For unexplainable reasons, my son, Kenichi, and I
have been estranged for years.
There is a profound chasm between us which hurts me deeply.
I want us to be close again.
When I was thinking about how to improve my relationship with him,
Kenichi got sick and was hospitalized.
His wife, Rie, informed me about it.
She has suggested to me
that it would be an opportunity
for Kenichi and me to speak to each other and to improve our relationship.
This might be the only chance I have to talk with him face to face.
Hence, I have come to Tokyo.
You must be surprised by the changes in Tokyo over the past years.
It's been at Ieast 10 years.
Kenichi has been unwell for a while.
He's suffering from stomach pain.
It often disturbs him at night.
He hasn't been diagnosed yet.
Excuse me. Give me a moment.
I'II tell Kenichi you're here.
He doesn't know that you've come.
Your father is here to see you. Why don't you Iet him in?
-He's come a Iong way to see you. -Why should I see him?
Who asked him to come? Was it you?
-I never said I wanted to see him. -PIease don't talk Iike that.
Enough, I don't want to see him.
SHINJUKU CENTRAL HOSPITAL
Father!
PIease wait!
Father, it's because he's sick
that he was in a bad mood.
Don't take his words to heart.
Forgive him.
Let me talk to him again.
This tape
was made by Kenichi in China.
It was broadcast as part of a TV special.
PIease have a Iook at his work.
Make sure you watch it.
PIease.
Mr. Takata, it's ready.
Okay.
Thank you. Would you Iike a drink?
No, thank you. I have another appointment.
-Do you know how to use a VCR? -Yes.
Let me introduce
an expert in oriental folk arts,
Mr. Kenichi Takata.
He is widely published on the subject.
We have some footage shot by Mr. Takata of a mask opera.
This opera originates from Yunnan Province.
This is Mr. Kenichi Takata from the faculty of Oriental Folk Arts
at the University of Tokyo.
-He's here to see you perform. -Thank you.
This is Mr. Li Jiamin. He's our lead singer.
This is amazing. You are incredible.
-He says you are incredible. -I could be better.
I have a cold today.
Come back and I'll perform Riding AIone for Thousands of Miles.
I have a cold today. Come back and I'll perform
-Riding AIone for Thousands of Miles. -Riding AIone for Thousands of Miles?
-It's a mask opera about Lord Guan.
Oh, I see, the Lord Guan from
The Romance of the Three Kingdoms?
He actually knows who Lord Guan is.
Riding AIone for Thousands of Miles is the greatest of all mask operas,
and I'm the person who can perform it the best.
This is the most interesting part. Around here,
there are few people who can perform this except for him.
Then this is a rare chance. Can't you sing a little for me now?
-Can't you sing a little for me now? -My voice is not up to it today.
Kenichi is leaving China tonight.
Then some other time.
All right then, next time.
It's a deal.
I'll come back to Yunnan next year.
He said he is coming to see you next year.
I promise you an unforgettable performance.
How's the catch today?
Not bad.
This is Takata.
Father.
I've been calling and calling.
Have you been fishing?
I've received Kenichi's diagnosis.
Cancer of the Iiver.
It is terminal.
I haven't told Kenichi yet.
I don't think
I have the courage.
He thinks
he will be discharged soon.
I've always hoped
in my heart
that our family
could enjoy a meal together.
You,
Kenichi,
me.
Now I'm not sure
that's going to happen.
I am going to China.
I decided this suddenly.
I don't know what is out there
and I'm not good at dealing with people.
However, I feel compelled to go.
I need to do something for my dying son.
MR. KOICHI TAKATA
Mr. Takata.
Do you want to rest in Kunming City or go to Lijiang City immediately?
Lijiang City.
Fine.
LIJIANG CITY
Rie? It's me.
I'm in Lijiang City
in Yunnan Province, China.
Yunnan?
What are you doing there?
I am here to film Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles.
You want to film it
for Kenichi?
Actually, I gave you that tape
so you could Iearn more about him.
Father, please come back.
No.
The travel agency has arranged everything.
PIease don't be worried about me.
Just don't tell Kenichi
what I'm planning.
PIease.
LI VILLAGE
Mr. Takata,
this is Lingo. He's a village tour guide.
He speaks a Iittle Japanese.
Yes.
Lingo, remember Kenichi who was here Iast year?
He promised to film the mask opera.
This is his father.
So you're Kenichi's father.
His father.
Kenichi is my friend.
Very good friend.
-Lingo, how is everything going? -Just a second.
-Are you Li Jiamin? -No.
Lingo, I told you we only wanted Li.
It doesn't have to be Li. Other actors can also play Lord Guan.
No way. Mr. Takata only wants Li Jiamin.
If he insists on Li, there will be no show today.
Why not?
Look, Li enjoys a drink or two, which is usually fine.
But one day during a rehearsal, someone mentioned
he had a bastard son.
This upset him so much
that he grabbed a wooden dagger
and stabbed the guy in the face.
He was arrested
and sentenced to three years in prison.
PIease tell him it doesn't have to be Li Jiamin performing.
AII the actors are very good.
Once the mask is on,
it doesn't matter who is behind it.
No one can tell the difference.
Even a native can't tell the difference between the voices.
So how could a Japanese person?
Does it really have to be Li?
His son wanted to film Li. He is making this film for his son.
No one else will do.
But Li Jiamin is in prison. He will stay there for three years.
Even if he behaves well and becomes a model prisoner,
he won't be released for a year or two.
Takata should come back. There will be other chances to see it.
Why don't you come again next year?
Jasmine, please help me.
Mr. Takata, this is not about money.
I'm in a difficult position.
I'm just a tour guide.
How can I get a foreigner
permission to film inside a prison?
It is impossible.
-Jasmine. -Yes.
PIease help me.
I really want to help.
But this is beyond my ability
and my job description.
PIease forgive me.
My contract with you is only for three days.
I've been assigned other jobs.
I cannot do anything else
except for seeing you off at Kunming Airport. I'm sorry.
Jasmine, please ask your boss
if I could employ another interpreter.
Hi, boss. This is Jasmine.
Mr. Takata, that Japanese tourist who arrived two days ago,
is asking for a new interpreter.
Mr. Takata,
my boss cannot help with your plan to film inside the prison.
He also says he doesn't have another interpreter available.
PIease forget about this idea.
Mr. Takata, is that actor, Mr. Li, so important to your film?
Excuse me.
PIease turn around.
Turn around.
Jasmine, he wants to go back. What can we do?
The opera is Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles.
Lord Guan traveled a thousand miles
to help a friend,
which is a big deal.
A man must be Ioyal.
I can't understand what they are saying,
but I need their help.
Without them, I can't go anywhere.
For the first time,
I feel helpless.
I wonder if Kenichi
would feel the same way.
Mr. Takata.
About your plan. Jasmine cannot help you, but I am able to.
-Much obliged. -Thank you.
No problem.
There are no costumes or props
in the prison.
We'II have to take them. Excuse me.
Thank you.
There are no props and costumes at the prison.
He's getting them.
Mr. Takata, I must confide in you.
Lingo is my friend.
He is very enthusiastic, but he really doesn't know much.
So, Iet me tell you the basic procedures to follow.
PIease write them down.
First, go to the Office of Foreign Affairs.
Tell them why you want to visit the prison.
Office of Foreign Affairs.
If they approve, then go to the Bureau of Justice.
Bureau of Justice.
If they approve, then all's well.
-Bureau of Justice -Yes, the Bureau.
-...approves. -Yes.
If you have any difficulties
or Lingo can't properly translate for you, please call me.
I'II translate for you over the phone.
You have my phone number.
I'II Ieave this car for you
and charge it to your account.
By the way,
you need to sign this form.
It's your request to change interpreters.
PIease sign it.
OFFICE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Director Li is in a meeting.
He's been briefed on your situation.
He will be available soon. Take a seat, please.
Again...
We have to wait bit.
Lingo,
are they all thank-you banners?
Yes.
You...
This means "thank you."
It's calligraphy.
A Chinese tradition.
Tradition?
Lingo. PIease.
Write them down?
Write them down.
PIease sit down.
No need to get up.
I've checked the files.
Indeed, there was a Japanese man named Kenichi
who traveled here frequently.
He enjoyed our mask opera immensely.
He also visited Li Village.
-You are... -I'm a tour guide from Li Village.
I'm Lingo. He is my client.
This is Kenichi's father.
Welcome.
PIease have a seat. Welcome.
Lingo,
can you translate everything I am saying?
My Japanese is not very fluent,
but I can take notes and translate Iater.
Okay, I'II talk, and you take notes.
-Okay. -You see,
to Iet someone film inside a prison
is very difficult.
His request is totally without precedent,
which makes it even more difficult.
You know, for a foreigner to visit a prison
is not a straightforward matter.
Even if it was, the procedures are complicated.
It may seem simple, but it's not.
It is very complex.
Hello.
Okay, okay, I'm coming.
So, Lingo,
please explain these difficulties to him.
He doesn't have to visit this prisoner.
Many singers can perform this opera.
They could be even better than Li Jiamin.
I advise him to stop trying. AII right?
Mr. Li
said this is
too difficult.
-Difficult? -Mr. Li said so.
Because a foreigner...
-Foreigner... -I'm a foreigner.
Law...
Law... Law is
very, very hard.
Because...
Difficult?
Time... No time.
Dictionary.
Check... PIease check.
-Law... -Law?
Difficult?
Difficult Iaw.
Law...
Difficult Iaw.
Easy for the Chinese,
but for foreigners
very, very difficult.
Government Iaw.
Hello.
-Jasmine. -Yes?
Sorry to bother you.
Not at all.
I need you to translate for me.
Sure.
This is Lingo.
How did it go?
It was a disaster.
Get him a ticket and send him home.
That's the end of it.
Let me explain this to him.
Mr. Takata, telephone.
Mr. Takata,
I'm sorry. Your request was refused.
Lingo will book you on the next flight.
Thank you.
Mr. Takata, goodbye.
PIease return to Japan.
Because government policy.
My Japanese
is not good.
I'm sorry.
Thank you.
You want silk banners?
Which one?
The best one.
These are the best. What size?
This one.
-Director Li. -Lingo.
I've been waiting for hours.
I am sorry, but we had a Iong meeting.
I forgot about the video.
Let's have a Iook at this tape.
Let's go in.
Why does Mr. Takata want to use this tape
to talk to me?
-Lingo. -Yes.
We don't understand Japanese.
No problem. I have a Chinese version.
Jasmine translated it and faxed it to me.
That's complicated.
Of course it is. I've been practicing for hours.
Let's see it, then.
Why isn't he talking?
Director Li.
Forgive me for speaking to you like this,
but I have no other option.
Actually,
a long time ago,
because of a mistake I made,
I hurt my son, Kenichi, deeply.
He has never forgiven me.
Recently,
my son was diagnosed with cancer.
He may not have very long to live.
He has a deep passion
for Chinese folk operas.
He promised
to return here
this year
to film Li Jiamin's performance.
I don't know
at this point
what else I can do for my son.
Maybe filming Riding AIone for Thousands of Miles
is the only thing
I can do for him now.
Director Li, please help me.
Please.
Director Li,
please.
I apologize for calling you so Iate.
PIease help me.
If you think it's possible, I'II report it to the Bureau of Foreign Affairs
and ask them to Iiaise with the Bureau of Justice to resolve this.
Can you help me with this?
PRISON
Reform our ways.
Redeem ourselves.
Become new people.
One, two, three, four.
Are you his interpreter?
Yes, but my Japanese is not good.
I'II make notes first
and get someone to translate Iater.
Let me explain our protocol.
Foreigners filmed here in the past,
but some of them were not nice.
They complained publicly about conditions in the prison.
This gives our country a bad image.
-Tell him this. -Yes.
Troublemakers Iike that are not welcome.
I have nothing against him personally.
-You only want to film one prisoner? -Yes.
-Prisoner Li Jiamin? -That's right. Li.
Mr. Li Jiamin.
-Just to film him singing? -Yes, nothing else.
Which opera?
Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles.
It sounds Iike an excellent way to promote Chinese culture.
Right.
After all, Lord Guan is not a state secret.
No, he's not.
He's certainly not. I'II give it the Bureau's stamp of approval.
We can film it now.
-Testing, do you hear me? -Yes.
Perfect. This is the venue.
It is our recreation room.
The prisoners use the room on weekends and public holidays.
It's a place to relax.
-Can you hear me? -Yes.
-How is the microphone? -Okay.
You can begin now.
We can start.
-Thank you, Warden Chen. -You're welcome.
Reporting for duty.
Come in.
Prisoner Yang and the band
reporting for duty, sir.
-Take your places. -Yes, sir.
Lingo. This is the prison band.
Some were professionals, others Iearned to play while in here.
They are extremely popular,
performing every year for festivals.
-PIease tell him. -Thank you.
Thank you.
-Reporting for duty, sir. -Come in.
Prisoner Li Jiamin reporting for duty, sir.
-Li. -Sir.
Can you sing Riding AIone for Thousands of Miles?
Yes, sir.
Oh.
What you need to do is this.
Repent of our sins.
Reform our ways.
Redeem ourselves,
become new people.
Li, do not be nervous.
Do a good performance.
Li, I know you can sing any mask opera. Do not be nervous.
Band, one more time.
Okay? Action.
Li, what is wrong?
Why did you not perform?
Li.
Li Jiamin.
Why are you silent?
He is waiting to see you perform. He is from Japan.
He came to China only for your performance.
He is Kenichi's father. The one who came often to see you perform.
PIease sing, okay?
His son is fond of you. PIease sing for him.
They respect your performance.
Why are you crying?
With the shackles on,
I cannot perform.
I miss my son.
I envy him.
Without caring what others think,
he can cry and say what he wants to say in public.
He is a fortunate man.
If only I had courage the way he does,
the relationship with my son would be different.
He probably won't be able to film today because Li is too emotional.
PIease tell him
to come back Iater, and we'II try this again.
Mr. Takata, Mr. Li Jiamin...
Hi, it's Takata.
I am sorry, but I don't know what's going on.
Would you talk to him?
Hello?
Did you go to the prison? What happened?
We can't film.
Li cried the whole time. He broke down every time we started to film.
Why did he cry?
He misses his son. He never met his son.
He cried because he wanted to meet him.
The guard told us to Ieave for now.
-Then what can we do? -Let's forget it.
He wasn't Iike this when he was Iiving in the village.
I see.
Give the phone back to Mr. Takata. I'll explain it to him.
Mr. Takata, telephone.
It's me again.
-Jasmine. -Yes.
-It's Takata. -Oh, Mr. Takata.
-I am sorry to disturb you at night. -It's okay.
Well,
after giving it a Iot of thought,
I've decided to go get Li Jiamin's son.
You're arranging for him to meet with his son?
Yes.
Mr. Takata, please do not do it.
Li Jiamin probably said that without thinking.
I heard that he said he will forget about it soon.
Besides, the area where his son lives is far away
and is not easy to access.
If you go there, you will not have time for what you want to do.
I've made up my mind.
Mr. Takata, isn't making the film for Kenichi
the most important thing?
Both are of equal importance now.
I'm sorry.
PIease call Lingo now
and ask him to take me to Stone Village tomorrow.
-PIease. I'm sorry. -All right.
-Lingo. -Mr. Takata.
-Good evening. May I? -PIease.
-What is it? -Good night.
Goodbye.
Hello.
-Hello. -Is this Mr. Takata?
Sorry to bother you again.
What did you say to Lingo?
Why did he return the money
to me?
Will he still help me tomorrow?
Mr. Takata, let me explain.
Lingo and I feel very sad
about Kenichi's illness.
I apologize for not helping you earlier.
-Forgive me. -Never mind.
I understand.
Lingo doesn't feel right
about taking your money
when your son is so sick.
He will still take you to Stone Village tomorrow.
Really? Thank you both.
I'm happy that Kenichi
has friends Iike you.
Does he have many friends in China?
Actually, I don't know Kenichi.
Lingo doesn't know him very well, either.
Lingo said that Kenichi
hardly has any friends in China.
Really?
Lingo said
Kenichi seldom spoke to anyone.
He would stay alone in Lijiang for months.
Sometimes he just stared at the mountains for hours.
He seemed very lonely.
I may have said too much.
No.
PIease,
tell me more about my son.
Mr. Takata, I'm afraid that's all I know.
-I am sorry. -Never mind.
I'm sorry it's so Iate.
Thank you, Jasmine.
-Good night. -Good night.
There's roadwork ahead.
STONE VILLAGE
Yang Yang's mom died a week ago.
He has no other family to care for him.
The villagers are taking care of him now.
The village chief said the boy is now being raised by everyone
-in this village. -That's right.
Li was told about this.
That's why he broke down in prison. This was the reason.
We know why you have come here.
Our committee has already made its decision.
I cannot give you the details straight away.
Why not?
Before I explain I must clarify some things.
-PIease translate what I say. -Of course I will. He's my client.
PIease continue.
I want to say two things.
First of all,
Yang Yang is Li's son,
born outside of wedlock,
but we all accept that.
We all agree. This is the first point.
Secondly, after several years, Li has now decided to claim his son.
We cannot accept this.
You'd better translate now.
Why don't you simply say yes or no? So I can give him an answer now.
Yes or no?
You haven't translated a single word to him.
You should translate everything I've said.
You should make yourself clear before I do.
I doubt you speak any Japanese.
Ridiculous. Of course I do.
This loud discussion is going on for a long time.
I suddenly feel like an outsider.
I realize that in a foreign language environment
you can feel very isolated.
But
I'm slowly beginning to understand
why Kenichi often visits here.
You're supposed to be a translator.
I wouldn't need you if I spoke Japanese.
I know how to translate.
I beg to differ on that.
No signal.
There's no signal here.
I know where you can get one. Let's go.
He's calling a translator.
Let's go outside.
-Why are we going to the roof? -You can get a stronger signal.
My son has made calls from up here before.