Departures (Okuribito) (おくりびと)

When I was a child, winter didn't feel so cold.

It's nearly two months since I moved home from Tokyo.

It's been an awkward time.

IN MOURNING

This way.

Excuse us.

Please accept our condolences.

We are here for the encoffinment.

May we offer incense?

Please do.

She looks alive.

Suicide by charcoal.

How do you know?

No agony.

And they probably found her right away.

Too bad. She's beautiful.

Want to do it?

All right.

The rite of encoffinment is to prepare the deceased

for a peaceful departure.

Please come closer and watch.

I will now wipe the body.

She's got one.

Got what?

A thing.

What thing?

A thing.

Excuse me...

Yes?

...once the departed is dressed, we will apply make-up.

We have make-up for women, or for men.

Oh, just a minute.

How'd you like Tomeo made up, Sis?

Boy, or girl?

What'll it be?

If I'd only had him as a girl at the first...

...none of this would've happened.

But it's genetic.

Girl, then?

Yes.

As a girl, please.

Certainly.

Tomeo!

DEPARTURES

Another empty house.

We should advertise more.

I know!

An orchestra website.

My wife's a web designer. She'd do it for free.

Forget that, Daigo.

Are you okay?

Huh?

Your next gig.

Next?

You'll need a job to pay off a cello like that.

Well done, everybody.

The audience was a little sparse, but you played wonderfully.

However, as it turns out...

The owner of this orchestra, Mr. Sonezaki, has a few words to say.

So if you would please give him your attention.

The orchestra is dissolved.

See you.

The orchestra job I'd finally managed to land

was over in a flash. A memory with no history.

It wasn't the cello's fault.

I shouldn't have bought it. Now I'd lost my job.

In many ways, that cello had been too much for me.

Thank you!

Good-bye.

I'm home!

Hi.

I got an octopus.

From the neighbour.

Caught this morning.

What's the matter?

We're dissolved.

Who?

The orchestra.

Oh...

You'll find another one.

There won't be another one.

I'm not good enough.

And I owe on that.

How much?

That's okay.

I'm working. We can pay off a million yen.

18 million.

18 million?!

That's what all the pros pay.

Maybe even more.

Why did you hide that?

I thought you'd say no.

But something that important, why didn't you tell me?

I'm sorry.

I'll make supper.

"The world's cities will be our home.

Come tour with me."

That's how I proposed.

But reality was harsh.

No.

I should have realised the limits of my talent.

What's wrong?

It's alive!

Yeah!

What should we do?

Don't get caught again.

Huh?

I should quit.

What?

Cello.

And do what?

Go back up to Yamagata.

Agreed!

You don't mind?

We can live free in the house your mother left you.

It's really okay?

This was my great turning point,

but in a strange way, selling the cello was a relief.

I felt freed from ties that had bound me for so long.

What I'd always thought of as my dream

maybe hadn't been one after all.

This was all my mother had left me when she'd died two years before.

My father had run a coffee shop here,

but I hardly remembered it.

After he deserted us, she ran it as a small bar

and raised me alone.

Supper's ready!

Coming!

I thought you'd hate it here.

No!

Everything's so new.

Rice tastes better.

Maybe it's the water.

Maybe I should open a shop.

What kind?

Hey!

This ad.

No age restriction, good salary. Short working hours.

Full-time employee.

"NK Agent."

What's that?

"Working with departures."

A travel agency, maybe.

A tour guide?

"No experience necessary."

I'll give them a call.

Here.

NK AGENT

Hello?

The "NK Agent"?

Yes.

I'm Kobayashi. I called earlier.

For the interview?

The boss will be right back. Have a seat.

Thank you.

I was against the boss putting an ad in the paper.

It's hard finding people for this.

What sort of company would this be?

You mean you don't know?

It said "departures."

Oh... Well...

The man's here about the job.

Hello.

I phoned this morning.

Oh, you.

Well, you're not depressing.

Thank you.

I knew an ad would work.

Make some tea.

My resume.

Good. Sit down.

Thank you.

Will you work hard?

Uh... yes.

You're hired.

What's your name?

Daigo Kobayashi.

Get him some cards.

Okay.

But what about salary and stuff like that?

Oh, how about 5 to start?

5?

50,000 yen?

50.

500,000 yen?!

Too low?

You pay that much?

In cash, if you want.

What does the job involve?

Well...

At first, being my assistant, I guess.

Specifically?

Specifically?

Casketing.

"Casketing"?

Putting bodies in coffins.

It bloomed!

You mean dead bodies?

You find that funny?

Uh, no, I mean,