[student 1] It smells burnt!
-[student 2] Wow
What do you think, Aki?
Seven sheets, a new record? Amazing, huh?
Oh, congratulations.
[Nanmaru] You don't seem that excited.
Could it be that you're bored
of supernatural abilities?
-No way!
-What?
Aki, how can you be bored of it?
How can that be?
We have a real telekinetic here,
after all.
That's right.
If we can just use this power well,
eventually, we could leap through time,
-or even warp
-Nanmaru!
You should focus on job hunting.
You're a fourth year,
so you need to think about job hunting.
Job hunting?
[Aki] Yeah.
Hmm? Oh, no.
[student 1] N-Nanmaru?
Oh dear. This isn't good.
-[student 2] Try sitting. Please sit down.
-[student 3] Take a seat. Nanmaru.
It's no use. He's been hit hard
by the reality he was avoiding.
He's lost all function.
[student 1] Only you can do this, Nanmaru!
-[student 2] Exactly!
-[student 3] That's right!
Aki, do you have to bring up
such a boorish topic right now?
That's right!
This power will save the world one day.
-[student 1] Right!
-Lame.
-Whatever.
-[student 2] He's our savior.
Nanmaru, there was a notice
calling for you on the bulletin board.
A notice, for me?
[Aki] Didn't you notice?
It's been up for two weeks.
From Professor Marugami.
Marugami?
Never heard that name.
Don't professors usually summon students
by email?
I've never seen somebody called for
on the bulletin board before.
I forgot my password.
I've not checked my email
for three months.
You haven't even checked it once
this year?
How does that not make you anxious?
Basically, I think communicating
face-to-face is more important.
Then go see the professor, will you?
Go. Go.
New Skills Development Research Society
[indistinct chatter]
[student] Job hunting
[indistinct chatter]
University Clubs Building 4
[lively music playing]
[indistinct chatter and laughter]
-[student] Professor Emi.
-[lighter clanks]
How many times do I need to tell you?
Please smoke
in the designated smoking area.
[Emi exhales deeply]
Actually, he should be back by now.
But he does tend to get
deeply engrossed in his research,
so he might be dawdling somewhere.
Then can you please pay the 400,000 yen?
[Emi] Why me?
Well, you're his co-researcher,
aren't you?
But that has nothing to do with the model.
I don't know anything
about that 400,000 yen.
No way
[knocks on door]
[student] Come in.
[Nanmaru] Excuse me.
Hello there.
My name is Yoji Minamimaru.
Um, I was called for
by Professor Marugami.
It's Marukami.
Oh, it's not Marugami?
What is it?
Minamima
-Minamimaru
-Just call me Nanmaru.
Minamimaru is hard to say.
-Nanmaru.
-[Nanmaru] Yes.
Okay, Nanmaru it is then.
Take a seat over there.
[Emi] I apologize,
but Professor Marukami isn't here now.
What? Oh, aren't you
Professor Masami Marukami?
Professor Marukami is a man.
I'm Emi, a lecturer.
Right
Can I sit here? Excuse me.
Professor Marukami is currently
in Tohoku for some research.
Nanmaru, do you have
any relatives in the Tohoku area?
Hmm
[inhales deeply]
I don't think I have any close relatives.
-Is that so?
-[Nanmaru] Yes.
Then, are there any stories
passed down in your household?
Our household?
No, we're not that kind of family.
There's nothing like that.
Hmm
Thank you.
[Nanmaru] What? Is that it?
I'm sorry.
Only Professor Marukami knows the details.
I see
Um, what does Professor Marukami teach?
History and folklore studies, why?
History
Folklore studies
[Nanmaru slurping]
[gulps]
[muffled bubbling]
[unsettling music playing]
[inaudible scream]
[insects chirping]
[gasps]
[breathing heavily]
[insects chirping]
[exhales deeply]
[exhales sharply]
[sighs]
[door slides open]
[Sachiko's grandma] Sachiko.
Did you have another dream?
[Sachiko's grandma] Warm sweet sake.
I put ginger in too.
Thank you.
Delicious.
There were a few houses with lights on.
[Sachiko's grandma]
I suppose many people saw dreams.
You don't have to worry
about anything, Sachiko.
Finish your drink and sleep well.
Okay. I will.
[footsteps receding]
[student 1 panting]
[student 1] They're cute.
[indistinct chatter]
-[student 1] Sorry I'm late.
-Hey there.
-[student 2] Welcome back.
-[student 3] Welcome.
Oh, you two!
-[student 1] It's been a while.
-[student 2] Come and sit down.
[student 1] Are you well?
-[student 4] Was nobody caught?
-[student 5] Nobody.
-[student 6] Maybe someone you know or
-Okay then.
Let's begin this regular meeting
of the New Skills Development
Research Society.
In this meeting, I'd like to decide
on the next club president.
Would anyone like
to put themselves forward as a candidate?
[Nanmaru] How about it, Asano?
What?
Why me?
You're quite diligent. I get the feeling
that you'd organize things well.
Actually, to be honest,
I think you should continue
being the president until you graduate.
You're the only telekinetic, after all.
That may be true,
but I've got job hunting to do as well.
That's exactly what is strange.
Why don't you use your powers
to get a job?
Well
Supernatural abilities
aren't exactly meant for job hunting
Then what are they for?
To save the world.
But this is more like
the club president's magic club.
It might not be spectacular,
but it's the real deal.
-Exactly.
-[student] She's right.
This is why
[slams on table]
I always get swept up in your odd tempo.
-What?
-Sure, it's the real thing.
Definitely a supernatural ability.
It's wondrous!
But why is it
such a useless, boring ability?
Who cares if you can open
a tiny hole like this?
It would be much quicker
to just use your hand.
That might be true, but
I want to do something more practical!
This place
is just a bunch of useless people.
Being here has been a waste of time.
Such an ability is like no ability at all!
That was too cruel.
Why do we have to be useful to you?
We were all tricked,
by the words "new skills development."
Isn't that a bit of a stretch?
You're blaming everyone else,
like a child.
Why come back just to say that?
-Seriously.
-[student] We're not useless.
The universe will judge you.
In any case,
from today, we're dropping out
of this meaningless gathering.
[student 1]
Aww, I wanted to start a business.
[student 2] I'm joining
the English club from tomorrow.
-[student 1] I'm joining too.
-[student 3] Me too.
[student 1] That would be better.
[indistinct chatter]
[sighs]
[student 4] That arrogant jerk!
[student 5] President, don't mind them.
They were just
taking their stress out on you.
-Okay?
-[inhales sharply]
Hmm
[chuckles]
Should we just disband this society?
[students] What?
-[student 6] President!
-[student 7] No way
-[student 5] Don't say that!
-[student 4] Why?
[student 5]
We'll be left with nowhere to go.
[pensive music playing]
[Nanmaru's grandad]
Yoji, can you hold the saw?
[young Nanmaru] Okay.
[Nanmaru's grandad sighs]
[shouts]
Chowa!
-[pops]
-[young Nanmaru] Wow! A hole.
[panting]
-Amazing, huh?
-Amazing!
Do it once more.
I can't do that.
Magic is valuable because it's performed
at just the right moment.
It wouldn't be interesting
if you used it all the time.
Hmm.
Your dad couldn't do it,
but I wonder if you can, Yoji.
-Me?
-Yep.
Only special, chosen people
can do this trick.
Yoji, do you want to be a special person?
I do!
All right, let's practice.
Lend me that.
Hold your hands up here,
like I did before.
[Nanmaru's grandad]
Think, "Open a hole. Open a hole."
More.
[Nanmaru] I'm
no use at all, Grandad.
[sobs softly]
[student] Uh Minamimaru.
I've been looking for you.
Right, from the other day
There's something I want your help with.
What?
[student] Has something happened?
[Nanmaru] What?
[student] Well, you're crying.
[Nanmaru] I'm not crying.
-[student] Is that right?
-Yeah.
[student] All right then, shall we go?
-[Nanmaru] What?
-[student] What?
[indistinct chatter]
[student] Professor Emi.
[Emi] Oh, Tagaya.
Nanmaru, sorry this is all so sudden.
[Nanmaru] It's okay
Are you Nanmaru?
From the New Skills Research Society?
[Emi] The New Skills Research Society?
That's right. He's a telekinetic.
It's nothing special though.
Hmm
A telekinetic, huh?
What is it?
Nanmaru, you are probably
a descendant of Masayori Marukami,
a local feudal lord.
-What?
-[Emi] Which means, you share
a common ancestor with Professor Marukami.
While researching his own family lineage,
he happened to find you,
who attends school here.
[chalk screeching]
Masayori Marukami,
Professor Marukami, Minamimaru
Shortly after, he went to Marukawa Town
in the Kurone District
"Marukami Village"
to investigate the old Marukami Village.
Please wait a second.
Nanmaru, can you check
if any of your relatives
share a connection to Marukawa Town?
[Nanmaru] Well, I'm not sure about that
-Ah, Grandad.
-[Tagaya] What?
[student] Does he look like your grandad?
[Nanmaru] No,
he doesn't look like him, but
-[Tagaya] Huh?
-I just kind of thought that.
It just kind of, hit me.
It hit you?
[Nanmaru] Yes.
Oh, I should mention,
Professor Marukami is still only 50.
Maybe there's something that resonates
in your shared blood.
Right!
Did you feel
some kind of connection just now?
What?
Your family lines
might be surprisingly close.
I'm really grasping at straws here.
Please help me.
You seem really serious
Has something happened
to Professor Marukami?
Professor Marukami
never came back from Marukawa Town.
He's missing.
The last entry in the notebook
that the professor left at the lab
is the year
that Tadayori Minamimaru was killed.
Minamimaru was killed?
To put it simply,
your roots will serve as a clue
in tracing Professor Marukami's steps.
[Nanmaru] Right, I see.
So you're saying it's been over 120 years
since the Minamimaru family
moved to the Kanto region.
-[Nanmaru's mom] Yes that's right.
-[Nanmaru] I see.
Oh, yeah. Can you ask Dad
about Marukawa Town for me too?
-Huh?
-[Nanmaru] Hang on a second.
Okay
[door closes]
-[switch clicks]
-[grunts]
Sorry about that.
[Nanmaru's mom] I'll ask him.
-But I doubt he knows anything.
-[switch clicks]
[Nanmaru] What? How do you know?
Well, you see, your dad,
has never shown
any interest in Marukawa Town.
Or at least, he's never mentioned it.
Maybe he doesn't think much of the place.
[Nanmaru] Is that right?
[sighs]
Don't tell me you just got home.
Yeah.
Are you eating properly?
O-Of course I am.
Really?
-You're probably not eating any veg.
-Ask him for me.
-I'll send you my homegrown green peppers.
-Okay, see you. Bye.
Right, I'll do that.
Hmm
[knocks on door]
-[employee] Come in.
-Okay.
I'm Keiichi Asano.
I applied for a tour online.
[employee] Mr. Asano.
Here. Take a seat.
-Thank you.
-Here.
[employee] Mr. Asano,
I appreciate you coming, but
we've received
more applications than expected.
I'm afraid we're fully booked this time.
-Is that right?
-[employee] Afraid so.
But you've come all this way,
so I'm happy to talk with you.
-Okay.
-[employee] Yes.
[phone vibrating]
Sorry. Excuse me.
Hello.
Yes. Oh, is that right?
New Skills Development Seminar
[employee] I see. Understood.
Okay. See you.
Mr. Asano.
We just had a cancellation.
A space has opened, if you're interested?
Ah, um
-[phone vibrating]
-Excuse me.
[employee] Hello.
I see, you'd like to book a lot?
Yes. A space just opened up now
Hang on!
I'll enter. I'll join right away.
[employee] Okay then, I'll call you back.
Goodbye.
In that case, Mr. Asano,
-I'd like you to fill in this form first.
-[Asano] Yes.
Do you happen to have your seal
with you today?
-[Asano] I have it.
-I thought you might.
-All right, please fill that in.
-[Asano] Okay.
Fantastic.
[light suspenseful music playing]
Wow!
[Tagaya] Marukami Village.
On a scale of 1 to 10,000.
Wow. Why did you make this?
[chuckles]
-[Tagaya] I don't know.
-[Nanmaru] What?
But Professor Marukami asked me.
-For 400,000 yen.
-[Nanmaru] Oh
So if Professor Marukami isn't found,
you won't get paid.
Don't say such frightening things.
[student] Making something like this
by hand nowadays
-Even 400,000 yen seems cheap.
-[Nanmaru] Right.
-Listen up, Nanmaru.
-[Nanmaru] What?
This thing in the middle,
shaped like a pudding, is Mount Marukami.
[Tagaya] And this jagged mess next to it
is called little miss Seven Peaks.
Interesting.
Disgusting.
Not disgusting!
[Nanmaru] Professor Emi.
I asked my parents,
but it seems they don't know anything.
-Is that so?
-[Nanmaru] Yeah.
What did Professor Marukami
want to investigate in Marukawa Town?
Dewa Sengoku Chronicles
Marukawa Town, you see,
was once the domain
of a feudal lord named Shimadera
during the Sengoku period.
However, when the neighboring Mogami clan
invaded Shimadera territory,
the lord at the time,
Michiyasu Shimadera, confronted them.
This all happened in Marukami Village,
which was around
where Marukawa Town is currently located.
However,
that's when Michiyasu Shimadera's vassal,
Masayori Marukami,
ancestor to both you
and Professor Marukami,
suddenly betrayed him,
leading to Michiyasu's death in battle.
What?
My ancestor was a traitor?
How disappointing.
That is the established theory,
but Professor Marukami
has raised objections to it.
[mysterious music playing]
In April of the seventh year of Eiroku,
during which the battle occurred,
there is no evidence that the Mogami clan
mobilized their troops.
Naturally, they have no records
of any casualties or injuries
from this battle.
However, on the Shimadera side,
there were as many as 300 fatalities,
including the lord himself, Michiyasu.
In the same period, Tadayori Minamimaru,
who was from Marukami Village,
was killed by Michiyasu.
Based on this,
I would like to propose the theory
that Marukami alone defeated Shimadera.
So you're saying
that this battle was to avenge Tadayori?
That's right.
Moreover, just 10 days after the battle,
for 7 days from April 29th,
a festival was held in Marukami Village.
Isn't it strange to not flee,
but to hold a festival in the place
where they betrayed and killed their lord?
It's possible that Masayori Marukami
was never a vassal of Shimadera at all.
[Tagaya] But I still think it's unlikely.
Records indicate that Marukami Village
had a population of about 200 at the time.
This means that at most,
there were only 60 to 80 combatants.
To think they fought the Shimadera army,
which was said to exceed 3,000 people,
and that they even killed the general
is unimaginable.
[student]
I think the established theory is correct.
Professor Marukami probably wanted
to make him seem cool since it's his
Professor Marukami
Professor Marukami would never engage
in such low-level favoritism.
Sorry.
Um
What if, just what if,
the people of Marukami Village
had dug a huge pitfall
at the site of the battle.
How do you dig a pitfall for 3,000 people?
[Nanmaru] Uh
Sorry for my stupid idea.
I'll just go to the toilet.
Still, he might actually
be on to something.
Here. Look at these two mountains.
Both of them seem kind of strange.
-Strange?
-[Tagaya] Yeah.
Their shape is kind of unnatural.
They have a deliberate feel
as if they were made artificially.
I guess that can't be though.
[Nanmaru] Don't you think
Professor Emi seemed kind of down?
[Tagaya] Of course she is. She's missing
her beloved Professor Marukami.
-Is that why?
-[Tagaya] Yeah.
And there's one more person
down in the dumps.
-[Nanmaru] What?
-You're so annoying.
No, I'm not.
-What?
-[Nanmaru] What do you mean?
Why would you say
something so unnecessary?
-It's not unnecessary.
-It was!
Just tell him.
-[Tagaya] No! Why should I?
-Tagaya?
-Tell me what?
-[Tagaya] Aw jeez.
[both chuckle]
[shouts]
Chowa!
[pops]
[panting]
So the cup doesn't break.
[Nanmaru] Right.
Ridiculous, right?
It's not useful for anything.
What are you talking about?
This is amazing!
He's the real thing! A real telekinetic!
So they really exist!
[student] I can't believe it.
This is like a dream.
-Come on. One more time!
-Once more!
-Please!
-Here!
[panting]
[Tagaya] Amazing!
You could make money with this.
-[Nanmaru] Maybe.
-[Tagaya] Sure you can.
Oh! Here it comes!
[laughter]
This is crazy!
[Tagaya] Woah, watch out! Amazing.
You could start a YouTube channel.
[student] Definitely! What about
a 10,000-hole challenge?
[Tagaya] That would be awesome!
Protect Mount Marukami
Rebel against development!!
[muttering]
Here it is.
[sighs]
[pops]
What?
[clicks tongue]
Who the heck is using a flash out there?
[wind gusting]
Huh?
[ominous music playing]
[confused mutter]
[pops]
[gasps, groaning]
[pops]
[body thuds]
[ominous music playing]
[wind gusting]
[distant murmuring]
[Nanmaru]
Man, I should have taken a day off today.
[Aki] Nanmaru, please don't sit there.
[Nanmaru] Aki.
I'm done.
Those guys from the Marukami Seminar
sucked out all my power.
You're spending a lot of time
with the people from the Marukami Seminar.
I guess so.
Like it feels good to be needed.
[Aki]
It seems like they just find you amusing.
[Nanmaru] No way
For now, it seems Professor Emi
is keeping the Marukami Seminar going,
but I wonder if it can continue to exist
without the professor.
Uh
Good point.
Are you two from the Marukami Seminar?
Um
Do you know Emi?
Professor Emi?
Oh, look. There she is.
[finder] Emi!
Stop this already.
Tell me where my husband is.
[Emi] What? I
What exactly is he researching?
Are you Professor Marukami's wife?
I'm worried about my husband's health.
His demeanor had already changed
before he left.
I'm wondering how he's doing now.
Please. Tell me.
I'm sorry.
I really don't know.
He hasn't been in touch
ever since he left on his research trip.
How dare you make a fool of me.
[ominous music playing]
-[Aki] Hey!
-[Nanmaru] Wait!
Stop that!
[panting]
Hey! Stop! Let Let go now!
Stop it!
[breathing heavily]
[screams]
[sobs]
[screams]
[Professor Marukami's wife screams]
[crowd murmuring]
Professor Marukami disappeared
during his research investigation,
so I thought we'd have a better chance
of tracking him down than the police.
Plus, we received contributions
for the search from other professors.
[student] I see.
Still though,
surely you don't need me to go.
Nanmaru.
Yes?
Show me your ability.
[Nanmaru] What?
Please.
All right
Okay then.
[zipper unzips]
[shouts]
Chowa!
[pops]
[Nanmaru panting]
-That gave me quite a shock.
-[Nanmaru chuckles]
You were so loud.
-[soft chuckle]
-That's what shocked you?
It's small.
It's small,
but I think it's the same.
What?
After that, I had a chance to talk
with Professor Marukami's wife.
She said she never saw it herself,
but that Professor Marukami
had acquired some kind of ability.
She brought one of the items
that was left in his study.
[student] If it is the same ability,
it's on another level.
[mysterious music playing]
According to his wife,
she often saw flashes
like those of a camera
and dry popping sounds
coming from the study.
[mysterious music continues playing]
I can't believe it.
This ability really exists.
Maybe it's a skill only those
with Marukami blood can perform.
Um
I saw something on the news before.
[Nanmaru] The news?
[anchor] A horrific murder has occurred
in a tranquil mountain town.
The victim, 51-year-old Toshio Kuraishi,
was a construction company president
from Marukawa Town
in Akita Prefecture's Kurone District.
According to the prefectural police,
Mr. Kuraishi was found collapsed
with his head and right arm gouged out,
possibly by a sharp blade.
A company employee who came to work early
discovered him and made the report.
Additionally, a large hole was found
in the window of the room where the body
Isn't this going a bit too far?
No weapon likely used in the crime
-A hole
-or signs of external entry
-A hole?
-were found at the scene.
Police are seeking information
from local residents.
[tense music playing]
[tapping]
Professor Emi.
Let's go.
To Marukami Village.
-[pops]
-[groans]
[groaning]
What on earth is happening?
[panting]
[shouts]
Wait!
[pops]
[body thuds]
[Lord Marukami] I will not allow anyone
to invade our sacred domain.
Whether in the coming years,
or decades
or one day far in the future
[light music playing]
One day
[closing theme music playing]