Before I became a writer, I worked as a contractor
for a TV production company for over 15 years.
Back then, I'd never heard of things like employee abuse.
Beratings became just as normal as breathing to me.
Thank you.
Long day?
- Over here... - Right, yes.
You want it to be vague? Seriously? You have to be kidding me!
You can't make that into a TV... Coming! Yes?
Hey.
What?
An invoice?
Just a moment. I just have to punch them.
Let's get started. Let's see your smiles.
Great, go!
That hurt... There!
Don't forget to smile!
Ouch, that hurt!
Sorry, but can I have a discount?
I see.
Thanks.
Look at you hard at work. Keep it up.
Thanks about the case.
- Sorry, Tsuji, sorry. - Good work today.
- I can't join you for golf. - What a bummer.
- I hurt my hand. - That's no good.
Had to teach those stiffnecks a lesson.
- Would you like some? - Here.
What did you do before you became a writer?
I created visuals for TV shows.
Oh, you were a visual artist.
Oh, you mean you made graphics and whatnot?
The text on the bottom and such.
- Like this? - That's right.
You must be very familiar with being in studios.
Yes, but it's not the same as being on screen.
Is that right?
Next, about Sensei's books.
Today, Sensei made his own flip chart for us!
Wow!
Did you design flip charts like these?
I did, yes.
Doesn't it embarrass you to hold that yourself?
- Well, yes. - Right?
You can set it down.
The Yusuke Nagai series was adapted into a TV series.
Yes. That's what led me to quit making visuals.
I see.
Now that you are a famous author. I'm sure people notice you on the streets.
- Not at all. - Really?
By the way, why are authors called Sensei?
It's just a nickname.
- A nickname? - No,
people want to learn from you. That's why you're Sensei.
- That's true. - Right, Sensei?
Today, I'd like to show you his latest work.
The title is "A Room No One Knows."
We'll send the completed package later.
I can't wait.
We were honored to have him with us.
He's not known to make TV appearances.
Not at all.
Can we contact you if we have any questions?
- Of course. - Thank you.
- Excuse me. - Good to see you.
Long time no see.
What?
You don't remember me? We used to work together!
Did we?
Did you work with Sensei when he still created visuals?
That's right. You'd bring me invoices.
You'd always cut us a deal.
Oh...
You're the same as ever. You haven't changed.
Are you eating well?
I am.
I'm in charge of a travel program.
Come make an appearance when we take the bus to the countryside.
- Great idea. - Right?
Well?
Are you wary of me?
Not at all.
We were young back in the day.
- What? - Sorry, I had a short temper.
Did something happen?
Well, I guess the statute of limitations has expired
Didn't I hit you once?
That was my bad. It's all in the past now.
Back in the day, we used to say, "Smile even if you get hit."
Those were the days. How terrible.
I've experienced many unfair things,
but that was the only memory that I remember clearly.
Still, even that memory is ambiguous.
"Don't retain more than one painful experience."
Perhaps this is how my mind protects itself.
A painful experience then.
So your memory stops right before you got punched?
I don't think I ever got punched.
- I just drank the coffee and went home. - Fuku!
- Gin tonic. - Coming.
- Then maybe you didn't get hit. - Coming right up.
That director could have made that up.
- Yes. - Things used to be terrible back then.
I saw the young assistants getting hit backstage many times.
Really?
There you go.
Tani, you up?
I'm awake. I was just thinking.
I was trying to recall some of my painful experiences.
Three glasses of red wine, please.
- Do you have a dark past? - No, nothing like that.
It was the first time I watched a movie with a girl.
- We watched "Rain Man." - "Rain Man"?
- That's right, "Rain Man." - All right.
- You did? - That's right.
We worked together. We didn't date or anything.
She fell asleep in middle of the movie.
As I stared into her face, she opened her eyes.
But we both faced the screen
- and watched the movie to the end. - Right.
Then, at the station on the way back, she turned to me
and said, "Idiot."
Why do you think she said that?
Maybe you were an idiot.
Shut up.
-You know, -Yes?
I've thought back on it many times over the last 40 years.
The more I thought about it, the clearer the memory became.
And I started wondering if I may have made up some parts of it.
You can't tell?
- No, Fuku? - I don't know.
Don't say that. Right?
- Izumi! - Right? You get it right?
Yes, a little.
Oh, Sensei. Do you know Ozeki?
He's a producer at Paper Moon.
I used to work with him, but I haven't seen him in a while.
He's pretty sick.
Is that right?
I only heard the news through the grapevine, but apparently, it's serious.
Well...
- Good night. - Yes.
- Good night. - Night!
EVERYTHING CHANGES
Hello.
Oh, I haven't seen you around here in a while.
I'm glad to see a familiar face.
There are lots of new faces here.
They all quit.
- Where's the president? - He's around.
Probably on a smoke break.
Oh, hello.
Hey!
- Just a moment. Let me finish this. - Okay.
- Let's go outside. - All right.
Don't grab a drink while you're out.
I won't.
You can't, you know.
Why would I drink? It's midday.
Wow. She sounds very interesting.
I don't want anything interesting.
So how much have you paid her sister?
All in all, about 300,000 yen.
Wow! You're such an idiot.
Hurry up and report her to the police.
I don't care anymore.
Come on. See, that's your weakness.
I know what you're thinking. You'd rather pay her than create trouble.
That won't do.
It makes no difference to me.
This dried tofu tastes the same as 15 years ago.
Just like you.
You haven't changed for the last 15 years.
I don't need to change.
My surroundings will do that for me.
Is there any point?
Why don't you write down your experience then?
You write essays, don't you? Not that I've read them.
But write about your girlfriend, and your girlfriend's sister.
Make a profit.
It's risky to write about real-life people.
The public might identify them.
Don't try to act like you're good.
You wrote about your ex in your books.
Not that I've read them.
MIYABITEI
Ozeki...
He did some tests thinking it was nothing serious,
but the disease has progressed.
He was admitted to the hospital right away.
I'd like to visit him, but does he even want to see anyone?
I'll let you know when I find out which hospital he's at.
Okay. Thank you for the meal.
What are you going to do now?
I'll watch a movie and then go home.
Really? You sound busy.
I'm going to sleep early tonight.
Listening to you singing gave me a fever.
Please take him on a walk back home.
Man do I got a headache.
- Take him back home. - No way!
No way!
I will never walk him home.
It's fine up here.
When I watch an old black-and-white film,
it always makes me think.
The people in this movie...
Oh, but we must set an example to the rest of the servants.
Are probably all dead.
So I see. If the master of a noble family is seen walking with me...
SADAO YAMANAKA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
The "ex" the president referred to
was a woman I fell hard for when I was younger.
She told me all these things everyone knows
as if she's the only one who knew of them.
She was a little odd.
With her, everything ordinary felt special.
She made me feel like I had value too.
I've heard that she now lives in a skyscraper apartment in Singapore.
Everyone leaves me and becomes rich.
They've managed to create a special life for themselves.
SENSEI! YOU LOOK GREAT, LOL.
What did you do before you became a writer?
I created visuals for TV shows.
Oh, you were a visual artist.
Oh, you mean you made graphics and whatnot?
The text on the bottom and such.
- Like this? - That's right.
You must be very familiar with being in studios.
Welcome.
I'll try another time.
The sister's here.
Glad I moved to Nakameguro.
- It's a neighborhood that never gets old. - I agree.
Where is Musako anyway?
Oh, hold on. There you are, Sensei!
Come.
She's my little sister's boyfriend. He told me about this bar.
- Wow! - Really?
- Join! - Drink with us.
A seat at the bar is about to open up.
- You won't bother us! - You can join.
- Well, but... - Take a seat.
So, Sensei, what do you teach?
He doesn't teach at a school. He's a writer.
- Wow! - That's so cool!
Sensei is nothing more than a nickname.
How's the publishing industry nowadays?
It's bleak.
My child doesn't read books. What can we do?
He just has to read.
I feel like I've seen you on TV.
- It must be someone else. - Oh, I know!
You make graphics!
- Graphics? - Yes.
The letters that pop up on TV.
Oh, right!
He's a graphic artist!
He makes those!
- Wait, you make those? - Wow!
You spoke to her over the phone? So she's doing well.
She didn't tell me where she was, but she didn't sound troubled.
I believe she's happy.
So I think it's fine to wait a while.
I understand.
Thank you for everything.
- Sorry to stay so late. - No worries.
The food was delicious. Good night.
Good night.
What?
Crap.
Hey, sorry.
This is for you. This month's payments.
Can you apply the next sticker?
PAYMENTS
What?
It's fine now.
The renovation is done anyway.
Everything changes.
Sensei?
What?
Good evening.
Man, I'm starved.
I agree.
You two can be done for the night.
I don't have the strength to stand up.
Do you play any instruments?
I play a little guitar.
Really now?
Were you in a band?
I was, in high school.
Wow, same here.
Hey.
My mother's name is Mako.
Mako Izumi is my mother.
You're Mako's son?
Why didn't you tell me sooner?
Your mom is a friend of Fuku's?
Did you run into him here by chance?
No.
I came here to see Fukuo.
You're my father.
Really?
Sorry I never visited you.
Let's go grab a bite.
- Okay. - Let's go.
All right.
I'm heading out.
- Good night. - Good work today.
Good night.
Is that what people say about me?
I'm only going to college.
I have to write my thesis. I've been busy.
People think you work somewhere else at night.
Not at all. I applied, but they said I'm too gloomy.
Everyone loves girls with secrets. Not that I have any.
Yes.
Contrary to what everyone says,
I don't think there's a serious reason your girlfriend disappeared.
Oh, you're this way.
I have to go the other way.
See you.
- Well, at her house... - Yes?
I saw Christmas cards people sent her.
What?
Are you friends with her?
Oh, I am.
You are?
Yes.
Since when?
I've known her for a good while now. I can't recall.
What?
Why didn't you tell me?
You never asked.
It's not something people ask.
Some things don't need to be said.
I wish you had told me.
Do you know where she is now?
That, I don't know. I'm being honest.
Good night.
What's with her?
Hey.
No need to be polite with me.
Okay.
If you had a million dollars, where would you go?
What?
If you come across
a huge amount of money like Sensei's girlfriend, where would you go?
Well...
Outer space, I guess.
Don't say goodbye, this isn't goodbye
If I could meet you from the beginning again
At that broken intersection
I will wait for you Yeah, I'm gonna be there
I was tired from walking
With my untied shoes
But I'll keep on dancing
Until I find you
In an unbelievable
Coincidence
The stars align
Don't say goodbye, this isn't goodbye
However many times we slip through each other's hands
If it's a starry sky Without waiting on you
They'll fall down Yeah I'm gonna be there, gonna be there
My body which
Swam through the sea of people
Still only embraces
Your rhythm
Overcome
With Sadness
And the two walk together
Under each night sky
Someone's slipping through Someone else's hands.
This planet, without reply
Continues to spin Yeah I'm gonna be there, gonna be there
Don't say goodbye, this isn't goodbye
If I could meet you From the beginning again.
At that broken intersection
I will wait for you Yeah, I'm gonna be there.
Ahh, I can almost see it but I can't
Searching for your star in the night sky
Finding my way to tomorrow
Leaving little footprints
Don't say goodbye
No, no, no, no. Don't say goodbye
Don't say goodbye
Could you be the granddaughters waiting here to meet me?
I have a huge inheritance.
It's been tough, but it's finally going to pay off.
You hold back from opportunity,
but your face says you were never offered it.
Translated by Megumi Hunter