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Observational Film, Extra by Kazuhiro Soda
This way.
Chiro, come here.
Suppertime.
Come.
Wait.
Hold on.
I’ll give you some later.
Hey, you!
The thief cat.
Hey, you!
Look. Come here.
This way.
Come on.
Here you go.
That cat steals the food.
Chibi, come here.
Isn’t he your cat?
No, he’s a thief cat.
He watches for a chance, and steals.
So, I give him some food…
…over there.
- To the thief? - Yeah.
Otherwise, he invades my cats' space.
Everybody’s intimidated since he’s a male.
Where is he from?
I don’t know.
But I feed him anyway.
It’s a problem.
But what can I do...
Good morning.
Hello. How are you?
Such a nice day.
- Here’s his spending money. - Alright.
Where’re you going today?
To a park.
Sounds good.
Get some fresh air.
Shall we go?
Yes.
Let’s go to the park.
Here you go.
Let’s go to the park.
Off we go.
We’ll get to some open space soon.
Coffee.
- Coffee? - Yes.
OK, I’ll buy you some later.
Coffee.
Look at this.
Coffee.
Here's your coffee.
Here you go.
I’ll open it for you.
Just a second.
Oops.
Don't worry.
Let’s go.
Wear your hat.
Are you finished?
Hi.
Thanks for coming.
Good morning.
You shouldn’t, Ms. Yasuda.
Sorry.
How’s your back pain?
Still hurts.
Welfare Transportation Service
Hello.
- Thank you as always. - You’re welcome.
Thanks.
No problem.
- May I? - Yes.
Your father must be close to 90, no?
85 years old,... I believe.
85 or 86.
He’s very old, but looks great. Still drives a car, doesn’t he?
It was hard to renew the license.
Right.
He spent 200,000 yen to renew it, having new glasses made, etc.
Really.
The new law requires drivers older than 75…
… to go through rigorous tests.
Right.
It's now hard to keep driving if you’re 75 and older.
I’ll be in trouble, since my license will expire in 2 years.
I wonder if my eyes are good enough.
More and more people return their licenses when they get old.
Here we are.
Thanks for riding.
Thank you.
KIBI WORK HOME for People with Severe Physical Disabilities
Let me calculate the fare.
Just a minute.
28…9 and 1, so…
Well… 28 kilometers for each way, so…
6720 yen.
- I have 20 yen. - Got you.
Here’s your receipt.
Oops, how much is your change? 300 yen?
Can’t calculate…
Now I got it.
- Do you have change? - Yep.
I’m old, which makes me slower at calculating.
Let me know if I made mistakes.
And thank you for the souvenir. You didn’t have to…
OK, let’s get out.
Please eat it by tomorrow.
Thanks for the wonderful cake.
- Bye. - See you.
This is The Okayama School for the Disabled, where I started my career.
It was nothing like this. It’s completely rebuilt.
You taught there 40 years ago?
Yeah, the very first special school I worked for.
It’s the only school for the physically challenged in Okayama prefecture.
It’s prefecture-funded.
Any opposition to build this facility?
Yeah, people from the local community opposed it.
Why do you think they opposed it?
Well, that’s too complicated to explain in one sentence.
I shouldn’t speak for them, either. They have to tell you what they felt.
Having said that,
I think they were simply scared...
to have a lot of people with disabilities in their village.
Prejudice, you know?
Good morning.
Today, … (slurred speech)
Pardon?
- My sneakers. - Wow, they're worn.
That's why I slip.
Take me to a shoe store.
You wore them out.
So, I often slip and fall, even if I put on my gaiters.
You always wear gaiters, huh?
Let’s go get some sneakers.
Watch your step.
I like your garden.
Watch your step.
Pretty steady steps today.
These are 600 yen, the cheapest.
They… wear out in a week.
- Something with a tougher sole? - Yeah.
How about these? Tough, aren’t they?
Tough enough, no?
(slurred speech)... No “bumps.”
I like them.
- But need “bumps.” - “Bumps”?
Discounted to 890 Yen!
Look, these soles are tough.
Tough, no?
But these wear out fast.
No, these are tough enough, I guess. You prefer even tougher?
I mean, I need some… you know,
…“bumps” around here.
I don’t know if they have such sneakers…
…with “outies”…?
These are tough, and have “bumps.”
Good, aren’t they?
They're 1990 yen. Expensive.
They live up to your standard.
- Let’s decide. - I take them.
Don’t think too much.
Wait a minute.
These are tough, too.
I like them… What size?
25.5…perfect.
Pick one pair. They look better, huh?
Yep.
They’re tougher, too.
Why don’t you get them?
- Need another pair. - Two pairs?
Here’s your change, 1436 yen.
Who do you live with now?
Pardon?
Do you live with somebody?
Single.
Single?
Yeah, single.
- You’re living alone? - Yep.
I guess... because I’m “katawa (deformed).”
“Katawa”?
Who wants to marry a guy like me?
That’s how I see it.
Yeah, it might be tough to find a bride.
That’s right.
Even if a girl married me,
… she'd divorce me in a year or two.
(slurred speech)
Have you felt that way since you were younger?
Yep. One time, when I was younger,
… a girl wanted to marry me,
… but I said “no.”
Really.
Even if she married me,
… in a year or two,
… she would find a better guy and divorce me.
So, I didn’t marry her.
Really.
That’s why, like you,
… I don’t eat vegetables.
Pardon?
Vegetables, cabbage, lettuce, etc.
- You don’t eat them? - No way.
You always tell me to eat vegetables.
- But you don’t? - Never!
(slurred speech)
I see.
Unlike you, I don’t have high blood pressure.
Your blood pressure is high...
That’s why you tell me to eat vegetables?
Anyway, let’s go eat some sushi.
- Thank you. - See you soon.
Take care.
I’ll see you in a month.
Bye.
How did you end up having these cats?
Since 10, 20 years ago...
First, there was only one cat, but she had many kids…
Every time the number increases, some cats leave and disappear.
So, I always have 4 or 5 cats.
Sometimes, an outsider joins the group.
This cat, for example, came here as a stray little kitten.
He used to be bullied by other cats, and would scurry away,
but since he was persistent, they finally accepted him.
Now he's a member.
Off we go.
If I spray some tick repellent on you, will that damage your camera?
I don’t think so.
You should use some repellent on your body, otherwise…
What a beautiful flower...!
Hello.
Mr. Hashimoto.
Yes?
I’m coming in.
Yes, please.
Did you eat dinner yet?
Not yet.
What time do you usually eat?
It depends…
Wow. Mice are eating your soap…
What an amazing job!
How was your hospital visit on Tuesday?
Just fine.
I’m in good shape.
Great.
No good if I stay home and behave myself.
If you behave yourself?
So, if you stopped smoking,
it wouldn’t be a good sign. No?
Right.
But your doctor might…
No, he doesn’t say anything.
Really?
I'm smoking for my health.
Smoking for your health?
Yep.
Must be good for you since it's promoted by the government.
The Japanese government promotes it.
Well...
But I don't think it's good for you. I wish you'd quit smoking.
Well, you have a wrong idea.
A wrong idea? Oh dear.
If I quit smoking or drinking,
I would have no enjoyment in life.
Just breathing the air and existing, that’s all.
I know you have long nights since you’re alone…
Very long. But I’m now used to it.
I’m the only one left alive…living until 90...
What a shame.
I wonder if I could endure when I’m left alone. You’re strong.
Well, it’s not about me enduring… I’m just alone. No choice.
But it’s sometimes good to be alone since I can do whatever I want.
You’ve got to find some good sides.
I see.
Hello, Hashimoto speaking.
Oh, Ms. Okazaki. Yes.
How are you?
You wanna speak to Ms. Kashiwagi?
Hello. How are you doing?
Pick up at 1:45 PM. Got you.
It was Ms. Okazaki, your care manager.
She said your next hospital visit is scheduled on the 27th.
My husband will pick you up on the 27th…
Let me write it down... My husband Kashiwagi from Kicchako.
- Thank you. - No problem.
On the 22nd, it says Council of Social Welfare (CSW), right?
Somebody from CSW is bringing you some money…
Yes, on the 22nd, Mr. Nakamura is bringing…
That’s right. So, they want you to wait until the 22nd.
Maybe I should ask him to come sooner.
Yeah?
I’ll call him.
But he said he wants you to wait until that date…
I know, but I want to ask him, just in case.
Bye now.
Please take a tangerine.
You always want to give me something.
It’s against our policy.
What policy? It's just a tangerine.
OK, then, thank you.
Good night.
Wow, it’s dark already.
I’ll see you off.
Are you OK? Watch your step.
- Thank you. - No no, thank YOU!
Come again.
Thanks.
Thank you very much.
Have a good night.
Take care.
See you.
- I’m leaving. - Please.
Bye.
OK, he’s now inside.
Itchy, itchy, itchy, isn't it?
Hello Ms Okazaki, this is Kashiwagi speaking.
In terms of the money, he’s calling CSW tomorrow, he said.
He needs the money sooner, so he’ll ask Mr. Nakamura.
Bye now.
Were you talking about his welfare money?
Yes.
Could you tell me about Mr. Hashimoto?
You mean, his condition?
Yes.
He’s in… hospice care.
He has lung cancer.
He knows about it, and he’s receiving hospice care at home.
Don’t shoot such a thing.
Chiro.
Show me the heart symbol you’re so proud of.
Hello, Kicchako.
Kicchako
But we’re only allowed to give him 5 hours of physical care per month.
You know Mr. Shiga got injured on his head, don’t you?
And can we use the Public Long-term Care Insurance…
…to assist his hospital visits?
We’ll pay the home helper 900 yen of service fee for 30 minutes,...
plus the fee for gas.
Which means, 1300 yen in total...
if the care manager approves the cost.
Hello, I’d like to speak to the office of Social Welfare.
Yes, please.
I understand you give out free tickets for flu shots.
Are people with intractable diseases eligible to receive one?
Did you hear from your doctor?
July…
Welfare Transportation Report
This is a report I need to submit every 6 months.
The total gross income is… how much?
387,730 yen.
It’s only about 60,000 yen per month.
And I have to pay for gas and everything out of this income.
Welfare Transportation Service
People used to provide transportation services to the elderly and the disabled...
as volunteers, completely for free.
But it was just too much for drivers, so the government created a system,
…which allows the drivers to take some money from the users,
…to pay for gas.
But, there are a bunch of rules.
For example, the fare needs to be lower than a half of a taxi's fare.
And we have no freedom to set the amount.
Any assistance from the government?
Zero.
Then no salary for a driver?
Of course not. Zero.
The reality is that no drivers get paid through this system.
I mean, I get paid a little somehow…
…from Kicchako, our non-profit home helper station.
But the transportation service is always in red ink.
Why do you still do that, then?
Force of habit, I guess.
Welfare Transportation Service Training Course
This goes like this.
And then, …
Please make sure to put on the brakes on the wheel chair.
Otherwise, the chair can roll back, which is very dangerous.
Don’t let the wheels fall off.
Quite difficult.
Heavy?
Yes, very heavy.
- You’re rude. - Oh, sorry.
Unstable.
Unstable?
Do you want to try to push it back up?
You’ll know it if you actually try, but…
No matter how much you drive, you’d have very little income.
The more you drive, the more gas you use.
When I drove like crazy, I used to tank up every 3 days.
For 2 years, I drove from morning till night, with no weekends.
Some people warned me I was dying of overwork,
… but I wanted to experiment.
And the gross income was only 100,000 yen per month.
More than half of it was spent for gas.
Plus the cost for mandatory safety check, insurance, repairs…
I also experienced some accidents…
So, the profit was zero.
And my salary was zero.
We’re always in the red.
But, you can’t really complain because…
… it’s something you know from the beginning.
What is “Welfare Transportation Service”?
It’s not for profit.
You’re not supposed to make any money.
It’s more like volunteer work.
So, it’s wrong to complain about the fact that it doesn’t make any money.
We always need to remember this.
But we often forget it.
Since you’re just starting out,
…maybe I shouldn’t have told you such a discouraging story.
Why do we do this service then?
In fact, I still see some value in it.
Something money can’t give you.
Feel the edge.
Mr. Hashimoto, I'm here.
I’m here to pick you up.
- Sorry to trouble you all the time. - No, not at all.
- I’m sorry to trouble your wife, too. - No, no trouble at all.
Thank you.
My car is in the parking lot.
Can you please walk to the lot?
- Where is it? - Right there.
I see…
Shall I bring the car here? If you can stay here.
Please stay here.
I'll be back.
Sorry…
- Sorry to trouble you… - No, not at all.
I’m such a burden.
No, you’re not. It’s my job to take care of you.
Ms. Okazaki, This is Kashiwagi from Kicchako.
Mr. Hashimoto’s arrived at the hospital.
Hello.
OK, I’ll wait outside.
Palliative Care
I love the cat on your tie.
Somebody gave it to me.
Come on in now.
- Can I just go in? - Yes.
Hello.
Look at your tie.
I love it.
Hold on.
You had some pain... around here?
Yes.
- It’s not painful now? - No.
- Even I push here? - Right.
The disease's right here.
Aha.
And here.
Two places.
This one's OK.
But this one's doing harm.
This is the cause of your pain and bloody phlegm.
But compared to your previous X-ray, it hasn’t grown so much.
If you should have pain, this would be the cause.
OK, I see.
I’ve got to go soon.
I’ve got to go soon, since I’m a trouble for you.
You’re a trouble for who?
For you.
No, never.
Really? I’ve got to go to heaven since I’m a burden to everybody.
But I’m still alive...
Heaven doesn’t let you come?
Since my conduct is bad.
Cute.
Do you enjoy Karaoke?
Yes, I did it a few days ago.
What do you sing?
Enka songs.
Like what?
I like Saburo Kitajima, Takashi Hosokawa…
Thanks to you, I'm very well.
See you.
Thank you very much.
Is this the way out?
Bye now.
Take care.
Please wait outside.
Any changes?
Last week, he went out quite often.
He enjoyed a trip to Mt. Hiruzen on Friday, and he was fine on Saturday.
But yesterday, he took a day off from the day care.
When the home helper visited him this morning,
she saw him in the bed holding his chest in anguish.
According to her, she nowadays often finds his bloody phlegm stuck to the sink.
It might be getting serious.
Here you go.
Delicious…
Mr. Hashimoto.
Long time no see.
How’s your health? Maybe I shouldn’t ask you like this…
I should go to heaven soon.
Don’t rush.
I can do nothing about it.
Heaven doesn’t want you yet.
I don’t know about it…
You can’t decide yourself, you know?
I know. But I’m troubling everybody.
I always feel this way.
I’m ready to go at any time.
But I’m grateful that they take me to a place like this,
… instead of being in the bed all the time.
I know that I’m troubling everyone, though. People worry about me…
But I’m thankful.
I wonder when…
Bye now.
You’re so popular.
Come.
Eat it.
Chibi, come here.
She’s so timid that she can’t eat…
Have some.
Don’t worry and eat.
So timid.
I guess the thief cat is invading their territory.
So, they wouldn't eat in the regular spot anymore.
Because he’s there.
They used to eat in the same spot, but they can’t anymore.
I hate the way my husband keeps his cats since it’s not sanitary.
I also feel bad because it's a nuisance to the neighbors.
They’ve actually complained to me about the cats.
Since he feeds them everywhere, so many flies are attracted to our house.
And if I complain to him, I become the bad guy.
It’s something I can’t stand about him.
Did you hear that?
Totally.
No comment.
End of story.
Chiro, don’t worry.
Let’s go see the doctor.
There’s something wrong with her kidney.
So, the doctor gives her a drip every few days.
She looks confident.
She seems to be OK with our presence.
2200 yen, please.
Thank you.
Do you always take your cats to that clinic?
Yes.
I took all the females there to be fixed.
But most of the cats eventually disappear.
When the number of cats exceed a certain level,
some voluntarily disappear.
Like natural selection?
When the place is overpopulated, older cats hand it over to the younger ones.
It’s in their nature.
Really mysterious.
Especially males - they usually leave when they’re about three years old.
I don’t know where they go.
No matter how hard I look for them, I can’t find them.
Kind of like starting a new journey.
So mysterious.
For the past 20 years, I’ve had many cats, 4 or 5 at a time.
But they all left me one by one.
I don’t know why.
They all quietly disappear one by one.
Such a mystery.
And younger ones remain.
Uh-oh.
I hope he’s OK…
Yes?
Ah, I’m so relieved. Good morning.
Can you unlock the door?
Take your time.
I’m not going today.
This is Kashiwagi.
Ms. Kashiwagi?
Yes. I’m not from the day care, so please unlock the door.
It’s not locked.
Really?
Oh, it was locked…
Yeah…
Are you smoking?
This is...
the only enjoyment I have.
The only enjoyment?
Today’s…
- I took the medicine today. - You did?
Today’s the 29th…?
You’re done with medicine.
I’m broiling the fish I brought.
Wow, enough for two meals.
For lunch and dinner? I’ll cook an eggplant, too.
Where’s my shirt?
Maybe there?
It’s done.
It’s ready.
The horse mackerel looks great.
I wish I could eat it now while it’s still hot.
But I’m full now…
Sorry, please have a seat here.
No, please don’t worry about me. It’s my job to roll the camera.
Did you put on your shirt for the camera?
Yeah, to look nicer.
I was a soldier before.
What?
I was stationed in Fukuoka until the war was over.
I’ve never heard that before.
I mean, I didn’t go to the front line.
But I was in Nagoya and Fukuoka for 7 or 8 years.
Really.
- Was it before you got married? - Yep.
Back then, they took us all to the war…
…to use us like shields. So many young men were killed.
Even people like the mayor of the village all went to the war and got killed.
I’ve lost so many classmates.
Really.
We were all proud of dying.
Nobody complained. It was a different era.
It was nothing like today, when they cry and say they're the only son.
So, were you drafted, Mr. Hashimoto?
Yeah, I was enlisted.
That’s why people used to say a man is only worth 1.5 sen.
What do you mean?
- The same price as a postcard. - What?
The price of a man was the same as a postcard, 1.5 sen.
Oh, a postcard cost 1.5 sen?
Yep. So, men were drafted for 1.5 sen each.
Regardless of if a parent died, if the 1.5 sen-postcard came, you had to go.
My Goodness.
That’s why we were all 1.5 sen.
I didn't know that.
The price tag of a man was 1.5 sen. So cheap, wasn’t it?
- Many people died for 1.5 sen. - Right.
That’s why we were 1.5 sen.
My goodness.
It was such an era.
The price of a postcard.
Wasn’t your mother glad to see you come back alive?
Well, she had to be reserved because many people got killed.
Some were proud, but others felt bad about being alive.
Since I wasn’t dead, I couldn’t go home in triumph.
Back then, we were all educated that way.
A man was worth 1.5 sen.
This is the first time I heard the phrase.
We were so cheap and disposable.
- People actually used the phrase? - Yeah.
I wonder if I would have gone if I was drafted.
Of course, you would have.
We were all educated that way. We were so proud of it.
All the windows of the train we rode were covered by boards to block our sight.
What? You mean, the train to the base?
Yes, trains have windows, right?
They were all covered so we couldn’t see outside.
To block your view?
Right. We were able to see outside only when we went to the bathroom.
You mean, they didn’t want you to know where you were heading?
Yeah. We couldn’t tell which direction we were being taken to.
Gosh, that must have been really nerve-racking.
It was like that.
I see.
I didn’t know if I was being taken to Hakata or Hiroshima...
How old were you?
I must have been in my late 20's.
When I’m alone, I always think…
About what?
About going to the other world.
I wonder who’s going to take care of...
my funeral, cremation, etc… Maybe somebody can manage...
I’ll help you realize what you wish.
OK, I’m taking off.
Thank you.
Bye now.
You don’t have to see me off.
See you.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Take care.
Sorry I didn’t offer you anything.
Thanks.
Bye now.
CHANGE
700 yen…oh dear!
I’m shocked it exceeded an hour.
But it takes at least an hour.
(PM Hatoyama): We first need to address the distrust against the social security system…
I usually prepare some food at home, and spend an hour here.
If I did the laundry, it could take two hours. But the government only pays for an hour.
Maybe I shouldn’t complain…
But we also have to pay for the parking… 100 yen per 10 minutes.
We’ll support such domestic industry as health care, elderly care, …
…so people can feel secure everyday.
We’ll also promote agriculture, forestry, sightseeing…etc.
By doing that, we’ll create new demands and jobs.
We’ll also try to work with growing Asian countries…
…so we can lead our nation to a new kind of economic growth.
The thief cat seems to get along now.
Yep. Little by little, he’s behaving like an official member, …
…which means, other cats have accepted him.
Cooperation: Kicchako, Okayama Saiseikai General Hospital, Idou Net Okayama
Production Associate Kiyoko Kashiwagi
Directed, produced, shot, and edited by Kazuhiro Soda
Producers wish to thank everybody who appeared in the film.
English subtitles by Kazuhiro Soda and Yurika Sugimoto